SUNDAY NIGHT, HOME, MY SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS ONCE AGAIN

Once again,  I found myself in the hospital ER on Thursday afternoon. I had gone in for my simple physical therapy session this week, but this time, I was put on a bike. It wasn’t a regular bike, I was leaning back on the backrest, very comfortable, not even hurting my knees. The clock turned over 8 minutes and I began to have just a little pain on my left side up under my breast. I really didn’t pay attention at first, but then it got worse it enough to really call my attention to it and and I must have rubbed it. My therapist said “what’s the matter?” I told her I had a little pain in my left chest. She had me stop cycling at once and took me over to a chair and took my blood pressure and  oxygen levels.  I don’t think they were that bad,  but by then the pain had gone down my arm with lots of tingling and piyns and needles in my hand that I just couldn’t shake off.  When that happened she got help and a wheelchair and away we went to the ER. They treated it like a heart attack, but I don’t think that’s what it was-heart spasms is what I have heard so far with EEG changes the 3 different times I had them.  Since there were already questions about what my heart is doing these days ( I have 30 day event monitor I was already wearing) the doc decided a stress test would be a good thing to have-the following morning-so the night in the hospital and my email to Diane to ask for your prayers that there was no blockage.  The doctor was sure that’s what it was. It even sounded like it to me, based on what my daddy had been through several times and had stents put in after 2 quadruple by-passes.  But thanks to your prayers and  to God‘s purpose, that was not why I was in the hospital that night.

 I was on the phone with my sister (yes, that one) We were praying. The young person who was to take me up my room arrived in the middle of it and I raised up my finger signaling-just a minute-he nodded and waited respectfully. When we were done and he had helped me into the chair and we were rolling along, I thanked him for waiting and explained you don’t just “hang up” on the Lord.  He nodded and me I guess I was still really in the Spirit, because I looked at him and I asked him if he knew Jesus. He got me on the elevator and said, “Do you mean am I saved?  No, ma’am, I don’t know Jesus.  But I have been thinking a lot about it for quite awhile months- thinking hard on it.  By this time we had arrived at my room. I asked his name and asked if I could tell him a story- just take a few minutes. He agreed  and I told him about when the Lord Himself  had met me at the moment of my need to breathe without panic and fear on May 5, 2011. Then I asked him by name, don’t you want Jesus for yourself today? He looked at me and said yes, ma’am  I do.  I asked again, do you want to pray to receive Jesus into your heart right now?  He said he did, so I asked him to give me his hand and I would lead him in prayer. ..Once he had gone I of course knew why I was visiting the hospital that night!! Still as I shared the news with my family, everyone’s response was great, but couldn’t the Lord send you there for something less serious, less painful…why this way at all??

My only answer can be that whatever I have to go through for Jesus’ sake is so far below anything that can be considered or compared with what HE did for me is minor -even if it is major to us. There were so many people to give His word to, from the one who wanted to know if I have a Living Will (I do), each  nurse or tech-there were so many people to tell a story to.

I didn’t get a chance to write what has been on my heart since last Thursday. The Lord has been exceedingly gracious in speaking to me. Not just Thursday morning during my  devotions but also during my dreams Thursday night which were confirmed again in the sermon in church this morning. So ya’ll will have to keep coming back! I told you life with me was never boring!!

Goodnight

 

Message From Cindy

I received the following message from Cindy late Thursday night/early Friday morning…. Please join me in prayer that God would touch her body!!!

Diane I had to go back into the ER with chest pain and pain down my arm with ringing and pins and needles late today. They have made me stay tonight w/a stress test in the am and hopefully go home after please pray and ask others also I asked Cheryl who had just written me to do the same Will let you know ASAP after Love you
Btw the orderly who brought me to my room prayed w/me to receive Christ before he left. I hope that was the only reason I was here!

