Opportunity to be Courageous

Last year was a year in which I had many chances to be courageous. At every turn there was some sort of procedure in which it was very necessary for me to be strong and courageous. In the waiting room of Texas Oncology -while waiting for yet another round of chemo - I learned of courage.

This year; thankfully, I haven't faced anywhere near as many opportunities which called for courage. I am realizing that this sleep study will require courage because I am nervous about it already. But I will claim Deut. 33:25b - "As are your days so shall be your strength."

As I was doing my quiet time this morning, I realized that this year I have actually struggled with discouragement- maybe because last year I experienced so many opportunities to feel courageous and not as many this year. I know what I am about to say is going to say is going to be a duh statement- but please pay attention- I think it is very important:

Discouragement is the opposite of courage.

 

When you face struggles and disappointments that cause discouragement

- you are really facing opportunities for courage!

 

 

Courage is not just facing scary medical testing or chemo sessions or even facing our biggest fears. Sometimes courage is holding onto our trust in God even when our prayers go unanswered, or holding on to faith when a surgery we had, failed to correct the problem, or maybe when life's problems get us down and we choose to find joy instead.

 

We need to learn that we don't need to be discouraged- it is only an opportunity to be courageous!

 

Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22

 

When you are tempted to be discouraged just "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14

 

God knows that we will face discouragement, but we are promised that if we wait on the LORD - He shall strengthen our hearts and give us courage.

 

SO the next time you are tempted to be discouraged - realize that it is an opportunity for you to be courageous. Put your trust in God and He shall strengthen your heart.



So...It's Been a While

So I have been awfully quiet lately - not just on line but off line as well. I have a lot of issues going on in my mind and just trying to get my thoughts sorted out. Some I can share some I can't. But I thought today I would do a bit of a catch up type of post. And I am sorry if I repeat stuff that I have already shared. I think to myself - oh I should post about this or that- and so I don't know if I actually did- or if I just thought about doing it. lol :o)

So Thanksgiving...How did yours go? Mine- well by the end of the day I was tired and not in a good place - but as I think back over Thanksgiving I am very thankful. We are very blessed and even though the day was busy and involved a lot of work and driving back and forth several times and I didn't have much time to reflect on what I was thankful for - I was very blessed! My Mother in law has always made sure that there was a Thanksgiving meal - and that everyone was welcome, even this year - 1 month out from her latest surgery - a major surgery that put her colon back together. And incision all the way down the front of her. Yes- it left more work for the rest of us - but as I reflect on it - I realize that it is just another way that I can bless her and show her Jesus' love.

And besides, God never meant for us to just reflect on what we are thankful for on one day of the year!

Rejoice evermore.

17. Pray without ceasing.

18. In everything give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

 

So what else is going on? Well this week I have a sleep study. I am NOT looking forward to it at all. I had wanted to do the home sleep study but was told I don't qualify. At first I was aggravated about it but after she explained that it is actually better to do the test there- they test for many more problems when you are at their facilities. And then when you go back in(yes - about a week or so after the first night - I will have to go back for another night) they have you use what ever device that they think will fix what ever problem you have. If you have the at home study- the insurance company things that you should just get the product and use it. And I was told this can be dangerous. It is much better to have someone monitoring you that first night - making what ever adjustments that need to be made. So I am ok with it. And actually can't wait for it to be behind me. When I think back to last year and ALL the things I went through - this is really a minor thing, but it is out of my comfort zone - so I am a little nervous about it. I have a hard time sleeping when I am away from home - so I figure it will be a night that I won't get much sleep. But I need answers. Why am I tired all the time? Plus - my husband recorded me sleeping and I am doing some snoring and then every little bit I am moving - like I stopped breathing and I am trying to get a breath. So no wonder I am not getting much real good, deep sleep, no wonder I am tired all the time. I just hope that we can come up with answers and with something to help me.

We have official made a record here in Texas this year! This has been the wettest year on record! Oh Friday I dumped our rain gauge - it was at 5 1/2 inches - and then yesterday my son dumped it again 2 1/2 inches. Haven't checked it yet today. So just in two days we got at least 8 inches of rain. I am SO thankful for the rain but I would have been much happier for it back when it could have saved my favorite tree, that we lost a couple of years ago.

Well that is all I can think of at this time. I hope you all are doing well. Have a great day! I think we are going to get out tree out and get it decorated. I actually have a few presents so I can get them wrapped and under the tree when I get a chance. We still have a good amount of shopping to do but we are doing quite good on presents bought already and it is not even December yet! Waiting on some inspiration for gifts for a couple of my harder to get for people.

Oh and Susan posted her next installment on the Prayer Journal series she is doing. Be sure and check it out- She has a very clever set up. And like she said adjust things to make this journal work for you. I think it will be a treasured journal for years to come.

