Proverbs 6:16-19 MESSAGE BIBLE "Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family."
God's greatest desire for His children is that we live a life of peace. That is the original setting that He provided for us in Garden of Eden. Peace and harmony are two words that describes the best life. However, because of sin, conflict does arise from time to time. Unsolved conflict leads to bitterness, strife, and unforgiveness. Unfortunately there are times when we simply refuse to let it go and the result ends in the death of one by the hand of another. God does not like it. It breaks His heart. As a matter of fact Proverbs 6 tells us he hates it! Bitterness, strife, and unforgiveness are works of the flesh and they lead us to destruction.
God's Word teaches us that when we are offended by a brother or sister to go to them and make amends. In doing so we keep that issue from creating layers of anger in our heart. We must learn to release our offenders quickly. Quick release does not give the enemy an opportunity to start speaking to us and strategically helping us plan a method of getting back at our offender. Quick release allows our hearts to forgive and through prayer we can move beyond our anger into a place of forgiveness.
Today, if someone has hurt or offended you. Let it GO! If possible go to them and talk it over with them so that you can release it. If it is not in either yours or their best interest to discuss it give it to God in prayer and through the power of the Holy Spirit release your offender so that you no longer will be held prisoner.
One final note: We must be cautious not to murder others with our tongues. Sometimes our mouth can be just as deadly as our hands.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
God Hates a Lying Tongue
Proverbs 6:16-19 MESSAGE BIBLE "Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family."
Today's material comes from http://www.bible.com/.
It was so good I just reposted it here.
2.) "I will be happy to do that for you." (Whatever promise was made, it was not kept and their word about the matter causes them not to be trusted. The Holy Spirit is trying to purge this lack from His people and is using a group of men known as "Promise Keepers" to help restore trustworthiness back in the heads of families by stressing that they need to keep their promises.) We could list numerous examples but these two cover a lot of territory; any time we say the words "I will" we need to be responsible to do it. We all, on occasion, fail to do the things we have good intentions of doing or we are hindered in some way and can’t do them. However, if we are unable to keep an appointment we should be thoughtful enough to call and cancel, or tell of our delayed arrival. We are living in an age when there are so many uncaring attitudes expressed. As Christians, we can be good witnesses by being different. One of the biggest faults of many Christians, and our society as well, is that we tend to over-commit and then we are unable to keep our word. It is disheartening to see this shift prevalent in businesses. They commit to the jobs, then, are not able to produce them on time and thus the standard for business practices is shifting to not expecting them on time. Business people must now factor in lengthy time delays just to compensate for people’s lack of business ethics.
Today's material comes from http://www.bible.com/.
It was so good I just reposted it here.
There is a plague that is grieving the heart of God because it is preventable and can be stopped. It has spread among all churches and is particularly rampant in society. Even God’s ministers are not immune and many of them are infected with it. What is this evil plague? You may be surprised as it appears rather harmless at first glance. It is now so commonplace that people are deceived into just accepting it as normal, instead of recognizing and resisting it. This epidemic is the practice of lying and dishonesty.
What does the Bible say about lying? A lying tongue is not only something God hates, it is also something that is an abomination to Him.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
EXAMPLES OF DISHONESTY
As the moral climate of our society has been deteriorating, lying has become a major problem. The business world is particularly plagued by this problem--men’s dishonesty with each other, meetings "forgotten", company theft, promises not kept, contracts broken, etc. Lawyers have increased in numbers over the last decade, mainly because of irresponsibility and broken contracts among men due to lying. A news organization recently did a survey here in America and asked people several questions to determine the percentage of people who lied or were dishonest about things. Some of the questions were:
Do you cheat on your Income Tax Return?
Do you compliment people when you really don’t mean it?
Do you tell your spouse to tell callers you are not at home when you are there?
Do you tell "little white lies" if it will keep you out of trouble?
Do you tell creditors that "the check is in the mail" when you have not yet mailed it?
Do you exaggerate in repeating things you have heard?
The results of this survey determined that nearly 80% of Americans are not truthful under certain circumstances. This is understandable when we look at the morals of our society but what about Christians? Have they fallen into the habit of lying also? Also, what constitutes a lie according to the Bible? Anything that is not the truth is a lie and God’s Word the Bible tells us what is truth. The Bible is the standard or measuring rod we must use in determining truth. Sadly, Christians are also succumbing to this epidemic of lying. Lying to each other has now become so commonplace, Christians too, have become liars.
THE FATHER OF LIES
Have you been lied to lately? Was it another Christian that lied to you? A minister perhaps? Each of us have had our trust in people undermined, or in some cases even destroyed because of lies. We would all agree that lying is an ugly evil. The Bible tells us that lying began with the devil and that he is the father of lies.
John 8:43-47 says, "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."
The Bible is filled with admonitions against being dishonest and lying. One of the Ten Commandments states:
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Exodus 20:16 Before we point our finger at another for being a liar that we feel God needs to deal with, let us examine our own lives to see if we are infected with the same disease. What kind of witness are we to those around us? Are we deceived and have we become liars ourselves? Let us first give a definition as to what a lie is according to Webster’s dictionary:
1.) To make a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive.
2.) To give a false impression or action or false statement, especially with the intent to deceive.
3.) To make a false statement in order to evade the truth.4.) The invention of a false story or excuse in order to deceive.
Perhaps for a Christian, a Biblical definition of lying could be summed up in this statement:
Any time our word does not agree with God’s Word.
In Numbers 23:19 the Bible says, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" When we do not keep our word we are guilty of lying. Over the last year I have lost track of the number of times Christians have failed to keep their word to me. I am not angry or resentful or bitter over this, as the Lord has worked those attitudes out of my life. I have learned to take every offense to Him in prayer and He then removes any personal ill I might have and He gives me a forgiving and gracious attitude toward others. However, since I began to notice how many of God’s people were not keeping their word, I received a prayer burden of intercession for this evil to be removed from God’s people. I first began praying about my own life and asked God to expose any areas where I might be guilty of this sin. I have tried to obey Romans 12:17-21 which says, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
Most of the time I would just forgive these lying offences and would just pray for them and try to "live peaceably with all men." However, in prayer, the Lord spoke to my heart that I must go one step further and "speak the truth in love" to my brothers and sisters if I truly loved them. Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." If we, as the body of Christ, are to mature and grow up we must conform to the truth which is Jesus. The devil is behind every lie and as Christians we are admonished not to lie to one another. Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
TWO ROOTS OF DISHONESTY
The two main reasons we lie are usually rooted in either fear or pride. Fear is the first reason. We are afraid of the consequences if we tell the truth. Yielding to fear shows a lack of trust in God to take care of the situation. If we yield to God and do it His way He will usually give us favor with those that we fear. The other reason is pride. We are prideful and concerned about what men will think of us (desiring man’s approval instead of God’s approval.) Jesus always kept His Word. God still keeps His Word and is faithful to keep every promise He makes in the Bible. That is why He is reliable and we can trust Him. We are called to be like Him. The Bible says that out of a man’s mouth proceeds what is in His heart. If we tell lies or fib then it means that we need a heart cleansing. Matthew 15:18-20a says, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..." We need to ask God to cleanse our hearts and begin reading and studying the Bible so that His Word resides in our hearts. As we keep His Word and water it with prayer it will produce good fruit in our lives. Lying is not only speaking an untruth; another form of lying is not keeping our word to others. Luke 8:15 says, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.""
LITTLE "WHITE" LIES
Let us look at some specific ways the devil gets us to lie. We will expose some of his devices. These sorts of lies are being practiced by many Christians. Now remember, we are guilty of lying when we do not keep our word. Even if these sorts of lies seem harmless and don't appear to really hurt anyone else, they are harmful to our own souls. The more we practice telling untruths of any kind, the duller our conscience becomes.
1.) "I will call you back tomorrow." (This excuse is often used with a deliberate intent to deceive. The person does not call back at the appointed time and will call back at a much later date with excuses of why they were unable to call which usually goes something like: "I just was so busy, I meant to call , but did not get around to it." We all have been guilty of this, but we need to realize when we say we will do something we need to keep our word. We do understand there are legitimate reasons that make it impossible at times to keep our word. This is not the case we are referring to here. It would be better to not make this promise or to say, "I will try to call you back tomorrow.")
2.) "I will be happy to do that for you." (Whatever promise was made, it was not kept and their word about the matter causes them not to be trusted. The Holy Spirit is trying to purge this lack from His people and is using a group of men known as "Promise Keepers" to help restore trustworthiness back in the heads of families by stressing that they need to keep their promises.) We could list numerous examples but these two cover a lot of territory; any time we say the words "I will" we need to be responsible to do it. We all, on occasion, fail to do the things we have good intentions of doing or we are hindered in some way and can’t do them. However, if we are unable to keep an appointment we should be thoughtful enough to call and cancel, or tell of our delayed arrival. We are living in an age when there are so many uncaring attitudes expressed. As Christians, we can be good witnesses by being different. One of the biggest faults of many Christians, and our society as well, is that we tend to over-commit and then we are unable to keep our word. It is disheartening to see this shift prevalent in businesses. They commit to the jobs, then, are not able to produce them on time and thus the standard for business practices is shifting to not expecting them on time. Business people must now factor in lengthy time delays just to compensate for people’s lack of business ethics.
People that tend to over-commit sometimes have a pride problem and are people pleasers. They want people to like them so they offer to do things for them, and because they are unable to keep their promises to all they end up not being able to keep their word; thus they are dishonest. In business it is usually greed that tends to cause them to over-commit. They want more business and more money, even when they must work from a backlog that was promised timely.
As Christians we need to ask the Lord to forgive us if we are guilty of lying or deceit. It is a very serious matter with God when we lie. (We can read of the incident of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5 in the Bible. They both fell dead when they lied to the Holy Spirit.)
The Bible also lists this sin of lying as one that can lead us to hell along with some other grievous ones.Revelation 21:7-8 says, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.""
