03.27.06
Good Morning
Well, it is Monday again. What a beautiful day the Lord has given us to enjoy. Again this week, I have three days of Physical Therapy. I am beginning to see some improvement. Not in as much pain as I have been in.
I hope each of you have a blessed day and week.
03.24.06
Martha and Mary_March 22,2006
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha are sisters that both loved and worshipped Jesus. When they found out that he was in town they both must have been very excited to have this man that had been preaching all over the countryside here in their presence. Yet, their priorities were very different. Martha wanted Jesus to be comfortable and well fed. Mary wanted to do nothing but sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to anything he had to say. Both qualities were of value, yet one was ‘better’ than the other.
I myself, find that I am much more of a ‘Martha.’ If we all had the heart of Mary, and even of King David we would be so much better off.
“My sould finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62:1-2
Later we find yet again another instance where Mary shows great devotion to the Lord. Read John 12:1-8. Jesus says very prophetic words ~ “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” Whether poor financially or poor in spirit, it does not matter. There will always be poor people among us. We must be determined to want to change the world for Jesus’ sake.
Let Your Light Shine
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowel. Instead he puts it on its stand that those who come in may see the light.
Luke 11:33
How crazy is that for Mary to spend a years wages on the Lord??? Today that would be about $40,000 to $60,000 a person. Could you imagine? Again, Mary just demonstrates to us how much we need to value a relationship with God.
While these things are good, they are not the ‘better’ things. Do not sacrafice your times with God while searching for fulfillment in these other areas. Mark 12:33.
03.21.06
Physical Therapy 03/21/06
Had physical therapy this morning. Some shoulder exercises, hamstrings, neck, heating pad, muscle stimuli, and took a turn on the bike. My needs are beginning to feel better. But my upper back and shoulders are still bothering me. I have to admit my arms and hands have been feeling pretty fair the last two days.
03.19.06
Working Today
I did not go to church today. I needed to go to work. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow plus physical therapy, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So I needed to keep my work caught up.
I know I am going to be somewhat cranky this week. It seems like whenever I don’t go to church, I am a bit agitated. So I will spend extra time studying my Bible this week.
03.17.06
Fear Not, For I am With You
http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/juliasgrabngo.html
Fear no, for I am with you is a part of one of my absolute favorite scriptures, Isaiah 41:10:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your GOD
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
This particular scripture meant so much to me in my fight against cancer in 2000. The words just lifted me up and would just calm my fears and nervousness. Everynight before I would go to bed, I would read these verses. In the morning I would also. They were like my lifeline. That no matter what, GOD was there and HE was looking after me.
Six years later and this scripture is still as precious and as profound. Whenever I am down or just need a little pick me up. This is the scripture I turn to.
Physical Therapy_03-16-06
I did not go to phyical therapy Tuesday because I felt so bad. It seemed like my whole body was in pain over the weekend. I had little red bloches on my right arm. That arm is bad because I have Lymphedema in it when I had a mastectomy in March 2000.
However, I did go to physical therapy yesterday. It was not to bad. I told my therapist about my problems over th weekend and I only did shoulder exercises for five minutes. So far my knees seem to be responding better to therapy than my shoulders back and arms. I have about three more weeks to go.
03.13.06
A Love Beyond Compare
http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/juliasgrabngo.html
A LOVE BEYOND COMPARE
By Gilda Thornton 09/2005
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. John 3:16….and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20How many of us as parents would be selfless enough to give up an only child to save one person let along a whole sinful world? I have to admit I probably would not. But there is a Father that did just that. Let’s take a trip back over 2000 years ago to a heavenly scene may be like this one:The Heavenly curtains are drawn back as God watches His children commit sin after sin, debauchery after debauchery. “How long will I permit this to go on? I have given them so many chances. Yet, they turn to false gods and idols. I have been silent for four hundred years, but no more. I have had enough.” Jesus walks toward His Father and places His hand on His shoulder saying “Father allow Me to go to them in human form.” God replies “you will not be accepted by the majority, especially the religious community.” Jesus smiles softly “I know, but they need me.” God looks at His beloved Son and touches His face “Yes, you must go for you are humanity’s only chance. You will be mocked, tortured and put to death. But, there will be those faithful few that will believe and acknowledge you as my Son. Through your death and resurrection their faith will go stronger, and they will preach the gospel of salvation throughout the world.
As Jesus looks at the world below He replies “I will be their Intercessor and I will be with them always even until the end of time.
My Testimony _ A Journey Through Cancer
http://creativeladiesministry.com/juliasgrabngo.com
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
It all began for me in April 1989, when my doctor felt a lump in my right breast. A subsequent mammogram seemed to confirm his fears that I had breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy or removal of the cancerous tumor from the breast. Thank God there was no spreading. I had six weeks of radiation treatment.
