This is a good place to come to grieve. My cousin's baby girl passed away this week after a long 4-month battle to try and save her life. She never got to go home. Her parents never got to dress her in all the cute little girly outfits. There is an empty nursery that never got to meet her. I mourn for their pain as a parent. I hurt for all the things they don't get to do that every parent dreams of doing with their baby girl.
The part that brings me peace is that they are strong in the Lord and their little baby is now healthy and strong with Jesus. Knowing that someday they will see her again and that she is no longer struggling is a big comfort.
I read a valuable piece of information this week. Jesus is our Daily Bread, praying and reading the Word. He is manna to our souls. And just like the manna God sent the Israelites, we must gather our Daily Bread each day...one day's Daily Bread is only enough to sustain us for that day. Each day we need a new helping of Daily Bread. I learned that from David Wilkerson's Hungry For More of Jesus book. It was a lightbulb moment for me because I have lived that lesson and never really fully understood it like this before. God is so good. :)
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Indescribable, uncontainable...
God is so, so good. He fills me with awe and wonder. Our little human race is so undeserving of the love He has given freely. Today was a training day at work. As one of the leaders I had the task of planning out the day's schedule and topics. God, who is always faithful, enabled our leadership team to accomplish the tasks required for the day despite power outages, personal attacks from broken people, illness and fatigue. We were called to bring accountability to our organization and boundaries where there had been none before. It was a daunting task and we were attacked for it, but I continue to be blessed with godly confidence and peace in what was said and presented.
It is such an indescribable feeling to be a vessel used by God to bring glory to Himself. On my own I would never be the person I was today. I have so far still to go, so much to learn and discover; yet God is working through me and my counterparts to do mighty things in His Kingdom. I truly am filled with awe. It isn't a cocky, self-confident feeling or attitude. It is a confident peace that God had His way today. There are no insecurities or self-doubt. I praise the Lord for the things He is putting into place. I pray that His will would continue to be accomplished and nothing would be allowed to stand in His way...that I and those who serve along-side me will continue to steadfastly trust and seek Him first, to not stumble or fall to cause others to stumble or fall. Thank you, Jesus!
It is such an indescribable feeling to be a vessel used by God to bring glory to Himself. On my own I would never be the person I was today. I have so far still to go, so much to learn and discover; yet God is working through me and my counterparts to do mighty things in His Kingdom. I truly am filled with awe. It isn't a cocky, self-confident feeling or attitude. It is a confident peace that God had His way today. There are no insecurities or self-doubt. I praise the Lord for the things He is putting into place. I pray that His will would continue to be accomplished and nothing would be allowed to stand in His way...that I and those who serve along-side me will continue to steadfastly trust and seek Him first, to not stumble or fall to cause others to stumble or fall. Thank you, Jesus!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Tragedy
Last Friday morning was the Aurora/Colorado/Batman Massacre as people have named it. None of the names seem appropriate to me. Somehow I feel like they are bringing glory to what happened instead of focusing on the good of the people, stories focused on the horror of the suspect's actions.
An intelligent man made a life-altering choice for himself and for numerous others. This man I think of with distaste, pity, and sorrow. I cannot imagine the state of his spiritual life to have come to a place where he chose to do the things he did. I know the Christian thing would be to love him as Christ does, to pray for his salvation...I do desire those things for him, I don't know if I could do it if I were to meet him. Not that that will ever happen. I'm not involved whatsoever in this scenario aside from the people I know connected to it. I question how he could sink so low, and I would go so far as to pray for him, to defend God's desire to see him changed. My desire isn't there yet. I don't have any desires good or bad for what happens to him. I understand it was a senseless act and trying to understand the mind of someone like that is impossible and even dangerous. I don't want to go there.
My heart hurts for the pain of the people in Aurora. At first I heard the news and just wished it would go away. I didn't want to have to deal with another sinful person who took the lives of innocents. The same reason I avoid watching the nightly news...too much focus on the horrendous, the hurt and the broken. But it wasn't something I could ignore and definitely something I couldn't avoid...the news stories were everywhere.
Thankfully, a church is actively seeking to help those hurting because of this incident. A church that posts updates, offers unsolicited support in tangible ways, and a church that had 33 members in attendance that fateful night. The city of Aurora held a prayer vigil, sponsored by the local government, and somehow, amazingly, God was at the center of it all. In my mind's eye I see a huge spiritual battle over the city of Aurora, Colorado right now. What Satan had worked for evil is being used for God's glory. Over and over I hear of the many things that God is doing through this tragedy. And I am thankful. I praise the Lord for his loving arms of comfort and encouragement. I praise him for his faithful servants. I look forward to seeing what more good things God will bring out of this devastation.
