Living Your Best Life! Light Comes After the Darkness

Living Your Best Life!

Greetings!

The winter days have instilled in us a search for spring, for daylight, for deep, rich hues of green, and for the neverending feeling of hope.

Join the Best Life Ministries Staff, and some of our dear friends, as we take a closer look at our search past the darkness of night, into the light and hope of a new day ... spring ... and NEW LIFE.

MARCH 2013

The Joy of Hoping

By: Exec. Dir.,

Kathy A. Weckwerth

Psalm 30:5b "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

The story is a familiar one mixed with sadness and joy. My heart never grows weary of reading it and I often place myself in the setting, allowing myself to walk through the last days with the Savior, before His death.

We watch as He agonizes in the garden praying, all the while His friends are asleep. He faces Judas and the betrayal "kiss" while the disciples stand watching. He goes before Pilate and endures a decree that He will be put to death. And He is crucified. Alone ... alone ... alone.

On the night of the crucifixion, all hope seemed lost. Darkness abounded. An innocent Savior was given up to selfish, sinful mankind, and pain and suffering was His, as He hung on a cross, deserted by His disciples and by His Heavenly Father. It had to be that way. For the sins of men to be covered, for God to have a bridge between us and Him, Jesus had to pay the cost.

Luke 23:43 tells us it was 6:00 and darkness came over the whole land until 9:00, and the "sun stopped shining." Perhaps you're like many of us who are living in Minnesota's dreadful winters. Days go by and the sun does not shine. Night passes its baton to the morning. But without sun, and with snow, it seems dismal as weeks pass into months. During those hours, because a dark veil of blackness signifying death, sin, sorrow, torment and persecution, all hung heavy in the air, in the dark bleakness of something so far more dreary than winter.

Watching His Son die for us, God does not come to His Son's rescue, for it must be done for us to have eternal life. But God does something wonderful by speaking to us through His beautiful actions regarding the veil in the Holy Temple.

The large blue, purple and scarlet curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, an inner room in the temple that symbolized God's presence, was the barrier between God and man, and now God tore it from top to bottom (Mk. 15:38). Historians think that this veil was 60-80 feet high.

No man could say that a human had done this. This curtain separated man from God. Only once a year the High Priest was allowed to enter into God's presence to make atonement for the sins of Israel.

God has unveiled Himself to allow His Son, Jesus Christ, to stand between us. No more curtains are needed. Just a Lamb offered up on a cross to atone for our sins.

For whatever reason, the words of Christ, before His crucifixion, didn't seem to be retained in the memory banks of His followers. When He was still with them in Galilee, He told them He would be given up to sinful men to be crucified, and on the third day He would be raised up. They didn't remember His words, and so they succumbed to the horrific grief of how death holds one captive. Darkness falls to night, and the darkness and nighttime continue for them. There is no hope ... or so they believe.

But three days later, just after sunrise, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and Mary Magdalene take spices to anoint Jesus' body, only to find an angel who tells them "He has risen!"

Darkness is over. Death has been defeated. Hope is restored.

A vertical curtain has been torn and replaced with a horizontal bridge of

Jesus Christ the Risen Lord.

What amazing hope ... what glorious victory ... what wonderful encouragement that things may look bleak at night ... but joy comes with the morning!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

For more from Executive Director, Kathy A. Weckwerth, you can find her blog, "Lifelines" at http://bestlifeministries.com/best-life-lifelines/

Pat Russell

Blessed Assurance

(making my way back from a heart attack)

By: Pat Russell

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 started out like any other Tuesday. The alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., and I rolled over to turn it off. I got out of bed, went downstairs to take my shower, get dressed, and head back upstairs to eat breakfast (a healthy bowl of Cheerios). I also made time to read chapter 100 from Psalms before brushing my teeth.

Before I was finished, both Sam and Liam (my two youngest sons) as well as my wife Kim, were up for the day, which is a little unusual since I'm normally out the door before they wake up. I gave them all a kiss goodbye and reached for the door handle that led me out to the garage and off to work. However, as I turned the handle I suddenly noticed a feeling like heartburn. I thought this was rather strange because I just couldn't think of anything I had eaten the day before which would give me this kind of heartburn. I shrugged it off and got in the car, backed out of the garage, and headed for work.

