"Nothing I Desire Compares to You!"

Praises! Praises! Bone scan is clean! Thankful! Humbled! Blessed! Thank you, Sweet Lord!

CT scan this morning was for my liver. Haven't gotten the result, yet, but have confidence in the mercy of Jesus! He gets praises before, during & after answers! Praise doesn't hinge on answers... praise relies soley on I AM! So, praises!

CT & bone scans don't physically hurt at all. They're just huge x-ray machines, but there are steps needed to be taken for these machines & Techs to do their jobs. First step is to drink a container of Barium. Now, not to brag, but I'm a world class Barium chugger. I can get that stuff down like nobody' s business! (Not sure how we can send people to the moon, but not get this process a bit easier, but, oh well!) If you ever need a Barium cheerleader in your corner, just call on me!

OK, Step 1, Barium down. Step 2 IV (easy enough), then, lay still, follow directions on breathing & pictues taken. Step 3 Iodine injection into IV to "light up" for the next pictures. This doesn't hurt but is the weirdest sensation! Within seconds of the injection, an extremely warm sensation starts at the top of your head & imediately heads down your body. It can be felt as it travels through the veins & it's just crazy! This allows a few more pictures to be taken. That's it. CT done.

Before removal of the IV, another Tech injects Contrast in preparation for the bone scan. Doesn't hurt but tastes like metal for a few seconds. This REALLY "lights you up" (enough to actualy set an airport security system off!) Crazy! This must stay in one's system for 3 hours before the scan can be done. Hospital staff sends you to breakfast to eat & drink before returning for bone scan.

The bone scan takes about a half hour of laying very still & relaxed. Doesn't hurt at all & I find is a great time for good conversation with the Lord. I've shared before that I ask the Spirit to give me a praise song in that machine. I know hundreds of praise songs, but want Him to choose it for me, so I go in with an open mind & do my best to listen to what He wants from me.

Today, there were 2 songs coming to mind over & over that I sang to Him.
"Lord, you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, & nothing I desire compares with You!" & "You are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek, You are my All in All!"

I've sung these songs for years, & can't really say either is a particular favorite over other songs, but that's the word today, so, I sang! As I sang, I began to think of things I desire, things I want in life... to be clean of cancer, live many more years with Mike & my children. Have many more years with my grandchildren & watch them grow. See the church mature & prosper, enjoy friendships, work in ministry, go & see & do, etc, etc. (I actually have a lengthy list of "wants".) Then, repeated the verses again & again. "NOTHING I desire compares to You!" & "You are the Treasure that I seek." I wrestled in my spirit to see if I really meant these words... is there ANYTHING or ANYONE that compares to You? Is being free of cancer even in the same ballpark as knowing & living in You? Can my marriage, children or grandchildren share the same level of comparison as my salvation in You? So many of the things I want are good things... but, I have to say, not one of these desires compares to the love, mercy & saving grace given me by Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to Him. No one is His equal.

So, today, the CT & bone scans served as conduits for praise time to my gracious Father. X-ray machines were quiet respites for prayer & He sent His word to me- that NOTHING compares to Jesus. With the peace that comes from Him, He confirmed - again- that He's got me. That no matter the answers, no matter the circumstance or events, He cannot be compared to anything I know, love or want in this life.

I thank you, Father, for Your answer today in granting me a clean bone scan! You're my strength since I'm weak & I really thank You, because I want this so very, very much! I believe with all my heart, even this desire doesn't compare to Your glory! So, today, I walk away from the bone scan still believing that keeping You as my #1 desire is paramount in my life. All the other blessings & desires of life are incredible, gracious gifts from You. I thank you for those gifts- I cherish them- but I don't compare them.

You are the Tresure that I seek.

Blessings!