The other day I woke up with the internal struggles of emotional baggage. I was fighting bronchitis and a sinus infection and had just gotten back from Mexico. I was worn out! Take into consideration that on these days, we may be more susceptible to feeling below par, maybe even entertain worthless and low self-esteem feelings. It was on this day that I found victory, faster than I had ever had before and that was because I have been so diligent with truth and awareness about heart and soul issues. It inspired me to write this to encourage you with a perspective of our daily challenges and the stance we need to take with them. Everyone has their own challenges, so when you read this, let it speak to you about yours. Being a “Warrior of Life” helps us stay alert and on guard!

Waste no time lamenting on finding a reason why some days we wake up feeling insecure and worthless, just know it happens too many of us. However, recognizing it quickly is imperative to fast action. Waste no time, instead call your “Warrior of Life” to action.

With war waging before us to ruin our day and dampen our mood, refuse to lose! Change your thoughts and push yourself forward into the day you chose to have. A “Warrior of Life” understands that perspective is everything!! Proper perspective knows the truth even if the truth feels different. For instance, when I put on brown tint sunglasses, it alters the color of the sky, but the sky is blue regardless of the glasses I’m wearing and that’s because we know the reality and truth of it!

The reality and truth of our identity is that we are worthwhile regardless of those who have planted the seeds of lies into our lives. And while we may battle this for years because of the deep wounds we’ve received, we must continually encourage ourselves and each other that it gets better and we get stronger, but only if we’re willing to apply ourselves to the task of becoming a “Warrior of Life”. Be diligent, alert and stand guard protecting what is most important – our heart, our mind and our soul! To do otherwise is to grow weary, lose heart and give up – and this is unnecessary defeat!

It is a single decision that stands between where you are now and becoming a “Warrior of Life”; and it is that everyday that we decide our stance for life! With training we become great at this task, eventually becoming quick to respond when danger presents itself. We come to realize that those deep emotional wounds that have penetrated the core of the heart, leaving an emotional scar are the area’s we watch carefully; always making sure the phantom pains of those scars don’t trick us into believing we haven’t overcome them!

Are you ready to live this foundational truth and become a “Warrior of Life”? Because when we do, the battles we fight become mini wars that are easily conquered and then with much joy, we find ourselves standing in the middle of glorious victory!

Please consider sharing this, if this has encouraged you!

Recently, in one of my coaching sessions, I asked this question…

“What emotions do you experience when you consider approaching new people for business or friendship?”

They said, “I experience embarrassment”. I was about to say something when I heard the Whispers of my Soul hushing me to listen. I was led to look up ‘Embarrassment’ in the dictionary. We both got close to the computer and looked as the screen loaded the word Embarrassment.

Dictionary.com 

em·bar·rass

[em-bar-uhs]  Show IPA

–verb (used with object)

1. 1.to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert;

Many of us have thought it was cute when we see a child who is shy and embarrassed. Knowing the definition of embarrassment has certainly changed my views on this, as it did the one I was with. Shame and confusion are not positive life valuing attributes. No one need ever feel this way! I sensed how it was changing both our views on this. I am always amazed at how questions can change the world!

My last article delivered a powerful message about our stance in life, which I referred to it as “The Warrior of Life”  Our stance as a warrior bears a striking resemblance to our men in a combat zone. Alert and protective. Our mind is part of the territory we protect. Our inner dialogue is an important part of us. If we are feeding it corrupt and negative thoughts, it is going to produce those fruits in our lives.

How could it change your life if you implemented the attribute of positive thoughts in your life, developing a thought pattern that would value you?

Thoughts are one of the biggest area’s we all deal with and it’s imperative to know that when we’re learning something new, feeling frustration, falling down and even feeling unbalanced is part of a life of change. I know that sometimes life get’s hard and it feels like we don’t have the strength to keep going, to pick up and start again, but we do. If we do not get up, we’re going to stay down and that’s not really where any of us want to be. Do not cast your will and strength aside, instead pull it close to you and treasure it. To believe we don’t have the strength and will power to get up again is a lie! We do! We have the strength and the power to achieve anything we put our mind and will too. We have the will power to keep going and to try again. We have the ability to win in this life. I am not a quitter and neither are YOU!

Nick Vujicic is an amazing man, has accomplished amazing things and has a powerful message of perseverance.

If anyone could’ve let life get him down, it could’ve been Nick. He learned the importance of keeping a positive inner dialogue and he is a great “Warrior of Life”!

Claim victory for yourself! Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t! If you keep persevering, it won’t be long before you find yourself dancing through the storms of life with a smile on your face and others asking you, where do you get your joy from!!

 If this article inspired you, please consider sharing it with those you know and associate with. Thanks for the bottom of my heart!

Jesus Christ says, “I say unto you that every idle word that men speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment, for by your word shall you be condemned”.

We only have one judge – our word.

Every day we reap what we sow. I was taught that judgment would come at the end of our lives, but as I look back in my life I can see how I’ve attracted the positive as well as the negative experiences, happiness and disaster through my words and my thoughts. We love to joke; we love humor and love to laugh. But we are not careful about the way we do it. We joke and make fun destructively about ourselves and about others, criticize and demean others and guess what…. our subconscious hears it all. It doesn’t have a sense of humor and takes everything seriously. It is always listening to us, guiding us, sending us signals and making life happen for us.

Every time we talk, we are creating a mental picture that impresses the subconscious, which inevitably works out on the external.

I remember having the hardest time waking up for high school. I always slept through my alarm and many times I would be left with 5 minutes to get out of the house to make it on time and that’s if I ran or I’d be late!

I didn’t know where it came from at the time, but I got this idea that if I told my mind that I needed to wake up by a certain time, it would follow my instructions. So the night before, I spoke to myself repeatedly that I would wake up by the time I desired, and I was exact… so let’s say for example, 6:30am. An amazing thing happened. I woke up within 1 minute of the time I chose. Now I should’ve understood about the power of words by that powerful experience, however, it took me years before I began to grasp the concept.

Those who understand the power of the word and have seen it’s affects upon us, become very careful of their speech. Words have a vibration that affects our subconscious and goes out into the universe affecting others and making things happen for us. Life and death come as we call it. Look back in your life, can you see that speaking while angry and bitter has brought destruction and hardship to you and others? What a huge mistake we make to speak while being angry.

When I speak to my husband or children while being angry, my mouth takes on a life of its own and says things I soon regret. Rarely does anything ever get resolved from that. I’ve learned that anger means there is an underline cause happening within me. Once I’ve taken the time to discover this, conversations are healthy and the emotions are steady.

The vibrations our words sends out, attracts that which is common to it. (Birds of a feather flock together) Like-kind hangs with like-kind. Those who continually speak of being sick and diseased, invariably attract sickness and disease.

There was a time in my life I used to think about being sick. Being sick consumed my thoughts because I found having a victim mentality was a great way to get attention. It just so happened that this was a horrible time in my life. I was sick all the time and as much as I hated that, I didn’t know how to get attention in a healthy way. As I learned and grew into knowing healthier ways to get attention, I stopped thinking sick and started thinking healthy. I began to enjoy life and the health my body gave me.

Invisible forces are always at work for us and we are the creator of the force. How many of us are still growing to understand this or are not even aware of it yet? The Bible tells us that “Life and Death are in the power of the tongue”. What about the power of the words in healing! We tend to think of physical healing, but emotional and relational healing is just as important to remember. Yet so many of us are speaking destructively all day and into the night, bringing a death to the things all around us and within us.

I was listening to the radio and changed channels. I stopped to listen when I heard a Doctor begin to talk about health and it’s correlation to our belief system. He shared his stories, one after another. He was saying that many of his cancer patients struggled with bitter, negative and angry thoughts continuously throughout their days. He began to treat their bodies at the same time he treated their belief system. And as they learned the power of words and began to change the way they spoke and thought, their bodies got better as their belief systems did. Now I know many Doctors will bah humbug at this, but I believe it. I believe the health of our words, our belief system and our thoughts have a direct correlation to our physical and emotional health.

So now that we know about the power of Words, why not make the changes in our lives. Aren’t we worth it? Don’t we deserve to be happy and healthy? Aren’t we worth the effort it will take to make these changes? Of course we are!

 If this article inspired you, please consider re-posting it and sharing it with your family and friends.

The Warrior of Life

The other day I woke up with the internal struggles of emotional baggage. I was fighting bronchitis and a sinus infection and had just gotten back from Mexico. I was worn out! Take into consideration that on these days, we may be more susceptible to feeling below par, maybe even entertain worthless and low self-esteem feelings. It was on this day that I found victory, faster than I had ever had before and that was because I have been so diligent with truth and awareness about heart and soul issues. It inspired me to write this to encourage you with a perspective of our daily challenges and the stance we need to take with them. Everyone has their own challenges, so when you read this, let it speak to you about yours. Being a “Warrior of Life” helps us stay alert and on guard!

Waste no time lamenting on finding a reason why some days we wake up feeling insecure and worthless, just know it happens too many of us. However, recognizing it quickly is imperative to fast action. Waste no time, instead call your “Warrior of Life” to action.

With war waging before us to ruin our day and dampen our mood, refuse to lose! Change your thoughts and push yourself forward into the day you chose to have. A “Warrior of Life” understands that perspective is everything!! Proper perspective knows the truth even if the truth feels different. For instance, when I put on brown tint sunglasses, it alters the color of the sky, but the sky is blue regardless of the glasses I’m wearing and that’s because we know the reality and truth of it!

The reality and truth of our identity is that we are worthwhile regardless of those who have planted the seeds of lies into our lives. And while we may battle this for years because of the deep wounds we’ve received, we must continually encourage ourselves and each other that it gets better and we get stronger, but only if we’re willing to apply ourselves to the task of becoming a “Warrior of Life”. Be diligent, alert and stand guard protecting what is most important – our heart, our mind and our soul! To do otherwise is to grow weary, lose heart and give up – and this is unnecessary defeat!

It is a single decision that stands between where you are now and becoming a “Warrior of Life”; and it is that everyday that we decide our stance for life! With training we become great at this task, eventually becoming quick to respond when danger presents itself. We come to realize that those deep emotional wounds that have penetrated the core of the heart, leaving an emotional scar are the area’s we watch carefully; always making sure the phantom pains of those scars don’t trick us into believing we haven’t overcome them!

Are you ready to live this foundational truth and become a “Warrior of Life”? Because when we do, the battles we fight become mini wars that are easily conquered and then with much joy, we find ourselves standing in the middle of glorious victory!

Please consider sharing this, if this has encouraged you!

Thoughts

Many of our thoughts come and go so fast, are generally vague or are not thoroughly thought through enough, that we don’t reach the place of enlightenment; missing the opportunity for change. However, with effort, there is a moment when the thoughts we’ve been pondering and meditating on comes together enlightening us, giving us breakthrough. I had one of these moments recently when I was thinking about the worth of people, including myself.

The defining moment was when the expectations of beauty that society has drawn for us came into focus. I thought about the value of each and every one of us and how this society drawn line has tainted the very thoughts and actions of those towards those considered less than attractive. Regardless of size, color and heritage we ought to be loved and valuable. And on a more personal level, I thought this about myself as well. “Whether I meet society’s standards or whether I am considered attractive or not, I am worth being loved and valuable”. This is when clarity hit.

This is not just about posturing ourselves “to be” regardless of what others attitudes towards us are, but it’s also about having the right thoughts and attitudes towards others.

We should always have the opportunity to work through these enlightening moments. But these enlightenments are what life is all about. And every time we have victory, even the smallest of victories, we are soaring in the heights of life. Because as Delai Lama says, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

There is often great struggle to reach enlightenment. For freedom comes with a price. One I am glad to pay for the benefits I receive.

http://www.jw-tube.com/flvplayer.swf

Being me!

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. What you are about to read is the struggle I’ve had for the past few weeks. I lost my footing just a wee bit, but am getting it back. Life is never going to be easy. As we face new challenges, experiences and feel our borders being stretched, it’s not uncommon to have to readjust ourselves. These events however, do not define us. They simply reveal that we are growing and moving in the right direction.  I hope you are inspired by my short share!

As I continue to renew my mind daily, to be grateful about everything, to believe in the gifts within me, to believe with certainty that everything is working out for the best and that my journey is about to explode into wonders, to be spirited, confident and trusting… I find that some days, a fight brews within as my mind tries to settle back into its previous state.

And then I remind myself, who ever said life is without effort? It takes effort to breathe, to eat, to do all the daily things we do without even thinking about it; it’s going to take effort to BE (I should STOP right here, because “TO BE” is a powerful statement in of itself) only those things that are of value to us and others. We cannot go through life, expecting wonderful things to return to us, if our minds are solely centered on ourselves. We must make it a top priority to do for others more than they would ever expect us too. A great leader knows the excellence and lives by the creed of a servant’s heart.

As I wrote … “It’s going to take effort to BE” the power that went through me was incredible. We should just BE! Instead of being who we are, we appear to others as abstract and confusing. Really, how beneficial can we be in life this way! We are created to be. Whether we’ve allowed others to define who we are or we’ve ended up that way by circumstance, it’s time to put a stop to it. Sure it may take time to renew our mind. The same amount of time has been given to all of us. But it’s up to us to make the most of what we’ve been given. Don’t delay. Start right now.

P.s. If this article has inspired you, made a difference in you today… please consider sharing it!

Enjoying each other

Learning to handle difficult relationships in a healthy manner is a challenge, isn’t it! We are unique, complex, opinionated, hurt, motivated and depressed, along with a million other things that can be named, but you get the picture. How do we handle the one person who frustrates and irritates us to no end?

The first place I start is to understand their personality. My favorite personality chart is the color chart. It’s simple, easy to follow, fun and relatively easy to remember. Below is a chart closest to the one I learned. I had to change some things around, so if you should visit the URL, you won’t find it exactly the same.

Color Personality chart compliments of http://www.docstoc.com/docs/409272/Personality-Colour-Chart

Do you see yourself in this chart? You may be more than one color. I am Blue with my secondary color being Orange. I also have had outside influences which have left me with some characteristics of Green; although Green is not the color personality I was born with.

My husband is a Green with his secondary being Orange. Part of the Orange in my husband I can relate to is “Multi-tasker and risk taking”. I’m great at multi-tasking but I also take risks. It’s why at the age of 40 I got my motorcycle license and rode a motorcycle for the first time in my life. But as far as the Green in him, I have to go strictly by the chart to understand his thinking style. Understanding his Green has helped me to relate to his way of doing things… for instance, Greens really dislike conflict, meaning every time I wanted to discuss something – it was considered conflict, arguing and he would shut down. When I finally understood this, I was able to talk to him about how to discuss these kinds of matters without leaving a bitter distaste in either of our mouths, bringing about resolution as the outcome. It’s really cool! I use this same method for my children, my friends, those I coach… matter of fact, I teach these techniques to those I coach. It helps them understand themselves as well as others. It’s an empowering tool that will last the rest of their lives.

Second thing I consider is to understand any other influences. Circumstances, health issues, concerns, addictions and so on. Understanding one’s personality is a great place to start, but not the only thing to take into consideration. For instance, if someone just lost a relationship, they are not going to act their everyday normal self, maybe moody and depressed. If a women has started her period, if someone is diabetic or has the flu… maybe they are facing foreclosure.. All of these things can add something more to someone’s personality and if you know what to look for, you can see these changes as being momentary rather than whom they are! I hope my tips help to get you onto the right track to relationship success, as there is so much more to learn, but hey, it’s a great start!

Related Articles

• What’s in a Color? (ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com)

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“Ask me is I care” what a great statement. It’s only great in the sense of being true to you. We can get lost and confused when we start to let others tell us what choices to make. We must experience our own journey, make our own mistakes, forgive and love ourselves thru the process and continue to move forward.

Control and manipulation have been around for a long time. There are those who believe that if you aren’t doing it their way, you’re doing it the wrong way. What a bunch of malarkey!

It took me a long time to become my own person and I absolutely love my independence. I covet it and won’t ever give it away again. I recently ran into someone who slowly I’ve been getting to know and becoming friends with for the past 6 months. For the first time in all our meetings, we talked about what I did –The Soul Whisperer. She had some very judgmental and condemning things to say. I talked with her for about an hour and wasn’t sure why I even stayed that long. Was I being sweet, was I trying to justify myself to her.. whatever the reason, I left understanding that our friendship will not go very far. It can’t!

I’ve been mulling this this incident over for days. I wanted to write about it, but I couldn’t write when I was angry. Anger has a way of working its way into my writing and cast slurs and nasties where it shouldn’t be. I truly wanted to leave you with a powerful lesson.

Know who you are and be ok with it. Not everybody is going to approve or like you. Some of the people we can have the hardest time with are those who are closest to us like family, friends and pious individuals. We can succeed without approval, isn’t that right! ß ( this is an exclamation point)

So next time you decide to share something special about you, what you do, who you are and someone tries to ream you a new one, stand strong within yourself and be true to YOU.

There was an email that made its way around several years ago. It’s a bit foggy but let me try and put down what I remember…It was about a man who applied for a position at a church. His resume said he used to be a murderer, a religious hound, he hated and persecuted many. He turned his life over to a wonderful man, loving, humble, reaching the many with a message. The Church told him, I’m sorry but you don’t qualify for a position in our church, we’re looking for people without sordid pasts. His name signed at the bottom was Apostle Paul.

I’m proud of who I am! If someone hates on me, I move on. I want to associate with uplifting and encouraging people in my life. I’m careful who I choose as my inner circle of friends.

With all my love

Xoxo

V

Related Articles

• Profile of the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. (greatriversofhope.wordpress.com)

Susie Cantrell MM413

Today’s guest ~Susie Cantrell. She and her husband are founders of their Ministry, Mountain Ministry! She is a Teacher, Speaker, Author, Business Owner. Through her Ministry, she Teaches, Encourages and guides others into a deeper relationship with God. We met through facebook and it was really like an accident. Since, our friendship has grown to something I cherish! I admire Susie’s honesty, the love she has for others and her devotion to God. She is an amazing woman!!!

Through her writing, she expresses herself with deep thought and it richly blesses the reader. You can find Susie’s other writings at http://SusieMM413.WordPress.com I hope you enjoy today’s guest and please let her know you’ve stopped by leaving a comment.

With all my love, xoxo

V

“Many blessings are given to those who trust the Lord.”

~ Psalm 40:4 (Living Bible)

Key of Trust

A ‘real-life-lesson’ taught me that as I know Him more, I begin to experience that I can Trust Him with each & every person, place & thing in my life. I prayed: “I Will Trust You Lord…Please help me to do so in Your Strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Yes, I Trusted. Yes, even as I was huddled in the still darkness of my bed, surrounded by pillows with ice packs from head to hip & on 10 different medications; I Trusted. Life had “hit me from behind” after a car-vs-semi accident left me with a Brain Injury, Vertigo, Photophobia, a few hairline fractures and head-to-toe soft-tissue injuries. I Trusted Him.

Yet, from the dark cave I found myself in, I was able to open doors to

The Key Unlocks...

Love Ya, Susie

Mountain Ministry <><

© SusieCantrell ~ ©MountainMinistry ~ ©SusieMM413

©Original Post 2010 http://SusieMM413.WordPress.com

©Revised Post 2011

Related Articles

• It Is Good To Praise The Lord (pastorpaulvbsblog.blogspot.com)

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“My own Beauty and the Beast Tale” My family and I recently saw “Beastly”. A modern day story of a favorite classic, “Beauty and the Beast”. I loved it and recommend it if you like a modern twist on a “fairytale”. After watching the movie, it inspired me to write about the beast within me which transformed into Beauty. As the Beast, I was mean and cruel – prideful, I was an abuser! It’s all I’ve ever known, so it’s what I emulated. Then God stepped into my situation, life began to change and rearrange itself, spiraling me into learning, healing and becoming the Beauty. He was not willing that I stay as I was… but He began to change me from glory to glory.

Before my healing had taken place, I had a very broken spirit. My self-esteem had been shattered by the years of abuse leaving me to feel an awful amount of shame. I felt so bad about myself, that I couldn’t bear acknowledging error on my part, and without being able to look at the errors within one’s self, there is no change, no healing. Needless to say, I was not an easy person to live with.

How does one recognize they need help if all they’ve known is survival! We learn to show a false but polite face to the public and let the real “us” come out in the home, with those we love the most. Many of my memories hold no pleasure for me, as many of them are of pain and loss. I truly believe that testimonies change lives. Testimonies are real people sharing some pretty horrific things, but when we hear that one testimony that sounds like they are speaking about our life, we can relate, can’t we? So I believe in sharing real things about myself. Some of what I share tends to sound negative. It’s been suggested to write positively, leave out the negative. I believe in balancing it with both, because in truth, wounds are ugly. When we can relate to a behavior, we can say… “hey, I do that” and realize there is need for change, thus we seek help!

I used to…

• Concentrating on what area’s others needed to fix
• Passing blame and making excuses
• Justifying self
• Anger and argumentative
• Embarrassment and shame
• Excessive amounts of pride etc…

Now instead I…

• Self reflect – realizing I can change no one but myself
• Love myself – Realize I’m worthwhile and needed in the world. I am unique and there is no one who can replace me
• Forgive myself – realize I have God’s approval and no longer need man’s, but it’s a plus when I do have it
• Do not judge myself – realize we are all on a journey and that means we learn from mistakes
• Take responsibility for my actions and apologize when I need to
• Maintain a peaceful inner self – Anger has been resolved with healing and understanding
• Humility is my posture and a true strength

I love being the Beauty! I don’t miss the Beast! Nope, not at all! Maybe you are not as broken as I was, but any Beast in us has the propensity to ruin something in our lives we truly love. Do not wait. Change doesn’t happen without our willingness for it. Reach for the Beauty, make it happen!

With all my love xoxo

V

Flowers from my kids

I wanted everyone to know when I found out. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. It’s great news for sure, but I sat there with the news in my hand and stared. I wasn’t staring at anything, just past everything. Then the tears flowed.  I haven’t had time to process all of this and I’d love some of your input. What am I to expect from my emotions, from the weeks of consultations, Dr’s abuse, the niggling fear that it could be more… My life could’ve changed drastically with this one bit of news. And it all STOPS! What seemed like fast forward motion, stops leaving me with something like emotional whiplash… It all feels just a bit confusing.

I really want your insights and shares… to help me understand and process all these events.

with all my love, xoxo

V

She asked me if this was my 3^rd opinion and I knew how important my answer would be. I was not there for a 3^rd opinion. I felt comfortable with the diagnosis my Ob/Gyn, Dr. Probst and the 1^st Surgeon I saw gave me (even though I didn’t want him as my surgeon, I could tell he knew what he was talking about). I was here to find someone I felt comfortable with. My connection with my Doctors is no different and not any less important to me than the one whom I would give the privilege to hold my daughter after she was born. I explained how the first Surgeon treated me like a job. I was herded in and out like a cow, a piece of meat. He spent very little time explaining anything, was rough and hurt me twice, which crossed him off the list. The second Doctor referred me back to the first saying he didn’t want to do the surgery, he wasn’t going to be responsible for deforming my breast. Needless to say, this crossed him off the list as well. Matter-of-fact, by the time I was done crossing his name off my list, there was a BIG black mark and whole left in the paper where his name once was.

Dr. Chang, my husband and I had a great consultation. She explained the procedure, measured the Lipoma (6mm), and showed me where the incision would be made. She told me about her team, gave me a physical and asked if Friday, one week from today, would be a good day for me. With everything set, I proceeded to the next 2 steps – meeting the surgery coordinator and going for the tests Dr. Chang ordered. I left the hospital after my x-ray and the EKG to meet Eric and my son Stephen for dinner; evening concluded… and all that was left for me to do was to wait for my surgery date.

Our alarm blared at 3 am. We needed to be at registration by 6 am. It was raining and we had an hour drive to the hospital, an hour if there were no accidents.  We were 15 minutes out of town when I realized I forgot my ID and medical card. It took half an hour to get back where we were after retrieving my forgotten ID’s. These kinds of things always add frustration and worry to a now tight schedule. But we made it and with 15 minutes to spare.

We were sent upstairs to the 2^nd floor after I registered. I changed and I was brought back with Eric in tote to a room separated with curtains to give the appearance of privacy. More questions were asked, an IV was placed in my hand and my blood pressure and temperature was taken. The nurse left me with Eric, who had fallen asleep in his chair. At least one of us was relaxed. Actually I was ok, I grabbed my iPhone and let the game “Angry Birds” entertain me. I love flinging those birds at the pigs and getting them! Ha! I got myself 2 levels when the curtain moved. I put down my iPhone when a tall man who commanded my attention just from his very presence entered my tiny little room. “Hi, my name is Rick and I am your anesthesiologist. I will be the one who will administer the anesthesia you will need for the operation.” He proceeded to explain the procedure, told me how frigid the OR would be and asked a few questions. At one point, I interrupted to ask a question. I didn’t do so intentionally, but I didn’t try not to intentionally either. So it was my fault, and I refrained from doing so again, as his response let me know he had zero tolerance for interruptions. This helped me to size him up though. Because once I understood his personality and knew how to walk along side of him, rather than against him, we got along splendidly. Next visitor was my surgeon, Dr. Chang. Today she looked different than in the office. She was confident and professional and very personable. She felt comfortable in her zone. We talked a few minutes; she marked my body where she was going to make the incision and asked me if I had any questions. She left saying she would see me in a few minutes in the OR.

The nurse came in to escort me to the operating room. I kissed Eric and told him I’d see him in a bit and followed the nurse. Did you know that we walked to the operating room and got up on the skinny little table by ourselves? This was a shock to me, but not an unwelcomed one. I was fascinated with the experience. Rick told me the OR would be cold and that they would make sure I was heated, warmed up and they were right. It was frigid. Once I settled onto the table and the blankets and heater was attached to my gown, I would’ve never known how cold the room was. Next is just a little bit embarrassing… the nurse said before I got up on the table, hang on, let me untie you and put your bare bottom ( she patted the table) right on the table. I laughed and thought… well, why not?  So up I went. I got all comfy, especially when Rick shifted the table to form to my body shape. I watched several things at once. They wrapped me, strapped my legs and body, arranged my arms, watched different nurses coming and going, looked at the bright lights over the table and all the medical equipment. Then Rick who was helping me to get warm and comfy, started to talk and explain a few things. Just as he finished up… my Surgeon came in… which it seems I always hear angels sing when she does (I just love her) and she introduced me to the team. “This is Veronica Schultz, birthday August 18, 19xx Medical record number xxxxx. We are going to remove a Lipoma from her left side, left of the breast” That’s when I started to feel loopy. “Rick?” “Yes?” “Did you give me drugs already?” I laughed. “Yes, I gave you the relaxant.” “Oh, I thought so!” B L A C K O U T… I remember nothing more.

I woke up in the recovery room and Eric was brought in right away. He told me that Dr. Chang had come out to talk to him about the successful surgery. She had gotten it all and taken pictures of the Lipoma (8mm x 6mm). She is sending it out for a biopsy and will let us know when the results come in. You can see the picture Dr. Chang took by clicking the link. I wanted to be discrete about the picture, because not everyone can stomach seeing things from injuries or surgeries. So, please only look if you have a strong constitution. Lipoma’s can grow fast. When I first discovered it about a month ago, it was the size of ½ a lemon. Surgery date it was the size of a grapefruit.

I’ve hidden my picture within this link. It is graphic. Click link to view Photo from Surgery. Viewer discretion is advised. http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w113/candiache/Life%20Coaching/photo16.jpg

It wasn’t long before I was on my way home. Recovery has been pretty easy, except the allergic reaction to Vicodin. Itching all over, swelling of the lip, chin and tongue. I took some Benadryl and the doc switched me to Tylenol w/Codeine, which worked great.

Over all, this surgery experience was a great one. I’ve learned more about myself and other people; especially those in the field of helping others. Not every Doctor has a great bedside manner. Not every Doctor cares about their quality of work. Not every Doctor should be doing what they do… but we can’t change the world. We can only make decisions that are best for us and those we love. Finding a Doctor that cares about what they do and who they are helping is important to me. I suppose the greatest feat for me, is learning how to say, I DON”T want you as my doctor, but I do want YOU!! Only recently have I felt like I’ve had that choice. Not because it wasn’t mine for the taking, but because I was not trained to know I had these choices, these rights. I should’ve been taught that how I felt, what mattered to me was important. I am WORTH the right choices. We do not have to take what we are offered, as if we have no choice in the matter. We do have a choice and with these choices comes the great privilege of being sensitive to our Soul Whispers, not just learning to recognize their voice, but to know that our heart, our Soul, our Spirit is guiding us.

P.s. I am waiting to hear from the Doctor about the biopsy. I will let you know.

Ok I am sitting here staring at this blank page wondering what in the world I am going to share. I looked up at my daughter who had joined me at the table with her lap top and asked, what could I blog about. Not that I thought she really had any idea’s, but to my surprise and with no delay, she blurted out “Pokemon”. I laughed and thought how silly. But then the thought hit me (in keeping with my theme), “Pokeman gets an attitude change” Pokemon reveals heart values” and I couldn’t stop laughing and wondering who might my audience be, if I really intended to write about the cute little guy.

Well, now I guess I do have to say something about him, well not really about the actual Pokemon but about my grandson who was dresses up as Pokemon for the Fanime Event in San Jose. He took the hearts and the cheers of the crowds who had visited and won first prize in cuteness.

My grandson, has taken my heart and not because he is just so adorably cute… but because… well darn… I don’t really have a reason why and I suppose I don’t need one. Which reminds me of Pokemon’s catch phrase, Pokemon, “Gotta catch ‘em all!”. I don’t need any more than the one I’ve got – he’s the absolute best Pokemon of all!

If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.  ~David Carradine

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  ~e.e. cummings

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Today I am sharing with you Jeanette’s testimony, every word written by her with the love to share Jesus. As I read her testimony, I could see that Jeanette’s life has the fingerprint’s of Jesus all over it. He has his hand on our lives and directs them with love and the gentleness of His Spirit. I was truly blessed by her story and pray that you will be blessed as well…

Yes I really want to share my testimony with you and your reader’s.Where do I begin.?

Well I suppose at the beginning, which was about 25 years ago.I want first to say that I was married to the same man for forty years until I lost him in 2009.We raised five children and they were my happiest years of having and raising them.I had a very unhappy relationship with my mother for many years…its only now that I am whole,that I even have any understanding of her…then I was medicating myself with alcohol….we had no relationship for 10 years because my heart was hard due to the impending alcoholism.Oh yes I was saved absolutely,living in rebellion and doing my own thing.Well she died in 1998 and I had tried to reconcile with her through a letter that she refused to see me even though she knew she was dying.The funeral was horrible and I began to drink quite heavily at that time..I was 53 and running straight into a life and death struggle.Let me pause here and say that Abba gave me two warning’s..one from my doctor and one from the pulpit(when I would go)..low and behold my day of reckoning was fast approaching.It was October 24,2001,I was to have an endoscopy because I was feeling very ill.Little did I know how ill….I went down like a ton of bricks..all at once I was in end stage liver failure…i was very jaundiced in the beginning but that was nothing compared to the suffering my rebellion caused me.I experienced in 10 months every end-stage liver symptom except I never had the toxins build up in my brain where you don’t even know your name.But I went down to 83 lbs was tapped 4 times in 4 months and was evaluated for a new liver in 2002…here is the amazing miracle of my life….on and around my birthday Aug 8,2002,it was the tenth month of my illness(10 is the Lord’s number for discipline I’ve been told)anyway I woke that morning feeling different…good different…I had no pain or familiar nausea that I had lived with.I actually felt almost good.Well in Sept of 02 my evaluation was complete and they called me to tell me that I wasnt sick enough to be listed and my response was I don’t want to be on the list anyway…they assured me they would keep in touch(ha ha)and I never heard from them again and I began a journey of recovery that was so wonderful and full of His love mercy loving-kindness forgiveness and any other wonderful word we can think of.I truly was born again physically…..no one thought I would make it,my pcp doctor who really knew me said that I renewed his faith in miracles.Ok Im on the road to recovery in 02 and it was slow for me to come back weight wise,but I was so full of the Holy Spirit’s gift of healing I can’t describe in words how renewed and young I felt.Everyone around me knew it was THE LORD which thrilled me to give Him praise for all He did for me when I deserved to be taken out prematurely!I was and still am totally delivered and am back walking with Him as best I can and love Him more each day for how He has seen me through some very hard times.I still have family problems,I am a widow who misses her man a lot,but the Lord has been so good to me I cannot complain about anything really.I just want to thank and praise Him again publicly for His great mercies toward me.Thank you Veronica for allowing me to share,I love to tell all that each day is a “do-over”and its never too late to call upon Him.
In His Love,
Jeannette

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Moments that change your life don’t happen all the time and maybe that’s why they are so profound.

We can imagine that we’re sitting together over a cup of tea, just sharing about the different things on our heart… Of course, it seems unfair that I will be the only one talking…

Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)
How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps.

Last Thursday I arrived early for my surgery consult, which was no problem. I had several things to keep me occupied and time flew by. By the time I left my appointment, I was mystified, annoyed, yet glad for the news. It was the Surgeon’s examination. He was rough causing me undue pain, and I had to tell him to be gentle TWICE; one too many times if you ask me. I suppose I didn’t start to really think about this till Friday and that’s when I realized something felt very wrong about the situation and I wasn’t sure I liked the Surgeon. Later I realized, his rough examination was popping up warning signals trying to get my attention. And just as a side note, there is a lack of caring and respect a person is showing us when they aren’t gentle and cause undue pain. Really, there is no excuse for this from anyone.
I got to thinking, if my Surgeon shows a lack of concern for my whole wellbeing, while I’m awake, totally disregarding my request that he be more gentle, should I entrust myself completely under his care, asleep in Surgery? What a sobering thought!?

This is one of those times I had to really listen to what my soul was whispering to me and my process to do just that began like this. I opened my email and began to write a message to the Surgeon about my views on the appointment, when I realized that if I send this, he apologizes and I decide to stay with him, who knows if he would be mean to me, just because he can. I cancelled my message and made a call to member services, explained the situation and asked what my options were. The Members Rep. told me that ethics would not permit such behavior… in which I responded, “well that’s the way it supposed to work, but ethics says that a cook shouldn’t spit in your food if you’re not happy with the results and send the plate back to be remade, but they do”… To make a long story short, he gave to me this amazing advice, “If I were you, I would listen to my heart, because I can tell it’s speaking to you. First impressions mean everything. If you don’t feel right about him, change to a new surgeon”. Papa God got His message to me, didn’t He? Oh, He is very creative! If our hearts are open, we’ll notice that He’s not beyond using anything to guide us!

That’s it!! Why was I toiling over this? My soul was whispering to me even in the Surgeons Consult and I was having a hard time taking note of it. My thoughts were clouded with emotions that were running on the high side, that it hadn’t even occurred to me to evaluate the Surgeon to see if I liked him. It would’ve been a great benefit to me to have a supporter there who could have observed these things and brought it up later, making the process of discovery and decision making easier.

Today, I’ve been checking out other Surgeons and will be calling next week to set some appointments. Sometimes it’s not an easy process to hear my whispers, but I eventually always do and that is AWESOME.
As for the results of the Surgery Consult, he said I have a Lipoma, which is something gross like fatty tissue. They will call to schedule a surgery date to have it removed.

Today’s guest post is by Mark Morton You can find him at Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/littlecloud1844 and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/littlecloud.artist

 

You Are Headed For An UPGRADE

What do I mean by that?

Yes it is true we have a body, just like a computer has a frame. And that body is important to a degree, as it has to look ok in its environment and it has to be of a size relative to its operational requirements or its design logistics.

But a computer, like you, is much more about the software than the hardware. The software, the programs, like your favorite word processor, media application, web host etc are all present inside the operating system which was also designed for you and your comfort, ease of use, and benefit.

Your “soul”, your “spirit” your “heart” are all exactly like software that runs in an operating system God designed to run inside our bodies, specifically our brain and its associative mechanisms. But our software is not reliant on the bodies presence, where as the body is most definitely reliant on the presence of its software.

Well, do you remember the first computer you ever owned?

It was amazing because it introduced you to the world of software, and the power that gave you in your life to do things that you couldn’t do prior to that.

Now note this one thing –

If you were to get a record-able DVD and weigh it before you recorded anything onto it, you would have the exact weight of that DVD, which for this arguments sake we will make 500grams?OK,

Now the DVD itself is HARDWARE, OK?

Ok now get the recording of a concert event, some 5000 people, a public address system weighing 20 tonnes, a building weighing 4,000,000 tonnes, and the earth weighing whatever, ok, run it for an hour and then record it to the DVD.

Now, after you have burned that event onto the DVD, you take it and weigh it, how much does it weigh?

It weighs 500 grams……exactly the same amount!

SOFTWARE IS WEIGHTLESS, like your consciousness, like your internal software, your mind, heart, spirit soul!

So, check this out, you are headed for an upgrade, just like you did when you brought your most recent computer and put the same software on it as the first computer you ever owned, except your latest computer runs at 100 times the speed as the first one you owned, it has a 3d card in it and it does all sorts of things that your first computer couldn’t do.

GET THE PICTURE

When you receive, when you “put on” or when you are given, your glorified body, you will be getting an upgrade that God has designed for the ONE HE LOVES, THE BRIDE, THE CHOICEST OF HIS GREAT GIFTS THAT HE HAS RESERVED FOR HIS PARTNER WHO WILL CO-HABIT WITH HIM IN ETERNITY.

Your software right now, today, is both weightless and eternal, your “self” the thing that makes you, “you”, guarantees your ownership of Gods FIRST design, which he subsequently had to “banzai” or “govern” because of the fatal toxin of sin that was guaranteed to be present in the “self” that was no longer able to be immediately connected to His Presence, His ZOE, His LIFE.

(The story of Genesis 1 alludes that God Himself provided light to the Earth before He created the Sun, His presence IS LIFE.)

But then there was given to you the promise of Christ, Gods only SON, that the acceptance of His (Jesus) body and blood as your savior, your ticket, your down-payment, your title deed to friendship with God (that He paid for, for you) would GUARANTEE AS ONLY GOD HIMSELF CAN GUARANTEE, you an upgrade, a divine sovereign upgrade of a design privy to HIM ALONE AT THIS TIME.

Get your imagination whirring on this, this is God we are talking about, Go to a zoo or a botanical garden, check out His already disclosed incredibleness with ideas and ingenious concepts and their physical existence!

Look at the giraffes heart and neck, the dolphins sonar just to name 2 from millions of design moments.

NO EYE HAS SEEN NO EAR HAS EVER HEARD OF THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THEM THAT HE LOVES AND THAT LOVE HIM, THAT ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSES.

NO EYE, NO EAR!

In CHRIST, (this is His promise to us) we are headed for one serious upgrade to our software and hardware, let this be among your celebrations today.

Little Cloud

Veronica Schultz

Moments that change your life don’t happen all the time and maybe that’s why they are so profound.

It started out as an evening like any other. The day had been long, but productive. I got ready for bed and settled in, hoping for sleep. With insomnia, one never knows if sleep will come. It wasn’t even a thought, really… to feel the side of my breast. But when I did, I froze for a full moment. Then processed what my hand just rolled over. I began a breast exam using both hands. I moved my hands gently but with intent to determine size and movability. It is the size of half a lemon. Shock hit me. My mind whirled as I tried to remember what I knew about cancer, if cancerous lumps hurt, would they be movable? But I couldn’t remember. I wanted to wake  my husband, Eric up and ask for his opinion, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that when he has been so tired. Plus, I thought, nothing would change before the morning. At lease nothing physical. One hour rolled into another as I tossed and turned… waiting for morning to break.

Eric was wonderful and very sensitive to the situation. He did what he could to offer his opinion and comfort me. As we agreed, I made a Dr.’s appointment for later in the afternoon. My Doctor, wonderful as he is, let me know that based on the size and location of the lump, he thinks it’s just a cyst or a fatty Lipoma. I said to my Dr., “I had a mammogram, a breast exam and a pap just 3 months ago, based on the size of this, how did the Dr. miss it? “After the mammogram and ultra sound I’m scheduling you for, we will know more information”, he replied.

It’s interesting the feelings and emotions I’ve experienced the last couple of days. Oddly enough, I had a sense of peace about this whole situation; otherwise I couldn’t be sure I would’ve kept the calm approach that I did. Yesterday however, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I thought about the worse scenario as well as the best one. Fear tormented me at the edge of the fence, as though there was an invisible line it couldn’t cross. By evening I told Eric in a quiet moment together, that I wanted to feel sorry for myself for a good part of the day. Did I dare allow myself to feel pathetic? I couldn’t! Really, how unreasonable is it to struggle with varying emotions with something as huge as this, a breast lump – the size of half a lemon. Did I mention that already? It amazes me how big it is. As I stood in front of the mirror today, I noticed it protruding, making my breast look awkward.

I keep reminding myself to be aware of my thoughts and emotions, so they don’t get away from me. How easy would it be to become depressed over this! I’m grateful for my family and their loving support and grateful for my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I look forward to finding out what they discover and of course, I will let you know how it goes and keep you posted as I journey through this trial.

With all my love,

Veronica

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