We can be overcomers through the power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be like Jesus. We not only do not want to lie, but we also want to keep our word so that people know we are honest and trustworthy. As Christians, we want to represent our Father well in this life and be honest and free from fabrication and fibbing.
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Things That God Hates
Proverbs 6:16-19 MESSAGE BIBLE
"Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family."
This week I'd like to focus on each of these issues. I really strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Therefore it is important to me to make sure that anything that is not pleasing to Him is not displayed in my life. As I look deeper into each of these things that God hates I welcome you to look with me and to share the thoughts God illuminates to your understanding. Iron sharpens iron so I welcome your wisdom.
The first thing listed in this proverb that God hates is "eyes that are arrogant." The KJV calls it a "proud look." The ESV calls it "haughty eyes." Many times we look outside ourselves to find our dislikes. I have come to understand that God's Word is first my own mirror. It is this mirror of the Word that helps me to become a better Christian, sister, wife and friend. So as we look deeply into ourselves we must not be in denial. Denial keeps us bound. God's Word will set us free from ourselves if we allow God to let us see ourselves as He sees us. As we study God's Word today I am not focusing on whether you have arrogant eyes but rather myself. I must be very sure that Yolanda is not in denial and habors a sin that God hates. Let's open in prayer.
Good morning Father. I come to you this morning seeking your wisdom and embracing your love. God I need your understanding this morning concerning the sin of arrogant eyes that you hate. Please illuminate your desires to my heart Lord and I will embrace them in my life. In Jesus name I pray....Amen.
Selfish Pride is the foundation of haughtiness, conceitedness, and a proud look. There are seven things that God hates, and pride is at the foundation, because it is at the bottom of much sin. Eyes that are arrogant, a proud look, and haughty eyes can all be defined as pride. The Bible repeatedly warns us against pride and arrogance. Pride causes us to rely on our own ability and strength rather than trusting God. The center of the word P R I D E is the letter I. When I become the center of all my thoughts I have just gotten out of alignment with the will of God. Pride is sin and sin is not pleasing to God. God desires that His children are humble.
Pride can be defined as "excessive confidence or glorification in one's self or possessions." Pride is the opposite of Godly humility. It inevitably leads to disregard, disrespect and disobedience to God. After all self-centered pride is primarily what transformed the once-righteous Lucifer into the wicked Satan after he became too impressed with himself: "I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14 RSV). "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 RSV).
Selfish pride is sin:
"Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." (Proverbs 8:13 RSV)
"For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride" (Psalm 59:12 RSV)
"For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the man greedy for gain curses and renounces The Lord. In the pride of his countenance the wicked does not seek Him" (Psalm 10:3-4 RSV)
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2 RSV)
God will humble those who don't humble themselves:
"And if in spite of this you will not hearken to me, then I will chastise you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like brass; and your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit. Then if you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken to me, I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins." (Leviticus 26:18-21 RSV)
"The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the pride of men shall be humbled; and The Lord alone will be exalted in that day." (Isaiah 2:11 RSV)
"A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor" (Proverbs 29:23 RSV).
Jesus lived a life of humility. I am reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary for us even while we were sinners He died for us. Jesus is our model. He lived a holy and righteous life that we may follow his lead. If we find that selfish pride is an issue for us we must repent of this sin and ask God to forgive us. He is willing and just to forgive us of our sin.
Friday, June 29, 2012
The Importance of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:5-7
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear ofthe Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Knowledge is good, but there is a huge difference between "knowledge" and "wisdom." Knowledge is having the facts but it takes wisdom to apply those facts to our lives. Having knowledge without wisdom is useless. It is imperative that our knowledge grows legs and become active in our lives. James 1:22 tells us "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.
God wants to bless us greatly but often times our lives are so wayward that we are not mature enough to handle the blessings He desires to give us. We attend church on Sunday but for many of us it's just a tradition that we follow. We believe in prayer yet we rarely pray unless there is an emergency and we feel that our needs are priority over the needs of our neighbor. We read our Bibles but attach no meaning for our own personal lives. Therefore we have some Bible facts tucked away yet our lives are a mess. Messy lives are a direct result of a lack of wisdom.
Our church attendance should be seen as an opportunity to gain new wisdom for our own personal living. We should go with the intention that today God will let me look in the mirror and see something in me that He wants to refine and purify. We should desire to attend Bible Study and Sunday School because those are the places that we can discuss and ask questions (gain understanding). Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron shapeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." When we study together God has a way of taking our biblical learning and our life experiences and teaching us how to make wiser decisions for His glory. I need to be sharper and a great way for me to do that is in a learning community. When Christian friends share their experiences and learning and I share we begin to sharpen the areas of our thinking to do and not to do some things because they do or do not please God. Wisdom helps us to seek the heart of God and His desires become our desires.
Prayer is a powerful privelige that our Father has given to His children to stay connected to Him. Prayer builds our relationship with our Father. The more wisdom we gain the greater our need to talk to our counselor. We quickly realize how little we know in His presence. God has new things daily that He will illuminate to us just in conversation. Just like we feel the need to hear from our spouse, children, and family so longs God to hear from His sons and daughters and to tell them things that will make life meaningful and full. We need the assurance from our Father that in the midst of what things look like He still has us covered under the blood of Jesus. 1st Thessalonians 5:17 says to "Pray without ceasing." Even in the midst of work and life we still should be praying and connecting with the Father. Just like we freak out when our utilities go out and our homes are without power we should beccome just as concerned when our lives have been disconnected from our Father who is our spiritual power source. Prayer keeps us connected!
I have comes to realize that my Bible is my roadmap. Every place I need to go in life it will direct me wisely. Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." God's desire is that we make wise choices in our lives so that others may see wisdom. If we live wisely and others see how He blesses our wise living they may want to reap the same kind of benefits and be drawn to Christ.
Wisdom and fear of the Lord makes us have attitudes of gratitude because we are thankful to God, His Word, and His Son who died that we might live. Our character represents that of the life that Christ lived. Don't you want to live so that others may say, "I'm following you as you follow Chist?" That is my hearts desire. If so our attitudes, character, and language must be decent and in order and does not represent that of fools. In doing so our witness for Christ is pure and has not been perverted.
The only prescription I have found for wisdom to stay in God's Word (read or listen to your Bible audio), stay on your knees (pray), and learn in community (attend worship & studies). May God's blessings of wisdom be upon you!
Monday, March 19, 2012
We Have An Enemy
I never have a desire to boost Satan in any way but the reality for the Christian is that he is our enemy, He hates us for the mere fact that we absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt love God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the precious Holy Spirit that we carry within us daily. It is for that reason that he has a desire to take us out. John 10:10 ESV tells us "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Jesus died at Calvary that we might have life and to have it in abundance. That's exciting to me because whatever the enemy might have planned for me the blood of Jesus covered up Satan's plan that I might have the abundant life that Christ died for in my stead. Wow! I know that Satan has some messed up stuff planned for me because 1st Peter 5:8 ESV tells me "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." He's looking for someone to take out and he does not care who you are. The more you love God the better you are for him to take out. Therefore, I have come to understand that some obstacles that we go through are simply because of who we are in Christ Jesus. Sometiemes our struggles are because of things that we have done so we must assess ourselves before laying the blame.
I used to think I was the only one that the devil tried to mess with but I have come to find out if you love God attacks will come. Actually, this a good tool to measure if you are headed in the right direction. My husband used an illustration in a sermon not long ago and he said if you and Satan are headed in the same direction you will not run into each other but if you are headed in opposite directions eventually you will collide. This is definitely true. I recently heard an interview that Martha Munizzi gave. She said that when God used her the greatest that Satan attacked her the most and made her feel so bad that she would go to bed and curl up in a fetal position and feel so defeated. That is the way he wants us to feel and I to have felt this way but we must remember he is a liar and because he is on his way to hell he wants to distract our glory for God.
During my recent situation I had my own battles with the devil. It began when I had to complete my preoperative testing. I had to complete the routine bloodwork, EKG, and chest x-ray. I went to my primary care doctor after the testing to get the results of my yearly bloodwork and he had a very concerned sound in his voice. He said "we have a few things we need to talk about." Ok........what could be wrong with my bloodwork. I had been fasting for 21 days and eating only fruits, vegetables, and grains so this should have been some of my better bloodwork. It was not my bloodwork at all. It was all great. However, he had gotten a call from the cardiologist concerning my EKG. I took a deep breath and said with a smile ok what is going on? I have to have clearance before my surgery. He continued by telling me that my EKG was abnormal and I needed to go to The Heart Center to see a cardiologist and to get some cardiac testing.
Satan had attacked my mind concerning my heart since I was a young child. I had alway been concerned about dying of a heart attack because everyone of my dad's siblings that are deceased as well as his father died of a massive heart attack. I have even had a first cousin to die of a massive heart attack at a young age. Also, each of his living siblings have severe heart problems with the exception of one. The pattern of their lives are everything is fine and boom.....dead. I'm sure there were warning signs they ignored but I can't prove that. My father was the exception. He had a very strong heart and died of cancer.
I had no signs of heart problems and now an abnormal EKG. My honest first thought was devil you just won't give up. I was not worried or saddened but I wanted to kick the devil in the face because I knew this was another one of his tactics. My husband was a bit disturbed but I had to remind him that we are no different than anyone else. It's life and we are living it. Thank God one day He gave me a Word that changed my life concerning the troubles we may encounter. He asked me the question, "Can I Trust You With Trouble?" My answer was YES! See we must remember that if we say we love and trust God and trouble comes along and we fall apart and act so defeated what does that say about the greatness of our God? What is the sinner to think? If He's so great why are you so defeated so I have learned that my greatest obstacles are my best times to give God glory because it is He that is going through with me. I am not alone and those around me need to see that I trust Him even when I am going through the most devastating times in my life. I don't know a lot but I do know that God loves me and He is always with me.
