Over the past year I have seen a recurring theme among my Christian friends and am mulling it over. If we say, and believe, that our bodies are the Temple of God, why do we not take better care of them?
Ya Ya I know. I too do not take care of my body by the things I eat and the extra weight I carry. That is pretty common, not right, but common.
What I have been seeing over the past year is Christians ignoring major physical problems – not going to the doctor for treatment, or refusing treatment when recommended by a health professional. We do have ‘choice,’ but we also have a responsibility to care for the bodies God has given us.
If we believe that our body is the Temple of God should we not keep it repaired? We are stewards of all He has given us...our bodies too. If the roof of our church or home was falling down and in need of repair we probably would take care of it…what about God’s temple, our bodies?
One friend of mine has had a major orthopedic problem for over a year and has refused to let the surgeons correct it. Now it has reached the point that other symptoms are evident, caused by the first condition, and she probably will need treatment on another area of her body. Over the year she has missed out on several events, numerous church services, and a lot of fun….because of her problem.
Two friends of mine have had cardiac problems. Fear has caused them to both delay treatment. One has been treated and is doing fine. The other is now finally scheduling surgery…she could have dropped over at any time with a stroke all these years because she would not take care of herself.
One friend had a serious bladder situation (in fact she said it felt like her bladder was going to fall out of her body…) and waited over 12 hours to begin taking prescribed antibiotics. Twelve hours is a looooong time when you are a senior adult with an infection.
Another friend had a serious, serious gyn problem and ignored it for several days. Only after my nagging her, and scaring her with all the possibilities of what might be wrong did she finally see her physician.
I may be sensitive to this issue of ignoring physical symptoms for two reasons, one is that I am a retired nurse and have seen it all…and……my niece ignored a breast mass for a year, and when she finally went to the doctor it was Stage 4 breast cancer. She died last month. I often wonder if the outcome might have been different if she had taken care of it right away.
A year of seeing my friends with these ailments has made me sort of sick-to-my-stomach at their neglect for their own bodies.
But getting back to basics. If we believe that God, the Holy Spirit lives in us, and we are the temple of God….shouldn’t we take better care of ourselves? (I am speaking to myself too).
Yes our Lord does perform miracles...but I am pretty sure He wants us to take care of ourselves too!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A New Focus for our Prayers
Much of our daily life is all about, ‘What’s in it for me?” Really. We do need to focus on our own needs to live, eat, work, and deal with life. Even as Christians we really do have to think about our own needs most of the time.
But what about our Christian life? Are there hidden aspects of our life that focus on us, and our needs? Maybe things we never thought about as being “man centered’ and not “God centered?”
In my life I have had these thoughts lately. What about in my prayer life? Is it all about me? Is it all about human need, and not about more spiritual things?
Before you read any further….stop and think…how do you pray? How do you pray when you are concerned about someone needing salvation?...... Think about it for a moment. How do you pray for that person’s salvation?
Some sample prayers might be…
“Oh God save Edgar, Don’t let him go to hell. Call him to Yourself.”
What about our prayers for strangers…yes you should pray for strangers….lets see, I have prayed… “Oh God let that man over there with the green-dyed hair, tattoos and ten body piercing be saved. He needs Jesus too. He should not spend eternity in hell.”
What about how we pray for our church… “Oh God send more people to our church. Fill the pews. Let many people hear our wonderful pastor give the gospel message so clearly and powerfully so they can be saved.”
These are wonderful prayers. We should prayer for our loved ones, strangers and our church. These are typical prayers. There is nothing wrong with these prayers. But…..its all about the human need. Lately I have been convicted in my own life that maybe I have the wrong focus….
Maybe the focus of our prayer needs to be toward what’s in it for God, not what’s in it for man. It really is all about God, and not about us. (Now what does that mean?). When Jesus gave us the model prayer it started out all about God….Hallowed be thy name, Thy will be done…for Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory….
Perhaps our prayers should be something like…
“Oh God call Edgar to Yourself so that he will be saved and he will worship You. You are worthy of our worship.”
“Oh God call that man with the green hair to Yourself. You are worthy to be worshipped.”
“Oh God bring people into our church to be saved to worship You.”
I must remind myself, Jeanne, it is not about us, it is about God. It is all about God being worthy of our worship. Yes He will save us and take us with Him to eternity. Yes people will escape hell…but its more about how worthy God is than our need. It’s all about God and not about us.
Until we come to the saving knowledge of God, until we are saved, we cannot really worship the ONE who is worthy of worship. He desires our worship. That is why He made us.
So my prayers might be focused … “Oh God, please call my unsaved family to You. You are worthy of worship. They need to worship You. Save them so they can bend their knee and worship You.”
Its not about us, it’s about Him. Its not about what’s in it for us as humans(saving us from an eternity separated from Him,) its about what’s in it for Him – our worship!
But what about our Christian life? Are there hidden aspects of our life that focus on us, and our needs? Maybe things we never thought about as being “man centered’ and not “God centered?”
In my life I have had these thoughts lately. What about in my prayer life? Is it all about me? Is it all about human need, and not about more spiritual things?
Before you read any further….stop and think…how do you pray? How do you pray when you are concerned about someone needing salvation?...... Think about it for a moment. How do you pray for that person’s salvation?
Some sample prayers might be…
“Oh God save Edgar, Don’t let him go to hell. Call him to Yourself.”
What about our prayers for strangers…yes you should pray for strangers….lets see, I have prayed… “Oh God let that man over there with the green-dyed hair, tattoos and ten body piercing be saved. He needs Jesus too. He should not spend eternity in hell.”
What about how we pray for our church… “Oh God send more people to our church. Fill the pews. Let many people hear our wonderful pastor give the gospel message so clearly and powerfully so they can be saved.”
These are wonderful prayers. We should prayer for our loved ones, strangers and our church. These are typical prayers. There is nothing wrong with these prayers. But…..its all about the human need. Lately I have been convicted in my own life that maybe I have the wrong focus….
Maybe the focus of our prayer needs to be toward what’s in it for God, not what’s in it for man. It really is all about God, and not about us. (Now what does that mean?). When Jesus gave us the model prayer it started out all about God….Hallowed be thy name, Thy will be done…for Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory….
Perhaps our prayers should be something like…
“Oh God call Edgar to Yourself so that he will be saved and he will worship You. You are worthy of our worship.”
“Oh God call that man with the green hair to Yourself. You are worthy to be worshipped.”
“Oh God bring people into our church to be saved to worship You.”
I must remind myself, Jeanne, it is not about us, it is about God. It is all about God being worthy of our worship. Yes He will save us and take us with Him to eternity. Yes people will escape hell…but its more about how worthy God is than our need. It’s all about God and not about us.
Until we come to the saving knowledge of God, until we are saved, we cannot really worship the ONE who is worthy of worship. He desires our worship. That is why He made us.
So my prayers might be focused … “Oh God, please call my unsaved family to You. You are worthy of worship. They need to worship You. Save them so they can bend their knee and worship You.”
Its not about us, it’s about Him. Its not about what’s in it for us as humans(saving us from an eternity separated from Him,) its about what’s in it for Him – our worship!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Random Thoughts - “Everyone Ain’t Got Here Yet!!”
I was standing in a long line at WalMart today, people around me were complaining of the busy morning and so few cash registers opened. Someone up front must have complained that a few more aisles needed to be open because the cashier at the ‘end’ of my line said in a loud voice say…”Everyone ain’t got here yet!”
Hearing her say that so loudly sort of startled me. Those words began to go round-and-round in my brain for some reason. Was it just the bad grammar? Was it just the forcefulness of her attitude? Or was it the words themselves telling me a message?
Everyone ain’t got here yet! Now the grammar is not the best(!), but could I imagine God saying those words…and why would He say them? I began to think.
So many of us are speaking of these days possibly being the ‘end times.’ We speak of the rapture. One of my favorite sayings (which most of my friends reading this will know as they read this) is.. “Come back Jesus and get us out of this mess!!”
Scripture says no one knows the exact day or time Jesus will return. Scripture says many scoff at the idea of His returning. I am one of those who know that Jesus is coming back…and I hope He is coming back very soon. But why not right now Lord? When will it be time? Isn’t the world in a mess as never before - and it is time to come and get Your children?
Everyone ain’t got here yet Jeanne!
God knows the exact moment in time of the return of our Lord and Savior. Perhaps He is just waiting for that ‘last one’ to die a natural death before the rapture.
Now when I get anxious to ‘go home’ and ask “When are You coming back for us Lord,” I will remember the words of that cashier at Walmart today. Maybe the answer is:
“Everyone ain’t got here yet Jeanne!
Important Question: Will you come to Jesus today?
Come back Jesus and get us out of this mess!!
Hearing her say that so loudly sort of startled me. Those words began to go round-and-round in my brain for some reason. Was it just the bad grammar? Was it just the forcefulness of her attitude? Or was it the words themselves telling me a message?
Everyone ain’t got here yet! Now the grammar is not the best(!), but could I imagine God saying those words…and why would He say them? I began to think.
So many of us are speaking of these days possibly being the ‘end times.’ We speak of the rapture. One of my favorite sayings (which most of my friends reading this will know as they read this) is.. “Come back Jesus and get us out of this mess!!”
Scripture says no one knows the exact day or time Jesus will return. Scripture says many scoff at the idea of His returning. I am one of those who know that Jesus is coming back…and I hope He is coming back very soon. But why not right now Lord? When will it be time? Isn’t the world in a mess as never before - and it is time to come and get Your children?
Everyone ain’t got here yet Jeanne!
God knows the exact moment in time of the return of our Lord and Savior. Perhaps He is just waiting for that ‘last one’ to die a natural death before the rapture.
Now when I get anxious to ‘go home’ and ask “When are You coming back for us Lord,” I will remember the words of that cashier at Walmart today. Maybe the answer is:
“Everyone ain’t got here yet Jeanne!
Important Question: Will you come to Jesus today?
Come back Jesus and get us out of this mess!!
Random Thoughts - One Verse Explains So Much
One verse in the Bible has been on my mind this week - one most of us have heard, or said... "the love of money is the root of all evil."
I began to think of it in context of the book of the Revelation. We are studying it at Fairview, and the Pastor mentioned that as we read Revelation, in many of the chapters we see the emphesis on the economy. The end chapters speak of how the merchants and kings grieve when Babylon has fallen because of their riches. Babylon may indicate an economic system in the end times. Money and wealth the focus over spiritual things. It seems like that day is coming.