I soon realized that the further away I got from home, the worse the pain became.

By the time I reached the downtown traffic light, (approximately 8 blocks away) the pain in my chest really started to hurt. By the time I had travelled two blocks further the pain had travelled to my arms. Just before I reached the final intersection to turn for work, the pain was really strong between my shoulders and I decided I should forgo work and head straight to the hospital. By the time I reached that intersection, I realized there was no way I would make it to the hospital. Normally I would have pulled over and called home with my cell phone. However, this was the one day I had forgotten it in the kitchen. As I turned my car around and headed back, I felt a warm sensation start at my head and flow down my body to my feet. At this point, I knew I was going to die. The funny thing was, there was absolutely no fear. I was completely at peace about what was happening to me.

I prayed, "Okay Lord, if this is it....I'm ready.

But I really hate leaving my kids without a father." My father died when I was 12 years old and it really had a huge impact on me emotionally, not to mention the impact it had on my mother who was left to raise me alone on a very limited income.

I looked ahead of me and saw a hill. The pain at this point was intense and made it very difficult to breathe. As the light changed to green I prayed again,

"Lord, if I'm to make it up the hill You're going to have to help me. Give me the strength I need."I started up the hill and eventually made it home.

Kim was standing in the kitchen cleaning up the counter when I stumbled back into the house. I made my way to the kitchen table; sat down, and told her to call 911 ... I was having a heart attack. She asked if she should take me to the hospital and I told her, "

No, I won't make it. Call 911."

Soon afterward I found myself in the back of the ambulance racing toward the hospital. They quickly took me up to the second floor and into the cardiac cath lab where they performed an angioplasty and inserted a stint. The type of heart attack I had is called the "Widow Maker."

A piece of plaque had broken off and had caused a 100% blockage of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery of my heart. According to medical sources, "

Because the LAD provides much of the blood flow for the left ventricle, which in turn provides much of the propulsive force for ejecting oxygenated blood to systemic circulation via the aorta, blockage of this artery is particularly associated with mortality."

Hmmm, associated with mortality. I think that means that this type of heart attack results in death.

I was in the hospital for about three and a half days. I think my cardiologist felt sorry for me and let me go home prior to the week-end just so I'd stop asking him to send me home.

During that time in the hospital I spent a good amount of time reading, praying, and thanking the Lord for allowing me to continue on this spinning orb and be privileged to watch my children grow up and live their lives. I noticed that all four of my kids were pretty glad I was still around (as well as my wife). I thought about that and about the prayer I said in the car before I made it up the hill and eventually back home.

On Wednesday evening Kim came in and brought my phone with her (yes, the one I left at home on that Tuesday morning). On it was a text message from my brother who is a missionary in the Philippines. It had come Tuesday evening around 5:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. for him). In it he said that his daughter told him about my heart attack, and that he prayed for me immediately. He said that as he prayed, it was as if the Lord was speaking to his heart. He felt the Lord say that I would live to play with my youngest sons' children. That message really shook me.

Wow, God really heard that prayer. And He really cared about what I had said.

As I look back at that whole experience I see that God is always with us, and He always hears us. More than that, He always cares about us. There have been times since then that I have felt almost disappointed. It's as if I knew where I was going, but decided not to go. It's hard to explain. I'm more than thankful for every day that I have here to be with my family, and do what I can to make sure that we all participate in that last great reunion. But part of me sometimes thinks, "I could have been there."

Sunrise in Duluth

Chandra Jean

PUSHING PAST TO THE LIGHT

(finding your way through transition, while remaining hope-filled)

By: Chandra J. Arne

Of course when I think about hope, new life and waiting to break through the darkness to the light of day, I think of my transition to Kansas City.

The unknown of what was going to happen, where life was going to take me, was overwhelming. Was I going to sink or swim? Would I move back to Minnesota? I had no friends. I had left my family. I didn't know even know how to get to the Walmart down the street. Many days I went home and cried because I had nothing. I had to start from the bottom up. My mother had to encourage me daily. She told me to depend on God.

