These last few weeks I've had a tremendous amount to be thankful for. My fourth CCSVI angioplasty, at Rush University in Chicago, on 11/1 was an unqualified success. It was a hurried trip and exhausting trip, but the relief from having my 50% and 65% jugular veins opened back up was almost immediate. The burning ear tips and crushing head pain that had been plaguing me the past 8 months was no where to be found. A CCSVI miracle? Yes, for me, venous angioplasty has truly been a God-send- and God-Thing as I like to call them. Nothing has helped some of my most debilitating multiple sclerosis symptoms like this very simple venoplasty procedure has. Thank you Jesus for CCSVI and Dr. Paulo Zamboni's discovery of it! Thank you that I am feeling better than I have in months! Thank you for renewed health and energy! I know this healing has come by Your Hand and I am forever thankful!!
But there are other things in my life that seem to be falling into place after many tearful and sleepless nights. Sometimes, you pray and pray for something, and you think the Lord isn't listening. But He is, and He will answer, when He's good and ready, AND in the way He wants to!
I was talking with a dear friend of mine this morning, discussing how you never know how the Lord is going to move. Often, it's exactly the opposite of what you may have planned, and it's always better than anything you could have imagined, because it's part of His perfect plan for that person's life. Not one of us knows the perfect plan that the Lord has laid out for each of us, but there is one and He will complete His work in that person's life, regardless of anything we might do to try and do to have our own way with that loved one.
Our job is to support them, love them, encourage them, try to teach them right from wrong and instill a love of the Lord in their lives. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. To me that verse says, BACK OFF, I know what I'm doing. I have a plan! They are just on loan to you, they belong to ME!
It's strange how we try and try so hard to keep a hold on what's going on with members of our own family, and when things get out of our control, we feel distressed and worry, like we are in charge of any of it anyway? One thing I've learned over the past 15 years of living with MS is this - We are in charge of NOTHING. The Almighty is still on His Throne, and He is in charge of it all. Big sigh of relief don't you think?
So, why do we go kicking and screaming not wanting to let go of what we feel is our control over a situation? I guess it's our human condition, our sinful nature, that wants to try and act like we know what we are doing at all times. Forgive us Father, for we have sinned. We know that you are the one in charge of everything in this world and you know every detail, every thought, every action before we even do think or do them. You know every hair on our head, you know every single thing about each and every one of us. What Power and Majesty our King has!
Of course, there are other things I'm still praying about, situations that are unresolved that I am asking the Lord to give me the strength to endure the waiting until His perfect answer comes. And it will come, In His perfect Timing! We must trust and believe that He has our back, because He always does!
As Thanksgiving time approaches quickly, I pray that we will always remember to give thanks in all circumstances, good and bad. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Pray without ceasing and always give thanks for everything you have because it all comes from the Hand of God Almighty.
We are nothing without Him.
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Heavenly Father,
I do give you thanks for the miraculous things that are happening in my life right now. I know that they come by Your Hand and have nothing to do with me! Thank you for my renewed health, thank you for my family, thank you for our home. Thank you Lord for answered prayers. Thank you Lord that you will give me the strength I need to wait on the unanswered prayers. Let me totally turn it over to you, knowing that Your Will will be done in the lives of those I love.
I pray,
Amen and Amen
But there are other things in my life that seem to be falling into place after many tearful and sleepless nights. Sometimes, you pray and pray for something, and you think the Lord isn't listening. But He is, and He will answer, when He's good and ready, AND in the way He wants to!
I was talking with a dear friend of mine this morning, discussing how you never know how the Lord is going to move. Often, it's exactly the opposite of what you may have planned, and it's always better than anything you could have imagined, because it's part of His perfect plan for that person's life. Not one of us knows the perfect plan that the Lord has laid out for each of us, but there is one and He will complete His work in that person's life, regardless of anything we might do to try and do to have our own way with that loved one.
Our job is to support them, love them, encourage them, try to teach them right from wrong and instill a love of the Lord in their lives. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. To me that verse says, BACK OFF, I know what I'm doing. I have a plan! They are just on loan to you, they belong to ME!
It's strange how we try and try so hard to keep a hold on what's going on with members of our own family, and when things get out of our control, we feel distressed and worry, like we are in charge of any of it anyway? One thing I've learned over the past 15 years of living with MS is this - We are in charge of NOTHING. The Almighty is still on His Throne, and He is in charge of it all. Big sigh of relief don't you think?
So, why do we go kicking and screaming not wanting to let go of what we feel is our control over a situation? I guess it's our human condition, our sinful nature, that wants to try and act like we know what we are doing at all times. Forgive us Father, for we have sinned. We know that you are the one in charge of everything in this world and you know every detail, every thought, every action before we even do think or do them. You know every hair on our head, you know every single thing about each and every one of us. What Power and Majesty our King has!
Of course, there are other things I'm still praying about, situations that are unresolved that I am asking the Lord to give me the strength to endure the waiting until His perfect answer comes. And it will come, In His perfect Timing! We must trust and believe that He has our back, because He always does!
As Thanksgiving time approaches quickly, I pray that we will always remember to give thanks in all circumstances, good and bad. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Pray without ceasing and always give thanks for everything you have because it all comes from the Hand of God Almighty.
We are nothing without Him.
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Heavenly Father,
I do give you thanks for the miraculous things that are happening in my life right now. I know that they come by Your Hand and have nothing to do with me! Thank you for my renewed health, thank you for my family, thank you for our home. Thank you Lord for answered prayers. Thank you Lord that you will give me the strength I need to wait on the unanswered prayers. Let me totally turn it over to you, knowing that Your Will will be done in the lives of those I love.
I pray,
Amen and Amen