As I look around me, and at my own life, I can see how things and money seem to be a big focus...and how easily we could all begin to 'worship' materialism! "The love of money is the root of all evil" begins to make more sense in view of the 'end times'
I also see this verse and how the love of money and things is overtaking our lives in the way we VOTE. Many of us vote for the person that will best take care of us. The person that will give us more. The person that will keep us rich or make us even more wealthy.
We don't vote for people that will lead this country back to our Christian roots. Good, solid, pure hearted Christians vote with our wallets.....the love of money is the root of all evil. What evil?
Just look around at what our politicians are doing...and we voted for them so that we can keep our money. Because of our love for money...more abortion...a country that condones homosexuality....a country that won't pray or permit Bible reading in school....etc... all because we voted for people on the local and national level who will keep our wallets full. These same people are the ones who seem to lead us away from Christian living.
I had someone tell me today that she would NEVER vote again in any election because she had been duped into voting for someone who was not what she thought. She had even changed 'parties' for the first time in her life, in hopes of a brighter future for this country. When I asked her why she had voted for this person, she said, "I needed to know that my house taxes would stay low. I was tryinig to protect my property." Now she is says she is so discouraged she won't vote again.
"The love of money is the root of all evil" may be one of the most important verses in Scripture. I am going to watch my own actions and attidudes very closely. None of us is immune from letting money rule our lives.
Yes....'the love of money may be the root of all evil."
I began to think of it in context of the book of the Revelation. We are studying it at Fairview, and the Pastor mentioned that as we read Revelation, in many of the chapters we see the emphesis on the economy. The end chapters speak of how the merchants and kings grieve when Babylon has fallen because of their riches. Babylon may indicate an economic system in the end times. Money and wealth the focus over spiritual things. It seems like that day is coming.
As I look around me, and at my own life, I can see how things and money seem to be a big focus...and how easily we could all begin to 'worship' materialism! "The love of money is the root of all evil" begins to make more sense in view of the 'end times'
I also see this verse and how the love of money and things is overtaking our lives in the way we VOTE. Many of us vote for the person that will best take care of us. The person that will give us more. The person that will keep us rich or make us even more wealthy.
We don't vote for people that will lead this country back to our Christian roots. Good, solid, pure hearted Christians vote with our wallets.....the love of money is the root of all evil. What evil?
Just look around at what our politicians are doing...and we voted for them so that we can keep our money. Because of our love for money...more abortion...a country that condones homosexuality....a country that won't pray or permit Bible reading in school....etc... all because we voted for people on the local and national level who will keep our wallets full. These same people are the ones who seem to lead us away from Christian living.
I had someone tell me today that she would NEVER vote again in any election because she had been duped into voting for someone who was not what she thought. She had even changed 'parties' for the first time in her life, in hopes of a brighter future for this country. When I asked her why she had voted for this person, she said, "I needed to know that my house taxes would stay low. I was tryinig to protect my property." Now she is says she is so discouraged she won't vote again.
"The love of money is the root of all evil" may be one of the most important verses in Scripture. I am going to watch my own actions and attidudes very closely. None of us is immune from letting money rule our lives.
Yes....'the love of money may be the root of all evil."
Sunday, August 29, 2010
My Testimony
I have been asked to give my testimony for a women's Sunday School class this week. Next month I will give my testimony to a Senior Adult gathering. For some, beging asked to give your testimony is a frightening thought. They do not know the 'mechanics' of presenting a logical and meaningful story, or they cannot even really put together the facts of their own salvation experience to present it.
I have been blessed to have been trained in the proper steps to give a testimony, and I have had a significant salvation experience that it is easy for me to tell the story. I know the exact moment in time that I was born again. I rejoice in the grace of the LORD, and His forgiveness.
The "mechanics" of a testimony??? It can be easy if you remember a three step outline:
I. Before - your life before you were saved
II. During - what happend at the point of being born again - an event, a time, etc...
III. After - How your life has changed since you were born again.
BEFORE
(I was trained to know that a good testimony only takes about five minutes to tell before people get bored. On paper I can go into more detail.)
I grew up in a "Christian" home. My parentes send us three girls to Sunday School every week. Sometimes they would attend church themselves...most of the time they just dropped us off. My mother seemed like the one who wanted us to be in church.
I have fond memories of Sunday School and the summer activities of church. I don't think they called it VBS the...way back in the 50's.
At the age of 11 I was baptized. My sisters, age 9 were baptized. I know now that, I can only speak for myself, it meant nothing. My mother wanted us baptized. I remember her having a heated discussion with our pastor that we three girls needed to be baptized. He did not seem to want us baptized. I didn't understand his objection then...now I do.
We were baptized because she wanted us baptized. I really didn't understand that I was a sinner in need of salvation. It meant nothing to us. Nothing more than a nice ceremony, getting dressed up in cute little white dresses, and having a family celebration afterward. I thought I was a Christian.
My mother died about a year later. We never went back to church again. BUT....
I thought I was a Christian all my life.
I thought I was a Christian by attending church on only Easter and Christmas.
I thought I was a Christian because I kept a Bible by my bed.
I thought I was a Christian because I loved God and knew who Jesus was.
I thought I was a Christian because I prayed when I needed something. I prayed when I was afraid, or when I saw something disturbing that I didn't understand in the world.
