Pride

Why is it so hard to ask for help? Today I was dealing with severe dizziness and slow reflexes. Not a good thing to have when driving. So it was obvious to me that I could not drive. But I had a very important follow up doctor appointment that I needed to go to. What do I do? Is it even possible to ask for help?

I know it sounds silly but I think that me having to ask for help just makes me feel more disabled than I actually am. It seems like I am accepting something that I don't want to need. I have to resign to the fact that I need help. I need someone else. I cannot stay independent. It is uncomfortable to know you need someone. Maybe it is just me and my great immaturity. But it is the lesson I am slowly learning.

God made us for community and to need one another. I am very happy to be the one to help others out. Maybe because there is something good that comes with that. Maybe it feels good to help but not good when you need that in return. It humbles you.

I know in my life the problem boils down to pride. I have always been more of an independent type. For years thought that was a good thing. But it is not. God did not make us to operate as lone rangers. He made us to operate in community. We need one another. We need to be okay with asking one another for help. Yet it is still a struggle for me.

I hate it when this illness hits. I hate it desperately. These days I cannot go into denial about it anymore it has become too strong. But I am learning to lean on God. Learning to lean on others. Learning to be a person who can be free enough to ask others for help. To know my limitations and operate accordingly.

Words Not So Encouraging

Today I got a comment regarding this old post - A Letter to Satan inspired by Believing God

It came from someone who has a private blog and all I got was their first name Crystal. The comment read this way:

"How sad. This truely brings me to tears. So many lost souls who are blind.........As the tears roll down my face I know that you will never truly understand. Blind faith can never set you free. I love the TRUE father and creator."

So to this I say I guess I feel the same about you. I am sorry that you do not know the true Father. I have found true freedom as a gift from Him. I am lifting prayers that He will make Himself known to you. He loves you deeply. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life - the only way to the Father is through Him. May He draw you to Himself today. If you would like to talk about it please email me.

Ministered to My Soul Today

Enduring a hard health trial today. I so wish they could give this a name but then again I am not so sure. God knows and I am in His hands alone. He is the one I can trust and lean on.

Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris

I received a copy of this book free of charge from WaterBrook Multnomah for the purpose of review.

Start Here is a great book for young people to read and be encouraged that they are never too young to do great things for God. Alex and Brett Harris are really neat guys who share stories of youth who have made a difference for the glory of God. Inspiring stories in this book will make your heart desire to do what God has called you to do. Whether small or big things, each thing God is preparing you for the next.

This book is a really easy read too which is a bonus. I read 3/4 of this book while waiting for a doctor's appointment. Love that about it! There are great discussion questions in the back so that a group can work through it together which I would suggest. When you work with a group you can accomplish more and they can help you find your purpose. AND we all need encouragement from others. This book is available for purchase on the 16th of March.

To get a copy of this book from the publisher go here.
*To get a copy from Christian book go here.

*Disclosure:If you purchase a book from this link, I will get a commission.

Vanity

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

I never realized how incredibly vain I am. I am not one to focus on appearance all that much so I thought that I had this one down! However, as I developed this incredibly ugly staph infection all around the bottom of my chin I find myself wanting to hid.

I have gone out with it a few times and people have not run and hide but I feel like I can see it in their eyes. They are staring at it. Or maybe looking away because it is hideous. Or rather maybe that is just in my head. No one laughed at me or refused to help me because of it. Maybe in my head I make it a bigger deal than what it really is.

The fact is that beauty is fleeting. Anytime it can go away even unexpectedly. That is why we can never put our hope in beauty. Our hope must be in the thing that lasts and never changes. The only thing like that is God. He is so amazingly wonderful. His praise worthy description of a woman is not the most beautiful or charming. He praises the woman who fears Him. And in fear that means to be in awe of our Maker not a cowering fear. A fear where we can stand before Him though He could crush us he chooses to love us everlasting. Now that is my God!

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." Psalm 45:11

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

So, I will hold my head up and walk this thing out. I cannot promise I won't hid some though as I work it through. Hopefully it will go away soon. I praise Him for revealing the vanity that remains in my heart. Lord, please remove it and help me stay focused on the things that do matter. Thank You Lord for being enthralled by me even in this condition and help me to cultivate the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

YIKES!

This has been a really hard week. I really feel like this picture. On this day, I found out that the person who rear ended us last month claimed to have insurance but actually didn't. Even though he showed me a card and everything. Good thing we have coverage to cover that too. If you need a great insurance company Erie insurance gets props here. They have always taken care of us.

But the principle of the matter still stands. The driver was dishonest. It makes me boil. He seemed honest enough AND I felt bad for him. Now I feel like the police officer who came out of nowhere to help us was for our great protection. If he didn't make a record of these events it would be hard to prove they even happened!

Next, I found out I have a bad staph infection. Waiting a few days to find out specifically what kind. Since I battle an unknown autoimmune illness this is not good news. Praying I can fight it and the antibiotics will help. Unfortunately now I have to sacrifice something I love doing because of it. It feels like a death. I have to trust the trade of health will be worth it though.

Life is hard. How we respond is important. We may feel like this kid looks on the outside but we can give that to God and bring it under control of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help me to continue to do that.

The Gospels Continued

I am continuing on my journey of studying the gospels. Each has its own unique voice. I love how the Holy Spirit does that in His inspirations. I have read through Matthew, Mark, and John. I am now in Luke. I am feeling closer to Jesus. I like to imagine myself there with Him. I wonder what my thoughts and attitudes would have been if I were there. Would I believe? Would I just follow Him because He was a celebrity? Would I follow Him for what He could do for me? Would I leave when it got too hard?

