Blessed Hope

Friday was my birthday and I had every intention of spending a few minutes to write up a post. But the day ended up being filled to the rim.

I ended up having to go to a funeral on my birthday. My friend that I have told you all about - the one who also had endometrial cancer passed away Tuesday morning and Friday was her funeral. Once treatment was finished she had 3 months till her first check up in July when they did a scan and found several tumors. Even at that point I think we all felt she would have more time. Four months later she is gone. Asleep in Jesus, waiting for the day that He will come again and take her home.

                                 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

                           

 

The very next time she opens her eyes she will see Jesus!! I'm so thankful that we have this hope!

Jesus promised:

 

1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

John 14:1-3

                                                                             

These verses- by the way - were my friend Karen's favorite verses. I hope they comfort your heart as they do mine.

 

Sin, sadness, and death are a part of this sinful world but one day soon, Jesus will come again!

 

  4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."         

Revelation 21:4

 

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

         14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14

          

Praise the LORD!

 

It all started on Thursday....

So sorry it has taken me so long to get back here to get posts typed up. It has been a rough week. We will start at the beginning of the rough week.

Thursday morning started like every other morning. After quiet time it was time to take care of my animals. Since it was Thanksgiving and I was hosting a big thanksgiving dinner at our church, I was distracted. I let our kittens out of the sunroom, where they spend their nights and proceeded to get my bowl of kitchen scraps to take out to my chickens. As I got to the back door, which is in the sunroom- out of the corner of my eye - I caught a sight that stopped me dead in my tracks. our Wally was laying on the middle platform of the climbing toy. My heart knew instantly that something was wrong. Wally is the most loving cat and for him not to come and love me is totally out of his character.

Wally was dead. My husband and I have never lost a pet like that before. Every cat that we have lost in the past has gotten ill and we've had to take them to the vet and decide that it was best to put them down. It always hurts, but this situation has been different. Wally was only 1 1/2 years old and had seemed totally find the day before - and then he was gone.

Many tears were shed and I ended up having to reapply my make up before heading to the church to get our Thanksgiving meal going.

Our hearts are heavy as we go through the grieving period. Please keep up in your prayers for that and the rest - which will be a rest of the story told on another day. See you all tomorrow.

Still here... Barely....

Just checking in for a few minutes. Sorry I don't have more time right now, but I wanted to let you know we're still alive. We have had several unexpected events happen since I've posted. I have a couple of posts written out- will need to get them typed up and posted as soon as I can.

It's been a stressful day and I am super tired so I better get off of her and get to bed. Will up date as soon as I can.

Be Thankful...Not just in November but all year round

If you are on Facebook then you know that many times people use the month of November to share what they are thankful for each day. In the past I have even participated in this practice.

I think it is very important for us to be thankful, but I don't think it should be limited to a month out of the year. I do think that this practice on Facebook helps get us into the mindset of being thankful and looking around to see what we are thankful for. And maybe once the month of November is done we will be in a habit of looking for blessings in our lives.

 

It is the will of God for us to give thanks!  

Did you notice in verse 2 it says that people will be ungrateful in the list talking about the last days?

When we are going through hard times and we choose to continue to praise God - this is called a sacrifice of praise- and we are called to "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God"!

The Bible says in Psalms that the LORD daily loadeth us with benefits! Every day there are blessing - some days it may be harder than others for us to find them - but if we look we will find them!

I think this week - the week of Thanksgiving would be a great time for us to take a little extra time to see how we can be more grateful throughout the entire year.

An Extra Blessing Added

Several years ago I discovered Danskin exercise pants - the ones that have pockets! I like wearing these when I do my workouts at home. I love having the pockets so I can keep my phone on me and get credit for the movements on my health app. on my phone.

The only problem is that since I have lost weight my exercise pants are too big. I have been wearing them, but I have to pull them way up and do my best to tie them tight enough to hold them up. So I have been on the lookout for a smaller pair for a few months. I have a pair of them in capris that fit great but I knew going into the cooler months I would need a pair of pants.

One of the problems with shopping in thrift stores is that when you are looking for specific items you have to be patient. Sometimes it takes a while. But the reward of patience is when you find what you are looking for and you are able to get it for a much lower price then retail.

