Spiritual Sundays

Spiritual Sundays are hosted by Charlotte and Ginger. This is a wonderful blog that is open for inspirational stories, scriptures, or poems. It has grown each week and I am not surprised because the heart of the people who link up and share are full of love and long to glorify the Lord. I would encourage you to go visit here and if you have never joined us then please do! You will be blessed either way!

This is an entry from the book I just reviewed and posted about yesterday "Voices of the Faithful volume 2"

"The Unburned Bible"


Living in a war zone in a North African country "Omar" and his family relied on food distributions to live One day, national believers distributed food bags with Bibles in them. Omar's sister received one of these Bibles. When he found her reading it. Omar was enraged. He grabbed the book and slapped her face. Determined to destroy the Bible, he burned it.

That night, Omar had a disturbing dream. In his dream, he saw shining hands take the ashes of the burned Bible and form it into its orginal state. The he heard these words in his own language. "This is MY WORD. I am the ONE who sent this book to your family so that they might be saved." Omar jumped out of his bed, crying, and shouting. His shouts woke his family, so he told them about the dream. Frantic, he ran to the place where he had burned the Bible. Amazingly, he found the Bible lying on top of the ashes, unburned, clean, and new.

Omar's sister told him to go to the Bible distributors and ask them what to do next. Omar found them, and they told him about Jesus. He accepted Christ immediately and then reported everything he had learned to his family. I am so thankful for the many ways that Jesus reveals Himself to those He is drawing to Himself.

this is the prayer at the end of the story.
God of Miracles, You Astound me, You can part a sea, turn water into wine, and even restore your written Word from ashes. May Omar and His family bring you glory by proclaiming Your works throughout their country.

Psalm 119;89
Lord, Your Word is forever, it is firmly fixed in Heaven. (HCSB)

May you all be blessed on this Sunday as you rest in HIM

Book Review

Have you ever read the last page of your book and wished there were more pages to be turned? Me too! That's how I was with "Voices of the Faithful Vol 2."

This 366 daily devotional shares about more than over 300 Missionaries who serve all around the world and the people to whom they are allowed the privelege of serving. Some share the joys of watching people come to know and accept Christ after generations before them have planted seeds or served, but now these are the ones to lead them in that prayer that all believers long to do with Gods children/people. The Salvation Prayer. You will find heartbreak as well, reading how many serve day in and day out, and yet these people turn back to the ways of their country or nations governmental rules because of fear. One of my favorite months of devotionals was on "divine appointments" knowing that God places you right where He wants you to be and allows you to accomplish His specific will for that specific moment IF we will listen and obey to what He is asking us to do and not allow any obstacles to keep us from fulfilling that Divine task.

Anyone looking for a devotional this is a must. Anyone who has a heart for Missionaries this book is an absolute must. Anyone who needs a spark to encourage or challenge you in your walk, add this to your collection! Anyone think you aren't good enough to do those things God is asking you then read this book. You will find everyday people who struggle with their own flesh, fear, pride, etc just like you and me yet they surrender and find that serving doesn't have any qualifications other than a willing and humble heart. God did amazing work through 12 other men who weren't qualified in their minds either but we all know what HE did through them don't we!

There is one thing I would like to share. Beth Moore doesn't play the role in this 2nd volume that she did in the first. Kim Davis has taken her place and does a fantastic job. She was in the first volume as well but it is in this volume that we get to see more of Kim.

Please visit ThomasNelson publishers to order your book

Friday Funnies

Well I can't believe it is Friday!! already!! This is a video my son wanted me to use for my Friday funny and I know we have alot of cat lovers so enjoy this quick little video and Happy Friday everyone! Go see Kim HERE and give her some TGIF luv :)




love and blessings

a new note from Dad

today has been a rough day and I am not sure why, just lots of pain so I have just had the ice machine on most of the day and taking it easy. I checked my Dads facebook page and saw he has a new note and since you all are mentioned specifically I wanted to get it up since some of you will be traveling tomorrow ;) love you Mary.

I can't tell you how much it means to me that you all took the time and sent Dad a note or an encouraging word and as you can see it meant so much to him as well. Thankyou for being living breathing examples of the Body of Christ and showing Dad what that looks like authentically



The Tremors
Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 4:52pm


I went into the office four days this week and would have made it five but I was too tired and didn’t feel well on Friday. I think four out-of-five is pretty good for the first week back.

The only medical work that was performed this week was some lab work to insure the blood thinner (Coumadin) is at the right level. I think this process will take place for the rest of my life. Once they get the level stabilized, the test will occur once a month – rather than weekly.

Mayo did set one date that is important. On Thursday, October 15, they will perform a CT Scan on my chest and abdomen. This scan will show how effective the radiation and chemotherapy treatments were and give some idea of what comes next. I have an appointment on Friday, October 16, with my oncologist to review the results of the CT Scan. The appointment with my oncologist will reveal where I am.

As you can see, not much took place this week and very little is planned for the next couple of weeks. It’s really pretty nice to not have any treatments or big tests. I’m enjoying the break.

I’m only taking three medications that are related to the cancer: Coumadin (which I already mentioned, Decadron (a steroid), and Hydrocodone (a liquid pain reliever which I am taking for my throat). The Coumadin and Hydocodone are tolerable but the Decadron is one medication I can do without.

When I was drinking, I frequently woke up with the tremors (where my hands shake uncontrollably). More than once, I spent the night in a motel because I traveled for the company I was working for .I frequently drank the nights I traveled. I often woke up with a hangover..The hangovers were bad enough, but the most embarrassing time was when I had to check out of the hotel and I had to sign the credit card statement. I often had the tremors so badly I couldn’t stop my hand from shaking and I couldn’t sign my name.

I still remember how embarrassed I was that I had to stand in front of the check-out clerk and I had the shakes so badly that I couldn’t steady the pen or move it to write my name.

The tremors were a strange phenomenon for me. I remember my hands shaking since I was in elementary school. Of course, I had the tremors almost all of the time I was drinking but the minute I stopped drinking they went away – a bit of a miracle.

I haven’t dealt with the tremors for over 31 years. Then this disease came along and my doctor prescribed Decadron. The tremors are a side-effect of taking Decadron and they are back and stronger than ever. As a result, I cannot sign my name so that it is legible. Another problem came up last week when Barbie and I went to eat sushi. I couldn’t use the chopsticks because I couldn’t g et my hand steady enough to pick up the fish. I had to eat sushi with a fork – which was almost criminal! Even with a fork, I had a difficult time.

And you should watch me try to land my mouse on a location on the screen. I have to make about five passes of my mouse over the location that I want. It takes me five times longer to do anything.

So, am I complaining? It definitely sounds like it. Do you remember when I first got this disease and I said I wasn’t going to let the small stuff bother me. I have too many important things to deal with. Well, that didn’t last very long; did it?

In the grand scheme of things, the tremors really don’t amount to much. They are a little embarrassing, but I can live with that. They are inconvenient, but I can live with that too. They cause me to take longer than normal to do some things, but I can live with that too.

Taking the Decadron won’t last forever – probably no more than two months. I’ll just tolerate the tremors and wait for the day when I quit taking the Decadron.

Acknowledgements:

I want to use this section to identify people who have done something special for my family and me, I don’t want to list what anyone did, nor do I want to say where they are from, I just want identify the people and say thank you.

So this is the first time I include acknowledgements:

A special thanks to:

Cindy Imler
Derrick Caitlin
Guilene Guilhem
Jerry and Jo Speckhard
Judy Huener
Judy Lamphear
Julie Bickel
Kat and Steve Smith
Kathleen Steward
Lili Taboada
Lois Ann Coman
Maggie Smith
Marian Thompson
Mary and Tom Zatkalik
Mick Speckhard
Rosel


Doug Woods


Love and Blessings to you

Over the Top

Mary @ PileofSmiles blessed me with this award! I Cherish Mary and her friendship is so very special to me! She LOVES Jesus with all that she is and to me that is the BEST way to be "Over the Top"





I think it is unanimous amongst us bloggers that the rules are no fun but since we "gotta have them" here they are :)

1. You can use only one word!
2. Pass this along to 6 other bloggers!
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. Have fun!
So, here goes:


1. Where is your cell phone? Lap
2. Your hair? MULTI
3. Your mother? Beautiful
4. Your father? Healed
5. Your favorite food? Chips/salsa
6. Your dream last night? crazy
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Lifecoach
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? hmmm
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? grouchy
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? healing
17. Where did you grow up? Tulsa
18. Last thing you did? walk
19. What are you wearing? PJ's
20. Your TV? HD
21. Your pets? dog
22. Friends? Blessings
23. Your life? Blessed
24. Your mood? Determined
25. Missing someone? Granddaughter
26. Vehicle? Mazda
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? AmericanEagle
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Brian
33. One place that I go to over and over? school
34. One person who emails me regularly? Krista
35. Favorite place to eat? Charlestons'


And now I get to pass this award to 6 other bloggers and look forward to their answers:

Andrea @ Arise to Write
Kathy @ Blessed Beyond Imagination
Larie @ My Heart Speaks
Kat @HEART2HEART
Steve@ Gotta Have Faith

Recovery

I MISS you guys soo very much and have been able to read some blogs here and there but it hurts still to type or honestly, I fall asleep LOL

WOW this has been a crazy & oh so painful time. When DH and I were doing PRE-OP we were given a choice to use a block. Basically, what that is ~ they insert a catheter into my neck into the artery and it numbs your right side but most especially your shoulder. It remains for around 3 days if you keep the level around an 8. Dh kept his at a "2" bc he, at times, couldn't feel his face etc. My anesthesiologist said that these blocks are "lifesavers" and before they used them he has seen some of the biggest burliest men have to go to emergency room bc the pain was so excrutiating. Well, because DH had this surgery last Dec. I was familiar with the block so I consented to having it!

Well around 6pm that first night home, after anesthetic wore off, my pain meds were NOT helping w the pain AT ALL and sometime in the middle of the night and into the next morning we realized that the block must not be working on me. I just have to laugh at this point NOT REALLY because seriously I was crying. We had that thing turned up to "12" and nothing was helping so my Dr had to physically go to the Drug store to deliver the prescription, it was too strong to be called in.

It took a long time to get caught up with the pain but finally we are! I am starting the little exersises they give you to do at home and am scared to get in that chair thing that moves my arm but I will :)

The Lord has blessed us soo much~ people bringing food, flowers, prayers and so much love!

Thankyou Everyone ! I love and cherish you all

home

i am home dr said had significant damage and a big tear but all went well. kim, i must have had someone related to you bc the anesthesiologist was quite the mess! HE took pictures (With MY phone) without even asking!! i know, crazy huh!

anyway DH is being wonderful as ALWAYS, i am soooooo VERY BLESSED
LOVE U ALL

Friday Funnies

I just had to post my Friday Funny and since I am most likely at the hospital I thought I would see if I could find a funny on surgery.....Hope you enjoy this and NO....no one made this mistake with me ALTHOUGH they could because I was called "witch nose" in school but its the nose the LORD blessed me with and I'm NOT changin it :)






For more funnies please visit my friend Kim and have your Friday laugh

Love and blessings

Thankful Thursday

Well Today is Thursday and that means thankfulness is shared here at Magoos News. It may be a while before I post since I will be having rotator cuff surgery in the morning and just not sure when I can get back on but even if I have to "hunt and peck" type with my other hand you know I will LOL......

Thankful doesn't even begin to say enough today....Ya'll know I was scheduled to have surgery last Friday and for some random reason it was postponed til this Friday.....I knew Immediately that God was in it and was curious for the reason well guess what!
Here is the reason.








My DH (aka, my litl chipmunk) was in SEVERE pain this week with a toothache. He originally thought it was a previous root canal that needed to be redone bc ever since it was worked on it never felt quite right. Well, guess what? It was another one of his teeth further back and the dentist had to go pretty deep. He said he hadn't seen that bad of an infection in a long time. The tooth was absessed and they performed a root canal right away. But here we are 2 days later and his pain has gotten worse! My DH can tolerate quite ALOT of pain but this was just almost to much to bare! When he woke up this morning this is what he looked like. We spent time last night laying hands on him and asking the LORD to help the pain and to make this go away. Well fortunately I had picked up all my post surgery meds and he took one of the really strong pain killers and it helped him rest for the first time all week. He called the doctor this morning and they are changing his antibiotic but says the pain is GONE! PRAISE THE LORD! Bless his heart...He was so worried about being able to take care of me but I just encouraged him and said we needed to Praise the Lord for HIS timing and that when he woke up in the morning (this morning) we would be able to thank the Lord for what HE would do overnight! and that is exactly what we are doing!! THANKYOU FATHER!!! I know sometimes we don't get to see reasons for Gods timing but in this case we did and I am soooo thankful that the Lord allowed the delay!

I also want to thank Kat for this award. She has Heart2Heart. Please visit her and get to know her! You will be blessed by her friendship.......

We all love awards but Friendship awards are so special! To say that Kat and I have become friends doesn't even compare....it's like we have always been a part of each others lives and just found each other after a very long separation! She is soo very special to me. She encourages me, teaches me, stands beside me lovingly praying and supporting me. She is such a gift from the Lord and I thank HIM for her DAILY!!

I Would like to pass this award on to
Mary at PILE of SMILES
Charlotte at At Home In Scottsdale
Clif at Musings of a Minister
Laurie at My Heart Speaks
Lori at Girly Muse
Christy Rose at Secret Life of an American Wife and Mom
Jennifer at Studio JRU
Kathy at Blessed Beyond Imagination
Audrey at Country MOM
Andrea at ARise to Write
Barbie at My Freshly Brewed LIFE
Rosel at Off the Beaten Trek
Beth at An Instrument for HIS Glory
Edie at Rich Gifts
Lisa at Sharing Life with Lisa
and last but CERTAINLY not least Daveda @ Grace talk with Daveda
For those receiving this award it is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to six bloggers who must choose six more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. Opps I exceeded the number...OH well I am blessed with friendships!

and also I am thankful for this award from Steve at Gotta Have Faith. He created and designed this award and gives this award once a week. This family is one of the most creative and generous families. Their daughter Caitlyn designed an award as well! Please go visit Steve and get to know this wonderful family....You will be blessed!



Please join Laurie for other thankful posts today

How well do you know yourself/your spouse

Ya know after my post on Monday about marriages and issues that we face, I have been asking the LORD which direction should I take this? Every comment was positive and agreed that this needs to be discussed and addressed.....

Marriage takes work...ALOT OF HARD WORK. COMMITMENT. DEDICATION. DYING TO YOURSELF. INTIMACY. SPONTANEITY. and it takes knowing yourself and your spouse. One of the first things that we did with our Lifecoach was this. We took a test on ourselves ~ our personalities if you will. At the end of the test we found out what our personalities were. BUT here is the thing. We found out how those things about your spouse that drive you crazy....or just plain make you mad ~ GUESS WHAT?!?!?! They are your gift!
Here is my example.....One thing about me is I am the loud, outgoing, see something and I go for it, where my DH is EEYORE. He is quiet, thoughtful, and doesn't really get excited much and if I say "let's do it" he says" woah wait a minute here let me think about this".....screech.....WHAT DO YOU MEAN "wait a minute"??? Or there was also the fact that I was a stay at a home mom and didn't let's just say use all of my words.....A woman/sanguine woman at that needs to use all of her words or she will DIE :) LOL but my DH who is a off the charts melancholy needs quiet to be recharged because people drain him. WHo knew this stuff?? Him going to work and being drained all day by people and then coming home to a wife who needed to talk and go and do was killing us! You would think these are easy things to know but if you don't know them about yourselves or your spouse and you are drainging each other of course your marriages will suffer! (without even trying to) This is just simple everyday knowledge that helped so much in our relationship and continues to do so today. After taking these tests we were told to study our spouse....A school of them if you will. Know what makes them tick, what words to use (this is a big one!) I still have to dig deep on this one. What their strengths/weaknesses are.
Here is the wonderful thing about this: You can go to this website here and download the test for free. I recommend doing it for everyone in your family and your will see how amazing God is by putting the perfect combination together! If you want to you can purchase the book Personalty Plus by Florence Littauer to further learn more about your personalities. I did this but like I said this is something that I love to understand about people!

Of course, there are alot of things that we learned about our dependency on each other vs. our dependency on God. But this test is something I believed God used as a tool to help us and it can/will help you if you truly study and learn yourself and your spouse. It helps in raising kids as well What works for one doesn't work for the other, bc why? they are NOT the same personality! I have two opposite and trust me I cannot do the same thing with each child!

If you have any questions please ask but enjoy the test, and learning more about your families that God made you as a team! Together you will all work and learn to love each other in a whole new way!