An intelligent man made a life-altering choice for himself and for numerous others. This man I think of with distaste, pity, and sorrow. I cannot imagine the state of his spiritual life to have come to a place where he chose to do the things he did. I know the Christian thing would be to love him as Christ does, to pray for his salvation...I do desire those things for him, I don't know if I could do it if I were to meet him. Not that that will ever happen. I'm not involved whatsoever in this scenario aside from the people I know connected to it. I question how he could sink so low, and I would go so far as to pray for him, to defend God's desire to see him changed. My desire isn't there yet. I don't have any desires good or bad for what happens to him. I understand it was a senseless act and trying to understand the mind of someone like that is impossible and even dangerous. I don't want to go there.
My heart hurts for the pain of the people in Aurora. At first I heard the news and just wished it would go away. I didn't want to have to deal with another sinful person who took the lives of innocents. The same reason I avoid watching the nightly news...too much focus on the horrendous, the hurt and the broken. But it wasn't something I could ignore and definitely something I couldn't avoid...the news stories were everywhere.
Thankfully, a church is actively seeking to help those hurting because of this incident. A church that posts updates, offers unsolicited support in tangible ways, and a church that had 33 members in attendance that fateful night. The city of Aurora held a prayer vigil, sponsored by the local government, and somehow, amazingly, God was at the center of it all. In my mind's eye I see a huge spiritual battle over the city of Aurora, Colorado right now. What Satan had worked for evil is being used for God's glory. Over and over I hear of the many things that God is doing through this tragedy. And I am thankful. I praise the Lord for his loving arms of comfort and encouragement. I praise him for his faithful servants. I look forward to seeing what more good things God will bring out of this devastation.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Burden of Responsibility
My blogs have been shorter and fewer since cancer. Part of it is the simple truth that life is not as awesomely challenging anymore. I mean, everyone wants to know how you manage surviving life with cancer...but does everyone really want to know about my personal struggles in life? Do I want you to know? As it seems with many, I am my hardest critic. I can label myself guilty and unworthy so quickly it isn't funny.
I have a recurring issue that I struggle with. My mind works too fast for my mouth to keep up with and often when speaking I say things that don't match my intentions. Mentally I work best when I am able to focus on one thing at a time. The responsible person I must be at work is different than the responsible wife/mom I must be at home. I am a completely different wife/mother when my only responsibility in a day is to be the best wife/mom I can be. I have always wanted to be a stay-home mom. I never desired to have a career...but it isn't the lifestyle my husband and I have. It isn't possible right now and may never be. I feel like I cannot give my family what they deserve because I must give so much to a full time job...to be a different person at work than I am at home. It is a struggle that crescendo's and decrescendo's routinely in my life. It is a huge weight of responsibility to bear because I do want to be the super mom/wife that I think I could be if I weren't a working mom. I think perhaps my home would be cleaner, more organized. My children would have my full attention more often and I would know them better than I do.
And related to that issue is my second largest issue in life right now. Since I am in a full time job with responsibility, I want to share the burden of responsibility I feel for my family with my husband, but I don't think men are designed to think the way women are. Often I think my concerns are ones that don't even come up on his radar...makes me think of the book title Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. God certainly did not make us the same.
I have a recurring issue that I struggle with. My mind works too fast for my mouth to keep up with and often when speaking I say things that don't match my intentions. Mentally I work best when I am able to focus on one thing at a time. The responsible person I must be at work is different than the responsible wife/mom I must be at home. I am a completely different wife/mother when my only responsibility in a day is to be the best wife/mom I can be. I have always wanted to be a stay-home mom. I never desired to have a career...but it isn't the lifestyle my husband and I have. It isn't possible right now and may never be. I feel like I cannot give my family what they deserve because I must give so much to a full time job...to be a different person at work than I am at home. It is a struggle that crescendo's and decrescendo's routinely in my life. It is a huge weight of responsibility to bear because I do want to be the super mom/wife that I think I could be if I weren't a working mom. I think perhaps my home would be cleaner, more organized. My children would have my full attention more often and I would know them better than I do.
And related to that issue is my second largest issue in life right now. Since I am in a full time job with responsibility, I want to share the burden of responsibility I feel for my family with my husband, but I don't think men are designed to think the way women are. Often I think my concerns are ones that don't even come up on his radar...makes me think of the book title Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. God certainly did not make us the same.
Prayer.
