Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies
Wow. What a great and honest prayer from today’s devotion.
“God, I’m scared and I feel so alone. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through this. Please be with me and silence my fear. Remind me of your strength and power in my life, and comfort me with your presence. Amen.”
The most thoughtful and memorable gift my parents ever gave me was a set of three gloves.
This gift was so thoughtful as each glove represented a sport that I was keenly interested in.
These were gifts on my birthday when I was in my early twenties and I still have these gloves, almost.
The first pair are cross country ski gloves. A wool inner liner and a very supple leather outer cover.
The second pair were for sailing. They got used sailing with friends on their boats or when skippering my Fireball. Now a days I’m using them on the Oarboard for rowing.
The third pair is the “almost” pair as they were stolen ☹️. This pair were Solomon down hill ski gloves made extra special by a large “S” on the back of the hand for Solomon or was it for Stewart??
Anyway on a cool day I was riding my Honda 550F and parked it to briefly go into a store. I locked the Helmut to the bike and stuffed the gloves in the Helmut. A short time in the store and the gloves were gone when I came out. I still miss those gloves.
The glove trio remind me of my parents love and the effort and thoughtfulness behind the gift. I remember them fondly when use these gloves many years later.
The truth is that God wants to talk with you about your decisions, and is waiting for you to bring these decisions to Him.
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Cling to God’s Promises
What do you think about?
The thoughts you fill your mind with are crucial because what you cling to influences your worldview.
If you choose to dwell on God’s promises, you start to recognize God’s blessings during uncertain times. Trusting that God will redeem your present pain equips you to walk forward in faith and keep on fighting.
Isaiah 12:2 reminds us that we belong to a God who is faithful to keep His promises. This God rescues us and fights for us. So when we belong to God, we have nothing to fear—all we need to do is cling to God and wait on Him to act.
So as you walk forward today, reflect on some of God’s promises, and let them transform the way you think:
God will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22)
God’s peace will guard your heart. (Philippians 4:7)
God delights over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
God will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. (Psalm 32:8)
God is your refuge and strength, your help in times of need. (Psalm 46:1)
In all things, you are more than a conqueror because God loves you. (Romans 8:37)
God will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
God’s perfect love casts out all your fear. (1 John 4:18)
Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:38-39)
God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. (Philippians 1:6)
Delight that it’s finally completed!
So, back in June of 2022 I was at the dentist complaining about some pain in one of my molars. This molar had a root canal and crown done a while back and I didn’t think anything else could go wrong with that tooth but, apparently I was wrong! The opinion was that the root had cracked and the only remedy was an extraction.
This particular molar was the last one on the lower right side so it is kind of important for chewing so just an extraction is not the end of the story. The further recommendation is to get an implant and oh by the way start saving. My dentist gives me an estimate of around $3,500!
Confirm the diagnosis by having a consult with a specialist and a panoramic X-ray. This happens on 2022/7/31 and sure enough the specialist agrees and recommends the implant as well. He makes a referal to Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery and the journey gets officially underway.
I meet Maxillo on 2022/9/28. this appointment was delayed by some other health issues but I’m finally able to sit in the chair. I’m assigned an implant specialist and the first thing he does is another fancy X-ray just like in Step 1 even though I had that X-ray sent over to Maxillo. They want their own and up to date image. They too confirm that implant is the way to go and by the time I leave the office I have a detailed estimate of the cost and an appointment for the extraction.
Extract the tooth – 2023/01/12. This is the least favourite of the steps. They are super professional and in exactly one hour, as per the estimate, it’s done. The tooth is extracted and the resulting “hole” is packed with bone graft material. Now I need to wait a minimum of 6 months for everything to heal and the bone graft material to take hold. After 2 weeks there is a quick checkup to make sure things are healing properly.
Place the Implant – 2023/09/12
This is the post that they are going to screw into my jaw bone.
And to help them place it exactly there has been another hi-tech pano x-ray and the results are up on the screen in the procedure room.
Once the post is “implanted” a cap is put on the top and I’m on my way for another 3 month wait for this to heal up.
The next appointment is a quick visit for a “torque test” where they ensure the post is solidly in place by putting a torque wrench, a very small one, on the post and give it a twist to ensure it can handle the tooth being bolted on. At this point the Maxillo team has completed their work and I’m handed off back to my dentist. Why the two organizations? Turns out it’s a licensing thing that the oral surgeons can’t hold the two licensed required by the Manitoba Government to perform both type of work. Other provinces can, but not in Manitoba.
On 2023/12/18 I’m back at my dentist’s office and they take impressions to send off to the lab to have my new tooth created. Impressions are made by biting into those huge metal trays filled with goop like play-doh except it hardens quite quickly and while this is happening you try to not choke. ?
On 2024/01/09 the tooth is back from the lab, after an unexpected 2 week delay due to a parts shortage, and it’s time to install the finished product. And here it is!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo from the top of the tooth where you would see a hole going straight down into the silver metal part. This is where they will insert a bolt and torque the tooth to the post. At this point there is another X-ray to ensure that the tooth is seated properly.
At this point things are looking good and the top of the tooth where the bolt went in is covered with dental material to finish the install. Some buffing and polishing and I’m done and the tooth is ready for use immediately.
It’s good to have it completed. A procedure that should have taken 9 months was extended due to my other health issues to 18 months. Steak dinner tonight. ?
On December 20, 2023 Shirley and I attended Easton and Clark’s school Christmas Concert at St. John Brebeuf School.
The concert was an excellent Christ centred production that involved K-6 and told the traditional Christmas story in a fun kid friendly way with some contemporary twists. Our seats were in the centre of the sanctuary which provided a good view of the production but was a little far back for my camera and len. I cropped all the photos to emphasis the stage and performers which resulted in photographs like this.
I put all the concert photos over on my flickr site at Easton & Clark Christmas Concert 2023.
Of course we were there primarily to see Easton and Clark who were buried in with all their classmates. Here is Easton’s group. That’s him just to the left of the Rosenthal’s sign in the back row.
Easton in the centre with the green head band.
Similarly, Clark’s in a large group with his class.
The good looking guy in the centre. ?
And then there is the grand finale with everyone on stage and spilling off on both sides.
Come…
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, come.
If you’re feeling grateful or expectant, come.
If you’re feeling joyful or grievous, confident or doubtful, encouraged or frustrated, come.“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
Psalm 95:6There’s something about falling on our faces before the One who created us—and everything that exists—that reminds us of who He is and who we are not.
When was the last time you stopped—in your car, in your kitchen, in your rushing, in your humanness—to simply come to God?
When you notice a gorgeous sunset, come.
When you can’t see through your tears, come.
When you’re captivated by a child’s smile, come.
When you’re overwhelmed by bad news, come.
When you’re motivated to make an impact, come.
When you’re deflated beyond words, come.Come to the Lord, your Maker.
He has already come to you.
Wow, God is listening to me.
I saved the verse image and I’m sure I had some more profound insight and thoughts. I should have added my thoughts right then and there. Note to self ?
Waiting seems to be a big theme in a lot of the Bible. The challenge I think is to wait confidently
