A New Heart

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”   Ezekiel 36:24-26

Living in this world tends to taint the believer’s heart, mind, and soul.  Whether we realize it or not taking in the enticing worldly views day in and day out overwhelms the heart and begins to seep into our lives.  Little by little we become more and more like the world causing the lines of separation and purity to blur.  This is why it is so important to guard our hearts with diligence (Proverbs 4:23).

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  Proverbs 4:34

When we seek the Lord first in all we do (Matthew 6:33), God will begin to work on our lives and weed out the sin that has taken root in your heart unawares.  He will cleanse our heart white as snow (Isaiah 1:18) and make up like new (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The “new heart” and “new spirit”  are renewed by the Holy Spirit which instills a new look on life, a new yearning to serve and worship Christ, and a new hunger to please Him in all that we do.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:  though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Journal Entries Sept 13-15, 2017

September 13, 2017

8:03pm – Headache.  Whole body aches. Tired.

1:59pm – Headache.  Struggling with focus.  Trouble remembering things.  I am physically and mentally drained & exhausted!  Heart beating hard.  Whole body aches.

11:29pm – Still have headache.  Tired.  Took 2 naps today.  Teaching wore me out.  Muscles ache.  Periodic muscle twitching in legs.  Hard to focus.  Tripped over words in classes a few times today.

Joe got a job today.  He starts tomorrow. 

Jakob got assurance.  Missing home.  He’s going to be okay.  Just need pray hard from him to get a job.

September 14, 2017

I have a new appreciation for Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,…”

7:14am – Massive headache mainly on left side of head.  Lights hurt my eyes.  Lower back hurts.

I saw spots last night before falling asleep, but I didn’t think about it until now. Ugh!

(7:12) Headon – not working

(7:30) Saline nasel spray – no change

(7:45) Naproxen 500mg – eased slightly

(7:45) Peppermint oil – eased slightly

8:08am – Starting to get icy sensation from inside out in center of chest. (Lasted one hour)

Headache easing slightly.  Sharp pain in back between shoulders.  Neck hurts.  Hypersensitivity to things touching me.  Right hip hurts.  Ugh!

(8:15) Ice pack – hurts, feels too heavy

(9:43) Drank Cinnamon Coconut Latte – eased a little more

(10:46) Headache has down graded to tension headache – able to start thinking a little better

(4:00) Still have headache.  Applied pain relief Blend essential oils to back of neck

(4:00) Headache is gone. YEAH!

Blooming flower at church

7:56p – I love, love, love how the Lord provides little blessings in the midst of our trials!

9:47p – Heart beating hard and fast.

September 15, 2017

Woke up with “His Grace Is Sufficient for Me” song on my mind.

8:36am – Woke up at 4am with all my body parts hurting except my head.  Skin hypersensitive – sheet sifted and it felt like bugs crawling on me.   Extra sensitive to loud noises.  Slightly bloody nose.

12:20pm – Asked Mom to take me to P.O. to mail pkg.   Had Dezirae take it in because it was raining.  Can’t walk fast and still walking with cane for balance. 

Went to the produce market to get veggies.  Using buggy to walk with and still have to take breaks of rest. 

Went to bank to deposit a check.  Forgot I couldn’t deposit check not written to me. Ugh!

Had to sit in car rest of errands because first few errands wipe me out and my right hip and legs were throbbing.

10:16pm – Body aches.  Right hip is throbbing like a toothache.  Out of breath, but I haven’t done much.  Muscles are cramping in calf area.  Noticed a sore on my head (left side) today not sure how it got there.  Applying Frankinsence oil to keep it from getting infected. Can’t remember if I took my vitamins today.  Tired, but can’t sleep.

Journal Entries Sept 10-12, 2017

September 10, 2017

7:38am – Woke up with Charlie horse of a cramp in my right leg (thigh, calf, & foot).  Toes are tingly and feel funny.  Slight headache. 

Can’t talk right this morning either.  Family getting a kick out of my speech problem. (i.e. Cinnamon up in the cinnamon thingy instead of spice cabinet).

Burning sensation in front of right calf.  Noticed that I have to use the bathroom more than I used to.

Struggle with remembering things.  Ugh!  So frustrating!!!

6:22pm – Muscle cramp in thigh and calf.  Muscles tense…hurts to stretch.  Sudden sharp pain in right leg…made me jump.  Random hiccups throughout day.  Loud noises make me jumpy.  Hands and feet are swollen.  Noticing small bruises I didn’t know I had.

8:30pm- Had to stop for milk on way home from church.  Got shocked 4 different times while in grocery store. 

Jordon patted me on back and shocked me pretty good. I touched shelf and got shocked.  Dezirae touched me two different times and shocked me both times.  Not fun!

September 11, 2017

11:04am – Helped clean living room (put movies away & dusted some).  Now every inch of me hurts.  Applying heating pad to lower back.  End of fingers tingly.  Movie drawer fell on right leg.  Ouch!!! I have instant bruise & lump on leg.

11:11pm – Had missionary family McLean’s over for dinner.  Eventful night.  Several kids got stung while exploring in wood.  Baking soda paste, Melaleuca & Lavender essential oils to the rescue!

Glad to be a blessing to someone else.  It encouraging me. 

I’m exhausted and in so much pain!!  Right hip throbbing and pain shooting down right leg.  I’m foggy brained.  Joe says right lower back is swollen and hot to the touch.

September 12, 2017

9:13am – Hurt so bad I had a hard time getting any sleep even took pain pill & muscle relaxer.

Woke up to feeling like my heart was racing & tired from being in a race.  Whole body aches.  Eyes watering.  Stuffy nose.  I’m tired and slow moving.

5:47pm – Having tough day staying focused on tasks.  Need to prepare for my classes tomorrow. 

It’s difficult to stay positive when things around me seem to be falling apart.

11:08pm – My right hip is really hurting (scale 9)!  Muscles is mid & upper back are twitching.  Neck on right side is aching.  Slight headache all day.  Extra sensivity to loud noises.  Extremely exhausted, but can’t sleep.  It’s warm in house, but I’m cold have to put socks on.

Journal Enteries Sept 7-9,2017

September 7, 2017

8:47am – Woke at 6am with extreme pain and cramping in right thigh.  Lower leg spasms.  Lower back throbbing.  Can’t get back to sleep.  Read Bible on phone.  Got up cooked breakfast (eggs & toast).

Brain feels foggy.  Feels like I’ve forgotten something, but I can’t remember what it was.  Broke down crying.

2:20pm- Had trouble painting mine & Dezirae’s nails…hands are shaky.  

Have trouble staying focused on one task.  Constantly finding things left out I thought I out away.  Still having trouble getting thought across, tripping over words – so frustrating!

4:19pm- I was scheduled for a follow up mammogram  today, but had to reschedule.  I attempted to go…signed in and all.  Sat in waiting room for at least 30 minutes.  I never had to wait that long before.  The longer I wait the more anxiety sets in.  I’m trying to be brave but it isn’t happening today.  I fell apart in the waiting room.  I couldn’t handle it today – broke down crying.  I’m an emotional basket case today.  I went to the desk while sobbing and told the lady that I had to reschedule.  I explained why.  They apologized for the long wait and was going to try to rush me through.  I told them I couldn’t handle it today.  They seemed to understand.  Never had this before.

6:52pm – Sporadic hiccups (1-3 at a time) throughout the day

September 8, 2017

6:50am – Woke up with headache.  Muscles are all tight especially on right side.  Right hip throbbing.  Cramping in right side.  Left fingertips are tingly.  Stuffy nose.

Had nightmare that I lost my luggage and my Bible on a trip to Disney and couldn’t get it back.  Stuck in a handicap lane and they wouldn’t let me out to go get my Bible.  Song on my mind was “It Will Be Worth It All.”

10:47am- Hung load of clothes on line to dry.  Muscles in lower back and right hip area now spazzing.  Ugh!

11:30am- Center of chest is now icy cold.  I guess I’ve overdone it again.  Feet are cold too.

Right hip is feeling icy cold too.  Icy sensation traveling through center of back.

11:48am – Praising the Lord that though I am in the midst of a difficult trial I know without a shadow of a doubt that I’m on my way to Heaven one day. “It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus!”

5:43pm – About had another breakdown…Talking to Jakob on my husband’s ear piece.  We went through dead zone and lost connection.  Jakob called back.  I didn’t know the headset vibrated on calls.  It scared the dickens out of me!!!  I Hollard, “Ahh!!! These things are vibrating!!! I thought I was being electrocuted again!  Get them off of me!!!”

Joe and Jordon laughed! Now my back muscles are spazzing.  Ugh!  Muscles twitching in right arm.

*Looking back I probably was a sight for sore eyes trying to get those things off of me while screaming. 🙂

11:45pm – extreme pain in lower back.

September 9, 2017

7:46am – Woke up to alarm at 6am.  Lower back aches.  Slight headache.  Tripping over words and saying them backwards  (i.e. cylenol with toedine instead of Tylenol with codeine).  Feel like I’m in a fog.

