SOMETIMES

Sometimes you need not say anything.  Sometimes you need to remove the thoughts and replace them with scripture.  Sometimes you need not write anything.  Sometimes you must choose to be kind even if others are not.  Sometimes you need to reflect back over your life.  Sometimes when things don’t go your way, you need to say Lord I thank you anyhow.  Sometimes you need to sit extremely still and in silence to hear the voice of the Lord.  With all of the voices of today, you need to press into the one you say you believe.  Sometimes you should stop putting so much out in the air.  Sometimes you need to not expose your own-self.

Job 5: 21 – Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

The word works, when you work the word.

Be blessed

He Invades My Thoughts

Have you ever just taken time to TRY and clear your mind of all of the daily clutter?  Worry, Worry, Worry.  After all of your thoughts become one big maze and you decide to try and figure it all out, that’s when God steps in.  He steps in because you must remind yourself even though it seems a little bit cloudy that God’s Word will not return void if you put into practice.  We practice for everything else, but when it comes to the Word of God you don’t practice.  Now is your divine opportunity to put it to work.

Your circumstances or situation is not premised on what you can see but it is premised on what you cannot see.  Prayer is the key and faith unlocks the door.

Here are some scriptures to remind you that God is a sovereign God.

1 Peter 5:7-9:  7:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8:  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9:  Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Philippians 2:5:  5:  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 4:13:    13:  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

There are so many scriptures to put into PRACTICE.  This is just a few.

Have a super Blessed Day.

Rev. Dixon

 

 

The Hard Part

As a cancer survivor, some days I encounter “the hard part”.  Understanding that sometimes it is hard to fathom you have even gone through such an ordeal.  It wasn’t that long ago when I had to have a port-a-cath placed in my chest.  It wasn’t that long ago when during my first chemotherapy my vein where they placed the needle to administer the drug collapsed three times.  It wasn’t that long ago when I went from having hair down to the middle of my back to watching it come out in clumps in the shower. It wasn’t that long ago when I couldn’t lift my head off of the pillow because of the nausea. It wasn’t long ago when I would have to put sheets over the blinds because I couldn’t bear the light. It wasn’t that long ago when I had to have hydration the day after chemo and watched in horror as water ran down my legs, and it wasn’t that long ago when I had completed my chemotherapy for the last time that two days later the port-a-cath, which was suppose to stay in for six months decided, on its own, that it would push up and pierce my body to come out. It wasn’t that long ago when I had to have surgery to have the port-a-cath removed. It wasn’t that long ago when my brain felt like fog was preventing me from completing anything.

Now, that was the hard part.  Now is a time wherein I am still trying to find my way but for the most part, I won’t complain and you shouldn’t either.

For the word of God in the book of Isaiah 41:10 says :  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

God has done just that!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT THE END OF THE DAY

Whether we choose to notice or not, the year’s end is fast approaching.  At the end  of the day, take time to reflect on what you have completed according to the will of God.  At the end of the day, have you been kind? At the end of the day, have you been patient?  At the end of the day, have you made yourself available for the less fortunate?  At the end of the day, have you listened?  At the end of the day, can you count the cost of discipleship?  At the end of the day, did you pray throughout the day?  At the end of day, have you done what God has spoken?  Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are just, whatever things are of good report, think on these things.  Have we done that or have we allowed our emotions to be in control instead of allowing God to be in control.  At the end of the day, can you lie down and recap your steps and be pleased?

This was just a thought about “At the end of the Day”.

Seasons

I have seen a lot of seasons in my lifetime.  All seasons have a different feel to them. Spring (new beginning),  Summer (Hot), Fall (cool), Winter (brisk).  These are what most of us thing of when you hear the word “Season(s)”.  However, there are many seasons in our lives.  One of the most profound seasons that I can remember would be the years of 2013-2015.  That season in my life was a season of battling cancer.  The battle was strong, but God is stronger.  Here I learned to depend on a verse from Psalms 23, it is written:  ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

God comforted me in every area from diagnosis, through chemo, through healing.  I happen to be here today because of Him.

Some go through a season of drought.  It is  just a dry place that you can’t wait to get out of.  Maybe you should just sit awhile and have a little talk with Jesus.

Some seasons require you to be a marathon runner.  You are constantly on the move and getting things done.  In your sprinting, you should ask God for the strength for the journey.

Some Seasons place you in a mourning state but know that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Ps. 30:5).

Then there are Seasons of great joy;  7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.(Ps.28:7).

It is interesting to recognize the different seasons we go through in our lifetime.  What about your season.  Share!

Encourage Yourself Today

Here it is the end of the work week and everyone is looking forward to the weekend.  Question?  What have you done to encourage someone this week?  As a matter of fact, let’s talk truth.  So many people come to you with all kinds of different wars that they are in.  You are always encouraging someone to fight the good fight of faith.  You are always speaking life into someone’s circumstance or situation.  You are constantly pouring out of the depths of your spirit.  You are constantly bowed down in prayer even when no one knows you are praying.  You always have a smile that will brighten someone else’s day.  Well I have another question.  What about you?  Have you taken the time to encourage yourself to continue the good fight of faith or are you running on empty?  In 1 Samuel 30:6-8, it is written:

6.  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

^7.   And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

^8.   And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

As you can see, David was in turmoil but he encouraged himself in the Lord.  The next time you feel as if you are constantly pouring out, don’t forget to encourage yourself in the Lord and then enquire of the Lord concerning the battle you face everyday.  God loves you so much and wait for him to rejuvenate you.

You must encourage yourself to continue on this journey!  Be blessed.

No Words

Have you ever been at a loss for words?  When it seems as if all hell in breaking loose all around you and all you can do is just sit and stare?  When it is not you that’s standing in the middle, but appears as if you are in a spiral or whirlwind I should say.  When you could be at wits end, and yet, you find that inner peace and serenity.  When you have prayed and prayed for others to be healed and know that God is there to answer your prayer.  As I sit hear and think, my mind is flooded with multiple thoughts.  I would love to sift some out, but that is not the order God has given me and yet, in the midst of turmoil, God places me directly in the middle of worship.  From the time I laid down last evening, throughout the night, while lying on my pillow, until the birds began to sing this morning, while I was walking Violet this morning, while I was getting ready for work, while I was driving down the highway, while I was waiting in line at Dunkin Donuts, while I was parking my car, while I was walking down the driveway of my office, while I was walking upstairs to my office, while I sat down at my desk, while I began to work on today’s Motion, Summary Judgments, Certifications and Order, GOD PLACED ME DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF WORSHIP!!!!!

Like I said, sometimes there are just no words!  Be Blessed

A DAY OF REMINISCING

My mind has been flooded this morning about all of my cousins.  When I began to think how important family is, I began to remember the ones who have gone on.  The list was quite long and each one had a special place in my heart.  If you are reading this and you were related to any of these people, say something that will make you smile about them.

• Thomas Bass (“Tommy”)
• Daniel Bass (“Danny”)
• Bridget Bass
• Joseph Boyd (“Joe”)
• Jonathan Boyd
• Brian Aiken
• Allan Aiken (“Choo Choo”)
• Pamela Aiken (“Pam”)
• Jean Aiken
• Robert McCann (“Bobby”)

Each one of these had a special place in my heart.  Tommy was a comedian and always playing around.

Danny and my brother Brian were like two peas in a pod.

Bridget was a little lady.

Joseph was the intellect.

Jonathan was always singing and producing.

Allan was always somewhere with his camera taking pictures.

Pam was a songbird.

Jean was just plain nice and a wonderful person.

Bobby was the basketball player.

See, if you take the time to reminisce, you will be able to see all of the great qualities that God graced us with when he gave us each one of these people.  Don’t let your day go by without thanking God for the family we were born in.  Family really does matter.

Be Blessed!!!!!

 

DISHEARTENED

After two years five months since last chemotherapy, I am finding myself at a loss.  Most would say you should be thankful that you are still alive.  I am! Someone else might say that after all you have been through, girl you are blessed.  I am!  Another might say, you look great having gone through what you have gone through.  I do! Then there is the one who will ask “Why are you disheartened.”  Oh this is the question I have been waiting for.  Let me explain why on this day October 13, 2016, I feel like this.

What you see is only things that the naked eye can see.  The surface.  Yes, the surface always look good.  Make-up just right, not overly done but just enough to give my face a illuminated effect.  Hair extremely versatile.  Pulled back in a bun on days when hands aren’t working very well (but you are still looking at the surface), rocking twist outs, full blown afro and even a straight look.  Clothes are nice and fitting.  Girl you look good. Girl you’ve gain weight I can see it in your face.  Well to be honest with you, I have gained quite a bit and I am happy about it.  All this is what the eye sees.

I am disheartened today due to the fact that (1) If I put on a dress shoe or any other shoe regardless to what it is, I can’t keep then on for long because neuropathy has reduced my feeling in my feet; (2) hands tingle do to the same thing; (3)  back will give out at any given time for no reason; (4)  body is sensitive to the touch.

See this is what people can’t see, but God does.  This is a conversation I have with Him everyday because you can’t see it.  If the truth be told, I can’t see it either, but I sure can feel it every moment of the day.  It is just that this one day, I am disheartened.  Other than this one thing, I am wonderfully and beautifully made by the one who created me.

So the next time you come across someone who is a cancer survivor or someone who is going through treatments, remember things aren’t always what they may appear to be.  In that case, say a prayer for them.  Because believe it or not they just may be disheartened.

 

The Aftermath

It has been two years and five months since I had my last chemotherapy.  For that alone I am eternally grateful.  However, I must say that some days (and it may be a lot of days) wherein I struggle to function.  It appears as though my mind is foggy and my thought escape me.  It is those nights wherein my sleep is complete by 3:00 a.m. for the rest of the day.  Once up, (even if I lay there) I am up for the entire day.  My mid-afternoons are filled with “fill in the blanks”.  Now, you are probably thinking Alzheimer is sinking in, but that is not the case.  After chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with chemobrain wherein your brain is clogged like a heavy cloud in the sky.  Working through it can be difficult at times and it is stated that over time it should get better.  Here’s the thing, what does “over time” mean?  How long is “over time”, when will “over time” return to 100% normal?  I am going to explain this in a minute.

I am constantly listening to my word in the car as I drive to and from my job.  Sometimes, I just want to pull over, get out of the car and scream to the top of my lungs ‘THANK YOU JESUS” for all the world to hear.  I don’t believe I am the only one who feels this way after you have been delivered from a deadly disease.  With that being said, I have a few concerns that I will not call complaints, because technically, after what I have been through, there aren’t any.

While going through chemo you have so much support from everyone involved.  That includes ENTs, Oncologists, nurses, etc.  But when you complete the process there is no one there to talk to about what you feel on the inside at times.  There is really no one there who can really relate to what you have gone through, how you became a survivor and the main question is “after cancer, then what.”  That is where my mind has been for the past couple of weeks.  My prayer is that I could possibly start a network with survivors who also feel the way that I do at times.  I feel it would be a great help to the community of cancer survivors and an encouragement as well.  This time, in stead of hitting like, sending hearts, smiles, etc.  I want to hear from you.  I want to hear your words, your comments and any insight you may have.  Everyone has an opinion and this time I need yours.  Thanks for reading this and I look forward to hearing from you.

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