March 30 - Turned 44 years young! My son called me like 6 times. It made my day. Spent the day in HOLT at our new church plant's grand opening in their new building. They ROCK! I am looking forward to May 2-3 when I am with them at their FIRST Ladies Retreat! Then had dessert with my mom and dad and gram... and Steve and Brie of course.
April 1 - Spent the morning at Auburn Hills Christian Center speaking to their MOM 2 MOM group. I love the ladies there! The group has Personality PLUS! Laurie Shaffer, you are a great leader... you organized woman, you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their pastor's wives! THANKS for letting me be a part.
April 2 - Met my new blog friend and author, Karen Hossink at a MOPS Group when I went to hear her speak. How FUN! Check out her blog and book.
April 5th - MOM'S BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!
April 4 & 5th - Had the privilege at attending a ladies conference at Bedford Christian Community Church and leading a breakout session on Saturday afternoon . The weekend was SOOO for me... The WORD of the LORD spoken through Becky and Chris challenged me... encouraged me... I found more friends whom I love. Lori, Rachel, Aleda, Judy... spending time with the pastor's wife and her mom, Carol. WENDY ELARTON (check out her blog) whom I have known since she has been a little girl... and I believe she is one of the SWEETEST PEOPLE I have ever met in my LIFE!
Well... Here is what I shared in my session... I shared how GOD had been leading me out of the PIT from the previous four years... of depression and sickness. HOW I had not had an "ATTACK" physically in almost 2 years. I shared what the LORD had spoken to me and the steps he took me through to become victorious...
THEN on SUNDAY APRIL 6th...the day AFTER I declared those things... I got blindsided with sickness. The pain started... the nausea came... no full blown "ATTACK" though. ( you don't want me to describe what that entails... believe me!)
I tried to be careful in my eating throughout the week. On Thursday Steve had to run to the office at 7 pm for a 30 minute thing so Brie and I went with him. While there.... the ATTACK happened. OH THE PAIN... oh the PAIN... did I mention PAIN???
ANYWAY for 2 hours I was lying on the bathroom floor at the office... between bouts of vomiting and ... ok... I will not go into details... but after two hours I saw a window of opportunity. I ran out... said LET'S GO... I think I can make the 30 minute trip home... Got home.... spent more time in the "little girls' sick room'... then crashed in bed. Continued to have pain and nausea for the next week or so.
This week, I am feeling better. FINALLY.
During this time, I thought, THAT IS JUST LIKE THE ENEMY... I stand in FAITH AND TESTIMONY and then I get SLAMMED with this for the FIRST TIME IN 2 YEARS!
While lying on the floor... I was pleading... "I DON"T WANT TO GO BACK DOWN THIS ROAD, LORD JESUS! I don't want this sickness to plague me again. No doctors could do anything about it. I believe you have healed me." THEN I started quoting scriptures over my body that he had given me...
AND declaring... "NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER!"
Am I over spiritualizing this physical issue in my body? ...Well... I am sure we could argue that point all day. Yes... sickness and disease, etc. are a part of life... But I am not giving the enemy a foothold... WHY TAKE THE CHANCE by UNDERESTIMATING things!
I am STANDING on the WORD OF THE LORD... ... trying to do my best to watch what I put into my body... and TRUSTING HIM for total healing... and believing in GOD'S POWER to deliver... to heal.
Ephesians 6: 10 - 13 & 18 says this - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against ... the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God...that... you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." verse 18: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
If you have been standing in FAITH for an area of your life... your body... your spouse... son ...daughter... parent... extended family member... your friend... that coworker who tries your faith like non-other... that addiction that keeps following you... hurt, depression, anger,illness ... WHATEVER your battle...
Don't be weary in your fight.
Put on GOD'S armor ( Paul did say that TWICE within 3 verses!!!)... stand (he said STAND 3 TIMES!) Stand strong... stand firm... ... recognize your enemy... Pray in the spirit with ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS ... and after you have done EVERYTHING you know to do... KEEP STANDING!
PUT ON THAT ARMOR, WARRIOR PRINCESS! (or prince).
STAND FIRM TODAY!
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12 comments:
Oh my girl!! I had that sickness in December and ended up in the hospital. I am so sorry....It's really YUUUUUUKKKYYY!!
Please pray for Allen. You can read my yesterday's blog for the details.
Mary Beth I hope that you feel better really soon, we will pray that you do. I know exactly what you are talking about, Satan is sneaking and just when you think you are doing better than ever, he throws something into the works or trys to distract us, from the thing we need to do most, PRAY....
Please take care and know that we love you. Gotta go!
Veronica
Thank you Mary Beth. How true your words are! Just what I needed to hear...
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Oh my! I will be praying for a quick recovery again! Thanks for the update!
Wow, Mary Beth. This sounds awful - even without the details.
I hope you are feeling better soon. He is good, and He will carry you!
Hey-
Haven't talked with you in awhile hope things are going well! Talk with you soon!
Happy birthday, Mary Beth and to your Mom too. I'm so sorry to hear about your relapse......but, yes, KEEP STANDING FIRM!!! Will be praying for you.
Love you,
FS
hey girl:
have been praying for you!
standing in the gap with you.
love and prayers
dorinda
Hey Mary!
Boy, I remember the days when you were sick, down, and discouraged.
Each time I read your blog, I rejoice at what the Lord has given you to share with others. So, of curse, the enemy sgoingto try and stop that. Hang on to God's Word, Hon! That's where the power is!
Love you all and will be praying for you.
Marg
I understand how you feel. I have also had a break from my "health issue" for almost two years. However, in November, it started up again. I knew I was not healed since I still had minor symptoms, but I thought the worst was over. Yet, God is my strength and I believe that God heals today. I found something to hold onto in Acts 3:16 last week. "...It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him..." I can't manufacture this faith into me...it comes from Jesus. Now I am asking Jesus to give me this faith too so I can believe for my healing. God has not told me that I have to learn to live with this disease. As long as He has not said that, I will hope and trust in His healing power to work in my life. Mary Beth, you and I both know we serve a MIGHTY God and a caring Father...that's why it's so hard to accept that we are not healed yet. We will keep praying because the prayers of a righteous man accomplish much. My prayers are with you.
Hi Mary Beth,
So saddened to hear you got ill right after that week end.
I will keep you lifted up in prayer.
That Saturday was incredible, your words inspired me. I have struggled for years with an on going chronic back issue which I mentioned to you when we spoke. Although that Saturday I didn't receive a physical healing, but I know God did something BIG within. Mary Beth I couldn't sit here and even tell you what, specifically, but I know I'm not the same as I was that Saturday morning when I walked throught that door at BCC.
I spoke(for the first time) at our church Saturday at our ladies breakfast and as God prepared my heart I have heard Him tell me, "We are just beginning", I am even more excited now to be going to the "She Speaks" conference. I also have heard the warning that I MUST put on the Battle armor continually.
I just wanted you to know your words stirred my heart and you encouraged and inspired me to continue looking no where else but to the Lord who is faithful to direct our steps.
Greater health is on the way dear girl!
Be blessed!
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