I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
I became a nurse. I went to church to pray when I saw some terrible thing happen - a patient that was very ill - a terrible accident - someone disfigured. I remember seeing a man cut in half in an accident. He had a surgical procedure called a 'hemicorporectomy' - half body. Right after the surgery I left the operating room and went to the chapel and prayed. I remember being so sad for this man. I just didn't underestand the ugliness and horror that life could bring. I felt the need to pray. I was drawn to God in my need. I didn't underestand when this man died a few days later.
I thought I was a Christian while I sat in bars and was a 'wild women' in the 60"s. I thought I was being spiritual when I would wear a large, ornate crucifix around my neck as jewelry - while I went out every night to bars for fun. As the song goes..."looking for love in all the wrong places." I went to church on Christmas and Easter...maybe. I concentrated on my job and getting advanced education...for position and a bigger pay check.
That was my life. Hard work for position and money, hard fun for...love.... I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
Lots of 'fun'. Lots of men. Two ruined marriages.
I remember one young man trying to share the gospel with me. He was a new Christian. One night shift when things were very quiet he asked me.."Are you a Christian?"' That question did not bother me. I answered what I felt in my heart, "Of course I am a Christian...I have been baptized."
He then tried to explain to me that being baptized was not the issue..."was I a Christian?" I didn't get it...I thought he was some kind of a religious nut...and let it go.
I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
DURING
"During" reminds me to speak of what happened at the moments leading up to my salvation experience.
I was born again on Oct. 6, 1987. I had just arrived on the the island of Guam, on Sept. 1st, for duty as a Navy Nurse. I was in a very low valley of life. Going to a job I really did not want, to a place I did not want to go...and I had just received the final papers on a divorce that I did NOT want. Life was a mess....but God had a plan.
I arrived for duty, living in the Bachelor Officers Quarters...just 300 yards from the hospital itself....and about 200 yeards from the Navy Chapel. I arrived on a Friday and was bored on Sunday morning so I decided to go to the church service. I enjoyed it. A younger nurse asked me to join her on Tues night for the weekoly Bible Study....Hey...nothing to do on Tues night...ok.
The group was studying the Gospel of John and I really did enjoy it. I decided to go back every Tuesday (only if it did not interfere with my new social life!) Through that study I began to see God's love, and my sinful life. Several weeks into the study, October 6th to be exact, we were studying how the disciples and followers of Jesus deserted Him when He was arrested. I spoke up and said, "How could they do that? They all saw His miracles and saw that He was God! They ran and He still loved them!!"
One sweet lady spoke up and said, "Why Jeanne it is like our lives. God is there showing us His love and his miracles and we just don't get it. He keeps trying to get our attention but we just ignore Him. Its like Rev. 3:20 says...Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens that door, I will come into him.."
Each one of us has a different salvation experience. Each one has that one special moment in time when we are born again. THIS WAS MINE. When that woman spoke that verse it was as if a light came on in my spirit. An actual light. In that moment of time I knew that Jesus had always been trying to get my attention. As Lord and God Jesus loved me. I was a sinner and wanted to submit myself to Him forever. I wanted to be obedient and a Christ follower.
In a moment of time it happened to me. I was born again. Praise God life has never been the same!!
The following weekend I was baptized at the beach in Agana, Guam. This time it meant something. It did not save me. It did not usher me into heaven, but it was my public proclamation that Jesus is my Lord and Savior...and I am His.
AFTER
My life has never been the same. I could fill thousands of typed lines telling how God has blessed me and USED me!!! He took such a sinner as I was and has honored me by directing me to teach the Word of God to other women. WOW!!!
They say that the Christian life is an adventure...and it is, if we will submit our wills to His. God does have a plan for each of us - if we will just submit to His will life is exciting. More that that...life is wonderful...KNOWING Him....TRUSTING Him!!!
God is the boss of my life....who is your boss??
I have been blessed to have been trained in the proper steps to give a testimony, and I have had a significant salvation experience that it is easy for me to tell the story. I know the exact moment in time that I was born again. I rejoice in the grace of the LORD, and His forgiveness.
The "mechanics" of a testimony??? It can be easy if you remember a three step outline:
I. Before - your life before you were saved
II. During - what happend at the point of being born again - an event, a time, etc...
III. After - How your life has changed since you were born again.
BEFORE
(I was trained to know that a good testimony only takes about five minutes to tell before people get bored. On paper I can go into more detail.)
I grew up in a "Christian" home. My parentes send us three girls to Sunday School every week. Sometimes they would attend church themselves...most of the time they just dropped us off. My mother seemed like the one who wanted us to be in church.
I have fond memories of Sunday School and the summer activities of church. I don't think they called it VBS the...way back in the 50's.
At the age of 11 I was baptized. My sisters, age 9 were baptized. I know now that, I can only speak for myself, it meant nothing. My mother wanted us baptized. I remember her having a heated discussion with our pastor that we three girls needed to be baptized. He did not seem to want us baptized. I didn't understand his objection then...now I do.
We were baptized because she wanted us baptized. I really didn't understand that I was a sinner in need of salvation. It meant nothing to us. Nothing more than a nice ceremony, getting dressed up in cute little white dresses, and having a family celebration afterward. I thought I was a Christian.