I go to see the cardiologistand they take another EKG in the office and he tells me my heart is fine. :) Hahahaha Devil! I asked him what was the previous problem with the EKG. He said the technician placed the leads in the wrong locations. However, since you are here we will do some cardiac testing to make sure everything is fine. Usually, the testing is a two or three day process but God is so gracious. The scheduler that I was assigned was one of our Walnut Grove parents and she blessed me on that day. I told her I was off only that day and had meetings scheduled the next day. She very kindly made some calls to her friends upstairs and got all my test scheduled for that day. Only God can get you royal treatment like that. She didn't owe me any favors but God put her in a position to bless me and she did. As I tear up right now, I'm just grateful that God loves me so and I just want to make Him the proudest dad.
I completed the treadmill test, pictures of my heart by laying still in a tunnel for about 20 minutes, and an ultrasound of my heart. I survived them all with no problems. Yes, big girls can survive a treadmill. :) The result of all the testing was that my heart was healthy and I was cleared for surgery. What a mighty God we serve. I don't know if God and Satan had a conversation about me like they did Job, but if they did I all I can say is wow! Now, on the other side of this I can see that what Satan meant for evil God turned it around for my good. I no longer have to be defeated in my mind concerning my heart. I now know it is healthy and it is my job to keep it that way by eating a healthy diet and getting the proper exercise.
Oh, I didn't mean to leave you hanging in the air on yesterday concerning my diagnosis. The praise report concerning my hystercetomy is that there was No Cancer Present! I give glory to God for that. I am mindful to pray for others who did not get that report. I am mindful to pray for the young mommy that I sat next to in the doctors office who just had a baby and is having to go through chemo. I am mindful of the business woman who comes to get treatments between meetings. I am mindful of the child that can't play in the neighborhood with the other kids because of the disease he or she carries in their body. I think there are times God places us in these places to see the faces of those we are to be intercessors for and I'm more than glad to do it. So as you go along your day today please intercede for the mother, father, child, grandmother, and grandfather that you have never seen the face of but needs prayer. We don't have to see a face or know a name to pray for the masses that need to be healed. Most of all don't forget to pray for those who are sin sick and need to be saved. May God bless you as you pray for others this day. I love you all.
I used to think I was the only one that the devil tried to mess with but I have come to find out if you love God attacks will come. Actually, this a good tool to measure if you are headed in the right direction. My husband used an illustration in a sermon not long ago and he said if you and Satan are headed in the same direction you will not run into each other but if you are headed in opposite directions eventually you will collide. This is definitely true. I recently heard an interview that Martha Munizzi gave. She said that when God used her the greatest that Satan attacked her the most and made her feel so bad that she would go to bed and curl up in a fetal position and feel so defeated. That is the way he wants us to feel and I to have felt this way but we must remember he is a liar and because he is on his way to hell he wants to distract our glory for God.
During my recent situation I had my own battles with the devil. It began when I had to complete my preoperative testing. I had to complete the routine bloodwork, EKG, and chest x-ray. I went to my primary care doctor after the testing to get the results of my yearly bloodwork and he had a very concerned sound in his voice. He said "we have a few things we need to talk about." Ok........what could be wrong with my bloodwork. I had been fasting for 21 days and eating only fruits, vegetables, and grains so this should have been some of my better bloodwork. It was not my bloodwork at all. It was all great. However, he had gotten a call from the cardiologist concerning my EKG. I took a deep breath and said with a smile ok what is going on? I have to have clearance before my surgery. He continued by telling me that my EKG was abnormal and I needed to go to The Heart Center to see a cardiologist and to get some cardiac testing.
Satan had attacked my mind concerning my heart since I was a young child. I had alway been concerned about dying of a heart attack because everyone of my dad's siblings that are deceased as well as his father died of a massive heart attack. I have even had a first cousin to die of a massive heart attack at a young age. Also, each of his living siblings have severe heart problems with the exception of one. The pattern of their lives are everything is fine and boom.....dead. I'm sure there were warning signs they ignored but I can't prove that. My father was the exception. He had a very strong heart and died of cancer.
I had no signs of heart problems and now an abnormal EKG. My honest first thought was devil you just won't give up. I was not worried or saddened but I wanted to kick the devil in the face because I knew this was another one of his tactics. My husband was a bit disturbed but I had to remind him that we are no different than anyone else. It's life and we are living it. Thank God one day He gave me a Word that changed my life concerning the troubles we may encounter. He asked me the question, "Can I Trust You With Trouble?" My answer was YES! See we must remember that if we say we love and trust God and trouble comes along and we fall apart and act so defeated what does that say about the greatness of our God? What is the sinner to think? If He's so great why are you so defeated so I have learned that my greatest obstacles are my best times to give God glory because it is He that is going through with me. I am not alone and those around me need to see that I trust Him even when I am going through the most devastating times in my life. I don't know a lot but I do know that God loves me and He is always with me.