A friend of mine who has beaten cancer now faces another life-threatening illness. Her blogs continue to amaze me. In her I see the spiritual and physical frailty of human life made glorious in Christ Jesus. Her ability to share her hurts, her pain and struggle is a wonderful portrait of how the Lord blesses us and carries us through. My heart hurts for her and I wish more than anything I could be there to comfort and assure her, but as distance separates us, I will pray...
Now isn't that just like us? We don't want to let God do the healing, we want to be an active participant in God's work. Me just praying isn't the last thing I could do...it is the best thing anyone can do, even if you live with the person you are praying for! That is one theme of my life I pray the Lord will help me to overcome someday. I do not do things better on my own...I've had many experiences where if I wanted something to happen, it was up to me to make it happen...but that isn't how it should be with God. He is the only one who can do this perfectly in the best way -not only for the person who needs prayer, but for everyone touched by their life.
Now isn't that just like us? We don't want to let God do the healing, we want to be an active participant in God's work. Me just praying isn't the last thing I could do...it is the best thing anyone can do, even if you live with the person you are praying for! That is one theme of my life I pray the Lord will help me to overcome someday. I do not do things better on my own...I've had many experiences where if I wanted something to happen, it was up to me to make it happen...but that isn't how it should be with God. He is the only one who can do this perfectly in the best way -not only for the person who needs prayer, but for everyone touched by their life.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Doctor Appointment
It was a short and sweet doctor appointment. Good news doesn't take so long, I guess. :)
My hubby's bloodwork came back good, his energy levels have remained low, so he'll begin a lifelong medication to keep those levels at normal. Not uncommon for his type of post-cancer treatment. I just hope the cost isn't outrageous (God-willing)!
I've been trying to write a book about our experiences. It is extremely slow going. Sometimes I don't feel like writing. Sometimes it makes me too emotional, and then I have days where I make good progress...in the past several months I have written a whole 10 pages. Woo-hoo! I think. LOL! I have revised those first few pages so many times. Sometimes when I write all I do is re-word things and adjust spelling. I suppose if God wants it to ever be a finished work, He'll let it happen in just the right timing. :)
My hubby's bloodwork came back good, his energy levels have remained low, so he'll begin a lifelong medication to keep those levels at normal. Not uncommon for his type of post-cancer treatment. I just hope the cost isn't outrageous (God-willing)!
I've been trying to write a book about our experiences. It is extremely slow going. Sometimes I don't feel like writing. Sometimes it makes me too emotional, and then I have days where I make good progress...in the past several months I have written a whole 10 pages. Woo-hoo! I think. LOL! I have revised those first few pages so many times. Sometimes when I write all I do is re-word things and adjust spelling. I suppose if God wants it to ever be a finished work, He'll let it happen in just the right timing. :)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Great News!
Officially 6-months in remission and counting! Woo-hoo! Our doctor appointment is still to come, but doc was kind enough to look over the CT scan and send us a quick email saying it looked good!
It wasn't really scary this time around, the peace of God was there in my heart and made it easy to simply let go and give the outcome to Him. Yes, there are always nerves and the thoughts of what if...those will never be completely gone, ever. I am happy living life to the best of my ability with what I have right now. Enjoying the present and not focusing on the future so much.
So, my personal life is doing pretty good. :) Professionally, things have been slowly changing and are heading for some major changes sometime in the next 6 months to a year, I believe. I haven't always had the best attitude and sometimes I truly struggle. Some good changes are going on right now, but I have to admit I'm feeling a little out of my element. I'm not quite sure of the new role that I'm in, not a position change, but a change in the role my position plays. It is definitely taking me out of my comfort zone and into the unknown and to a place where I must rise to meet the challenges. Only the Lord is going to get me through. I pray that He enables me, guides me and that I can follow His lead and stand with confidence in where I am.
It wasn't really scary this time around, the peace of God was there in my heart and made it easy to simply let go and give the outcome to Him. Yes, there are always nerves and the thoughts of what if...those will never be completely gone, ever. I am happy living life to the best of my ability with what I have right now. Enjoying the present and not focusing on the future so much.
So, my personal life is doing pretty good. :) Professionally, things have been slowly changing and are heading for some major changes sometime in the next 6 months to a year, I believe. I haven't always had the best attitude and sometimes I truly struggle. Some good changes are going on right now, but I have to admit I'm feeling a little out of my element. I'm not quite sure of the new role that I'm in, not a position change, but a change in the role my position plays. It is definitely taking me out of my comfort zone and into the unknown and to a place where I must rise to meet the challenges. Only the Lord is going to get me through. I pray that He enables me, guides me and that I can follow His lead and stand with confidence in where I am.
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