Tag Archives: Faithful

John 13:34

Corona Virus Covid – 19 and ME

By all evidences other than the test, I may have it.

fever rising and falling…but nothing really high…99.2 is the highest, but 95.5 is the lowest.
I’ve talked to my doctor’s office, and I know what to do and what to look for that would determine if I’m to go get testing.

I have basically no voice…
I’m very tired.

I am self quarantined.

Of course, I had planned to isolate for one to two weeks when we got back up here from Florida, since we drove all the way through, and were in many rest areas. Then, my son-in-law and daughter decided that our distancing from each other was ridiculous since we live on adjoining lots. I went over to plan out our garden for this year….son-in-law handed me the baby…and the next day, I’m having fever-ish symptoms.

Everyone thought the cop would be the one that was most exposed…and, he probably is.

As I look out on the sun breaking through the clouds in NE Ohio, and the wet ground shining like someone varnished all the mud…I worry that I exposed my daughter and her children to this bug. No worry about it, I did.

My symptoms are mild…I just don’t feel good. not even really achy, but achy non the less.
no cough, though I haven’t had much of a voice for a week.
no sneezing, but I’ve been medicating for allergies all Spring.
I’m doing breathing exercises that I do after surgeries to prevent fluid building up in my lungs…to prevent pneumonia.

Now, here’s my thoughts for what it’s worth.

Big World Tale talks about this being the seventh plague in the Bible.

Is it? I don’t know.
I know that in 1980, we were sure we understood the signs in the Bible as telling us to look up for our redemption drew near! Luke 21:28

I have followed Hal Lindsey’s ministry for many years.

We watched the original Thief in the Night movies.

We sung Larry Norman’s “I wish we’d all been ready”.

My first big Bible Study after getting married (no job for the first few months) was trying to line up the various scriptural premonitions/prophecies for the Last Days, Tribulation and Rapture.

For a quickie reference to scriptures that mention the end, Christian Crier has put together these top 7 scriptures on the end times. It does not include Daniel and Revelation timelines.

This is a cool study, though I can’t confirm it’s complete theological correctness…besides, prophesy is best understood looking back!

Why am I talking about “THE END”? Isn’t that depressing? Isn’t that scary?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through[a] Jesus.
15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:[b] We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over[c] those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[d] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage[e] one another with these words.

In the Bible Hub, you can see that 1 Thes 4:18 can also be translated COMFORT!

In what is my comfort?

1 Thes 4:17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

That is my final reward….

Hebrews 12:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12:1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
2 keeping our eyes on Jesus,[a] the source and perfecter[b] of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him[c] endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

This chapter goes on to talk about being SON’S OF GOD!

I’m not going to belabor the point of salvation, and the benefits and rewards therein.

This is about fear.
and faith.
and knowing.

SCARY
The virus we are facing today is scary.
The unknown is scary.
I know fear.

A long time ago, I wrote about Giant’s in my land, based on David’s life, and his need to slay giants.
Number two was There are Giant’s in My Land, Part two. It’s about the Giant Fear.
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan was also an inspiration of recognizing giants, giving them names, then taking back my power from them through Jesus Christ.

FAITH
Faith replaces Fear
Faith is NOT ignorance, or ignoring.
I know faith.

I’ve written a few things about faith:
Advent day 18
My Faith Revealed

Actually – just go do a search for the posts dealing with faith…I try to LIVE by faith.
Faith doesn’t make sense…because if it made sense, if you could see it, it would not be faith:

Hebrews 11:1 King James Version (KJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Just read all of Hebrews 11 for a quick summary of how faith was a huge part of the Bible narrative.

KNOWING
remember who I am, and Whose I am
The Name of the Lord – VICTORY!

Job 19:25
All the things Job went through, and he still declares that I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!!! AND ON THAT LAST DAY…

Am I sick? yes…though getting better.
Is Jim fighting cancer? yes…though God’s got it in control.
Has the world gone crazy with COVID-19? Yes…but those that believe in the dominion of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will not be swayed to fear. Anxiety now and then? probably. I have.

But we KNOW our end.

People say about the Bible – “I’ve read the ending and guess what? God wins!”

There’s so many things that can pull us away from trusting in Christ. WE FORGET THE END OF THE STORY!!!

We do have authority over fear.
And if it’s a mental health issue…God has graciously allowed medicines, and research, and service dogs, and behaviors to be studied to help us with the flesh/physical part so that we can dwell in the spirit.

Micah 6:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 Mankind, He has told you what is good
and what it is the Lord requires of you:
to act justly,
to love faithfulness,
and to walk humbly with your God.

James 1:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our[a] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

John 13:34-35 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Here’s a quick outline I did of Revelation – the End to the Beginning.

DC Talk I wish we’d all been ready.

Search your heart if there is any fear.
Search your faith if there is any fear.
There are so many great chapters in the Bible to comfort us, because they tell us of those that have gone before, and made it.

Think of the Exodus…and what they went through to get ready to walk to the promised land!
Think of Ruth, who gave up everything, after she lost everything including her husband, brother in law and father in law…and completely changed her whole life.
Think of Jesus, who came knowing that He would die to pay the price for our sins…yep…even Him!

I’m finally able to type again, without massive pain in my right shoulder…see that attitude there? “finally”
I haven’t been waiting patiently through this trial.
But I know that my redeemer lives, and that 1 John 1:9-2:2 lets me know that He’s not surprised that I mess up, that I’m not perfect.

All he asks is that I Love Him…and let Him be Lord of my life. And by loving Him, and receiving His Love, I can Love others.

It’s in that love and relationship that my faith can grow, and I can know.
So can you!

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

By His Stripes, I am Healed!

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah – 53:5

I wrote a blog about being prepared…and finding out about my husband having cancer was hard to prepare for!
finding out that the special, state of the art, 98% successful procedure didn’t work, was hard to prepare for.
finding out the second one – shown by the PSA rising again – was unsuccessful…that was hard to prepare for!
going through the scans to find out where the cancer was hiding…

    • MRI – nothing in the prostate (except some prostate …about 1/2 the size of normal) – that was not something that we had prepared for.
      1. first, why was there prostate tissue? it was all supposed to have been burned away, as we understood it.
      2. second, why is there no cancer there, and the rising PSA indicated cancer…somewhere.

      We weren’t prepared well for this.

    • CT scan – Bone scan – NOTHING!!!!!

WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS!!!!

Did I pray for Jim’s healing?
YES!
Were other’s praying for Jim’s healing?
YES!
Did it come the way we thought?
NO!!!

What do you do when God answers your prayer – and you weren’t ready for the answer?
I was not prepared!
I had geared up for a battle.
I had planned my long walk in the dark place – believing against all the odds….

AND GOD!

I WAS NOT PREPARED TO SEE A MIRACLE!

I thought I was walking in faith…looking forward to God’s hand moving….
and I was looking forward…preparing for a future fight…and I almost missed God’s miracle in the NOW!!!

Heb 11:1 – Faith is the substance of things hoped for…the evidence of things unseen….IN THE FUTURE… this is the instructions for waiting for God to arrive…Right???
gird up your loins…
be ready to run with the horses…
Elijah – was looking FORWARD to the rain…before he saw ANY CLOUD in the sky!

AND GOD CAME INTO OUR LIVES…
GOD TOUCHED JIM’S BODY
AND GOD HAS DESTROYED THE CANCER!!!

Does the enemy still rule over this earth? yes.
Does death still roam this earth? yes.

BUT GOD RULES OVER ALL! and says – death, where is your sting! Grave where is your victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55

Honest transparency –
I was working on the faith – for the future…for the healing I couldn’t see.
I’m struggling with the manifestation – the reality – that they found NO CANCER anywhere in Jim’s body!
Why is that?

Faith is the substance of things HOPED FOR..
the evidence of things NOT SEEN!.Heb 11:1

24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words…Romans 8:24-26

I was prepared to WAIT…
I’m used to waiting….
I’m prepared to wait…and wait…and wait…
God’s going to heal me…I believe it….
God’s going to deliver me…I believe it….
God’s going to ….GOING TO!

17For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Yes…I was believing in what I could not see….
and preparing for Jim’s potential death.
So was he.
So were the doctors.
Especially the one that did the treatments…
“I’m sorry man…I’m so sorry…It’s moved out of the confinement…there’s nothing I can do for you”

We were preparing to NOT see a miracle of healing….
We were preparing to see God give us grace to walk through the fire.

There are so many scriptures I could list…of how we were preparing…to accept the NO answer…even not now, which is what it had been, twice.
WE ALMOST MISSED THE ANSWER!!!

Now…I am going to be working on believing that Jim IS HEALED…and that GOD has glorified Himself in Jim’s body!

What about my body?
Well, I was awakened by extreme pain in my lower legs tonight.
I cried out, and battled with the enemy – reminding him that I had asked the Lord for deliverance from this pain.
The Lord met me, and instructed me to go – drink some water – and write this blog.
What level is the pain in my legs now?
0-1 – but more like .5…seriously…0
I’m again, having trouble believing what I AM SEEING IN MY OWN BODY!
I HAVE LIVED SO MANY YEARS WITH PAIN…from the past things done to me, and from the things I have done that did not help those issues be released.’
I have not followed food protocol
I have not followed drink protocol
I have not followed exercise moderation (it’s either a triathlon, or sit in a chair with my foot in a boot)
I have not followed the purposes for which I am called.
I have not fought the fight – I have not stood against the enemy….I was preparing to wait.
I was not standing fast in the liberty wherein Christ has set me FREE!
I was not resisting the enemy so that he would flee!
I WAS ABDICATING MY POSITION AS A CHILD OF GOD!

This morning – while attending church with our daughter, Faith…
the church sang this song:

https://youtu.be/zbiXg_1lXQk

And the Holy Spirit fell upon the congregation, and the pastor, and He spoke things into my heart about knowing that God will move the mountain…he’s done it before, he’ll do it again…he has not failed me….the song says “yet” – by the forth or fifth time of the chorus…I was dropping the yet.

God has not failed me.
I’ve seen him move mountains.
I’ve seen him raise from the dead.
I’ve seen him heal broken bones.
I’ve seen him restore marriages.
I’ve seen him deliver from demons.
God had not failed me!
Not ever, Not before, not future, and NOT NOW!!!

Who moved?
I did.
And I am so glad that God loves me right where I am.
I am so glad that God answers my prayers, even when I’m not ready to see them!
I am confessing my doubts – and my anxieties – and declaring that Jesus is MY LORD, and I say YES to the call to follow (First Baptist Orlando had a great message this morning as well. when it’s posted, I’ll attach it here.)
As Beth Moore taught us:
I Believe:
1. God is who he says He is
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God’s word is alive and active in me!
I am believing God.
Believing God bookmarks
From The Beth Moore Believing God study.

I was preparing to see God move.
I WANT TO BE EXPECTANT!

How about you?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

It’s Christmas Time 2016

It is Christmas time – and this is one of the two seasons of the year that I love.

Christmas – because God gave us Jesus as a gift to deliver us –

Here is a scripture writing plan for December from Sweet Blessings.

Here’s a very traditional version of Joy to the World!

And here’s my current favorite version!

And this is just gorgeous!

My other favorite Holiday is the point of Christmas – it is Easter.

But, for now, we will be celebrating Advent.

I have created a page in which I will post my Advent Devotions.

I will also repost them to my facebook and on The WildBerry Patch FB page daily.

I pray that this season will be filled with the Joy of the Lord in your lives!

And I pray for this world – as this song prayed for Emmanuel.

And may the faithful rise up and shine a light into this dark world.

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2016 Word for the year

I was given a suggestion – one little word. Based upon Ali Edwards’ One Little Word. (scrapbooking focused)

12/26/2015
We have done that in the past, but last year, I was in a mental hospital and wasn’t sure.

This year I’m hearing prepare. Maybe two words, faithfully prepare.

I tend to forget them through the year, until I look back over the year and see God’s hand. I think this year’s leading will be much more obvious as I walk 2016.

12/30/2015
Stewardship would work with the “prepare” for me, as I’m to prepare for coming storms. Stewardship fits in there. Blessed to be a blessing is our giving phrase…which works with stewardship and preparing things so that you are a blessing, not a burden.

Plans, which were supposed to be the focus of this week, and have not been, are the cornerstone of my word preparation…with bible prep being the most important. That’s where I get adding faithful.

I could snag so many of your words(from my friends), probably all of them, and though they have things in common, they mean something different too us as individuals!

Prayer – the war room was timed perfectly for one of my middle of the night needs for encouragement. My prayer life will be changing this year as I practice and prepare for battles, and attack old ones anew. But I wasn’t given the word prayer, this year! That had been my word before. As has faith. Trust. Sounds the same , don’t those two? But they weren’t for me!

Another friend recommended the site My One Word for those that don’t scrapbook.

My word is PREPARE
faithfully prepare

And the first four things I’m to focus upon are
Faith
Foundations
Finances
Food

Here we go!

Me and My Love

Me and My Love

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank Blue Letter Bible and Bible Gateway for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries