Today's Prayer
Oh God, Time and grace heals our wounds, but time is not always a friend. What about my friends who have not heard Your words of life? What if they were to die today? I should know how short life can be. I've lost loved ones and friends who were young. Accidents and sudden illness can take away a life quickly. Cancer, diabetes, aneurysms, catastrophic events can change a person's health and life in a moment. Lord, why do I fear opening my mouth? Please help me to be bold, the speak Your words of truth and life to those I love, my family and friends, before time runs out. Help me to be a living testimony for You. Stir up the Holy Spirit within me and the gifts You have given me to minister to others, to reach a dying world, to share Your love and Your hope for the future. Thank You in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Fulfilling Your Purpose
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
02-15-2011
"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD" (Ps 139:1-4).
Your purpose in life is chosen by God. It is not negotiable. It is like calling water wet-there is no changing that fact, and there's no changing God's purpose for your life. While you may not fulfill the purpose for which you were made, you still have a purpose that God intends for you to fulfill. This is your blueprint from God. In the same way that He had a specific purpose in mind for Jesus when He sent Him to the earth, He has a specific purpose in mind for your life.
This doesn't mean, however, that there is one highly specific niche for you to fill and that if you miss it, too bad. It is my belief that you can achieve your purpose in many different and creative ways. This should take the pressure off. You won't throw your entire life off course by choosing the wrong college, job or mate. God is much bigger than any miscalculation or disobedience on your part. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me" (Ps. 138:8). Isn't that comforting to know?
Defining your purpose will help you to determine the activities that you should be involved in. Like Jesus, you should not involve yourself in activities that contradict His purpose for your existence. Jesus? purpose was to do the will of the Father and become the salvation for mankind.
Each of us must ask why we are involved in an activity. Is it a God-activity, or just a good activity? Remember, Jesus only did something if He saw the Father doing it, and He was able to see what His Father was doing because of His intimate relationship with Him.
Today, take steps to insure you are aligned with your purpose.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
When Satan Attacks Your Destiny
I was just researching information for a lady who contacted me yesterday about searching for our children's Russian family and this is what I discovered in my email mailbox that I rarely check... I have been saying all along that Pat's and my original dream was to give birth to our genetic child... I have been wondering if my concerns were from Satan trying to prevent us from bringing our genetic child into this world...
Today's Prayer
Dear God, You know how eager I am to jump in and take matters into my own hands. Sometimes, I don't take time to think and talk with you about a situation first. I know I should take matters to You; I should slow down a little to think and pray. Help me to not be so hard-headed all the time, but to slow down and wait on Your guidance...even Your intervention. Please give me wisdom, so that maybe I won't have to spend so much time wandering in the wilderness because of my ignorance. Thank you.
When Satan Attacks Your Destiny
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
02-16-2011
"When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him; but David was told that they were coming and went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Then David asked the Lord, 'Shall I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat them for me?'" (2 Sam 5:17-19).
When you are about to enter your destiny, there is always opposition from Satan designed to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.
When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill him. When Jesus was baptized and fasted 40 days, Satan came to tempt Him in an effort to derail his destiny. When David had been anointed king over Israel, God's destiny had been revealed for all to see-even Satan. So, Satan raised up the Philistines to try and kill David's destiny.
However, in response, we see David do two things. First, he retreats to his stronghold. It is a place of protection. It is a quiet place. Second, he inquires of God. It is here that he inquires of God for the strategy to defeat his enemy. God reveals it to him and he goes on to defeat the Philistines. In fact, David NEVER lost a battle because he learned to inquire of God for the strategy to defeat his enemies.
Do you know God's intended destiny for your life? Beware of Satan's strategy to attack you in the place of your destiny. His desire is to take you off this divine path.
We must follow David's example in response to the enemy of our souls. We must retreat to our stronghold, seek the Lord, and listen for His answer. Then, we will fulfill the purpose for which God created us.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, You know how eager I am to jump in and take matters into my own hands. Sometimes, I don't take time to think and talk with you about a situation first. I know I should take matters to You; I should slow down a little to think and pray. Help me to not be so hard-headed all the time, but to slow down and wait on Your guidance...even Your intervention. Please give me wisdom, so that maybe I won't have to spend so much time wandering in the wilderness because of my ignorance. Thank you.
When Satan Attacks Your Destiny
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
02-16-2011
"When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him; but David was told that they were coming and went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Then David asked the Lord, 'Shall I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat them for me?'" (2 Sam 5:17-19).
When you are about to enter your destiny, there is always opposition from Satan designed to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.
When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill him. When Jesus was baptized and fasted 40 days, Satan came to tempt Him in an effort to derail his destiny. When David had been anointed king over Israel, God's destiny had been revealed for all to see-even Satan. So, Satan raised up the Philistines to try and kill David's destiny.
However, in response, we see David do two things. First, he retreats to his stronghold. It is a place of protection. It is a quiet place. Second, he inquires of God. It is here that he inquires of God for the strategy to defeat his enemy. God reveals it to him and he goes on to defeat the Philistines. In fact, David NEVER lost a battle because he learned to inquire of God for the strategy to defeat his enemies.
Do you know God's intended destiny for your life? Beware of Satan's strategy to attack you in the place of your destiny. His desire is to take you off this divine path.
We must follow David's example in response to the enemy of our souls. We must retreat to our stronghold, seek the Lord, and listen for His answer. Then, we will fulfill the purpose for which God created us.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
Ambivalent
For now, we have a spot in the study- although the study could be completed before we begin treatment- then we would not have a spot...
Ambivalent... not sure what is best for our family and me at this point...
for now, we have an appointment for our consultation in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day- March 17th @ 12:30- our nephew, Kevin, is going to watch our kids at his apartment...
I just found this quote on someone's blog and think it sums up my concerns:
Regret for things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
--Sydney J. Harris
I just keep offering all of this up to God, requesting that He close doors sooner than later, if He does not want me to do this...
Ambivalent... not sure what is best for our family and me at this point...
for now, we have an appointment for our consultation in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day- March 17th @ 12:30- our nephew, Kevin, is going to watch our kids at his apartment...
I just found this quote on someone's blog and think it sums up my concerns:
Regret for things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
--Sydney J. Harris
I just keep offering all of this up to God, requesting that He close doors sooner than later, if He does not want me to do this...
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ahhh... The IF Frustrations....
I've anxiously/patiently been waiting on Pat's sperm analysis results for 5 days... I called yesterday, no call back... just called today... they will not tell me- only Pat... nice to know... I would have had him call yesterday but did not know that I can bring in his sperm, but can't find out about them... a courtesy call telling me that would have been nice!!!
After bringing in a piece of paper with the lab tests I needed written on it, discussing it with both the doctor and nurse AND sending in a fax to the doctor's office to confirm the correct tests were ordered... I am so glad I trusted my gut and looked at the fax from the doctor's office... only 2 of the required 5 lab tests were ordered- the blood has to be drawn on menstrual cycle days 2-5, yesterday was day 5, so if I would have waited until the labs came back, it would have been too late for this cycle and we would have missed the opportunity to qualify for the IVF Study... AND the nurse added an extra test not required- which the doctor told her not to add...
After bringing in a piece of paper with the lab tests I needed written on it, discussing it with both the doctor and nurse AND sending in a fax to the doctor's office to confirm the correct tests were ordered... I am so glad I trusted my gut and looked at the fax from the doctor's office... only 2 of the required 5 lab tests were ordered- the blood has to be drawn on menstrual cycle days 2-5, yesterday was day 5, so if I would have waited until the labs came back, it would have been too late for this cycle and we would have missed the opportunity to qualify for the IVF Study... AND the nurse added an extra test not required- which the doctor told her not to add...
Friday, February 4, 2011
Waiting...
I am so excited and a bit nervous... I completed the saline ultrasound and dropped off Pat's semen for analysis on Friday. I will go in tomorrow to have my blood drawn for the 5 required blood tests to hold my spot for the research study. My pap smear result is also required- so far, my pap and ultrasound results are normal... I'm hoping the blood tests are as well then we should have a spot!!!!
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