God Heard My Prayers and Rescued Me!

Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I can’t lie.  Last week I hit an all-time low.  I was recuperating from surgery and instead of my pain getting better, it was becoming worse and more widespread.  I called the nurse on Thursday to make sure this was normal as my healing seemed to be going in the wrong direction.   She called me back that evening and said unfortunately, the nerves were waking up and all of the extra pain was very normal.  Then she proceeded to say, “Oh, you’re six days from surgery, your pathology reports should be in.  Let me see what they said.”  Then she started ho-humming around about the computer being slow and not working, then she delayed a little more and then I started to worry.  Could it say something bad that she doesn’t want to tell me?

She was already deep into the fact that the report should be there and she could give me the results so at that point she was committed.  Eventually, she said, “They took three lymph nodes and the good news is that two of them looked good.  There were just a few cancer cells found in the third one.  It’s a very small amount it probably doesn’t mean anything.  They will probably take care of it with a little extra radiation in that area and maybe some chemo.”  At that point she had lost me.  In my mind, even just one cancer cell in your bloodstream is one too many.  As I tried to stay positive and focus on the baby shower we were having here that weekend for my daughter, I was struggling to stay on top of things.  I found myself curled up in bed more often trying to sleep my cares away.  I could tell that Jim was beginning to worry about me as it really isn’t my nature to be down for long.

I knew in my heart this was a job for God. Sunday I went to church and found a few friends who I knew were prayer warriors.  I asked them if they would please pray with me after the service.  By that point I knew that I was allowing my focus on God to wane while my focus on my worries grew.  The sermon highlighted the scripture from Proverbs 3:5-6.  It reads Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  I memorized that verse over twenty-five years ago so it didn’t strike me as anything new.  However, as the service went forward the Holy Spirit showed me over and over how I had taken my eyes off of God and put them on my fears of things that may or may not lie ahead.  I was not trusting in God at that point.  I was leaning on my own understanding.

After the service my friends swooped in to come pray for me as I had asked.  They probably saw me crying through most of the service and knew they were on a God Mission to pray for me!  I was a mess!  We all prayed but my pain and sadness didn’t disappear right away.  It wasn’t some miraculous and immediate change.  However, as the night went on I eventually felt the burden of my illness leave my shoulders and the Holy Spirit take His place once again in my life.  As I’m writing, it’s been three days since we prayed and my pain is becoming much better too.  I’m giving God the praise and glory for this huge change in me physically, mentally and spiritually!

I won’t know what the oncology team has to say about my lymph node until tomorrow. However, for today I am no longer a blubbering mess.  I am at peace with whatever lies ahead.  No.  I’m not going to like it if because of this new finding I am faced with more diagnostic tests, more surgeries and/or extra chemotherapy that I was not expecting.  I will probably see more down days if this is the case as I am only human.  However, moving forward I will be making sure that I’m focused on God.  I’m trusting Him that whatever comes my way is the path that He has ordained for me to travel.  I’m no longer leaning on my own understanding.   I am putting Him in control once again for that is where I find joy and peace.

I know I’m not the only one facing hard times right now.  What are you worrying about that shouldn’t be?  Are you leaning on the Lord or on your own understanding?  Take time today to tell God of your fears and worries and ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life and give you peace over your circumstances. Get into the Word and seek encouragement from its pages.  Perhaps you have a friend that needs prayer like me.  Maybe this week you don’t need the blessing but need to be the blessing to someone else.

Many have sent me scriptures of encouragement over the last several weeks.  Please enjoy the greatness of our Lord as you read God’s words below.

Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)  When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Psalm 71:14 As for me, I will always have hope: I will praise you more and more.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

Isn’t God good?!  Have a blessed week!

A Happy Heart Is Rooted in God’s Love

Image courtesy of Archipoch at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Archipoch at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As I am recouperating from my surgery, I have decided to focus on God’s love since it is the traditional love month of February.  With that in mind, I thought it was only fitting to share a love letter from God to you.  I hope that with this video you might be reminded of the love your Savior has for you!  My prayer for you is that His Love might take root in your hearts in a new and exciting way as you bask in the unfailing, all-giving, unconditional love He has for you!  Be blessed and don’t forget to be a blessing!

Love you all!

God’s Love Letter

P.S.  I can’t control the ads on you tube so if there is an ad over this when you play it, just click on the “x” in the right hand corner of the ad to close it.  That will allow you to see the entire screen.  Enjoy and don’t forget…how deeply God loves us all!

How’s Your Love Life?

dance as thoughWho or what is on top of your love list?  There was a time in my life that I tried to keep everything in balance…even my relationship with God.  Heaven forbid someone think I’ve gone over the edge and call me a Jesus Freak!  Today if someone gave me that title I would simply reply, “Thanks for noticing,” and never give it another thought.   I have learned that my love life is in perfect balance when God is Number One in my life.  Nothing else should take His place.

Lately I’ve been thinking about my life and how I have lived it in the past.  Did I love others as I should?  Did I put stupid things above the important things in my life that should have had first place?  I can’t go back and change the past but moving forward I can strive to do better.  In fact, if I have confessed my past mistakes to God, He doesn’t even remember them.  Why should I?

With my recent diagnosis of breast cancer the saying about you should “Dance as though no one is watching…” has brought a whole new meaning to my life.  Today it reminds me that I have once chance here on earth.  I can enjoy my time dancing through my life and living as though this was heaven; or I can be bound by my fears, shortcomings and lack of balance in my life while dwelling on the things that don’t matter.  If given the option, I think we would all want to live our lives to the fullest.

As we go into February—the traditional month for love—I hope that you will take time to reflect.  Who do you love or should I say what do you love most?  Is Jesus Number One in your life?  If He is not, what do you need to change to put Him there?

Please take a minute and praise God for His goodness in your life.  If there is someone who has touched your life along the way, take the time to thank God for them as well.  I have been reminded once again that no matter the miles, time or circumstances that separate us from those we love; there is NOTHING that can separate us from the Love of God.  He should always be our Number One!

How’s your love life?

Romans 8:38-39  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 1:16-17…For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…