I go to see the cardiologistand they take another EKG in the office and he tells me my heart is fine. :) Hahahaha Devil! I asked him what was the previous problem with the EKG. He said the technician placed the leads in the wrong locations. However, since you are here we will do some cardiac testing to make sure everything is fine. Usually, the testing is a two or three day process but God is so gracious. The scheduler that I was assigned was one of our Walnut Grove parents and she blessed me on that day. I told her I was off only that day and had meetings scheduled the next day. She very kindly made some calls to her friends upstairs and got all my test scheduled for that day. Only God can get you royal treatment like that. She didn't owe me any favors but God put her in a position to bless me and she did. As I tear up right now, I'm just grateful that God loves me so and I just want to make Him the proudest dad.
I completed the treadmill test, pictures of my heart by laying still in a tunnel for about 20 minutes, and an ultrasound of my heart. I survived them all with no problems. Yes, big girls can survive a treadmill. :) The result of all the testing was that my heart was healthy and I was cleared for surgery. What a mighty God we serve. I don't know if God and Satan had a conversation about me like they did Job, but if they did I all I can say is wow! Now, on the other side of this I can see that what Satan meant for evil God turned it around for my good. I no longer have to be defeated in my mind concerning my heart. I now know it is healthy and it is my job to keep it that way by eating a healthy diet and getting the proper exercise.
Oh, I didn't mean to leave you hanging in the air on yesterday concerning my diagnosis. The praise report concerning my hystercetomy is that there was No Cancer Present! I give glory to God for that. I am mindful to pray for others who did not get that report. I am mindful to pray for the young mommy that I sat next to in the doctors office who just had a baby and is having to go through chemo. I am mindful of the business woman who comes to get treatments between meetings. I am mindful of the child that can't play in the neighborhood with the other kids because of the disease he or she carries in their body. I think there are times God places us in these places to see the faces of those we are to be intercessors for and I'm more than glad to do it. So as you go along your day today please intercede for the mother, father, child, grandmother, and grandfather that you have never seen the face of but needs prayer. We don't have to see a face or know a name to pray for the masses that need to be healed. Most of all don't forget to pray for those who are sin sick and need to be saved. May God bless you as you pray for others this day. I love you all.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Let the Healing Begin
The first few days I was home I felt great. My mom is a nurse so I had my own private one. She made sure in between meds via the phone that I was breathing deeply on my triflow, coughing until it hurt, and walking several laps around the house. On the third and fourth day I was feeling the effects of a not so happy tummy and a fever that came in the evening. I could not seem to get warm and lived between a blanket and laps around the house. My poor husband worked himself to a frazzle taking care of me and would absolutely fall out at night.
Getting out of bed was a chore since I was getting up every couple of hours and I was afraid I was going to rip wide open. Also, I am a belly sleeper and sleeping on my side was yucky! Every little thing I did pulled on my tummy muscles. I could not believe I had been using my tummy muscles all this time to blow my nose. It was crazy!
The second week,on Friday night, I noticed that my incision was oozing between my staples. That didn't bother me I felt like it must have been something that needed to come out. I just started placing gauze and bandages over it to keep it sterile. On Saturday night a stream of something started to ooze and I started to become very concerned. At 11:00 P.M. I did not want to alarm my mom who would have gone willd. Tim convinced me to contact my recovery nurse who had been checking on me and she suggested I called the doctor just for safety purposes. I really didn't want to go to the E.R. because the next day was Sunday and I didn't want Tim to have to miss church or be up all night and then have to preach. So, I called the doctor who was so sleepy it was not a big deal to him. He told me just to watch it and if it was still draining a lot on Sunday to call him. I changed dressings about once every hour and was exhausted the next morning.
At 4:00 A.M. Sunday morning Tim makes trip to get more bandages and gauze. I had used a box of 25 overnight and feared I would not have enough until he returned from church. He returned with lots of bandages and concern about leaving me. I assured him I would be ok. I ended up telling mom what was going on only to be sent my little brother to baby sit me. LOL! He was so sleepy I watched him sleep.
God moved that morning that let Tim and I both know everything was going to be ok and he was free to go and preach. I lay in bed very drowsy as he got ready for church. A sermon came over the television entitled "The Woman With the Issue of Blood." Through that message God gave my husband and I both a peace. He prayed with me, we chatted about the message, he went to church, and I had no more oozing to the extreme measure. Look at God!
The next Tuesday I had a doctors appointment. I had developed a siroma which is a pocket of fluid that didn't absorb which is quite common during abdominal surgery. That is the main reason the doctor didn't want to cut me because he said that often happens whereas that is not something that usually occurs with the laproscopic procedure. He informed me that he had to cut me because my uterus was the size of a large cantelope and weighed two pounds. The normal size is the size of ones fist. That day the nurse opened my incision and literally squeezed the extra juices out of me. Thank God I didn't feel a thing because I was still numb around my incision. Then, she packed my open wound with saline and gauze. She told Tim to watch her and he could do it when we got home. He felt very uncomfortable so we opted to get a home health nurse.
