Joy is a symptom of the heart. They say love is a decision we make and I believe that. We can't live by feelings of passionate love in our marriages year in and year out. So, yes, it is a decision we make. But joy isn't something we decide to have.
It's like when a baby laughs and her whole face carries the joke, as if she doesn't know what else to do with her smile. It has to erupt through her face because her heart is laughing.
That kind of joy doesn't come easily. It's not as simple as a choice. It is part of me.
It comes with the hard work spent devoting a heart in submission to God. It comes with the discipline of waking up each morning and handing over a selfish life to a God who desires selflessness. Joy like this is a symptom, an overflowing of a heart that walks in close intimacy with a Creator.
I have to be honest and say that I don't have that kind of joy everyday. But I remember what it feels like. I remember what the smile tastes like on my lips and I remember what made my heart leap.
I can choose joy for right now, but to have it in a lasting way I must mend my heart.
Joy comes from...
A heart that is solid.
A heart that is directed toward heaven and not earth.
A heart that seeks the best from each day.
Joy can be a choice. But the best joy is the symptom of a heart that's full of it.
This kind of "joy" remains in your heart even when the doctor tells you about the tumor on your brain. Or forgets to tell that it is a type III anaplastic meningioma with properties of carcinoma. It certainly is God that puts it in your heart and it is up to us to keep our hearts so full of HIM that it remains there!
So, today I choose to keep my heart full of thoughts of God and the Word. My body is tired and His Word says: The JOY of the Lord is my STRENGTH. I ask the Lord to infuse my entire body with His joy and strength, because when I try to walk in my own strength I get tired real quick!
Have a great day....
Wednesday, August 25
Reminders From God Strength For the Journey: Day Reminders From God Day 236 "Know this. From the moment you placed all in My Hands and sought no other aid, I have taken the quickest way possible to work out your salvation."
Today I went to the oncologist. In a previous post I indicated that the biopsy of the tumor removed in February of this year was returned with a bad report. It was a very mixed report from two labs. They did get a second opinion and were very thorough. The specialist explained it to JT and I today. She gave me her book, "100 Questions & Answers About Brain Tumors". It looks very well written, and she does have faith in God!
Praise report is that they did get all of the tumor which we knew already. She confirmed I don't have to do radiation or Chemo-therapy! However, she does want me to get the MRI scan in three months instead of six months and recommends this for at least a year after the completion of surgery. She also wants me to get a complete spinal column scan: (brain) cervical, upper, and lower spine. She said that the meneges doesn't just cover the brain it also covers the spine and she wants a "base" MRI of the spine to make sure there are no tumors anywhere else. Evidently these tumors can be very aggressive and numerous throughout the body.
I don't agree with this report happening in my body. In the Name of Jesus, I walk totally free of tumors of any kind! However, I will submit to the scan so there will be that "base" for the doctor to have for her records. Their office will set the time up at Presbyterian Hospital the end of October then we made an appointment at her office the first week of November. J.T. and I both really liked her. Very intelligent and has lots of answers to your questions.
Before leaving her office I not only had her book, but another book "Curveball, When Life Throws you a Brain Tumor" by Liz Holzemer. This lady is married to Mark Holzemer a major league baseball pitcher. She had a meningioma, too. Plus, seizures and issues getting pregnant. She had two brain surgeries. This is her story and it will be interesting to read. The tumor was as big as a baseball! I will be looking into this support group of hers online: Meniningioma Mommas. Interesting name! Have a blessed day...
Praise report is that they did get all of the tumor which we knew already. She confirmed I don't have to do radiation or Chemo-therapy! However, she does want me to get the MRI scan in three months instead of six months and recommends this for at least a year after the completion of surgery. She also wants me to get a complete spinal column scan: (brain) cervical, upper, and lower spine. She said that the meneges doesn't just cover the brain it also covers the spine and she wants a "base" MRI of the spine to make sure there are no tumors anywhere else. Evidently these tumors can be very aggressive and numerous throughout the body.