My plan had been when I got done with my oncology appointment, I would hit up several thrift stores up in that area. Well since I wasn't feeling good- I chose a small store closest to my Dr's office to visit. And it turned out to be my lucky day!! I found a dark gray pair of Danskin exercise pants with pockets!! I was so thankful that I found them. And I also found this beautiful top that you can see in the photo:

As the time rolled on by I felt worse and worse and decided it would be best for me to go on home to rest. Which was a good decision because I ended up feeling lousy and running a fever most of the afternoon.

Ever since I have started looking for specific items- it has given me more of a chance to be grateful. I can better recognize the blessing that God provided a need. And that is just an extra blessing that is added!

Useless....I think not

Last week I saw the following on Facebook and wanted to share it here - just in case there was someone here who needed to heart his. I think that many of us have struggled with the feelings of being useless. If you have felt that way - read the following and I hope you are blessed and have a renew hope of how valuable you are in God's plans! You may not always recognize the value because we live in a sinful world - one in which the world's values are much different than what God sees as valuable. Don't be discouraged. God has plans for you and your live. Allow Him to guide you. :O)

Continue On
By:  Roy Lessin

A woman once fretted over the
usefulness of her life.  She feared she was
wasting her potential being a devoted wife and
mother.  She wondered if the time and
energy she invested in her husband and
children would make a difference.

At times she got discouraged because so
much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed
and unappreciated.  "Is it worth it?" she often
wondered.  "Is there something better that
I could be doing with my time?"

It was during one of these moments of
questioning that she heard the still small voice
of her Heavenly Father speak to her heart.
"You are a wife and mother because that is
what I have called you to be.  Much of what
you do is hidden from the public eye.  But I
notice.  Most of what you give is done without
remuneration.  But I am your reward.

Your husband cannot be the man
I have called him to be without your support.
Your influence on him is greater than you
think and more powerful than you
will ever know.  I bless him through your service
and honor him through your love. 
Your children are precious to Me.  Even more
precious than they are to you.  I have
entrusted them to your care to raise for Me.
What you invest in them is an offering to Me.

You may never be in the public spotlight.
But your obedience shines as a bright light
before Me.  Continue on.  Remember
you are My servant.  Do all to please Me."

Expectations can lead to Disappointment

I was reminded again this week that expectations can lead to disappointments. And the truth is that usually they do.

When I finished my cancer treatment, I was told that I would have to go in form check ups every 3 months and then I would graduation to every six months then to yearly visits. Well some how I got the idea that at this last visit to my oncologist that I would graduate to the next level - yearly check ups. So imagine my disappointment when I was told to come back in 6 months. And then I will have another 6 month check up. If at that point I am all clear- I will transition back to a regular gyn. for my yearly check ups.

So yes, I am a bit disappointment. The Dr said everything looked good. And my ca-125 number has come down. Several other numbers are elevated or much lower than usual and I am hoping that has to do with infection that I am fighting.

I feel bad whining about having to go back to the oncologist in 6 months when I have friends who are back in treatment.

On my way to the oncologist, I drove by the road that leads to my friends house and I almost started to cry. On the 9th of November she was admitted to the Hospice House and I thought about how hard it must have been for her - knowing she would never see her home again. I have a lot to be thankful for. So although I was a bit disappointed, I am choosing to look at the things I have to be thankful for. I don't think we think on these things enough.

Beloved Names of God..series "Fountain of Living Waters"

"Fountain of Living Waters"

 

"For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns

that can hold no water."

Jeremiah 2:13 KJV

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as the "fountain of living waters" twice in the KJV.
• If anyone doubted that one flowed from the other, God describes Himself here and "the fountain of living waters." In the book of John, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that He is the One from whom she can drink living water (4:10).
• Through Jeremiah, God vents His frustration and amazement that His people have, even after a history of disastrous consequences, once again turned to false gods.

 

Imagine God's frustration when people started turning to man-made gods and idols- again! Everything man-made fails. Even the water-collecting cisterns, hewn from solid rock, would occasionally crack.   

 

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are life-sustaining "waters" that need no cisterns. God is the fountain from which those waters flow. None of them are man-made!

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Next week we look at "Living Stone"

 

 

 

Hello .....

So a little update. Last week end I got sick, by Monday I went to the Dr and was put on antibiotics. On Wed I had to go see the oncologist. She said everything looked good - it will be several days before I get lab results back. I am still not feeling good. This is a tough bug that I have.

