‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Each of us are in different or similar seasons in our lives. We are all moving different or similar stones. There is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them as we read in ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

When you look at this beautiful image from our friend Ray, what stones do you see? Maybe for you the stones have been gathered for love and celebration. Maybe they have been scattered from grief and mourning. Maybe they represent joys or sorrows. 

Now look at the image closer. They are stacked from largest to smallest. To scatter them, it would be easier to move the smaller stone first. Are you trying to move a stone that is burdened by the weight of other stones? God knows what stones you are carrying. Whatever season you are in, surrender your stones to God. Don’t forget to celebrate your joys.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the joys and celebrations in my life. I surrender my stones of burdens. Help me to scatter and gather stones for Your glory. Remind me to celebrate along the way. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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Take a moment to meditate on this week’s scripture verses.

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — 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.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —- Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

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Take a moment to worship with the Goodness of God by CeCe Winans. God is good through every season. The lyrics sing, “Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

Video by Ray White

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Join us on our YouTube channel as we close out our week on Mother’s Day.

Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV ‬‬— Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Today God is writing our stories, just like He did with the Israelites. What is God doing with your story? Join us as we wrap up the week sharing on Julie’s testimony story.

Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV ‬‬— Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

I would have loved to be with Moses and the Israelites to see the Red Sea part. Can you imagine walking through with sea walls all around you? Thankfully we have this story written in the word of God to know that we serve a mighty God who is faithful in His promises. Today God is writing our stories, just like He did with the Israelites. 

What is God doing with my story? More often HPV will go away on its own. After three years of screenings and biopsies, I was advised by trusted doctors to have a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure, otherwise known as a LEEP. This was hard for me to plan because I was in the middle of training for a marathon that I felt sure God had called me to do. Back in January 2022, less than two months before my race I had the procedure. Thankfully I recovered well and was able to run my race.

I thought I would finally be done with this HPV journey. I was at peace knowing that I had taken every preventive measure possible. Five months later I went in for a follow-up screening and my results came back High-grade (HSIL) Dysplasia/Carcinoma in Situ. This isn’t cancer but pre-cancer. 

From there I was advised by a gynecological oncologist to have a hysterectomy. It can take up to a decade for HPV to turn into cancer. Mine had been more aggressive and, therefore, was at a higher risk. Leading up to my hysterectomy, I had four months to mentally, physically, and spiritually prepare. It was no different than training. Life isn’t a 5K, it is a marathon. Surgery day was just another race. Praise God, my biopsy results came back with no signs of cancer. My miracle is that God answered my prayers. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for parting the waters and walking through the Red Sea with me. I continually seek You as You are writing my story. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Look at these U.S. yearly stats from CDC.gov. Each day has been something different about my HPV journey. If you missed one, I encourage you to go back and read:

Tuesday’s post, Transform Tuesday

Wednesday’s post, Water Walking Wednesday

Thursday’s post, Trust Thursday

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

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.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You that fear is not my future. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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:

Tuesday’s post, Transform Tuesday

Wednesday’s post, Water Walking Wednesday

@biblegateway @youversion