It has been one of those days...you know the ones where EVERYTHING seems to go completely wrong. One of those, that even when something wonderful takes place, you have a hard time being happy about it. Unfortunately, that day turned into a month!
It started in the beginning of November. My mother-in-law became very ill and bed-ridden. We were uncertain of what was going on. In September, she seemed happy and healthy, aside from her regular medical conditions. Then all of a sudden, she is sick and in bed. She went and had some test done and we were told it was cancer. The most aggressive form the hospital had ever seen. They told us that there was nothing that they could do other than send her home and make her comfortable. They told us that they expect that we have a few weeks, possibly a month. We were preparing for the month. She came home and a week later, she WENT home. She was a beautiful and loving woman. A child of God. So when I say she WENT home, she went to our Heavenly Father! She had prepared us for this without even letting us know. She told all of us goodbye in her own way. She even wrote her final goodbye that my sister-in-law read at the memorial. She was a woman that gave and cared for others before thinking of herself. Even in this, she did the same. She donated her body to our local school of medicine, so that they could study, learn, and research for a cure/treatment for cancer. I always thought that one of the toughest thing I would ever do was reading a letter that I wrote to my Granddaddy at his funeral, I found out different. Loosing my brother was the toughest, so far. Performing "Amazing Grace" at her memorial was next.
My husband has been doing well. He has had his moments, and days, but God is bringing him through. We celebrated our 11th anniversary on December 13. It was bitter sweet. His mother was always the first person to call us and wish a happy anniversary. Then again, she was always the first one to call and wish us a happy whatever the occasion was. However, this was not the only reason that it was bitter sweet. On December 9th, we had our own cancer scare. The doctors believed that me husband had colon cancer. They scheduled a colonoscopy for the 15th. We were relying on God to heal him and for the results to be negative. PRAISE GOD, they were. We went yesterday morning and they performed the procedure. The nurse came and got me after he woke. As we were walking back she says, "He's out. Everything we fine. Everything can back negative. He's right here. The doctor will be in shortly." All I could say was, "THANK YOU JESUS!" He answered our prayers. That's the wonderful thing that happened in the midst of our storm that we are happy about, but are having a hard time rejoicing in. You see, the first person he wanted to call, we couldn't.
I've heard people say, "How much more can you handle?" or "I don't know how you do it." Here is the thing: I don't. GOD gives me, and my family, the strength to handle it. If it were not for HIM, I would not be able to deal with any of this. Don't get me wrong, I've had my moments of breaking down or going off on people. It's difficult. I'm not perfect. I pray for God get me through this. It's a one day at a time situation. I know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH HIM! It's just been a time for my entire family. All of us have our own trials that we are facing at this time. However, all of us a praying for each other and relying on God to bring ALL of US through it. HE will bring us through and we will all be closer to each other and GOD! We have to remember to praise him in the good and bad times that we face. HE has us at all times. HE loves us and cares for us. HE is ALMIGHTY, LOVING, and there whenever we call. PRAISE YOU, FATHER, for loving us and strengthening us all.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
10 @ 10:00
OK!...So after many conversations with a friend of mine, we decided that we would join together, in the Spirit, at 10:00 (am or pm) and PRAY for our nation and elected officials. After a week or so, my friend and I decided to make it a group, and she did just that. She started a group on www.facebook.com called "10 @ 10:00". The group has over 100 members on facebook and is still growing. Won't you join?
No, you do not have to join facebook. When I ask, "Won't you join?", I mean won't you join in with as a 10:00, either am or pm, and take 10 minutes to pray for our nation and elected officials. The Word says that, "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" II Chronicles 7:14. Just think of the changes that can be made if we join together in one mind, and in one accord, of the things that could be changed. Our President-Elect won with that word, "CHANGE." However, that has been the Christians problem. We, Christians, have allowed the world to "change" us into what they want us to be, SILENT and ASLEEP. It is time that we "WAKE UP" and "CHANGE" the world to what WE want. We are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed. Romans 12:1,2 AMP states, "1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]."
I believe that if we join together and pray for the salvation of this nation and its elected officials, that changes in the heart of men can, and will, take place. I believe that we will see that hand of God move on this nation and that together, through prayer, we will see the USA return to its former glory. We were once a nation seen as a light in the darkness, a place where people desired to come. However, we are now a smear on the face of society. People around the world detest us and believe that we are a joke. It is something that we can, and need to change.
Please join us in prayer for this nation and administrations.
