Good Monday morning ladies and Happy November! I hope you had a great weekend. For me, it was kind of like a roller coaster ride. A couple days of hills and valleys. I think I've mentioned to you that I've been struggling with a sore throat for about a month now. It's been a bit mysterious because the pain comes and goes. There are no other symptoms. I called my primary care doctor several weeks ago and she thought it was due to reflux which, at the time seemed like a real possibility. She put me on an extra antacid, combined with my already high dose of medication for this. This brought me no relief from the sore throat. This past Friday night I went to bed with the worst pain yet. I decided that if I woke up with the pain, I would go to Urgent Care that morning. So, that's what happened. The clinic was a branch of Mayo Clinic and the doctor that saw me was great. Very understanding and compassionate. For just a quick Urgent Care appointment, I was pleasantly surprised. We were there for at least an hour. He went through my history with me, did the usual exam, and even did bloodwork. I don't have any type of virus or infection. He tested my blood for inflammation and some of my markers were elevated. He also thought my throat had inflammation. He prescribed a medication for pain when it gets bad. I am probably having a flare of the autoimmune disease. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing anything. Better to know.
After the appointment we did our shopping and I made it to Hobby Lobby to get the yarn. Yay! It was a much longer day than originally anticipated, but still a nice day out and about.
On Sunday, we had a great message on healing and forgiveness for wounds that have taken place in our lives. At the end of the service, we were asked if we wanted prayer and annointing. I waited awhile and nobody was going forward, but I felt a nudging from God because of something the doctor had mentioned to me at Urgent Care. As we were talking everything through, he told me that the Prednisone I had been on for years had probably been the cause of my hips needing replacing at such a young age. It can cause bone deterioration. I was stunned for a few minutes because I'd been told that my autoimmune issues had caused it. Never once was I told it was due to a medication. When I think about it, I probably came across some information about the ill effects of Prednisone, but never connected the dots of what it was doing to me in that area. As I processed this through Saturday evening and into the next morning, I started to get frustrated and angry. It was all aimed at my first rheumatologist from years ago. She had handled my case so poorly in so many ways. I realized in the church service the next morning how bitter I had been about it, and how this new information was devastating to me. I can't even tell you if this medication even helped me. I've been off of it for over a year now and I don't see a difference. Anyway, regardless of mismanagement, I knew that I had to forgive this doctor. I also had to move on from it because things are the way they are now. We can't live with the "what if?" As my husband prayed for me and a friend talked with me after the service, I realized that God had used this appointment to help me move on. The doctor told me that he would recommend a new rheumatologist in the Mayo system. I will also be calling a nutritionist today to see how diet can help me on this journey. Thanks for reading all of this. Maybe it will help you in the area of forgiveness in some way. Please let me know if I can pray for you. I feel it's important to share our stories with each other. I appreciate all of you!
Devotion
This is a powerful reminder that God has put in each one of us a passion for something specific in this life. He is transforming us day by day to do this calling. Have a MEANINGFUL MONDAY ladies!
"God Calling"
CBN Ministries, Allison Johnson
“Mom, you’re different.” Kayla sat on the edge of her bed carefully arranging her stuffed animals as she prepared to snuggle into her blankets for the night.
Smiling, I reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, “Sweetie, what do you mean I’m different, different how?”
She paused thoughtfully and then surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and whispered in her 8-year-old voice, “Mom, you’re still the same Mom I’ve always had ... you’re just different. But, it’s okay; you’re still the best Mom ever.” Kissing my cheek as she released my neck, sinking into her pillows she motioned for me to finish tucking her in.
As I turned out her light, her words echoed in my mind. I knew I was different, definitely. God had been working on my heart for a long time. I liked who I was becoming with my new outlook and felt excited about where God was leading. Walking through the rest of the house locking doors and closing blinds, I reflected on how God was moving in me. New truths about my values, and my passion had pointed me to a new way of being that ushered in a fresh feeling of freedom and contentment.
What are your values?
God created each of us with our own God-given design. These values are the foundation upon which we build our lives. Things like, living with integrity, honesty, respect, and loyalty are the basis of a value system that serves to empower us to steward our lives well. Recognizing the values He instills within us allows us to live with clarity and purpose. Knowing our values gives us the ability to partner with the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV),
“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.”
By trusting in this promise and standing firmly upon our values, we can release ourselves from the world’s expectations of being someone we are not and instead believe the truth of who we are in Christ.
What is your passion?
