Silver Lining of Covid....series....Part 4

 As you know I am sharing a series about the silver lining that came out of my experience with Covid. God was faithful and I am so thankful for that!! 

One of the silver linings is that this experience helped build my faith! I had to! I spent many hours over these 3 weeks praying! When I say many hours - I did not spend a whole hour praying - but I prayed many times. I have a rough time sleeping and I was up many times. And when I would get myself set back in bed- I would spend time praying to God for healing, not only for me but for the 7 other people that I knew had Covid. I lifted them up to Jesus. I prayed for all those sick with it- or anything else. I prayed for all the people I knew that were experiencing any aches or pains or any issues. Sometimes I just prayed for people I knew and told Jesus - you know what is going on in their live and I ask you to bless them draw them closer to you! I found myself praying day and night. I even prayed that God would eradicate Covid. I hate anyone having to go through it. 

So after 2 weeks of being sick and realize I was going down hill - this was the time I really had to hold onto my faith. God brought to my mind a passage in Scriptures that speaks of Daniel praying and having to wait 3 weeks for an answer. 

12

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  Daniel 10:12- 13 

And to be honest with you. I felt that this was the case with me. That I had prayed for healing but there was a battle going on behind the scenes. God was wanting to bring me healing but the devil did not want that to happen. I prayed for angels that excelled in strength to be sent forth to fight for me. And asked for protection for myself because I felt like:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 

1 Peter 5:8

And I knew that I needed God to fight for me. 

I read Psalms 91 and 23 ever single day - sometimes several times. I put my whole trust in Jesus Christ because I knew He was the only one who could heal me. I had to have faith and my faith grew through this. I couldn't help but come out of it with more faith.  

Just one more of the silver linings from my experience with Covid. I am SO grateful that there were silver linings. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

Silver Linings of Covid...series....part 3

 In all of my life I do not ever remember getting and knocked on my butt as I was during my 3 weeks of being sick with Covid. I think that it what lead to the silver lining that I will be sharing about today. 

Gratitude for being alive has been something that has brought me great joy over the last few weeks. I think I have always had gratitude but I have it at such a higher level now. There are many times throughout the day that I am just overwhelmed with being thankful to be alive. Thankful to be able to get back to taking care of my self. I am grateful that I am able to take care of my home and my garden. There for a few days - I did not have the energy to even walk to the kitchen to look out my kitchen window at my garden. And I actually had to come to a place of being ok if I lost the garden. Because I couldn't do anything about it. When you get do unable to do things - it makes you so thankful and grateful when you are finally able to do them again. 

There were a couple of days that I could not even take a shower. Then tried one day and it just totally sent me to having to do a breathing treatment and using my oxygen boost and trying to get my numbers under control - caused me to have a migraine. The next day I did a bit better and then the next even better. It was like daily I was able to a bit more- and each new accomplishment brought me great joy! 

I find myself just feeling so much gratitude to God for being alive and I just have to say: 

"Thank you Jesus for getting me through!" 

"Thank you for not forsaking me!!" 

"Thank You Jesus!" 

I am so thankful for the silver linings that I have received from my bout with Covid. Would I ever want to go through that again? NO!! But I am thankful for the blessings that God brought to me through this experience! 

Be sure to come back next week - we have at least 2 more posts! :O) 

Silver Linings of Covid...series...part 2

 Being sick with Covid for 3 weeks was tough but God blessed me through this time period and I was able to find the silver linings. 

I had already decided that I needed to change my hair style. I have done my hair the same way for years and years. You know when you find a good thing, why change? Well several things had convinced me that it was time to let it grow out. At my last hair cut in June we had tweeked one tiny thing with the plans of continuing the process. I had tried to change my hair at least once or twice but usually only made it one hair cut. 