MR. WONDERFUL

I do praise my husband! I think he is God‘s gift to me-and certainly the other half of my heart! There is nothing that he has not done for me! And I do mean nothing! From taking care of me physically after surgeries and sicknesses to what he does in our home in care of that and all that goes with it, I am amazed and forever grateful. And now as we start on a new chapter in our lives, moving back home to Atlanta, he again has taken the brunt of the responsibilities in the packing and arranging for the move. What a very long month this has been for him! I know he is going to be so glad when we arrive on the 31st to family who have made arrangements for professional movers to unload us and as they will be there to help us unpack and settle in-at least the greatest physical part of his job will be over.  Then starts his

Cindy/honey-do tasks as he calls them where he hangs pictures and draperies and fixes hooks in closets and whatever else he can find to make this a comfortable home. Yes, I would call him, Mr. Wonderful.

 

I wrote that in January and here is it the first of April and if it were the thing to do I would take pictures to show you the home God has given us!  It is amazing because

Mr. Wonderful has been at it again. He hasn’t stopped as he has figured out how to make the best use of the space we have-sometimes I see pure genius at work. My sister visited recently and was amazed at how everything fit so well and was so cozy. I think I have already said how much I like everything!

 

And now as he had tenderly cared for me after this latest stroke—was so loving and patient with me because I was slow in the beginning, but now I am SO much better. I know that our Lord is answering our prayers, prayers of all of you as well, and I do thank you from the bottom of my heart. God wants us to pray. He had Jesus Himself show us how to pray and we have Jesus as an example of how important prayer is –so don’t let that part of your life ever go!

But tonight I am thanking God for MY MR.WONDERFUL

Need Prayers Again! and Not Just For Me!

As I write you this night I have so many rolling around in me! I know that this is the One Way that The Lord uses my writing because otherwise I do not have any talent at all for it! This has been a hard day, probably because it was a hard night before it started. I had gone to my first physical therapy lesson and although we only did four little leg exercises, I managed to get my sciatic nerve all stirred up again and every time I moved last night was agony! for those of you who have suffered with a sciatic nerve problem, you know exactly what I am talking about! There is no comfortable position to be in, no real relief with drugs-its just a misery. Still I must do my leg exercises  to get my legs strong again. I have some good goals. First to get rid of my snazzy walker and graduate to a cane which is pretty snazzy itself, but so much easier to deal with! Second, I want to be able to walk my dog again and go up and down the stairs by myself. I have to be steady on my feet to do that. I want to drive myself again. I like my independence! And my younger sister is turning 50 next month and has planned a cruise for all of her friends and family in 2 months time. I must be better for that!

What I didn’t say was how I am struggling with working between the doctor visits and tests and yes, the PT, with strength left over to do a great job. God did answer my fervent prayers last week for existing searches to continue, people to get back with me, everything to go forward well. That I am so very thankful for. Part of that is because you prayed for a client who is recovering incredibly well from his brain tumor surgery and now is able to continue his own duties. So we are both thankful for that! Now I have to ask you again for a very special person . He’s a little guy –only 9 years old and his name is Maddox. He is in the hospital. He needs his very high ketone levels to come down. Will you pray with me for that to happen? And very quickly too? I know you will. when you all prayed for me the last time, I was better. Still, I did eventually have to be in that hospital again as you know. And this continuous “visitation” is becoming  or already is just way over the top too much financially! So that was certainly part of the emotions rolling around in me today. I mentioned in my last post about stopping the gamma globulin infusions because my new doc had mentioned the side effects. Well, tonight I took a walk out in the internet world to see what I could find out about the side effects. How bad were they for others? What other effects are there? All those pertinent little questions…I hate to tell you that to my absolute horror, I found out that for a person with my history this was or should have been an expected event and not only the clots, but the meningitis also!!  I read that several doctors had pointed out that anyone with these factors should be carefully examined, followed, and at least told about the possible issues. I know that I was told nothing at all.  Nothing except that I needed this stuff like a diabetic needs insulin, but after reading very carefully, I don’t think so! Now I know I am dealing with the after effects of a somewhat wrecked body however temporary that might be, hundreds of dollars in medical bills, and certainly issues with future insurance should I decide to make a change. I guess i should be grateful I am alive to have to deal with anything, but right now, I am feeling my human anger at the cavalier attitude of doctors and the drug companies-and mostly at the drug companies. I don’t believe that my docs deliberately put me in harm’s way. they might have never read any of the materials  that I read tonight. 

