I have been going to the hospital a lot for medical tests and each time I go, I am asked what my religion is. I have stated matter-of-factly each time that I belong to the Assembly of God. Then, the registration clerk moves to the next question on her computer. What I really wanted to tell her was that I don’t have a religion. What I have is a relationship, a love affair with the God who created me and sent a Savior to save me from my sins.

I was created by God and I say I am His, so I am commanded to follow His example. What did Jesus do? He helped others. He healed others. He prayed for others. Mostly, He showed a lost world what His Father was like and that is what I am commanded to do. My most important task on earth is to show people what God is like by living an example before them. So, when I was waiting for hours for a test to conclude and ended up spending six hours at the hospital instead of the three that the test should have taken, I represented God by still being humble and pleasant and thanking the technicians and nurses for being so kind and helpful to me. My old self would have been exasperated and demanded that I be seen more quickly. Instead, I chose to be patient because that is what Jesus would do. Is there some way in which you have been called to show Jesus to others lately? My guess is that you are called daily to do so; it is just a matter of what choices you make in your life.

Since I am created by God, I am called to praise Him. Do you spend time daily praising God? Just worshipping Him for who He is and then thanking Him for all that He has done for you? I figure my life on earth is just practice for all of the praise and worship that I will be doing in Heaven, so I should do a good job. I remember many years ago I took piano lessons from a nice, elderly lady. I had to practice the piano daily and then go to her house once a week for a new lesson. Well, I was not a very nice child because one day I just told the lady that I wasn’t coming to lessons any more because she wasn’t really teaching me. That was absolutely true. She set the metronome, told me what to practice in my piano book and then she headed to the den to watch her soap opera. So, I didn’t feel that she was actually teaching me and I told her so. God isn’t like that. He doesn’t say to praise Him and then leave us to figure out how and when to do it. He tells us in His Word that there is a huge crowd in Heaven worshipping the Lord and one day we will be part of that crowd, so we need to practice our worship here on earth. Daily, I turn my TV to the Christian music channel and do my devotional, writing in my journal and praising the Lord as I do. How do you praise the Lord? Do you remember that each breath you have is a gift from Him? Each beat of your heart is His gift of life to you.

The point of my whole post today is just a reminder that you are created by a Wonderful Father, redeemed by a beautiful Savior, and all you can do is represent Him on earth and worship Him. That’s all. It all seems very simple. But, first, I suggest that you prepare your heart and then sit before Him, sing a few songs of praise and worship Him. He is worthy! God is the Lord of all the earth and I want to meet all of you one day in Heaven. There, we will praise together! What a glorious day that will be! Until then, be a good ambassador for Him on earth…show others His qualities so that they know that you are different and want the relationship that you have. Not the religion…the relationship!

I was privileged to see the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir perform this when I was a student at Youth With a Mission. This rendition by a flash mob has gone viral for years and it still brings tears to my eyes. God reigns! Indeed, He reigns forever!

https://youtu.be/SXh7JR9oKVE

It is my great honor to raise my hands and praise the Lord! I am part of the great crowd in Heaven praising His Holy Name. I hope that you will join in the chorus. Hallelujah! Our God reigns forever!

This book is both depressing and captivating. It is depressing because the stories of the young women at 17 Sean Street is so sad, with little hope that any of them will fully recover and live the lives that they dream of. It is captivating because I was drawn into the story of Anna Roux, a dancer who hurt her leg, moved from Paris to the United States with he husband, and finds herself spiraling into loneliness, depression and anorexia. When the book opens, we see Anna entering the treatment house at 17 Swann Street. The other woman who lives there have stories also, but it is Anna’s story that is compelling and told in detail. The reader is introduced to Matthias, Anna’s spouse who sincerely wants her to succeed in her recovery. This was a fiction novel but at times it seemed like an entry from Wikipedia with its detailed description of what the women had to go through in their quest for recovery. A most memorable scene for me was when Anna had to complete a menu for the week, with six meals each day. The foods that she used to enjoy and which she no longer eats become evident as she checks off what she is willing to eat daily. This was a realistic look at a very complex problem. The struggles of the women are real, and the author presents Anna’s story with empathy and authenticity. Readers of contemporary fiction will enjoy this book, as will those who want to know more about eating discorders and how it ravages the bodies of those affected and the lives of their loved ones.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This haunting novel from a debut author will be available at your local bookseller on February 5, 2019. But put it on your TBR list now and go ahead and pre-order it. You will be glad that you did!

The words “fear the Lord” are found throughout the Scriptures. I have come to believe that this fear is not one like I have of the dark, actually afraid of what or who might pop into the bedroom while I am sleeping. I still sleep with a nightlight to dispel the darkness because of this fear. It is not the same as the fear I have of traffic; I close my eyes and pray as we move with the flow of the other cars because I am so afraid to open my eyes and see all of the cars. No, the fear of God is a healthy respect of Who He is and What He has done, for us and for all of His creation.