It has been hard to change hair styles because I was so used to seeing my hair fixed a certain way.  So June 15th I got sick and for 3 weeks I did not fix my hair. And gradually I got used to seeing my hair flat. I like volume up a bit and out on sides a bit. So when I don't fix it like I did - it is pretty flat. But for 3 weeks I did not fix my hair and I got used to seeing it flatter. So ever since then I have styled it differently. I had a hair cut last week and we began that letting it grow out - by cutting about 1 1/2 inches off of the back so that the layers will even up quicker. Next hair cut we will cut a bit more off of the back and the the sides can catch up. I hope I am able to find something that is flattering for me and I love! I love what my hair does in the back - I actually have some curl to it. I am hoping the longer my hair gets on the sides that I will maybe end up with some curl in it too! That would be awesome! 

So Covid was rough but there have been some blessings that have come out of it. I am glad that I took the time to noticed the silver linings of Covid. Next week I will share another silver lining! See you then! :O)

Silver Linings of Covid series...part 1

 I don't know if I conveyed the fact that Covid kicked my butt! It was the worst shape I have ever been in my life. For a couple of days I was afraid I would die. It had me in such bad shape that I could do hardly anything other than get to couch, bed, or bathroom. And I spent a whole lot of time sitting watching TV.  Although it was a very hard time for me - I have to admit that there were silver linings and I will do my best to share them with you.

I have shared with you in the past about falling on my left knee 2 different times in the last 3 years. Once in our RV from an elevated step - onto a hard floor- no carpet. Then just in the last year - I fell on it in our sunroom on a concrete floor. It has really bothered me. It is hard to knee on it and over the last several months I had noticed that I could not sit in one of my favorite ways to sit with my left knee. I like to sit on the couch with my left foot under my right knee or vice versa. And over the last several months I could NOT sit with my left knee under my right knee. It just hurt my left knee too much. I had tried ever so often to no avail. But some how - maybe God's mercy He healed it and while I spent way too much time on the couch - I was able to switch back and forth of which ankle under which knee. I am SO thankful for the healing of that - it really helped me get through the 3 weeks that I was sick. And this is just the first of at least 5 silver linings that came out of my experience with Covid. I hope you will keep coming back to see how God worked good things out of a bad situation. Praise be to God!!! :O) 

Sometimes Delays Are Blessings

Last week I shared how we had a memorial service to go to last week in San Antonio Texas. We had the option of driving 35W or 281- we choose 281. One of the reason we like taking the 281 route is that just north of Hamilton Texas is a store - Dutchman's Hidden Valley that we like to stop at. They make taffy and all sorts of chocolate candy. And we love to buy taffy the few times we go past this place. And this time we each got a chocolate covered peanuts- I got dark chocolate covered peanuts- yummy! It was quite expensive but yummy! 

Anyway towards the south side of town we came up to construction and had to wait a few minutes for our side to get to go. We stopped directly across from this!!! 

I had not noticed this the last time we drove through this town just a couple of months ago- 2x there and back. But it was a real blessing that we were stopped by construction or we would have never seen this nice display! 

With all the places taking down the 10 Commandments- it was refreshing to see a nice display of them here!! Sometimes delays are blessings! Be sure and keep your eyes open so you don't miss the blessing! :O) 

"hold on for the last half hour"

"The problem of getting great things from God is being able to hold on fort he last half hour."

When I read this statement in my Steams in the Desert Devotional book I knew I needed to share a recent experience. One in which had I not held on I would not have received the blessings from God- spiritual and physical. 

Several weeks ago in my Uninvited study group I shared a recent experience of mine. Instead of getting the acceptance and understanding I had expected, I began getting questions and statements that shut me down- I could feel a wall go up as I felt that this situation was no helping at all and I no longer wanted to even discuss it and I am sure that it was clear in my body language and demeanor. The discussion left me for a while and then the group facilitator, Amy, felt compelled to circle back around to me, going deeper into the idea that I had no handled the situation that I had shared perfectly. At that point all the pain in my life with feelings of rejection or not accepted started bubbling up in my heart and I knew I would be crying soon. So I, as nicely as I could, made my case and let them know they don't possibly know or understand all I am dealing with and that I am handling situations that arise the best I can. "I'm sorry I am not perfect but no one is perfect but God." is how I ended as I packed my things up and left. As I walked out of the room the majority of me really didn't want to go back for the last two meetings, thankfully God had a week to work with me.

