For We Walk By Faith ... by Cheryl Lutz

               “…For we walk by faith, not by sight"— 2 Corinthians 5:7

My legs were heavy as lead.  My body felt as if it had weights attached to every muscle group.  Breathing became more and more of an effort.  It was not my first time experiencing these symptoms, and I knew it was time to get to the ER due to a myasthenia gravis flare-up, yet I was the only one at home.  I began calling different friends who lived near me, but every single call went to voicemail.  My husband was miles away in Ohio performing a funeral for his dear aunt.  I thought to myself, should I call an ambulance? I didn't want to!  I prayed one more time and thought of my 16-year-old son, just down the road, working at Zaxby's.  I called his manager and told her I was having a medical emergency and needed my son to take me to the nearby ER.  I bumped my way down the stairs in a sitting position, one step at a time.  Joey quickly made it home and helped me into the car, and delivered me safe and sound to the ER.  I assured him he could leave me to the professionals, and get himself back to work.

It wasn't long before I was in a room receiving my IVIG treatments.  Many were praying that this would be effectual to my healing or going back into remission.

A week later I was back in bed with muscle weakness, then back to the ER to try a plasmapheresis (plasma exchange) treatment at the recommendation of my neurologist. 

The following is what I wrote in a previous blog:

"After 16 years of living with myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease), I long for physical healing. This last hospital stay was for five days of plasmapheresis (plasma exchange). Polluted antibodies were removed, and replaced with fresh plasma. I picture the Holy Spirit coming in and removing my sin and replacing it with more of Himself.  May I long more for the table He sets before me. The wine representing His cleansing blood, cleansing mine. The bread His body, broken for me, that I might be whole.  By His stripes, I am healed, in this life or the next!"

I felt much better after the plasmapheresis.  I began to enjoy the beauty of a made bed again!  Those with a chronic illness know what a privilege it is to get up and make the bed, rather than spend the day in it.

My friends, I continue to learn more and more about "walking by faith and not by sight."  I feel my mind and body are being renewed yet I don't always see it.  I continue to experience "unmade bed" days.  Days where walking to the restroom seems like climbing Mt. Everest, only much warmer :)

I want to SEE my body strong, and my bed made, every day.  Please pray I will find joy in walking by FAITH instead. 

"While we are waiting, God is working." (Pastor Michael Youssef)

What about you?  Are you willing to stand on God's promises and "walk by faith, not by sight?” 

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com

Jesus Restores by Cheryl Lutz

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten..” (Joel 2:25, King James Version)

I was standing in the fitting room gazing into the mirror contemplating my choice, when the voice of my teenage daughter interrupted my thoughts.  “Did you find one, Mom?”  I affirmed; then her next words rocked my little fitting room world.  Well, let me see!

Gulp! She seriously wanted to see it.  I regretfully admit that this was one of the first shopping trips we had ever gone on together without angry words being tossed back and forth.  But this day had been different. My firstborn girl and I were having a beautiful time at the mall together.

I didn't want to alter the mood, so I sheepishly opened the door. To our mutual horror, her face melted before my eyes as she screamed, “Eww…not on!”  I quickly closed the door feeling mortified as I heard giggling coming from the surrounding rooms.  

She is now 24 years old, and we laugh hysterically about the day I opened the fitting room door shirtless, to show her the bra I had chosen. We also rejoice in the fact that we are now close friends.

My girls and me.  Hannah is on the left

 

Dear Ones, it was not always like this.  We allowed worlds to collide with my fashion-loving girl and our fishbowl existence as a Pastor's family.

I confess many times I objected to her clothing based more on what others might think, rather than personal and biblical convictions.  I allowed Satan to drive a wedge between one of my children and me.

Do you fight with your teens about clothing?  Are your convictions based on biblical principles or are they more about fear of what others think?

Stop and pray now for wisdom.  Open the lines of communication and ask for forgiveness for ungodly responses.  Explain the beauty and blessing of honoring our Heavenly Father in all things, including our clothing.  Make sure the bottom line is about glorifying Him, and not primarily about trying to meet other’s expectations. 

Like me, have you allowed the locusts (our enemy) to eat precious years with your children?  Take heart!  As we seek His face and obedience to His word he fulfills His promise to: “Restore the years the locusts have eaten!”  What He has done for my girl and me, He will do for you too!

Throwback of Hannah

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com

Still Waters by Cheryl Lutz

                (Thoughts from Phillip Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23)

  

“For sheep, it is the shepherd who finds the water. Very often, he is the one who with much effort and industry has provided the watering places.  Water is essential for the sheep’s well being.”  Phillip Keller

Likewise the water is essential for the well being of humans as well, but not just physically.” The human soul also has a capacity and need for the water of the Spirit of the eternal God.

Every human soul has a thirst for God, but sadly, many try to quench it with things of the world, which do not assuage the longing. 

As St. Augustine said many years ago, “O God! Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls are restless, searching, ‘till they find their rest in Thee.”

“Only the shepherd knows where the sheep can find still, clean, pure water, water that will truly satisfy.  Unfortunately, sheep will often settle for polluted potholes, where they pick up a disease.” Phillip Keller 

Sadly, we humans are much the same.  Like Esau, we often settle for a pot of porridge over our birthright. 

Outside and inside the church, addictions continue to rise.  Drug, alcohol, sex, spending, you name it.  Many are trying to satisfy their thirst for God with polluted potholes, which make them sick. 

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (satisfied).”

We must continually eat and drink from the Word of God. 

In John chapter 4 we learn the story of a Samaritan woman who has gone to the city well, to draw water.  She encounters Jesus there. He teaches her about Himself (the living water).  He explains that if she receives His Spirit by faith, repenting of her sins, and giving her life to Him, her thirst will be satisfied for eternity. This woman was a great sinner, yet she came face to face with a GREAT Savior.  She had had five husbands, and the man she was currently living with was not her husband.

Friends that is why Jesus came to this earth, to satisfy our thirst and bring forgiveness for our sins! He says in Luke: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32 NASB)

What about you?  Are you restless? Is your heart thirsty? Do you long for the abundant life that Jesus promised? 

Is it possible that you know the forgiveness of Christ, but you haven’t forgiven yourself? 

Come away by the still waters and find rest for your weary soul.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com