Not Being Held Captive!

First, I want to praise God for helping me this week with my asthma exhaburation. Normally, I'm down 3+ weeks with it. I've took the meds and did the breathing treatments at home, and it's a night and day difference since the beginning of the week. I'm thankful I was negative for covid, etc. I know meds help, but I also know this was God to turn this around this fast. Secondly, I did have to see another orthopedic doctor concerning my back since the pain was returning and he confirmed the old stress fracture situation that the previous doctor told me, but this doctor specializes in just the back and spine. He also confirmed that it was "lumbar spondylolysis" and according to new xrays and a 2nd look at the MRI, I was more than likely born with this because there is tissue where one of the lower vertebrae bone should've formed. But my spine is still straight so that's a good thing. Basically as you get older this issue just causes the wear and tear, pain to increase, and digenertive disc problem. However, I now know what to do or what not to do to keep it from flaring up. I have info on all the non surgical treatment options including certain strengthing excersies and even chiopractor visits... as I would never be able to move forward with spinal fusion surgery; the only surgical option for this. My mind won't let me go there nor will I allow myself to think the pain would ever get that bad for that option. Everyone I've talked to says don't do that; even people in the medical field. One thing God has really taught me, just this year alone, is how to NOT be held captive to your problems and sickness. I truly didn't understand that, after a lifetime of sickness and surgeries, but He did a reset on my mind a couple of months ago. I wake up everyday and pray and believe this now, "Lord I HAD asthma or I HAD spondylolysis, but You are my healer and I praise you for that! I praise You in advance for my healing!" I want to speak healing into my life every day. "You've healed me of other issues, and You can heal me of this one. The back pain may be bad today, but Lord You're still my healer and I trust You!" In the meantime, I know His will must be done, and I trust Him to continue helping me through these issues as I function as best as possible. Even on the hard days, I'm thankful God helps me and gives me His strength to push on through. He has truly taught me how to do my best to function and not be held captive to these issues. I think I've really learned about perspective on "even my bad days ain't that bad"...because I still have everything I need and more when it comes to a family, home, basic necessities, friends, church family, and insurance + the ability to go see a doctor anytime I need to for help. I'm abundantly blessed. It doesn't minimize my problems; it just changes the way I look at them. If you're struggling with an illness or issue, just know I am praying in agreement with you for our healing together and for God to help you not be held captive by the problem "in bondage with your mind, in chains of despair to it, or smothered by it", but to turn to Him on a daily basis as your means for getting through the day. God's got us in the palm of His hand; our most protected place! Until He comes for me, may I do my best to always be a bright light in a dark place, be an encourager, and worship/praise Him in spirit and in truth!

I Pray For!

I know life is full of disappointments and times of frustration, evenmore so because of the shape this world is in. The enemy is always trying his best to hinder and block God's blessings through his greatest tools of hindrances and distractions. But it's our job to push through that tickery of the enemy. Pray for the Lord to give you that focus and daily strength you need to get through. I am here to remind you that if you're facing something unexpected and troubling in this hour, I pray you find encouragement in this word. See, I have lived for the Lord long enough, and I've seen Him bring me through enough and protect me enough to know that when plans get changed, when the upsetting tears fall from your eyes, when the money seems to not be there to cover the bills, when sickness comes, when the grief you feel becomes overwhelming, when a long conversation ends that seems it was pointless and nothing was settled, and when you shake your fists and scream out, 'why is this happening?'... you've got to come to understand that God is still there and sometimes He detours, delays, demotes, or devises plans because He is either protecting you, preparing you, or planning something better for you. I don't know who this is for, but just trust God to lead the way and continue to guide you. He knows what He is doing. He is working behind the scenes and seeing what we cannot see. Remember in His word that He promises to go before us and pave the crooked paths straight; that means every roadblock, stumbling block, and barrier shall be removed in His perfect timing... if you continue to submit to His will, obey Him, and trust Him in ALL things!♡

Where is Your Faith!

I know this is long, but I pray it brings encouragement to someone. I'm thankful for my church family, and for the Lord speaking directly to me through our teacher on Wednesday night! Everything he shared and taught on tonight was but confirmation that God has the situation in His hand that the enemy has so desperately tried to torment my mind with today. If I wouldn't have went to church tonight the enemy would've won this battle today. It's important that no matter our feelings, we do our best to push through and go to church or before we know it we will be held captive to the problem. I share my heart tonight, in hopes that someone is encouraged by this. We never have it all together. I got an unexpected phone call this morning at 8:30am that snowballed into me allowing the enemy to steal my day and turn into nothing but one big anxiety attack, full of tears and worry. On top of that my leg and back has been bothering me this week, but I cling to my healing. I can't get this day back, but as I left church tonight, I know prayer is never in vain and weeping may endure for the night but joy is going to come in the morning. Whatever we face, whatever may be coming down the line, God is with us. Sometimes we can't help but question things, and even if I know much of the scripture like the back of my hand, it doesn't mean that I still don't need to be reminded from time to time. We all need reminders and encouraging. Anxiety and fear are of the enemy, but then comes the Lord speaking these very words to me tonight... "Where is your faith? I'm Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace. I will fight for you, you need only to be still. I have this situation in the palm of my Hand. You need only to trust me and not question the plan and purpose in this. Trust the process. Be strong and courageous and do not fear. Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Me, and I shall direct your paths. I am your protector and defender says God". Then the almost to last words spoken tonight were, "Let go and let God"! On the way home from church, I was reminded of the scripture: "the enemy comes only to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus come to give us life more abundantly". I have to cross the interstate to get to my house, and I'm always extra careful because people will pull out in front of you. I saw this car driving off the exit ramp as I was crossing the interstate and was not slowing down... there was another truck coming so there wasn't room for me to swerve... this car came off the exit ramp and never stopped, and I prayed 'please Lord help me'. I laid down on my horn and was literally an inch and second away from being hit by two vehicles. God had His hand of protection on me tonight. I'm still here. I'm unharmed. The enemy will try His hardest to kill us, but he doesn't have the authority to do so. I'll go when and how God chooses, and when my assignment is up. But today I know I've had to fight through the enemy's attacks, and I'm anointed for the attack. I mean when satan thought he was going to harm me or kill me tonight he was wrong. I came home a little shook up, but as I walked through the door of my house... "I said ole satan you've walked on me long enough, it's time I walk on you... I plead, I plead the blood of Jesus over my life and these situations!" This week has kind of been a trainwreck... but GOD. When you get a blessing on Sunday, the enemy will sure try to mess it up on Monday. The enemy will try to use people and situations to slip you up; he doesn't want you operating in your gifts for God's purpose and glory... he doesn't want you growing and walking in the anointing power of God... he doesn't want you encouraging others and being God's mouthpiece... he wants you to be an angry, depressed mess full of hopelessness and fear, and he wants you to give up and quit, he wants you dead... but I serve ONE who is going to see me through it all and no doubt keep His hand of protection over me while I'm on this earth, because greater is HE who is in me than he who is in the world! As a child of God, you have to hold on and hang in there! I trust God to see me through! Your situation may be big, but God is bigger!♡

Let Us!

I was in a time of prayer this afternoon over our country and this world, and even the churches at large. There is so much hatred going on and evil all around that God just needs His children praying fervently and allow Him to handle it all. But now, more than ever, is a time for compassion. The Lord desires His children to be His hands and feet. He desires for us to pray for others with love and understanding. He desires for us to keep a humble spirit. He desires for us to know that He forgives and changes others as only He and the Holy Spirit can bring the convicting power to a person's soul for them to have a repentant heart and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Several years ago the Lord had to humble me down in a mighty way. It is part of my testimony now. I don't like to rehash that time in my life, yet I had to go through it to learn what it truly means to stay humble before the Lord. What I went through was tough. It was ugly, messy, and hurtful yet now that I'm on the other side of it I'm beyond grateful that I learned to pray until I prayed through, and that I was delivered from that way of thinking and acting. I had to come to realize that not everyone is at the same point in their walk with Christ that you are, nor do we have the same convictions. I came out of prayer with these words flowing from my mouth.... let us not criticize, but let us compliment! Let us not backbite, but let us bless! Let us not ridicule, but let us reconcile! Let us not find fault, but let us find favor! Let us not be a tool of the enemy to deceive, but let us be a tool of the Lord to defend His Word! Let us not discourage, but let us encourage! Let us not pour guilt on others, but let us guide others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Lord, help me to always have a kind and tender heart towards those who may just be in desperate need of more compassion. Let them always see YOU in me!♡