Last Wednesday I met with my oncologist to find out if the immunotherapy treatments I’ve had every three weeks for the last year are indeed kicking those old cancer cells to the curb.
My attitude going into his office? If it’s working, praise the Lord. If it isn’t, praise the Lord. Because whatever happens next, God has a plan and it is, without a doubt, wonderful. Keep reading, beloved.
All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent. Isaiah 28:29
All this also comes from… Isaiah 28:29
If you’re wondering, “all this what?” here’s the story. Right before this verse, Isaiah describes how a prudent farmer tills his soil and plants his crops, according to God’s counsel. “His God instructs him and teaches him the right way” (Isaiah 28:26).
So, “all these insights” (NIrV) that guide and direct us come from God. Of course they do. He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is the First and the Last. He is the All This of All This.
That’s why we call Him…
…the Lord Almighty,… Isaiah 28:29
He is “Jehovah of hosts” (ASV), “the Lord All-Powerful” (CEV), and “God-of-the-Angel-Armies (MSG). No enemy can defeat Him. No stronghold can overcome Him. In the music and words of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.”
I’m crazy about my oncologist, but it’s Jesus who decides what’s next for me.
…whose plan is wonderful,… Isaiah 28:29
Yes, it is. “The plans God makes are wise, and they always succeed” (GNT). Always. Whatever God has planned for us is good because He is good. Always.
We can trust His “wondrous advice” (CSB) and “supernatural guidance” (NET), pressing on as if we’re going to live forever — because we are! That’s God’s wonderful plan for His children. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
No one. Ever.
…whose wisdom is magnificent. Isaiah 28:29
The mind that conceived such wonderful plans is indeed “excellent” (AMPC) and “glorious” (NIrV). In every way possible, God “hath made wisdom great!” (YLT).
Meanwhile, at the Higgs house we just celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary with joy and abandon, counting on our wise and magnificent God to know how the year ahead will unfold.
Interesting thing about 33: it’s considered the year of wisdom and spiritual reflection (who knew?). Though the traditional gift is clothing, the modern gift for a 33rd anniversary is amethyst, often known as the wisdom stone.
So, with deep gratitude for all your prayers and encouragement over the years, I offered a special giveaway this month: a pair of natural amethyst earrings (4.66 carats) set in sterling silver (925) with a lever back especially for pierced ears. Aren’t they lovely?
Now it’s your turn: How has God revealed His wonderful plan for you recently? Share your thoughts below in the comments. I chose one winner, Mary Ellen from Alabama, to receive these pretty purple gemstones, along with an autographed copy of The Women of Easter Special Edition.
Thanks for joining me for another Wonderful Wednesday! And now the happy news from my oncologist: “No Evidence of Disease.” Yay! I’ll continue with immunotherapy treatments every three weeks for the foreseeable future — a future only God can truly see, the One whose plan is wonderful!
Your sister, Liz
P.S. If you missed this month’s Wonderful Wednesday on Facebook LIVE, listen as we learn about Lydia, a seller of purple and a powerful role model.
P.P.S. Dig deeper into His Story all through Lent with The Women of Easter Special Edition, available exclusively from ChristianBook.com. You’ll also find lots of free resources for The Women of Easter on my website. Blessings of the season!
Congratulations!
God is good! My car is down and has been for months. Yesterday I got a bonus check from work for an idea I submitted months ago! I had no idea about the bonus. The amount (plus what I had saved) was the exact amount I needed to get the parts for my car! God is so good and His timing is perfect.
My husband and I have been married for 33 years the coming November. The Lord has blessed us with an amazing son who had to learn that growing up is never easy, and being an adult can be even harder. The Lord also blessed him with an amazing wife that we all love very much, and for the second time, they are buying a house and including is in their space. This is not just any house that the Lord has provided, but a brand new one. They have worked hard, and God has seen it, and we as parents are being allowed to share in their blessing and we are ever so greatful and full of pride and love for these two and the work that God has done on them. I am praying that God will provide a means to fill that house with love, and some little blessings along the way during this new journey. To have grandbabies, or even just one would be awesome. But for now, we are working on being content with what we have. Love that is so strong and viable through Gods magnificent love.
I had a life saving emergency surgery on Nov 20 followed by many complications. I an still housebound with visiting nurses. God has walked with me every step of the way and I know He goes before me. What a story of God’s glory I’ll have to tell when I get back to Bible Class!
Through recent sermons and Bible studies, God continues to encourage me to persevere in the ministries He placed me in, even when it looks hopeless. He is working in our church and in my life to do His will on His perfect timing. And watching the results amazes me. God is good all the time.
Congrats to you & Bill on 33 years together! I admire your faith in facing cancer with God’s help. Lately I feel God telling me to examine myself and how I can grow to be more like Jesus. Especially in my relationships, work ethic, and health.
Precious Liz
Before I received this message from you, I had already expressed thanks to our God this morning for you in my life. Your exuberant appreciation of Who He is and all He is to you, spill over onto all of us who are privileged to be in your path!!!
Every jot and title of His plans for us will be gloriously fulfilled just as those plans were fulfilled in Jesus time walking on the planet. The One who planned your unlikely marriage to Bill has you in the hollow of His hand and has magnificent plans for every moment, yes every moment, of your life!
He is unfathomable in His love for us. It is so deeply comforting to rest in His arms. I see that is where you and Bill are as you are praising Him together. Hallelulia !!! Amen!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!! This has made my day better!! And congratulations to you and your husband.
God revealed to me recently that I had to start taking care of my body better. I ignored Him for a couple of years about it, actually. But He’s not given up on me! So, I’m learning to battle my food addiction, learning how to not binge eat, eating healthy and in healthy amounts, and lifting weights. I don’t know how God is going to use all this, but in the last few weeks, I realized He has something more planned. I’m excited to see what comes down the pike. 😉😁
And amethyst is my FAVE!
So glad to hear our prayers are being answered where your health is concerned! 😍💜💛💙
Praise the Lord for his great goodness, and your wonderful attitude! May it multiply to me and so many other sisters
God has shown His wonderful care and love to me in the faces of my family, especially my grandbabies. He has also shown it in His presence with me during some bad moments as well as good. God is an ever presence.
God reveals his plan for me in the infinite small details of His creation…a beautiful flower, a stunning sunrise, a healthy attitude.
His love is present, sustaining me in moments of weakness and I praise Him for that.
41 days ago my Mom was admitted to the hospital and is still in the hospital. What we thought was the flu ended up to be a much more serious issue. In the midst of the ups and downs the only thing that has stayed constant is my faith and trust in Christ. I am beyond blessed and thankful for the tribe of women God has surrounded me with to encourage me and keep my family uplifted in prayer. We still have a journey ahead of us….but God! I know he is with us, he is ahead of us and he has this whole situation in his hands. He is Abba, He is Father and He is Friend. Draw near to Him and she will draw near to you. We love you Liz and can’t wait to see what God has in store for you.
I opened my Facebook this morning and your blog post popped up. It was just what I needed to read and right at the time I needed it. God knows and God is so good. Thank you for sharing your heart.
God has recently revealed His plan for our family in that our son-in-law has told our daughter he wants a divorce. After a five year struggle to save the marriage, it is over. His plan is revealing that He wants me to forgive, truly forgive, as He forgave me when I asked Him to be the Lord of my life.
The Lord has been teaching me about abiding in Him, moment by moment . Staying true to my love for him and ridding my heart of thoughts that do not agree with His Word. He is so faithful!
Thank you Liz for your encouraging words, your books and your wonderful ministry to us.
Lifting you up to the Lord, sweet sister!
God’s plan is perfect! A few years ago God knew I needed to leave my job to get into the public school district my daughters were in. It is a long story but at the time my youngest who was 11, had not received her diagnosis yet of OCD and ADD. Long story short, I quit my job, became a sub for a year and then was offered full time as an Educational Aide in special ed in the high school my daughters would attend. God revealed to me the whole special ed system that I was clueless to and that my daughter, whom a few months after getting my job, was diagnosed, and in need of many special ed services that I was now aware of and could fight for on her behalf. Praise God!!! God is so good!!!
Love you, Lizzy!!!
God is indeed good Liz. More prayers, more time, more joy, more wellness for you.
I love your devotions and insight- I cant wait to see and hear you in person in a few weeks- Congrats on the anniversary! What an inspiration you are to those of us who werent raised in a Christian home- God has a plan if we take the time to open our hearts and minds-
God is so amazing. The maintenance of my home is an ongoing struggle both physically (due to upcoming knee replacement surgery)and financially. I normally just grin and bear it or stick my head in the sand and try to ignore it, but it has become overwhelmingly apparent that things need to be repaired quickly. Within the last two weeks, God completely met my needs by sending four people to add new gutters to my home, fix my glass storm door and provide money to take care of the financial issues. God heard my inward groans when I didn’t even know how to verbalize my needs in prayers. I have learned so astutely that He knows what I need and that I can trust Him and His perfect timing in all things.
God has been there for us when a family member admitted they had a substance abuse issue that was Significant. We were surprised as we had believed they had an minor issue as they still functioned, went to work each day, etc.
GOD allowed them to come to us, admit the issue and allowed us to direct them to help. Things initially went well, they became involved in a program which seemed to be helping them, though we are still truly concerned and praying for their progress. We know they are aware of God, their choices to fight this illness or not, and we have been able to join a group which helps us accept they are ill and we can not make them better, just pray as we know God has his plan.
Thank you for sharing God’s wisdom! I know who holds the future…His eye is on the sparrow….
God has been with me throughout my recent lifestyle changes to have a healthier body. I know my success has been possible only because of Jesus and his love for me. Your message today made me think of the verse”Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord ’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.19.21.NIV I’m not really sure how God is going to use the “new me”, 75 lbs lighter but I do know I am nothing without Him. I pray I can trust Him with how my life unfolds.
Liz, your message helps me to remember to always praise Him. I love that you have made up your mind to praise our God and Great Physician not matter what your oncologist has to report. Thank you for allowing God to use your talents to guide others like me to look to our Father in all circumstances. What a wonderful way to start my day, March 13, 2019. Your sister in Christ, Joni Colle
Happy Anniversary!!
Praying for your visit with your doctor. Yes, God’s will be done, but Yes praying for it to reveal that your treatments are successful. God’s plans are wonderful and regardless of the outcomes of our trials — whether they are victorious or continued challenges — we can TRUST HIM and know He’s already ahead of us working all things for good and His glory. Grateful for your faithfulness, Liz. It has been encouraging me for years.
God is so good not just through the sunshiny days but through the stormy days as well. How people go through life whithout Him is hard to imagine. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths has become my life verse. Trust is not easy. Even when you are trusting God who made the universe and the Creater of all. For some reason I sometimes think I can do better or that isn’t the path I should be on. It really is laughable when I think about it, but sometimes I still fall into that thought process. So glad that I serve a forgiving God.
By the way purple is my favorite color!
As I spent last week around İzmir, Turkey enjoying the sites but also seeing the sadness of a few new believers unable to be a vibrant boasting Christian due to fear of loosing everything. Want a privilege we have of claiming our Gods love anywhere we want here in the US. I’m so thankful for the experience, it makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Thanks Liz for reminding us how great our God is !! I’ve seen it!!
Right now my life is so confusing. I just don’t know which way I am going. Is God really leading me through others decisions that affect my life greatly?
33 years–how wonderful, Liz! