MEMORIES, OLD AND NEW: PRAYING TONIGHT FOR MY MOTHER...

WE ARE PRAYING TONIGHT FOR MY MOTHER,

BETTY SPARKS

YouTube - His Eye Is On The Sparrow - Lynda Randle

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She is in the Alleghany Regional Hospital tonight, room 310~

She had the procedure today to put a tube into her left lung...

She was still in right much pain when we left tonight.

But the pump was drawing nasty looking fluid off her lung.

This past time it really only helped for aprox 4 days she said.

So, this time they are using this tube and pump to draw it off..

Afterwards they plan on putting a powder substance into her lung

to help SLOW DOWN the fluid in the future. They said it will just

keep producing this fluid, but hopefully at a much slower pace.

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She also found out today that the more severe pain she's been

having in her leg and hip are due completely to the cancer.

It has gotten noticeably worse (per ex ray today)

So, once they get her lung straightened out some, they need

to further look into pain management.. : (

Oh, makes you feel so helpless!

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God bless her please, help her through all this pain!

She wanted to tell me something tonight, but then looked

around the room and decided to wait. "God Bless"

I offered to stay with her tonight, but since Jenna is off

tomorrow, she is going to stay with her.

Hopefully the strong pain meds they put her on will

help her get some much needed rest. God Bless!

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YouTube - My life is in your hands

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PLEASE ALSO KEEP HER IN YOUR PRAYERS,

AND THANKS SO MUCH!

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(a different way of looking at)

THE LORD'S PRAYER

(person): 'Our Father who art in heaven ...'
(God): Yes?
(person): Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
(God): But you called me.
(person): Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying.

"Our Father which art in heaven..."
(God): There you did it again.
(person): Did what?
(God): Called me. You said, "Our Father which art in heaven.

" Here I am...What's on your mind?
(person): But I didn't mean anything by it.

I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.

I always say the Lord's Prayer.

It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done.
(God): All right. Go on.
(person): "Hallowed be thy name..."
(God): Hold it. What do you mean by that?
(person): By what?
(God): By "hallowed be thy name"?
(person): It means... it means... Good grief,

I don't know what it means.How should I know?

It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
(God): It means honored, holy, wonderful.
(person): Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what

"hallowed" meant before. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be

done, on earth as it is in heaven."
(God): Do you really mean that?
(person): Sure, why not?
(God): What are you doing about it?
(person): Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would

be kind of neat if you got control of everything down

here like you have up there.
(God): Have I got control of you?
(person): Well, I go to church.
(God): That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper?

You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's

the way you spend your money--all on yourself.

And what about the kind of books you read?
(person): Stop picking on me! I'm just as good

as some of the rest of those people at the church.
(God): Excuse me. I thought you were praying

for my will to be done. If that is to happen,

it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it.

Like you, for example.
(person): Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.

Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
(God): So could I.
(person): I haven't thought about it very much until now,

but I really would like to cut out some of those things.

I would like to, you know, be really free.
(God): Good. Now we're getting somewhere.

We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can truly be won.

I'm proud of you.
(person): Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a

lot longer than it usually does. "Give us this day, our daily bread."
(God): You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.
(person): Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize me day"?

Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you

break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
(God): Praying is a dangerous thing.

You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying

to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too

late to stop now. Keep praying, I'm interested in the

next part of your prayer...(pause). Well, go on.
(person): I'm scared to.
(God): Scared? Of what?
(person): I know what you'll say.
(God): Try me and see.
(person): "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those

who sin against us."
(God): What about Ann?
(person): See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up!

Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories

about my family. She never paid back the debt

she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!
(God): But your prayer? What about your prayer?
(person): I didn't mean it.
(God): Well, at least you're admitting it.

But it's not much fun carrying that load of

bitterness around inside, is it?
(person): No. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even.

Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor.

She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood.
(God): You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse.

Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy

you already are. But I can change all that.
(person): You can? How?
(God): Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you.

Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem

and not yours. You will have settled your heart.
(person): Oh, you're right. You always are. And more than

I want to get revenge on Ann, I want to be right with you

....(pause)...(sigh). All right. All right. I forgive her.

Help her to find the right road in life, Lord.

She's bound to be awfully miserable now that

I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the

things she does to others has to be out of it.

Some way, some how, show her the right way.
(God) There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?
(person): Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all.

In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't

think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for

the first time since I can remember.

Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because

I'm not getting enough rest.
(God): You're not through with your prayer. Go on.
(person): Oh, all right. "And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil."
(God): Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself

in a place where you can be tempted.
(person): What do you mean by that?
(God): Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry

needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up.

Also, about the time you spend coffee-ing with your friends,

if you can't influence the conversation to positive things,

perhaps you should rethink the value of those friendships.

Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't

be your standard for "keeping up". And please don't use

me for an escape hatch.
(person): I don't understand the last part.
(God): Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times.

You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble

and then you come running to me, "Lord, help me out

of this mess and I promise you I'll never do it again."

You remember some of those bargains you tried to

make with me?
(person): Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.
(God): Which bargain are you remembering?
(person): Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and

the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing

so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and

tornado warnings were out. I remember praying,

"Oh, God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
(God): did you?
(person): I'm sorry, Lord, I really am. Up until now

I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day,

then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything

to happen like it did.
(God): Go ahead and finish your prayer.
(person): "For Thine is the kingdom, and the

power, and the glory forever." Amen.
(God): Do you know what would bring me glory?

What would really make me happy?
(person): No, but I'd like to know. I want now to please you.

I can see what a mess I've made of my life. And I can see how

great it would be to really be one of your followers.
(God): You just answered the question.
(person): I did?
(God): Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is

to have people like you truly love me. And I see that

happening between us. Now that some of these old

sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no

telling what we can do together.
~By Ruth Carter-Bourdon~

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makes ya think, don't it?

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YouTube - God Will Make A Way

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DEAR GOD, THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR JESUS,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, LOVE, SALVATION, BLESSINGS,

FORGIVENESS, AND MERCIES. THANK YOU TOO FOR INNER PEACE