I ponder these things. I suppose it would be much the same as it is today. I am following Him yet I cannot see Him. I follow by faith alone yet I know He lives and is very real to me. Maybe not how it was then when they could see Him with their eyes but He is real all the same. I am blessed to have His Spirit live in me to lead and guide me. It is an amazing thing.

Found Art by Leeana Tankersly - Book Review

I received a copy of this book free of charge for the purpose of review.

This book intrigued me so much that the day I picked it up was the day I finished it. Leeana Tankersley has a unique life story which includes finding God and herself while living in the middle east. Maybe because of my interest in the middle east is why I found this book so intriguing. Or maybe it was simply because I enjoyed reading the author's story about how our life is a masterpiece collaged from lots of different things that make a masterpiece. I loved how she incorporated seeing God in the everyday things. That is so much like our life's journey.

I really enjoyed this book. Our life is a masterpiece in progress. What is your life looking like right now? Whatever the picture that is presenting itself now is not the final project. The final project will be one of beauty no matter what we see at the moment.

From time to time because of my great interest in a book I will do a give away. I want to do that with this one. Just leave a comment about what your masterpiece is looking like and you are entered to win a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book from Amazon go here.
To purchase a copy from the discounted store Book Christian go here.
To visit the author's webpage go here.

*Clicking on and purchasing from Book Christian allows me to get a small commission.

Get Revived Conference - A Woman Inspired

So save the date! March 15th-19th. This is a great conference indeed. And the speaker line up is phenomenal! To get a ticket or see the speaker line up go here.

Mother Daughter Duet by Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

First I need to be clear. The subtitle to this book is, Getting to the Relationship You Want With Your Adult Daughter. I do not have an adult daughter so my review may be a bit off from someone who actually has an adult daughter.

With that said, I did find the information and insight in this book to be interesting. I am an adult daughter to my mom and have two young daughters of my own. I desire a beautiful friendship with my own mom and with my daughters as they grow into young women. So the content in the book was applicable to my life. I especially appreciate the sections that Ali Plum wrote as the adult daughter. It helped me get some insight into how I relate to my own mother.

The authors have an interesting testimony and life story. They have come through many tough things together like most of us do in life. They have learned how to depend on God through these things and come through them enjoying one another. Like any relationship this takes hard work and intentionality. There are some practical tips in this book as how to work these things out in the unique relationship of mother/daughter.

To purchase a copy of this book from the publisher go here.
To purchase a copy from discounted books Christian go here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review - Dancing with My Father by Sally Clarkson

This book was provided to me at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of review.

Sally Clarkson did a fabulous job with this book! I just love how God places the things that we most need in our laps at the proper times. I have been having discussions with friends about biblical joy and how does that practically look in the everyday mundane? In trials? What is it suppose to look like? Well these questions are answered in this book!

The subtitle of the book is, How God leads Us into a Life of Grace and Joy." I think that sums it up. Through practical life examples and biblical wisdom the process is laid out well. It is like a dance with our Father. As we follow His lead and stay in step with Him, He teaches us true and everlasting joy no matter our circumstances. Great stuff. If you are on a quest for living with joy through all your days then pick this book up. You will not regret it.

To purchase the book from the publisher go here.
To purchase the book from the discounted store Books Christian go here.



Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

No Answers Still.....

So the MRI and second opinion came back with no answers really just the same ole thing. It is confirmed that I have a brain. :) And the scan is perfectly normal. That is a great relief and praise. However, it still leaves things unanswered. The opinion is that nothing can be ruled out yet we just have to continue to walk this out and wait. Keeping an eye on the brain for changes.

So, how do you wait? We want fast food, fast cars, immediate answers in this world. How does it look to truly wait? I have been on this waiting journey for twelve years now and this is my conclusion. Waiting is only rooted in trusting in the sovereignty of God. To trust with no answers takes faith. It is not an easy or natural thing at all. As I submit and God draws more and more of myself under the control of the Holy Spirit I become more accepting and patient in the wait.

I used to think I had rights in my health. Better said, it was my God-given right to have good health. Well, that is not true. I must accept what my circumstances are until God decides to change them. I surrender my rights to Him. As I wait I will treat this temple of mine well. I will put good stuff in it and give it exercise. I will do the things I can do while I wait for anything different. The truth that I continue to rest in is:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Marriage Monday - Prayer in Marriage

I have to tell you that prayer saved our marriage. When I married my husband I was a believer but severely immature and malnourished. On the outside we looked the same but I had the Holy Spirit in me and he did not. How do I know this? In our sin I was miserable but he was not. That does not make a good pair and started us out on a rocky place. It is only by God's grace and prayer that our marriage is in tact and praise His name, thriving.

God began working in my heart and showing me where I needed to start living for Him. Through books like, The Power of a Praying Wife and strong believers I was finally growing and starting to look more like Jesus.

I first started to nag at my husband about the things I wanted changed. I would pout, plead, nag, beg, yell, scream, manipulate, and throw tantrums. As you can imagine this did not work. It is a wonder we survived. As God started showing me where my heart needed to change I slowly submitted to Him. I started to slowly entrust my husband to Him. I started to take things to prayer and nag less. God started changing things. Slowly but changes were happening many of which had to start first within my own heart.

God used this change as His word talks about in 1 Peter 3 to have my husband start to take notice. He then realized that he did not know the Lord and he desired to know Him the way I knew Him. God allowed us to pray together for my man to receive the Lord. That was a precious thing and a gift of grace.

That was almost ten years ago. I am humbled to say my man is the leader of our home and a godly man. He is a great example of God's unconditional love to me. I praise God for all he has done. Most all of it I know was accomplished through prayer, if not all. Prayer is the ground work that changes things. It moves mountains. Prayer saved our marriage and I am so thankful to God for that precious gift.

To see what others are saying about prayer and marriage or join in go here.