“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What does it mean to live by faith? To seek the Lord in everything we do. In this verse from Psalms, David isn’t saying we will be delivered from our trials, but if we seek God He will deliver us from our fears. I can relate to David. When my HPV journey first started, my Dad was in the middle of his cancer journey. Through these two journeys, God had been there for me every time I sought Him. He has even held me when I didn’t.

Often our trials are meant to transform us in the process. I have learned to be an advocate for my health. It is not much different from being an advocate for our faith. Everytime Satan tries to get a foothold, we can stand on God’s word. With every test result, I would have more questions. I encourage us all to ask those questions and to keep asking. It is so important to be educated on our health. After all, we are living temples for the Holy Spirit, so we must take care of our bodies. I encourage you to listen to this clip, He Knows What’s next? As Steven Furtick talks about living by faith.

I also encourage you to listen to the song, Fear Is Not My Future by Brandon Lake. This entire song speaks to my story. My favorite part is saying Goodbye to fear, guilt, shame, pain, and grave.

HPV is more common than you think. There are groups of more than 150 related viruses to HPV. Learn more facts from Cancer.org

This week I am sharing a very personal journey. Each day will be something different about my journey. If you missed one, I encourage you to go back and read;

Sunday’s post, Story Sunday

Monday’s post, Mindset Monday

““Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.””Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I can relate to Naomi’s mindset. Sometimes we blame God and question His faithfulness. For me, three long years of cervical screenings, biopsies, and procedures had me questioning God. At times I felt forgotten about. Thankfully I have had many Ruths along my journey to be faithful prayer warriors, a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on.

In Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV doesn’t say that God makes all things good. It says that God is working the good, bad, and ugly for our good and His glory; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ‬‬

What mindset did I take on? Making the best of my story. We may not have control of the beginning, middle, or end, but God is in control. We can take our thoughts and point them towards Christ. The best action for me has been being proactive with preventative medicine. Following my Doctors recommendations. Cervical cancer, along with many others can be a silent killer. I encourage all ladies to get their screenings. Husbands, Dads, and sons, encourage the women in your lives to get their screening. I have included a schedule chart published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.

Is your mindset pointed towards Christ? What if our mindset was to give God the glory. I encourage you to worship with Give You The Glory by Hope Darst, featuring David Leonard.

This week I am sharing a very personal journey. Each day will be something different about my journey. If you missed Sunday’s post, you can follow the link, Story Sunday.

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Can you imagine living in biblical days, when no one wanted to come near a bleeding woman because she was considered unclean? Can you imagine this going on for twelve years? What bold faith to walk out in a crowd of people and reach for Jesus; “Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”” Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Thankfully we can reach for Jesus. God sees us all the same, worthy to be healed.

Have you ever felt like an outcast, unwanted, or unclean? I can relate to the story of the bleeding woman. We all know that Satan is good at making us feel like an outcast, unworthy of God’s love and healing. I have been on a three-year health Journey that at times has tested my faith and my worth. This week I will be sharing my story each day in hopes that through my transparency I can bring awareness and help others.

Here my story goes. Three years ago I was diagnosed with the Human Papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV. At times I have felt outcast and unworthy of God’s love. I would eventually learn that HPV lives in everyone’s body at some point in their lives. Many times HPV goes away on its own. For someone like me, I have the cancer-causing kind. My immune system isn’t fighting it, thus surgical methods are warranted.

We all have trials we face. Through God we can have courage to face those trials; “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”” Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

I encourage you to listen to, Me On Your Mind by Matthew West. Some of the lyrics that speak to me are; “Who am I that the God of all grace Wipes the tears from my face and says, “Come as you are”? I don’t know about your story, but I do know that you and I are invited to come to God as we are. No one walks alone. I pray each of us can go to God through word and prayer to be healed mentally, physically, and emotionally from whatever trial we are facing.

For more information, visit the CDC.gov on Cervical Cancer

“Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is your It? Join Me as I share on See You Saturday! I love that called has called me to be a wife and a mom.

I encourage you to listen to, Nobody by Casting Crowns.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Including today, there are only nine Fridays till Christmas. If you are like me, you’re already watching the Christmas Hallmark movies. Today I am excited to share a new Christmas song with you. Oh What King by Katy Nichole. Some of the lyrics sing; “Whom am I that you would choose me (Mary), just a lowly girl from a simple family. Who am I that the Ángels speak my name, called to be the mother of the one who comes to serve”.

If you read my post from Wednesday I talked about how God chooses each of us to be His Disciple regardless of our sin. Can you imagine being Mary and being chosen to carry the savior of the world? Imagine how she felt when just a simple girl was approached by an Angel and called by name; “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” (Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

On this Finish Friday, let’s finish the week with confidence because God has chosen each of us. He chose you for your spouse, your children, your friends, your church, your job, your community, and more. Stand tall knowing whose you are.

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”” Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am calling today Trust Thursday. Even Jesus had a moment in the Garden of Gethsemane when he was broken before God and having to put His trust in the plan. If you take a moment to look at this picture, what do you see? There are many broken sea shells that have washed ashore after a big storm. Do you feel broken and washed up today?

Thankfully we live on this side of the cross and we know that God brought good from Jesus’s death and resurrection. Our brokenness was mended on the cross with Jesus that day. Our job is to put our trust in God, even when we feel broken and washed up. We can sit in anguish or we can kneel in prayer. Let’s take a moment to visualize ourselves in the garden with Jesus. Whatever is going on in our lives, we can thank and trust God because He will bring good out of every story. Let’s pray!

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your son, Jesus Christ whose blood was shed for me. Thank you for daily mending my brokenness. If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. In the name of Jesus Amen.

“This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When I read these verses and surrounding verses from Paul, I am energized in my faith. I am convicted to ask myself the questions; am I making the most of every opportunity? Or am I letting sin get in the way? Last Wednesday Deborah asked the question; have you seized an opportunity to share Christ with others? I would like to expand on that. I know for myself, I sometimes let my sin get in the way from sharing Christ. I think, who am I to share when I have sinned?

Our Choir Director sang a song Sunday called, Just as I am. In that song the broken are mended, the wounded are healed, the desperate are rescued, the empty are filled, and the guilty are pardoned. God called each of us to be a disciple no matter our sin and where we are in our Christian walk. By being transparent with our sins, we can help the lost to see that we are all in need of a savior. How will you make the most of every opportunity today?

Take a moment to worship and be inspired! I have included a version of Sunday’s song, just as I am. I have also included a song that has helped me to be a disciple and share Christ with others.

Just As I Am (I am Broken) by Travis Cottrell

I Can’t Believe by Elevation Worship