Once you fear the Lord, you cannot help but give Him praise for His holiness, His mighty works, His righteousness and all of Who He is. He is the Mighty King who sent His Only Son to earth to rescue mankind from our sin. We need only recognize who we are in relationship to who He is and then we will naturally fear our Creator, with a love and an awe that is like no other.

https://youtu.be/j9YC9a-QkCc

God is the Only One in the universe who deserves to be feared. I hope that this Christmas season, you will find Him in your heart and rest at His feet, the ones that are nail-scarred for you and me, the ones that walked the dusty roads of earth to show God to mankind. God bless and be with you during this blessed holiday season!

As I have been facing all of these medical tests and challenges lately, God continues to remind me that He is right beside me. This was a Scripture verse that I read this morning. God is not just beside me; He is holding my hand as we walk together through this time of trials. Hallelujah! No matter what happens, I will never be alone.

I praise the Lord daily for Who He is and for What He has done and is continuing to do. I see all of the chaos in the world, caused by men who refuse to acknowledge a higher power and a Savior. But I have read the end of the Book and I know that we win. We win! We are victorious! Over Satan, over sin, over death. We win! So, I choose to join with the chorus in Heaven that is blessing the Name of the Lord forever. I hope that during this blessed season of remembrance of the Christ Child that you will know God’s love for you and receive Him into your life, in a way that will change your life into one of knowing victory. We win! Amen.

Thank you, Stu at stubaby777.wordpress.com for nominating me for this awesome award! I needed something positive to talk about right now, and you provided it. So many thanks for the nomination and for your inspiring scriptural posts.

I will start by listing the rules for the award:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.

Answer the 11 questions that were presented to you by your nominator.

Nominate 11 bloggers.

Ask those you nominate 11 questions.

List the rules.

Display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post or blog site.

Here are the questions that Stu asked me:

1. John from Electic Contrarian did a cool tag not too long ago highlighting his top com mentors. Who are the top five commenters on your blog?

2. Do you feel sad, upset, meh, or happy over losing followers?

Honestly, I am not really concentrating on my followers. I am noticing the comments and whether I think that I am following the way that God is leading for that day. If people follow me, I feel blessed. If they leave, I know that there is a reason, so I don’t fret over it.

3. What is your greatest strength?

My greatest strength comes from my relationship with the Lord Jesus.

4. What is your greatest weakness?

I have a problem with self-confidence and positivity.

5. What was your favorite book as a child or teen?

I read and treasured all of the Nancy Drew mysteries. Since I was asthmatic, I was not allowed to go outside and play with others, so I spent a lot of time with books. I also enjoyed Cherry Ames, the Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins.

6. What is your greatest fear?

Dying without being able to say goodbye to those I love.

7. Are you one of those bubbly morning peeps or a leave me alone til I wake up peep?

Much to my husband’s dismay and surprise, I am a bubbly morning peep. I go to bed early each evening and I’m usually up and ready for my day by 6 a.m. I used to have to get up about 4 when I was working, so 6 is “sleeping in” for me.

8. How has blogging helped you in life’s journey?

I have become more introspective because of blogging. And I am encouraged by all of the commenters and their kind words for me, usually just what and when I need it.

9. What is your goal as a blogger?

I want to glorify the Name of the Lord Jesus when I blog and I want to be an encouragement for others who read it.

10. What bumper sticker has made you laugh so hard you almost had to pull off the road?

“Metaphors Be With You”

11. What is the craziest name for a church you have ever heard?

Original Church of God, Number 2

Here are my nominees:

Christy Istrate

Puzzles of the Soul

Bruce

Equipping

Lisa Blair

Thought for Change

Odd and Bookish

Becoming His Tapestry

Train Today to Reap Tomorrow

Belle’s Moma16

Sim Chen Xing

Here are my questions:

1. What always makes you smile no matter what is happening in your life?

2. Who is the most important person in your life?

3. What is your favorite food that you would hate to ever give up?

4. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

5. What is your favorite place to vacation?

6. Do you believe that God answers prayers? Can you give a testimony of when He answered one for you?

7. If you watch television, what is your favorite show and why?

8. What is the best book that has influenced your life and made it better?

9. Are you a coffee, tea, or other beverage fan?

10. What is your favorite recipe for fish? (Note that fish is the only thing I am allowed to eat right now, so I have an ulterior motive in asking this question! Thank you in advance for your recipes.).

11. Do you read on an e-reader or do you prefer hard copy books?

Thank you all for reading this blog today. And another testimony as I sign off today: The scheduler from my cardiologist’s office just called and my stress test scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until next week because the hospital doesn’t have the isotope needed for the test. Hallelujah! I was very unhappy about going all the way to the hospital that is over an hour and a half away from my home. So, now I can go to the hospital that I usually go to (half the distance) and the one at which I had the test last time. Praise God! He is still working on my behalf, on the little and big things. Have a blessed day. And for those whom I nominated, if you can’t participate, no problem! Just have fun with it if you can.

