A Prayer For The Weekend-Ps.121:3,4

31 Days of  HOPE
 A Friday  Night Prayer, Weekend Meditation
I want to thank everyone who has followed  this 1st week of 31 days of Hope. Before I write the prayer for tonite, I am hoping that you have taken the time to ask G-D what Season you are in . If not , prayerfully give this question some thought. The answer will help you determine how you can prepare to be in cooperation with Him as He moves upon your situation. You may be feeling pretty low , your situation may appear HOPEless , but  remember our G-d NEVER sleeps. Psalms 121:3,4

If I can just share something personal with you: In 2010 I was diagnosed with  gallbladder cancer. I had several rounds of chemo , and simultaneous  chemo/radiation. The tumor had started to shrink, I started gaining weight and was back on  the track to good health even though the surgical oncologist said my case was HOPEless . My medical oncologist did all she could as far as treatment and being as encouraging as she could be.As far as we knew my only tumor was in my gallbladder.  In July 2011 after another visit to the surgeon, I went home after work, and went to bed. The next AM I got up for work and just couln't get it together; the reason- an additional 3 tumors in my brain ! I underwent brain surgery the very next AM ( thank G-d the neurosurgeon was not as hesitant and HOPEless as the surgical oncologist!) and I am  in treatment but on the road to recovery.
My point is this : no one knew those brain tumors were there and my medical oncologist was vigilant!!!I had no headaches , or other symptoms of brain tumors. When I think of the things that COULD have happened but did not all I can tell you is G-d never sleeps!!!!! He knew the tumors  were there and in His Perfect Time  He revealed them. We slept them , but He did not. Hallelujah!!!!! I don't mean to bore you but I needed to let you know that I am not just writing words "at"you. I'm in this with you and you are in it with me. Even though our circumstances may be different, our situations are equal: we need the HOPE that only comes from Him!!!While I am writing this post I  need to thank  and  praise G-D, all my family, epecially my husband , my  daughters biological and spiritual, my son and my daughter in law, who actually is my 3rd daughter, my co-workers, church family , neighbors old and new, and all my friends. I love you so much. I thank all the doctors who helped me , my therapists and all the nurses.
Lets Pray: Precious Father , You Who never sleeps, thank You for being The Sight Beyond what we see. Thank You for going before us and preparing the way for us inspite of what it looks like from our human perspective. Thank you for being The ALL Wise G-d who knows what we need before we are even aware to ask for it .Thank You for being our HOPE. Lord bless everyone reading this  prayer , Bless them thru out the weekend with safety, with peace and with an increased knowledge of You and Your love for us and Your Plans for our lives. If we can ask for anything G-d let it be for forgiveness. Not for the state we may find ouselves in but for listening and being led by a voice that was not Yours that led us away from You. Thank You for making possible a Way of Repentance. We claim HOPE, we claim joy, we claim a new start, we claim restoration and we claim  an overgrowth of blessing .Thank You for another chance. In Jesus' Name- Amen

See you next week, be  encouraged and be HOPEful Dr. Norma

Be Prepared, in Season and out of Season

31 Days of HOPE

2 Timothy 4:2. . . be prepared in season and out of season: correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.

The title for this post came to me after I read the Scripture for today. The title was also the motto for either the Girl Scouts or the Brownies: long, long ago I was both, a Brownie and then a Girl Scout. At that time I did not see the wisdom in these words. To my childish mind it was just more stuff I had to do, but at this point in life I can find no better counsel to pass on: be prepared.

Yesterday we spoke about seasons and at what season in life G-d may have us. We may not know at what season we have arrived in our lives and we may still be waiting for our "marching orders",but we can prepare ourselves for when they come. Prepare ourselves with a "Yes" attitude when we must show love to the unlovable, when we have to go that extra mile with someone , when things don't go as we hope they would. Prepare ourselves by living in a way that we can correct , and have  people accept our correction. Preparation includes being strong in the Word so that our rebuke goes forth with power.

When we find ourselves in the season of waiting, the HOPEful thing to do is prepare our hearts and our spirits so that we live the way  He  expects us to  as citizens of His Kingdom.

Be encouraged ! and be HOPEful!- Dr Norma

Can You Trust G-d with Your Time?

31 Days of HOPE!

Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 to everything there is a season ansd a time for everypurpose under the heavens;a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.

Everything has a time or a season.Hopelessness is the result of demanding complete control over the time G-d has allowed and the results of our labor in that time. HOPE enters when we realize  that we have to trust G-d with the time He has given us and let Him decide what we are to do and at what point in our lives. If we do this, we will spare ourselves a lot of frustration and wasted time. I say this because many times we have set our goals and time lines without asking Him what He wants done and when. But G-d did not construct the world haphazardly; chances and opportunities are offered at various periods within our lives because only He knows what we can and cannot do and at what spiritual stage we are developed : or in many cases;re-developed .  If you are in despair , feeling that the  time has passed for whatever goal you have set or the "opportunity of a lifetime " has passed you by , January is a good time for you to prayerfully go before G-d and ask Him to reveal your season to you. Yours may be a season of planting or it may be a season of rest or of harvest. Just remember, there is a right time for everything and nothing is accidental in G-d's World.

Be Encouraged and be HOPEful - Dr Norma 

Welcome to 31 days of Hope

WELCOME TO 31 DAYS OF HOPE

As many of you know , this is a blog for encouragement. Every where we look there is some form of hardship ; in the newspapers, on the news, in our families , in our workplaces. Not only are jobs shutting down, churches are closing and so are many of the agencies that provided direction and assistance. Hopelessness is all over: in every age, in every tax bracket, in every neighborhood !!! January is the first month of this new year. I am not promising any magical cures, but I am convinced that if we can fortify our selves with HOPE in the first month, we will have increased stregnth to handle whatever comes in the days that follow.

I have  found wisdom and encouragement in the Holy Scriptures. I promise not to preach to you but, I know The Scriptures can be applied to everyday life with an enlightening and promising result. We are after, all the Children of   Promise, right ? So. What I need you to do is read the posts when you can, apply what you read to your situation and interact with me, let me know what you think , how The Word is moving in your life . I know many "like " or comment on Face book , and some Tweet, but if you look at the end of the post on the blog page ,you will see "comments".  Click  there , type your comment  or suggestion  and enter it. If you need a private response from me, a consult or a referral, e-mail me. My e-mail address is at the top of the blog.

Prayer-Almighty and Holy G-d thank You for allowing this chance to speak to Your People. Father ,I recognize that I am only a vessel and not a Source so I ask that in these difficult days , You will have me decrease and You increase so that Your Voice will be heard by those who are reaching for the Comfort & Hope only You can give. This is Your Servant's Prayer. Hallelujah! Amen.

Be encouraged. Dr Norma

No More resolutions. .lets say hello to 2012 by saying goodbye!

This is my last Friday night post for the year 2011. When I post again it will be a new year and we will have all kinds of new goals and high hopes for 2012. I know this is a time when many will make "New Years Resolutions" that we will forget about before the end of January: weight loss and time management and closet organization.

So. . .  lets do something different. Insead of making resolutions , make this the year we just say goodbye to the things that have held us back in 2011 & for so much  longer than that. Lets say goodbye to fear, we will get rid of anger and bitterness, we are gonna  kick sarcasm out of our mouths and out of our hearts. Hopelessness &  despair we will toss like a used up tissue. Lets say hello to 2012 hopefully, with every expectation that this new year will be a time of learning and giving and receiving, taking our losses with grace and looking for the Face of our G-d in every situation.

Prayer: Precious and Most Glorious Father , thank-You for bringing us thru another year. Some of us thought  ,Lord ,that we would n't make it , some actually thought there were some things going on in our lives that were too hard for You.But in spite of our unbelief You were patient with us and brought us thru . And the things we walked thru have not been easy, there were deaths of loved ones and unfilled emptiness in our hearts, there have been financial losses and illnesses , but Father we would rather go through these evils of life with You than have to face them without You. As we look back over this year there is much to rejoice over, many have received You into their hearts, a war has ended, someone has been delivered from a  personal turmoil.Thank You , Lord. And now as we walk into a new year we do so confidently knowing  that whatever we face , we know our prayers are heard by our G-d Who never sleeps. Hallelujah!!!!!!

Lets be hopeful. Lets Be Encouraged!!! See you next year. Happy  New Year!! Dr Norma

It's The Day After Christmas...... Is everyone as tired as I am???? Or are you just engrossed in new electronic devices?? I am both;tired, but really loving my latest toy. Iam writing this post on my IPad which is a gift from husband. Now I can share with you whereverr I am! This is great because next month we will be doing a Word Study on Hope. I believe this will be a great spiritual Focus on which to start the new year. I am praying that G-d will speak to your spirits and to your situation as you join me in this study. Prayer|: Precious and Almighty One, You Whose Exellence is unequaled, thank You for sending Your Son to us that we may No longer be subject to the power of darkness, but have a right to walk in fellowship with The Light of Perfe ction. Father, we ask that You would forgive us for all the things that we as a people have done that offend You. Forgive us for all the anger , bitterness and rage that grieve Your Spirit. Let us be reminded of The Love You sent in The Person of Your Son and let us walk in That Love. Amen. Be encouraged and be filled with Hope! Dr Norma

Merry Christmas To All!!! Why We

Merry Christmas !!!!
For these most recent past  weeks I have been ,like you ,enjoying the December energy: shopping, decorating,  and admiring other peoples' decorations and traditions.
Last month, my husband & I traveled to  Fayetteville,North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with our son and our  daughter in law.  On Sunday we worshipped with them at their church : New Life Bible Church where  Rev Drs. Allen S and Norma McLauchlin are the Pastors. As it happened, we were at the church on the 1st Sunday of the Advent Season and we were very pleasantly taught many things about Christmas traditions. Some of the teachings included:

• The use of evergreens- Isaiah 60:13-"the Glory of Lebanon shall come unto you , the fir tree, the pine tree and the box together , to beautify your sanctuary."
• The poinsettia- a Mexican plant whose flower has become a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem.
• The candy cane - representative of the humble shepherds who were the first to worship the Newborn Savior. The red stripe- the Sacrificial Lamb, the white stripe- our Sinless Savior. The smell & taste of peppermint relate to the herb hyssop-"purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean . Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" Psalms 51:7 

This list is not exhaustive; many more traditions and symbols were explained in the service . I found it very gracious  that not only did several ministries  have an explanatory part in the service but all the congregation participated , even guests , by singing and by the responsive reading. We had a good time at New Life Bible Church and as we wait on Christmas Eve, it is my prayer that you never forget the reason Christ came , and why we should always remember Sacred Traditions. They keep us in touch with The Reason for the Season.

Prayer - Hallelujah ! Thank You Lord Jesus for laying aside Your Heavenly Glory and coming to Earth so that we may have a Place in Our Father's Kingdom. Without Your Obedience it would not be so.Thank You for teaching us the value of forgiveness. Thank you for enduring The Cross in our place . Thank You for getting up and Thank You for being our Advocate even now. May Christmas with all its traditions constantly remind us of You and cause us to hunger and thirst for Your Presence in our lives even more. Glory , Hallelujah. Amen.
       Merry Christmas & be encouraged. Dr Norma