Calm in the Midst of the Storm.....

Okay so two days until the big surgery and I am doing okay. Still a little nervous, but not as bad as the weekend, so that is progress.



We all go through storms in life. We all go through tough times and sometimes those times are very intense, but I am reminded of Jesus in the storm. He was calm in the midst of the storm. He had it and has it all under control. He calls us to Trust Him in all things.

Today is my pre-op appointment for surgery. I've been to so many of these, as I have had many surgeries in my life, but each pre-op appointment is a little different. It always makes me a little nervous, but then also calms me, because afterwards I feel like things are ready to go. Until this point in the process, it is still all in process, but after pre-op it is a "Go Houston" =) and then my head takes a turn. Then I get in preperation mode.



Tomorrow I will be packing for the hospital and maybe cooking a little to freeze, but mostly just preparing my heart and head for the next several months. I will not be doing anything to crazy, just hanging out and taking it easy and preparing.



I want to give a shout-out to my Bible Study ladies. We finished up "Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted" by Priscilla Shirer, last Tuesday. This study was SO good. I'd love to write a review for this one. Many good things to say about it.



But with finishing that one up and our next one not starting until the first of the year, I was left with a dilemma. Do I do a study in the interim or read and take notes or what? Well, knowing me as a do =) I decided another study was in order. Since I will be down for several weeks, my mind needs to be heading in the right direction and not sit in the "I can't do that right now phase".



So I am doing a study by Mary A. Kassian "KNOWING GOD BY NAME". I am on day two and already this is a wonderfully, fasinating study. It is a study on different Names of God in the Bible.



There was an interesting assignment at the end of today's lesson. We just read I Kings 18:20-39, that depicts Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. And then we were instructed to complete this assignment at the end of this day:


"Imagine that you were a witness to the title match on Mount Carmel. Below write a prayer extolling Yahweh as El Elohim, the God of gods."


This was so interesting, because my prayer ended with "in Jesus' Name..." because we are on this side of the cross. I cannot say or write a prayer without that at the end. It is not a ritualistic thing, it is a matter of my heart. You see, we are to ask for all things in Jesus Name, but for me even when I am not asking for anything, I am still drawn to my Jesus. I want all that I do to be done in His Name and for His Glory.



So with that in mind, I'd like to leave you with this very powerful video from a church in our area. They are doing a weekend production called "Judgement House" and this is part of that. It is so powerful and moving. Yes sin can have such a hold on us, but when we give it all to Jesus, we are changed: POWERFULLY, WONDERFULLY CHANGED!!!!!






Thank you so much for thinking about us and praying for us. We've already had such sweet sentiments through cards and gifts and phone calls. Thank you so much!!! I'll let you know how my pre-op appointment goes.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)

"6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Love you ~~ have a Blessed day,