Milestones

I think we all set goals for ourselves. When we reach them we call them milestones. Some milestones just come naturally. Like our age. Yes I said it, our age.
This week I had a milestone birthday. I turned 60. Oh my just saying it makes me gasp,  in a fun way. My brother and I were even reminiscing about our parents when they were 60. Joking about it.  I am not distressed at all because I turned 60. Actually I am rejoicing. It was once thought I may not reach the ripe age of 60. Guess what, those statements were far from the truth. God had other plans.
Most of you know of  my health struggles by now.  I totally believe God has brought me through those struggles and He gives me the strength to fight everyday. He does have plans for my life.  As I have stated in previous blogs, I know the Lord Jesus has touched my body and is healing me everyday. Have I received my total healing all at once, no. But I haven’t given up, and God will never give up on me. So each new victory is a milestone for me. And turning 60 is a huge milestone. And I embrace it with joy.
So think about it, what milestones have you had in your life? Is it a school graduation, a job promotion, an age you’ve reached? There are so many other milestones out there. And God has them for us all.
These verses in Proverbs help put it into perspective.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
So often we struggle and we automatically think we have failed. That isn’t necessarily true.  God uses our struggles to teach us. He brings us into a new understanding of circumstances.  He just asks this of us, TRUST HIM.  He wants us to lean in to Him all the more. He will guide us and lead us right into our milestone.
For me, 60 is a huge milestone.  And I will embrace it with joy.

Are You Waiting for a Miracle?

Miracles, when it comes right down to it, most of us have asked God for a miracle at some time in our lives.  Some of us still need those miracles.  Each miracle, or each need, has a specific look to it. Mine as you know is physical healing. Others may need a financial miracle.  Others may need healing in their marriage.  What ever your need is, God can give you your miracle.
Sometimes your miracle comes in stages.  I have received stages of the physical miracle I need over the years. God has moved on my doctors to treat my most urgent need.  God has also touched my body and protected me from further complications. So my miracle has a different appearance at each stage.
You may be wondering how I can claim a miracle and not yet be fully healed. I can only tell you that God has performed miracles in me when I needed them the most. As for the total plan, I don’t know what God has planned. But what I do know is He will be glorified. I have always prayed that God would be glorified through my illness and spinal cord damage.  If it means in stages, then I am fine with that. If it is all at once, I’m fine with that.
Over the past 30 years I have seen God move miraculously in my life. And at each time, I have seen Him use me for His glory.  God has led me to specific doctors who are the best in the world. He has had them perform surgeries that had never been done before successfully and the patient survive.  He has used countless others to pray and stand in the gap for me.
God performed an instant miracle10 years ago this month on my husband. He has an aortic aneurysm that is located at the base of the aorta entering the heart. Ten years ago it ruptured. I watched in a matter of seconds my husband become lifeless. His heart was only beating once every 45 seconds. He had no blood pressure. I watched the paramedics load him into the helicopter.  I didn't know if I’d see him again. Our son had just moved to Colorado, 1800 miles away. I called him. How could I tell him his Dad may not live. Just so happened he was in a prayer meeting. They surrounded him in prayer for his Dad. It took an hour for me to get to the hospital.  I asked where my husband was.  Was he in surgery?  They directed me to a room.  My husband was sitting up talking. In an instant God healed him. The paramedics and drs had the ultrasound and cat scan images showing he was bleeding to death. But for some reason the surgeon wanted another cat scan so he’d know exactly where to cut into.  During this  scan my husband woke up. The doctor pulled him out and was frantic. He was yelling where is the blood? The doctors saw in front of their own eyes, a miracle performed instantly. Most totally agreed it was miraculous. But there were a few doubters. How they could doubt, I don’t know.  God returned that blood that poured into his abdomen back into the heart and sealed that aneurysm.
So you see, your miracle will look different than mine.  But God has a miracle for all of us. It may mean faith to step into a certain path. God will guide you and direct you.
We are His children.  He will take care of us.  Trust Him.  He will open the doors, create the path for you to go, and be that much closer to your physical healing, emotional healing, or whatever other bondage that holds you down. We are no longer slaves to fear. We are set free!

He will finish what He started in you.

I know I’ve written about this topic before, but it seems as though I keep coming upon the same Scriptures.  This past week I started a new devotional of Philippians.  The title is “Choosing Joy”.  And one of the Scriptures focused on is :
Philippians 1:6- “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(HCSB‬‬)
Most of you know by now I like to focus on the positive, and I strive to always walk in the hope I have in Jesus. Sometimes it is a bit tougher than other times. Especially if I am not feeling the best. The above Scripture is one that I focus on quite often. I firmly believe that is a promise to me from God. He truly will complete His work in me. How that will be manifested, I do not know.  But I believe it will be the best for me and my family. After all, my family walks through my illness with me. 
So back to choosing joy.  Trust me, I know it is extremely difficult at times to walk in joy.  Especially on a bad day.  But I told myself in 1990, when my spinal cord injury was first discovered, that I would persevere and try my hardest to hold onto the joy of the Lord. 
 And do not be worried, for the joy of the LORD is your strength and your stronghold.””
‭‭NEHEMIAH‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭b , AMP‬‬
The joy of the Lord is our strength!  I do believe this. How do I keep that frame of mind? Through prayer, reading the Word, and never giving up. Also choosing not to dwell in those negative, depressing thoughts.
This isn’t easy.  It takes work. It takes commitment.  But you will succeed. Set your mind to it, be determined, and persevere.  You will be victorious because the JOY of the Lord is your strength.
I still battle the affects of the spinal cord damage. The cord itself is still being damaged because of the scar tissue and tumor surrounding the cord. In 2011 I was diagnosed with the leukemia.  I now have a new health situation I am dealing with. This is still in the beginning stages.  I will need testing done. But I am hanging on to the promises of God. He will complete His good work in me. If the new issue is something I must deal with, then I will do so. For now I’m believing the tests will be negative.
Because I choose His joy to strengthen me, I know He will prepare me for what is to come.
We all face trials in our lives. Those trials come in many forms. But nothing is too difficult for God. And He will enable you and give you strength.  Hang on to His joy. He will never disappoint you.