Now I am sure  that everyone is saying, Wow, Cindy, what’s gotten into you tonight?  Well, I’ll tell you what I think and hope that it is. I hope it is righteous indignation! but I know that if I am off the mark, I will be hearing about it from the Lord as well as everyone else. But I believe that the laws are put out there for our protection and unfortunately no one is paying attention these days because there are more and more problems with the drugs that are out there. I don’t know what I am going to do about this if anything. but I am not going to be silent about it, that is for sure! I don’t think that would be right at all!  so I hope if you have an opinion about this, you will write me. If you have had a bad experience yourself, please tell me about it. I know I am not the only one  and I know people have died.

I have really gone out on a limb tonight and asked for your help. I hope you will give it. Please pray for Maddox. Please pray for me. I need strength and guidance, I need some financial return on my work. Only the Lord can make these things happen so please let me hear from you!

 

I AM VERY TOUCHED AT THE OUTPOURING OF YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS

Thank you Diane for letting everyone know I was in the hospital again. It does seem like my second home, doesn’t it?  but everyone should remember that the LORD HIMSELF said that when He brought me to the hospital, it was to do His work, and surprisingly I was able to accomplish that. Again, because of Him!

Friday morning I woke up and my left side didn’t work. I couldn’t communicate with my husband except that when I got his attention he could see he had to get me to the ER immediately. He dressed me in a sweat suit, socks and shoes and then half carried me down the hall to the elevator and then to the car. We are only about 10 minutes from the hospital and again, he half carried me in to a wheelchair. As soon as he said, “I think my wife has had a stroke”, the  nurse took over and said come right this way-there was no name, no insurance-just let us help you. It turns out that this hospital is a Stroke Hospital. And from that moment on everything was done to diagnose and contain any damage. It was the most amazing thing. As I lay there on the table realizing that I couldn’t communicate… That I couldn’t smile correctly-that essentially my left side of my face was frozen-not working… That my left hand, I could move my hand, but not really do much with it and as far as my foot was concerned, it failed all the tests…I started really talking to my Father. I told Him that this simply wouldn’t do. I couldn’t stay like this. He either needed to come and get me or He needed to heal me. That to not be able to work would be a catastrophe for us in every way. I truly was ready for Him to come and get me-but He began to remind me of all of the reasons He had brought me to Atlanta and the need of my husband for me as well. So I talked right back and said ok-yes I want to live up to my responsibilities, but I need healing to do so. I can’t do the work you have given me to do in the state I am in now. He reminded me of what He had been saying all week the last week–follow my precepts. Ok, so what have I not done? Where has my heart failed you?…I didn’t get an answer to that…just ringing in my ears was follow me. They checked me into a room of course and told me that I was going to be very busy…and I was. I had people lined up to see me; a physical therapist, speech therapist, rehabilitation specialist, nutritionist–I am sure there were more. When they were all gone, I took a nap. I was exhausted! But when my husband came to see me that night, he could understand my speech; I could walk with the walker; I could sign my name…all huge improvements from just that morning!  

The next day was more of the same; only more tests too. The tests they did, like the echo cardio-gram, I’ve had them before, but they add a bubble test to it. It seems that  30% of the population is walking around with a small hole in their hearts that didn’t heal from birth and sometimes a little teeny clot pops through that hole and goes straight up to the head. I had  NEVER heard of that before! Again one more thing about being in Atlanta! I knew this was a God thing!  

After that test, they sent me down to Xray. Guess who I met? Yes!! The reason I was there! A young lady who was ill with an autoimmune disease just like me, in pain like I have been, who wanted to and almost did commit suicide. I told ya’ll that I had had that fleeting thought when I was in such horrible pain before so I do understand, but I could not. Still here was a person who had gone almost there, except for the grace of God and probably protective angels around her. I shared with her extensively and she with me. Never have I had that kind of time with someone in radiology-but it was obvious that God was giving us this time and I made the most of it. Pray for her. You don’t need to know her name. God knows it. She still has issues to settle as I did. WHY? is a big one.

