Thank you all so much.....it is comforting to know that you are lifting me up in prayer.  I do trust that the Lord will heal me.  I just need to keep remembering that.


In Christ,
Monica

Hi everyone. To update you, I have been in the hospital since Tuesday. Was released yesterday. Have a wicked kidney infection and still having trouble with nausea and vomiting. Had an upper GI series done to check for stricture. No stricture was found. They are not sure why the nausea is happening but the fact I have thrown up so much has worsened the dehydration Which made the kidneys worse. Got lots of IV fluids and antibiotics in the hospital and feel a good bit better. Hope to continue to improve now that I'm home. Please continue to pray as the next step will be an IV line for feeding and an endoscopy if I don't start being able to eat and keep it down more. Thank you all for your support and prayer. In Christ, Monica

Hi, Everyone.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 14, 2007. As always, I love to hear how God speaks to you, through His Word and my comments. Have a great weekend.

Flashback Friday Devotion #36 [Word of God, Speak]

     This has been an "emotional" day. I've been rather preoccupied, but I so needed to spend time with the Lord. I had good seasons of prayer, then went to the Word. The 23rd Psalm came to my mind, so I turned to it (even though I know it by heart).
     After reading the 23rd Psalm slowly, out loud, I meditated on it for a time. I just began praising God for His Word, and I said, "Oh, Father, how I love how Your Word nourishes me."
     The moment I said the word "nourishes," I knew that was what the Lord wanted me to focus on today. I didn't think the word "nourish" would be in the Bible (although I found it later), so I looked up "feed" and "fed" in the Concordance.
     I found Hosea 11:4, which says, "I [God] led them with cords of a man, with hands of love, and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; and I bent down and fed them." Oh, my...isn't that beautiful!
     How we are led by the Love of God! How able He is to lift the yoke from us, even "the yoke from [our] jaws"!
     How we are fed by the Hand of the Lord! How we are blessed to "eat" at His table! How He sustains the soul and strengthens the heart! How He nourishes us!
     I know that if I am to lose this weight, I must grow spiritually, to where I am consistently exercising self-control in the area of eating. The key is to be nourished by Christ, through God's Word.
     I found the word "nourished" in I Timothy 4:6. In chapter 4, Paul gives Timothy some warnings, then tells Timothy what he should do and why. "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." I like that... "nourished on the words of faith."
     I know it's not enough just to read the Word. It must get down deep into my heart and soul. I must allow it to renew my mind. Most of all, I must allow it to change me, as I apply it to my life. Jesus said, "...My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work." Can I say the same? I want to be able to say that.
     There's a definite progression, in how one interacts with God's Word:
          Read it.
          Meditate on it.
          Be a "doer" of it.
          Be changed by it.
     I want to WANT the Word more than I want to eat! That's the way to true nourishment.

Today, think about all the ways you are nourished (food, fellowship, feeding on the Word). Which one is the most "filling," for you? If you are hungry (or even starving) to be fed by God and His Word, determine to spend time each day, feeding on the Word. Listen to "Word of God Speak" by MercyMe. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b29d30caa170c0 db0ed3 

Blessings,
Mary

Hi, Everyone.
I love the "Today..." question at the end of this devotion. I'm asking it of myself, too. Let's lift one another up in prayer. Please share how things are going with you. It blesses me to hear from you.

Life Plan Devotion #157 [Miracle Maker]

John 4:46-53 "As He [Jesus] traveled through Galilee, He came to Cana, where He had turned the water into wine [at the marriage supper; His first miracle]. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. Jesus asked, 'Will you never believe in Me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?' The official pleaded, 'Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.' Then Jesus told him, 'Go back home. Your son will live!' And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, 'Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!' Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, 'Your son will live.' And he and his entire household believed in Jesus" [NLT; words in brackets added by author, for clarity and context].

     The government official demonstrated faith in Jesus by humbly asking Him to heal his son. He believed Jesus' word to be true, even though he hadn't yet seen the results. Our faith is expressed in similar ways. We can begin by humbly and honestly seeking God's help. He will help us, even though we may not see immediate results. We can believe that God is working and persevere, even when the results are not immediately evident.

What this has to do with weight loss: You can ask God to partner with you, to help you lose the weight you need to lose and/or exercise regularly, to help you become and stay healthy. It is a process that will take time. Keep believing that God is working, and persevere, no matter what. If you do, in time, you will see great results.

Today, what can you believe God to do for you? Listen to the lead singer of Delirious sing "Miracle Maker." [Note: The song begins after 2 short commercials (sorry). The word you see, in different languages, is the word "holy."]
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=eb8acf80f0355eca382a

Blessings,
Mary

Good Wednesday morning everyone!  Time to rise and shine.  There is a new day on the horizon and it looks like it is going to be beautiful.  I took the dogs out to do their business and felt a little nip of fall in the air.  Felt pretty good too.  I need to let the windows open and feel some of the breeze blow through the house and enjoy the freshness.  I slept SO good.  Blood sugar was only 86 this morning! WOO HOO!!  Lantis is working.

Our challenge for today is to guard our mouths.  Mine has gotten me in to so much trouble.  We say things we shouldn't and say things in haste and then we can't take those words back.  It's like a tube of toothpaste.  You can squeeze all the tooth paste out and it is all over the counter, but then just try to put it back in.  It can't be done.  Our words are the same way.  Once we say them, they are all out there, just lying around and we can't force them back in.  My prayer is that I watch what I say and try not to hurt anyone's feelings.  Do I always do that?  Of course not.  I am human.  But may I always be quick to apologize and repent.  Our actions speak louder than our words, but the words sure do hurt a lot more.  So today, let us guard our mouths in all that we say.

So, who's up?  What cha sippin' on?  I'm enjoying some awesome Vanilla Nut Cookie flavored Coffee.  Sure is good too.  Wanna cup?  I'll share!

Y'all have a wonderful word watching Wednesday!