Strength For The Journey

Do you know what Total  Exhaustion feels like?

Before our family's Journey began on December 25th, 2006, I only thought I knew what that phase ment.
I had no idea what my body and mind could withstand until this Journey began.
In these 7 years and 9 months, I have been awake,
"On Call" 24/7 every day and night except for 98 nights.
Each of those nights was a gift from someone, Most times Trammell, our Precious son, who took over the cared of David so that I could SLEEP through the night.
That leaves 2,728 NIGHTS that I have cared for him.  A few years of that I was up with him and Trammell right after Trammell was paralyzed and in a wheelchair.
It's All a Labor Of Love.
BUT
My body aches from exhaustion.  It's so hard to function because my mind is sometimes like a fog. And my memory is non-existent.
BUT
Still I carry on.
I know without a doubt that the ONLY Reason I am able to carry on is by
THE GRACE OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST.

There is No Other Way.

HE gives the strength to continue to crawl out of bed all during the night, every night to check on David, change his diapers, bed pads or shirt and calm him when he's scared and confused or having bad dreams.

HE gives me the strength for my feet to hit the floor running at 6:30 each morning and face another NON-STOP, NEVER A DULL MOMENT Day. Day after Day after,  Year after Year.

I, like so many others, dream of a time when life will be Calm,
Peaceful & Restful.

I dream of a time when I will get to lay down at the end of an exhausting day,  close my eyes and go to Sleep, knowing that I don't have to get up until morning.
But I know with all my heart that this Journey we are on is part of GOD'S Plan.
And GOD'S Plan is Always The Best Plan.
When we submit ourselves to GOD'S Plan, HE Will carry us through.
HE Will give us the strength and the courage we need to finish the race. And in those times when we fall and are so exhausted we can't get up
HE lifts us up and carries us in HIS Loving Arms until we are able to walk again.

      Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint.

THRIVE

There's a song by a group known as "Casting Crowns" entitled "THRIVE" that really speaks to my heart.
Every time I hear that song I feel as if God is speaking directly to me through the lyrics.
We were Not created merely to Survive. 
We were created to THRIVE!
So,
Starting this past week we have begun our new "family plan" called
        CREATED TO THRIVE

For almost 8 years now we have looked at our life as being in
            "Survival Mode"
But as of now we are looking at our lives in a different light.
   We Are Going To
                 "THRIVE"!
That's what God Created Us To Do.
No matter what this world throws at us our LORD CAN AND WILL Lift us up far beyond any of this.
HE HAS OVERCOME THIS WORLD.
HE has a Plan for us and
We will continue to Trust HIM Wholeheartedly.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

GOD'S TRAINING CLASS

IThis week has been filled with so many Blessings.
God continues to show us that no matter how bad things get HE is STILL HERE To Carry us through.
I Truly Believe that HE is Training us to Help Others in so many different ways.
We know so much more today than we did 8 years ago.
We know the REAL NEEDS of the disabled, the sick, the home bound and the elderly.
We know the REAL NEEDS of the Poor and the Needy. 
We know how easily a family can become homeless when hardship strikes, while doing everything in their power to keep their loved ones off the streets and out of shelters.
(No, we have not been homeless. There were a couple of times that we were close But GOD sent an Angel on earth to help us.
We have, however, been Blessed to help a couple of families who were.) 

During these almost 8 years we have learned how to REALLY Reach Out and Help Others in ways that we NEVER knew BEFORE we experienced these hardships first-hand.

We know with All our hearts that GOD has a Purpose and a Plan for Everything that happens in our lives.  We know It's HIS way of teaching us how to help others.

What is HE Teaching You in your present circumstances?

Ephesians 3:20
Now all glory to GOD, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Do You Know What's Scary?

Do you know what's scary?
    The fact that after our rent's been paid, the bills have been paid and our monthly grocery order has been picked up, I have $82 for diapers, milk and other needs and 3/4 of a tank of gas to get my family through til the first week of October.  
No, this is nothing new. 
It happens every month.

Do You Know What's Really Scary?
    The fact that I have to take our precious son for CT Scans Monday morning. And set up a date for him to have a Biopsy,  Knowing that the results of these tests could turn our world Upside Down again.

Do You Know What Would Be The Scariest Thing of all?
    If we were going through these things and ALL the other things we face daily without our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
    I can't begin to imagine how people who are going through these same things without our LORD to lead them, guide them and Carry Them through it, survive.

My Prayer is for those who are lost, hurting and struggling to find their way to The Lord. 
May someone cross their path today, who will  share with them the Love Of JESUS. 
Who will show them that someone cares for them.
Who will let them know that they Are Not Alone.

     2 Corinthians 12:10
Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.  I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

www.bycefamily.weebly.com