When I got back to my room, my doctor came in and said they had the results of the MRI that they had done and had compared them with the MRIs I had from Tampa that we had gotten for them. They needed to do another test because it looked like I have a tiny little aneurysm 2cm and they wanted to confirm it and make sure it wasn’t just a wonky artery. One more test that required a new IV which are very difficult for me. I have terrible veins especially where t hey needed this one to be. I blew 3 veins before we got one to hold long enough for the test. Still it blew at the end of it! The next morning I saw a new doctor. He is a neurosurgeon. If I had had my glasses on, I guess I would have known something of what he was going to tell me.  Yes, I have a little aneurysm, but the good news is (I think) that it is not big enough to operate on; so they will watch it and scan it on a regular basis. As for the problems that I have when I turn my neck a certain way, I probably cut off the circulation due to my numerous neck surgeries, hardware, and possible degeneration of the discs. I should have it checked by the neurologist, along with the other symptoms we discussed which would require a spinal tap-again, check with the neurologist. The only thing a neurosurgeon does in this town is operate, I guess. Still, he didn’t poo-poo anything. He gave it serious consideration and said this is how that is tested. Do this. I appreciate that greatly. Again God put us in Atlanta just in time for this special care that I could not get in Tampa. He is always going before us and preparing the way. How could anyone not love and worship a Heavenly Father like this?

This was Sunday morning that I got all this news. I was sitting in bed waiting for my admitting doc to come and discharge me when the cleaning lady came in. She asked if she could come in, I said yes, of course. I was doing something. I can’t remember, but all of a sudden she said,”What size shoes are these? They must be a 2 or a 3 or something!They are so small!  Your feet must be so tiny!” I looked over at her and I said”No I wear a 7. My feet aren’t so tiny.” But then I went on to say something about my sisters and mothers feet being larger-my mother wore a 9 and so did this woman. As soon as I said something about my mom, I just had words to say about who and what she was that God gave me and the woman stopped and listened and then she was crying. She said,” when they told me that I had to work this floor today, I was so upset, because it’s always a full floor and a hard one to work. But then I thought oh be grateful for your job-just make t he best of it.  And I did try hard to do that, but then I get here to your room and I hear what you have to say and I know that YOU are the reason I have this floor today. Thank for sharing with me. It’s made the difference in my life now. thank you.”

None of you can imagine just how I felt at hearing those words.  INADEQUATE, UNWORTHY, GUILTY. You know why I felt them. I had cried to the Lord, complained at the unfairness of it all, again. I tried to tell her that , but she wouldn’t hear any of it. She was grateful, I should be too and that was the end of it. So I am going to try! Today the Lord answered in a wonderfully positive way a question about my boss and me because we went about our ways honestly without deception as He has commanded us to do. I think that was also a sign that He is going to do great things business wise for me again if I will keep His precepts, following His ways, His laws, His every command and wish to me. And truly remembering what Jesus has done for me personally on  that cross how could I do anything less?  Truly I believe I will be completely restored to the abilities I had before the stroke, but hopefully not the person…hopefully this person, me, has learned an important and invaluable lesson in trusting the Lord. Really that is what all my “adventures” seem to be about, don’t they?

Important Please Read

I am writing this short post to advise Cindy’s followers that she is back in the hospital and needs prayer. She didn’t go into a lot of detail but when she is able to and tells me that it is okay to share, I will do so.  Diane

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29. NIV)

To Act Without Knowing How You function is not good; and if You Rush Ahead, You Miss Your Goal.

