The fight for my life

       According to the doctors, I have stage 3c ovarian cancer. I also have two other tumors in uterus and colon. The doctors will go in and remove those and anything else sized sugar cube or larger. I may need chemotherapy. But that is a conversation to be had after the surgery.

        The Great Physician also speaks. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end. ~ Revelations 21:6. His is the last word. 

How about them Holidays?

It seems the usual holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas can be celebrated in differing manners. They can have the external appearance of festivities without the internal component. In Thanksgiving, the meal is well prepared with all of the trimmings. It is scrumptious and the home is immaculate with the aroma of spices and food filling it. And no one gives thanks. Likewise for Christmas. The decorations are creatively positioned and pleasing to the eye. The tree is carefully decorated and situated perfectly in the room.  The gifts are bought, wrapped, and placed under the tree. The lights are hung with care. They are brightly shining. The baking is done and the meals prepared. But no one acknowledges the birthday person. 

If someone was to ask you, “What are you thankful for?” How short or long would your answer be? Would you be able to write a book about the subject? If you can read this blog whether you use glasses, contacts or extra light, you have something to be thankful for. No, scratch that. You have plenty to be thankful for. You made it to another day. You are alive. You can see. You are able to read. You are educated. You can comprehend. Are all of your senses functioning either normally or partially normal? Then you have at least five reasons to be thankful. Think of how these senses have enriched your life and those around you. That is more to be thankful for. The same applies to having hands, arms, legs, and feet. What if there is something missing? Is that a reason for not giving thanks? No. God is not unjust. He may allow something to be taken away, but He makes up for it in other ways. Cannot see that? Ask Him to open your eyes so you can see. That is the physical aspect of our humanity. How many things are you thankful for in your emotional, psychological, and spiritual state? The list grows exponentially. Would it be fair, then, to claim that we ought to celebrate Thanksgiving daily?   “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

If the materialistic aspect was taken away, what would Christmas mean to you? Yes, it is the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. Who is He to you? Is He your Lord and Savior? Is He just another good person who lived over 2000 years ago? Depending on your standpoint of Jesus Christ is how much Christmas would signify to you. Jesus Christ is everything to me. His birth was a gift to everyone who would accept Him. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ~ Isaiah 9:6. This precious gift entails salvation from sin and hell. It entails healing from the inside out. It entails friendship and a relationship with God. It entails love. Jesus Christ can be a best friend at times; big brother other times; guidance counselor when needed; father and disciplinarian at yet other times. He is very near; nearer than the closest person to you. He knows each one of us more than we know ourselves and each other. He knows our motives and wishes to disclose these to us. Yet, He still loves us unconditionally. He yearns to share His secrets with us. Not only do we need His love, He longs to love us on a day to day basis. With that in mind, wouldn’t it be reasonable to celebrate Christmas on a daily basis? For when we celebrate Jesus Christ, we are celebrating life. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

How many times over the years have you stayed awake until after midnight on December 31^st to meet the New Year? How many resolutions have you made throughout the years? What is the point of resolutions? Why do we have them? Why do we make them? Perhaps each one of us wants renewal or a fresh dose of hope. Do we have to wait until January 1^st to get renewed? No. Every day can be a renewal. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23. You see, renewal is ours daily if we request it and accept it.

• Our spirit can be renewed as the psalmist says in 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

• Our strength can be renewed as the prophet said in Isaiah 40:31, “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

• Our youth can be renewed as the psalmist said in 103:5, “who (God) satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Insertion mine.

• Our inner self is renewed as the apostle said in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

• Our minds can be renewed as the apostle said in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We do not need a new year to start over or to make resolutions. We can get renewal if we really want it and seek it.

We can celebrate the holidays any way we wish. And it is very good to enjoy fellowship, meals, and other traditions. But let not the external celebrations suffocate the internal intrinsic aspect of the holidays. And remember what these holidays represent throughout the entire year. For it is not enough to celebrate them once a year. They deserve to be commemorated daily.

 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” ~ 3 John 1:2

“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” ~ Jude 1:2

In the course of life ...

In the course of life, one faces difficult decisions. One may face two options at once or three if one is so lucky. An open door does not necessarily mean that it is the right one. Likewise, a closed door does not mean it is the wrong one. Some wear their emotions on their sleeves. Others hide them so well that no one can interpret their feelings. And there are those who do not know or understand that aspect of themselves. What do you do when you feel locked out of every available door? Do you pound on the door hoping someone would open it for you? Do you break it down? Or do you walk away? Sometimes pounding on the door makes us feel better as if we are accomplishing something. It does not necessarily mean we care whether the door opens or not. We are seeking help. If no one is on the other side to open it, we place blame elsewhere. Sometimes breaking the door down makes us feel productive and prove our strength. It does not matter whether the results are beneficial or not. Sometimes walking away makes us feel that we’ve accepted the situation as is. But it may reap regrets.  

In the course of time, one faces disappointments, betrayals, tears, and rejections. These encompass all areas of life such as home, school, work, church. These can be from family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, church folk, and people at large. What do you do when you have so much pain and there is no remedy in sight? Do you continue tampering with your open wounds until infected? Do you ignore the wounds and deny their existence? Or do you nurse the wounds until you’re whole again? Sometimes playing with the wounds cause horrific pain that is lived over and over again every time the wound is tampered with. Sometimes denying the existence of wounds render us emotionally impeded or numb. Sometimes nursing our wounds is hard work for it requires discipline, determination, and tenacity. 

In the course of life, we have to carry burdens. Each of us has to bear his or her own burdens. We may have to carry others’ burdens as well. These can range from spiritual to the physical and includes the emotional and psychological. What do you do when you feel weak or inadequate to carry others burdens; let alone yours? Do you unload all of your burdens and run away? Do you hold the burdens and complain every second of every day? Or do you carry the burden appreciating the fact that your muscles are getting stronger? Sometimes unloading all burdens just delays the inevitable for everyone reaps what he or she sows. Sometimes complaining ensures our burdens to be heavier and intolerable. Sometimes a thankful attitude causes our burdens to be featherlike. 

As you can see, the game of life is full of decisions. Behind every action is a decision. Every action is received with a reaction. Wondering why people are treating you the way they do? Look in the mirror and objectively test your motives. Our motives are the fuel that drives our actions. Some can read your motives better than they can read your actions. Our motives can repel others away and have the potential to attract others to us. You have the choice. You can choose how to treat others and how you allow others to treat you. Not doing anything is also a choice. 

This is the game of life which is here today and can be gone in seconds. What about afterwards? What do you do when there are a lot of religions and theories of the afterlife? Do you deny the existence of the afterlife altogether? Do you randomly pick one or remain believing in the theories of your ancestry? Or do you seek the truth? Sometimes denying the existence of anything in life renders us clueless and foolish.  Sometimes accepting something because of convenience ensures we miss out and will cause regrets. Sometimes seeking the truth is hard work. The knocking on every door to determine whether it is the truth or a deception is exhausting on many levels. 

If you decide to seek the truth, consider Jesus Christ. He said in the book of Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He is not here today and gone tomorrow like many fad religions. He is not positive words to repeat every day to remain positive and have a feel good attitude. He is not a series of actions to appease Him. He does not require harm or bloodshed to befall unbelievers in His name. He is not blind to the happenings of the world. He does not turn a deaf ear to the hurting or the victimized. He is God. He is as alive as you and me. He can hear, see, feel everything happening especially the actions performed in the darkest hour. He knows you better than you know yourself. He tests your heart before your actions. He understands why you act the way you do. He sympathizes with you. He empathizes with you. He loves you even when you do not love yourself. He gently speaks His love to you. Even if the whole world rejects you, He is waiting with open arms. Do you feel unworthy? No one is worthy of His love. Do you feel abandoned by Him? What makes you so sure He was not there for you? Our pain can be so severe that we cannot see the truth. Ask Him to show you the truth. He will. Do you feel like you are the only one experiencing this trauma? You are not. There are many who experienced what you do and can be very supportive of you. Look up. Ask Him for help. He may help you directly. He may send someone to help you. He may have someone pray for you. He may send an article or video that you need. Do you feel alone?  He promised in Matthew 28: latter of 20, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  

