It is Thursday, September 13, and in less than 24 hours, my husband will have yet another surgical procedure. A few months ago, he had a heart catheter after a false stress test result showed possible problems with his heart. All looked great that day with his heart. Doctors cleared him for surgery on his neck that finally will happen Friday (Sept. 14).
The year of 2018 filled my life with one storm after another. First, my daughter faced severe illness for most of the winter and spring; my husband began experience excruciating neck pain; illness even impacted my pets causing us to loose our beautiful Zyma. Each week, I seemed to manage just to post for the #LMMLinkup. I couldn’t participate in Facebook groups like 31 Days Survivors, We’re Better Together. I didn’t feel like a survivor.
Then last week, I had two loved ones in the same hospital in Intensive Care Units.
I asked for more prayer from this community, feeling like what else Lord? Somehow in the midst of it, my “what else” turned into praise. I sang Job’s song, ” The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” I rested in Christ. No matter what happens, He is my Rock and my Salvation.
Thank you everyone again for your continued prayers. They serve as a life raft for me, buoying my faith.
Now on to our weekly linkup. First, please follow me on your social media. I love to hear from you:
Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/ Instagram/Google+
Next, lets review last week’s linkup.
Last Week’s Top Clicked
My Favorite Post
JUST LET GO: LEARNING TO TRUST AGAIN
By Karen at Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge
As I readied myself for my husband’s surgery last week, Karen’s post delivered and heightened my faith. I grabbed on to this line like a lifeboat:
“The fact of the matter is, I don’t absolutely have to worry about anything in God’s economy.”
My soul stilled with this truth as well:
“Yet when we are on life’s bridge, as long as we focus on the Lord and not on the worry,
we can let go of the worry and freefall
straight into the strong, capable arms of our God and Father,
our Hope, who will catch us and not let go.”
Thursday night, I packed for the hospital with assurance thanks to Karen’s post. Isn’t it just like God to give us what we need from others on time every time. Karen’s words were words of hope and loved miraculously timed for a season in my life when I needed reminders of God’s deliverance, grace, and love.
Want to be the next to be featured! Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to our community so others will know about our link up and join in. I will try to make it worth your while to linkup by promoting your posts across my social media networks. I will also pin my most clicked and featured posts to our #LMMLinkup Pinterest Board each week!
Remember to grab your button if you have been featured:
Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop!
Linkup Rules:
- Include a link back or the blog hop button linked to this hop on your posts.
- Link up the urls to your posts not to your blog.
- Please remember this is a family-friendly linkup. Although we believe in the right for adults to read whatever they want to read, we prefer to read wholesome posts that feature literature that edify and uplift families. We reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family friendly. We love all kinds of literature and genres including family-friendly inspirational romances, fantasy, or science fiction. We do not welcome any posts that feature excessive violence, sexual content, or any cursing. This rule also applies to book review posts that feature books that are not family-friendly. These posts will be deleted without notice to the blogger or explanation. While we believe in the right for all adults to read whatever they want, we feel our linkup is for family-friendly posts only. Thank you for understanding.
- We also want to be loving community by supporting one another. Please make a point to do this this week! Visit the two posts before yours and at least one other blogger’s post of your choice! I want to see lots of clicks on everyone’s posts. Remember it is also nice to follow them on their social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Also note periodically I will send everybody updates on the linkup using your contact information you provided when you linked up. At the bottom of the notifications you will be able to unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive these notifications.
- Tweet about the link up too.
Mary, I pray that God will give you strength and peace and wisdom. I pray for healing in your family and that you will know God is with you. Blessings and love to you, dear friend! xoxo
Mary, I am praying for your and your precious family…these various translations of Phil. 4:6-7 are helpful to me during difficult days as I pray God’s Word . . .
Philippians 4:6-7
Amplified: Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Barclay: Do not worry about anything; but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all human thought, will stand sentinel over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Lightfoot: Entertain no anxious cares, but throw them all upon God. By your prayer and your supplication make your every want known to him. If you do this, then the peace of God, far more effective than any forethought or contrivance of man, will keep watch over your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
NLT: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Phillips: Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
Weymouth: Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God. And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ Jesus.
Wuest: Stop perpetually worrying about even one thing, but in everything by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion and by supplication which is a cry for your personal needs, with thanksgiving let your requests for the things asked for be made known in the presence of God, and the peace of God which surpasses all power of comprehension shall mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
The Message: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
TLB: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
ESV: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace is the calm assurance that Jesus knows what He’s doing. It is not related to our environment or circumstances. Peace is a gift, something Jesus gives. Through thankful, fervent prayer—articulating our burdens to Jesus—we exchange anxiety for peace. We seize His promises and assurances. The peace of God is powerfully vigilant, for it literally guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We can imagine this peace as a fortress encircling us. It protects our mental, emotional, and spiritual health; our stability; our steadfastness; our confidence in God. As we pray, we experience His peace, the walls grow taller and stronger, protecting us more and more. Peace guards our hearts, we live behind the safe protection of our fortress of peace. No matter what, ruling our hearts is the calm assurance that Jesus knows what He’s doing.
Many blessings to you, friend!
Dear Mary,
I am continuing to pray for you and for your family. May you feel the Lord’s arms so close around you!
Thank you for continuing to be a blessing to us in the midst of your trials Mary.
Praying for you and your family.
Just visited your site for the first time. Praying for you and your family in hopes that God will send you all grace and peace.
Laurie recently posted…Faith and Mystery- Going All In
Laurie, welcome to our community. Thank you for your prayers.
I’m so sorry for all you’ve been going through, Mary. May God continue to hold you up and sustain you.
Anita, thank you so much. Your prayers are being answered.
Continuing to pray for your perseverance, Mary. That is quite a lot to deal with in such a compact time. 🙁 Also continuing to pray for your husband’s healing.
Only faith can see us through challenging times like you have faced this year … but our God is faithful and so often we can look back and see how He has used it all for good. But even when we can’t, we can rest in His goodness, faithfulness and sovereignty.
Donna Reidland recently posted…“The Only Way to Perfect Peace” September 17
Continuing to send big hugs and prayers for you and your family! Praying God gives radical healing and astounding peace as you walk through this! May He bring people to walk alongside you, reminding you of His truths and love and grace through it all.
Rebecca, thank you so much for your prayers for my family. Hugs are so welcome too.
With all you have going on, I didn’t expect you to be able to get the LMM link-up going today. I am so glad not only that you did, but that you’re clinging to Him throughout everything. You ARE a survivor! Praying for you all.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Our Valleys Are God’s Peaks
Barbara, thank you for encouraging me today. I really appreciate this community. God uses it in wonderful ways to uplift each other.
I’m praying for you in this difficult time! Keep resting in his mercy.
Katrina, thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for putting the faithfulness of God on display!
Michele Morin recently posted…Pastoral Ministry: The Courageous Calling to a Faithful Love
Michele, thank you for your faithfulness and your constant encouragement each week.
Hi Mary, Praising God that He used my humble blog post to minister to you in such a timely way. All Glory to God!
Thank you so much for featuring my post . Your testimony encouraged me greatly.
Praying you feel His peace and comfort in profound ways this week.
Blessings,
Karen, you welcome. I appreciate your faithfulness in joining us.
Praying for you! I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time and I hope your husband’s surgery went well!
Lesley recently posted…It’s All Under Control!
Lesley, it well. Your prayers are so appreciated.
Praying for you all during this time, Mary!
Thank you for your prayers, Stacey.
Praying God’s perfect peace will settle on you today, Mary!
Sarah, Thank you for stopping by and blessing me with your prayers of peace today.