That is from Proverbs 19: 2. My emphasis tonight is the rushing ahead. I am not going to as I usually do-rush what you say? Our move back to Atlanta, Ga after 30 years in Florida. I did think I would spend the rest of my life here. I do love and the weather. I have come to love our little house that the Lord gave us too and often tell the story of how we came to it.  I love my BSF group and will probably miss them the most. I have made some dear friends here.  So how was I rushing? We knew that we were going to move back up to Atlanta when our lease was up in June, so we thought to look around and see what kind of housing might be available for what kind of money. We found a great apartment with superb amenities. There were only 2 negatives. The kitchen was miniscule. (even to their drawers-only one large one and across the room, one very small one.) Since the point of our arrangement is for me to slow down and take lots better care of myself,   He’s been doing the cooking and shopping for us. So if HE said He could deal with the kitchen, then why should I worry about  it  all the time? So what did I do/not do?  First I presented our dilemma to our landlady…who could not have been more gracious and understanding. And She went me one farther, find your place and then move. Go ahead and be packing, know that God is in everything. aaah, how our God does work. .So after speaking with the landlady and getting the green light, Dennis just started packing away. We were to call the apartment people that our daughter had gone over and spoken with on Saturday and fill out an online app and overnight an application fee. But as we started to do those final thing, I was certain, that I was rushing and it wasn’t good. I looked at my husband and said the same to him. I think I shocked twenty years off of him, but as we prayed and our spirits calmed, we knew we were making the right decision. It may not seem that way for the world because in all liklihood we will lose the apartment.  For us that certainty was a hard decision. but, we believe if that happens God just has something better for us. 

Still Trusting-And For So Much More Now!

My world has changed  since I last wrote!  First my husband came in my office last week and said he was ready to move to Atlanta!! Now for those of you who do not know me or my background, I moved to Atlanta at age 16, not very happily but eventually it was home. Then in my early to mid 30′s  in 1984 it was,  we moved to Tampa. I was very happy with the move. My parents lived in Orlando and I could see about them regularly. I loved the weather and overall we have done pretty well here. However our children went home to Tampa after college and now that is where my grandchildren are. I am learning every day how short life really is and those precious moments that I could be with them, I’ve been here out of fear in some cases, because I believe I have some extraordinary doctors taking care of me and have wondered how in the world I would replace them. Of course, my Abba Father has brought this to my attention-the lack  of faith on my part that He wouldn’t help me identify the right doctors to take care of me there. And as for the cold, well, I can dress for it. But it is an easy trade to be with my girls-all of them!!

We talked about moving two or three years ago, but at that time, my husband still had that double machine in his chest and was still in a lot of pain and the cold made it worse. So after all of my plans with my wonderful boss, we scrapped it all and stayed.  And of course with the craziness of my body this past 2 years I guess this is where God wanted me to be.  Still, I am very thankful that I can work out arrangements  to continue to work for Gary and MRI, stay insured and widen my client base. I believe I can resurrect some old clients. I was just speaking with 2 of those very special ladies I did work for 10 and 11 years ago for the first time last week. It was pretty thrilling to me to be so well remembered.

Of course we can not leave until next July1 when our lease is up. I know that sounds like such a long time! But  to us and especially to my husband who will bear the brunt of the packing up and the putting back in order this lovely villa just the way we found it, he will need every day of every month that we have!  We have so loved it here. I was planning on seeing if we could sign up for 2 more years right after Christmas, so you can imagine my big surprise! But how lovely a surprise. NOW MS. DIANE, I don’t have to be the little bit jealous of you that I was with your move. I could certainly understand it. I too will be limited in how much I can do or help. which leads me to my second surprise. And this one isn’t so pleasant. I had more of what I would call a seizure coming home from church today. My husband was driving, I had started to say something, but all of a sudden my neck got rigid and my head was turning back and forth and I was saying with difficulty no, not , no, not. My right hand was holding on to the door handle-I thought if I let go of it, my arm would go flying. I don’t know that, that would be true, it was just a feeling.  This went on for a full minute-to a minute and half and now stands as the weirdest thing  that has ever happened to me. A couple of things I did notice and have continued having pain and just weird feeling with is my neck. Especially if I have it tilted down to read or I am paying attention to my hands on the keyboard too long. What I had alluded to last week physically is that I am having some similar issues with my head like I did when I had those tumors back in 2009. I don’t know that this is a reoccurance, because my neck wasn’t involved at all then, and it definitely is now. So after speaking to a sub neurologist, mine was out of town. I will be making calls in the morning and hoping to get some testing done. What I would ask you dear friends is your prayers. There is nothing, absolutely nothing like having your friends and loved ones pray for you. This may come to nothing like in March–but I know it was worse, and harder on me and God forbid that I would have been driving.  So now I have a driver for awhile! So let’s hope and pray that someone will have some answers this time.

