Calling All Prayer Warriors

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the parser of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Lately, I've had to repeat this scripture to myself over and over and over.  

My faith has been shaken, but I hold fast to what I know and try to stand firm.

Those of you who have followed my health issues know that I make progress, then something happens and I end up taking several steps back.  Well, after my clean CAT scan in March, I made HUGE progress through July, attending my best friend's wedding (where I was able to dance a couple songs!) and attending part of WV Nazarene Family Camp.  God is so good!  

Shortly after that, I received several major blows from Satan - I broke my foot, contracted a staph infection in my surgery eye, found a sinus infection, and started having random fevers that my Oncologist cannot explain.  UGH.....

I was still functioning pretty well, and kept telling myself God is in control.  My disposition was not affected much.

Wednesday,September 9th, we found a swollen lymph node in my neck (that does NOT mean it's cancerous).  However, I am having a PET scan in 3 weeks, and that is slightly freaking me out.  My veins do not like to cooperate much, so I will need a lot of Ativan that day.

So, I am asking all of you... even if you don't pray much.  Theses what we NEED to do.

CLAIM GOD'S PROMISES!  Specifically, God has healed me - Claim it!  Thank God for touching my body and bringing me healing when you pray for me.  

Satan knows that God wins the War, but let's no give him this small battle.

Thank you, Jesus, for taking my sins, and Praise you, Lord, for healing my body of cancer!  Remind me, Lord, to give YOU and only you the Praise every time I open my mouth!  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

God Saved Me! Now What?

I'm going to be honest with you - I don't know the answer to the questions I'm about to spell out.  

One of the biggest lessons I learned from the #P31OBS #WalkInFaith Conference call Series is that it's okay to ask tough questions in which we don't know the answers.  That's how we grow.  One of my favorite quotes from Whitney Capps is  that if you're not questioning and wrestling with God, you're not growing or really digging deep into His Word.  (My paraphrase)

So I ask: Now that God has healed me, why do I still worry about issues and fears that seem microscopic in comparison to what He's done in the past?

Why does every bad day leave a nagging "I'm going backward" feeling in my mind?

And finally, Why does it get harder and harder to stay in this feeling of blessing and thankfulness as the days pass by?

I don't know.  I do know that it seems to work this way for a lot of people.  Is it our sinful nature?  I think yes - at least partly,  

Lately, I've been realizing I have an issue with pride.  In the past, I would have never considered myself a prideful person; now, it feels like when I read a devotional or open my Bible I'm frequently met with scriptures and lessons about a prideful heart.  I need to learn to be proud in a good sense - proud in God - but my selfishness says, "What about me? Didn't I do something too?"  

I pray this verse every day so that it might train my heart to be less prideful in myself,

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

God First. Family Second. Career Third.

Hello my faithful readers.  I have been away for too long.  The truth is, I've cheated on you.  The time I would normally spend here has been replaced.  Not with bad things, but my life has been overtaken by them, and I am now realizing that I need to slow down and reincorporate time for the great stuff in my life I have left behind.

As I'm sure most of you know, I am now a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant!  I LOVE it!  But, typical for me, I have immersed myself in it.  Mary Kay is not bad by any means, and it is not bad for me - I simply need to slow down a bit so I can do other things I love as well!

Mary Kay Ash built her company on the principal, "God First. Family Second. Career Third."  I cherish that statement, but, unfortunately, I feel like I have reversed it.  What I need to do is bring my focus back to God  - not so much of God using me.  God used me even when  I didn't know I was being used.  Now, I feel like I've got a "big head" about how God is using me (like I know, right?)

So, after this week is over, I am going to S   L  O   W  down.  I am going to open up my "A Confident Heart" book again, and start over.  I am going to go to church on Sundays, and I am going to spend time with my family.  Career can't be first.  It doesn't work that way.

Better Alone

About a week ago I had an epiphany while journaling.

I press "shuffle" on iTunes while journaling because I am an aural learner.  Music stimulates my brain while writing and allows the aforementioned epiphany.

Anyhow... while writing, the song "Better Alone" by Carolina Liar came on.

"You think you're better alone, for the sake of your sanity."

Does this apply to you as well as it does to me?
Do you love to help and encourage others but pull into yourself and try to fix your own issues without consulting anyone? Maybe even God?

I do.  It is one of my biggest downfalls - perfection. I give everything my best, and in return expect perfection.  Even if it's something "others won't notice," I still try to fix it.

About a month ago, my cousin, Elisabeth, told me a quote that occasionally creeps into my mind when I'm having a perfection moment.  The quote is "Done is better than perfect."

Even when you try your best but fall short - Done is better than perfect.

When you're looking back thinking about something you could have done differently - Done is better than perfect.

When your "want to" list is longer than your day (even if you do skip meals and sleep) - done is better than perfect.

I hope this helps with the stressful places in your lives, it is making slow progress in mine.


