OUCH!!!!

Today, I went to church, ran the camera, went to lunch with my family, worked for five hours, and then went to pick up my sister from a friend's house. By the end of the day, my back was AGONY.

I don't have back trouble. I've never stressed my back, pulled anything, slept on a bad matress for more than a week (can't control the vacation beds!), or struggled with sciatica. But this - this was serious. It hurt to drive home.

I went upstairs and lay down on Abby's bed. (My youngest sister.) She has a very firm, supportive mattress and I figured it would be best for the situation. Not so much. Once I lay down, I couldn't get up!! This was quickly becoming an "AAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" situation!

What could I do? I have to be back at work on Tuesday and willing to stand for eight hours straight. At the time I was thinking about these facts, I couldn't sit up straight without panic inducing pain.

My only hope. "Jesus, I need help." Bam, the next thought: Jeremy's going to be home in an hour, have him pray for you.

Luke 4:40
When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, than whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Well, Jeremy got home about twenty minutes ago. He came straight upstairs and prayed for me. I got up and began walking around. At first, I couldn't stand up straight or support much of my own weight. Then, as he kept praying, the pain started flowing out of my legs. Just kept growing less and less and less. I was able to stand on my own. I was able to straighten my back. I was able to sit down and stand up again. I was able to WALK DOWN STAIRS.

Jesus healed me. Wasn't mind over matter. Wasn't pain medication (not that I'm saying stop taking medications!!). It wasn't some wacko voodoo trick. Jesus loves me. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I'm able to write this down because Jesus healed me.

A Brazen Posting

There are times when I realize that I shield my vulgar humanity from God's view. You know what I mean? The coarser side, the dirtier flaws. There's an idea lurking that I need to work on those things on my own for a bit and get them tidied up before I can let God have a go at them. Like God would be offended or surprised by anything I did!! Ha!

I like to think that I post helpful things on here. That I'm willing to post about the lessons that I've learned that trained my "uglier" side. But a friend of mine just posted a story that totally blows my illusion of transparency out of the water.

It's gritty, it's strongly worded, it's uncensored. But I honestly believe that it touches on a topic that we need to think about. Don't be offended. Hear the message. Grow.

Check it out.

Heart Health

This is an outline for a teaching that I did with my church's young women's group. Hope ya like it!

Heart Health

Heart health isn’t something anyone should pursue and practice on his/her own. God should be involved in the process every step of the way. Without the Holy Spirit's involvement, we can hurt ourselves by being too critical, judgmental, and condemning. So before you get started, I'd like to encourage you to ask God for help!

Matt. 11:25-30 & John 17:20-26

I. Importance of Heart Health

a. We live our lives from our hearts.

1) From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matt. 12:34)

2) Decisions start in the heart. (Do an online search, check out the stories!)

b. God sows His seed in our hearts! Our hearts are our personal vineyards. Are they prepared and well tended? (Matt. 13:11-23)

II. How do you know if your heart is sick? (I’d like to mention that there are varying degrees of heart sickness: Slight heart cold to more serious. Doesn’t just have to be super serious.)

a. DUH.

b. DUH. (I think most of us can diagnose when our hearts are sick)

c. Are you depressed?

d. Are you struggling with anger issues/rage?

e. Is there someone that you’re refusing to forgive? (Could be YOURSELF!!!)

f. Plagued by baaaad thoughts?

g. Is your imagination negative and stagnant?

h. Would you say that you’re a pessimist?

i. Do you have hurts that you refuse to acknowledge, much less ask God to heal?

j. Do you have trouble sharing your heart with ANYONE AT ALL?

III. Meds for Your Heart.

a. Get Choo’s Eyes On JESUS!!

1) Ps. 16:8-11 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right had, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

b. Spend time in the presence of God. Nothing is more healing than the presence of God! He is Love! His words can unravel knots in us, suture the daily cuts of every day life, and answer our hearts' most agonizing questions.

c. Worship God on your own time and in your own way.

1) Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

d. Ask God what He thinks of you. People will always try to redefine you. They'll try and tell you who you are. Without realizing it, we accept a certain percentage of what they say, and we lose our center. God can bring us back to peace and certainty about who we are. (He's never condemning, so don't be scared to ask!)

e. Be THANKFUL!! Write up a list of past victories that God has brought you through! Write a thank you note to God!

f. Speak in tongues. (1Cor 14:4)

g. Use your imagination for good! Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think on these things!

h. Act like you know what you’re doing. Be a copycat.(Evaluate friendships. I'm not saying drop the all your old friends! I AM saying hang out with the friends who are encouraging and loving to you, the friends who challenge you to grow in good ways!) Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

i. Forgive. Release the people and pains that you’re holding in your heart. These wounds get septic. (As Oprah says, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die!") Ask God to show you the hurts you’ve kept hidden, and then let Him heal them.

j. Make a confession. Doesn't have to be long; the shorter the better actually. Write up a paragraph that makes good statements about yourself. (Example: I'm healthy, I'm strong, I'm more than a conqueror all day long.) Base it on scripture to remind yourself of the promises of God!