We need to praise God for the closed doors as much as we do the open ones.
He works ALL things together for our good, according to His perfect plan.
He didn’t say He worked only the good, He said He works it all.
We should praise Him for all things because He works all things for our Good!
The Lord’s got you. He knows what you are going through. Remind yourself of that today!
Friend, it’s so easy to get so upset over the little things. But when we recognize our NEED for Jesus in every little thing, we start to see Him in every little thing & it’s easier to be grateful than hurtful.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for our good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
One change that I have made in my prayer life is starting off my quiet time in thanks for Who our Father is.
Before, I often found myself running to The Lord for things I wanted, I had lost sight on all that The Lord has already done for me.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.”
One thing about me is I am a very busy person. I like to always be doing something and almost enjoy the hustle and bustle lifestyle.
Through this I have found that it is so easy for me to block out the gifts that I have been given every day. If I am not focusing on gratitude in my day to day then I am walking through life taking seconds for granted.
By being thankful, we are drawing near to God. We are recognizing what all God has done for us and all the gifts that He has already been given to us. It is taking the focus away from ourselves and focuses our attention on God.
So this Thanksgiving season I challenge you: start off each prayer with thankfulness and see how this season changes you.
Mama, you can’t fix it. God can fix it. But you can’t.
You can pray.
You can guide.
You can hug and you can hope.
But you can’t fix it.
You know what else you can do?
▪️You can model a lifestyle in which your children see a momma that gives it to God.
▪️You can model a lifestyle in which your children see a momma unfazed by the world.
▪️You can model a lifestyle where your children see that all that matters to their momma is how God views them – not how the world does.
▪️You can model a lifestyle where prayer is your go to – not anything else.
You can.
And I pray that you do.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2
Jesus, thank You. Everything I will ever need is found in you. This time of the year can be stressful for some, while for others it is an exciting time filled with great anticipation for all the holiday festivities to come. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of all the earthly things that we might even forget the source of it all. Today, I want to slow down and focus on the great blessing of Jesus.
When we receive the gift of Jesus, there’s so much to be thankful for. Jesus is the perfect friend that you’ve always craved. He is the greatest Counselor, Teacher, and guiding Shepherd who you can always depend on no matter what your circumstances may be.
Let’s be honest, there are many things happening in this world that can poison our view on life. Because of sin, we can’t always rely on our family and friends. Christians, this is why it is so important to turn your eyes upon Jesus. We have every reason to be thankful when we become fixated on the ultimate Savior. You will never be let down; instead, you will feel the need to share this great news with everyone in your path!
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6
2 Corinthians 4:15 “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
Thankfulness – being conscious of the benefit received.
It’s the month of Thanksgiving. We get a little maudlin as we think back over the year and remember all the things for which we should be thankful. My memories pop up and I see all I have been thankful for over the years. I still love all those “things”, but this year I’m overwhelmed by the benefits I have because of Jesus.
It is all for my sake. The plan from the beginning was for Jesus to die and be raised from the dead for me (and you) to receive the benefit. I’m forgiven and not forsaken. Because of Jesus, God’s wrath no longer burns toward me. I am His child and He works all things to the good. I have a place prepared for me in Heaven. Jesus is the Word and it was left here for me to study. When Jesus ascended He sent the Holy Spirit to be with me, to teach me and to be my Helper. He chooses to use me to reach others. This list can go on and on. I need to be conscious of the benefits. I ALWAYS have a reason to praise.
I wish I could say that with every breath I breathe I am thankful, but I fall way short of that mark. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” His will is where I want to be, so I am going to ask the Helper to keep me on that track. I want to be more diligent to express my thankfulness.
Let’s start together. In the comments leave the attribute of Jesus for which you are most thankful.
My biggest fear – that would be words. It’s a real struggle for me.
At any given point anyone can say anything they want to about you. About your spouse. About your kids. About your friends. About your co-workers. They can just make it up and just say it. I’ve seen it happen so many times with people that I know.
People can create and conspire. They can spew and spit. They can just downright lie. It’s mind blowing to me because it’s not how I think. I can’t fathom just sitting around dreaming up some drama.
No, nothing has happened. I just felt compelled to share this weakness of mine with you. Maybe someone else struggles with this same irrational fear and maybe just maybe by me sharing how I feel – it will make you feel a little less crazy. I hope so.
