God's Promises to His Children's Hearts

I will...

...be your God (see Ezekiel 37:27)

...abundantly bless (see Psalm 132:15)

...be with you (see Isaiah 43:2)

...love you freely (see Hosea 14:4)

...forgive you (see Jeremiah 31:33-34, Hebrews 8:12)

...give you a new heart (see Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26)

...not fail you (see Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5)

...strengthen you (see Isaiah 41:10)

...ranson you from death (see Hosea 13:14)

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

I am feeling better today. Starting to move around a lot more without any pain.
I should be back to SRC this Thursday.
My sister had a healthy baby girl late last night! Praise God.

Phone call

This should encourage and challenge you.
So I met a woman at the hospital last week. We exchanged phone numbers to talk more about, "Eternal Life". I got a phone call last night from this sweet lady. She says she has been a Christian for the past 10 years & that she only watches T.V. for "her church" and then she starting to ask some great questions about the Bible. She owns a Bible but does not read it. A lot of Christians I meet do the same thing. They say Jesus Christ saved me and I will be in Heaven but they miss the fact that "Eternal Life" starts now! It starts when you believe the Gospel and then you have this intimate relationship with God through Jesus. My conversation was a wonderful conversation that I value very much and we ended on a great note & she plans to join a group at SRC.
Last night I was in some pain and could not sleep...I started to watch some T.V. the Christian network to be exact. Now mind you, I hardly watch T.V. (I'm a movie chick) and I rarely have ever watched the Christian network... WOW. That is all I am going to say about that!
I really wanted to write this morning about the Bible. God's word is unlike any other book. It is alive, living and active! A.W. Tozer wrote,"The purpose of the Bible is to bring people to Christ, to make them holy and prepare them for heaven. In this it is unique among books, and it always fulfills its purpose." The Bible is a priceless gift! It is for us to come to know God and then grow to know Him more & more until we go home to see Him! It is for us to share the Good News of our Savior, Christ Jesus. Too many Christians, however, keep their Bible tightly closed and out of sight. Jonathan Edwards advised,"Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the fountain whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore let not this treasure lie by you neglected." God's holy word is, indeed, a priceless, one-of-a-kind treasure. Handle it with care, but, more importantly, handle it every day! Check out these - Romans 10:17, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 119:105, Matthew 5:6, Matthew 4:6, Hebrews 4:12-13
This reminder encourages & challenges me to stay in God's word daily & meditate on it & strive to live it out!
"Don't worry about what you do not understand of the Bible. Worry about what you do understand and do not live by." Corrie ten Boom

Update- Monday, 5:00 p.m.
I am up & about a little bit today so watch out! haha... jk I am feeling sore still but starting to move around without so much pain. I should be back to the 5am gym in no time at all!
My sister has been in the hospital since 2:30 a.m. it is now Monday 5:00 p.m. We are all still waiting, waiting, waiting, soon enough a new precious baby girl will be come into this world.
This special time with my family thus far has been a challenging joy... God is SO GOOD!
Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you!

Thank you for your prayers, calls & emails. I truly appreciate all the love!
You all are in my prayers & I love you.

P.S. My sister was due to give birth this past Friday. She went to the doctor and he said might be another week. We shall see. I will keep you posted.

Recovery Update

Very sore, achy & tired but able to move around today without being in so much pain.
The surgery was a huge success. The tumor was completely removed, leaving my ovary untouched. They did not see any bad cancer in my bloodstream. I go back next week and then after that every 3 months for the next year for blood work. My doctor is going to tell me preventative measures as well i.e. vitamin's, special diet etc.

Family...

James 3:17, Matthew 5:43-45, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 19:11
Challenging People- yep, that sums up my entire family!
All of us can be grumpy, hardheaded and difficult to deal with at times (especially me haha). From time to time in life we encounter out of sorts people, sometimes we are related to them. I prayed this morning for God to remind me that emotions are highly contagious, so if the other person is angry, you will soon become angry, too. Instead of adding my own emotional energy to the outburst, by the grace of God I will make every effort to remain calm. "Much is forgiven, much loves"- I say that part of the verse to myself a million times when I am around my family. Who am I! That I expect my parents to love on me a certain way. God's design for the biblical family unit has not been my family. They are my family though and since we are all sinners but God has chosen to opened my eyes & has given me the living water I am now called to live a holy life. I am called to share this with them in love. I plant seeds in my example, in words & deeds, let the light of Christ shine. Only God can change people, only God can save people. He changed me, He saved me. They cannot deny the radical change Christ has done in me. I do need to take a step back and continue to surrender it all to the Lord. They are made in His image. They are loving on me the only way they know how, since they do not know Jesus in an intimate personal way. I would encourage all of you to continue to pray for family, friends, anyone who does not know Jesus. Share you life with them- be real & share Christ. Watch what the Lord does. We have a BIG God. God is always at work on them and us.
Lord, I love you. Thank you for your mercy & forgiveness. Praise you Jesus for taking the full wrath of God that I so rightly deserve. For overcoming my 2 biggest problems- sin & death- so that I may have life with you, life to the full! Thank you, you are my King. You are my Master. You are Everything. Abba, as I lay here in pain please help my attitude. All I want to do is abide in you Father, in my Jesus & your word. Holy Spirit, help me live out what I read & write & lead & teach. Gracious God continue to stretch my character to have Christlike love towards my family and to all people for your glory. Amen.

