FRESH START TODAY…God’s Plans are worth seeking!
Jeremiah 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. NIV
On Sunday, July 10, 2011, we attended a wonderful church that proclaimed the grace and mercy of our God. I listened very carefully to the sermon the young pastor was preaching, but the at the end of the service God whispered to my heart the verse that is the topic today. The history behind the verse is that God’s chosen people were in exile in Babylon and would be there for 70 years. The Lord declared and gave instructions to His people to live and prosper in a country that was not their own. I am sure the people were not comfortable living away from their homeland. To change where you were comfortable to a place where you needed to make personal adjustments is not easy for people. I have heard people say when a new manager is hired, “I will leave if the manager changes what we are use to doing!” Let me tell you that being diagnosed with breast cancer has changed me! I do not believe that I will continue to neither live with the same attitude nor live the same way that I have lived in the past. I am a child of the King and my life was a bought with a great price. I am deeply loved by the same God that told the people of Israel that He had plans for them, to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future. He clearly said to call on Him and come to Him and to pray to Him, and that He would listen. We are to seek Him with all of our heart and this is the secret to this generous and loving promise.
I have been receiving emails of great encouragement from people we love dearly. One email touched my heart last night telling me of the impact Marty and I have had on her life as she struggled in her past. We were God’s chosen vessel to be an encouragement to her, but her words were so deeply endearing to us. She stated that I was strong in my faith, but my faith is a credit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit through His loving discipline. I truly do not believe that having breast cancer is punishment! When we wake up every morning we make choices for that day. God gives an opportunity to start fresh with an attitude that will bless Him and lift us and other people up when we seek Him with all of our heart. My pray recently has been, “Bless me Lord, so that my life will glorify you!” This pray is open ended, which means God is FREE to answer this prayer according to His loving plan. I am truly humbled by the power of the prayers of God’s Saints who know me and the one’s who do not know me. I feel I am being cradled in the arms of a Holy God through these wonderful prayers. Your one solitary life will make a difference in our dark world when you seek the heart of the God that loves you as much as He loves me. Look deeper to the message of the cross and what Jesus accomplished for humanity.
The words of the song ‘Thank you’ comes to my heart, with tears flowing, as I have received your phone calls and emails. I am so humbled to know so many people have been encouraged through the ministry that Marty and I have shared with you through the years. This has given us a continued desire to want to encourage you more. In fact, this has reminded me about the heart of Jesus Christ as He ministered. He reached out to the individual even though there were curious crowds that followed Him all the time. Jesus Christ sees the heart of all people. I am fully accepted by Him and He is the audience of one that is watching my moves, thoughts, actions and attitudes. (Psalm 139) He is watching you.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 36)
FRESH START TODAY … Decide today to seek God’s will!
Genesis 50:19-21 Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. NIV
On April 25, 2010 I wrote in my Bible along side this scripture, “God does have a bigger plan than we could ever imagine in our lifetime!” I had stopped writing in my blog for a while due to not feeling well and I did not understand the reason for me wanting to close the topics on FRESH START TODAY. A dear sister in the Lord said, “No, you cannot stop because I need more!” That was said to me on Facebook just before the diagnosis that I had breast cancer. When Marty and I were driving home after the first doctor’s visit God gave me the above scripture. The story of Joseph is about a hotheaded young man that saved many lives after being broken through trials. Have I ever been a prideful person? Yes, friends and family. I have been prideful and this attitude does not please the Lord. But my question is why would God pour out His magnificent GRACE on me?
June 3, 2011 - I walked into the Community Clinic in Heber/Overguard, AZ to see a Nurse Practitioner to have a breast lumped checked. He immediately scheduled a mammogram and an ultrasound in Show Low, AZ. These tests lead to a biopsy and the dreaded diagnosis I feared, “breast cancer”. The surgeon was chosen, and a modified radical mastectomy was performed on June 28th along with the start of breast reconstruction performed by a plastic surgeon immediately following. All these procedures have been done with no health insurance coverage. The bills are starting to come in the amount of about $30,000.00 so far with Marty and I having a monthly income of $1,700.00. The State Medicaid program has denied coverage, because we earn too much to qualify. The maximum allowable income is $613.00 a month. The chemotherapy has not yet started because I still need to heal from the surgery. My appointment with the Oncologist is scheduled for July 19, 2011. Yet I am at peace! I have received the prayers of hundreds of people and I feel them every moment of every day! I have received calls from people from almost every church where Marty and I have served over the many years. I have had God’s Kingdom people lay hands on and pray for me that do not even know me. One of Marty’s colleagues where he attended at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary drove from Payson, AZ to pray with me before I went into surgery. I have had opportunities to share Jesus Christ and His Grace to many people. I am more filled with God’s love than I have ever experienced. The world cannot understand the kind of peace the Lord told His believers they would have if they put their trust in Him.
Thank you all for the encouraging emails that Marty and I have received… I am sure there will be rough days ahead, but the unity of God’s people is my answer to this spiritual crossroads.
Genesis 50:19-21 Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. NIV
On April 25, 2010 I wrote in my Bible along side this scripture, “God does have a bigger plan than we could ever imagine in our lifetime!” I had stopped writing in my blog for a while due to not feeling well and I did not understand the reason for me wanting to close the topics on FRESH START TODAY. A dear sister in the Lord said, “No, you cannot stop because I need more!” That was said to me on Facebook just before the diagnosis that I had breast cancer. When Marty and I were driving home after the first doctor’s visit God gave me the above scripture. The story of Joseph is about a hotheaded young man that saved many lives after being broken through trials. Have I ever been a prideful person? Yes, friends and family. I have been prideful and this attitude does not please the Lord. But my question is why would God pour out His magnificent GRACE on me?
June 3, 2011 - I walked into the Community Clinic in Heber/Overguard, AZ to see a Nurse Practitioner to have a breast lumped checked. He immediately scheduled a mammogram and an ultrasound in Show Low, AZ. These tests lead to a biopsy and the dreaded diagnosis I feared, “breast cancer”. The surgeon was chosen, and a modified radical mastectomy was performed on June 28th along with the start of breast reconstruction performed by a plastic surgeon immediately following. All these procedures have been done with no health insurance coverage. The bills are starting to come in the amount of about $30,000.00 so far with Marty and I having a monthly income of $1,700.00. The State Medicaid program has denied coverage, because we earn too much to qualify. The maximum allowable income is $613.00 a month. The chemotherapy has not yet started because I still need to heal from the surgery. My appointment with the Oncologist is scheduled for July 19, 2011. Yet I am at peace! I have received the prayers of hundreds of people and I feel them every moment of every day! I have received calls from people from almost every church where Marty and I have served over the many years. I have had God’s Kingdom people lay hands on and pray for me that do not even know me. One of Marty’s colleagues where he attended at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary drove from Payson, AZ to pray with me before I went into surgery. I have had opportunities to share Jesus Christ and His Grace to many people. I am more filled with God’s love than I have ever experienced. The world cannot understand the kind of peace the Lord told His believers they would have if they put their trust in Him.
Thank you all for the encouraging emails that Marty and I have received… I am sure there will be rough days ahead, but the unity of God’s people is my answer to this spiritual crossroads.
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