Much to my surprise insurance only paid for 3 days of services. On the day of the tornados the nurse was caught between storms and could not make it. I knew Tim was not quite ready to take on such a big task. I prayed about it and asked God to work it out. The next morning after the first round of storms mom called and said she would come to take care of my incision. God is just AWESOME like that! Mom used to work the surgical floor at Huntsville Hospital. She came to fill me in. Hahaha (literally)! Two days later the home health nurse returned to train and watch Tim to make sure he could fulfill the task. He was great! He has been stuffing me like a build-a-bear every since. My incision is almost closed and I'm feeling stronger each day. I am hoping to be able to do a few more things like picking up more than five pounds and lotioning my own feet after my next appointment on Tuesday.
I am blessed to have a marvelous husband who took on many task like cooking and caring for a patient. He has never once complained and even told me when I am well he will do more chores than before to help me out. This journey that we have been on has taught me to be still and know that He is God and there is none like Him. I knew it before but now I really know it. We never know what for better or for worse will be but we vowed to be there through it all. I'm thankful that even through the uncomfortable spots my partner never left me in the fire (Fireproof). He stood strong for me even when he was feeling weak. Finally, I have learned that God has purpose in everything that He allows to occur in our lives. Don't question....... just know that "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." I don't know what is written in the next chapter of my life but I do know that I've been blessed to be a blessing and I'm annointed for such a times as this. I know God has healed me because there is a great assignment on my life that I needed to be whole to fulfil.
Thanks you for all the prayers, visits, flowers, gifts, cards, messages, meals, money and time that you gave to us during this time of healing. Each one was greatly appreciated and we love each one of you! Remember whatever you are experiencing you can heal from it but you absolutely must trust God! Phillipians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Getting out of bed was a chore since I was getting up every couple of hours and I was afraid I was going to rip wide open. Also, I am a belly sleeper and sleeping on my side was yucky! Every little thing I did pulled on my tummy muscles. I could not believe I had been using my tummy muscles all this time to blow my nose. It was crazy!
The second week,on Friday night, I noticed that my incision was oozing between my staples. That didn't bother me I felt like it must have been something that needed to come out. I just started placing gauze and bandages over it to keep it sterile. On Saturday night a stream of something started to ooze and I started to become very concerned. At 11:00 P.M. I did not want to alarm my mom who would have gone willd. Tim convinced me to contact my recovery nurse who had been checking on me and she suggested I called the doctor just for safety purposes. I really didn't want to go to the E.R. because the next day was Sunday and I didn't want Tim to have to miss church or be up all night and then have to preach. So, I called the doctor who was so sleepy it was not a big deal to him. He told me just to watch it and if it was still draining a lot on Sunday to call him. I changed dressings about once every hour and was exhausted the next morning.
At 4:00 A.M. Sunday morning Tim makes trip to get more bandages and gauze. I had used a box of 25 overnight and feared I would not have enough until he returned from church. He returned with lots of bandages and concern about leaving me. I assured him I would be ok. I ended up telling mom what was going on only to be sent my little brother to baby sit me. LOL! He was so sleepy I watched him sleep.
God moved that morning that let Tim and I both know everything was going to be ok and he was free to go and preach. I lay in bed very drowsy as he got ready for church. A sermon came over the television entitled "The Woman With the Issue of Blood." Through that message God gave my husband and I both a peace. He prayed with me, we chatted about the message, he went to church, and I had no more oozing to the extreme measure. Look at God!
The next Tuesday I had a doctors appointment. I had developed a siroma which is a pocket of fluid that didn't absorb which is quite common during abdominal surgery. That is the main reason the doctor didn't want to cut me because he said that often happens whereas that is not something that usually occurs with the laproscopic procedure. He informed me that he had to cut me because my uterus was the size of a large cantelope and weighed two pounds. The normal size is the size of ones fist. That day the nurse opened my incision and literally squeezed the extra juices out of me. Thank God I didn't feel a thing because I was still numb around my incision. Then, she packed my open wound with saline and gauze. She told Tim to watch her and he could do it when we got home. He felt very uncomfortable so we opted to get a home health nurse.
Much to my surprise insurance only paid for 3 days of services. On the day of the tornados the nurse was caught between storms and could not make it. I knew Tim was not quite ready to take on such a big task. I prayed about it and asked God to work it out. The next morning after the first round of storms mom called and said she would come to take care of my incision. God is just AWESOME like that! Mom used to work the surgical floor at Huntsville Hospital. She came to fill me in. Hahaha (literally)! Two days later the home health nurse returned to train and watch Tim to make sure he could fulfill the task. He was great! He has been stuffing me like a build-a-bear every since. My incision is almost closed and I'm feeling stronger each day. I am hoping to be able to do a few more things like picking up more than five pounds and lotioning my own feet after my next appointment on Tuesday.
I am blessed to have a marvelous husband who took on many task like cooking and caring for a patient. He has never once complained and even told me when I am well he will do more chores than before to help me out. This journey that we have been on has taught me to be still and know that He is God and there is none like Him. I knew it before but now I really know it. We never know what for better or for worse will be but we vowed to be there through it all. I'm thankful that even through the uncomfortable spots my partner never left me in the fire (Fireproof). He stood strong for me even when he was feeling weak. Finally, I have learned that God has purpose in everything that He allows to occur in our lives. Don't question....... just know that "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." I don't know what is written in the next chapter of my life but I do know that I've been blessed to be a blessing and I'm annointed for such a times as this. I know God has healed me because there is a great assignment on my life that I needed to be whole to fulfil.