Discovering our passion begins with God and it’s through this relationship that we can become a person of influence. Operating in our passion makes everything bright, meaningful, and filled with purpose. Passion is what gives us the energy to dream the impossible, believing it is possible. My passion is to encourage others to be who God intended, helping others to fulfill their potential for greatness. This passion was placed in my heart by God, just like your passion is waiting to be unlocked. Ask yourself, “Who is God calling me to serve?” And then ask God to break through the lie that says you can’t do it and instead embrace the truth of Philippians 4:13 that states so clearly that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
A new way of being…
It takes courage to admit when we aren’t content and it feels risky to appeal to God for a new way of being. At the beginning of my own transformation, I was anything but happy and desperately wanted change. I was counseled, coached, mentored, and studied the word searching for the truth of who I was and who God intended me to be. I discovered that Christ calls each of us to seek Him because He wants to be our new way of being. Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT),
“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
Now, the words “You’re different Mom,” are words that fill me with the affirming truth of being in a transformational relationship with Jesus. The old has gone, the new has come. Will you let Him transform you?
After the appointment we did our shopping and I made it to Hobby Lobby to get the yarn. Yay! It was a much longer day than originally anticipated, but still a nice day out and about.
On Sunday, we had a great message on healing and forgiveness for wounds that have taken place in our lives. At the end of the service, we were asked if we wanted prayer and annointing. I waited awhile and nobody was going forward, but I felt a nudging from God because of something the doctor had mentioned to me at Urgent Care. As we were talking everything through, he told me that the Prednisone I had been on for years had probably been the cause of my hips needing replacing at such a young age. It can cause bone deterioration. I was stunned for a few minutes because I'd been told that my autoimmune issues had caused it. Never once was I told it was due to a medication. When I think about it, I probably came across some information about the ill effects of Prednisone, but never connected the dots of what it was doing to me in that area. As I processed this through Saturday evening and into the next morning, I started to get frustrated and angry. It was all aimed at my first rheumatologist from years ago. She had handled my case so poorly in so many ways. I realized in the church service the next morning how bitter I had been about it, and how this new information was devastating to me. I can't even tell you if this medication even helped me. I've been off of it for over a year now and I don't see a difference. Anyway, regardless of mismanagement, I knew that I had to forgive this doctor. I also had to move on from it because things are the way they are now. We can't live with the "what if?" As my husband prayed for me and a friend talked with me after the service, I realized that God had used this appointment to help me move on. The doctor told me that he would recommend a new rheumatologist in the Mayo system. I will also be calling a nutritionist today to see how diet can help me on this journey. Thanks for reading all of this. Maybe it will help you in the area of forgiveness in some way. Please let me know if I can pray for you. I feel it's important to share our stories with each other. I appreciate all of you!
Devotion
This is a powerful reminder that God has put in each one of us a passion for something specific in this life. He is transforming us day by day to do this calling. Have a MEANINGFUL MONDAY ladies!
"God Calling"
CBN Ministries, Allison Johnson
“Mom, you’re different.” Kayla sat on the edge of her bed carefully arranging her stuffed animals as she prepared to snuggle into her blankets for the night.
Smiling, I reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, “Sweetie, what do you mean I’m different, different how?”
She paused thoughtfully and then surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and whispered in her 8-year-old voice, “Mom, you’re still the same Mom I’ve always had ... you’re just different. But, it’s okay; you’re still the best Mom ever.” Kissing my cheek as she released my neck, sinking into her pillows she motioned for me to finish tucking her in.
As I turned out her light, her words echoed in my mind. I knew I was different, definitely. God had been working on my heart for a long time. I liked who I was becoming with my new outlook and felt excited about where God was leading. Walking through the rest of the house locking doors and closing blinds, I reflected on how God was moving in me. New truths about my values, and my passion had pointed me to a new way of being that ushered in a fresh feeling of freedom and contentment.
What are your values?
God created each of us with our own God-given design. These values are the foundation upon which we build our lives. Things like, living with integrity, honesty, respect, and loyalty are the basis of a value system that serves to empower us to steward our lives well. Recognizing the values He instills within us allows us to live with clarity and purpose. Knowing our values gives us the ability to partner with the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV),
“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.”
By trusting in this promise and standing firmly upon our values, we can release ourselves from the world’s expectations of being someone we are not and instead believe the truth of who we are in Christ.
What is your passion?
Discovering our passion begins with God and it’s through this relationship that we can become a person of influence. Operating in our passion makes everything bright, meaningful, and filled with purpose. Passion is what gives us the energy to dream the impossible, believing it is possible. My passion is to encourage others to be who God intended, helping others to fulfill their potential for greatness. This passion was placed in my heart by God, just like your passion is waiting to be unlocked. Ask yourself, “Who is God calling me to serve?” And then ask God to break through the lie that says you can’t do it and instead embrace the truth of Philippians 4:13 that states so clearly that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
A new way of being…
It takes courage to admit when we aren’t content and it feels risky to appeal to God for a new way of being. At the beginning of my own transformation, I was anything but happy and desperately wanted change. I was counseled, coached, mentored, and studied the word searching for the truth of who I was and who God intended me to be. I discovered that Christ calls each of us to seek Him because He wants to be our new way of being. Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT),
“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
Now, the words “You’re different Mom,” are words that fill me with the affirming truth of being in a transformational relationship with Jesus. The old has gone, the new has come. Will you let Him transform you?
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