Preaching with a purpose

The blood pressure monitor on Wednesday night went off at half hour intervals.  However it did not beep as it had in the day time. That had been to alert me to relax my arm.  Of course at night one should be relaxed anyway.  I would have slept even better but I as curious to see what my blood pressure was like in the early morning.  The beep started up again at 7.15 a.m. but I didn't let it stop me enjoying a lie-in.  I was not due at the hospital until 11a.m. The monitor was taken off me and I was told it would be sent to the consultant and I would hear at some point what he or she thought about it.  By the time I reached home, despite all my talk of trusting in God I was beginning to get in a slight tizzy wonder if anything major was wrong.  This is how we humans react and it is silly to think I can escape those thoughts.  So if you trust in God don't be surprised if you have worrying thoughts too, and don't feel guilty about it either.

My visit to the hospital was soon over.  Now I have an inflating sleeve on my left arm and the little monitor hanging at my right side.  Every fifteen minutes it comes into operation and I have to relax my left arm while the sleeve is pumped up to tighten it.  I can see the result on the monitor. Many people would not bother to do this, but I am inquisitive. It is not a great nuisance during the day; I will tell you tomorrow what sort of night I have.  The machine will only operate at half hourly intervals during the night.  If it proves to be very annoying in the night I am likely to get up and tell you then whatever the hour. One interesting fact, the monitor says "Spacelab" on it.  I wonder if they are planning to send me into space!!!

Have you noticed how once the hospital gets its hands on you for one thing then very soon you are visiting there for other things?  Back in the Autumn I had eye surgery which was all completed in October, but tomorrow I am visiting the orthopaedic department as I have a finger that sticks. Then on Wednesday I have to go there to be fitted with a blood pressure device which I will wear for twenty-four hours and return again on Thursday to have it removed so that they can process the information. Of course it is not the hospitals fault and I am very grateful to have their care.  I guess having just had another birthday gives the game away.  An old aunt used to say,"Old age don't come alone." I try to trat these vagaries of age as interesting.  One think I truly believe is that my Heavenly Father is in control of each situation I face as is working all things for His glory and my eternal welfare.

There is something I really hate in Britain today and that is the way opportunities to bet are in your face every day.   Even the little village shops are not free of it .   The National Lottery machine sits in its ugly fashion right on the counter where I pay for my groceries.   It screams at me that i need to be “in it to win it.” I am ashamed to say that I do spend a few idle moments thinking of what I could do with a few million pounds.   I am very cross with myself for doing this because really I believe that God is in charge of my life and that if He wants to give me big money He will do it without me giving a helping hand.   Also if I try to force the issue what a load of trouble I am likely to get from those millions.   Now I would not say I have a real problem with this issue but there are many people who get themselves into real difficulties with gambling.   What began as a little flutter can turn into a monster demanding to be fed more and more.   For these poor

I'm sorry dear friends that I have neglected you for so long.  My left eye is now completely restored and I can see better through it then I can remember before. However another event in my life has been keeping me busy, doubly busy.  At the end of October I became the Grandmother of twin baby boys.  How exciting that has been and has also involved lots of hard work helping out with their daily routine.  sometimes I am looking after one twin or the other and then again I am sometimes looking after their big brother.  It is all a joy but I am glad to get home and recover at the end of the day.  So I think you will understand why you have not heard from me for a while.  Now I have broken the ice I expect I will be keeping in touch more as I have in the past.