My mother died about a year later. We never went back to church again. BUT....
I thought I was a Christian all my life.
I thought I was a Christian by attending church on only Easter and Christmas.
I thought I was a Christian because I kept a Bible by my bed.
I thought I was a Christian because I loved God and knew who Jesus was.
I thought I was a Christian because I prayed when I needed something. I prayed when I was afraid, or when I saw something disturbing that I didn't understand in the world.
I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
I became a nurse. I went to church to pray when I saw some terrible thing happen - a patient that was very ill - a terrible accident - someone disfigured. I remember seeing a man cut in half in an accident. He had a surgical procedure called a 'hemicorporectomy' - half body. Right after the surgery I left the operating room and went to the chapel and prayed. I remember being so sad for this man. I just didn't underestand the ugliness and horror that life could bring. I felt the need to pray. I was drawn to God in my need. I didn't underestand when this man died a few days later.
I thought I was a Christian while I sat in bars and was a 'wild women' in the 60"s. I thought I was being spiritual when I would wear a large, ornate crucifix around my neck as jewelry - while I went out every night to bars for fun. As the song goes..."looking for love in all the wrong places." I went to church on Christmas and Easter...maybe. I concentrated on my job and getting advanced education...for position and a bigger pay check.
That was my life. Hard work for position and money, hard fun for...love.... I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
Lots of 'fun'. Lots of men. Two ruined marriages.
I remember one young man trying to share the gospel with me. He was a new Christian. One night shift when things were very quiet he asked me.."Are you a Christian?"' That question did not bother me. I answered what I felt in my heart, "Of course I am a Christian...I have been baptized."
He then tried to explain to me that being baptized was not the issue..."was I a Christian?" I didn't get it...I thought he was some kind of a religious nut...and let it go.
I thought I was a Christian because I had been baptized.
DURING
"During" reminds me to speak of what happened at the moments leading up to my salvation experience.
I was born again on Oct. 6, 1987. I had just arrived on the the island of Guam, on Sept. 1st, for duty as a Navy Nurse. I was in a very low valley of life. Going to a job I really did not want, to a place I did not want to go...and I had just received the final papers on a divorce that I did NOT want. Life was a mess....but God had a plan.
I arrived for duty, living in the Bachelor Officers Quarters...just 300 yards from the hospital itself....and about 200 yeards from the Navy Chapel. I arrived on a Friday and was bored on Sunday morning so I decided to go to the church service. I enjoyed it. A younger nurse asked me to join her on Tues night for the weekoly Bible Study....Hey...nothing to do on Tues night...ok.
The group was studying the Gospel of John and I really did enjoy it. I decided to go back every Tuesday (only if it did not interfere with my new social life!) Through that study I began to see God's love, and my sinful life. Several weeks into the study, October 6th to be exact, we were studying how the disciples and followers of Jesus deserted Him when He was arrested. I spoke up and said, "How could they do that? They all saw His miracles and saw that He was God! They ran and He still loved them!!"
One sweet lady spoke up and said, "Why Jeanne it is like our lives. God is there showing us His love and his miracles and we just don't get it. He keeps trying to get our attention but we just ignore Him. Its like Rev. 3:20 says...Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens that door, I will come into him.."
Each one of us has a different salvation experience. Each one has that one special moment in time when we are born again. THIS WAS MINE. When that woman spoke that verse it was as if a light came on in my spirit. An actual light. In that moment of time I knew that Jesus had always been trying to get my attention. As Lord and God Jesus loved me. I was a sinner and wanted to submit myself to Him forever. I wanted to be obedient and a Christ follower.
In a moment of time it happened to me. I was born again. Praise God life has never been the same!!
The following weekend I was baptized at the beach in Agana, Guam. This time it meant something. It did not save me. It did not usher me into heaven, but it was my public proclamation that Jesus is my Lord and Savior...and I am His.
AFTER
My life has never been the same. I could fill thousands of typed lines telling how God has blessed me and USED me!!! He took such a sinner as I was and has honored me by directing me to teach the Word of God to other women. WOW!!!
They say that the Christian life is an adventure...and it is, if we will submit our wills to His. God does have a plan for each of us - if we will just submit to His will life is exciting. More that that...life is wonderful...KNOWING Him....TRUSTING Him!!!
God is the boss of my life....who is your boss??
Thursday, July 15, 2010
My Three Girls...and God...
My Adele, My Lisa, My Stacy, and MY GOD
Cancer. It is all around me.
Lost people. People that do not know of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus are all around me.
Lost people with cancer are all around me.
The last few weeks have been pretty amazing in my life. Pretty stressful, but pretty amazing. I have come to the understanding that God is at work in my life, using me in the life of others. I am unworthy, but it seems that God is directing my steps to pray for, get others to pray for, and to witness to a specific group of people with cancer that do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing.
Someone close to me was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer earlier this year. Lets call her Adele (for privacy reasons). She is beginning her fight against cancer. Weekly chemotherapy treatments. Fatigue. Loss of hair. God knows the number of her days.
My niece has been fighting Stage 4 breast cancer for six years. (Lets call her Lisa for privacy reasons) She is losing the fight. Today she has been admitted to a hospital for IV therapy to fight dehydration, and to help with pain relief. God knows the number of her days.
