abandoned to Christ.

Dearest brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus,

I know I very rarely write personal notes, but I felt today, it was a good thing to do.

It's been quite some time since I've written anything. And those of you who have been with me for a while have probably already figured out why...my health has once again taken a decline.

Due to my severe vitamin B12 and D deficiencies and the inability for my body to absorb and maintain normal values of both, my doctors have decided it was wise to check my blood at least every three months. Of course, I've never quite made it three months without having my blood checked, but it is a something to look forward to. ☺

Back in December I was referred to yet another specialist - a pancreatic specialist, as it has become apparent my pancreas is not functioning well. Currently the pancreatic function test that is available is a very bad one and most often only detects a malady when 80% of the pancreas' function is no longer stable. So, the pancreatic specialist the Lord had my GI doc refer me to is one who has invented a new pancreatic function test that will detect malfunctions of the pancreas much sooner, providing a person with a greater percentage to recover their health. This test has already been approved by the FDA, but there's still much paperwork with insurance companies, etc they are waiting on. As soon as the test is available, they will call and perform this test on me. I found this out in February of this year.

During my visit with my newest doctor (my pancreatic specialist), he noted that what may be malfunctioning in my blood and other organs may be at a molecular level that cannot be tested, therefore, cannot be helped. He also determined that something may be going awry with liver as well and that I should get that checked out.

Both my family doctor and GI doctor checked my liver enzymes and sure enough, one of my liver enzymes were elevated. This led to an abdominal sonogram. This sonogram showed that although I consume absolutely no alcohol, am thin, eat healthy and exercise - I have what's called a fatty liver. But that wasn't all. This sonogram also showed some calcification (not stones) in my kidneys; which led my GI doctor to refer me to a Cardiologist. I was also told that I needed to have a liver biopsy to ensure there isn't any further damage or disease to my liver, which also over produces cholesterol, and liberally releases 100's of micrograms of Vitamin B12 every week (1,000 micrograms of B12 is enough to sustain a person for a year; this amount only last me about 3 weeks at best).

After the news about my kidneys, I wept and worshiped for two days. I did not think I should call the Cardiologist's office yet because I knew I was not in a proper state of spirit or mind to do so. I needed to be with my Maker. I needed to remember who God Is, according to who He says He Is and not according to how I feel or what my circumstances may claim. My God, the only true God is unchanging, although the circumstances of my life may be; and faster than I can handle....it seems.

I listened to the song entitled, "I'm Still Yours" by Kutless (the music video is on my right sidebar) over and over again. And I am resolved that no matter what, I will always lift my heart, my voice, my hands and my every breath to God my Father with praise and adoration for who He Is.

I finally called the Cardiologist after two days and was seen the same day. My EKG was abnormal and my Cardiologist was very concerned about both the abnormal EKG and my extremely high cholesterol (254) and LDL (184). He said that people with LDL at this level (who are like me) only have LDL this high due to heredity; and what I do personally only affects 15% of my LDL, which as you can see, isn't much and doesn't do anything to bring my numbers down. After our initial visit, and reviewing my labs and other test results my GI doctor sent over, he said it was a very good thing my GI doc sent me to him since it was apparent that my heart was also now a concern for me as well as all my other health issues.

I have already had a Stress Echo performed (which came out good) prior to my liver biopsy and am due to have a Echocardiogram performed next Tuesday, May 4th. My cardiologist has me on a low dose of Crestor (to make sure my liver can handle it) and CoQ10 to keep those levels normal since Crestor is a statin and depletes the body of this necessary enzyme. I will have my blood tested again at the end of June to see how the Crestor has affected my liver and if is helping lower my cholesterol and LDL so no further damage will come to my kidneys or vascular system. I will also have my blood tested again in July by another one of my doctors to check the status of my other health issues.

I just got this update the other day. My liver biopsy results came back already! Thank You Jesus! And it showed that I only have fatty liver and there is no further damage to my liver at this time! Hallelujah! God is merciful!

