Well I had planned....

Well I had every intention of getting on here on Wednesday after my sleep study and telling you all about it. However Tuesday morning my step-dad had a heart attack. So he has been in the hospital since then. I will try to get on later and share about the sleep study- oh and by the way - you might get to see a photo of me all hooked up....it's too funny not to share. I really believe going through the whole - no hair things has helped me be a lot more able to share photos of me - not at my best. I used to hate photos of me looking crappy- I still don't really like them but I have come to figure out that photos only give a small glimpse of who a person is - and there is so much to who people are than their looks. And if someone is going to think poorly of me because of how I look - I really feel sorry for them for not taking the opportunity to get to know who I really am. Anyway I do have a photo I just don't have time at this moment to get it where I can upload it and get a post written up about it.

So I have been very busy. Oh and on the sleep study - no results yet. I was SO disappointed. Several years ago when my husband had it done - he got the results before he left the place. I have to wait - I guess at least 5 days. So maybe I will have the results by the time I have time to share about it.

If you could keep my step-dad - David in your prayers - I would really appreciate it. It has been a stressful week for him and my Mother, pray for her also. There are problems with him that really need a bypass done - but the Drs say it is too risky. Hoping to be able to find a combo of meds to help manage his health. Thanks so much! :O)

Heart Gifts....series

Anywhere Is a Place of Prayer If God Is There

 

I have prayed on my knees in the morning,
I have prayed as I walked along,

I have prayed in the silence and darkness

And I have prayed to the tune of a song-

I have prayed in the midst of triumph

And I've prayed when I suffered defeat,

I have prayed on the sands of the seashore

Where the waves of the ocean beat-

I have prayed in a velvet-hushed forest

Where quietness calmed my fears,

I have prayed through suffering and heartache

When my eyes were blinded with tears-

I have prayed in churches and chapels,

Cathedrals and synagogues, too,

But often I've had the feeling

That my prayers were not getting through,

And I realized then that our Father

Is not really concerned where we pray

Or impressed by our manner of worship

Or the eloquent words that we say...

He is only concerned with our feelings,

And He looks deep into our heart

And hears the "cry of our soul's deep need"

That no words could ever impart...

So it isn't the prayer that's expressive

Or offered in some special spot,

It's the sincere plea of a sinner

And God can tell whether or not

We honestly seek His forgiveness

And earnestly mean what we say,

And then and then only He answers

The prayer that we fervently pray.

~Helen Steiner Rice

 



Insight about the Burdens that Cause Discouragement

So yesterday we talked about how times of discouragement give us opportunities to be courageous. Well this morning as I was reading one of my devotionals - I just knew that I needed to share it because it goes right along with discouragement. And I think it is some great insight and will better help us to deal with the things in our lives that cause discouragement. I hope you are blessed.

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Streams in the Desert Devotional for December 1st:

There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God (Heb. 4:9).
The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest round about;... the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand" (Joshua 21:44).
 "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).

An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would talk with her by the hour trying to convince her of the sinfulness of fretting, but to no avail. She was like the old lady who once said she had suffered so much, especially from the troubles that never came.
But one morning the mother came down to breakfast wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened, and she told him that in the night she had a dream. She was walking along a highway with a great crowd of people who seemed so tired and burdened. They were nearly all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that there were numerous repulsive looking beings which she thought were demons dropping these black bundles for the people to pick up and carry.
Like the rest, she too had her needless load, and was weighed down with the devil's bundles. Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man with a bright and loving face, passing hither and thither through the crowd, and comforting the people. At last He came near her, and she saw that it was her Saviour. She looked up and told Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said: "My dear child, I did not give you these loads; you have no need of them. They are the devil's burdens and they are wearing out your life. Just drop them; refuse to touch them with one of your fingers and you will find the path easy and you will be as if borne on eagle's wings."
He touched her hand, and lo, peace and joy thrilled her frame and, flinging down her burden, she was about to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, when suddenly she awoke and found that all her cares were gone.
From that day to the close of her life she was the most cheerful and happy member of the household.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
--Longfellow

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."