Thanks you for all the prayers, visits, flowers, gifts, cards, messages, meals, money and time that you gave to us during this time of healing. Each one was greatly appreciated and we love each one of you! Remember whatever you are experiencing you can heal from it but you absolutely must trust God! Phillipians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
There is Nobody Greater
I have been on a journey for the past few months and I finally am well enough to journel about it. I am reminded of the song entitled "Nobody Greater by Vashawn Mitchell." This song has become somewhat an anthem for my life. I am a witness that with all the people that are on the earth there is NOBODY GREATER than my Heavenly Father. The lyrics are as follows:
[Verse 1:]I climbed up to the highest mountain
Looked all around, couldn't find nobody
Went down into the deepest valley
Looked all around down there, couldn't find nobody
I went across the deep blue sea
Couldn't find one to compare... to Your grace, Your love, Your mercy
Nobody greater, nobody greater than You
[Chorus:]
Searched all over, couldn't find nobody
I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater, nobody greater no, nobody greater than You
Searched all over, couldn't find nobody
I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater, nobody greater, nobody greater than You
[Verse 2:]
Nobody can heal, like you can
Oh Most Holy One, You are the Great I Am
Awesome in all Your ways and mighty is Your hand
You are He who carried out redemption's plan
You are He who carried out redemption's plan
Looked all around, couldn't find nobody
Went down into the deepest valley
Looked all around down there, couldn't find nobody
I went across the deep blue sea
Couldn't find one to compare... to Your grace, Your love, Your mercy
Nobody greater, nobody greater than You
[Chorus:]
Searched all over, couldn't find nobody
I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater, nobody greater no, nobody greater than You
Searched all over, couldn't find nobody
I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater, nobody greater, nobody greater than You
[Verse 2:]
Nobody can heal, like you can
Oh Most Holy One, You are the Great I Am
Awesome in all Your ways and mighty is Your hand
You are He who carried out redemption's plan
You are He who carried out redemption's plan
If you have never heard this song I admonish you to go to you tube and listen to it. It is life changing. For the past eight years my doctor has been completing routine testing on my female organs monitoring a condition I had called endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial Hyperplasia is a thickening of the lining of the uterus. In the month of November following a D&C my doctor informed me that my cells were now changing and surgery was needed. He assured me that I didn't have cancer but that if we didn't act appropriately the cells would turn cancerous. I was prepared to go to surgery in December but things didn't work out that way and I am so glad. God is a master planner! I was trying to figure things out but He had already worked them out for my good.
To my suprise my doctor referred me to an Oncology Gynocologist. This as the enemy would have it startled me a bit because he (my doctor) made a big deal about the fact that there was no cancer present. If that is the case, why is he referring me to an oncologist? I found myself heading to a doctors appointment in the very location I had to take my father just a few years ago for chemotherapy and he is no longer with me. Yet, I decided I had to put my big girl smile on and do what was needed to be done. I entered the oncologist's office in early December spent 3 hours there and left knowing that the surgery would be on February 15th, there was a 56% chance cancer could be present, I would have laproscopic robotic surgery but they may also have to cut me, they would check my lymph nodes during surgery and if cancer was present he would remove them, I would begin chemo and radiation soon after and depending on how I was feeling I would be out of work approximately two to six weeks. Whew! Thank God He had prepared me to know that there is Nobody Greater and He has my whole life planned out. All I have to do is trust in Him!
Needless to say, I was not fearful and actually excited about the surgery because God let me know in my spirit that everything was going to be all right. Is that saying that everything would go well? Is that saying that I would not die on the table or have complications? No! It's saying that I had decided that whatever God wants to do with my life He can. It is His! I gave it to Him to do what He wills to do with it and whatever state I am in I am at peace. (Thank you Lord for your delivering power!)
February 15th arrived and my loving husband and mother were right by my side. Mom brought the prayer team (her pastor and his wife) and we shared a joyous time while I awaited my opportunity. Mom's pastor even commented that I needed to get off that bed and go home there was nothing wrong with me. That is just a testimony of how good and marvelous my God is. We can be falling apart but there is a peace that can't be explained. I don't know about you but I love him more today than I did on yesterday. He gets sweeter! My scheduled time of slicing was 1:00 P.M. but that didn't happen. The surgery took place finally and I awoke to a nice little pain pump in my hand and a cozy hospital room around 10:30 P.M. I justed wanted them to let me sleep. Tim spent the night watching me from a very uncomfortable seat and he sent mom home which I later found she wasn't too happy about. :) After I realized I wasn't in pain I layed the pump aside and napped in between the nurse and tech visits.
The next morning the doctor arrived and said he planned to fast track me and send me home that day. I didn't even spend 24 hours in the hospital and they are sending me home. That's what I call drive by surgery. I walked although I was very dizzy from the meds, I tinkled, and I went home with 21 staples, a toy to blow on, and a smile.
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