Sharing the Journey

Though I did my 30 minutes for day 3 of 30 of the American Cancer Society's Writing Challenge, this is not what I wrote. Still, I wanted to share some of my original writing. The following poem is from my book, "Straight From the Heart Poetry Collection." You can find the entire collection on Amazon .  A “Nevertheless” Praise   I was ready to quit, to give in. I was about to throw in the towel. But Jesus whispered, “Hold on. Not yet. Praise me instead for just a while.”   Now, Lord, you know it ain’t in me. I’m tired and I’ve got nothing left. “I don’t think that’s what I’m saying. I never asked you  how you felt.”   “You’re telling me how you feel. You’re saying what you can and can’t do. But what I’m commanding is not based on your feelings. A ‘nevertheless praise’ will bring you through.   A ‘nevertheless praise’ will lift your spirit. It will bring you up from the mirk and the mire. A ‘nevertheless praise’ will change your focus. A ‘nevertheless’...

Day 2 of 30 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 I remember the first time I read this scripture. Well, I remember the circumstances. I was attending what was then known as Bellville Area College, BAC, and left class feeling a little off. There was a “catch” in my side that concerned me because of a previous experience, so after leaving my class I went to the emergency room. Most people would not consider a “catch” in your side emergency room worthy, but if it was what I thought it was, I was in the right place. I explained to the nurse the pain or rather discomfort I was feeling and gave her a bit of my medical history. A pregnancy test was immediately ordered. Positive. Next step, a vaginal ultrasound. Yes...

Testimonies, prayers, and poetry. These three are my focus for May. Listening closely to the voice of God. Hearing to immediately obey.   Today is May first, and I must admit I’m off to a very rocky start I overslept then started playing games Though writing was on my heart   I had set my alarm and written my plan It was all laid out what to do But I got in bed last night much too late So my morning routine fell through   My alarm went off and I could smell the coffee It was time to rise and pray Instead I turned it off and said, “God understands.” And fell asleep again right away.   A second alarm soon sounded Yes, I set for myself three But I again said I just can’t make it And again I fell back asleep   Finally alarm three roused me I got up; couldn’t let this one pass Morning prayer was starting soon I had motivation to get up at last   After praying with my online group The day began to move super-fast I had to reschedule and realign so much I didn’t ...

Sitting just a moment ago, I was watching the television show, “ BetterTogether ” on TBN. I had been flipping through channels and heard the words, “Pray he dies.” What!? But that’s what the panelist said because that’s what had been said to her concerning her son who was born with some “challenges.” I was fully tuned in now and was blessed by their many testimonies. But what stuck with me most was when someone said something along the lines of, “Faith is not based on God’s past performance, but on relationship with Him.” But let’s back up to, “Pray he dies.” Hearing those words took me back to Norfolk Naval Station where my OB doctor in Germany had sent me after hearing I’d returned to the states for a family emergency. The clinic called me up in North Carolina and told me some tests revealed there was a problem with my unborn child, and I needed to get to the nearest military hospital. (Norfolk wasn’t the closest but that’s where I was directed.) Upon arrival at the naval hospita...

  A woman of God whom I greatly respected and admired went home to be with the Lord a couple of days ago. Though she and I weren’t particularly close in that we didn’t socialize much outside of the church, I always knew she was there should I need her and I believe she knew the same of me. Her passing floored me and hurt me and in all truthfulness, it angered me. Why her? The response I got was, “She was finished.” Those three words have stayed with me and quite frankly are messing with me. Though she was able to enjoy senior citizen perks, she was not old. She was a vital part of her church and ministry. There was still so much more good she could do, that she was doing. But I’ve learned to not question God (which is very different from asking God a question.) Still, “She was finished” won’t leave me alone. Shortly after my last blog post back in April, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. While I believe with all my being that I am healed, should God choose to heal me on the o...