First of all, Thank you to my best friend Laura for my redesign.. she did a fantastic job!
When I first started this blog, I was a completely different place than I am now. I was a mom with three kids and a husband who wanted to share her days with you. I would come here, when the kids were playing outside and I would write about my journey through homeschool, or something I had read during my quiet time.
Now, fast forward to May 2007. Life has taken on a totally different meaning, yet it shouldn’t have taken cancer to do it for me. It shouldn’t be taken for granted how many days we are given. It shouldn’t be taken for granted that we are blessed beyond measure with today. Yet it is.
But His love is steadfast. He never leaves nor forsakes us. He promises to be right in the middle of our anguish and our joy.
I have taken so much for granted. My husbands gaze. My children’s laughter. The air I breathe.
But most of all, My saviors love and dedication to me. He promises to never let me go. Even in the midst of this journey that I am on, He is mighty to save. In the midst of my fear and loneliness, He has His loving arm wrapped around me, holding me close to Him. He never lets me go.
My question for you is this. How have you been doing spiritually lately. Are there things in your life that cause bitterness and misery. Are you spiritually dry inside. Are there events that have caused your heart to become hardened. Let them go. Leave them at the foot of the cross and walk away. Life is so precious. If you walk away from here with just a glimmer of hope, it was worth it.
Let it go.
And let God….
Thank you for this challenge and encouragement today, Heather. And your new design is beautiful. YOU are beautiful.
This was very heartfelt and thought-provoking. We all need to take your words and chew on them and see what they mean in our lives.
My son and I are justs finishing a 9-part series on his journey through addiction. It has been a blessing, while at the same time eye-opening for me. God is Good. All the Time. He sheltered Kevin from death at least 5 times during the process. He sheltered him from prison, when he should probably have ended up there. What a might God we serve! I praise Him every day for what He is doing in Kev’s life. If you have time and want to read an amazing journey, the story is linked on my sidebar, chapter by chapter, his first, then mine.
The Lord bless you today. And every day!
The older I get (I’m 46) the wiser I am about some things. Mostly though, I realize joust how little I really know! Sometimes it takes major events in our lives to make us be grateful for all the Savior has done in our lives for us. My husband has a wonderful perspective. He says,
“I try to be grateful and give thanks for every little thing in my life. I don’t want God to have to grab my attention thorugh harsh means to get me back on track.”
I really admire him for that. Life has a way of distracting our focus on what really matters.
Connie
I am in the midst of a Bible study that is revealing just how much Christ loves me and how God chose me to be the Bride of Christ, even before the foundation of the world. I feel closer to Him now than I ever did before. I heard it once said that “if you’re farther away from God today than you were yesterday, He didn’t move”. Chosen…I can’t imagine why God chose me to be part of the Bride of Christ, only that He choses the weak to confound the strong. Praise God.
Glad you two had a great date night.
Love and hugs,
BTW, great job Laura! I love the colors of this design.
Thanks for the reminder, Heather. It’s wicked easy to get caught up in the gunk instead of the Glory. I want my eyes on Him ALL the time!
I am recovering from self-pity. For a very long time, I have expected God to bring happiness into my life because I have prayed and prayed and prayed for what I thought I deserved…It is only recently that it has clicked in my heart….I am here to serve Christ and make Him happy and in my obedience to His word, I receive so much more than I could ever deserve….
Blessings to you
donna
Heather- you area true angel. Thank you for this beautiful post…
Losing my dad this past year and my brother a few years before that, my spiritual ife has taken a toll. I became so angry with God… I stopped loving Him. But I know now, He never stopped loving me…
As I talked about my anger with God, my friend said, “Don’t worry- God has big shoulders- He can take it.” That comforted me enough to where I could say, “God, could you just take a little more on your big shoulders?” And He did- He took my sorrow and anger and unbelief and turned them into joy and trust and eternal thanksgiving…
God’s good like that…
God bless you, Heather…
xo
As we are getting closer to summer, spiritual dryness is something I have to always guard against, so this is timely for me. God is waiting for me, but when I neglect time in His word and prayer, due to the lax schedule of summer, my relationship suffers. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you.
You have changed me.
God just brought all of this in my life to my attention – here’s my crying out:http://widebody.typepad.com/joyfulchaos/2007/05/if_you_have_the.html
and here’s the HUGE blessings He started poring out:http://widebody.typepad.com/joyfulchaos/2007/05/let_the_wild_ru.html
you are such a blessing – we pray for you continually.