During the week God helped me see that sometimes I have the tendency to do the same thing Amy had done. I have the tendency to ask questions and probably make people feel bad for what they did or make them feel as though I think they are wrong. And as I write this I am thinking it sure sounds like maybe I am trying to be the Holy Spirit for others. 

"Who am I to be the Holy Spirit to you?" 

A great quote from the sermon I heard last Sabbath that fits right in with this post. And reinforces that I am on the right track.   

Once I realized I struggle in the same way as Amy had and I realized that I want people to give me grace and acceptance, I knew I needed to continue with the classes. The next week it was a bit difficult to walk into the room, but God gave me the strength. I was happily surprised that some dynamics in the group had chanced for the positive. And the next two classes went much smoother. I have to admit that I did not talk much. I had felt like I had taken up enough of the class time already and I wanted to give the other ladies a chance to talk and I also wanted to hear what others had to say. And truth be told I didn't want to open the door to more hurt. Maybe if the class had continued longer I would have spoke up more, but honestly there were no questions asked or opportunities for me to speak up. I did not feel the nudge from the Holy Spirit to share so I listened. A lot can be learned by listening. 

At the end of the last class, Amy came up and slipped something in my pocket. I decided since she slipped it in, I would wait till I got to my car to see what it was. There were several ladies there that I wanted to visit with after the class. When I got to my car- this is what I pulled out of my pocket: 

She had worn a couple of these scriptural necklaces the first couple of meetings and I had commented on how much I liked them. And she had remembered that and bought one for me. That was so very sweet of him. As I look at this necklace it will remind me the importance of grace and acceptance and hopefully it will help remind me to be care of stepping on the Holy Spirits toes, by trying to do His job, which is not my job! 

After the meeting in which I left upset had I decided not to "hold on for the last half hour" and not gone back - instead of learning lessons, I could have become bitter. And the blessings God had in store for me would have escaped me. Holding on through the ups and downs and trusting God's heart when you don't see His hand - it is instrumental in growth and receiving His blessings. 

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My Best Deal/ A Blessing

Last week-end a town nearby was preparing for a big curbside pick up of trash. As my husband and I were driving to the bank- we noticed this on a side street- which called for us to turn right around and go look at it. It was in pretty good shape and so we loaded it up into our car!!! I had been wanting something like this for all my cats!

 

As soon as I got it home I cleaned it up and then we put it out in the sun room - where our kittens(that are a year old now) spend their nights. And I just have to say - all the cats love it!! They take turns- and as you can see - several can be on it at a time. It was our best deal - at ZERO dollars!! And a BIG blessing indeed!! Praise the Lord for His blessings!

We are thankful for this token of His love- little did we know that the week would begin with pretty tough trial- as always God was faithful through it all.

Getting Gas in God's Timing

Did you realize that even when you get gas could be something that is done in God's timing? I did not know until last week. Here is what happened:

My husband had planned on getting gas on his way home from work, but ended up working over a bit and by the time he was headed home - he was too tired. So he decided to wait until the week end and us go get gas. Well we had a lot of errands to run and by the time we were done - we just did not get around to getting the gas. So on Monday on his way home from work - he stopped by QT and filled up. This ended up being a blessing in more than one way. First of all the price for gas had been $1.68 when he filled up. The next morning on his way to work, he noticed prices of gas were $1.86. What a jump in price!

But that was not the biggest blessing. Tuesday morning I got a phone call. It was from the fraud department from our bank needing to speak to my husband. Well I got the phone number to my husband and waited patiently to hear what was going on. Well come to find out someone in Illinois had used my husbands debit card number to make 3 purchases - one of them was for over $100.00! These charges came through and then my husband stopped by QT, a normal place for him to stop, and got gas and the bank knew something was wrong and they cancelled his debit card. And then the next morning contacted us. So as you can see - had my husband gotten gas on Friday or on Sunday - as was his plan - it would have been much longer before this fraud was caught. And it would have been stressful for us indeed. The way it worked out - by him getting gas in God's timing - the problem was taken care of before we realized there was a problem.