Stacy is my new friend, in fact, a stranger. I do not even know her last name, but God has put her in my path. She is a beautiful 40 year old woman who has Stage 4 bone cancer. Unless God intervenes she will probably die in a few months. The physicians have told her she has 2-3 months left to live. I met her during a visit to a hospital. This week she will be transferred to a hospice center. I have told her that only God knows the number of her days.
Adele, Lisa and Stacy with cancer. And my God. He is in control. He knows why these women are in my life
I too have had my brush with cancer. In the beginning….six years ago, a routine mammogram gave me the diagnosis of Stage 1 Breast Cancer. Months of radiation followed with bi yearly follow-ups with my physician, multiple repeat mammograms and of course, constant thoughts of possible recurrence. The cancer has not recurred, and I am cancer free. At least for today.
As I have thanked God daily for my ‘little breast cancer’ I knew sometime in the future I would be able to use my experience to the glory of God. I am seeing it now.
As I interact with "my three girls" I believe that one of the reasons that they listen to me is that they know that I am a cancer survivor and have some small idea of what they are going through, when others might not. Stage 1 Breast Cancer is a small price for me to pay so that I can witness to other women about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Adele. I have prayed for Adele very day since my life was changed, and I was born-again in October 1987. I have tried to discuss salvation with her on many occasions. I have sent her Scripture and tracts in the mail. Adele is a hard nut to crack and is pretty stubborn. She says that she knows Jesus in her heart and is going to heaven when she dies. Praise God!!! May she be right!!
My interaction with Adele is daily witness through living. She says she is praying everyday. We often talk about the power of God and how He is in control of her cancer. Any deeper discussions of salvation are met with a brush off. I pray that she does know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior, and these interactions with me are just earthly, fleshly responses. I have had friends praying for Adele every day since October 1987. (Thank You God for faithful prayer warriors!)
Adele was with me when I went through my radiation. She attended most treatments with me. Now when she lets me I go with her. I want to be by her side and go with her to each treatment, but she says she prefers to go alone. (She has never come to the understanding that I need to go, I want to go to help, that it would be a blessing for me to help. No. She wants to be alone most of the time.)
God knows the number of Adele’s days.
Lisa. My sweet, beautiful niece. Never having a daughter, she is like my own. The last time I visited her in Montana she honored me by saying that in life she has had two mothers. I was one. When her mother could not go to be with her over the years, I could. Through the delivery of three sons, and months to follow, I could be with her when her mom was stuck in a job situation in California. Lisa is the daughter I never had.
Lisa was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer a few months after my own diagnosis. I often asked God…why do I have Stage 1, and sweet young Lisa have Stage 4, asking not in anger, but in curiosity…knowing that God has a plan for all of this.
Again with Lisa, as with Adele, because I had my own bout with breast cancer she knew that I somewhat knew what she was going through.
Does Lisa know the Lord Jesus? I hope so. I have had my friends praying for Lisa since October 1987. Several years before all the cancer started, when I was visiting with Lisa we did get to speak seriously about spiritual matters. We read through a gospel tract together and she prayed to receive Christ. God knows her heart.
Over the ‘cancer years’ I have brought up the subject many times…but with a rebuff from her. I have mailed dozens of tracts over the years. One with each card or letter. Maybe she has read some.
Only God knows the number of Lisa's days.....
(A later entry....) My Stacy. God brought her in my life…for her, and for an encouragement to me.
Stacy has cancer. Terminal cancer she told me.
We met by chance while I was sitting in the waiting room while Adele was receiving her three hour long chemotherapy. I was aware of the people around me on the ‘cancer floor.’ Thin, gaunt, people talking quietly with friends or loved ones. Able to leave their gray colored walls of their hospital rooms. Some with metal poles holding bags of various colored fluids draining into their veins.
People thought I was reading a book, but I was observing and praying. Praying for Adele and for those around me.
A tall beautiful, blond young woman sat down next to me. She was very thin, and looked a bit tired. She reminded me of my sweet LISA. I was drawn to her. She began the conversation, I don’t remember what she said, but it was a ‘divine’ appointment I am sure.
She pulled down the pink collar of the sweater she was wearing, and exposed her shoulder bone, misshaped by large tumors under the skin. Quite matter-of-factly she told me that the doctors had told her that she only had three months to live. She was a patient at the hospital for a few more days before she would be sent to a live in care center. She felt good enough today to get out and walk around the hospital…and meet me.
I asked her if she believed in God. When she responded with a “Yes.” I quickly got to the point, “Only God knows the number of your days. The doctors are not in control.” So began our discussion of salvation. She asked questions and we talked. When I began to discuss her making some kind of a commitment to God, she quickly changed the subject and asked if I would go with her to the cafeteria and get some ice cream.
For the next two hours we roamed the halls of the hospital. We ate at the cafeteria, we browsed at the gift shop, and we went outside and sat in the sunshine.
She seemed to tire and asked me to go back to her room with her. I got her tucked into bed and again spoke to her about Jesus. She asked me to go away, but to come back the next day to spend time with her.
So began my ‘mission’ for the next five days – going to the hospital to talk with Stacy about eternity and her relationship with Jesus. Each day she seemed more weak, and we never again left the room to walk the halls of the hospital. Her family always visited in the evenings, I visited in the mornings so we could have private time. Stacy seemed to enjoy my visits, and always asked me to come back.