No, you do not have to join facebook. When I ask, "Won't you join?", I mean won't you join in with as a 10:00, either am or pm, and take 10 minutes to pray for our nation and elected officials. The Word says that, "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" II Chronicles 7:14. Just think of the changes that can be made if we join together in one mind, and in one accord, of the things that could be changed. Our President-Elect won with that word, "CHANGE." However, that has been the Christians problem. We, Christians, have allowed the world to "change" us into what they want us to be, SILENT and ASLEEP. It is time that we "WAKE UP" and "CHANGE" the world to what WE want. We are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed. Romans 12:1,2 AMP states, "1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]."
I believe that if we join together and pray for the salvation of this nation and its elected officials, that changes in the heart of men can, and will, take place. I believe that we will see that hand of God move on this nation and that together, through prayer, we will see the USA return to its former glory. We were once a nation seen as a light in the darkness, a place where people desired to come. However, we are now a smear on the face of society. People around the world detest us and believe that we are a joke. It is something that we can, and need to change.
Please join us in prayer for this nation and administrations.
How I Felt, And Still Feel, About Election Night
This is just a copy of an email that I sent out to my family and friends on Nov. 5, 2008. I was told that it helped others that were downhearted, like I was, with the outcome. If you agree, then you agree. If you don't, then I empathize with you. Be Blessed!
I pray that this finds you will and in good spirits. Last night as I sat on my bed, John McCain gave a very elegant, and respectful, concession speech. I will tell you that I was very upset that our President-elect is someone that does not hold to some of the same convictions that I find very important. With that said, you can imagine that I went to bed feeling very defeated.
This morning, I got up as usual and went about my normal routine. As my husband was leaving for work, he came to me and said, "You need to read Romans chapter 13." So, as I prepared the schoolwork for the children, I picked up my Bible and read Romans. Upon reading this, I was comforted by the words wrote by Paul. I would like to share them with you.
Romans 13:1-14 New Living Translation
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they well be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those in authority.
Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These-and other such commandments- are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than we first believed. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
I know that I am not alone in my thoughts and convictions. I have questioned, and been questioned, about what will become of our great nation. All I know is that I am first a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and then this world, not the other way around. I know that we are told that God works things to the good of those that believe. I believe that there IS a reason for this president. I have been asked, "What are we going to do?" and "What is going to happen to us and our families?" I have no answer for these questions. I am uncertain of what will happen. What I do know is that rather than speaking against our new leaders, and tearing them down, as people have done with the present administration, we need to build them up and PRAY for them and this STILL great nation.
As Christians, followers of Christ, we should ban together and join in prayer for President-elect Barrack Obama, Governor-Elect Bev Perdue (NC), and our other elected officials. My prayer is that we, Christians, will love these people, just as Christ loves us. That we can put aside our upsets and disappointments, and ban together to lift up our leaders in prayer, and by mouth. My mother told me growing up, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything." I agree. If we can't find anything to say that is nice, then we should remain silent. Pray! Pray that our Heavenly Father will reveal himself to our governing authorities, that His convictions will become their convictions, and if our leaders are not true followers of Christ, that they will become so.
This morning, I got up as usual and went about my normal routine. As my husband was leaving for work, he came to me and said, "You need to read Romans chapter 13." So, as I prepared the schoolwork for the children, I picked up my Bible and read Romans. Upon reading this, I was comforted by the words wrote by Paul. I would like to share them with you.
Romans 13:1-14 New Living Translation
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they well be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those in authority.
Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These-and other such commandments- are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than we first believed. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
I know that I am not alone in my thoughts and convictions. I have questioned, and been questioned, about what will become of our great nation. All I know is that I am first a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and then this world, not the other way around. I know that we are told that God works things to the good of those that believe. I believe that there IS a reason for this president. I have been asked, "What are we going to do?" and "What is going to happen to us and our families?" I have no answer for these questions. I am uncertain of what will happen. What I do know is that rather than speaking against our new leaders, and tearing them down, as people have done with the present administration, we need to build them up and PRAY for them and this STILL great nation.
As Christians, followers of Christ, we should ban together and join in prayer for President-elect Barrack Obama, Governor-Elect Bev Perdue (NC), and our other elected officials. My prayer is that we, Christians, will love these people, just as Christ loves us. That we can put aside our upsets and disappointments, and ban together to lift up our leaders in prayer, and by mouth. My mother told me growing up, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything." I agree. If we can't find anything to say that is nice, then we should remain silent. Pray! Pray that our Heavenly Father will reveal himself to our governing authorities, that His convictions will become their convictions, and if our leaders are not true followers of Christ, that they will become so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