I am praising God for this blessing. We don't realize how many blessings we have or how many times we are protected from harm and danger coming our way. God is good and only allows what could be beneficial to us to come our way. The things may be painful but God has promised to give us what we need for each day. As one of my favorite promises says- in my rendition of it- "As are your days, so shall be your strength!" Deut. 33:25b God provides what we need - we just need to look to Him. :O)

That's When It Happened... A Clever Idea

So a lady I know had shared on Facebook about how she organized her essential oils in a nail polish wall hanging rack. I thought it was an awesome idea. It would beat all of mine just huddled together in an out of the way -still causing some clutter for the view kind of way.

So because I thought it was a great idea - I started looking on the internet for them. Goodness- they can cost quite a bit. And being that I am kind of cheap - I decided to start looking at thrift stores for some kind of way to store my oils. About a month ago I thought I had found a great little shelf for them at a little thrift store. I had planned on taking a photo of it and sending it to my husband to ask him if he thought he could secure it to the wall sturdy enough to hold my oils. Well I got distracted by something and ended up leaving it behind. The next time I went in I looked for it but it was gone. I was disappointed. I continued looking for something that would work, but was not successful until this last Tuesday. That is when it happened! I actually found the exact same shelf I had seen a month ago and had thought it would work perfectly:

 

With two screws at the top and on in the middle towards the bottom of the shelf, it is securely mounted to the wall. The doors can be opened with ease - not disturbing anything inside.  

 Here is my oils collection. Oh I do have a lavender one also but we keep it in my room - because we diffuse that one in the evenings.

I am hoping, someday to find a great book that tells about what oils to use for what? But until them I just either look at the bottles and find suggestions or look on the internet.

Well I thought this was a special gift from God. He knew that it would work perfectly and by the way - the best part of the whole things - I ONLY had to pay $1.00!!! Yep - $1.00 - that is no typo. What a blessing!!
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It's been a busy week and looks like it will be busy next week as well. Some of the things I have going next week: my Bible Study group, Helping with the Food Bank at my church, my MIL birthday, my appointment with my oncologist(please pray it goes well), taking my MIL to a Dr appointment, and then preparing for the week long visit with our granddaughter. Our son will get SweetPea for the whole week- I will take care of her while he works. It will be a fun week. So I will be busy for the next two weeks. I am hoping to at least get my basic posts up - Power of Prayer and Heart Gifts. I will also try to pop in when ever I can. I will at least jump on and let you all know how my oncology visit goes - this will be my 1 1/2 years since the end of chemo!! Praising God for that!

Oh I got a hair cut this week and each time my hair it getting closer and closer to where it was before losing my hair- the front has already arrived - it's just taking the back a little more time. I don't plan on cutting any length (other than cleaning up split ends) off until next summer. May not do it even then. Don't know yet. I have just been forced into short hair so long - I am ready for it to be long again. Thankful for my hair!!!

Hope you all are doing well. :O)

Free - My Favorite Price Or Unexpected Blessings

Out of the blue, I got a text from someone I know asking if I or someone I knew needed a queen sized bed- a complete bed. I wrote back asking how much and she replied, "Free." My favorite price.

Why Yes! - we could use a queen sized bed. Our son was really in need of a new bed. his box springs had broken and he had made a make shift board type thing to put between box spring and mattress to help the bed be comfortable and last till he could afford to get another one.

My friend's neighbor is an elderly woman who is in rehab. right now and she was going to be getting a hospital be. So she wanted to get rid of her bed to make room for the hospital bed. And she wanted this all done before she got home. So the quicker the bed was removed from the house the better.

So after my husband got home from work we went to check out the bed. To be honest, nether one of us was expecting anything very nice. So when we walked in and saw this:

 

We were both happily surprised- me so more than my husband. (We just have different tastes...isn't that normal?..)

I was thrilled - What a nice looking bed!!

 

My son was thrilled to have a new bed!

He and his fiancé had talked about getting a new bed.

One that neither one of their exes had slept on. So this unexpected blessing was right on time!

 

I love when God brings unexpected blessings!

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17