It is our duty, our sacred responsibility, to share the mighty acts of God with others. God is all-powerful and throughout my current health ordeal, He has shown himself strong on my behalf. Yesterday I went to the cardiologist to get approval for the surgery that I need. He is a very thorough and kind man who explained to me that he could not give me approval until I have a stress test. Well, since I already have an endoscopy scheduled for December 26th, I asked him if I had to wait for the stress test to have that procedure completed. Unfortunately, he told me “yes” but the scheduler would do all she could to get me seen before the 26th for the stress test. I prayed with my husband that God would prepare the way for me. After all, the gastroenterologist told me that I was lucky that they had a cancellation on the 26th since the next available one is the end of January. I would be lying if I did not confess my anxiety with this whole situation. It’s not that I’m eager for the stress test. Not at all! But my surgeon said that I need surgery as soon as possible and has expedited a lot of the appointments and tests in order to reach that goal. So I was dreading having to postpone the endoscopy. It seems that I wasn’t trusting God enough because when the scheduler called, she got me an appointment for this Friday! Never mind that the hospital that I have to go to for the test is over 60 miles away. I’m praising God for continuing to line up things for me. And as the Scriptures say, I’m proclaiming the power and might of God in my life! I pray that God is showing Himself strong in your life, for He loves us all the same.

I would appreciate your prayers for the stress test. I have to do a chemical one and I already had one in 2016, a year after my stroke. It was not a pleasant experience, so I’m not looking forward to a galloping heart with monitors everywhere. But I do know that I’m holding onto the hand of my Creator, the King of the Universe, and He will see me through yet another valley. Blessings!

 

I go to the cardiologist today for a cardiac clearance for my surgery, and praising the Lord has been all that I have been thinking about this morning.  No matter what, He is worthy of praise!

May the God of all mercy, love and grace put a song in your heart today, just as He has put a song of praise in mine.  Blessings!

 

 

 

The path that I have been walking lately has been a twisted one, full of obstacles and surprises that were unexpectedly difficult to get over. But God has sent His Holy Spirit to walk with me, to be with me all along the way. When I met with the gastroenterologist, I wanted to get an appointment for an endoscopy as soon as possible so that I could just get this whole surgery thing over with. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment is December 26th. Or maybe, just maybe, that is God’s timing for me. At least, that is what I am thinking since I asked Him to take control. I am supposed to get special allergy shots today, but I had to postpone them until my allergy doctor says it’s okay to take them with all of my current medical problems. Again, it’s a case of “hurry up and wait.” God is teaching me to wait and to depend on Him to work things out. I see my cardiologist tomorrow. He has to clear me to have the surgery that I need. I also need to talk to him about the fact that my new medication that the gastroenterologist prescribed for me is making my blood pressure stay low. It’s a little concerning, but since God made my heart, He knows what is happening with it and I am trusting Him to take care of me. After I finish all of my tests this week and next, I can call the surgeon to schedule the pre-op consultation. At that meeting, he will tell me how extensive the surgery has to be and all about the recovery period. I’m hoping for the simplest, least invasive surgery and the shortest recovery time. But, regardless of what the surgeon tells me, I know that God will be there with me. Why? Because I am walking the path of life with Him guiding me and holding my hand the whole way.

I know that I am not going to live forever, but however many years I am here on earth, I want to live them doing what God directs me to do. He is eternal! He is love! He is my Father who has taken care of me through so many things on the path of life, and He can handle this, too.

Do I like my life being compared to a breath or a passing shadow? Do you? No, of course not! Our lives here on earth are not ours to live. We are to dedicate ourselves to Him, giving Him our very best all the days that He has given us. I praise His Holy Name for who He is, not only for what He has done. He is the Almighty God, the Mighty King, Ruler and Creator of all things!

Forever is a long time! That’s how long we will live with God if we have accepted His Son as our Savior. So, this life on earth is temporary, but our life with God is forever! We will join in the Heavenly throng singing praise to our Lord!

Jesus is my Shepherd. He has lead me to the spring of eternal life. Just as Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of life, at one time I was a seeker. But I found it! It was right there, in my heart. I just had to accept the gift that God gave me, the gift of His Son who died for me. Christmas is coming, with all of its decorations, lights and gifts. Do you leave gifts under your tree and tell yourself that you don’t want to open that one yet? Of course not! You open all of your gifts, and I hope that you are very thankful for the love that your friends and family have shown by sending them to you. But there is one gift that many have not opened yet, and it awaits you. It’s your salvation, the free gift that God gave when He sent His Son to die for you…and for me, and everyone else. You have to let Jesus into your heart in order to open this gift. He is worthy! He is the greatest gift of all!

God provides the answer to all of our questions. He is the One and Only reason for Christmas and for life. Bless His Holy Name forever! I hope that you will choose to continue down the path of life with Jesus in your heart. Knowing that God is with you no matter what trials that you face is the best Christmas gift ever! Blessings!