Blessings, Suzanne

"though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." Psalm 46:3-4 Good Sunday Morning, a great morning to count your blessings, one by one! Do you remember that old hymn? "See what God has done" The words can bring such a powerful truth into perspective. We are still on the topic of fear today but we are moving it on out into the sea!In our greatest times of where we feel the water may overtake us or it's coming so fast we can't catch our breath....there is a place within...slow, steady streams.. within...a river, not a trickle..."whose streams make glad the city of God." Take that in a second. Instead of letting us drown, the Lord washes away the fear and frustration with His living water. Instead of continuing fear to disappoint and deceive us, He dives in after us, usually to rescue us from ourselves. At the time, we may...

"Therefore,we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,"Psalm 46:2 Good morning and happy Friday! My weeks seem to be just rolling on by and though much is going on, my heart and soul have been meditating on these verses in Psalm 46. I hope that this will be one like Psalm 23, that I will have memorized (for the most part) and can quickly pull out of my mental file drawer! I started to title this post We will not fear, but the point is made very clear with THEREFORE. Uh-huh, it means, because verse one has already stated that God is our refuge, strength and help, we will not fear. We are not supposed to fear. It's a very human reaction to fear, God knows that, He did create us, ya know? Smile. He gives clarity before we can even get out of our mouths how hard our situation looks..."though the earth give and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea". He gets it. With me, it's always "How in the world...

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." Psalm 46:1 Hey there! I hope you have had a good day!Tonight I am diving right in to the best news you will hear. God is a very present help in time of trouble. There is no waiting on a call back or making a 911 call, He is present, very present, right now, all the time. We go to Him as our refuge, He is our strength in weakness and He is there. With every day stuff or major decisions, it becomes more clear to me, that I must go to Him first and foremost. Almost every time I am reminded "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord" Isaiah 54:8 We all need help with something. He is who we call! He is who will always be there! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness. Short and sweet tonight! "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 Blessings, Suzanne

"God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble." Good late afternoon! I am changing things up a bit, writing around dinnertime! I do love a night when the crockpot has helped me prepare something easy...buffalo sauce/ranch chicken sandwiches with slaw is on tonight's menu..a new recipe, three ingredients, love already! Now onto our topic for today...I thought the entire day about one word. Strength. I was off today and had three doctor appointments (all normal yearly stuff and mammogram). Most of the day was spent with people I didn't know and in waiting rooms. Fine with me, down time is good these days. I did chat with a few ladies, one of which I immediately recognized to be a fellow survivor by, yes...her hair.I heard the receptionist say "look at how much hair you have" and when she turned around to sit down I said "it's not long enough is it?" She smiled the biggest smile and said "no, it's not." We...

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 Good Morning my friends, I hope that as this letter is opened, it can be your time of quiet and sitting before the Lord as I have this morning. Read the verse again and put your name or my where it says "our". "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."I woke up this morning with many people on my heart in need of prayer, situations that seems impossible,and with a mission to seek wisdom from my Father. Let me preface this post by sharing that I started it on Tuesday...and this was my question to the Lord when I sat down to write. "What trouble do I have today, Lord, do I always have to write about trouble." When will I ever learn that He is always so gracious to prepare me for what lies ahead. No there was no crisis this week, no huge ordeal, just everyday distractions, disruptions, a disappointment or two and DIVINE REFUGE!!! It seems I am part of...

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23 I dedicate the post to my precious Abigail Grace, "Abby" who is now a whopping twelve years old! What a joy you are in my life, Abby doodle. To celebrate two full days (you always push it to the max ;))doing all your favorite things, with your friends and include your dear old Mom will always be so special to me!I pray that we will look back at this very post and laugh at the time we spent hanging the balloons on the ceiling ....setting up the craft stations (paint your own pillow case, paint a cap for race for the cure)..taping off the pink dance floor..hanging the streamers...decorating the table..the place card angels.. stuffing the goodie bags..and even the pre-party shopping and making the invitation (great job by the way).What a party planner you are. And then there was the clean up time, you have never cleaned your room that fast and jumped on up at...

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." Zechariah 4:6 Hello, it's been a few days..well, a whole week since I have written a post! I was hesitant about the last post on pride and then I left it up a week, God does have His ways, doesn't He? It feels like something is missing when I don't put together something to share. This "sign" was truly a "sign" of more than what is seen! Ohhhh,to be welcomed back, to a place with such good memories, from those with open arms and hearts,seeing old friends and meeting new ones, hearing the past vision, history and manifestation of God's faithful children, singing, worshipping, looking at where to go from here and the longest table of homemade "potluck" dishes I have seen (probably since I left there:))It was...IS...a new good memory. So good that I replayed the whole thing over and over in my mind and didn't sleep much Sunday night!I want to personally thank Jason Dollar, the pa...

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:9 Good Morning!It is so nice to be sitting at my desk writing you this letter,it's one of the highlights of my day! It's still dark outside as I write, it's gonna be a full one, so my schedule says, but I am more looking forward to my heart being full! What about you? What I guess I haven't disclosed on here is that I usually spend atleast (a minimum) of thirty minutes reading, writing out my thoughts, feelings (positive and negative) before I ever consider posting anything. So it may appear sometimes that I am always bright and bubbly...ask my family on that one...ha...no, I have to take the time to give my struggles, my attitude, my insecurities over to the Lord before I can pour out to others. It is my most favorite part, pouring out, but I have learned that you can't pour out what...

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." Hebrews 3:4 Good afternoon! I hope it is as bright and full of sunshine where you are as it is here!My Monday didn't exactly start off with happy children excited to go to school, both of my little ones needed some reassurance this morning.How thankful I am that I had been reassured by my Heavenly Father well before their day started. He reassured me with "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 and "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, Your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3 and "The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." John 4:4. Oh how ...

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 This little girl used to ride her bike, play house and baby dolls, make clubs in the woods with all her neighborhood friends,and go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, all in a place called Rock Mountain Lakes in McCalla, Alabama. What wonderful childhood memories I have growing up there! I have a unique opportunity to share my testimony at the very church where, at nine years old, I gave my heart to Jesus!They are celebrating their thirty-first anniversary of God's Faithfulness...my parent's were charter members of this church so this is really very special! Look at God!But I have to tell you even more...(know you are not surprised;))the day before I got an email from this pastor, I had prayed that I could go back to my roots and share what God has done. And a friend from high school (thanks, Melanie) gave the pastor the link to this blog.He contacted me and we g...

"'You are my witnesses,'declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know an believe me and understand that I am he'" Isaiah 43:!" Good morning! I thought I would just take you along with me this morning as I study this verse in Isaiah. Several years ago I did a bible study called Breaking Free by Beth Moore and it was life changing. About a month or so ago, I took the workbook back off my shelf and began again, this time just me and God, no video and fellowship with friends BUT in more freedom, more believing, more knowing and more understanding, JUST LIKE Isaiah 43:10 says. Take that bible out and read Isaiah 43 today, let it speak to you. Even if you do not understand, these words are life. Yes, I am this excited about God's word at 5:45 am in the morning..smile! Okay...I am gonna tell you like I tell Abby and Luke...how do you get to KNOW someone??? You spend time with them, right? That's what Jesus wants us to do. M...

"For everything there is season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1 It's fall, Ya'll! My very favorite season and I know I am not alone on that one!The mums out front (pictured)are just getting ready to bloom, to show their colors, at just the right time. The right time, the right place, the right soil, the right light,all have to take place so that little bud can have "it's time." Is it just me or does God have to drive that point home over and over and over and over? Life is a process. Each season of life is a process. I am learning to be content in the current season as I wait for the next. Right now, that season is very focused on motherhood!! I seriously try to tell my mother every chance I get how much I appreciate all she did for us... I was in eighth grade when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was forty-four and Stage 0 and amazing!And here we are now...spending a Saturday together!GiGi,as the kids call her, bo...

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus," Romans 15:5 Dear family and friends, Thank you so much for the "spirit of unity" you have shown the past week in going to the Lord in prayer on my behalf (for the tests) and then rejoicing when the results were ALL CLEAR . I typed, texted, emailed and said those two words quite a bit yesterday!I am honestly telling you though, I had a peace and stayed in faith that, no matter what, cancer or no cancer, I am healed and I am free!! At the Cancer Support Meeting at church Wednesday night, we had quite a large list of people with cancer to pray for, it can be overwhelming at times. It is only with the strength of God that we can sometimes keep standing in battle. And I was rejoicing in good results yesterday, I heard about a little boy named Evan who had been fighting cancer (and won), he went to be with the Lord and my heart immediately broke ...

b> "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8 >Brain MRI was normal today !!!!Praise God...now, Hey friends!I apologize for being unable to post until now! Maybe last night's title "Eternal Weight" had a hidden prophetic meaning "eternal wait"...ha, ha!I am sure you can feel the relief in my voice. Unfortunately, pet scans are read at 5:00 am so I won't get those results until in the morning! If the reader only knew that I would be up at that time, they could call and we could discuss over coffee! Anyway, it was a looooooong day but Jeff and I made the best of it. My verse this morning was "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3 For those of you who followed my cancer diagnosis, you learned one of my weaknesses is chlostraphobia, especially in MRI machines. Well, even that has b...

"For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17 Hey there, good evening (and almost goodnight for me;)! I hope your week is going well as we cruise into hump day tomorrow. Today was quite rainy, alot rainy, in Birmingham and as the day went on, I proceeded to more drenched, heels included! At one point I was on the highway and could barely see the car lights in front of me, at 1:00 pm!But I kept truckin' on...as wet as I could be..smile!Luckily I had declared this a ponytail day because we all woke up late. It was one of those days. A good day, but it sure was good to get home! Yesterday was equally as busy, went with Jeff to get his cast on, he chose crimson red! Then Abby to the orthodontist, the braces are coming in November! And seeing doctors in between for work...so I am telling you all this to say... I have not had much time to think about the MRI tomorrow, or the scan and when I do, ...

"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." Proverbs 29:25 Two more white crosses in the sky...Friday, September 16, 2011 9:00 am Whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. Not a little safe, not maybe safe, but IS safe. This is the truth of the Lord and I believe it. I am safe, you are safe. Isn't that at the top of our list of necessities..safety. Okay friends I have much to say this early morning and I pray that God will streamline my words to speak to you. Much has happened since I last posted about friends and by the way thanks to all of you who have commented and emailed (maybe we can all get a tutorial about how to leave comments on here or receive an email when I have posted...any of you who are bloggers, I need a tutor..ha). HMMM...not streamling too well yet, smile! On Friday, I went to my sixth month check-up with my oncologist, Dr. Cara Bondly at Bruno Cancer Center, St. Vincent's Hospital. My appointment was supposed to be tomorr...

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12 Good evening Friends! This has been the first chance I've had all day to actually sit down and write.Although I decided early this morning that I wanted to share what I read about friends in John 15:12-15. I took this picture of my pink NIV Women's Devotion Bible because this was where I discovered the greatest friend ever, Jesus Christ. My parents gave this bible to me in 1998 and it was then that I actually began reading and studying daily. I realize that I probably need to stick to writing as my photography is not the best (ha) but I do like a visual!!! And how about that it's pink, all is connected. Anyway, I think of these posts as letters,and there's nothing better than writing to a friend except receiving a letter from a friend! In fact this scripture, written in red, as Jesus' words,is a letter. It says "This is my commandment, that love one another as I have...

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:5 Good morning, my friends. I pray you wake with this morning with a mind that is set on "the things of the Spirit." I heard someone say, "I used to say oh God, it's morning, now I say good morning God!" I think it was Wynona Judd as she spoke of her life transformation.So this morning I say "Good morning God." My story this morning is the tale of a Monday afternoon, a late afternoon, as I was trying to get "all my ducks in a row" as my Mom says. Monday nights are my yoga night at Susan G Komen. To leave at 6:00 pm on any given night is quite a task..dinner to be done beforehand and homework done (one of the two happened, they ate atleast..smile). However, there was one thing I had not done and that was, buy a yoga mat. Yes, I had been out and about w...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27" Good Sunday morning. It is September 11, 2011, ten years after the tradgedy and loss of more than three thousand lives. Lives of people in this world who were mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends. People who were loved and were by others. These "others" were left with a change of circumstances, in just a moment. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. With the cooler weather, we have taken full advantage of our patio. When summer began the flowers out there were so beautiful. Rows of white and pink impatiens, pots of red and white petunias and yellow lantana. . By August, my days were busier and they got watered less and less. This is a nice way of saying, the sun scorched them and I forgot to water!! However, we are about to begin a new season, so mums and p...

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." Psalm 147:5 Power has been all the buzz around here this week. It's on facebook comments, it's the topic of conversation in most places, and it has caused some disruption! The "lack of" power that is. We heard on the news of this Hurricane named Lee, who was not supposed to effect us that much. We knew it was coming, the rain began and then..the lights went out!!!!The sun did not shine it's face for three days. And quite honestly, no lights and no sun can make one feel a little blah, agree? So yesterday, I went for an early morning walk and prayed and had a little talk with myself..ha!Really more than blah, I think it was just a cluttered mind from an extremely busy week!As I was almost home, I saw two power trucks headed on our street. (Let me confess, our power came on Tuesday afternoon, but most of our neighborhood still had none yesterday.) And as I headed down the hi...