 I will try and keep up some regular posts to let you know what’s happening. I realized with Diane not well and moving how hard it was waiting to hear. So I will try and be good about it.

The previous post was written last night. I didn’t publish because I wanted to speak to my boss, my doctor and see what was up before I sent out such a disquieting post!  The bad news is that I had another episode this morning. And I still believe that my neck is somehow involved. We did go down and see my neurologist, but unfortunately, this is not her area of expertise. She had no ideas of what to tell me to do or who to see or even what basic tests could be run-which I can guess myself what 2 basic tests would be. So my surgeon referred me to another doctor right at end of the business day so I will have to call for an appt  tomorrow.. In the meantime, I am working carefully and asking the Lord to protect us, bless us, go before us.

Perfect Peace-Is That Trusting?

I am writing today from my favorite book again, yes, Isaiah.  To be more specific the 26th chapter, verses 3 and 4. And this is what it says:  “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal”

So let’s think about perfect peace first. What does that mean to you exactly? I would imagine it could mean a lot of  different things to different people. So for my purposes I’ll try and be a little generic, but you all know my story, so perfect peace for me would mean no worries.  Oh Goodness there is sin! For am I told not to worry to let the Lord take all of my worries? to lay by burden at His feet? I do it a hundred times a day-probably like a lot of you do. But then I take it  back again. Oh I do know better and I certainly don’t want it. Why can’t I leave it at the foot of the cross? This is where I guess I have to make my stand. Out in public Just because I know that my witness for the Lord God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob  must not be sullied. Must ring out clean and clear and true. So this time  I have to leave it at the foot of the cross. I can not go back, again. I have to step out in faith that the Lord, my Abba Father is going to answer me, just as He has time and time before. 

Worries,that is a big all-encompassing word, isn’t it?  I could be talking about my health, my business, my family, my friends, the state of our economy, the election. Oh, I could go on and on. If you want to worry, you can alwasys find something to worry about, but I am not one of those people. I like my “perfect Peace” but you know what? I can’t just snap my fingers and have it!  The verse says you have to have your mind steadfast  because you trust in the Lord. Oh there is that little word again!  Abba Father did say He was going to teach me to trust Him and everytime I turn around that is exactly what is happening! Another trust lesson! These are hard, not funny, and getting old. I am ready to be done with them. But I think I haven’t learned the lesson yet-that’s why it’s back today. The Lord God wants me to trust Him with everything  that I am. With everything I could be or want to be. I think that I do trust that much, but then something happens to show that no, to go the distance on this new situation I have to come up some more.

Verse 4 talks about the Lord being the Rock Eternal. I like mental picture! Solid, able to withstand anything, all things-forever. So when I get the trust thing down, I will be trusting in a/the Lord God Most High, the most amazing God, eternal God Who is that Rock  that protects and shelters. That is exactly what I have to keep my mind on. IS HIM! WHO is MY GOD? I KNOW HIM. He is faithful, a comfort in every time of trouble, Who has sheltered me in cleft of the Rock, Who has carried when I was too weak, to spent to do or go myself. That is who my God is. Will He show up when I need Him too? Absolutely! He doesn’t let His daughter down.

Nothing like the Word of God to put the world in perspective-at least my world. Thank you Lord for your Word. Thank you Lord for yourself and for your sacrifice that I could know you and love you and have you for my Abba Father.