I had a favorite song that detailed that journey. Some of the words were as follows:
"Staring up into the heavens in this hell that binds your hands, will you sacrifice your comfort make your way in a foreign land? Wrestle with your darkness, angels call your name. Can you hear what they are saying? Will you ever be the same?

Remember, remember and never forget, all of your life has all been a test You will find the gate that's open even though your spirit's broken. Open up my heart and cause my lips to speak. Bring the heaven and the stars down to earth for me...will you ever be the same?"

This song spoke to me about making my way through a foreign land and gave me a sort- of "self discovery." I realized that no matter how broken your spirit is, the Gates of Heaven are always open to you and that God will accept you for who you are, will support you, and will offer you hope .... No matter how dark the night or circumstances seem.

Today, I think of what I thought I was going to be five years ago. I only knew I wanted to be a chiropractor. I had NO IDEA in a million years I would be this ambitious person who would be so much more than just a chiropractor. Someone who did whatever it took to learn the most and be the best I could be so that I would be the best doctor I could be, to heal the most people I could heal.

My favorite doctor, Dr. Bowers, once told us that Jesus used His hands to heal the sick, the weak, and the wounded. "Chiro" in greek means hands. "Practor" means practitioner. With our hands, we heal the sick, the weak, and the wounded. Not with pills and drugs, but with hands. I am more passionate about my profession than I have ever been (which is hard to believe). And in two more months, I am marrying Justin, who is a chiropractor as well.

I also think of a song that I LOVE that says, "It's always darkest before the dawn." How true is that?!

The biggest turning points are the most uncomfortable, the most difficult, and definitely the most trying. It is the journey and the faith you have while you travel through your life, that strengthens you.

All of this would have never come to be, without the move to Kansas ... without pushing past the unknown, the fear ... and the darkness.

On this road that we're traveling...

We are each given tools.

Every time we struggle through something and get to the other side, we are given another tool... tools of experience and knowledge. These tools go into our toolbox. If we look to the left and to the right, we will see others traveling this journey next to us. Remember that you have tools to help others... the tool of knowledge, experience, kindness and love... the tools God has given you. Use your gifts talents and knowledge to help one another on this journey called... Life.

Kathy Weckwerth

"The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the BEST pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.' "

Psalm 32:8 NLT

Advice from: Ask Dr. Deb

Question: With all of rumors about our drinking clean safe water, do you think it's important for my family to filter our drinking water from our tap, or just strictly drink bottled water?

Answer: In the United States, many of us have come to believe bottled water is "healthier" for us. Currently, US consumers drink 7 billion gallons of bottled water per year. The bottled water craze has created many tons of garbage and also consumes large amount of energy through the bottling process and transportation of the bottled water.

Is bottled water healthier and safer? For most of us, the answer to that question is "NO". Strict regulations control the safety of tap water supplies. These regulations call for strict monitoring for harmful chemicals and bacteria. This keeps municipal water supplies safe. If you have a well, you must monitor your own well to insure that the water is safe, through annual testing for bacteria and nitrates.

The use of a carbon filter for your water system can remove organic chemicals and pesticides from the water, but filters do not remove bacteria. Filtering your water supply can improve the taste.

There are SOME conditions where drinking bottled water may be safer. If you have a suppressed immune system for any reason, bottled water may be a safer choice. If you are traveling in any area of our country or other countries where the water supply may not be safe, bottled water is the best choice.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind with water is the importance of drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day. Taste can be an issue with water so find a taste you like and drink up!!

Yours in health and in Him, Dr. Deb Peterson water

All Things Gracefully Blue~

BLM's Favorite Things

Feeling the winter blues? Fight back and take some steps to make the winter days go by quickly! Check out our suggestions for fun things to decorate your home, perfume, movies to watch and books to read!

Some FABULOUS MOVIES FOR YOU!

1) James Stewart in "You Can't Take it With You"

2) Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music"

3) Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday"