When I was a young kid, my parents gave me a 10 speed bike for my birthday. I remember it now. The bike was sparkly emerald green in color, girl style and I graduated from training wheels to the real deal! It was the coolest thing ever! I remembered thinking surely a motorcycle would be next! (Never happened!)
I took off on my bike smoothly, still wobbly in turning it around on the corners. I headed into the neighbors driveway to turn around, and as I turned around and pedaled around my neighbor’s car, I took my attention off where I was going and focused on the parked car. Where my eyes went so did my steering the bike. I got too close to their car and ended up smashing my fingers in an attempt not to crash my bike into their car! I was successful in not crashing but I still ended up with smashed fingers!
It reminds me of my walk with Jesus.
Sometimes I am coasting downhill with the wind on my face and everything is golden. Sometimes when pedaling uphill feels like I am standing still, barely making any progress. When I keep my eyes focused to where I am going, I don’t crash. When I become distracted by my present surroundings my attention falters to where I’m going and many times, end up crashing.
Whatever mountain top view or valley view you experience in your life, keep your eyes on Jesus. There’s a song by Tauren Wells that is one of my favorite songs, called Hills and Valleys. In essence it is a reminder to balance your life by thanking Him for the mountain top experiences, His blessings and providence, for you didn’t get there on your own. In the valleys, remember to lift your eyes to the One that sees you there, for you are not alone, He will walk with you in trouble.
There’s always hope, He sees you through the difficult times. You are His child, His family, and the lessons we learn in the hilltops and valleys gives us a richness of character, a maturity that prepares us for coming home to live in Heaven. The mountain top and valley experiences reminds us that Heaven is even more glorious full of joy, peace and love knowing we finally will be home with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Forever and amen!
Jesus Christ is the balancer of your life.
“I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I recently underwent CT Scans of my lungs, thorax, neck and abdomen where my cancer has metastasized to check and see if I am winning the war over cancer. With bated breath, I waited for the final reports. When the final reports came back, it was a mixture of good and bad news. Good news: the cancer in my neck, thorax, lungs and abdomen have either stabilized or shrunk! Bad news: there are newly formed cancer nodules in my lungs and in my lower pelvis area of my abdomen that are a threat. How I wish I could read on these reports, “No enlarged lymph nodes, no sign of cancer.
In the Bible, in the book of Joshua, tells the story of Joshua conquering land that the Lord promised him and the nation of Israel so each Israelite clan could claim their own territory to live on. The Lord said to Joshua:
“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:3 NIV
The Lord set the boundaries for the Promised Land on one condition that the Israelites must march across the length and breadth, measuring it off with their own feet. Yet they never marched more than one-third of the land and therefore they never possessed more than that one-third. They possessed only what they measured off and no more.
We must measure off the whole territory of our challenges with the feet of obedient faith claiming victory in the promises of God. God has a magnificent plan for our lives and we need to possess it claiming His promises as our own.
Faith in God must not waiver, we might be in a long drawn out battle, but we must persevere , keeping our eyes on Jesus to enter into His rest confident of victory of receiving all His promises fulfilled in us. In my case it is the promise of total healing – no matter what the scans say, or what the doctor may say.
I confess I still struggle with 100% faith that I will be healed. Just as the father, desperately wanting his son to be healed from his affliction, said to Jesus, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 NIV. – And Jesus healed the son.
I need to get a larger map!
”His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
It was on one of those typical Saturday afternoons, I was grocery shopping at Walmart getting groceries and supplies for our house. Just another get the errands done day. I had my system down of what areas to go to first in the store like a well oiled machine for the best efficiency and speed to get in and out. As I turned my grocery basket onto the aisle to get one of those big 40 pack water bottles, the aisle was somewhat congested but I paid no mind as I struggled to lift the pack of water to place in my shopping cart. All of a sudden, a hand laid on my arm. It startled me and as I looked up, a young child who was sitting in the front of her mother’s shopping cart had leaned over and out of the mouth of babes said, “It’s going to be alright.” I smiled at her as the child’s mother smiled at me. I replied, “Thank you honey!” As I wheeled my shopping cart away, tears came to my eyes. Somebody, a small child, saw me, and had compassion. It really touched my heart that just for a moment, a stranger extended kindness to me. I will always remember that.
Sometimes that’s all what is needed, a reassuring smile, a gentleness in someone’s eyes, letting someone know you see them.
This world seems to becoming more angry, impatient, and bitter with each other. We don’t watch what we say to each other as much as we used to and are indifferent to hurting each other’s feelings.
Is it always more important to be right than considering the other person? Do we always have to place our needs over others?
God created us all, and He likes variety! He created different cultures, skin tones, languages, and mindsets.
In fact, Jesus had two commands He wants us to follow:
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-39. NIV
With the Holy Spirit’s help we can be changed on the inside and the love that the Lord infuses in us can radiate outwardly to others. For those who don’t know the Lord, small acts of love and kindness can touch another’s heart and be a testimony of Jesus to point them to the light just by our actions.
Just as that little girl did for me.
”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things, there is no law.”
I always seem to be fighting myself! I know intellectually what I need to do to take care of myself both spiritually and physically. But I always fight an inward battle within myself.
Why do I do what I shouldn’t do and struggle to do what I should do?
Paul expresses it so eloquently:
”For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. “ Romans 6:18-20 NIV
”What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 6:24-25 NIV
I recently found out from a CT scan I underwent in December 2025, the radiation treatment I received in October 2025 on my neck, some cancer cells escaped my neck and went into my lungs. I can’t seem to win for losing ground! The chemo drug I am currently receiving is causing hand-foot syndrome and extreme fatigue. This is the 3rd series of chemotherapy treatments I underwent in the past 4 years in my fight to kill the cancer. In the process of suppressing/killing cancer cells, other organs inside my body are suffering adverse effects that will have lasting negative consequences I will have to face in my future.
I was watching one of my favorite preachers on Daystar Christian Network, and at the beginning of every new year Pastor Jentezen Franklin preaches for a reset both body and spirit with a fast dedicated to God. The first few days he recommends a liquid fast, followed with the Daniel Fast which follows a vegetarian diet of juicing, steamed vegetables, no red meat for either 10 days or 21 days. *You can google The Daniel Fast for more information.
This is also the type of diet that cancer hates, for it starves the cancer and kills the cancer stem cells. I started out the first day very shaky and in truth only lasted until mid afternoon as I caved in to my fleshly desires for the western type diet. I was very discouraged. How can I be so weak?!
I realized I cannot make major life changes without Jesus in me to strengthen me. For Christ to strengthen me is through prayer, meditation on His Word, praising Him, and the Holy Spirit removing those old desires.
The following week, Pastor Jentezen Franklin said if you fell off your diet and had that double cheese burger, get up and start over again! I told myself, “Just because I had a set back doesn’t mean that I should give up!” I believe this is the learning process of being disciplined; not to stay stuck in your circumstance but in persevering, determination and in partnership with Christ will bring health and peace to your body and soul.
I will get up and start over again. I have bought a juicer, a hydrogen bottle, I’m eating veggies and fruits, becoming a sprout farmer, and I’m taking supplements. For the times I fail, I know I will overall succeed for as I am in Christ, His righteousness covers me and I become righteous because of Jesus. I will transform from glory to glory, starting from the inside out, including letting go of traditional cancer treatments and embracing the food that God intended for us to thrive. Amen!
Dear Lord, I pray for discipline in my spiritual life to read your Word, be in constant prayer, meditation and praise. Secondly in my physical body to eat the foods you intended us to eat as in the Garden of Eden for health, happiness and strength. Help me to let go of the western diet, by removing those fleshly desires. Amen 🙏
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Michael, and Azariah. “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days they looked healthy and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1:11-15 NIV
After Christmas passed, and family visitors took their leave, my husband and I came down very sick. I ran myself down in the ground preparing for Christmas and family visiting. I did not get any rest. When family arrived and thru their stay with us, I gutted it out and gave all I could. It was a wonderful visit that I will cherish forever. I willingly paid the price to risk being sick for an opportunity to hold our newest grandson, and visit with my daughter and son in law. My energy levels before Christmas was a “5” on a scale of 100 on my smartwatch and they never did rise throughout Christmas week.
Earlier in December I had a chemotherapy treatment that resulted in low neutrophils. To counteract this, I was placed on 3 growth factor shots a week to force my bone marrow to grow more white blood cells. My lymphocytes, (Fighter T Cells), were also very low. The first week I was to start up the 3 shots. There was a hang up over insurance, so instead of 3 shots, I received 2 shots. The following week, I cancelled a shot because my family was arriving that day and I felt I had to stay home and prepare, putting finishing touches on the house. I was once again shorted a growth factor shot.
As a result of not slowing down, and me not having enough neutrophils to fight infection, the flu bug rampant, both my husband and I came down very sick with upper respiratory infections. To add to this and sheer exhaustion, my hands became inflamed with hand-foot syndrome, one of the side effects of chemotherapy. My hands turned purple-red, became swollen and tight, blisters threatening to break out. My hands felt as if they were on fire all the time.
The weekend after Christmas, I went to bed at 6 pm and slept for 20 hours. My energy levels were still reflecting a “5” out of a hundred on my smartwatch and my body inside undergoing severe stress. My husband and I missed 2 weeks of Church as we were forced to remain housebound. I finished my one year read the Bible through plan and seemed to lose direction of what I should do next in studying the Bible. My prayers became brief and I did not read the Bible for several days. I was missing the two most vital components of a Christian: To read the Bible and Pray. I barely noticed the New Year coming in and on our 41st anniversary we had to delay our celebratory dinner date.
A curious thing started to happen through our sickness. Our Lab-Malinois Shepherd started exhibiting strange behavior. She was scared to go into our bedroom. Her bedding is in our bedroom and she is six years old and never had a problem before. We cajoled her, and begged her and tried to take her by the collar but she wasn’t going. Her eyes seemed to be fixed on an unknown object and I started guessing of what could have started her paranoia. I finally had to get a leash and gently through positive motivation to half drag her to her bedding in our bedroom. She’s always had a heightened sensitivity level.
After the New Year was ushered in, we were still sick, my dog still refusing to go into our bedroom. I remembered a few nights ago when I paused to watch on Christian Network TV, a woman blessing the rooms of her home, physically touching the doorframes and touching her countertops and her TV, asking for the Lord’s blessing and protection.
A small urging came unbidden in my heart. Why don’t you ask for God’s blessing and protection in your own home? I did so. I placed my hands on my bedroom doorframe and asked for God’s provision, protection and blessing. I got a plan together on how I will study God’s Word in 2026 and I started praying again, lengthening my prayers to pray for others.
A miracle happened! I finally turned a corner in my sickness getting stronger and gaining energy, (56 out of a hundred on my smartwatch), and the pain in my hands have subsided considerably. My husband turned a corner in his sickness too! Zoey, our Lab-Malinois, without any prodding was once again, after a couple of weeks of her bizarre behavior, was entering and exiting our bedroom as if nothing had happened!
A coincidence? I think not! There are no coincidences with God. Could Zoey have seen an evil spirit? Certainly, in my sickness, I was not reading the Bible or praying as I should have, leaving us vulnerable to a spiritual attack. Our defenses were down in our sickness allowing a demon to gain entry into our home.
The heaviness I’ve been feeling has been lifted and I feel lighter and more connected with God! Folks, this is only the 6th day into the new year and we’ve been tested severely, coming through the fire. This is because of God’s protection. Bring on 2026! With God, all things are possible! I pray for God’s blessings, protection and provision over your lives for 2026. Amen and Amen 🙏
”Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
On March 26, 2024, snow flurries came to us that day. A surprise snow system. I was in a funk because my cancer treatment was delayed yet again due to low neutrophils. My body was too weak to maintain the chemotherapy schedule that would kill the cancer.
To relieve pent up frustration, I decided to take the opportunity and walk my dogs around the village for there was a break in the snow flurries. As I walked my dogs around the village, there was no activity and it was very quiet. I felt wretched and cried out to God pouring out my pain and frustration.
Suddenly, the snow flurries that had stopped started coming down again, faster, harder, pelting me. I was not prepared for wet weather, I had a thin jacket on and no gloves. But it seemed appropriate for it matched my wretchedness. I fully believe the Holy Spirit sent it.
I’ve come to realize that there must be snow and hail in life to help me grow spiritually. Through hardship comes a dependency on Jesus, for I am not in control of anything. I have a friend going through her own trial with a degenerative spine disease as well as other potentially serious medical conditions that need to be addressed. I know of several fellow Church members being struck down with cancer and grappling with their disease. It’s a battle against supernatural powers that are trying to destroy us.
I ask the Lord for His hidden treasures such as Understanding, Wisdom, cultivating the fear, (Reverence), of God, the Knowledge of God and His Word. These things God gives us if we seek and ask Him. God is generous and He will give what we ask for abundantly. We will find powerful spiritual truths living God’s way of life. No evil will destroy our spirit. We may not understand the whys of things. Perhaps we are not to focus on the whys but know God gives us His treasures, (revelations), that are hidden until He deems the truths to be revealed. As we go through the trial, the Lord will give us tools in His arsenal to fight the spiritual battle at just the right time as we seek out these treasures to down our foe.
Lord, I pray out of the snow that I may receive your hidden treasures and know you navigate my life and I will trust in You.
”Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for these times of trouble, for days of war and battle?” Job 38:22
”I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Isaiah 45:3 NIV
My husband and I were talking about the circumstances of the Israelites when God led them out of Egypt and they wandered the desert for forty years , when logistically it was a short three week walk to the Promise Land. Why did God lead them around in circles for forty years in the desert? One of the reasons for the delay to the Promise Land was the Israelites were a stiff neck people, who complained about their circumstances. I wondered how could not the Israelites see and be thankful for the miracles God gave them? The Israelites clothes and sandals never wore out, they received manna to pick every morning for their food, there was a pillar of fire to guard them at night, and during the day a cloud was over them to shield them from the sun. God gave them water to drink, and when the Israelites complained about their not having meat but just manna, (angel food), God provided meat in the form of quail. I mused, oh, how I wish God was more tangible in our lives in this present age!
Then a small voice came unbidden to my heart, whispering, I am providing miracles that are all around you. I am close to you and live within you, are you paying attention? I really had to ponder this revelation. Are we so caught up in this noisy, computer, TV world that we have shut out God? Have we lost our sensitivity to the miracles God performs for us and are our senses on the spiritual level become dull?
God has shown up for me in many ways. He alerted my husband through technology, a cell phone, to come check on me when I was having a breakdown at 1:00 am in the morning. When I lost my phone on a rural country road and spent 2 days and nights looking for it vainly, I poured out my frustration and angst to the Lord. Just as I finished my prayer, my flashlight hit on a black screen and it was my cell phone! Coincidence? I don’t think so! God’s timing takes my breath away. There were the times listening to the TV Christian station, the pastor had a message that was tailored made for me in the moment I needed to hear it. Or when I needed encouragement and energy to perform a strenuous task for that day and my morning daily devotional gave me the message of the Holy Spirit to be a wind, (Ruach), at my back, to unfurl my sails and rise to the challenge of the day. And the energy was given to me!
So many times in my life God has shown up and has given me tangible miracles to let me know He is there. There are no coincidences. He has given His angels charge over me; to lift me up so my foot doesn’t strike a stone and to guard me in all my ways.
Could it be that being stiff necked has us aimlessly wandering in our own deserts, our senses dulled to His miracles? How do we get our sensitivity of spirit back to being in sync with the Lord? I believe we need to be in conversation, (prayer), with Him several times a day. We need to read His Word, (the Bible), to ponder, memorizing and meditating on His Word. We need to be thankful in all of our circumstances, especially the tribulations, for the Lord is growing us up and guiding us on the pathway to see us through. This is how we sensitize our spirits to be an open conduit to His presence and receive His miracles . God is as close to us as we allow Him to be.
”The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?””
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today is a day filled with laughter and joy, enjoying each other’s company. It is a day of sending texts to family and friends who couldn’t be with you on this day to let them know you love them and wish them a special day to partake with their loved ones, and let them know that they are in your heart.
After all the preparation work, of buying the food, preparing the food, decorating, feeling stressed, cleaning up, there’s a moment right before we dive into all the delicious food that was prepared, when people lift up a collective prayer to the Lord giving thanks for His providence and love, realizing that God has mightily blessed us!
