Breast cancer awareness

Cancer not only affects those who have it but those around them. October is breast cancer awareness month. Let's support them in our prayers as well all those affected by this disease.

The other day when I was having a "bad bone" day I call them. My  bone cancer was getting the best of me I was having a hard time grocery shopping. The gallon of milk I wanted to buy weighed more than what the label said it did. After asking for help from a man who was standing in line to lift it up on the counter for me I gave him a tip afterwards. The tip was, "Don't get cancer it sucks."

He smiled at me and told me he had no intention of getting it. I told him that was a good idea. After leaving the store I got to smiling at the fact that the young man probably would have preferred a dollar or two dollar tip instead of the one I gave him. However, what I had to say was a good tip. The thing about it is the fact that not too many people "Intend" to get cancer. I know it wasn't on my agenda. I'm sure its not on the agenda even of a person who smokes to get lung cancer.

The thing about it is, it comes and we need to be aware of it. We need to be strong enough to withstand the pressure, emotions, burdens, and hardship it creates. God's strength is what helps me to face it day to day. It is because of His love for me that I'm able to hang on. Having a support group around me that could fill a football stadium helps as well. I'm so thankful I'm not alone. It's important that we get that message out to anyone affected by this disease whether its breast, prostate, lung, brain, or whatever kind of cancer. With God and the help of each other we can survive emotionally and spiritually. Whether our bodies survive as long as we would like them to is a totally different thing.

I love the story in the Bible about Moses and the battle the Israelites had to fight in Exodus 17:11,12 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." The end result was they won the fight.

We need to do that with those affected by cancer, the one with it as well as those who are caring for that person. We need to prop up their hands when they grow weary until the battle is won. The one tiny detail about Moses' victory was what he held in his hand. In his hand was the rod of God. In our hands and hearts needs to be the word of God, His written promises to hold on to, His guidance to direct us, and His love to comfort us.

In love W.I.T.H. Jesus,

Karen

Continuing to Pray

In my previous entry at first I didn't make it very clear who suffered from the seizure disorder my niece or my sister. It is my niece Stephanie. In her own way my sister suffers from it too as she cares for her daughter.  It's difficult to stand by and see your child suffer so much. Its a tremendous feeling of helplessness. It's been a long and hard journey for the both of them. When I had epilepsy my husband was my caregiver. It was just as hard on him as it was me. It took only twelve years to get thru it but we made it thru together. Unfortunately twenty years later came another journey, one marked by my breast and bone cancer.

Just the same, we should never fall into the trap of trying to figure out who is it harder on the one with the disease or the one caring for them. Both parties are in need of equal prayer and strength.  Both have vital parts to play in the success or failure of the journey they travel together.

So for both my niece and sister I pray that together God will carry them thru in their journey forward towards Him and the plans He has for them in their lives.

Luv always,

          Karen, sister and aunt

Praying for Others

Tonight I set aside my own needs as I lift before God my niece Stephanie and my sister Juli. Fighting seizures most of her life my niece's journey goes on. Hoping for an end to the uncontrolled seizures she's been having the end has been temporarily postponed. Burdened with disappointment yet filled with anticipation as well for the future I pray for both of them tonight that God will comfort their weary souls and renew their strength that they will both wake up afresh and ready to face a new day.

It's been a long journey for the both of you and I just wanted you to know that I continue to travel beside you. Me and all your many other cheerleader prayer warriors lifting you up in prayer and spirit. Stay strong, keep moving forward, and exercise your faith and trust in God knowing He will never leave you nor forsake you.

These prayer candles in this picture tonight I lite for the two of you. As I kneel upon my prayer pillow my heart and love goes out to you. The best I can say and demonstarte is that you will trust in the Lord with all your hearts and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

The road continues and so does God's love for you and my love for you too.

Luv,

Karen, sister and aunt

Daily Disciplines

As I work on my daily disciplines I find myself making progress in some areas and still faltering in other areas. This means I should give up, right? Wrong! We are way to willing to “throw in the towel” and quit at the first sign of trouble, difficulty, hard work, and tough decisions.

We need to be encouraging one another to go on, to move forward and not let the things in life stop them from achieving what they want to achieve. As I think of our granddaughter graduating from 8^th grade she, like everyone else is going to need to have that ability to stand up and face life head on and not be stopped by it.

She needs to know like everyone else that we will succeed in some areas that come easy to and stumble in other situations that come with great difficulty and pain. Either way it doesn’t matter, the instructions are the same. We need to keep moving forward and the best way to do that is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What He has to offer us goes beyond what we see on earth, it takes us into eternity where we fall alive into the mansions He is currently preparing for us. John 14:2,3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Today as I drop to my knees in prayer one more time my point of pray for my granddaughter, myself, and all my “All UDDERS” as I call them is this, “Lord God I pray this day that each and every one of us will walk worthy of you Lord, not as fools but as wise redeeming the time, because the days are evil as we understand what Your will is Lord and seek it. For every stride forward we take may we do so to Your glory Lord God as our actions draw us closer and closer to the You and the goals needed to succeed in walking worthy. Guide us on this path, show us where we need to go, forgive us when we fall short, be patient with us as we get back up on our feet and try again.

Praise you for allowing us access to Your throne thru the shed blood of Jesus Christ that opens a door that once was closed. Thank you for Your love. Praise you for Your wisdom. We love you Father, thank you for loving us. ”

Daily Disciplines:

My daily discipline today is keeping up on my cleaning. I did well as I found I can take a moment or two and accomplish a lot more than I think.

Another daily discipline is working on my closet clutter. Being a pack rat it’s hard to keep the piles down. I’m proud to say I threw away some denim material the other day and it didn’t kill me. I’m alive to tell about it. You have to realize I have more denim in my house than anyone could possible need in their lifetime.

Now on to the confession….the daily discipline where I falter is my eating habits. That one is going to take some time to conquer, fight, and give up as I strive to replace them with better more healthy habits.

One day at a time, one discipline at a time.