So, what does a young 41 year old woman, who is the wife of one amazingly godly and loving husband; mother of two blessed and lovely teenage sons say about all this? She says, "Blessed be the name of the LORD! Thanks be to the God who gives and takes away! May the name of the LORD always be exalted and praised from the hearts and not just the lips, of all His people!"

For those of you who might think I have the attitude I have because I'm either in shock, living in a fantasy land, not dealing well with reality, or just plain lying and glossing over this because I'm a Christian, I'd like to share this little story with you to help you understand that my words are true. And my heart I am sharing with you now, is not lying to you, or to me. I am speaking the truth.

When I was only 5 years old, I remember a remarkable woman at church who asked all us kids to pray for her husband who had just been diagnosed with cancer. Many weeks went by and no "happy" news of his recovery came. Then one day, this precious woman of God, with tears, peace and joy (which I had never seen all at once and didn't quite understand) said to all of us, "Well children. I want to thank you all for your prayers. God has heard and it seems He has chosen to heal my husband by taking him Home. It will only be a matter of time. But remember this, if you prayed for my husband's healing, thinking he will not die, then you were mistaken. God's healing doesn't always happen here. So don't you be mad at God. Don't you ever be angry with God because God is God and you are not. God is always right, He is always good and He always makes the perfect decisions....even if it hurts and we don't understand it. Remember children, you have no right to ever be angry with God."

I sat there with the other kids, weeping for her loss and her obvious pain. But we all marveled at the brilliance of joy and peace in the midst of her heartache and tears. And I prayed, "Lord, I don't know what this is. But please Lord, I see it is good. Give me faith like this." And so He did. Therefore, how can I not praise the name of the Great God who has done such wonderful things to me?

To witness this truth in another faithful woman of God, watch the video below:

Learn more about Rachel at:

Death is Not Dying: A Faith That Saves

...but the flesh is weak.

~ Matthew 26:41b

The first part of this Scripture is: "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

These past six (now going on seven) years of chronic illness has included the highs of God's discipline in my life as He so awesomely reveals Himself as my Father; and the lows of pity parties, self-centered, self-absorbed thoughts and delusions that somehow I'm so special that I deserve better; or because I've been so ill, other people need to make sure I'm their primary thought and should always seek to take care of me.

And in spite of these pity parties I've had over the years (or even recently), the LORD, who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6) always reminds me to draw near to Him as I give thanks in everything...even in sickness...even in pain...in everything (James 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:4-7).

As I write this, I am reminded of the weakness of my body. And frankly, from time to time, I get sick and tired of being sick and tired. Here I sit, limited; limited by my weakened body to do all the things I want to do.

I want to cook for my family, I want to properly take care of my darling husband who has an upper respiratory infection. I want to cook a meal for a sister who just had a precious baby boy and I want to visit her. I want to clean my filthy house and I want to go grocery shopping, do my laundry and attend both my sons' choir events. I want to go to their school open houses (yes, they still have those in high school ☺) and I want meet their teachers so they know that I love my children and are involved in their lives. I want to stop canceling meetings and telling people why I can't volunteer for something or attend things. I want to stop rescheduling things and spending so much time with my doctors and hospitals that I know more about them than my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to stop feeling sick and tired. I want people to stop asking me how I'm feeling. But at the same time, I want them to care. I want to be able to play with my kids, jump on the trampoline and play basketball with them for more than 10 minutes, and the list goes on.

I want, I want, I want. This is how all the pity parties start. But just as I started in with that again today, the LORD who is so infinitely kind to me in spite of myself, reminded me of my Lord Jesus' words in Matthew 26:41.

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Can I get an "AMEN!"?

Thanks be to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has indwelt us with His Holy Spirit and made our spirits alive in Christ; joined with our Master and Savior so that our spirits are truly willing to obey Him, honor Him, and glorify Him although our flesh may be weak and desire otherwise.

Therefore I thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who calls me to pray; to seek His face and call on His name, so that I may not be tempted to stay in the valley and wallow in my self-pity, but instead rejoice in the truth that He has called me to sit at His feet and bask in the beauty of His glorious face...

...and now, I worship.

...I thought it was high time for a new perspective.