Beautiful post. Thank you for that!
I hope you have a wonderful day! ((hugs))
Thanks for the post.I really need to hear your “preaching” this morning.
An intensive care nurse I have heard those same thoughts over and over again from those who have wasted life on worry and fret. The wonderful thing about our relationship with Jesus is that He takes a life that should have every reason to fret and brings peace. Not only peace but then shines a light forth from that situation that is a beacon to others who are “weary and heavy laden” for He desires to bring them rest. Thank you Heather for your words of truth this morning.
Charlene
FIrst, let me say your redesign is BEA- U-TI- FUL!
Second, I’d like to say thank you for this sweet reminder. I honestly believe that in my life in various ways, not the least of which has been finding and reading your inspirations each day as well as just the testement of your life, that I need to number my days.
I am learning to see each day as a gift from him and to “let go and let GOD!”. Thank you for being part of that!
In HIM -
Mindy
Love the new design!! Laura did a GREAT job! Thank you for the encouragement. I am going through some things right now and that was just what I needed to hear.
Thank you!
God Bless~
Karen
I am amazed everytime I come here. Even in the midst of what you are going through you allow God to use you to minister to us.
Laura did a beautiful job! Love the colors.
Amen. Life is precious…even more so with you in it, Girl! I’m not glad this happened, but I am glad for your ability to see what is truly important and to share it. I’m soaking up life more because of your encouragement.
Our Savior is faithful…I’m asking Big things for you Heather!
Tonight is my test…I’m mainly worried about being still (not coughing) during the time. It’s at 6:45 mst. Also, I posted some pretty pcitures from Estes Park, you might enjoy seeing!
Bless you Friend! Thanks for sharing what He’s teaching you on the journey.
Love and prayers,
Holly
Thank you Heather for the encouraging and inspiring words. The song “Mighty To Save” keeps playing in my head while reading your post
. What an awesome God we have!
http://lizas-eyeview.blogspot.com/2007/04/mighty-to-save-lyrics-and-video_25.html
Thank you as ALWAYS for reminding us the importance of letting go and keeping our eyes on HIM. You are an amazing person Heather George and I’m grateful for your life and your journey. (((HUGS))) Love the re-design too!
Had a rough weekend myself. Have three emotional battles to wage that leave me exhausted. Needed to hear this. Thank you!
There is something quietly miraculous when a hardened heart suddenly becomes open to God’s peace again. I’m so grateful that I’m in the process of that miracle.
AMEN!
Thank you again for sharing your journey.
We(the entire internet world), are deeply indebted to you and your family for being so transparent through all of this.
Remaining in prayer for you and yours.
Linda
First, your blog looks great. She did a great job.
That was such a inspiring post. I’ll to come back and re-read this again.
JoAnn
Heather, I am blessed by your joy in your trying circumstance.
I love your new blog template!
Thanks for that great reminder.
I’m going to go fill up the kiddy pool and let my girls play outside. I’m going to forget about all the household stuff I need to do and just enjoy today.
Prayers for a quick and easy recovery for you.
Such excellent advice.
Love you!
You were there for me today…thanks
I admire your strength and courage!
Thank you for asking this question. I’ve been struggling with something for some months now and this morning when I read your blog I finally sat down and discussed it with God and set it to rest. It is good to let go and trust him, even when it is hard, isn’t it?
Thank you for a wonderful reminder. It was much needed!!!
Thank you for this. I love your new design!
Bless you for looking beyond your life, and caring for others. God’s hand is on you and you are allowing yourself to be used. Continuing to pray for you and your family.
Julie
Thank you for the challenge, Heather.
Prayed for you this morning!
You are full of good words. I am blessed to read this blog.
I love the new design! Thanks for your post.. it was very challenging and thought provoking. You are such a blessing to me.
Heather,
There was a time I was sure my life was falling apart. There were battles going on in every aspect of my life. Worn out and feeling defeated, I cried out for a mighty God. I looked up verses about our mighty God. I needed a God that would step in and fight for me. While reading, Philip Yancey’s book, The Jesus I Never Knew, I found my mighty God. He was the Son hanging on the cross being humiliated , spat upon and dying for me. I found my mighty God as the Father turning His head as His Son cried out to Him. Mightiness shows itself in many different ways. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
That is a MIGHTY GOD.
