Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — “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.”

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. 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 Christ. The best action for me had been being proactive with preventative medicine and following my doctor’s recommendations. Cervical cancer, along with many others, can be a silent killer. I encourage all ladies to get their screenings. I have included a schedule chart published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Is your mindset pointed toward Christ?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the Ruths in my life. Use me to share my testimony for Your glory. Equip me to be a Ruth for others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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

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‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV ‬‬— 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.

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 12 years? What bold faith to walk out in a crowd of people and reach for Jesus in Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭48‬ ‭NIV — Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 

‬‬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. A few years back, I had been on a three-year health Journey that at times 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. Six years ago I was diagnosed with the Human Papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV. At times I 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 had the cancer-causing kind. My immune system wasn’t fighting it, thus surgical methods were warranted. 

We all have trials we face. Through God we can have courage to face those trials. Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV ‬‬tells us: 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.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for calling me worthy of Your love, redemption and healing. You know my story. Use me to share my testimony for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.For more information, visit the CDC.gov on Cervical Cancer.

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

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV ‬‬— 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.

Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV ‬‬— “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.”

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

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.

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This week I am sharing a very personal journey that led to having a hysterectomy in 2022. 

Just before my surgery, God gave me the song, Truth I’m Standing On by Leanna Crawford. Some of the lyrics sing, “The God who parts the sea promises he’s gonna make a way for me.”

I had to put my trust in God and the doctors God had equipped to take care of me. Join me in worshiping with the song, 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.

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1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

It is so good to be back together! Join us on our YouTube Channel as we wrap up our week on Titles:

We encourage you to worship with, Hello My Name Is by Matthew West.

Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV — Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Today’s key verse takes place in the temple leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross. Jesus was upset that the temple was being used for commercialization and corruption with the exchange of money and selling of doves at inflated prices versus its intended purpose of worship. Due to inflated prices some were unable to afford to enter and experience God’s presence. Jesus clearing out the temple is like His sacrifice of dying on the cross for our sins for all to enter. 

This week we have been sharing our Earthly titles, God-given titles, people-pleasing, and corruption. Are you ready to surrender and worship in God’s Temple? Take a moment to listen to Resurrender by Hillsong Worship. Some of the lyrics sing: “You’re turning over tables and calling for return to our lives upon the altar. The things we did at first. You’re clearing out the temple. You’re cleaning out the dirt. For we are Your territory. Lord, we are Your Church.”

Take a moment to review your list of Earthly titles, as well as your God given titles: child of God, chosen, loved, blessed, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, strong, and accepted.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I call upon Your name and humbly come before You. I surrender my Earthly titles over to You and ask that You help me to walk in the titles You have given me: child of God, chosen, loved, blessed, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, strong, and accepted. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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Let’s take a moment to thank God for His word. His word is our lineage, for we are His chosen people. His word renews us and gives us strength when we grow weary of our Earthly trials. His word is our guide to light our path and remind us of who we are in Christ Jesus. His word is unending and thankfully his mercies are new every morning. 

His word has purpose: ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:11‬ ‭NIV — so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

His word is our guide: Psalms ‭119:105‬ ‭NIV‬ — Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

His word is unending: ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NIV — Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

His word renews: ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

His word is our lineage: 1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

As a response to the Easter season, I pray we can shine God’s light. It is our Great Commission to spread the Gospel so all will know Jesus’s journey to the cross is everyone’s redemption story. 

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I call upon Your name and humbly come before You. I surrender my Earthly titles over to You and ask that You help me to walk in the titles You have given me: child of God, chosen, loved, blessed, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, strong, and accepted. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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