God IS Love

Yesterday I heard just a bit of a sermon and was so touched by what I heard that I wanted to share with you all - just in case you have not thought of it this way.

The pastor was talking about God's love and how it was not just a fuzzy warm feeling - it went much deeper than that. That His love was loyal and faithful. In my life- God's love has always been faithful- I think that I just did not fully understand it until the last year or so. And truthfully I probably still don't totally get it.

There have been times over the last year, especially, when I have questioned God's love for me. I think it is human nature to question the love of God when we are going through tough times. We don't always understand that God allows hurtful things in our lives to teach of things, to sand the rough places off of our character and to help us better understand His love for us. This past year for me has been a tough one. If you understood how much I do not like needles and the poking and prodding- then you would understand the volume of grace, strength and courage that God has provided for me over the last year or so---and will continue to do so through the rest of the things that I have going on this year. Each step of the way He has been faithful to me. Each time I begin to feel panic I turn to the One who provides what I need.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 4:19

 

Speaking of Philippians 4:19- I used to always think that this verse was basically speaking of our material needs- over the last year - I am learning that when it says ALL it means ALL of our need. And I am truly thankful for this.

 

God is Love and God is Faithful.

If you haven't given Him a chance to show himself faithful- try Him today. You won't be sorry.

    He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 1 John 4:8

 

I Made It ...Good News....Bad News

Ok - So I just wanted to check in for a bit and let you all know that I made it through my tests without too much discomfort. Of course as any medical test or procedure there was some discomfort but it is all behind me. I got some good news and some not so good news.

First for the good news - No cancer. Praise the Lord!!! I was so thankful to get this news. We had been concerned.

The bad news is that there seems to be a problem with my bladder and I will be having surgery next Thursday. Ugh.... Right now the surgery is set for like 3pm. But I am praying that somehow I can be moved up in the day. I just don't want to wait all day long for a surgery. Would much rather get it done early. So that is my first prayer. My second prayer will be that this surgery will be a success.

So next week will have it's share of medical testing - Tuesday - I have to go for a pre-op appointment to have some blood work done and ekg. And then the surgery on Thursday. I will also need to call and set up an appointment to have my mole removed - probably the next week. Anyway once this year is over - I am hoping that there will be a calm period of hardly any medical stuff- just my visits with the oncologist. That is my wish for the new year.

Anyway so that is what is going on with me. Thanks everyone for the prayers. I would appreciate prayers for my granddaughter as well. She has strep throat and we will not be able to see her this week end after all....it's been a while since we have gotten to see her. :( We should get to see her next week end- hoping I am recovered enough by the week end. I'll just take it one day at a time.

Ok - I am off of here and going to rest and take it easy. Hope you all have a good week end. :)

Prayers Requested

Today finds my schedule busy with medical appointments. I have one at noon and one at 3:30pm. I would sure appreciate prayers as I am nervous about these. I am hoping to find out at least some info today. I will try to check in later today - it will be a busy day but I will try to at least check-in and let ya'll know that I survived. Hope you all have a great day! :O)

Information Needed

Ok - I am hoping someone can help me. One of you kind ladies let me know some information about Denise over at Just Me Being Me- and I have lost the info to find out more about how she is doing. Please send me the info again - or if anyone else have any information I would love to know how she is doing. Thanks so very much.

And By the way - The rest of you - From what I had heard she needs lots of prayers right now. Sorry I did not post anything earlier I have been so distracted by all of the extra stuff going on in my life- no excuse though - I should have asked you all to be praying for her back when I found out she was going through a really tough time. So please keep Denise and her husband Eddie in your prayers. Hopefully I will hear something soon.

My New Best Friend....lol :o)

I just wanted to check in and let you know that I made it through the surgery today. I am awfully sore now - and will need to get an ice pack back over my incision- but I wanted to get on here and let you guys know that it went well.

After the nurse did her stuff- taking my vitals and asking me all sorts of questions. She said it is only 7am so it will be a while before they come get you. I asked- so am I not getting an IV? She said no- that they would just be doing a local. Taking the port out is not as detailed as putting it in -so there is not as much of a need of the meds to cause you to be "stoned" as the nurse said. I did have the choice of having an IV and going to lala land or just doing the local. Well I did not want an IV so I went with the local. It does make it a little bit stressful- it took about 30 minutes once Dr gave me lidocaine in the are to numb it up. And I could feel pulling and tugging. And ended up having to have more of the numbing meds a couple of times. But my Dr was great at explaining what he was doing and making sure I was doing good. I had a nurse in the room that is excellent at talking to the patients and really helped distract me and helped let the Dr know I needed more numbing meds at one point. This nurse along with another one in the room - ended up being in the operating room the day I had my port put in.