With prayer, Sought-Out
Heather,
How well I understand what you are saying! I, too, am a home-schooling mom, have a wonderful husband and was raised in a Christian home. When cancer invaded my life, I was not happy! Someone told me that one day I would think of cancer as a blessing. I thought they were CRAZY! However, now on the other side, I realize how right they were. How close that time with the Lord was! How much I have learned through suffering! While not wanting to go through it again, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! Draw near to Him during this time. He will not disappoint you!
I always wondered why I couldn’t learn the lessons I have without going through cancer. I know now that I never would have!
I also realize the blessing that it was in the sense that for the rest of my life, I am ever so aware of how I am dependent on Him! I am right where He wants me…at His feet in utter reliance upon Him. What better place to be?
You may never realize How He will use you through this. My dad told me once “this may not be all about you! It may be for others to see Christ through you!” Perhaps you may have come to the kingdom for such a time as this!
Blessings to you this day,
Gina
Great post, Heather. I know that I’m not where I should be spiritually of late. It’s ever the challenge to have the right perspective when things aren’t going badly. Life is okay right now, which should give me all the more reason to rejoice. Sadly, it often leads to complacency. Your journey has been an encouragement and blessing. Although I could wish you didn’t have to endure this, I imagine there are reasons you wouldn’t trade this present trial.
Continuing in prayer for you,
Dianne
Heather – Great news about your visit and the new hope. I never doubt your recovery and resolve. Thank you for challenging each of us to look at our lives and how we feel. Each morning I think of 3 things I am grateful and appreciative of. One of those three is for your friendship. I am glad you enjoyed your date night and got a chance to be just you! Thanks for helping so many of us see the way through your words, encouragement and faith!
Heather, you are so right! Thank you for your accountability. You are a courageous soul! Thank you for sharing your beauty (inside and out).
Many Blessing!
Heather,
Sometimes it does take a life-altering event to wake us up! But we’re human, and it’s so easy to forget what we love, why we live, and our priorities.
And unfortunately after two years I find myself slipping…and forgetting to appreciate each and every second that I have with my loved ones.
Luckily we have “wake up calls”. That, as I’ve said many times, is the beauty of these life-threatening situations.
Thank you for reminding the World! of the priorities in your life.
Heather,
I have been catching up on your blog but don’t think I have forgotten you at all. You are very much in my prayers. Chemo has done miracles for my Dad with his Pancreatic Cancer. They gave him 6 months and now he is in his fifth and doing better than ever. He goes once a week for three weeks, one week off. I HATE cancer but I love the healing savor of our Savior.
After my heart episode last August I felt a bit like you… I had to get my priorities straight and being in my Kings presence is first and foremost.
God Bless!
As I look over my life I see moments of great faith and moments when it was laying dorment from lack of exercise. Those dormant moments came when everything was perfect, nothing stretching me. How I praise the Lord for being stretched but never breaking. I would not skip over the storms, they gave me roots so deep.
As you go through your chemo and your tresses (leaves) begin to fall, know that it is during the winter when trees look their worse, that the roots grow the deepest. Leaves return but they are fed by the roots. You are a tree planted by Living Water – drink deeply. Grow Mighty!
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
This is a wonderful post. I am struggling to find the path in which God wants me to take with my life and I am not seeing clearly. I am frustrated and disapointed in the way things are going and I get in to these tug of wars with God but all I end up is dirty. I finally say okay I give up you win and I start all over again. Life is not a easy thing to live but, live it we do and with every breath we take God is there to help us let it all out and that is a lesson well learned.,
Oh Heather…you are such a blessing.Through you I have been humbled. Thank you so much for sharing.Many blessings to you and your family!
(((Heather)))
I discovered your website on the day of your surgery…I was reading through all your “brain stuff” posts in chronological order and came to the end of them to realize you had just come out of surgery…you were so on my heart in my prayers all that weekend…I felt like you were a friend I’d known for ages…
since “meeting” you and following your journey during the last month…my eyes have been opened to a number of things that need to change in my life…and I’ve been working on them…slowly but surely…
thank you for being an example to me of a life surrendered to the Lord…
blessings, amy
btw…LOVE the new layout!
Absolutely beautiful and uplifting. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us.