I am grateful for this day. After all the leftovers are given out or put up, dishes done, family and friends saying their goodbyes and taking leave, a deep contentment sweeps over me. God is still in His Heaven and is in control. A moment to cherish each others company without discord and enjoy fellowship with each other as God would have us do, to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
For a short time, on Thanksgiving, our busy lives are put on hold as we reflect on the goodness of God. Let’s try to carry over thankfulness everyday even when the seas become rough forcing us to go through challenges. For God watches over you! Lift up your voice in praise knowing with confidence that God will see you through your days giving you peace beyond understanding, a contentment, and a hope for a future in Jesus.
”Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth . Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100 NIV
Several times in my life I would make much ado about worrying over my cancer diagnosis, my treatments, finding out that the cancer has returned. There is nothing that worry can solve! It is a normal reaction, but at some point it becomes necessary to get on and live your life. I can only do that in Jesus. Jesus saves and He is everything.
I was listening to Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s message in Mark 5:22-43, about a dead girl who was the 12 yr old daughter of Jarius, a synagogue ruler. The story in the Bible portrays Jarius falling at Jesus’ feet pleading earnestly to heal his daughter from dying. As Jarius was leading the way to his house, a multitude of people followed them. A sick woman with a blood issue stopped Jesus and she was divinely healed. But it delayed Jesus’ arrival to Jarius’s house. When they arrived they were met with family and mourners, wailing that the little girl was dead. Jesus saw the commotion of the wailers and told Jarius just to believe. Jesus then allowed a few of his apostles , and the parents to come into the child’s bedroom . Jesus took the little girl’s hand and said the sweetest words, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately, the little girl got up and walked around. Jesus ordered the family not to say anything and to get the child something to eat.
I take away a few points to ponder from this story:
That all the fretting, worrying and crying of the wailers did not heal the little girl of her sickness. It is self defeating, wasting our energy when we could put our energies into positive things such as taking a proactive approach to our health, focusing on others, and connecting to God on a deeper level by praising, praying and reading His Word.
The Waiting Season: It is hard to be in a waiting season with the Lord. But Jesus’ timing is perfect. In the waiting it grows our faith and maturity in the Lord. Jarius had to wait on the Lord when Jesus stopped to heal the woman with the blood disease. The woman with the blood disease waited over 12 years for her healing! And it always impresses me that Jarius waited patiently while Jesus healed the woman. We are asked to have faith in Jesus, to trust and believe in Him! When worrying wants to take over, it becomes a tiresome burden. It just becomes a revolving door. When I lay down my fears and worries at His feet, I feel a huge burden lifted off of me, and a feeling of blessed peace takes over.
Finally, when Jesus healed the little girl, He commanded to give her something to eat. I like to think not only to replenish nourishment but also give a sense of normalcy in getting back into daily activity. It would be wonderful not to worry about the Big “C” always looming in the background and I’ve often bemoaned what does it feel like to feel my normal self again? Maybe I can’t totally go back and feel like my old self again; in hindsight the growth and closer walk with the Lord so enriched my life that I would not trade it for all the riches in the world! I believe Jesus can give us our food of nourishment both physically and spiritually so we can find rest and healing for our bodies and souls. Get used to a better normal with Jesus!
Thank you Lord for hearing my cry, lifting me out of the miry pit and setting me on your rock, guiding me through the dark.
I have just finished 10 rounds of radiation on the side of my left neck. It has been very painful. Not only that, my small intestine is inflamed causing sharp pains in my abdomen. I’ve been thrashing in pain in the night hours, wishing the pain would cease.
In the hours of your suffering, God is there to see you through your valley. It will not last forever my friend.
A trial and testing time becomes a proving ground that strengthens our faith in the Lord. Even when we go into the fire such as those three Hebrew lads, Jesus was in the midst with them. Those three lads walked out of the fire unsinged, not a smell of smoke on them or their clothes; no soot to be found on them. They have come through the fire by the grace of Jesus Christ.
The same can be said for us! When we go through our own trials, temptations, pain and suffering, Jesus is in the midst! He gives us the strength to carry on and we walk out of our trial victorious!
Give Him the glory and praise, It always amazes me that when we turn away from our misery and focus on the Lord how perspective comes back into focus. How wonderful it is when we are able to give our cares, our pain, our anxieties and temptations to Him we will find rest for our souls.
Because He will take care of us.
”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