Also, I fixed the problem with comments, so if you like the post, please comment!!!!

Be Still Pt. 1

The other day my Mom told me my Pap-pap use to say, "She's a busy little somebody.  She's always doing something."  Well, I'm here to tell you that that statement could not have described me better - both as a child and as an adult.

Multitasking is sometimes an understatement when it comes to all of the tasks I take on at once.  For example, it is impossible for me to read one book at a time (usually 3 is what I manage).  I also typically work on four crafting projects at a time, join multiple small groups, and partake in multiple devotion books/programs at once.  To clarify, I don't read 3 books for a while and then switch to crafting.  No, all of this multiple multitasking is done simultaneously.

I am challenged by the command from God, "Be still, and know that I am God."  As you can guess, stillness is not in my vocabulary.  Even when going to bed I usually have my Nook open and am reading a book until my sleeping meds kick in.  (Funny side note:  I have to password my purchases on my Nook because I take Ambien and I have previously downloaded books and magazines in my sleep with no recollection in the morning.

So, if you are like me and typically spend your supposed "quiet time" with God on the go or while also partaking in an activity that splits your focus, I want to challenge you to do this with me:

Go to a quiet room and shut the door, pray for God to open your eyes and to bless the time you are giving to Him only.  If you have to go to this place a couple times a day because of time constraints, that's fine.  I am going to do this too.  In a week, I will check back and update on my life and my relationship with God.

Love you all.

Praise be to God!

A lot has happened since my last post. I apologize for the delay in posting, but I have been very busy. Here is what has been going on:

Cancer update: I had my PET scan last Wednesday, May 22nd. I woke up that morning feeling God's presence and hearing scriptures roll around in my head. Scriptures such as "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." So I called my mom upstairs and we prayed together. I have been reading in my devotional about praying God's promises back to him because he will not go back on something that is already been promised. There for that is what I did. I prayed scriptural promises including " where two or three are gathered in my name..." " by his wounds we are healed" and the one previously mentioned.
The scan results show that the 3  diseased spots I have left are less active and smaller. My doctor is leaving me off of treatments so that I can focus on physical therapy. I will re scan in 3 months unless something crazy happens before then. Praise God! It is completely through His will and His glory that he has healed me to this point and I deserve no credit whatsoever.

Physical therapy: PT has been going great! I can see great improvements in the movement I have with my ankles and stamina in my balance and walking. Might therapist says she can see a great improvement each session, and I feel more confident and going out and socializing with others.

Non-medical life:  well not at therapy or doctors appointments I have picked up a new hobby - inspired by my best friend, Angela. What is it you ask? Crochet. I used to do it to pass my free time in middle school and high school, and decided to pick it back up again. Here are some pictures of what I am currently working on. 

I also just started a lapghan for my dad's birthday, but it is not progressed enough to show a picture of it :-)

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was a blast! we went to Summersville and had a cookout with our neighbors there. Made some great memories and got a bad sunburn lol.

Until next time.

It's a Good Thing Humans Aren't God

Have you ever became uncontrollably frustrated with someone because it seems they won't listen to your advice, and they keep making the same mistakes, putting them right back where they started?  Well, I have.  Sometimes I get so frustrated I want to take the person and shake them - so you should be thankful I am not God.

God loves us so much and is so patient with us that it doesn't matter that I'm about to try this intimate quiet devotion and prayer time for what seems like the billionth time.  I try to carve out my quiet time first thing in the morning.  I pray, read my Bible, and read some of whatever Bible Study book I am participating in at the time - or I might journal if I feel like it.  However, Satan is cunning and deceiving.  Occasionally I decide to have quite time in the living room so that I don't go back to sleep on the bed.  This living room has my computer with super easy access to Facebook, the big screen TV with Xfinity OnDemand waiting to play my favorite shows I have missed, and my PS3, along with a stack of my favorite games that are begging me to play them for hours upon hours.

So I compromise.  Satan says, "It's okay.  You won't be able to focus on God with your mind stuck on electronics, so go ahead.  You have all day to have your quiet time."  In reality, I have all day to Facebook, watch TV, and play games - usually that time in the morning is the best devotional time I can get all day.

Satan does such a good job at this that I don't even notice what's happening until I feel different - disconnected from God.  I go to pray and suddenly I'm at a loss for words because I know I've messed up again and the only person to blame is me.  I know that if the roles were reversed I would be fuming with frustration and 2 seconds from saying "don't even try anymore because it's not worth it."

Praise God because instead He says, "It's okay.  Let's try again, and let me help you even more this time.  We will get it someday."

Micha 7:18-19
     "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."


Dear Father,
     If there is someone reading this who has fallen back to an old habit away from you, Lord, please give them the strength to throw it away and to call on your name to try again.  They may not get it this time either, Lord, but you are a God of mercy and forgiveness.  You will help them until they get it right.
I ask this all in Jesus' name.
Amen.