The first 30 seconds or so I did not think that I would like the Dr - but soon realized that he was a really good guy and that he had compassion. There is something about a Dr that does not like needles himself that seem to have more compassion for his patients. I was thankful that God picked him out to be my Dr. God being in control is a great thing - because He brings great people into your live - especially if you will just keep an open mind(obviously I still have a bit of a problem with that since I passed a bit of judgement so quickly with my Dr, but I am working on it). 

So now I have tomorrow as a day off (yay!) and then Friday at noon and at 3:30pm I have my appointments. My husband will be able to go with me. And I am hoping that since I have the ultrasound and the port removal out of the way - that it will be a bit easier to deal with these two tests.
Still claiming - Deut. 33:25b  ~ As are your days, so shall your strength be. Both of these tests scare me but I am depending on God to get me through.

I hope you all are doing well. Now I am off to get the ice pack back on my chest. It's funny how an ice pack seems so annoying until you really need them - then they are your new best friend! LOL :O)

Not to Get, but to Give

Wednesday morning I had my appointment with the urologist that basically opened a can of worms. After I left the appointment I decided to stop by a thrift store that usually has some great finds. The neighborhood that this store is in - is a little rough and one that I would not go to after dark unless someone was with me.

 

So I looked through stuff and tried on about 6-8 things- did not find anything at all. This in itself was unusual. Usually I find at least one item that I just can't pass up.

 

As I approached my car as I was leaving the thrift store I heard a man say, "Excuse me Ma'am." I stopped and walked to the back of my car to see what he wanted. He began to tell me that he had recently gotten out of prison and had just finished eating a bag of Cheetos and a coke for lunch. You could still see the remains of Cheetos in his teeth.

 

In my pocket I had a few different bills and because I did not want to bring the money I had out of my pocket, I prayed that God would direct my hand to what ever amount that He wanted me to give this man. As I handed the man a twenty. He was stunned and said, "Are you sure, Ma'am?"

 I told him, "Yes, God bless you."

 

The man continues to tell me that he had been studying the Bible while he was in prison.

 

We ended our conversation and I walked to my car door, as he walked away he says, "Lady, I love you." And without skipping a beat, I said, "I love you, too." In my mind I thought in Christ I DO love you.

 

Sometimes when I go to thrift shops, I find something really special and I know that this was the reason why I came to that thrift store. Well as I left the thrift shop this day - I knew that the reason I had come to this thrift store was not to get something, but to give.

 

Later that day as I was sitting at my computer- all of a sudden the thought comes to my mind that in the "I love you" from a stranger was really an "I love you" from God. Just when I needed to hear an I love you. I had just come from my appointment in which I had found out I would have to have 3 procedures added to my  next week- on top of my port removal surgery. I truly needed encouragement. And God used a man~ who was down on his luck to bless me. And to reassure me of His love for me.

 

    Let brotherly love continue.

            2 Do not forget to entertain strangers,

for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.   

Hebrews 13:1-2

 

One of the reasons it has taken me to along to write this out is because I really do not like sharing - when I do things to bless others. I try to live by Matthew 6:3-4

 

    But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

 

But I felt led to share this story- not to highlight what I did- but to put the spotlight on what God did!

 

When we allow God to guide and direct our lives we can be more of a blessing to others and in turn they can be a blessing to us.

 

  

Be Strong and Courageous

I have shared how I feel that this year I have been called to being Courageous. Well it seems that the plan for this year was not for me to be able to end the year without more courage called on. It seems that courage has been a big thing this year. Every Step of the way - something new that requires courage. I am learning more and more to depend upon God to get me through each obstacle that I face.

This morning as I was sitting at my computer I noticed a hand written verse that I have taped to my computer screen:

"Have I not commanded you?

 Be strong and of good courage;

 do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 

Joshua 1:9  

 

And the part about "God is with you wherever you go" really stood out to me this time. And I am happy for that reminder. As this week I face 3 procedures I have never had before- plus a surgery to remove my port. Plus the fact that the 3 procedures could possibly lead to yet another surgery. It is so nice to have the reminder that God is with me wherever I go.

 

On the other side of my computer is another hand written verse:

 

    "For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

 but of power and of love

and of a sound mind. "  

2 Timothy 1:7

 

This also was a great reminder because all the things I have going on this week - take me totally out of my comfort zone. Some of them will be very uncomfortable. One of the procedures if they don't get answers the first time the test is run - there is a possibility that I will have to have it again. Please pray that it can go smoothly the 1st time and that there will be no need to do it again.

 

This past year - I have faced so many 1st time doing this or that medical procedure. Each time God has been there and has gotten me through. I am not saying it has been smooth sailing, what I am saying is that God is with me wherever I go and strengthens me when I call upon Him. I will continue to claim this promise of God being with me wherever I go and have the confidence that He will continue to be with me.

 

Please continue to pray for me. For answers to why there is blood in the urine and also for a resolution to solve the problems I have been having. For peace and courage through it all. Thank you so very much! It means so much to me! :)