I have several blog posts that I have written up I just have not had a chance to get on the computer to get them typed up. I am hoping to get a chance to do that later today.

Our son gets his daughter this evening for the week. And I will be taking care of her. So I will be quite busy. I just wanted to let you all know that just in case I am not able to get the blog posts typed up that I have ready to go. If I don't get to them later- I will get them written up and posted as soon as I can. But I just have a lot of things going on plus not feeling good is making it harder for me to get things done.

I hope you all are doing well. Take care. Hope to check  back in later. :O)

Looking for Specific Items

Several months ago my sister told me of a blogger who had found an army jacket or utility jacket(not sure exactly what they are called) at a thrift store for one dollar!! What?! Well I didn't hold onto unrealistic idea's that I would find that good of a deal, but I did decide to start looking for a jacket like it for myself.

I had already noticed the jackets every where. People around me wearing them, people on commercials and on tv shows wearing this awesome jacket. I think this is a style jacket that is kind of like a classic like denim jackets. And whether they are in fashion at a particular time or not - they can be a persons style. So really they don't go out of style - if it is your style.

 

Anyway so any time I made it to a thrift store or goodwill - I would check out there jacket section.

And lo and behold I found one at a little whole in the wall thrift store in a town nearby!!! And the best part - is that it is black! I love the army green ones! I love that color, but truthfully this black one will be more practical for me. Now if I find an army green one for a good deal - I would probably still buy it, but I am perfectly content with my great find!

 

No - I didn't get it for a dollar. But I did get it for $3.00 - which in my opinion is a great deal!! :O)

 

What great deals have you found lately? I would love to hear about them?

A Milestone - Four Years

Today is my oncology checkup appointment. To be honest - I have been a bit more emotional lately. This usually happens around this time. But this year I have more reasons to be emotional about it. I have two friends who have had reoccurrences. One of them is going through treatment again, and the other one....she has been admitted to a hospice house... not expected to live very much longer. Her cancer is very aggressive. My heart breaks for her family. It could be me. She too, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer- but she has a combo of two different kinds and the combo and being very aggressive has made it move so very fast.

I also need prayers because earlier this week I got sick. I was able to get in to see the Dr Monday afternoon and have been on meds ever since- I was hoping to be feeling better by now so I had not rescheduled. These appt are made 6 months in advanced and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get an apt this year and since we have meant our first deductible for the year I would not have to pay the entire $158. For the appt like I would have to do if the appt was put off till next year. Anyway so now I'm committed to go and want to feel decent enough to go and also am praying that I'm not contagious- since I've been on meds for a few days.

Anyway I would sure appreciate prayers. Prayers that if there is any reason what so ever that I might need a ct scan that my Dr will order one. We have meant our deductible for the year so we would not have to pay for the whole entire testing cost. But I don't want to spend money unnecessarily, so I don't want to just ask for a ct scan. Anyway I am putting my trust in God - He is in control.

Oh and a bit of positive news here - this will mark my 4th year since my surgery! Isn't that awesome?!

Thanks so much for the prayers - they mean a lot! :O)

Being at the Right Place and the Right Time!

I was going to title this post - "Some Teacher's Are Dumb" but I didn't want to insult anyone - who may not take the time to read the post and see what it was really about.

 

So last week I went to a local Goodwill store. And after I looked through clothes and did not find anything, I decided to look through the rows of other stuff. Well I just happened to be at the right place and the right time. A worker placed the following on the shelf right in front of where I was looking!!!!

I quickly noticed that this was a piece of Tupperware. Now some people call any plastic storage container - "Tupperware" but that is not what I am talking about here I am talking about the real Tupperware which, by the way, I love!!

 

I picked it up and looked at the price tag...$1.99 - just the Tupperware container was worth way more than that - then I noticed it had stuff inside. This looked as if it were a gift from a student to a teacher - with a lot of goodies inside! 

Highlighters, pens, markers, red pencils, a pencil, stickers, post it note pad, and candy - only problem - this apparently just sat around for a long time because the candy was not good. Oh well. I didn't need the candy anyway. I was so thrilled with my great deal!!

 

I was almost as excited for this good deal as another great deal I have found recently, but I don't have time to tell you about it- you will have to come back later for that post. See ya soon!! :O)

 

Wanna Free Book?

These are two books that I have come across lately that are awesome books!

I have finished reading "I Will Give You Rest" and it was very good.

 

I have now started reading "After God's Heart" and it is excellent as well. This book would be a good book to do as a book club - because at the end of each chapter there is a study guide to prompt a discussion.  

If either or both of these books are books you would be interested in reading - just send an email with your address to : talia72288@gmail.com and I will send you the books.

 

They have blessed my heart and I would like to pass the blessing along to you. :O)

 

Beloved Names of God...series.."High Priest"

 

High Priest

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,

 consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 3:1 kjv

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as the "High Priest" ten times in the KJV.
• High Priest refers to the executed founder and very present help of the new Christin movement.
• The speaker in Hebrews 3:1 is reminding his listeners of Jesus' faithfulness to God and their commitment to be faithful to Jesus. He is both the apostle (guided by God) and the high priest (a great teacher sent directly from heaven).

The book of Hebrews is a call to faith and steadfastness in the face of adversity. Those early Christians faced fear and uncertainty, and some of them may have left the church as a result. It's a situation modern Christians know only too well, which is why the message of Hebrews is still applicable to our lives today. Jesus was faithful unto death and beyond; the least we can do is to be faithful in life.

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Next week we will be looking at  the name "Fountain of Living Waters"



God Has A Plan

"When everything around me seems to fall apart, I need to remember that God has a plan. Nothing takes Him by surprise; He is never early or late; nothing escapes His notice or is above His head. He has a plan and possesses the power to execute it! That's good news, isn't is? He usually doesn't reveal His whole plan to us, though; only the next step we need to take. But He knows the full plan, and we can trust Him with it." pg. 12-13

 

a great quote from the book I just started reading this week.

It is a great book by Elizabeth Viera Talbot

 

I think Fall has arrived!

Since I had to be out of my house by 6:45am on Monday morning - I had picked out an outfit the night before. I had thought that it would be cooler when I got up and had picked out a short sleeved top. When I went out to take care of my chickens I realized it wasn't so cool and decided on a sleeveless top instead. Several hours later it was cooler than it had been at 6:30am - but still very comfortable in my sleeveless top and capris.

My granddaughter(who had the day off and so we had her and extra day - we did not find out till Sunday afternoon~ bonus!) and I spent a couple of hours at the park. The weather was just perfect for time spent there! :O)

This week end we went on a little adventure at the park - turns out my granddaughter loves checking out tunnels - just like I did! :O)

She loves the little bridge as well! :O)

We checked out gopher mounds - trying to guess  which were gopher mounds and which were ant piles. We saw a mound of red ants - they are larger ants - that I think eat fire ants(not certain about that) and we saw a little path through the grass that they took to hunt for food. It was fun following the path.
 
The windows are opened and we are enjoying the breeze and cooler air. I looked at my weather app and noticed that it looks like Fall may have finally arrived here in Texas!

Are you ready for another summer day?

Are you ready for another summer day? Well I need to be since that is what it looks like for those of us in Texas. In fact, we have set the record for the highest temps for 2 days so far this November. Thursday was one of those days. We hit 90 degrees! Then Friday came along and even though the weather people said it would get to the high 70's we probably barely high 70 degrees- it was an awesome day. But Texas weather being bipolar- lol- we hit a high of 90 again on Sabbath breaking yet another record for November. And guess what? We are set to possibly break yet another record today.

Weather like this makes it difficult to know how to dress each day. Or causes a person to have to change clothes later in the day to weather appropriate clothes. By this time of year many people have put their summer clothes away- you know since it is fall. But I have done my normal for this time of year. I have divided my summer clothes into two groups - favorites and less favorites. Favorites get to stay in the closet for now. While the less favorite clothes are packed into a tote.

It looks like we have a several more above fall like weather days and then we may get another taste of fall for a while. In Texas you really never know. The weather has a way of surprising us some times.

How is the weather where you are?

Beloved Names of God.......series..Physician

Physician

 

"But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick."  

Luke 5:30-31

 

• Name of God the Son
• There are four instances of Jesus being compared to a physician in the KJV.
• The term physician can be applied to a doctor or a healer.
• Matthew had invited Jesus to dine with his friends. The Pharisees didn't think Matthew's friends were the kind of people a respectable rabbi should be handing out with. Jesus told them these were exactly the people He had come to see.

Humans have a great propensity for love and self- sacrifice; we can be generous and understanding; we are intelligent and can see only too well the benefits of cooperation; and we know deep down that love is the answer to ever problem. We are capable of a great deal of devotion and kindness- but out capabilities don't always translate into action.

 

Why is it that despite knowing how we ought to be, and can be, we still allow greed and fear to drag us down and make us less?

 

There is no other explanation for this disparity than that we must be sick. Greed was the gift of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. This was the "virus" he infected us all with. Fear is just one of its side effects. Humankind has been sick since the Fall. But there is a solution. Jesus is both the Physician and the medicine that will restore us back to perfect health.

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Come back next week as we will look at Jesus - the High Priest

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Trust Me- It Doesn't Help

Today I will be sharing some of my heart with you dear reader in hopes that maybe I can help someone else who may be in my shoes. I think sometimes we say things that really hurt others and cause extra pain and add extra weight to the burden they are already carrying and we may not even know it.

Maybe these stories were told to me before but I don't remember them. Maybe it's because it didn't hit so close to home. But it seems that ever since my husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's mostly those who love me feel the need to tell me stories of people with Parkinson's- including all the gory details.

Just this week at the most inopportune time (at a restaurant, in the middle of the meal) my mother in low out of no where began to tell me of a long ago pastor and his poor wife with Parkinson's. We had not been talking about my husband or Parkinson's - it was just totally out of the blue. Almost like a slap to my face, it took my breath away. It took all I could do not to cry. And I couldn't even say anything for fear the tears would start if I did.

She's not the only one, I've had this happen with other loved ones- who I have asked not to tell me the horrible stories - who forget I asked them not to or because they think I need to hear it...continue to share the stories with me....

Do these people thank that I do not know about this disease?

Do they think that they are helping me?

I know plenty about Parkinson's. My husband and I went to a Parkinson's symposium, we sat there (the youngest couple by far) for several hours hearing the brutal facts. I do not need to hear stories of other people I don't even know. I have enough pain dealing with reality. I do not need the extra burden of what I might be dealing with in the future. When the fears creep in, I try to turn them over to God. He is in control.

If you know someone dealing with a painful diagnosis or their loved one is, please think twice before sharing scary stories with them. Because truthfully all that does is causes fear- and where does fear come from? It doesn't come from God.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

II Timothy 1:7

 

I choose to claim the verse in Deuteronomy:

 

"As your days, so shall your strength be."

Deuteronomy 33:25b

 

 



This was true for me during the cancer "adventure" I went through and many times before and since. I believe God will continue to get me through each day. It doesn't mean it'll all be easy- don't I already know that, but I continue to trust in God.

So please think twice before passing along those unpleasant experiences. Instead think of uplifting and encouraging things you can share with those you may think are in denial - because they are probably carrying around more pain than you realize. And those sad stories don't help.

 

When trying to decide what to say - this is a very good verse to consider:

 

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

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Come back next week when I will be sharing a post about  ~what would Jesus do

 



Good News for Doubting Thomas'

19That Sunday evening^b the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
John 20:19-21

24One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^c was not with the others when Jesus came. 25They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

29Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

John 20:24-29

This passage in Scripture is from the New Living Translation.

This was one of those passages in the Bible that I knew and thought I understood it, but last week when I went to prayer meeting, I caught something in this story that really spoke to my heart. You see I struggle with being a doubting Thomas at times. So I could relate to his questionings.

I had understood that Thomas had doubted but I hadn't caught the part that Thomas hadn't been with the disciples the first time that Jesus appeared to them. And then we come to the amazing part of the story. The next time Jesus appears to the disciples - Jesus speaks directly to Thomas- and offers him exactly what Thomas said he needed to do before he would believe! Jesus met Thomas where he was! Then He said lovingly, without condemnation, "Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"

This is like a balm to my soul because sometimes I find myself doubting and with little to no faith, but God meets us where we are and draws us to Himself.

verse 29 tells us "Blessed are those who believe with out seeing me" that would be you and me!

30The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31But these are written so that you may continue to believe^d that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 20:30-31

When we find ourselves being a doubting Thomas all we have to do is ask just like the little boys father did in Mark 9:24

24The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Faith is one of the many gifts of God

8For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV 

2Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

And remember that Jesus loves you and will meet you where you are and supply all your needs.

It is so exciting to get something new out of verses and stories in the Bible that I thought I knew and understood! It is a good incentive to keep studying!