☺

For those of you who have come to know me as "A Damsel No Longer in Distress", I invite you to join me as I strive to faithfully sojourn here on earth, determined to only be: About My Father's Business.

I'm still doing some tweaking here and there as I continue to pray about providing godly resources for all of you. So for those of you who subscribe via RSS Feed or email, I encourage you to stop by and visit my new site and check out additional resources provided for your personal edification and to help you exhort others to remain faithful to fight the good fight and not just every "fight" that comes our way.

We are living in formidable times where the pure, good and holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has been watered-downed to nothing but a "hole" in someone's heart to be filled. No more exhortations to repent, no more truth about our personal sins that convicts a person they need a Savior, and no more warnings about Hell. Instead, all the words of the Christ and His preaching have come down to warm and fuzzies that only make people feel good, but have no power to save anyone.

It isn't how eloquently we talk or how studied we appear, for the Gospel of Christ, the way Jesus revealed it, alone has the power to save anyone's soul from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation.

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Forin it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.' "
~ Romans 1:16-17

I hope to have some more resources available to you in regards to witnessing to different groups (i.e., Roman Catholics, atheists, Mormons, LDS, etc.). I also hope to be able to answer your questions a bit more quickly than I have been. Please pray that the Lord keep me humble and help me to continually seek His Spirit's counsel as everything on this site, has been done unto the Lord Jesus.

I pray as we travel this road together, the sweet fragrance of our Savior will saturate every place; and that we all press on toward the goal that God has called us Heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

May the Lamb who was slain receive the full glory for His suffering! ♥

**NOTE: Thanks be to God for showing me this morning that I had forgotten to clarify the reference to the "Golden Rule" question. Please click HERE to read the addendum.

Dear Sunny,

“I had a question that has laid on my heart that I wanted to ask and felt that you would be able to help clarify about.

So maybe people, including non-believer's are quick to misphrase "judge not lest ye be judged" without taking the scripture into context and then cite the "Sermon on the Mount" as the "Golden Rule" yet, from personal reading, there is no reference to a "Golden Rule".

It is like they are trying to rewrite the Bible into human terms and to justify sinning.

What is the true meaning of "judge not lest ye be judged" and your thoughts of the "Golden Rule" that is often thrown about and use to "justified" no judging at all and if we are watering down Christ's message and the message of salvation by taking out conviction, sin and righteous judgment and trying to paint Christ's sacrifice as a "love one and all unconditionally-sin and all?"

This is a wonderful and truly relevant question as this “Golden Rule” is thrown around so carelessly and callously by Christians as well as non-Christians in today’s society.

What’s ironic is that it seems acceptable to pass judgment and gossip about other brothers and sisters in Christ behind their backs as long as we present it as a “prayer request”. But if anyone were to confront valid sin issues with another believer, we are called Pharisees and legalist. Then, before we can respond we are slammed with the judgment of breaking the “Golden Rule” (the truth about the "Golden Rule" is below). Seems a tad hypocritical doesn't it?

The reader is absolutely correct in their assessment of the prevalent hypocrisy and misinterpretation of this Scripture by many, who use it as an excuse and freedom to sin; which is shameful for anyone who claims Christ as their Lord and Savior (1 Pt 2:16).

The precious and pure blood of Christ was shed to free us from the captivity of sin, not so that we can more freely sin, say “I’m sorry” and do it again. None of us should ever take God’s forgiveness lightly, for if we do, God says in His word:

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

~ Hebrews 10:26-31

But let’s not quibble about words and discuss our opinions on this matter. Instead, let’s seek The Judge, who wrote the perfect Law, speak on what He meant in Matthew 7:1:

Judge not, that you be not judged.

It’s so easy, tempting and foolish to rush to an interpretation of God’s holy Word based on our own opinions, personal experiences or what we’ve heard people whom we respect say on a matter.

According to Scripture, it is wisdom to discern Scripture with Scripture; to test the heart of God’s message with much prayer and counsel from the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth, with the truth – God’s Word (John 16:13); and not with our skewed and biased measures.

So instead of separating Matthew 7:1 from the context in which our Lord Jesus spoke these words, let us read our Lord’s entire thought , so we might clearly understand the heart of His message regarding judging one another:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

~ Matthew 7:1-5

The Greek word our Lord Jesus uses here for judge is "krino" which means “to pick out, to separate”. So what is the Lord saying?

Just so we aren’t confused, He makes it clear: don’t be a hypocrite. In other words, don’t think you can pick out or separate the “speck” from someone else’s eye if you have the whole trunk of a redwood tree in your own eye. Instead, first take that large piece of redwood out of your own eye, so that you may safely, lovingly and clearly help your brother/sister with what is hindering them and causing them to stumble—if they are in fact, stumbling.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

~ 2 Corinthians 13:5

“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”

~ Galatians 6:4

When our Lord Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” He was clearly speaking against hypocritical judgment (like the Pharisees), and not against Christians practicing wise judgment that is not based on human tradition; our finite experiences, knowledge or understanding; personal biases or opinions. But rather, our Lord Jesus is clearly commanding His disciples to practice wise judgment that is solely based on God’s Word (Jn 7:24). That’s why Jesus says before you take the speck out of someone else’s eye, first take the large piece of redwood out of your own eye, so that you can truly be of help to others.

Our God and Father commands us to love one another as Christ has loved us. And because Jesus is God, He is holy and righteous and loves us enough to gently reprove, strongly rebuke, or sternly admonish us when we are sinning. If we strive to die to self so that we may live more fully in Christ, we will, with much prayer, love, kindness, long-suffering, gentleness, with God's Word, urge others to repent of their sin and walk in the new life Christ died to give them. He wants us to love one another enough to humbly “wash” each other’s feet. As a matter of fact, our Lord Jesus, the night He was betrayed, commanded it:

“Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

~ John 13:10-17

Not only does our Lord Jesus command us to “wash” one another’s feet (and we can only do this by clearly judging that they are dirty), but He says those of us who know this and does it, is blessed and commended by Him.

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

~ Romans 2:1-3

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

~ James 4:11-12

The Lord Jesus is clear; one of the ways we demonstrate His love for one another is by washing each other’s feet, that is: rebuke, correct and admonish one another in love (1 Timothy 3:16).

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

~ 1 John 5:3

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

~ James 5:19-20

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

~ Galatians 6:1

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

~ John 13:35

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

~ John 15:8

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

~ Hebrews 5:14

“Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.”

~ Psalm 141:5

"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

~1 Cor 5:11-13 (emphasis mine)

There are many more Scriptures to cover this point, but I think you get the picture. God is not against one of His children who, by His wisdom (James 3:17-18), rightly judges a brother/sister in Christ who is in sin, and lovingly rebukes them, just as Christ our God has done for us–with great compassion, mercy and grace.

We see all throughout Scripture that God honors those who truly display the love of God by caring not for self, or what might or might not happen to them, but instead is willing to rebuke others and suffer possible reproach for the sake of a brother/sister who is obviously (by God’s standard) in sin.

“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

~ 2 Timothy 2:24-26

As for the question regarding the term, “Golden Rule”; well, the reader is correct again, it is not Scripture, but merely a section heading placed there by Bible publishers to help us quickly find specific topics our great and awesome God has spoken to us through His Word.

Not only is the "Golden Rule" only a section heading, but it also does not refer to judging—at all. While it is in Matthew chapter 7, the section heading only applies to verses 12-14 which refers to exercising Christ's sacrificial love and eternal salvation.

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

~ Matthew 7:12-14

Below is an excerpt from my ESV Bible (published by Crossway):

“Section Headings

Section headings have been included throughout the text. While the headings are not part of the Bible text itself, they have been provided to help identify and locate important themes and topics throughout the Bible.”

In closing, I’d like to exhort every one of you:

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

~ Proverbs 27:6

So don’t be a Judas and only say things that tickle people’s ears, but step out in Christ's love, and courageously, lovingly, humbly judge with the wisdom from Heaven, using God’s Word to restore a wandering brother/sister back to an intimate fellowship with Christ and His Body.

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