11;13am – Tailbone area and right hip throbbing.  Muscles in thighs are twitching.  I’m in so much pain I just want to lash out irrationally!!!  Every muscle is also twitching.

3:48pm – Extra pain causes irritability.  Hearing chips chewed like nails scratching chalk board!!!

10:23pm – Intense cramping in right thigh down to bottom of my leg.  I can’t get comfortable or get it to go away.  Don’t know what to do.

Diligent Faith

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This year I want to grow my faith – a FAITH that trusts that the Lord knows what He is doing even on my most difficult days. Days when my pain is so bad I can barely muster the strength to get out of bed. Faith that believes in the inspired, infallible Word of God more than in my feelings, in my circumstances, or in the thoughts or opinions of others.

God’s Word is full of examples of people who believed God at His Word when no one else did. Noah built an ark for a flood of waters that He didn’t know from where it would come (Genesis 6). Esther was brought to the king’s palace “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) to save her people. Gideon who followed strange orders to dwindle his army down to just three hundred men to conquer their enemies (Judges 7). There are many more that are part of our “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) which are cheering us on to press toward the mark.

I want to please God by drawing closer to Him and in return He will draw closer to me.

Be Still

Psalms 46:10-11
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. It is of utmost importance that we take time to be still and remember who the Lord is. When we surrender our days to the Lord, He will multiply our time and energy. He will provide the help we need. He will give light to our path and help us to accomplish what He would have us do.

Journal Entries Sept. 4-6, 2017

September 4, 2017

I definitely know I can’t control our current circumstances (my being struck by lightning and learning to deal with it’s painful after effects, Joe losing his job, etc). All I can do is pray and follow the Lord through the wilderness and HE WILL carry us through.

12:25pm – Went to the beach today to dip in ocean for scalp healing.  Sat on edge of ocean for most of time.  Sun felt good on my body.  I love coming to the beach!

Eventually went waist deep with Joe’s help & dunked under once.  Had to hold onto Joe the whole time.  My balance is off and I’m afraid of falling. Ocean had a calming effect on my equilibrium.  I can’t even explain it! 

We’ll see how I feel later today.  Walking on sand felt like a work out.

10:00pm- We had an enjoyable day though I’m in pain. Gonna try to fall asleep and see if I can get some relief.  In Jesus’ name, we press on.

1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Dauphin Island, Alabama

September 5, 2017

8:05am- Woke up sore all over.  Surprisingly my right hip doesn’t hurt as much.  Right neck still stiff, but doesn’t hurt as bad either.  Feel like I’m inside a tunnel.

2:39pm – Starting to hurt bad all over (8).  Probably should take pain pill now so I’m not crying later.  Able to wash 3 loads of clothes.  Make bread using bread maker.  I love homemade bread!  Wash a few dishes.  Plannin for ASL classes tomorrow.  Trouble staying focused on one thing.  Easily distracted and confused.  Frustrating that I misplace things easily.  Balance seems a little better today.

10:59pm – Took pain pill for bed.  Muscles throbbing all over.

September 6, 2017

7:36am- Woke up at 3:30am.  Heard thunder outside.  Used restroom and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Right hip hurts.  Legs ache.  Lower back hurts.

3:13pm – My right hip is throbbing!!  I’m exhausted too.  Muscles periodically are randomly spazzing. Head hurts slightly.  Right leg feels heavy.  Tripped over words in classes a few times.  Forgot how to explain some things, but did fairly well today.  Going to take nap.

Your Labour Is Not In Vain in the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

09.04.2017

Zacchaeus’ Change

Luke 19:1-5
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The Roman Empire had imposed steep taxes on everyone. Tax collectors were some of the most unfavorable people in Isreal.

Jews who chose to work for the Romans were considered turncoats. This made Zacchaeus a very unliked man. In every society, there are people who are unloved or deemed untouchable because of their behavior or lifestyle.

In spite of his disposition, Jesus loved Zacchaeus. Jesus loved the whole world enough to give His life that we may be able to go to heaven with Him one day.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming through Jericho. He wanted to see what the fuss was all about. But because of his short stature, he had to climb a tree to see above the crowds.

Interesting side thought…Jesus knew years before that Zacchaeus would need to climb that tree. Jesus created that specific tree for that specific purpose! God provides for our needs even before we know they exist. What an awesome God!!!

Little did Zacchaeus know he would not only meet Jesus, but Jesus would also be coming to his house. What a difference it made in his life the day he met the Saviour!

Have you met the Saviour? If so, has your faith caused a change? If not, what changes do you need to make?

I will ever be grateful for the day that Jesus entered my life and changed it forever. Thankful for His redeeming grace!
11.20.18

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