Wear Pink - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In November 2000, my 38 year old sister died from breast cancer. Even now as I type this, I can see the images of her lifeless body laying on the bed as a result of a disease that I thought happened to "old ladies." I was wrong. It's not an "old ladies" disease. It's a disease that affect young, middle age and older women. Once I started researching breast cancer, to my surprise, it can affect men as well.

When my sister passed away, she left behind 3 teenage children and 2 grandchildren. My mother was so grief stricken because she never thought she would have to bury a child. It's suppose to be the other way around, right? My siblings and I were in such a state of shock that it left us speechless. Words could not express the pain we felt on that day. It was a day of mixed emotions as well. We also rejoiced in our hearts because my sister had come to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior.

*Side note: When I visited my sister in the hospice, I would lift up her arms and say "Jesus." All she could utter was a faint "uh huh." We have the opportunity each day to lift our hands and stretch our arms high and give praise to the Lord our God. He has done great things and is worthy. Don't take it for granted!

I want to encourage all women to learn how to do monthly breast examination. Talk to your daughters about the changes that will take place with her breast during puberty and teach her how to do self examinations. Get mammograms as early as you can. Pray for the women who are battling this disease and let's not be passive in our prayers. Breast cancer is not passive as it takes hold a vibrant woman in the prime of her life.

If you are reading this, you or someone in your family is battling breast cancer, please be encourage and cherish each day. Also know that God is healer and a Savior. My sister may not have gotten a healing here on earth, but she's resting in the arms of her Savior.

My daughter Ruthie was 10 years old at the time of my sisters death and she sang this song at the funeral.



http://www.nbcam.org/

A Sacrifice of Praise

For me going through a trial is easy in the beginning. When I'm faced with a trial the first thing I start to do is listen my praise & worship music. I start to quote Scriptures while I go about my daily rituals. I might even stop in the middle of doing laundry and rejoice by doing a Texas-two step (dance). Why? Because I know that trials don't last forever. But what about the trial that seems to have no end in sight?

During this journey with Christ, I have gone through some trials that were long. It was difficult for me to praise God in the midst of them. Those Scriptures that were being quoted started to cease because my flesh got tired and weary. Then one day it dawned on me that I need to praise no matter what my circumstances were, how much money I had or didn't have in the bank or what my present surroundings looked like. I had to offer up a sacrifice of praise. How do I offer a sacrifice of praise? I couldn't really answer that question until I understood what it meant to offer a sacrifice of praise.

Sacrifice - The act of making an offering to a deity, in worship or atonement. To give up,
yield or relinquish for the sake of something else, as a person, thing, or idea.

Praise - To express adoration of; glorify.

I realized in order to continue offering up an expression of adoration and glorifying my Lord, I had to deal with me first. Praise to God begins with self.

Psalms 103:1-2, Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.

Oh at times how I quickly forgotten all His benefits. Just like an earthly child has benefits from his or her natural father, I have benefits because of my Heavenly Father. The opposite of Praise is forgetfulness. To forget the benefits of the Lord is to disregard His covenant Lordship.

Praise is due to God because He answers prayer!
Praise is due to God because He is the King of Kings!
Praise is due to God because He is the creator of all things!

The commitment to praise the Lord requires a disassociation from dependency on other people. You can't look for man to praise God for you because you're "going through." He's your God. He's your Savior. He's your Deliver. Praise Him because he is worthy!

Psalm 18:3 - I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The saints from old had a saying that would always get me on the right track. They used to tell me "I dare you to praise God and see won't He come through for you!" Today, I daring you to praise God and see what happens.

My Prayer For Homekeepers

Humbly I bow before You Father
On my bended knees I pray.
Matters of my heart are many, I have so much to say.
Encouragement my sister she needs,
Keeping her home with a family she feeds.
Embracing the changes occurring in her life,
Everyday she's serving as a mother and trying to be a virtuous wife.
Please Lord give her the strength to endure,
Even in her darkest hour You're there for sure.
Remind her of the great job she's doing,
Still on today Lord, let her hear You wooing.

By: Sandra King
Written on January 11, 2005

There are times I've neglected the most important relationship in my life. My relationship with the Lord. No, I haven't fallen off the band wagon or ran away from home to go find myself. But, as a keeper of my home, my days are filled with the many tasks that are set before me. I'll admit that days have gone by without me stopping to talk with the Lord. What I mean is, I can go without days going into my prayer closet. That secret place where I can just pour my love on the Lord.

When my husband makes a request for me to spend time with him, I'm quick to respond to his needs. What about the Lord? I must take the time to spend and go into that secret place. How can I do that with the kids and my husband wanting my full undivided attention? Let's not forget the house that needs to be tended to and meals that need to be prepared.

This morning I went to that secret place. Although physically I didn't go, but my heart was there. While making blueberry muffins and eggs this morning, my heart just became full. Full of love for my Heavenly Father who just wanted to talk to me even in the midst of making breakfast for my family. I stopped for just a quick minute and shared with the Lord out of a heart with gratitude. So much gratitude that words of expression couldn't flow from my lips. God knew that my words were few, but the tears were many. Expressions from a heart so in love with Him. Not only for what He has done, but for who He is.