I just got back from Mom's follow-up appointment with her surgeon. It turns out that the tumor (which the doctor said was 100% cancer and then rephrased to 99.9% sure it was cancer) IS NOT CANCER!!!! The tumor is called a schwannoma (see below) which is benign and rare. The tumor is being sent to John Hopkins for further study.
When the surgeon told us the tumor was most likely cancer, I immediately said that we would pray and ask the Great Physician to intervene. I reminded the surgeon of our previous conversation, and he said he is not always right. He agreed that if he had come in second to someone, he was glad it was Him (meaning God). Mom just smiled quietly during the conversation.
The Fuel Meeting (Youth Group) hosted its first "Super Hero Night" this past Wednesday night. I thought you might enjoy some pictures of the event and a description of Mega Mom's super powers.
Mega Mom...
*sports the ability to determine if the activities her children
are involved in are appropriate with her famous "Mommy Meter."
*has grown "eyes on the back of her head". She ALWAYS knows what her children are doing.
*has a motto..."working hard to make you work harder."
*yields a loaf of French bread and uses it to subdue her children by feeding them until they are stupefied and can no longer resist her commands.
*wears a utility belt holding her cell phone (on which she talks incessantly in order to paralyze her children into submission)
*uses her toilet bowl brush (which she uses to clean all commodes in order to protect her children from villainous microorganisms)
*flings her feather duster (used to clean her children's abode, freeing it from the dreaded "Dust Bunny," the mortal enemy of the Mega Family).
*senses danger and springs into action protecting her children with her "bulging eye" weapon and scares the perpetrator away with one glance.
This psalm was written at the beginning of the season that God currently has me in. The last six years have been ones of intensity in trials and tribulations, but more importantly, they have been ones of deliverance and preparation.
I post this prophetic psalm now in honor the approaching new year, the final year of my current season of preparation...a year of coming full circle and new beginnings.
Be blessed, my friends!!!
Psalm of Beautiful Grace
Written after reading Psalm 119.
12/15/01 4:00 am
Teach me Your commandments,
That I might not sin against You.
Give me Your understanding,
That I may keep Your whole word.
I cry out to You with my soul- to You, my God.
For You alone can save me.
You are my Portion.
You are my Provider.
Your mercy endures forever,
And Your loving-kindness is poured out to me.
You are the Treasure that I seek.
I have sought for You my whole life!
I searched for You, before I even knew You.
My soul remembered the day of my creation,
The day Your awesome hand fashioned me
In my mother’s womb.
My spirit rejoices in the day of my salvation,
That day long ago.
You did not leave me in my tears.
You did not forsake me in my sins.
You provided a way for me, a path on which to walk.
Your Holy Spirit has led me in Your ways.
Strengthen me by Your Spirit,
That I would always obey Your commands.
For You delight in obedience, more than sacrifices.
Teach me to walk in Your ways, forevermore.
I will be pleasing to You all the days of my life.
Your salvation is never ending,
And my reward is eternity with You.
Let me sit at Your feet and worship You, my King.
Allow me to anoint You with my tears.
Your love is sweet, it touches my soul,
My spirit rejoices in Your touch.
You call me as a lover calls His beloved
With gentle cords and a soft voice.
Teach me Your love; Whisper Your heart.
Impart to me the ways that will touch Your heart.
Your eyes search.
Search for me, my Lord!
Let them rest on Your servant.
Your eyes are flaming; They are fire.
They pierce through the facade of men.
They view the heart.
Your eyes melt me!
Where can I go to hide from you?
Why would I ever want to hide from my strength,
My fortress?
For when I fall, You pick me up.
When I transgress, You wipe me clean.
All things are possible with You, my Abba.
You have the power to make all my ways straight.
Let me always rely on You.
My children will bless You, because of my ways.
Let Your holy name be praised!
You are perfect- the consummation of perfection.
Let Your perfection consume me.
Let Your ways bring me peace.
My enemies try to turn me from You,
But they will not succeed,
For I am in the palm of my Creator’s hand,
And no one may snatch me from You.
Strengthen me with Your love.
Let your Holy Fire burn in me.
Let me never put You to shame.
I’m after Your heart!
As I mentioned in "Besiege My Heart" and "Sing a Song of Joy", I have struggled with the inward pull of *depression. The article above was one of the ways the Lord used to encourage me of His intention to break the bonds of this inward pull. Relating this story of God's miraculous intervention may encourage others who may be struggling with a similar bondage. No matter what imprisons us, God liberates us by breaking ALL of the chains that bind.
I knew *depression was not the legacy God gives His children. Knowing that, I began a three day fast starting April 11, 2005. By the second day, I was feeling a little woozy, even though I was still drinking fruit juices.
Suddenly, a "visual disturbance" appeared before me. "It looked like the twisted-ladder (double helix) structure of a DNA molecule. I felt the Lord say, "I Am changing your genetic structure." The "DNA" was twirling and moving, sparkling red and gold...awesome!
My nurse brain (flesh) initially said, "My blood sugar is low from the fast and has irritated my brain causing this 'vision'." Immediately, my spirit rose up to say, "My blood sugar is low, which decreases my higher brain functions allowing my spirit to be sensitive to hearing God's voice." I chose to believe the latter.
On April 29, 2005, I awoke to hear, "Din and Dirge", over and over again.
On April 30, 2005, my family and I were watching a movie. I was not fasting or praying at that moment. All of a sudden, the DNA molecule appeared before me. It was so clear that the spiritual vision interfered with my natural vision.
I placed my hands over my eyes, which allowed me to see more clearly. Strongman turned and asked me what I was doing. I told him the DNA vision was back, as I started to describe to my family what I was seeing. Fire came over to me and placed his head on my shoulder as I spoke of the alternating red and blue waves spreading over the twisted, turning image.
I asked the Lord what the colors meant and felt He said that the blood (red wave) of Jesus continually washes and cleanses me, while his Holy Spirit (blue wave) continually empowers and strengthens me.
As I continued to watch the double helix shape, I noticed it had three-dimensional perspective, and its end appeared small as if it was far off. The end began to appear green, which the Lord told me represented new life and new beginnings. The edge of this image sparkled gold representing the glory of God.
Some of you may feel that I am "off my rocker," but I assure you it really happened. My heavenly Father was declaring His intent; No longer would His daughter be bound by *depression. His declaration was for me, but I stress, if you cry out to Him, He WILL break off ANYTHING that hinders you from fulfilling your destiny...anything which places a barrier between your heart and His. I implore you to receive my promise as your own.
*Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines as (1): a state of feeling sad : dejection (2): a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies
Sour Cream Apple Pie
1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
5 large tart apples (Granny Smith works for me)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 to 3/4 cup sour cream
Prepare pie crust. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel apples and cut into thick slices. Arrange slices in overlapping rows in pastry-lined pie pan; sprinkle with lemon juice. Blend sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in butter with pastry blender or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal; spoon over apples. Spread sour cream over top. Bake 45-50 minutes, until apples are tender. If during baking the edges of the pie crust are becoming too dark, shield with tin foil.