Just a quick update... I am still alive. Surgery was a huge success by the grace of God. The tumor was isolated and is now all gone. They did not see anything else bad and my ovary is still there! Right now> I am tired, drugged up, throwing up, very sore & achey but not complaining of course haha. I plan to go back to sleep.
I will write more over the weekend.
Thank you all for your prayers!

Courage

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

A storm rose quickly on the Sea of Galilee, and the disciples were afraid. Although they had seen Jesus perform many miracles, the disciples feared for their lives, so they turned to their Savior, and He calmed the waters and the wind.

Sometimes, I feel like the disciples, I feel threatened by the inevitable storms of life. And when I am fearful, I too can turn to Christ for courage and for comfort. St. Augustine wrote,"Why rely on yourself and fall? Cast yourself upon His arm. Be not afraid. He will not let you slip. Cast yourself in confidence. He will receive you and heal you. I acknowledge my emtional wreckage and then cling to the cross, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment.

Lord, at times this world is a fearful place. Yet, you have promised that You are always with me. With you as my protector, I am not afraid. Today, dear Lord let me live courageously as I place my trust in you. Amen.

Why?

When the stock market closes at the end of the day, why does everyone stand around smiling and clapping regardless of whether the stocks are up or down?

Spilled O.J.

 So I just spilled orange juice ALL over my desk- it got all over the budget & receipts (enough said with that ha-ha). I just thought I would share. =) 

I write a lot to my sisters in Christ but this is also for my brothers in Christ! 

This is from my reading this morning...

 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" James 4:8a

For busy women living in a fast paced 21st century world, life may seem like a merry-go-round that never stops turning. If that description seems to fit your life as it does mine, then you may find yourself running short of patience or strength or both. If you are feeling tired or discouraged, there is a source from which you can draw the power needed to recharge your spiritual batteries. That is God. 

Since God is everywhere, we are free to sense His presence whenever we take the time to quiet our souls and turn our prayers to Him. But sometimes, amid the incessant demands of everyday life, we turn our thoughts far from God, when this happens, we suffer. I ask God daily for help to quiet my soul. To set aside quiet moments throughout the day to offer praise to the great Creator. As women who have received the gift of God's grace, we most certainly should do this. During these moments of stillness, you will often sense the infinite love and power of your Creator- He in turn will speak directly to your heart. The Psalm 46:10 reminds us to "Be still and know that I am God". When we do so, we encounter the AWESOME presence of our loving heavenly Father and we are confronted in the knowledge that God is not just near; He is here.

Today

I would like to say, thank God for Honey, Alejandra, Beth, Anna, Joyce , (Hazel-you were missed) 

You have not truly lived life until you go to Honey's house for a Prison Ministry Ladies Only Pool Party! WILD - I tell you, WILD! HAHA-- Thank you ladies for today! I am sunburnt & loving it! 

My sista's!

Meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6
If you're like most females on the planet, you're a very busy woman. Your life is problably hectic, demanding and complicated. I struggle with this all the time. When our dreams come true and our plans prove successful, we find it easy to thank our Creator and easy to trust His divine providence. But in times of sorrow or hardship, we may find ourselves questioning God's plan for our lives.
On occasion, we will be confronted with circumstances that trouble you to the very core of your soul. It is during these difficult days that we must find the wisdom & courage to trust our Heavenly Father despite our circumstances.
Ask yourself, are you a woman who seeks God's blessings for yourself and family? Then trust Him. Trust Him with your relationships. Trust Him with your priorities. Follow His commandments and pray for His guidance. Trust your Heavenly Father day by day, moment by moment- in good times and in trying times. Then, wait patiently for His revelations...and prepare yourself for the abundance and peace that will most certainly be yours when you do.
Today I will think about - the need to trust God in every aspect of my life.

Update

I want to thank you all for your phone calls, emails & especially your prayers. I appreciate them so much, more than mere words can express.

