I will keep this short and brief to say God simply answers prayers. Through all suffering there is complete joy. I had a laparoscopy surgery and colonoscopy today that so far could NOT have gone any better. Answered prayers:
1) My colon did NOT need be resected in any part!
2) No open abdominal surgery. This will be months of less recovery
3) Clear problems as source of pain that I've had for months that were addressed with surgery. My abdominal wall by my umbilicus was adhered down to my pelvis, both ovaries were adhered- the left was taken out because it was such a tangled mess, and there was more fibrosis thought to be from my autoimmune disease that they cut out. There was no more endometriosis so that disease is under control- praise God!! The fibrosis is not retroperitoneal- this is a BIG answered prayer!!
4) God has faithfully protected me, given me emotional and spiritual strength the past 2 months while in pain and waiting for surgery.
I'm doing well and expect to be discharged soon. It's hard to type with an oximeter on my finger BUT I am wondering:
What prayers are you seeing answered?
How have answered prayers changed your journey?
Smiling with Him Today,
AT
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Perfect Beat
It was approximately 7:30am as I pulled into my usual narrow parking spot in the Washington Avenue Ramp at the University as I was nudged by none other than... yup it was that Spirt- the Holy One connecting some dots. It was like Lite-Brite (BEAUTIFUL) and a great way to start the day!
I was listening to a CD of music and thought, "this is a great CD- it is the perfect mix of songs." It was the perfect mix of upbeat yet allowed me to reflect and made me feel alive. It was a great way to pull into work to start the day. My coffee helped too. Instantaneously I thought, "Where is it from- who made this?" And then I remembered: I MADE IT!! Of course I would love it because I know myself pretty well and made it for such an occasion in mind- thinking I know what I would probably want and need. Then the Holy Spirit WOOSHED IN and did his thing and turned my simple thoughts about my CD into a deeper understanding of God in order to grow closer to him.
I was reminded that God knows the depths of our souls, he knows our hearts, all of our desires, all of our flaws, EVERYTHING, and he designs the PERFECT MIX FOR US ALL DAY LONG. We are called to TRUST him and listen to his mix. We may be tempted to change the station or listen to the static of the world. I do this all the time!! Why not trust our ultimate DJ- our designer?
His mix is made of love- knowing us perfectly. Only he can make the perfect mix for us because only he knows the depth of our heart. Our hearts are constantly being molded - all day long from all of our experiences. So much of my life has been shaped by my experience by the trials of chronic disease; things beyond my comprehension and control. However, it is not beyond his control and it is well within his design of my perfect mix.
It is so easy to miss the beauty of music- the beat of the hip-hop if we are listening to our own mixes. I often make my own mix in hopes to avoid pain. Or perhaps we are looking for more excitement. Do you wish you had more of something?
Do you listen to your own music because you do not comprehend or trust God's plan for you today? I am guilty as charged but TODAY I want to interact with his grace and LISTEN to him. Trust him.
So together- may we LISTEN to HIS perfect mix. It's not just any mix- it is YOUR mix because HE knows the depths of your heart. Let His grace INVADE your life by turning up the volume to the mix designed by the one who knows the depths of who you are and what you do.
Journey for each beat, each day
~AT
I was listening to a CD of music and thought, "this is a great CD- it is the perfect mix of songs." It was the perfect mix of upbeat yet allowed me to reflect and made me feel alive. It was a great way to pull into work to start the day. My coffee helped too. Instantaneously I thought, "Where is it from- who made this?" And then I remembered: I MADE IT!! Of course I would love it because I know myself pretty well and made it for such an occasion in mind- thinking I know what I would probably want and need. Then the Holy Spirit WOOSHED IN and did his thing and turned my simple thoughts about my CD into a deeper understanding of God in order to grow closer to him.
I was reminded that God knows the depths of our souls, he knows our hearts, all of our desires, all of our flaws, EVERYTHING, and he designs the PERFECT MIX FOR US ALL DAY LONG. We are called to TRUST him and listen to his mix. We may be tempted to change the station or listen to the static of the world. I do this all the time!! Why not trust our ultimate DJ- our designer?
His mix is made of love- knowing us perfectly. Only he can make the perfect mix for us because only he knows the depth of our heart. Our hearts are constantly being molded - all day long from all of our experiences. So much of my life has been shaped by my experience by the trials of chronic disease; things beyond my comprehension and control. However, it is not beyond his control and it is well within his design of my perfect mix.
It is so easy to miss the beauty of music- the beat of the hip-hop if we are listening to our own mixes. I often make my own mix in hopes to avoid pain. Or perhaps we are looking for more excitement. Do you wish you had more of something?
Do you listen to your own music because you do not comprehend or trust God's plan for you today? I am guilty as charged but TODAY I want to interact with his grace and LISTEN to him. Trust him.
Journey for each beat, each day
~AT
Monday, July 2, 2012
His Pain: My Gain
Nothing has been more sustaining than God's words and the people that surround me- so full of love. This love is visible if I stop and take it in. Taking love in is a choice. I have gone through a lot of trials lately but he continues to sustain me. Today is a perfect example of how he gives me just what I need to know that I have been healed. I continue to pray for full physical healing, if it is is his will, but in the meantime, he has given me peace. Thank you for your prayers and ALL of your actions of love. Here are His words that brought such peace today:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been freed.
I Peter 2:24 NRSV
So with no shame, guilt, or pain I run full of mercy and grace. Despite pain today, I celebrate all of the freedom I have by shouting and singing at the top of my lungs in the car to a crazy song about love and some disco!
Simple fun and great grace.
Journey for today in each moment.
Love in Him,
~Anna
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been freed.
I Peter 2:24 NRSV
So with no shame, guilt, or pain I run full of mercy and grace. Despite pain today, I celebrate all of the freedom I have by shouting and singing at the top of my lungs in the car to a crazy song about love and some disco!
Simple fun and great grace.
Journey for today in each moment.
Love in Him,
~Anna
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