Do you believe in miracles?

Lately I have heard so many talking about miracles. Some that have received a miracle and recognize it for being truly a miracle from God. Others that are talking about an unexplained occurrence they have encountered or heard about, but deny that it could be of God. That has spurred some thinking in me.
If you have read my earlier blogs you see that I mention the miracles in my own life. Just in my life alone, I have received many miracles, and I give all the credit to God.  I know that the only reason I am alive today is because of God's hand on my life. I have had medical occurrences in my life that cannot be explained by a physician. Usually the answer is we don't know why you are better, but you are. Or we don't know why you are better but someone is on your side.
My husband has had a very major miracle in his own life.  He has an aortic aneurysm that ruptured.  His heart was barely beating, 1 beat per minute. He was being flown by helicopter. The paramedics had evidence he was bleeding to death. It was visible on ultrasound. He arrived at the hospital barely alive. They prepped him for surgery. But they wanted another set of Cat Scan films.  They whipped him out of the machine just as he regained consciousness.  The doctor was yelling, "where did the blood go"? God at that very moment returned the blood from his abdomen back to his heart, which was beating normally. There was no longer any blood seeping into his abdomen. There is also visible evidence of this occurrence in his abdomen.  The blood pooling bruised a portion of his small intestine. This was physically seen by a surgery that was done. The drs explanation, "we cannot explain it".  the paramedics visited my husband in the hospital and at home.  They told us they had all of the medical equipment tested.  There were no problems with the machines. They have the evidence on film that he was bleeding to death. This was truly a miracle.
So this raises the question, when you have a major event occur in your life, to whom, or to what do you give credit to?  I am a nurse, I know how things occur.  But folks I have to say, when it cannot be explained, there is no other explanation than it was a miracle. However, for some of you, you find it so difficult to admit that God can do miracles, or that there is even a God who loves us so much that He would do such things for us.
I want to encourage you today readers, there is a loving God who not only created you and this very universe we live in, but He loves you.  An unconditional love from our Heavenly Father who will do whatever it takes to help His children.  He is real, He desires to have that personal relationship with you, and more than that, He wants you to trust Him, and trust the love He has for you.
We all have trials in this world, we all experience times when we need that divine intervention.  God is here for you this very minute, and every second of every day.
There is hope, there is love, we just need to have that tiny seed of faith.  A seed the size of a mustard seed.  Trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will not desert you.
Matthew 17:20- ..."For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say move this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Are we in neutral, or are we moving forward?

I was reading my devotions the other day and it spoke of slothfulness. Slothful in the Greek is NOTHROS.  It means something that has lost its speed or momentum.  The  writer was using the Scripture reference Hebrews 6:12. so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  It was a different version. But my version says " SLUGGISH".
This is speaking of our inward condition.  We may look like we are full of energy on the outside, but inside we are struggling with focus and momentum.  We are stuck in neutral.  The above Scripture tells us we can inherit the promises of God. But at times we face hindrances because of our slothfulness or sluggishness.  We are stuck in neutral. This made me examine myself. Am I slothful in my walk with the Lord.  I have to be honest, at times it seems so to me because of the way I physically feel.  But after reading this and praying, I remembered it isn't about my physical status, it is about my spiritual status.  Am I zealous for the Lord? Do I go after Him with zeal, and seek all that He has for me?  I can say, without a doubt, I do run after God with all that is in me.  Am I perfect, of course not!  I can easily get into that slump like anyone else.
We all have obstacles or mounds in front of us. Do you have the perseverance to push yourself over that mound and run your race?  Can you see that reward waiting for you?
I know that our Lord Jesus has so much grace and mercy for us. If we slip, He is there to help us up.  We don't have to feel guilty about that. He has promises for us all.  And I definitely want to receive my promises.  I know without a doubt, someday I will walk without assistance, I will no longer need a wheelchair, I will no longer endure pain, I will have a wonderful life of eternity.
That, my faithful readers, gives me the push, the zealousness, the perseverance to keep going.
I pray I have encouraged you all to run your race with all you have. Our Lord God is right there with you.  He will help you.
Thank you for reading.

What is your identity?

Hi Folks,
I know I've shared a similar blog before, but this has been heavy on my heart this past week.  What is our identity? Who am I? When others see me, what do they see me as?
These are all legit questions.  When we start out in our adult lives we all have a vision. At least most of us do.  What do we want to be when we grow up was a common question when we were young.
My answer was always a nurse.  I fought hard through illness, the beginning of the spinal cord damage, to become a nurse.  And I truly loved being that nurse.  I was helping others. I knew I was not going to focus on being a "career nurse".  My ultimate goal was to be a wife and mother.  I even stopped working for some time to stay home and be with my son. I home-schooled him,
and my husband and I were very involved in his sports activities and scout activities when he was young.  Then came time for college.  Back to work I went.
I will refresh your memories, I also was dealing with major illness at this time. But I needed to help with college costs, etc.  But, even though I went back to work, I was still 1st a wife and Mom.
So life moves on. Our son became an adult. In the meantime, my illness became so much more severe and I had to once again stop working.  This was a very hard decision to make. I cried, telling my boss and coworkers I had to stop.  This was breaking my heart. I loved what I did as a nurse.
I then asked myself, what next.  Lord how will you use me? Can I be useful to You, Lord?  I also shared in earlier blogs about being in drama ministry. I had to give that up earlier.  What was left, Lord?
For a few years now, exactly 5, my concentration has been on being healthy. Fighting through every setback, every hurdle. Even still today, I fight hard for every victory.  Often I would ask God, how am I being useful to Him? What am I doing for the sake of the Gospel? It was back in December of 2015 when God put this blog on my heart. I thought I was hearing things. Lord, what, I am not a writer.  His response,  you don't have to be, I will tell you what to write. And He has.
I tell this because I have heard some say lately that they do not feel useful to God. They wonder how can God use them.  He can use any person He wants to for His glory. We just need to be open to that and be willing to obey.
I want to encourage you readers, you can be useful. Your life matters to God. And He will use you.
You may be thinking what if He asks me to do something I do not know how to do or do not want to do? He is not a big, mean God! He is a loving, caring God who will guide you.
I have had many people respond positively to this blog.  It has reached many countries.  Did I do this? No, God did.  How much more rewarding can something be.
Do I miss being a nurse, of course I do.  But I'm very content being used by God.
So for now readers I will leave you with those thoughts. I pray that each and everyone of you will hear your calling from God. It is the most rewarding thing you will ever do in your life.