The latest news: The tumor is isolated from what the new doctor can see! They did not find any bad cancer in my bloodstream. I will go in for outpatient laser surgery to zap it out (without removing my ovary & cutting open into my abdomen) NEXT Thursday, July 24. He said I should be up & about within a week (I say 2 days ha-ha- you know I am stubborn like that). He said that the cramps/pain I feel now is the pressure & that will be released after this procedure. Anyway, this is all very good news! Praise God! I praise Christ for each one of you & for your prayers!

My mother will be taking me to surgery and they have invited me to stay at their house until I am up & about. This is a HUGE praise report! Please continue to pray for this precious time we will spend together, for their salvation. Pray for the doctor & nurses. I know my health is important but there is a bigger picture- God's kingdom! Thank you!

During the duration of my recovery, I will keep this blog updated as much as possible.

questions...

1. Is it a sin to strangle an intern? =) 

2. Have you spent your money from the IRS yet? 

3. Better yet, have you received your money from the IRS yet??

4. Why are all the guys around here going to see the new batman movie at 1am tonight? 

Thoughts to Ponder on a Wed...

1. Why are the copyright dates on movies and television shows written in Roman numbers?
2. Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
3. If you don't care where you are, you’re not lost.

Big Picture

As I sit here & wait to drive down to Miami Cancer Center this morning to get my latest test results back regarding my battle with ovarian cancer. There are several thoughts running in my mind. I do not have time to share them all but the most important one is that in the midst of my emotional heartache (I am weak)...by the grace of God> I am reminded of who I am in Christ! Christ in you the hope of glory. Col. 1:27 I love Jesus & adore my relationship with Him. This is eternal life (John 17:3)- not just looking ahead towards heaven (which I do) but this intimate personal vulnerable relationship with God through Jesus that started the moment I believed!
I wrote all of this because I needed to be reminded of the big picture this morning.

Journal Entry 2990

Jesus, Lover of my Soul
(Love: Affection based on admiration or benevolence; warm attachment; enthusiasm or devotion; unselfish loyal concern for the good of another; a person’s adoration of God; to hold dear: cherish; to feel a lover’s passion, devotion, or tenderness: to desire actively: take pleasure in; to thrive in; to feel affection; experience desire. (Definitions taken from Webster’s College Dictionary)
1) What does it mean to have Jesus as the lover of your soul? (Psalm 63:1-8, Proverbs 3:5-6)
a) To be regenerated by the Holy Spirit
b) To be enamored with and in awe of the severe, sacrificial act of Christ on the cross on your behalf. To be surrendered to Him and experience the security and safety of His amazing acceptance. To be gratefully aware that once saved, God does not mete out the punishment you deserve in spite of your unfaithfulness, but continues to lavish His love on you.
c) To know and be known by Jesus intimately (to be totally open and exposed) and to experience emotions of excitement, passion, anticipation and adoration toward Him. To find satisfaction and fulfillment in the depth of your being when focused on the attributes, actions and activities of God throughout redemptive history on your behalf.
d) To be repentant of your sin and eager to serve Jesus through acts of love toward others and worship toward Him.

Question of the night

Do you ever "feel" like you are just going through the motions?

Thoughts to Ponder on a Tuesday

1. My Mets, that is all I have to say about that.

2. Why is it Doctor's call what they do "practice"?

3. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it?

4. I read this on a flyer early this morning at the gym- I know, AT THE GYM- I wonder what would happen if we treated our bible like we treat our cell phones. Real question is, Am I ready to treat my bible better then my cell phone? 

5. I asked this question to a young girl in Jail, "What is a Christian?" - she said," A mind through which Christ thinks. A heart through which Christ loves. A voice through which Christ speaks. A hand through which Christ helps." She told me she read that from somewhere & loved it so much she memorized it. She is 21 yrs old & facing life in Prison. Perspective huh? - Now that is something to meditate on during your Tuesday. 

Don't these just make you want to GO! ACTS 1:8

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliot,

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

"Someone asked Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we -- who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not -- can be saved." -- Charles Spurgeon

"Missions is the overflow of our delight in God because missions is the overflow of God's delight in being God." --John Piper

"'Not called!' did you say?'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. -- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." -- Hudson Taylor

"The Great Commission1 is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" -- Hudson Taylor

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" -- Hudson Taylor

Adoniram Judson
"The prospects are bright as the promises of God."

Mary Slessor wrote to a friend who had long prayed for her: "I have always said that I have no idea how or why God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, and made these hordes of people submit to me, or why the Government should have given me the privilege of a Magistrate among them, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way."
On another occasion she wrote: "Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service — praying is harder than doing, at least I find it so, but the dynamic lies that way to advance the Kingdom."
As for her rewards, she had but one question: "What would I do with starry crowns except to cast them at His feet?"