Power of Prayer

The great strength of the Christian~
"The prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan. This is why he insinuates that we have no need of prayer. The name of Jesus, our Advocate, he detests; and when we earnestly come to Him for help, Satan's host is alarmed. It serves his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer, for then his lying wonders are more readily received."
~ 1 Testimonies, 296.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! It's a special day to focus on what we are thankful for- but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross long ago- we have something to be thankful for every single day! Plus so much more- "exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think."

Heart Gifts....series

Widen My Vision

God, open my eyes

so I may see

And feel Your presence

close to me...

Give me strength

for my stumbling feet

As I battle the crowd

on life's busy street,

And widen my vision

of my unseeing eyes

So in passing faces

I'll recognize

Not just a stranger,

unloved and unknown,

But a friend with a  heart

that is much like my own...

Give me perception

to make me aware

That scattered profusely

on life's thoroughfare

Are the best Gifts of God

that we4 daily pass by

As we look at the world

with the unseeing eye. 

 

~Helen Steiner Rice

You Can't Miss This

My good friend Susan over at "Susan's Spot" has been sharing an awesome series on "How to Organize Your Prayer Life" Click here to take you to the first in the series. She posted part 5 this past Sabbath. So be sure and read through to catch up. It is WELL worth your time - you will be blessed!

Power of Prayer

If we surrender~  "If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision. Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend. If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us. His voice, clear and distinct, is heard saying, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' " - Christ Object Lessons, 173

Great News!

So 2 years ago today I had the surgery that found the cancer. Today I went to my 3 month check up. And I got great news. Dr said everything looked good and I was promoted to every 6 month check ups! Yeah! Just what I wanted! I'll get blood result in just a few days. I'll try to check in when I get them.

Tomorrow I have to renew my drivers license. It seems like every day I have important things to do. It's been a busy week.
Hope you all are doing well. :0)

Heart Gifts....series

There's Sunshine in a Smile

Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,

Laughter and pleasure,

teardrops and pain,

All days can't be bright,

but it's certainly true,

There was never a cloud

the sun didn't shine through- 

So just keep smiling

whatever betide you,

Secure in the knowledge

God is always beside you,

And you'll find when you smile

your day will be brighter

And all of your burdens

will seem so much lighter-

For each time you smile

you will find it is true

Somebody, somewhere

will smile back at you,

And nothing on earth

can make life more worthwhile

Than the sunshine and warmth

 of a beautiful smile.

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Power of Prayer

Fervent Prayer

Keep Asking~ "God does not say, Ask once, and you shall receive. He bids us ask. Unwearyingly persist in prayer. The persistent asking brings the petitioner into a more earnest attitude, and gives him and increased desire to receive the things for which he asks.

"But many have not a living faith. This is why they do not see more of the power of God....They plan and devise, but pray little, and have little real trust in God. They think they have faith, bu8t it is only the impulse of the moment. Failing to realize their own need, or God's willingness to give, they do not persevere in keeping their request before the Lord.

"Our prayers are to be as earnest and persistent as was the petition of the needy friend who asked for the loaves at midnight. The more earnestly and steadfastly we ask, the closer will be our spiritual union with Christ."
~ From Christ's Object Lessons, 145,146

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!!
********************************
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)

Heart Gifts....series

Prayers Are the Stairs to God

 

Prayers are the stairs

We must climb every day,

If we would reach God

There is no other way,

For we learn to know God

When we meet Him in prayer

And ask Him to lighten

Our burden of care_

So start in the morning

And, though the way's steep,

Climb ever upward

'Til your eyes close in sleep_

For prayers are the stairs

That lead to the Lord,

And to meet Him in prayer

Is the climber's reward.

 

~Helen Steiner Rice

 



Power of Prayer

"Every morning take time to begin your work with prayer.

Do not think this wasted time;

it is time that will live through eternal ages.

By this means success and spiritual victory will be brought in.

The machinery will respond to the touch of the Master's hand.

God's blessing is certainly worth asking for,

and the work cannot be done aright unless the beginning is right."

 - 7 Testimonies, 194

A Treasure I Wish I Had

Well I believe I told you that I was planning on doing a recipe book for each of my boys. So my original plan included the use of these: 

It was just like an original recipe binder that I set up before my husband and I went to Germany for his tour of duty in the military.

So my idea was to be - use each color for different things, breads, entree's, deserts, you get the idea. The only problem with this plan is that once a color is full - no more recipes can be used. The other problem is that if I wrote in pen - I could make mistakes and make it look messy. If I used pencil - it could get smeared and look messy. I didn't know what I was going to do. But I knew I needed to do something.

Several years ago- my Grandmother passed away. She was from Colorado. I did not get to see her very much. But I know she was a great cook! After she died - I really wanted her recipes. Well I wanted recipes but I also wanted to know more about her. I regretted the wasted time of not being able to find out who she really was. And as I would look at old recipe books I would be reminded of wanting some of her favorite recipes. So I knew I needed to revisit my recipe book idea for my boys and someday for my granddaughter.

I was talking to my husband and he actually gave me my idea. And I really don't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. The plan was to type out my tried and true recipes- then I could copy off as many as I wanted to make.

So it was awesome when while I was thrift store shopping this week, I found a pretty pink 3 ring binder- probably a 1 inch binder. I thought it was great. It actually has 2 pockets on each side, instead of the usual one only pocket. I also found some dividers and bought a package of them. Here is a photo of my new recipe binder:

 

So now I am going to begin to work on my recipe folder. And then I will work on getting the boy's theirs made up. And I figured in order to make it more personal - I will write had written notes on some of the recipes. Like as I find something that might work better or options that can be done with the recipe. Just what ever I can do to make it more personal. That way my sons will have the recipes that mean the most to them. And something personal that their mother made them. Maybe it can help answer some questions for them after I am gone. Just a link to the past. And something they can pass down. A treasure- I treasure I wish I had. So I making it happen for the next generation.   

 

It Happened Again

So remember that I said that on Thursday I was going to have to take my mother in law, Charlene to the Dr appointment to have her stitches removed? Well I had heard the weather reports and they kept talking about stormy weather being here on Thursday. And I had allowed it to worry me. Trying to figure out how we could get a parking spot close enough nearby the hospital with all the construction going on and then how we could get into the hospital without getting soaked. How? How? I was a bit stressed about it as well. And I let myself worry about it too much.

I found out this morning that my brother in law was able to take Charlene to the appointment. Was surely a blessing. And to top it off- the bad weather did not come in as early as they thought it would. It is 1:30pm as I write this and it has not started raining yet. So as I was busy working around my home making up the first big batch of granola of the year, I was reminded that God is still in control - of everything. He can control weather or the abilities for others to be able to step up to the plate. And I need to learn how to wait on Him quietly...without worrying...without complaining...without fussing. These are things I need to work on....

******************************

Today I also tried out another one of the recipes of the cookies that we used to make at the bakery that I worked at. The recipes there were huge and in pounds and ounces, not cups and teaspoons. Anyway so my mother in law, Charlene, had been going through her recipes and found her original recipes and gave me copies of them- pride of Texas and snicker doodle cookies. And so today I made up a batch of the Pride cookies. They turned out awesome. So now it is time to type up the recipes.
Which reminds me, I have a new project that I am going to work on. I think that I have told you all about it before but I have a bit different way that I am going to do this project that I feel will work much better. Be sure and check in tomorrow to read all about it! :O)

Heart Gifts...series

 

 

A Sure Way to a Happy Day

 

Happiness is something

we create in our mind.

It's not something you search for

and so seldom find_

It's just waking up

and beginning the day

By counting our blessings

and kneeling to pray_

It's giving up thoughts

that breed discontent

And accepting what comes

 as a "gift heaven-sent"_

It's giving up wishing 

for things we have not

And making the best of

whatever we've got_

It's knowing that life

is determined for us,

And pursuing our tasks

without fret, fume, or fuss_

For it's by completing

what God gives us to do

That we find real contentment

and happiness, too.  

~Helen Steiner Rice

interrupted plans

Update on my mother in law, Charlene, she was released from the hospital and was able to go home. The timing wasn't the best but we made it all work out.  The day did not go as planned. Thankfully I had started a roast in the morning because it was 7pm before I was able to fix our supper.

So 15 minutes after my husband should have been on his way home I got a call from him saying that I would need to go pick him up, he had a flat - that could NOT be fixed. And then come to find out even the donut in his car was messed up. So I drove the 50 miles during rush hour to go pick him up.

So it was past supper time. I was a bit stressed because let me tell you- I could not handle driving all around the big city every day. We start to head for home and before we have even figured out how we are going to solve the problem at hand, Charlene calls. They are releasing her from the hospital could we pick her up. "How long till you get here?" She wants to know, anxious to go home. At least 45 minutes we tell her, it depends on all the traffic it could be more. We spend a good portion of the time headed to the hospital figuring out how we will get tire fixed and get car picked up and then, because of the way the tire shredded we knew that we needed to get all the tires looked at. Oh and after seeing the tire we were both thankful that there had not been a blowout or anything dangerous happen during his long commute.

By the time wide are driving into the hospital parking lot, Charlene is calling us again. We got her and got her taken home and things set up at the house for her. And got home a little after 7pm.

Thankfully my chickens all decided to go to the chicken coop(we are working on training them to do that instead of roosting in the trees). It's safer for them in the coop.

I was also thankful that I had peeled potatoes before I left- I put them in some salt water and into the fridge and they were in good shape when I got home a couple hours later.  So even though my plans got disrupted, we were able to have a good meal.

Well so this week will have trips to discount tire, another trip for me up to the big city- so we can get our other car home. And taking Charlene to see her Dr to have staples removed on Thursday . We are suppose to get stormy weather on Thursday so please pray that her appointment will be during a lull in the bad weather. I don't really like getting out in stormy weather.

Oh and something I was reminded about yesterday. I am very thankful for my husband and the fact that he works hard for us, but I was reminded on top of that he has to deal with a lot by driving in that mess every day. Also that I need to pray for his protection more often. There are a lot of crazy drivers out there.