In February 2000, a CT scan picked up a portion of what appeared to be a mass in the right breast. After a mammogram and ultrasound it was confirmed that I had breast cancer again. In the earlier part of March, I met with doctor that would be my oncologist. He stated that this was a large tumor. Under his directive, I underwent a stomach ultrasound and a bone scan to see if there was any spreading. The tests came back negative. At the end of March, I underwent a mastectomy and the removal of some of the lymph nodes. There had been no spreading.
I began chemo in April 2000. I started on three drugs, Adrimyiacin, Cytoxan and 5FU which were administered through a port in my upper left chest. These treatments were administered every three weeks. I had 18 weeks of these drugs. The only major side effect I had during this time was hair loss and beginning fatigue. I finished these drugs in August 2000.
In September 2000, I began a chemo drug called Taxotere. This drug was administered once a week for 18 weeks. Because of one of the medications I had to take with this drug, my glucose level starting elevating more than usual (Type 11 Diabetic). I was subsequently put on diabetic medication. I began to feel side effects of nausea (which I had medication for) and fatigue (taking Centrum Silver). I finished chemo treatments in December 2000. The biggest side effect was the fatigue. I would be so tired and so give out. I am still feeling the effects of the fatigue. I understand it takes a while for your body to get back normal.
FAITH AT WORK
Getting A Grip On Wayward Emotions
Going through cancer the first time, was not as traumatic. Don’t get me wrong, I was nervous and upset but the surgery and treatment seemed to breeze by. I had no major side effects. I went to the hospital for radiation instead of a Cancer Center. I did not see people getting sick from treatment or the paramedics coming to get them out of the treatment room or the doctor’s office. However, this time when I realized I had cancer again, it was different. There was panic, anger, fear and questions. Why did this have to happen again? I had been through it once. Wasn’t that enough? Why me? What if it comes back after this. At that moment I realized I needed a reality check. Where was all of this faith I was supposed to have. While thumbing through my Bible, I came across a scripture that would be my lifeline:
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthened you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
That night, as I prayed, I laid all my fears upon the Lord. There was so much I had to say. So much I had to ask him. Lord my mother will be 80 in August 2001. I will be 50 in February 2002. I learned how to pray all over again. I learned to pray that His will for my life be done, not my will. I ask him not to be just my Savior but also to be my Chief Physician. I realize when you pray His will be done; He will make a way for. I was and am blessed with a wonderful and caring oncologist that goes the extra mile for his patients. A doctor that knows the value of faith in God. I was blessed even though when I would get sick or so tired I felt like I could not put another step forward, if was as if I felt a gentle presence easing me along. It is not easy to cope with cancer. It takes a strong faith in the Lord. You have to put your hope, trust and all faith in Him. I would see some come in for the first time and see the fear in their eyes and the tears near the surface. Some times I would see patients come in so weak that they would meet them at the door with wheelchairs, or so sick the paramedics would have to come get them or see them throwing up in the treatment rooms. I would just momentarily bow my head and say thank you Lord for that could have been me.
Approximately a week after I finished chemo. I felt like my world had come crashing down. I know that I should have been happy treatments were over. However, I felt abandoned. I felt that my security to fighting cancer was gone. I felt like my defense was gone and that I was all alone in my fight against cancer. Again, I had to call upon the power of of prayer and also Isaiah 41:10. I know that was just a reaction to losing something that had been a part of my life for six months. After I prayed, I realized that my faith and trust in my Savior was my real strength against cancer.
Six Years Later
I have been out of remission almost six years. The LORD is so good and faithful. There have been scares but no sign of the cancer returning. What an awesome GOD we serve.
Am I through with cancer or will it come back the third time, I don’t know. Only the Lord knows the answer. I do know this one thing, if it does come back, I will be ready, because I will have my faith and my Chief Physician with me. I have learned that if you put your hand in the Savior’s Hand, HE will never let go.
03.10.06
Physicial Therapy 2
Well, I had another round of physical therapy yesterday. My hands are not hurting as bad, but my shoulders are kind of sore as is my knees. I go back today then no more until next Tuesday.
Gilda
03.07.06
Heart Of A Servant
http://www.creativeladies ministry.com/juliasgrabngo.html
by Gilda 2005
….for you serve the LORD JESUS. Colossians 3:24
I am not sure what made think of Sam this afternoon. It may have stemmed from a conversation with my daughter. But looking back when I was still in high school, Sam always loved the LORD and loved serving in HIS name. It did not matter if he did not know the proper do's and don'ts to be an usher, every Sunday he would be right there at the door greeting everyone with a smile. It did not matter if he couldn't read all of the words to the songs and sang off key, he would usually be the first one in the choir stand every Sunday. If they needed an extra hand to pass around the collection plate, Sam would be the first one to volunteer. It did not matter whether he had a nickel, a dime, a quarter or a dollar in his pocket, because when it came down to giving, he would give every penny he had on him. Sam did not come to church to gossip or for church mess, he came for one thing and one thing only, and that was to serve his JESUS.It has been almost 37 years since I finished high school but Sam, who should be close to 70, still love to serve his JESUS and does it with joy and child like faith each Sunday.
