Category: Uncategorized

“You’ve got Cancer” – WHAT???

So, I’ve been dealing with something that has truly flipped me upside down, but haven’t really shared it with many outside of my inner circle. I feel now is a time that I’m ready to say what I’ve wanted to say, so here goes – it’s long….

What a difference a year makes. Around this time last year, I noticed something a bit off so I got a GI Dr., and scheduled a much overdue Colonoscopy. Fast forward to July last year. Bombarded with the news it was not a polyp or hemorrhoids, it was Cancer. Stage 4 CRC with Metastasis to my Liver.  

I sure as heck wasn’t expecting that news. Game changer for sure, life altering sh*t, literally. My life was turned upside down in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a rollercoaster ever since.  

Cancer is a life changing experience, no matter what kind of Cancer you have, or what Stage you are. You plan your day around how you feel when you wake up. And there are many days when your plan changes moment to moment. You miss out on so many things, and it’s very easy to slip into depression.  

If you have a family member, friend, or neighbor with Cancer, please don’t hit them with the, “You’re a fighter, you got this!”, or “Stay strong”. Just be there for them. I know it’s hard to hear this kind of news, and the knee jerk reaction is thoughts and prayers or the “they’ve made so many advances in Cancer treatment, you’ll be fine”. UGH….Just listen to them. Tell them you are there if they need a shoulder, or a helping hand, go over and give them a hug, send them some flowers or a meal, tell them it’s okay to cry, be angry, sad, crazy, all the feels. Just be there for them because in my own humble opinion we don’t need cheerleaders, we need to be heard. 

Cancer sucks – big time! We all know this, but until you are faced with it, you just don’t know how bad it sucks. Cancer is hard on the person with it, their family, their friends – we all feel helpless most days. It’s scary because the truth is, the questions you want answered most of the time they can’t answer – it’s the fear of the unknown that I struggle with, especially because I’m a Type A Sagittarius who just wants to take charge, get things done, and fix whatever is broken.  

Problem is, most of my life, I’ve been fixing and helping everyone but me. I put myself at the back of the bus because that’s how I’m wired – take care of everyone else first then I’ll focus on me…Yeah, right…

Get a huge support system around you – DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!!! Get a cleaning crew to take care of the household cleaning – I did, love my gals Kassy and Franchesca – Klean Freaks. Get rid of things that don’t serve you anymore – just let it go, it’s so freeing. Make a space that allows you to just be at peace – a happy place. Get help with meals – my Sister in Law Wanda Cruz is a Saint – she makes my hubby meals so I don’t need to. Love her! 

Talk to your nurses – they are a wealth of information and support – sometimes – actually most times they’re more helpful than your Oncologist or their team. Find a support group, get a therapist – do it – trust me. You need someone other than family or friends to unload what you’re going through because it’s hard on them too.

Give yourself grace – find your peace – love yourself – try to laugh – put your barefoot on the ground and feel the healing and strength from the Universe – every day try to do one thing that brings you joy, and trust me I know there are days when that feel insurmountable/impossible, it’s ok, try the next day – again, give yourself grace.

Urgent Prayer Request – Marge Wood

Dear sisters and brothers in Yeshua, please lift up Marge before our Lord, Jehovah Rophe for healing. She has suffered a stroke and is being transferred from the hospital to get rehabilitation.

Pray for her family and friends to have strength and peace as the healing continues to take place.

May the Lord place His hands upon Marge and those around her giving them comfort and peace. May He heal her according to his will and purpose.

May Yeshua richly bless each of you for your continued prayers and faithfulness.

~Briggie

Urgent Prayer Request -Mike Verdin

Dear prayer warriors, my friend Doris has asked that we please lift Mike up in prayer before the Lord.  He is a diabetic and suffered a massive heart attack.  He is in the hospital, doctors had to put in 2 stints and there is a clot on his brain that they are trying to dissolve.

Father God, Master and Creator of the Universe, place Your healing hands upon Mike to dissolve the blood clot, and heal him from the heart attack, diabetes, and any complications that resulted from the heart attack.  You Lord, are Jehovah Rophe, our healer.

Give the doctors Your wisdom to treat him, and give the nurses and staff Your compassion as they care for him.

Holy Spirit, place Your arms around Mike and his family and comfort them in this difficult time.  Lord, send Your angels to watch over them, and may Your peace fall upon them and give them rest.

While we pray that Mike be healed, we also pray that Your will be done Lord, and I ask for a special blessing for each and every person who is faithful and lifts Mike and his family up in prayer.

We give You thanks and praise and ask these things in the name of Your only Son, Jesus, amen.

 

Urgent Prayer Request – Laura Rusk

Dear prayer warriors, I am asking you to come together and reach out to anyone in your prayer circle to pray for Laura.  I worked with her for many years, and our mutual friend Doris, who also worked with Laura and became very close to her, has told me that she has cancer and it has spread.  Laura always has a smile on her face and just exudes joy and happiness.  You can’t help but smile when you are around her.

Please pray that God gives Laura peace, and His strength, and the will to fight this horrible disease.  She has overcome this before, but now that it has returned it has weakened her physically, emotionally and spirtually.    We know that God has His plan for each of us, and we know that He is the ultimate Healer.  Laura believes in prayer and has asked us to pray for her.

Abba Father, Master and Creator of the Universe, Jehovah Rapha, we come before you and kneel at Your feet, and ask that You look upon Your daughter Laura, and heal her of this cancer.  Place Your hands upon her and strengthen her.  Give her Your peace which surpasses all understanding.  Send Your angels to stand guard over her.  Give Your wisdom to the doctors and nurses so they care for her.  Send the comforter to her and give her rest and peace.  Place people around her that will pray for her.  May Your joy be with her and may she look to You Father for guidance, and strength.

The blood of Jesus blood flows through each of us bringing healing and life.  We pray the blood of Jesus over Laura and ask You Father, to bless her, and that Your will be done in the name of Your precious Son who died so that we may have life everlasting, amen.

~Briggie

 

 

Update – Prayer Request Jose

Dear prayer partners, it has been long overdue that I update you on how my husband is doing.  I thank each of you for your prayers and pray that God blesses you for your faithfulness.  It has been 10 1/2 months since my husband was discharged from the hospital.  This is HUGE because it is the longest he has gone without having to be hospitalized in over 3 years.  He was averaging a trip to the hospital every 3 months, and his stays were anywhere from a week to almost a month.

His Crohn’s is in remission, PRAISE God!  His legs are healing, PRAISE God!  He is weaning off the Prednisone and pain meds, PRAISE God!  These are HUGE victories!!  He has had a setback, his is having problems with a compressed nerve root in his L5, but is scheduled for a procedure tomorrow.  Due to this recent setback he has not been very mobile resulting in a large weight gain, which has also created some breathing problems and fluid retention.  I am NOT discouraged with this because I know that God is in control.  He is in the midst of all of this.  That is not to say that it’s all sunshine and lollipops, I would be lying if I said we are struggling with this but then we stop, breathe, pray, and realize that God has brought him so far and He is not done yet.

I ask that you continue to pray for Jose. That one day very soon he is able to wake up without bandages on his legs, able to take a deep cleansing breath, able to walk without struggling, has been able to come off a lot of the meds he is on, and that he can be more involved with our beautiful grandbabies.

Again, thank you, bless you, and may God richly reward your faithfulness.

~Briggie

Urgent Prayer Request – Richelle

Dear prayer partners, I have been asked to share a prayer request for Richelle.  She needs to have surgery on her pancreas.  We know that God is in control, we know that He is Jehovah Raphe our Healer.  May God place His healing hands upon Richelle.  May He give His wisdom to the doctors and caregivers.  May He place His angels about Richelle and may He send the Comforter to give her peace.  I pray for the family and friends of Richelle that God covers them in His peace and wraps His arms around them giving them His strength.  In all things may His will be done as His will is perfect.  He knows the plans He has for us.  May He give us grace and mercy and may we open our ears and hearts to hear Him and to know Him.  I ask these things in the name of His precious Son, Jesus Christ, amen.

Urgent Prayer Request – Jose

Dear friends and prayer warriors, I ask you to lift up my husband in prayer.  He suffers from a rare disease that has no cure and no real viable treatment options and is in constant chronic pain every single minute of every single day, BUT I know that God is in the midst and that He has the cure and treatment.  I pray that however God wishes to heal or use my husband is perfected.  If he chooses to heal by His hand, or by the hands of man, let it be completed in His time and way.  I pray that the pain my husband is in is eliminated in Jesus’ mighty name.  It has been nine long years that he has been suffering with this, and while we know that God is in control, we are still human and imperfect and lose sight and clarity and become weary.  I pray for strength for both of us, as I, the caregiver also get weary.  Should it be God’s plan for Jose to be healed by doctors, I pray that He places the right doctor(s) in our path with the right plan to heal him swiftly.  May God’s mercy be upon Jose, may The Comforter embrace Jose and may God’s army of angels watch over Jose and protect him.  May His peace surround Jose continually and may he hear the voice of God.  May God continue to provide us with the finances to treat this disease as it is very costly.  We give all thanks and praise to God for all that He does for us every day and thank each of you that lift us up in prayer as we know the power of prayer.

Prayer Update – Gloria Scott

Dear prayer warriors, I wanted to give you an update.  As of today, Gloria is doing much better.  Her blood pressure is still a bit high, but she is out of the hospital and following up with various doctors.

She is so very grateful and thankful for everyone’s prayers, and is asking God to bless each and everyone of you for your faithfulness.  She knows that God has her in His hands and gives Him all praise, glory and honor.

I will keep everyone posted with any updates and thank you all.  May God bless your comings and goings and fill your storehouses to overflowing.

~Briggie

Urgent Prayer Request – Gloria Scott

Dear prayer partners and readers, please lift my dear friend Gloria up in prayer, she is being taken to the ER due to her blood pressure being too high.  I thank you and ask God to richly bless you for your faithfulness.  – Briggie

Father God, Master and Creator of the Universe, look upon Your daughter and place Your healing hands upon her and heal her in the name of Jesus. Put the right doctors and nurses in her path, give them Your knowledge to aid in her healing. Send The Comforter to her and give her peace Lord. Send Your angels and place a hedge of protection about her Lord. Give her strength, and let her rest knowing that Your Lord have her in Your arms, in the name of Your only Son, Jesus, amen.

Prayer Request for Roxie McGeorge

Dear prayer partners, my dear friend Doris has asked that I reach out to everyone and ask for prayer for Roxie. She has suffered a major heart attack and is waiting to be transported to another hospital for surgery. We do not know what the day holds for any of us, but we do know Who holds us daily. May our Heavenly Father hold Roxie in His arms, and heal her according to His plans and will for her. May He guide the doctors and nurses with His wisdom and compassion and may His peace and strength surround her and her family and loved ones, in Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
~Briggie

No condemnation in Christ…

So I was going to write something today on no condemnation in Christ as this has been echoing in my thoughts for days now, but I think this verse and this song says it all (lyrics are below).

God bless you

~Briggie ^i^

Romans 8:1-4 NLT “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit…”

NO CONDEMNATION – Anthony Evans  (FEATURING PRISCILLA SHIRER)
Written By: Martha Munizzi, Danielle Munizzi and Anthony Evans

There is no Condemnation
For those in Christ Jesus
By His blood
I have been made free
There is no Condemnation,
For those in Christ Jesus
By His blood
I have been redeemed

Because of His forgiveness I donʼt have live with
Shame anymore because of His Redemption
No more condemnation
Thereʼs no more

Christ who died raised to life
Made a way for me, thereʼs no depth
Thereʼs no height
That can separate me from his love

There is no Condemnation
For those in Christ Jesus
By His blood
I have been made free
There is no Condemnation,
For those in Christ Jesus
By His blood

I am grateful for…

I was recently challenged by a friend to write out and share 3 things I am grateful for everyday for 7 days, and at the end of each day, nominate 2 other people to do the same.

Day 1 was a breeze.  Day 2 wasn’t too difficult either.  Day 3, took a little thinking.  By Day 4 I spent quite a bit of time in front of my computer screen.  It’s not that I don’t have a lot to be grateful for, it was trying to put it into words and not sound like I was saying the same things over and over and over.

I hate to say this, but when Day 7 arrived, I actually breathed a sigh of relief. It’s not that I didn’t feel I had anything left to write about that I was grateful for, it’s that I was afraid of leaving someone out, or not being spiritual enough, or sounding, forgive my wording here, but like an airhead.

it wasn’t until the challenge was over and the next day arrived when I felt like I was letting myself off the hook for not having to write about what I was grateful for anymore.  So, as part of my routine (and I am trying to make it daily, but I’m not beating myself up about it if I miss a day or two) I pause for a few minutes to reflect on all that I have that God has blessed me with, the good, the not so good and the “oh Lord help me through this!”

While I reflect on those things, I imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have these blessings – and I include the good, not so good… I don’t consider myself to be materialistic or superficial, but I know that there are so many things I take for granted each day.

So, with this in mind, I challenge you to write out and share 3 things you are grateful for each day for 7 days and nominate 2 others to do the same.

Happy writing and God bless you!

~Briggie

Words, Do Yours Bless or Hurt?

God’s Word says that “…the tongue has the power of life and death…”Proverbs 18:21.  We can brighten someone’s day with a kindly spoken word, or cast a dark cloud with a bitter and harsh word.  Sometimes we mean harm with our words, sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it.  Words cut like sharpened steel, or strengthen us like rock.

I always thought that my children knew that I was their biggest supporter and that I always felt that honesty is the best policy, no matter the situation.  Then, one day, my son approached me and said, “Mom, I don’t think you realize the impact of what you say.”  This wasn’t meant as a compliment, it was meant as a criticism.  I had relayed my feelings about a situation which were up front and honest and were not said in anger or with a bitter tone, however the effect of my words had a cutting impact on my son, which was not my intention.

This evening, I was the one who was being spoken to, and while what was said was not in itself meant to be hurtful, the way it was said was.  I took what was said as a way of being put in my place, and to stop talking.  It cut me to the core and had me paralyzed.  After some time had passed, I felt myself just sitting and staring and wondering what I did to deserve such words and treatment.  It took me about an hour to realize, as a society, we have become so desensitized to what other people may think or feel, that we do not think before we speak.  We have this need to have the last word, to set ourselves above and feel superior.

jesus NEVER did this.  He put others before Himself.  He prayed long and hard before He spoke.  He carefully thought out what He said, how He said, to whom He said it to, and what the outcome of His words would be.

Lord, I pray that I can be more like Jesus when I speak.  Let my words by a sweet sweet sound in Your ears.  Let my words be full of blessings, not cursings, bring healing, not pain, be uplifting, not discouraging, and be full of praise and not complaints.

I am inserting one of Joel Osteen’s messages: Both Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue,

God bless you,

~Briggie

Do You Know?

Do you know just how precious you are to God?  Do you know His love?  Do you know that His mercies are there for you everyday?  Do you know that He knows you by name and that He sent His only Son to the cross for you?  Do you know that there is no amount of money or good deeds that are needed to please Him as He simply wants you to know Him, accept His Son as your Savior, and have a personal relationship with Him?

As I awoke this morning, the song, “Mary did you know?” was running through my head.  There are many versions out there, but my personal favorite is sung by Donny Osmond.  The song got me to thinking that there are so many people out there who just do not know God, and this includes those of us who have accepted Jesus into our hearts – including me.

We think of God with our earthly minds, and try to figure Him out,  There is no need to figure Him out.  All we really need to do is talk to Him, make Him part of everything we do.  Tell Him our plans, our hopes, our dreams and ask Him what His plans, hopes and dreams for us are (even though He already knows the plans that He has for us).  When we sin, or do something that we know is wrong, we try to figure out how we can make up for it, or get back in His good graces.  We have to stop thinking this way.  There is no way our earthly thoughts can ever come up with the right words or actions to take our sins away.  We have to get out of our own way and let God guide us, direct us and lead us.  At least that is what I believe.

I pray that today, and everyday, that you know that you know that you know Him.

 

God bless,

~Briggie

Prayer brings miracles

As I was lying in bed this morning, trying to find the strength to get up and start my day, I was going through the inbox of my email and came across an email from my dear brother in Yeshua, Daniel.  I almost didn’t read it because I have so much going on in my life right now that all I wanted to do was clean out my inbox, then start working on chores that I have put aside.  I didn’t feel I had the time to read it.  Something kept tugging at me to open the email and I am so very glad and blessed that I did.  I truly believe it was the Holy Spirit leading me to it.  As soon as I finished reading it, I felt a heavy weight lifted from me and felt a strong need to share it.  May this bless you as it has me.  I know I will be reading this prayer many more times.  Take care, God bless you and may He give you His peace, strength and joy. ~Briggie

Dear Almighty Lord God Jesus Christ, I thank you for this day, for this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I thank you for my being able to see, and to hear, and to speak, and to feel, and to taste of Your good creation this day and every day.  I’m blessed because you are such a loving and such a forgiving God, and such an understanding and caring God.  You have done so much for me and yet you keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have ever done, or ever said or every thought that was not pleasing to you. I say I am so sorry.  I now repent and ask for your forgiveness.  Please keep me safe O God From all danger, hurt, and harm.  Help me to start this day and every day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.  Let me make the best of each and every day, to clear my mind so that I can hear from you. Please broaden my mind so that I can accept all things according to God’s Will.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over, for all things are working together for my good and God’s Glory.  And when I’m pushed beyond my limits, give me the best response, a response which says Alleluia, and Praise the Lord, and Thanks be unto the Most High God Almighty, I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to the prayer of my heart.
Continue to use me to do your will.  Continue to bless me so that I may be a blessing to others.  Keep me strong so that I may help the weak.  Keep me uplifted so that I may have Words of encouragement for the discouraged.

I pray for those that are lost and can’t find their way. That they come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, even through this Prayer I am now praying.  I pray for those that are misjudged, misguided, misused, and misunderstood.  I pray for those who don’t know you intimately.  I pray for those who will delete this prayer without sharing the Love of God with others.  I pray for those that don’t believe.  But I thank You that I do believe that God changes people and God changes things.  I pray for all my sisters and brothers, for each and every one of the family members in their households. I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes; I pray that they are out of debt and that all their financial needs are met and they have more than enough to be a blessing to others.  I pray for every eye that reads and says this Prayer that they come to know that there is no problem, no circumstance, no situation that is greater than God, for God is greater than all, God is greater in all, God is greater through all, and God is greater upon all.  For God, the Most High God Almighty of all the Universes is truly the Greatest of All.

I pray for all my enemies, and those who have used me and abused me, and have lifted up their hands and their tongue against me. I now forgive them for all they have done. In Jesus Name, all my enemies are now forgiven, and I pray God forgiveness upon all my enemies, for they do know what they are doing, for I am a Child of God.  So every battle that I have ever encountered in my life is now in God’s Loving hands, for You, O God, fight all my battles for me.  I pray that these words will be believed, received and accepted into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every tongue that confesses them in name of Jesus Christ.  I pray believing, receiving and accepting God’s miracles in my life this day and every day, for God’s Divine favor is now my heritage, in Jesus name.  Amen and Amen! It is done! O’ Praise The Lord! Alleluia! God Bless You!

Just repeat the phrase below and see how God moves!
God I so love you and I need you. I confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, my Lord, my Savior, and my King, and I confess this day and every day that I am highly FAVORED by God and man.  Please come into my life, Lord Jesus Christ and change my heart now! Let’s take this Prayer around the World.

CONCENTRATE ON THIS:
“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.  When God takes something from your grasp, he’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.  The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you. Something good will happen to you today, something that you have been waiting for to hear.

Please repeat these 30 Words, ” Almighty Jesus Christ, my Everlasting Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses, and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen”.

His prayer is so powerful. Pass this to other people. Let’s take this Prayer around the world…..And watch what God does for you.

Prayer Request – Michael

Dear prayer warriors, please pray for Michael. He is 21, and is trying to overcome an addiction to heroin.  His mother is overcome with grief and fears she will lose her son to this terrible drug.  She is asking for pray for strength, peace, healing, and courage to stand up against the enemy and be there for her son.

Pray that God gives her peace and strength.  Pray that God places His saints around Michael so that he will know where true healing and peace strength comes from.  May God bless this family and restore them.  May God be glorified and may Michael be a living testimony to the grace and fullness of God, in Jesus’ mighty name!

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

My dear brother in Yeshua sent this to me in an email and I was so touched and blessed by it, I had to share it.  Thank you Daniel!

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?
This is one I can honestly say I have never seen circulating in the emails so;
if it touches you, you may want to forward it.

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
I never noticed this….
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over
the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
diamond-napkin

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb,
and I don’t know where they have put him!’
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple
outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the
linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was
folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand
a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it
was exactly the way the master wanted it..
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out
of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not
dare touch that table, until the master was finished.
Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his
fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and
toss it onto the table.  The servant would then know to clear the table.
For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’.
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it
beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because……….
The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’
He is Coming Back!

Urgent Prayer Request – Marv

Dear prayer warriors, I have been asked to place Marv on our prayer request list.  He has just been diagnosed with a tumor on his spine and will be going into the hospital this week to have it removed.  Please pray that God, in His mercy, wisdom and love places His hands upon Marv, and guides the doctors and nurses that will be caring for him.  Pray that His peace be upon Marv, his family and friends.  We give God the glory and thank Him for His grace and mercy.