So I will say it again – words scare me.
And I know that I know that I know that God has His people. I know that truth always wins. I know that that no weapon will prosper. Right? But I’m human.
The ironic thing about this whole situation is that words are also like my favorite thing in the world. I love words. I love writing them. I love reading them. I love digging deep into the meaning of them. And my husband may say that I use too many of them. 🤩
And like with everything else in this ol’ world – it’s all about the use.
So, how will we use our words today? Tomorrow? Next week? I hope we will use them kindly, lovingly, to build one another up, and to spread the love of Jesus.
“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Isaiah 54:17
My breast cancer journey is part of a larger spiritual journey that began when I was young. I grew up in a time when churches did not live up to the commandment to love one another. I decided that my profession of faith would be with service not words. I wanted to live my faith.
When Gabe was old enough to start school, I was led to the Montessori method of teaching. Part of our training was to read the New Testament and note Jesus’s words about children. This spiritual approach to teaching offered an outlet for my belief that the best way to follow Jesus was through teaching. Jesus admonished us to love and care for each other. What a gift to take into the teaching profession!
When the decision to follow this ideal is made, the gifts of love, compassion, and patience follow sometimes slowly! Beautifully, others who are dedicated to making His love the center of their lives begin to build a community. At MD Anderson I found medical professionals who had decided to turn their lives over to this power of love and healing. They support their patients with hope and compassion. They have trained for years to help people when they are fighting for their lives. This healing community became my happy place. Next my friends and family who decided to upend their usual life to love and support me were putting their faith and beliefs into action. My WISD family offered support that defies understanding. Their service to me guided by their faith carried me financially, physically, and spiritually. Their prayers transformed my intense personality to PEACE. The churches in the area who prayed for me wrapped me in a chrysalis of love and peace.
This experience could have been shattering. With the community of His love, I emerged with a deeper understanding of the power of this love. If we can learn with the same love, forgiveness, and compassion Jesus modeled for us, all things are possible.
P.S. My child and grandchild were secure and happy during this time. I didn’t have the same worries as my younger friends who had to worry about who would care for their children. Their journey was far more intense.
The other day my big sister had to bring me down a notch.
Hashtag humbled – you know what I mean?
I’m glad. That’s what big sisters are for. That’s what someone who truly cares about your well-being is for.
That’s like Jesus.
Now, am I gonna give you the nitty gritty private details of what went down? Nope. Well, maybe if I see you on a daily basis and you just really want to know the tea.
Here’s the deal sweet friends, let people put you in your place. Let them be real and raw and honest. Let them be genuine. She wasn’t rude. She wasn’t ugly or mean – she was love in its truest form. She was my sister. And she was right.
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15
You have breast cancer… I have participated in breast cancer awareness events many times, but had no clue what I really needed to be aware of! In 2012, God was about to show me. My ministry was about to expand to waiting rooms, standing in line, waiting for an elevator…to people from all over the world looking for hope and healing.
In June, I had my annual “female” exam with Pap and Mammogram. I never had bad results before, but both came back abnormal. The doctor promptly removed the bad cells on my cervix. I showed him how my right breast dimpled (a sign of cancer) when I raised my arm. The doctor said he would redo the mammogram in six months (January).
I became very familiar with my small breasts, examining them for lumps. (It didn’t take me long.) In September, I called my doctor when I could feel something I described as being the shape of a small grub worm under my right nipple where the dimple was. The doctor ordered an ultrasound, during which the radiologist called the doctor to order a biopsy. The biopsy was scheduled and performed on October 1.
“You have breast cancer“, the nurse told me on October 4. She said I needed to see the doctor to discuss my treatment plan and to bring my husband. I immediately went cold and numb. I was in disbelief. What would be next?
Have you ever felt that way? It doesn’t have to be a cancer diagnosis, but something happens that you are just left stunned? What is next? What am I supposed to do? I think this was how God guarded my heart and mind and helped me cope with news at first.
During the doctor visit, he said my breast cancer was the best kind to have because it is very treatable. We disagreed on where I should receive treatment and argued pros and cons. I ended up at MD Anderson where I wanted and was re-screened.
The cancer was Stage IIIc, because it had spread outside the milk ducts to both my underarm and neck lymph nodes. My oncologist said it would not have been good if I had waited until January. She discovered I have the BRCA2 gene mutation, which increases risk of breast and ovarian cancers. She wanted to start chemotherapy ASAP.
However, more tests revealed a tumor in my right kidney. The urologist said 85% of those are malignant. So, we prayed for me to be in the 15%. On Thanksgiving eve, Joy called me from MD Anderson saying I could start chemotherapy the next week. The kidney tumor was benign! God is so good!
God cares for the little stuff, too. My son was graduating from the university exactly three weeks after my first treatment. I just wanted my hair for the ceremony. My hair started falling out the day after!
Is dying the worst thing that could happen to me? That is a hard question for some. For me, physical suffering would be bad! Since I am a child of God, death is the fulfillment of His promise that I will be with Him and live for eternity. I just hope I sing better in heaven!
While I am alive, I will tell anyone about my Jesus! God has expanded my ministry to anywhere my foot carries me. He can and continues to use my life events like surviving breast cancer, losing a kidney, showing off my grandbaby, getting burned, or losing my job for His glory!
John 16 shows me Jesus’ love and concern for His disciples before He dies on the cross. Jesus talks about when they scatter, He will be alone, but God is with Him. He said this for their peace of mind. He also tells them they will experience trouble, tribulation, and suffering in the world, but to be courageous because He has overcome or conquered the world.
Isn’t it something how Jesus is telling them to be courageous right before He suffers and dies??? I know I am never alone because the Holy Spirit lives within me. God gave me such peace and purpose through this scripture and others.
I have no problem letting everyone know to be familiar with your “Bobs” and if you feel or see lumps, bumps or wrinkles where they ought not be, TELL YOUR DOCTOR and insist on getting it checked out.
Praise God with a smile on your face. I can always find someone worse off that needs hope and healing.
James 5:14-15 1 Peter 5:7 Philippians 4:6-13 James 1:2-4 John 16:16-33 Romans 8:18-28 Jeremiah 29:11-13
I’ll never forget that moment — walking into the grocery store with my sweet momma. I was 17 years old, and she was 42. The Walmart employee stood in the door, “Hello, how are you?” My mom replied, “I’m doing well. How are you?” Like she always did. The thing that was different about this time is that I knew she really wasn’t “well” in that moment. It would be simple to say her life was falling apart. Yet, she held it together.
A week prior to this moment she received the phone call that yes, she indeed did have breast cancer. With five children depending on her, a loving husband, and being the glue to our family, many would agree she could have said, “I’m not good. My life is perhaps crumbling.” Yet, she replied “I’m well. How are you?”
It was in this moment that I learned how differently everyone copes. But most importantly – people face private battles daily that we just don’t have any idea about. Treat them with grace. Treat them with love. They may have just received the worst news of their life. Jesus walked with people, and we should walk with them too.
I remember just getting home from school – I was wrapping up my junior year when my mom came into my bedroom to tell me the news. Through her words she promoted comfort and faith. That’s when it hit me – everything was going to be okay. If she can be strong, I can be strong. I firmly believe this set the mood of this season for her.
⁃ It’s how we decide to fight.
⁃ It’s how we decide to take on each day even when our world is crashing down.
⁃ It’s if we decide to trust where the Lord has us in this moment. Even when we are unaware of tomorrow.
She decided from the day she received the phone call that she was going to fight. She decided she was going to trust in the only one who knows the journey.
The Gospel is not only the greatest love story, but the greatest story of restoration, forgiveness, and hope. Hebrews 6:19 shares with us, “We have this hope that is an anchor for the soul. It is firm, and secure.”
I am thankful for the hope of the cross. Life hurts. This world is not meant to be beautiful. Cling to the Gospel. Cling to the hope – even when the storms of this world come.
Today my mom is healthy and able to be the very best Momma, Wife, and Grandma. She didn’t know what the road looked like for her. None of us know what’s ahead of us. She did know that she was going to cling to the hope of the cross. Her story is powerful because she could have given up. She could have used it to make her weak, but she didn’t. It built her faith, hope, and trust in the Lord.
Lastly, I am thankful that my mom scheduled regular mammogram checks. It might have saved her life, and it could save yours, too.
Rays of Sunshine inc 