Resolutions

We all make New Year’s resolutions. Some want to lose weight and become healthier. Some want to abandon a harmful habit such as smoking. How many people actually keep their resolutions? And for how long? How about you? Are you still committed to your resolutions?

There are three people in the Bible who made special resolutions.  Not much is revealed about these resolutions. The men can be considered great for individualized reasons. They are famous and two can be considered infamous. All of them have had an impact on those around them and their lives impact us nowadays. We can learn many things from their lives and their resolutions.  

“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.” Psalm 17:3 NIV. David determined that his mouth will not sin.  Words have a powerful impact on self and others. In Proverbs 18:21, words bring life or death sooner or later. It delves deeper than mere words. Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” So in order for a person not to trespass with words, the heart has to be pure. If there is a problem with your words, perhaps a little digging in the heart arena will fix the problem. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check,” James 3:2.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way,” Daniel 1:8. He resolved not to eat the king’s food. He regarded God to be greater than the king. He was not afraid of the king for he feared God. God gives us free will. He respects our decisions because of His love for us. If we choose Him above all, He guaranties our victory through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Daniel chose God above all and found favor with many. In certain verses of scripture, God’s word to the soul is like food to the body.  Jeremiah said in 15:16, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” In Psalm 119:103, God’s word is deemed sweeter than honey. Anything we fill our sight, ears, mind, and heart with has the potential of bringing us closer to God or separating us from Him. We need to be selective in every arena of our lives if we want to be an impact in our world. Daniel was selective and impacted his world.

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified,” Paul said in I Corinthians 2:2. He did not want to know the latest news or gossip of the church. He did not use persuasive speech or fancy words. He spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit. We fill our lives with many things that in the end will be useless or a waste of time. We study the Bible and ignore the author and main character. We go to church for specific motives that disclude Jesus Christ. We attend church religiously and live the rest of our time as we please. We serve in churches without the power of the Holy Spirit. We are lying when we sing worship songs. We practice hypocrisy when we act pleasantly to certain people we cannot tolerate. How many times have you told someone you cared when you didn’t? We are stumbling blocks to others and ourselves. We are deceived by thinking we are on the right road when in fact, we are digressing and regressing. The foundation of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul kept that point in front of him during his visits to the Corinthian church. He impacted his world.

Those three men made resolutions and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they kept their commitments. Do know that God loves you and respects all of your decisions; one being following Him or not. Some people do follow at a distance. He is not going to force them to come closer. It is our decision how close we come to God. It is a relationship. If we decide to come closer, He will draw us to Himself. He will reveal more of Himself. No one I know has ever regretted being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Until next time: “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” III John 1:2 NIV

What about love?

What do you do when you are faced with a broken relationship whether marriage, friendship, or any that made you fond of another?  It may be rejection, a misunderstanding, lack of communication, or changes made such as a move of residence. In short, love can break a heart.

We tend to look for answers. We tend to question God. We tend to seek simpler times and ask, “What if …?” But nothing remains the same. Everything changes. Everyone changes. Change can be good so long as it builds up in the long run. Nature changes and adapts to the weather and seasons. A tree in spring looks differently than it does in autumn. Although the leaves dry out and fall, the tree does not die. It is getting ready for the next season of its life. It has deep-seated roots that allow it to remain tall and strong throughout all seasons.  

We are all enamored by love. Do we love the idea of love? Do we love the feelings / emotions associated with love? Do we love how love makes us happy? Do we love how it makes us grow and expand beyond ourselves and selfishness? Or do we hate feeling alone? Do we hate how culture frowns upon the ‘loner’? In short, are we running to or from something / someone because we want to or because we have to?

We are all enamored by love. Some seek it above and beyond anything else. Yet He is very close; just a chat away. We were created out of love; Ephesians 1:4-5. We were redeemed with love; Romans 5:6 and Ephesians 2:4-5. He gave His all because He loves us; John 3:16. Let’s not settle for a counterfeit version and give our love away so cheaply. Let us love for He loved us first; I John 4:19.

I wish for you a valentine who would never disappoint you; someone who will be there when you are in need; someone who would love your tears away; someone who loves you unconditionally. I wish you Jesus Christ. For love can mend a broken heart. 

Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013!

What better way to end one year and start another than with prayer?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for 2012. Thank you for the hardships, persecutions, illnesses, and turmoil. Thank you for the tears, fears, heartaches, and headaches. Thank you for the good for you are good and bestow goodness on all. Thank you for the bad for you always make lemonade out of lemons. You work out everything for those who love you. No experience is a loss for you use all to work out for your purpose. Thank you, Lord, for 2012.

Lord Jesus, you are just awesome. Your love is indescribable. It is unconditional acceptance. The misfit belongs. The popular belongs. Your arms are open wide for everyone. The lonely never feels lonely or alone with you. You turn tears into joy. In your presence, there is peace, love, hope, joy, and comfort. Your healing is complete. You are just wonderful, the great counselor, and mighty God. I adore you, Lord.

Lord, there are many prophesies that 2013 is to be a year of restoration. Amen. Please let it be the year of restoration for everyone’s spiritual, emotional, mental or psychological, and physical health. Please mend broken families and broken hearts. Please draw people to yourself, dear Jesus, so their eyes can see the redemptive work you’ve finished more than two thousand years ago. This redemption provided complete and perfect healing of spirit, soul, and body.

Lord, please forgive your people’s trespasses. You know we are human and fallible. You know how limited and ignorant we really are. Please forgive our humanness and draw us back to you. For everyone who truly repents, please accept him and her with open arms. As you said in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Please listen to our prayers and fulfill your promises in our lives. Set us free from everything that entangles us. Protect us from our own stubbornness, conceit, and ignorance. Heal our spirit, Lord, so we can truly praise you as you deserve. Show us our purpose in life and enable us to live out our purpose. Please do your will in our lives and fulfill your dreams for our lives during our lifetime.

Lord, please heal your people emotionally and psychologically. Please love our hurts away. Enable us to forgive as easily as you forgive us. Renew our minds with your words. Speak to us, Lord. Tell us we are loved and cherished. Tell us that no matter what happens, you will always be with us and never forget us. Take away our insecurities, inferiorities, and everything that separates us from you no matter how daunting it is. You are able to do everything for nothing is impossible with you. Lord, enable us to see the problem in the proper perspective and that you are bigger than any problem. Please set the lonely in families. Take away the negative thoughts and feelings. Please replace sadness, depression, and hopelessness with your joy. You can take the ugly and make it beautiful. Please Lord, restore your people.

Lord, your people are physically ill and some are dying before their purpose on earth is done. Please heal your people of all of their ailments. Kindly do not allow excessive pain or unneeded sufferings to take place.  If there is a need for suffering, please let your grace abound. We do not deserve your mercy, forgiveness, nor healing, but for your name’s sake and for your precious blood’s sake listen to our prayers.  You paid the price of our healing at the cross a long time ago. Thank you.  

We wish to glorify you, Jesus, glorify you alone. You created this earth. You gave us our being. You should be the only one to reign over all of the earth. You should be our only Lord and Savior. So please be glorified for you said that you won’t give your glory to another in Isaiah 42:8. Please be glorified in your people in 2013. Thank you for reading this prayer. Thank you for you. I love you, Lord Jesus.