A Heavy Heart

This morning as I continue to read headlines that remind me of Bible prophecy in some ways makes my heart heavy and sad. Sad because I know of so many that are turned away fron the Lord God-so many who are going to be surprised and caught unaware, unprepared.  And then there are all those I don’t know, but know of. All I can do is pray and exhort others to pray. Are you praying regularly, those who are following me? I don’t believe I spend enough time with the Lord and am getting up earlier and earlier to do so. What I have found is a beautiful peace around 5-5:30 in the morning. I always have to let the puppy out if I get up and so I get to see the stars still in the dark sky and that without all the other lights on they shine a little more brightly. It makes it easy to begin to worship. When I see all those millions of stars and think of our Mighty God putting them in place one by one and knowing them by name, it kind of blows you away-seriously if you really think abut it. And since I am studying Genesis as you all know, that’s what I am thinking about still.

This week we were all the way into Cain and Abel. It was interesting to really do a study on them, because I had always thought God a little unfair when it came to them. What I forgot of course, is that He knows the heart and exactly where that sacrifice is coming from. Give a little, give a lot-that doesn’t matter to him.  It’s where it’s coming from in your heart. He’s been dealing with me on the same subject. How very hard it is to give that tithe when there is no regular money on a monthly basis.  And yet not to do so is a lack of trust on my part, is that not also true?  So while, that tithe may go to particular ministries vs “the church”, God knows that wherever He something here, there or yon, it has been taken care of. What little I gave last month to one of our ministries helped a woman with 15 children. I didn’t even know about her until I had already given-but not earmarked-and this time,  because I was with the leader was actually told how it would be spent and on whom it would be spent. I was so thrilled to know. This woman takes in the unwanted children. The police bring them to her and she does her best to care for them. This is one of our African ministries. The other one I had mentioned-the sewing classes where we teach the women to sew and they can they make garments to be sold and so can provide for their families. In those instances, they have been widowed or just abandoned by their husbands often with 3 or more children at home and no means of support.

I realize that the African continent is not exactly our neighbor. But with the world at our fingertips, it has become like our neighbor and how can we stand by and do nothing? This reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan. In Luke 10:30, Jesus is speaking to  an expert in the Jewish law and he has asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.  Jesus answered with a question-What is written. The expert of course quoted,” Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind  AND  Love your neighbor as yourself.”..he should have stopped there, but then he asked who his neighbor was …and you all know the story –The man went down from Jerusalem to Jerico and fell into the hands of robbers. They beat him and stipped him and left him for dead on the side of the road.  A priest came by- saw what happened and passed by on the other side of the road ignoring him. So too did a Levite, but then a Samaritan came on road and he saw the man and took pity on him. He bandaged him up, got him to an innkeeper, left money for his keep and care and said he’d give him more if he required it on his return… Which of the three people do you think was the man’s “neighbor?” So when confronted -all I can do  is all I can do. When the Lord leads I give what little I have…and trust Him to make up the difference.   All this just from Cain and Abel and a few million stars!

I do urge you if you are not involved in some kind of mission to get involved. You have to be hands and feet somewhere or Jesus will say” What did you do with your life that I gave you?-Trust me He does say that. He said it  to me in a dream in 1993. It was a waking dream from anesthesia. I had had an asthma attack while under and so woke up with a tube in my throat. Ever since 1993, I have been in a Bible study and I have been back in church and been sharing what God has done for me. I know He’s real. You know that too if you follow me. But we can’t just sit here in our comfortable American homes (while we have them anyway) and not be hands and feet in some way. Check out World Vision. If I could do one more thing. That would be it.

One more thing and yes I don’t intend to stop until the election is over. I read with interest a memo that has been release by Billy Graham’s office about the election.  He is simply asking people to vote remembering our God, the unborn, and our Christian principles. I pray he is not saying too  little too late. I read that awhile ago He had suffered through a visit from the man in the W..house-that they had prayed together!!!how do you pray with a muslim? Keep on PRAYING  AMERICA. THE BATTLE IS NOT LOST, BUT NEITHER IS IT WON! GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE!