Holy Week Blessings; God is still on the Throne........

Holy week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It wasn't always that way. Christmas used to be my favorite. I loved all the Christmas decorating, lights, cookie making, Advent,Christmas Eve service, gift wrapping, etc., etc.,  I still enjoy that season, but my health hasn't allowed me to go overboard like I used to do in the old days when I was healthy and the kids were younger.

As I've grown as a Christian in my walk with the Lord, my heart and mind has gravitated more and more to Holy Week. I've grown to realize the depth of the incredible sacrifice that my Savior made for me, when He died for my soul and all of mankind, shedding his precious blood, enduring horrendous humiliation and shame. 

Why would He do that? Because He loves us that much. How can you not recognize that Love and marvel at the depth of it? It's something that we really can't understand I guess. We know love, but a Love that great is beyond our comprehension.

When you actually see that Love in action, when you can actually see God at work in someone's life; a friend or loved one, you know that 2,000 years later His enormous sacrifice still is still alive and kicking. The Lord is still on the Throne, and He is still changing lives through His amazing Mercy and Grace, right now, TODAY!

Our wayward younger son, who was lost for almost 10 long years to drugs, alcohol and less than admirable behavior, has finally come home to Jesus. Since last October, with the Lord's help, he's given up drugs, alcohol and just recently cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Wow, is all I can say is..... Praise the Lord!! He's back to the same wonderful young man we remember from his youth. With all of those intoxicants out of his system, he's finally returned to us like we remember him. We prayed and prayed for so long, and many of our friends joined us in our prayers that he would return home to the Lord. God has finally answered those prayers, Hallelujah to the Lamb!

My son knew his lifestyle was destroying his life, but it wasn't until he began going to a early morning prayer meeting with a Christian friend of ours who became his mentor, that the blinders began to be opened from his eyes. He was seeing has life as it was and he wasn't very happy about it. About that time he interviewed and was hired by a large company, PGT Industries in Venice, (his first regular 40 hour job that paid with paychecks, not cash) Within a few months, things began to change. 

You see, they do drug testing at PGT. My son liked his new job a lot.  It was a tremendous opportunity, great job, great benefits, great company, definitely a God-Thing as I like to call them. He knew he had to change his ways or everything would be lost with one random blood test. He said he was serious, he wasn't smoking pot anymore. We weren't sure, because he's lied to us so many times before, but as the weeks and months went by, we began to realize that the Lord was changing our son. I knew deep in my heart that God had His hand on our son, but you know when you are in that waiting mode.....it can be tough. Both my husband and I sure we're happy when we transitioned from praying mode to seeing God in action. But, it wasn't until yesterday, when Jordy showed me a picture of his company that was sent around to the employees, that I realized how much him working at that place was "of God." 

Here's a picture of PGT Industries. Their owner

is a devout Christian. I knew it was a God-Thing! Thank you Lord!

Our sweet son, Jordy. The Lord has turned his life around 

and we are all thanking Him and praising His Holy Name!

More blessings come to our family in the upcoming birth of our first grandchild. My older son Eric (Biff) and his wife Jessi are having their first child. What a blessing that is going to be for our family. A little girl is headed our way. We are so excited, especially me, a little girl, a little girl!!!! I've only had little boys, this is going to be a whole new sensation, a whole new world for me. A new life to come into the world. What a miracle, God is truly at work. Can you see Him, I sure can.

                                                               My daughter in law Jessi's starting to grow!

                                                                     Our son Eric (Biff) and wife Jessi 

Another thing that happened this week that was totally a God Thing. I was talking to a very old friend from 40 years ago, Reid K. Just yesterday, he called me out of the blue. He was the son of a friend of my Mom and Dad's. I remember him pretty well, because his family lived fairly close to mine and they were involved in our lives. He was a few years older than me. I learned more today about the connection that our parents had. Reid went on to say wonderful things about my Mom and Dad, and to say that when his Dad died suddenly of a heart attack, my Dad took him under his wing like his own son. Reid told me that he found my blog and had been reading it and how much it had blessed him. He loved seeing the pictures of my folks scattered throughout. He said he also loved the Lord and that my Dad had planted that same seed of faith in him that he had in me all those years ago. I was so blown away by his words. It was definitely a "God Thing" Conversation!!

When I started this blog over three years ago, my goal was to chronicle my struggle with MS while trying to bring Glory to God in the process. I've had many wonderful comments from friends and loved ones who have been blessed by my writing. The Lord convicted me that if I reached just one person with a Word from God that might change their life, that the Jesus would be glorified. Today's phone call was a wonderful affirmation of that. Thank you Jesus!

I've been wanting to get back to writing in my blog, but hadn't been inspired. Admittedly I was a little burned out by the Lenten Bible Study I conducted on my new website Godsgirl365. Was I doing too much? Was I getting ahead of God? I wasn't sure, but I knew that the website had also been a major blessing. I've met many new friends and wonderful new authors who are sending me some awesome articles about how God has worked in their life.

I've reconnected with some people I haven't heard from in years, one of them being artist John Pitcher, who told me a bit about his own spiritual journey and told me "please feel free to use one of my pictures on your blog!"  

A New Days Promise by John Pitcher

It's a perfect piece with perfect title, A New Day's Promise. Every new day with the Lord hold's Promise for us all! Blessings and more blessings, they just keep on coming. Thanks John, for the loan.

So, I thought I'd take a few weeks off to relax after the Lenten Study, spending more time in prayer and reading the Word. Or so I thought....God has other ideas. What is it they say about God laughing when man makes plans. Well, looks like it's true. Reid's call has invigorated me. He was the angel that the Lord sent to me to get me going again. To jump start me back on the writing path.

If I sound like I'm excited about life, I am. If I'm rambling a bit in this blog, sorry, I've got a lot going on in my mind and in my heart!

I am so thankful for everything that God has given  me, in spite of this stinking disease I live with. He has blessed me above and beyond and through the pain of suffering with MS. It might sound weird to hear this, but in many ways, I'm glad I got MS., it slowed me down, it helped me appreciate everything, and it brought me closer to My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's worth it to me!

As we approach Good Friday, take a look around you. Look at everything the Lord has done for you. Thank Him for all of your incredible blessings. As we commemorate Jesus unfathomable sacrifice on that Cross, can you see Him alive and working in your life or the life of someone you love? He rose from the dead to give you everlasting life. He is Risen, Indeed! The Tomb is Empty!! Thank Him, Praise Him, and never forget what He did for me and you. Marvel at His amazing Mercy and Grace, still alive over 2,000 years later. 

If you don't know the Lord, now is the time to find Him. The world is getting crazier and crazier. The only true security you have is in the arms of Jesus. Don't wait another minute. Go to Him today...confess your sins, and turn away from the former things. He will make you a new creature in Christ. He's still in the business of changing lives, right now. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us of what Jesus can do for us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" He's calling to you, His Hand is extended and He wants to come into your life. Don't shut Him out for another minute!Revelations 3:20 tells us "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." 

Don't spend another day without Jesus in your life. Believe me when I say, giving your life to Him is a decision you'll never regret.

                                    Happy Easter friends, and may the peace of our Risen Lord be with you all!

  

My verses for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Dear Lord Jesus:

Thank you. Thank you for my life and the lives of those I love. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. Thank you that you are still changing lives today through your living Word. Please Lord, come alive to those who don't know you. Open their hearts and eyes so they may see you. Work miracles in their lives so they can see your presence. 

Lord, I wanted to be re-energized in my walk with you. I wasn't sure how that was going to happen, but today, you sent an angel my way. His name was Reid. You blessed me with his phone call, and I hope to pour out those blessings on those I minister to each and every day! Thank you for all you are doing in my life. Bless Reid and his family. I pray this new connection will bring glory to You. I know that Mom and Dad are up in heaven smiling at what happened today. That makes me smile too. Thank you Jesus~~

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen 

God can use my story for His Glory~

I was posting my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young, on my prayer facebook group "The Master's Servants," the other day, and her words really hit me hard. I love the way she writes in the first person, as though Jesus is talking right to you. She said:

"Thank Me for the conditions that are requiring you to be still. Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My kingdom have been done from sick beds and prison cells. Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me.Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise these simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness."

Did she say some of the Lord's greatest works can be done from sick beds?? Well, that qualifies me, that's for sure. That sets for me a new goal, to do the Lord's great work on those days when I'm down and out, which when you're living with MS, can be be quite often, unfortunately. But to think that I can take that time and bring Glory to God is quite something, at least for me it is.

I must admit that many times in my weakness, I can feel useless, and unworthy of doing much for myself, forget about anyone else or especially the Lord. But thankfully, that's not the way He sees me. He looks at the good in me, not the bad. He sees the gifts that He bestowed upon me, and He wants me to use them for Him. So what I need to say to myself when I'm having a down day is "get over yourself Nicki, get out your computer and start writing about the Lord." End of Sentence!

He knows just how much I can accomplish on any given day. My job is to just do the best I can, knowing I've given all my efforts for His glory and quit beating myself up.

2nd Corinthians 2:9 reminds us "My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

The Lord doesn't want you or me to live feeling guilty. It's an downward spiral. Rejoice in what you can do, even on the days when you can't get up and move around, thank the Lord for the quiet time with Him. There may be a time, when you don't have those moments.

My verse for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for those quiet moments I have with you. Help me to take advantage of that time to learn more about you, and ground myself in your word and reach out to others with my writing about the wonderful things you can do for them in the good and the bad. Thank you Lord for another day to learn more about you and thank you for Sarah Young and her wonderful books and ministry. I have learned so much from her and continue to do so everyday!

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

Can you see God through the pain?

If you have MS, you know that every day you wake up, you just aren't quite sure what you will be facing. That's just a fact about living with a chronic, debilitating, progressive disease. You may go a short period of time where your symptoms are manageable, and then, wack, you are reminded very clearly that, yes, you do have multiple sclerosis, and yes, that particular day, I feel pretty much like you want to crawl back under the covers and not deal with any of this!

As I've stated before, generally, I'm a pretty happy go lucky kind of gal. As many of you know I had my 4th CCSVI procedure about 3 months ago to try and bring my burning ears and head pain under control, which I'm happy to say, it did. But now that that area of my body is under control, here comes another section of my bod, jumping right in to pick up the slack!

I don't like complaining about my MS so I don't talk to often about what it's like to live with chronic pain each day. It's just not my style. I'd rather talk about the blessings that the Lord has given me, instead. I've lived with this disease for over 25 years now, and believe me, there has been a tremendous amount of suffering, but there have also been blessings that have resulted from my living with MS. I'd rather concentrate on the blessings, than complain about the pain, and I am thankful to God for that too.

The last few days, however, my neuropathic pain in my legs and hands is really getting to me. I've had the sensation of pins and needles pretty much all over my body ever since my bad MS attack back in 1997. I kept waiting for that to go away, unfortunately, it has just continued to get worse. It's basically from fried nerve endings all over my body, and it pretty much feels like someone has lit my body on fire. Not a pleasant thought is it? Kinda feels like this~~

And believe me, there are days, I just want to jump in a cool body of water to take that pain away. However, at this time of year, our pool is a little too cold for that. And although it does work in the summer, it only lasts for a short while and then the pain returns. So, you ask, what do I do? I've tried Lyrica, the big drug out on the market for nerve pain, that you see advertised everyday and was actually on it for a few years. It did very little to help and after 2 years when I decided to go off of it, well, let's just say I won't be trying that drug again anytime soon, it almost killed me during withdrawals. I've been getting through the pain by putting ice packs on my head or legs and that helps for a while and then taking a pain med to get me through the night. That knocks me out and allows me to sleep. 

So, why am I talking about it today? Well, I've been suffering quite a bit and have been in a lot of pain these past few days, so much so, that I'm even praying about going to a pain management doctor about this. Mainly because I know that although I've lived with this for many years now, I probably shouldn't have. There has got to be something that can be done to ease some of these most uncomfortable symptoms. Pain management doctor you say? I always thought they were only for the absolute worse cases? Well,who's to say I'm not one of those worst cases? Guess I'll find out.

I pray about this everyday, asking for the Lord's deliverance to get me through the pain and He always brings me through. Now though, I'm thinking He wants me to try to help myself by trying a new and different doctor that can maybe stop the pain and bring it under control before I really go mad. Just like with finding CCSVI, I believe He will open the doors of heaven and help me.

I am seeing the light of Jesus through this pain and know that He will help me find just the right doctor to bring me relief. I'm seeing my neuro in Tampa on Tuesday and will seek his guidance. I am trusting in Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith, to see me through yet another trial with MS. And, I know He surely will because the bible assures me that He will never leave my side! Thank goodness for that! Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Praise God!

I have so much to be excited about right now. Life is great! I've just created a website to the Glory of God www.godsgirl365.com. I'm posting bible verses, a Sarah Young Devotional daily, Inspirational Thoughts for each day, and I haven't got time not be able to handle these things, because I know they bring Glory to you, Jesus!  I am not going to let this bout of pain get to me because I know that God has much bigger plans for me. He has things He wants me to accomplish. He wants me to spread His Word in a mighty way and I will not lie down and give into this pain!!! Thank you Jesus for giving me perseverance to see this through! I know you are with me. I will not let go of your hand!

Please help me friends, by saying a prayer for me. I will surely appreciate them. God Bless you all.

My verse for today is above in red

My prayer for today:

Dear Heavenly Father:

I need your help. I am in pain, Lord and I am suffering quite a bit. Help me Lord. Help me through this pain so I can come out on the other side and bring you glory. I will give all the glory to you because I know that everything I have comes from your Mighty Hand. Thank you Lord for I know you have already answered this prayer and it will happen in your perfect timing!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen and Amen