Faith, Hope, Perseverance, and God's Protection

 As I wrote in previous blogs, I was facing surgery for breast cancer. So I could not write a new post for a few weeks. Now I am back!I had the surgery, and I am recovering very well. This is a testament of God's love and protection for our lives. Surgery can be very "scary", and then add cancer to it, it is even more scary.  A whole new batch of emotions creep into your life. You find yourself praying with more determination. You dive into the Scriptures for wisdom, guidance, strength. All of these things are very important whether we are facing surgery or not. We need God's Word in our lives, we need His wisdom and guidance, and we need His Holy Spirit to help us and strengthen us.These do not apply only to having a surgery, or having a crisis in our lives. They apply to every thing we face, they apply for our family, they apply for our country.

Right now our country, The USA, needs prayer like never before. Our very core, our values, our Godly principles are at stake. We are being attacked from within. There is an overwhelming amount of disrespect for our country, our flag, our President, and our Vice-President. The beliefs our country was founded on are in jeopardy. There are very bad groups of people destroying our country from the inside. 

God calls the church, the body of Christ, to pray. He wants us to call upon Him and ask for His help.

We are to put on the full armor of God, stand firm in the strength He has given us, and fight! Fight for our country. 

I am not referring to fight as in a physical battle, but as a spiritual battle. We are in a battle against darkness. We are in a battle to save souls from destruction. This kind of battle is only won by the power of God, and by His Holy Spirit. 

We have access to all of the power and strength we need through His Word, and the Holy Spirit. I encourage you, pick up that Bible, and pray the scriptures. Call on Jesus, ask Him to save our country, and save His children. 

2 Chronicles 7:14- and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

I totally believe God has this coming election in His hands. He can protect us from the enemy and its ways. But we must have faith and believe.

This applies to our personal lives as well. I just went through a life changing ordeal and surgery. I was in the fire, but came through it smelling like a sweet fragrance of pleasant flowers. Yes I have scars, I have a few parts missing. But my heart is the same, and my spirit is still the same. And I am still filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Our God is a mighty God. He wants to use you for His glory. He wants to use all of us. No matter what you are going through, God can use you and your situation to help and encourage others.

That is my prayer, that He continues to use me for His glory.

I pray for you friends, that you feel God's power in you. I pray that God continues to hold this land and the whole world in His hands.  He is a Waymaker. Blessings my friends.

#faith #hope #perseverance #pray #waymaker

Stress and Peace

 Is it possible to have peace when you have a stressful situation in your life?  I say yes.  However for that to be, I say you must have faith as well. This is something we've been taught from the time we were little children. But it is not something we all have been through.     

The most important thing to remember is our Lord Jesus will never leave us out in the wilderness to face trials alone. He is always with us. When I think of that I feel deep in my heart the love Jesus has for me and the faith I need to face trials.    

As you know from my last blog, I am facing a new health battle. That is breast cancer. When I met with my Dr last week she was talking about all of the "medical terms", and treatment options, along with protocols, and so on. She stopped at one point and said I have such a good attitude. I simply stated "I have to". I cannot afford to be negative, or be without faith. After all, faith is the hope of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1a

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.   

When we have that tiny seed of faith, the Lord meets us with that hope. That hope helps us to keep moving forward.  It helps us conquer our fears. And when we have that, we have peace.

So we have stress and trials, then we feel the love Jesus has for us and that elevates our faith, which brings us to hope. That hope leads us to peace.          

Philippians 4:7 (AMP)

And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

It is often hard to put into words how you stay positive, or how you keep faith in your heart. Often our actions or attitudes speak those words for us. My Dr didn't have to hear me say I have faith, I have hope, I have peace. She saw the evidence of all three in my face, my voice, my actions.

Do I still have stress? Yes I do. Anytime you are facing major surgery and a cancer diagnosis, it gives you stress.  However, the hope and faith I have out weighs the stress, and enables me to walk in faith, My faith is in my Lord Jesus Christ. I stand tall in His promises. He will not disappoint, He will not leave my side.

And because of all of that, I can walk in confidence in the peace He covers me with.

Faithful readers, I pray that whatever you are going through, whether physical, emotional, or any other way, that you feel that hope deep in your heart. I pray you can walk in the faith and peace that He has for you. Jesus has been "Good to Me". 

#breastcancer #hope #faith #peace #comfort #Heisgoodtome 

Life Goes On!

This is a very important election year here in the United States.  The results of this election could very well determine the fate of our freedoms we have had for many generations.  Our country was founded on those freedoms.  Most important is the right to worship God how we choose.  I hear so many say if a certain candidate gets elected, our freedoms will be taken from us. That is devastating for many people to hear.  I certainly do not like the sounds of it.  However, if your candidate doesn’t win, will your life go on? It certainly will.  Maybe not the way you desire, but regardless our lives will go on.
During these times of facing a global pandemic, turmoil and violence in our world, and an election year, most of us are battling our own personal battles.  These battles probably have nothing to do with a pandemic or election.  Your battle may be financial, or health related, or relationship issues.  Whatever “your” battle is, it is important to you, and to our Lord Jesus. Just because there is turmoil in the world doesn’t mean Jesus has left you on the back burner to simmer all alone.
Not only does God care about your troubles, but He has given us a helper, His Holy Spirit, and His Word.  He has given us tools to use that enable us to be victorious.
If you remember on a previous blog I said we must be pro active, not passive.  That goes for our lives and our battles as well. He has given us life, He has given us strength, and He has given us the tools to use in battle.
We must persevere. We must stand tall and fight. We must be pro active. After all, LIFE GOES ON.
#lifegoeson #persevere #standtall #bestrong

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