Author Archives: louisa9463

Jesus Grows

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The Bible has a lot of Promises that God has given us. So wonderful!. It’s especially interesting to learn how Jesus grew while He lived on earth. If Jesus grew that way, then we can grow that way in our faith. Grow in Jesus

Some people may like to pick a verse and memorize it. Or do a “deep dive” [study the verse]. What to do? Choose a verse you like. I choose a verse from Book of Luke.

Luke 2:52 “As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom. God was pleased with him and so were the people who knew him.” (ERV)

I ask myself what this verse mean? I break it down and take each part alone.

  1. Jesus grew taller, or physically, or healthy.
  2. Jesus grew in wisdom, and in knowledge.
  3. Jesus more and more pleased God, or spiritually.
  4. Jesus also pleased people, and earned their respect.

Jesus grew in all these ways when He lived on earth, so we can grow this way also.

How do I make this verse meaningful to me? For me this verse means:

God wants me to grow physically, so I can be healthy for Him. Right now I am having some problems dealing with cancer, but I want to be as healthy as I can and live for Him.

God wants me to grow in wisdom, to learn things for Him. God wants me to more and more please Him, grow spiritually. God wants me to also please people, by earning their respect.

By memorizing and studying this verse, I find God wants me to learn by growing in Him. Jesus grew physically. He became wise. He pleased God and people liked him. God wants me to be like Jesus. So I can grow in these four ways as Jesus did. All of it is to grow in Him. Grow our faith in Jesus.

You Have Cancer

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Psalm 16:8 “I always remember that the Lord is with me. He is here, close by my side, so nothing can defeat me.”  (ERV)

“You have cancer.” On August 30, 2018 I read those words on my doctor’s lips. It is cancer of Bone Marrow or Multiple Myeloma. Those words are hard to hear and accept. A friend of mine asked me:  “How did you find out?  Any symptoms? How did this happen?”

I had Anemia most of my life. Over the years, whenever I went to my family doctor for a six-month check-up, blood tests and lab tests were done.  These were checked by my doctor.  My doctor may then say to add some vitamins to help, or take another supplement. But when I went to my doctor in July, 2018, my doctor noticed I had a low blood cell count.  She was concerned about that so she wanted me to see a Specialist. a Hematologist is one who studies blood and bone marrow.  I started going to my Specialist in early August.  More blood tests! One time 11 vials were taken! Also a Bone Marrow Biopsy. That hurts! On August 30, blood tests and bone marrow biopsy results came in.  I was told that I have cancer of Bone Marrow or Myeloma. What’s that?  It affects the plasma cells of bone marrow. It can be anywhere in my body where my bones are! 

My Specialist set up a treatment plan for me.  It won’t be Chemo by infusion, but I do have to get a strong drug, that is injected into my body.  Usually in my stomach, and it is injected slowly.  I go two times a week, Tuesdays and Fridays.  Go for two weeks, and then I’m off one week.  At the end of two weeks, I talk to the doctor, so that it may be adjusted as I go along.  In addition to the Injections, I also take some pills to go along with the shots. The goal is for me to get into remission with this treatment. This means to make my cancer inactive. Why? Because there is no cure for this kind of cancer. I will always have it. 

This was my Doctor’s plan for treatment. But in my mind, I’m still hearing the words, you have cancer!  That is hard to accept.

So far I’ve gone through the first two weeks of treatment. And take all the pills too. Going to the Room where I get the ”shots” is humbling and mind boggling.  I’ve gone to two offices; one office has room for about 10 patients, and the other office has room for about 20 patients.  All these people have cancer, of one kind or another,  They are either getting blood tests, infusion, chemo or shots, like me. More people to pray for! My treatments have side effects. One side effect is to make me feel tired all the time.

Psalm 62:1 “I must calm down and turn to God, only He can rescue me.” (ERV)

When I go for my “shots” I’m a little nervous! I realize some friends, as well as my brother, and my husband, and cousin have gone through cancer treatments.  So I now understand more what they have gone through.

I am very thankful for you, my friends and my family who are praying for me, and my  husband for his wonderful support. I’m learning to trust God more, no matter what happens.  So thank you so much for your prayers.

Father’s Day 2018

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Ecclesiastes 3:4 “There is a time to cry, and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad, and a time to dance from joy.” (EVD)

June has a special day to remember Fathers; June 17, 2018 is Father’s Day. A day to honor and celebrate and remember our fathers. Some of you are fathers. Great! Some of your fathers are still living. Wonderful! What a blessing! Some fathers may have passed away, but they still live in our hearts and memories. They will always be a part of us.

My father enjoyed listening to music. He liked the Lawrence Welk TV show! He listened to polka music on the radio. That was HIS music, and it made him happy. At family weddings, he enjoyed dancing to the polka music. If I was nearby, he would take me as his partner and off we would go! He liked spinning around so fast at times, I almost felt dizzy. I would hold on and when I might start feeling dizzy, he would guide our dance straight so I could get my bearings, before spinning about again. He enjoyed dancing the polka.

I remember one wedding my father and I attended. My mother was not feeling well so she stayed home. Dad and I planned to go to the wedding and reception but not stay long. We were ready to leave, but the music started to play a polka! My Dad wanted to dance! With a twinkle in his eye he grabbed me and away we were dancing. When it came to the polka dance, it was like Dad gotta dance!

It’s always been a favorite memory of mine, dancing the polka with my Dad. I pray you all have fond memories of your Dad as well.

Happy Mother’s Day 2018

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I’m sure you all have memories of your Mother.  Some Mothers are still living.  Wonderful!  Some of you are Mothers.  Great!  Some of your Mothers are no longer living, but they live in your hearts.  I miss my Mom but I’m happy for the times that I had with her.

My Mother was fond of phrases.  I’m not sure why but she liked them:  

  • “A watched pot never boils.”
  • “Haste makes waste.”
  • “We grow too soon old and too late smart.”

It’s funny. Now I can’t really remember any particular phrase that my Mother really liked.  It’s just when a situation comes up, I think about what Mom would say!  Then I think, oh my! I’m turning into my Mom.  But that’s ok.

My Mom read somewhere that the best gifts that you can give your children are Roots and Wings.  That makes one pause and think about it.  

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Tithing

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Tithing? What’s that? Who does Tithing? Why should we tithe? Is that really in the Bible?

Malachi 3:10 ‘The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything.”’ (ERV)

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Merry Christmas 2017

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The Bible tells the story of Jesus’ birth in different gospels. Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-18.  Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-21.  For this devotional, I am using only Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 and these verses are found below. These verses tell stories from Mary’s and Joseph’s perspective.  I found four, amazing similarities between their stories:

  1. Both Mary and Joseph are visited by angels.  An angel appears to Mary.  An angel came to Joseph in a dream. Communication with angels was extremely rare.
  2. Both Mary and Joseph were told by the angels, “Do not be afraid.”  They were to be married and found out that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  These were unusual circumstances to say the least. 
  3. Both Mary and Joseph accepted what the angel had told them.  What faith!
  4. Both were told to name the baby Jesus.  He will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21. “She will give birth to a son,  You will name him Jesus.  Give him that name because He will save his people from their sins.” (ERV) 

Jesus is our hope.  Named by angels, He was born for us, for you, for me.  We can come to know Jesus as our Savior.  Jesus comes into our hearts and saves us from our sins.  We do not have to be afraid. God is with us.  Amen.

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Happy Thanksgiving Day 2017

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I was wondering how Thanksgiving in America got started and when it became a Holiday. Just a Brief history lesson!

Thanksgiving began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. In 1621 the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony set aside a day of Thanksgiving to God. It was a harvest festival.

Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders up until 1682, and then by church and state leaders until the American Revolution, according to Wikipedia. Thus Thanksgiving has historical roots in both religious and cultural traditions.

Through the years after the Revolution, Presidents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving proclamations with Lincoln, in 1864, turning it into a Federal holiday on the last Thursday of November. Finally, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November to make more time for Christmas shopping.

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