I don't agree with this report happening in my body. In the Name of Jesus, I walk totally free of tumors of any kind! However, I will submit to the scan so there will be that "base" for the doctor to have for her records. Their office will set the time up at Presbyterian Hospital the end of October then we made an appointment at her office the first week of November. J.T. and I both really liked her. Very intelligent and has lots of answers to your questions.
Before leaving her office I not only had her book, but another book "Curveball, When Life Throws you a Brain Tumor" by Liz Holzemer. This lady is married to Mark Holzemer a major league baseball pitcher. She had a meningioma, too. Plus, seizures and issues getting pregnant. She had two brain surgeries. This is her story and it will be interesting to read. The tumor was as big as a baseball! I will be looking into this support group of hers online: Meniningioma Mommas. Interesting name! Have a blessed day...
Sunday, August 22
" But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me." Ps.3:3 NET
Praise God! He shields, protects, & restores me! Wow, what more can we ask of Him? He is a God of more than enough! Remember that our warfare is in the spiritual realm and not the physical. (Ephesians 6:12 & II Corinthians 10:4-5) He provides us with everything we need to fight the "good fight" of faith! It is a fight, but it is a "good" fight. In other words, we win through Jesus.
I can remember teaching the "Armor of God" song to my kids and in Children's Church. Does anyone else remember it?
Then you would repeat it faster & faster going through the motions. The kids loved it, and it was a way to teach them the Armor of God! It is the way I still remember it today. We can do this with JOY!
Ephesians 6:18 says to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests and to be alert. We must be alert to fight a good fight. God promises to protect, shield, and restore me. I must do my part.
I believe God wants me to put on the His armor for protection against the lies of the enemy. Knowing who you are in Christ Jesus is very important for every believer to know. If we don't know this the enemy can come in and lie to us and defeat us in our minds. Producing hopelessness and despair. Thus, the "helmet of Salvation" protects our minds!
We are the Righteous of God through Christ Jesus. Our own righteous is as filthy rags. So, we have the breastplate. We "stand" on the Word of God. And having done all we know to do.... stand!
In God's Word we can find everything pertaining to Life and Godliness. Through His Spirit it will be made real to us or alive. I am so excited that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are both at work in my heart and life today! And I am praying that everyone that reads this will have that experience also. Be blessed in your walk with Him. Praying that He is first priority in your life!
I can remember teaching the "Armor of God" song to my kids and in Children's Church. Does anyone else remember it?
"Standing on the Word -(You would jump & put your feet on the ground)
Doing what I heard -(put your hand to your ear)
Praying in the Spirit- (put your hands in prayer position)
I have the Helmet of Salvation -(put the helmet on your head)
The Righteous Breastplate -(put it on your chest using hands)
The Garment of Praise -(raise your hands to praise)
The Spirit of Truth -(put on the belt)
I've got the Sword of the Spirit (Hold out the right hand like a Sword fighter!)
And my Gospel feet are shod -(do a dance with your feet!)
I'm standing on the Word of God - Oh, Hallelujah!" (Waving your hands in the air in praise)
Then you would repeat it faster & faster going through the motions. The kids loved it, and it was a way to teach them the Armor of God! It is the way I still remember it today. We can do this with JOY!
Ephesians 6:18 says to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests and to be alert. We must be alert to fight a good fight. God promises to protect, shield, and restore me. I must do my part.
I believe God wants me to put on the His armor for protection against the lies of the enemy. Knowing who you are in Christ Jesus is very important for every believer to know. If we don't know this the enemy can come in and lie to us and defeat us in our minds. Producing hopelessness and despair. Thus, the "helmet of Salvation" protects our minds!
We are the Righteous of God through Christ Jesus. Our own righteous is as filthy rags. So, we have the breastplate. We "stand" on the Word of God. And having done all we know to do.... stand!
In God's Word we can find everything pertaining to Life and Godliness. Through His Spirit it will be made real to us or alive. I am so excited that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are both at work in my heart and life today! And I am praying that everyone that reads this will have that experience also. Be blessed in your walk with Him. Praying that He is first priority in your life!
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:7
For the past six months I have been confessing the tumor taken out was a benign meningioma. As it turns out, it was an aggressive type II tumor about the size of ping pong ball. My neuro-surgeon got all of it out on February 5th of this year. There were no post-operative complications, and I was out of the hospital very quickly. The doctor told me he got all of it and it looked good. To come back and see him in six months. Praise the Lord!
So, I got another MRI and made an appointment to see him 6 mos later on August the 5, 2010. Imagine my surprise when he came in soberly saying, "I never quite know how to handle these type of tumors." I interrupted him and inquired as to what he was talking about he went on to explain about the results of the biopsy report. I had not been called back in February, but the results were a rare 2% Type III tumor with properties resembling carcinoma. The report said..'anaplastic meningioma'. Needless to say, I was in shock. Didn't really have much to say at the time. The doctor did say that the MRI results showed no more tumors and no residual tumor from the one removed. This is very good since he had told me these were very aggressive tumors and could grow back. (I didn't receive that at the time & still don't in the Name of Jesus!) There are no cancerous tumors in my brain from the new MRI. BUT he wants a 2nd opinion from an oncologist about whether we should do radiation therapy follow-up. One that specializes in brain tumors.
So, those are the medical facts thus far. BUT GOD says:"By His stripes I am healed" in I Peter 2:24 & Isaiah 53:4. He has a plan for my life to give me hope and a future Jeremiah says. He wishes me to be in health even as my soul (mind, will and emotions) prospers in III John 1:2.
Finally, "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your thoughts and minds in Christ Jesus." We have to let go all the knowledge/understanding the doctors give us & guard what goes into our minds and let the PEACE that transcends all that enter in it.
On another note I just want to say that I wasn't happy that I didn't know about that report for 6 months! Ignorance is not bliss! I got a copy of that biopsy report and "googled" a lot of the words in it so I would KNOW what the "properties" of that tumor was!
BUT you know what? The NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE EVERY NAME THAT WAS NAMED IN THAT REPORT! It came down to this: What report are you going to believe? The Word of God? OR The word of man? I choose the Word of God!! Amen, So Be It!
I have an appointment for the oncologist. We will counsel with doctors. But I will ultimately do what our Great Physician tells me to do! So, Blessed be God I am healed!
So, I got another MRI and made an appointment to see him 6 mos later on August the 5, 2010. Imagine my surprise when he came in soberly saying, "I never quite know how to handle these type of tumors." I interrupted him and inquired as to what he was talking about he went on to explain about the results of the biopsy report. I had not been called back in February, but the results were a rare 2% Type III tumor with properties resembling carcinoma. The report said..'anaplastic meningioma'. Needless to say, I was in shock. Didn't really have much to say at the time. The doctor did say that the MRI results showed no more tumors and no residual tumor from the one removed. This is very good since he had told me these were very aggressive tumors and could grow back. (I didn't receive that at the time & still don't in the Name of Jesus!) There are no cancerous tumors in my brain from the new MRI. BUT he wants a 2nd opinion from an oncologist about whether we should do radiation therapy follow-up. One that specializes in brain tumors.
So, those are the medical facts thus far. BUT GOD says:"By His stripes I am healed" in I Peter 2:24 & Isaiah 53:4. He has a plan for my life to give me hope and a future Jeremiah says. He wishes me to be in health even as my soul (mind, will and emotions) prospers in III John 1:2.
Finally, "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your thoughts and minds in Christ Jesus." We have to let go all the knowledge/understanding the doctors give us & guard what goes into our minds and let the PEACE that transcends all that enter in it.
On another note I just want to say that I wasn't happy that I didn't know about that report for 6 months! Ignorance is not bliss! I got a copy of that biopsy report and "googled" a lot of the words in it so I would KNOW what the "properties" of that tumor was!
BUT you know what? The NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE EVERY NAME THAT WAS NAMED IN THAT REPORT! It came down to this: What report are you going to believe? The Word of God? OR The word of man? I choose the Word of God!! Amen, So Be It!
I have an appointment for the oncologist. We will counsel with doctors. But I will ultimately do what our Great Physician tells me to do! So, Blessed be God I am healed!
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