I knew my time was running out with her. In two days she would be sent off and I would never see her again. On the forth day Stacy prayed.
She said she did want to make a commitment to the Lord, and repeated the prayer I prayed out loud with her. She was in much pain, and drifted off to sleep after our time together.
My next two visits with her were different. She was under heavy pain medication, but seemed glad to see me, drifted in and out of sleep….and always asked me to come back. I prayed over her each day with love and commitment as if she were my own, terminally ill niece.
I know that the hospital chaplain visited with her and prayed with her also. I saw several tracts that had been left on her bedside stand, beside the ones I always left with her. Praise God…Stacy was ‘getting it’ from several sources!!
The last day I came back her bed was empty. For one terrible moment I thought Stacy might have died. The nurse said she had been transferred a day ahead of schedule.
I never saw Stacy again.
God brought us together for a purpose. I pray with all my heart that she was sincere about her prayer to God, in belief and for eternal life. I do know that Stacy prayed. Only God knows her heart.
God brought her into my life as an encouragement and a balm to me to deal with the cancer all around me with Adele and Lisa. I knew in my spirit that because I had taken the time to share the Gospel with Stacy, that God would bring a stranger into the lives of Adele and Lisa to tell them what they would not listen when I spoke.
(An entry several months later.....) Lisa died in August. I do not know her spiritual condition, but I do know with all my heart that because I shared the gospel with Stacy, God sent someone to share the Gospel with her during the last days of her life. Only God knows her heart.
My Adele, my Lisa, my Stacy…and my God. God is so good. He loves Adele, Lisa and Stacy so much more than I ever could. He loves me too. God works all things for His glory. My interlude with Stacy was a divine appointment.
Thank You God in using me in a small way in Your plan to bring the offer of salvation to all people. Thank You for bringing me some comfort in my time of sorrow. Yes, I still shed tears over the death of Lisa, but I am comforted by my God and His great offer of salvation to all of us…to Adele, to Lisa, to Stacy and to me.
Cancer. It is all around me.
Lost people. People that do not know of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus are all around me.
Lost people with cancer are all around me.
The last few weeks have been pretty amazing in my life. Pretty stressful, but pretty amazing. I have come to the understanding that God is at work in my life, using me in the life of others. I am unworthy, but it seems that God is directing my steps to pray for, get others to pray for, and to witness to a specific group of people with cancer that do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing.
Someone close to me was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer earlier this year. Lets call her Adele (for privacy reasons). She is beginning her fight against cancer. Weekly chemotherapy treatments. Fatigue. Loss of hair. God knows the number of her days.
My niece has been fighting Stage 4 breast cancer for six years. (Lets call her Lisa for privacy reasons) She is losing the fight. Today she has been admitted to a hospital for IV therapy to fight dehydration, and to help with pain relief. God knows the number of her days.
Stacy is my new friend, in fact, a stranger. I do not even know her last name, but God has put her in my path. She is a beautiful 40 year old woman who has Stage 4 bone cancer. Unless God intervenes she will probably die in a few months. The physicians have told her she has 2-3 months left to live. I met her during a visit to a hospital. This week she will be transferred to a hospice center. I have told her that only God knows the number of her days.
Adele, Lisa and Stacy with cancer. And my God. He is in control. He knows why these women are in my life
I too have had my brush with cancer. In the beginning….six years ago, a routine mammogram gave me the diagnosis of Stage 1 Breast Cancer. Months of radiation followed with bi yearly follow-ups with my physician, multiple repeat mammograms and of course, constant thoughts of possible recurrence. The cancer has not recurred, and I am cancer free. At least for today.
As I have thanked God daily for my ‘little breast cancer’ I knew sometime in the future I would be able to use my experience to the glory of God. I am seeing it now.
As I interact with "my three girls" I believe that one of the reasons that they listen to me is that they know that I am a cancer survivor and have some small idea of what they are going through, when others might not. Stage 1 Breast Cancer is a small price for me to pay so that I can witness to other women about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Adele. I have prayed for Adele very day since my life was changed, and I was born-again in October 1987. I have tried to discuss salvation with her on many occasions. I have sent her Scripture and tracts in the mail. Adele is a hard nut to crack and is pretty stubborn. She says that she knows Jesus in her heart and is going to heaven when she dies. Praise God!!! May she be right!!
My interaction with Adele is daily witness through living. She says she is praying everyday. We often talk about the power of God and how He is in control of her cancer. Any deeper discussions of salvation are met with a brush off. I pray that she does know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior, and these interactions with me are just earthly, fleshly responses. I have had friends praying for Adele every day since October 1987. (Thank You God for faithful prayer warriors!)
Adele was with me when I went through my radiation. She attended most treatments with me. Now when she lets me I go with her. I want to be by her side and go with her to each treatment, but she says she prefers to go alone. (She has never come to the understanding that I need to go, I want to go to help, that it would be a blessing for me to help. No. She wants to be alone most of the time.)
God knows the number of Adele’s days.
Lisa. My sweet, beautiful niece. Never having a daughter, she is like my own. The last time I visited her in Montana she honored me by saying that in life she has had two mothers. I was one. When her mother could not go to be with her over the years, I could. Through the delivery of three sons, and months to follow, I could be with her when her mom was stuck in a job situation in California. Lisa is the daughter I never had.
Lisa was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer a few months after my own diagnosis. I often asked God…why do I have Stage 1, and sweet young Lisa have Stage 4, asking not in anger, but in curiosity…knowing that God has a plan for all of this.
Again with Lisa, as with Adele, because I had my own bout with breast cancer she knew that I somewhat knew what she was going through.
Does Lisa know the Lord Jesus? I hope so. I have had my friends praying for Lisa since October 1987. Several years before all the cancer started, when I was visiting with Lisa we did get to speak seriously about spiritual matters. We read through a gospel tract together and she prayed to receive Christ. God knows her heart.
Over the ‘cancer years’ I have brought up the subject many times…but with a rebuff from her. I have mailed dozens of tracts over the years. One with each card or letter. Maybe she has read some.
Only God knows the number of Lisa's days.....
(A later entry....) My Stacy. God brought her in my life…for her, and for an encouragement to me.
Stacy has cancer. Terminal cancer she told me.
We met by chance while I was sitting in the waiting room while Adele was receiving her three hour long chemotherapy. I was aware of the people around me on the ‘cancer floor.’ Thin, gaunt, people talking quietly with friends or loved ones. Able to leave their gray colored walls of their hospital rooms. Some with metal poles holding bags of various colored fluids draining into their veins.
People thought I was reading a book, but I was observing and praying. Praying for Adele and for those around me.
A tall beautiful, blond young woman sat down next to me. She was very thin, and looked a bit tired. She reminded me of my sweet LISA. I was drawn to her. She began the conversation, I don’t remember what she said, but it was a ‘divine’ appointment I am sure.
She pulled down the pink collar of the sweater she was wearing, and exposed her shoulder bone, misshaped by large tumors under the skin. Quite matter-of-factly she told me that the doctors had told her that she only had three months to live. She was a patient at the hospital for a few more days before she would be sent to a live in care center. She felt good enough today to get out and walk around the hospital…and meet me.
I asked her if she believed in God. When she responded with a “Yes.” I quickly got to the point, “Only God knows the number of your days. The doctors are not in control.” So began our discussion of salvation. She asked questions and we talked. When I began to discuss her making some kind of a commitment to God, she quickly changed the subject and asked if I would go with her to the cafeteria and get some ice cream.
For the next two hours we roamed the halls of the hospital. We ate at the cafeteria, we browsed at the gift shop, and we went outside and sat in the sunshine.
She seemed to tire and asked me to go back to her room with her. I got her tucked into bed and again spoke to her about Jesus. She asked me to go away, but to come back the next day to spend time with her.
So began my ‘mission’ for the next five days – going to the hospital to talk with Stacy about eternity and her relationship with Jesus. Each day she seemed more weak, and we never again left the room to walk the halls of the hospital. Her family always visited in the evenings, I visited in the mornings so we could have private time. Stacy seemed to enjoy my visits, and always asked me to come back.
I knew my time was running out with her. In two days she would be sent off and I would never see her again. On the forth day Stacy prayed.
She said she did want to make a commitment to the Lord, and repeated the prayer I prayed out loud with her. She was in much pain, and drifted off to sleep after our time together.
My next two visits with her were different. She was under heavy pain medication, but seemed glad to see me, drifted in and out of sleep….and always asked me to come back. I prayed over her each day with love and commitment as if she were my own, terminally ill niece.
I know that the hospital chaplain visited with her and prayed with her also. I saw several tracts that had been left on her bedside stand, beside the ones I always left with her. Praise God…Stacy was ‘getting it’ from several sources!!
The last day I came back her bed was empty. For one terrible moment I thought Stacy might have died. The nurse said she had been transferred a day ahead of schedule.
I never saw Stacy again.
God brought us together for a purpose. I pray with all my heart that she was sincere about her prayer to God, in belief and for eternal life. I do know that Stacy prayed. Only God knows her heart.
God brought her into my life as an encouragement and a balm to me to deal with the cancer all around me with Adele and Lisa. I knew in my spirit that because I had taken the time to share the Gospel with Stacy, that God would bring a stranger into the lives of Adele and Lisa to tell them what they would not listen when I spoke.
(An entry several months later.....) Lisa died in August. I do not know her spiritual condition, but I do know with all my heart that because I shared the gospel with Stacy, God sent someone to share the Gospel with her during the last days of her life. Only God knows her heart.
My Adele, my Lisa, my Stacy…and my God. God is so good. He loves Adele, Lisa and Stacy so much more than I ever could. He loves me too. God works all things for His glory. My interlude with Stacy was a divine appointment.
Thank You God in using me in a small way in Your plan to bring the offer of salvation to all people. Thank You for bringing me some comfort in my time of sorrow. Yes, I still shed tears over the death of Lisa, but I am comforted by my God and His great offer of salvation to all of us…to Adele, to Lisa, to Stacy and to me.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Totally Unrelated!
Totally unrelated...but I want my voice heard!!
The new guidelines for mammograms for women "not being needed" as often...is a disaster!!! As a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed during a routine mammogram I think this is outrageous!! A new medical standard or just cost saving???
The new guidelines for mammograms for women "not being needed" as often...is a disaster!!! As a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed during a routine mammogram I think this is outrageous!! A new medical standard or just cost saving???
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