Before they arrived, I went to see my new chiropractor for the first time. I was nervous to see what he was like because each chiropractor I’ve been to have been very different from the other. Thankfully, when we arrived at his house, he seemed normal and professional.
I’ve been to him twice this week and have never felt quicker relief than I have with this new guy, Dr. Sadok. He works on my whole back and neck every time I go, which is keeping the headaches at bay. Since starting treatment with him, I have been able to pack the dishwasher, make my first gluten-free carrot cake, and go on an easy hike!
For weeks, I’ve felt really dizzy each time I’ve had to climb a hill, but Thursday was the first day I didn't feel dizzy or sick while climbing rocks and walking long distances in the sun! I’m super excited about this because it’s an answer to my prayers and gives me new hope that there is joy over the horizon.
Our guests have been so much fun! From the minute they arrived, I remembered why I love going to Johnson City so much. They’re some of the best people I know and I don’t want them to leave! Each day is filled with another adventure and tons of laughter.
On Thursday, I was able to go out with them to Tel Dan, an ancient city from Bible times. It was so much fun to drive with everyone and go on an adventure. We even did a skit about Boaz and Ruth talking to the Redeemer (Ruth 4).
Before the making of the skit, however, we filmed Matthew preaching and planned what we were going to do. When we got to the ancient gate where we were going to film, we were all shocked at the scripture the park had used to describe the gate we were looking at. Can you guess what it was?
Of course, it was a scripture from Ruth 4! We all laughed in amazement at this finding. It was like a confirmation that this was the skit we had to do and it turned out beautifully!
One of the best sounds I’ve heard this week has been my laugh, and I’ve heard it a lot. I’m not saying that to sound vain, my laugh is kind of embarrassing anyway, but after my rough week last week I feel so much better about myself and I hope it shows. Feeling more normal has been an amazing gift, one I hope will stick around for a while. I love being able to be myself and enjoy our the company. Of course, I’m still trying to not over do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m missing out.
Some days this week, I did stay behind so I could chill and enjoy the peace. I’d won a book competition a couple months ago and the prize book finally came with our friends. It’s almost 700 pages, but a beaut! I was so excited to get it, I could literally hear it calling my name, enticing me to open its pages to begin my new journey. Unfortunately, the first night I had to refrain from this because I knew that once I started, I wouldn’t stop.
The next day, however, my mom and I stayed home to rest and I got three precious hours to read my amazing new book, called The Beauty of Darkness. I’m loving almost every minute of it and can’t wait to read the conclusion to this saga (Team Kaden!).
YHVH has been so good this week. I feel like He’s shown me love in many different forms. Through the years, the word love has become such a common word. We say it so many times in our days, but do we really understand its meaning?
I’ve never been that great at defining the word love; but I came to realize this week that it’s not a word you can actually explain, it’s something you feel. As much as I long for the day where I’m hopelessly in love with my future husband, I know I need to learn how to love everyone else, first.
During our house full of guests’ stay, I learned how I know that I love them. There’s just something about the way we talk and come together in harmony. Each of us loves the other and it shows! We’re like one big family who have known each other for a lifetime!
Being in love doesn't have to be a romantic thing. I’m in love with my friends and I don’t think of them as anything other than my friends. I love each of them differently and for many different reasons.
At the beginning of this week, a friend called me up to ask me what I thought 1 John 4:18 meant. It states, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear holds punishment, and he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” She couldn’t seem to understand how you could have no fear while being in love. I honestly didn't have the answer because I wasn’t that sure either, but I told her that even though people can do bad things to us, we don’t go into relationships thinking about that. Instead, we just want to love everyone and be their friend, no matter the consequences.
This week, YHVH answered my prayer about learning what love is. I’ve seen it in my family and friends’ eyes when they’re in conversations or just sitting quietly. We all love one another the way the Bible says, like 1 Corinthians 13! I’m very thankful for the people that are in my life, my love tank was definitely filled up this week!
This next week, my prayer is that I will continue to feel better and have another blessed week. Our guests left this morning to spend the week in Jerusalem and Eilat, so it’s going to be a quiet week. But, hopefully not too quiet because I don’t want a boring week.
I’m also praying that I will draw closer to YHVH and read more of the Word this next week. I’ve been bad and haven't read more than a couple chapters this last week because I’m exhausted by the time I go to open my Bible. I also haven’t really been in the mood to read, which is bad on my part. So, this week I’m really going to make a better effort at reading through Leviticus.
Well, I think that’s all I have to say for this week. I’m really in the mood to read my book at the moment so I’m going to stop writing and start reading. Have a great week, everyone!
Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I might see Wonders from Your Torah.”