Cool Thing

Last Wednesday night at church, the pastor closed the service by saying, "throw out some names of people who aren't saved and need our prayers." I have felt burdened about a particular person lately and I was thinking about this person, but not about to say their name. At that exact second, someone called out that name! Wow! God is so cool. He wanted this person prayed for and He wanted to reassure me, yet again, that He is always present, all knowing and that prayer is powerful!

No Longer Slaves

Might I begin this by saying, man do I have a headache right now. (Which is how strokes sometimes begin. I live with a headache but sometimes it's worse than others.) I'm not asking for sympathy, just saying I will not be a slave to fear. 

No Longer Slaves By: Johnathan and Melissa Helser

You unravel me, with a melody

You surround me with a song

Of deliverance, from my enemies

Till all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

From my mothers womb

You have chosen me

Love has called my name

I've been born again, into your family

Your blood flows through my veins

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I am surrounded

By the arms of the father

I am surrounded

By songs of deliverance

We've been liberated

From our bondage

We're the sons and the daughters

Let us sing our freedom

You split the sea

So I could walk right through it

All my fears were drowned in perfect love

You rescued me

So I could stand and sing

I am child of God...

Watch it here: http://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k

Prayer and His Will

Our view of God and the way we expect Him to answer prayer is so limited and narrow. I have been struggling with why God doesn't appear to be answering my prayers for healing, for the headaches to completely go away, and for other things. I've been struggling with the purpose of prayer when my prayers aren't always answered my way. 

I'm doing the bible study "What Love Is" by Kelly Minter, and today's lesson was titled "Asking According to His Will". Nothing revolutionary was said but The Holy Spirit was talking to me. 

The Bible says in 1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." And in John 15:7 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Note that it doesn't just say, "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you", it says " If you remain in me and my words remain in you". If we are truly remaining (endure/stay/abide/dwell) then we will ask according to His will, without selfish motives. 

Our understanding of life is so finite. We expect that if we are remaining in Him our prayers should be answered now. But God isn't finite! He sees everything. Knows everything. He doesn't work on our timetable. Prayer requires patience for that reason. Sometimes when our prayers (say for headaches to go away, or you fill in the blank) seem unanswered, keep abiding. Keep asking. He promises to hear. He might just be answering in a different way or a different time than we expected. His plans are great, we just have to abide and trust that He's working. 

I Give You My Heart

I Give You My Heart by Kristian Stanfill

I give You my life
I give You my trust
Jesus 
You are my God
You are enough
Jesus

My heart is Yours
My heart is Yours
Take it all
Take it all
My life in Your hands

I lay down my life
And take up my cross
Jesus
For You are my God
Whatever the cost
Jesus
For You, Jesus

All to Jesus I surrender
All to You I freely give
I will ever love and trust You
In Your presence I will live

Check it out here - http://youtu.be/qBI4WDfRh6E

Evolution vs Creation

Barry has been doing a men's bible study called "The Truth Project". It discusses the fundamental beliefs of Christians and why we believe what we believe. The video took two weeks on Science (Barry brought the dvd home because we were in Bham for one of them), and the evidence of creation is baffling how anyone could believe in evolution. 

Darwin is DISPROVED by his own quote  in the video. Disproved. And yet our textbooks teach it as fact. Some scientists can't even believe it. There have not been fossils found to support the number of changes needed to become a new species.

They examined the body, and it is just amazing. The flagellum was examined, and just in its tail there are SO many parts, all having to be put together in the right order...and just look at DNA!

I wish you could all watch the DVD. The reason why evolution is so widespread is because the alternative is to believe in a creator. It is ignorance that has spread the theory. 

If you believe in evolution, I challenge you to find an impartial source, and do your own research. I feel certain that "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1). 

My Heavenly Father

I'm doing "What Love Is" by Kelly Minter with a women's Bible Study Group. In my quiet time this morning she was talking about God being our Heavenly Father. Now, that is nothing new, but the Holy Spirit was talking to me. 

My earthly father would give anything to take my pain away. He would take my situation away in a heartbeat if he could. I have prayed A LOT to my Heavenly Father to take away my suffering, and yet, here I am. Still in a wheelchair. Still with poor vision. Still with tremors, etc. So comparing my Heavenly Father to my earthly father just seemed...wrong. 

Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Well, this sure doesn't seem like this is for my good! But the Bible also says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

In Romans it does not say everything will work for our good here on earth. Remember, we only see the immediate, but God sees it all. Our "good" might not be seen here, it might not be until Heaven that we see it. But He promises it. My Heavenly Daddy, who can see everything, promises this all is for my good. I choose to trust Him. Do you?

Eye Doctor

So, I went to the optometrist...opthomologist...eye doctor yesterday at UAB. This guy is a specialist recommended by my neurologist. Right away he diagnosed me with oculopalatal myoclonus. This is the cause of the double vision and nystagmus. It is why my eyes do crazy things and I can't really answer if the images are horizontal or vertical with the double vision. It changes and everything jumps. 

Apparently my palate (roof of my mouth) moves with my eyes. It's extremely rare, my eye doctors here would not be trained to have seen it. So rare that he a) called another doctor in to see it and she had never seen it in person and b) pulled out a tripod and video camera and video taped me. It was really awkward. :)

It's good to have a name for it, but it's hard to treat. He gave me a prescription to try that could help. This prescription can be used for tremors, headaches and the double vision & nystagmus! So I am praying and believing that this medication is the answer. God often works through modern medicine and I believe this is one of those times. Join me in prayer that the medication works!! 

Exhale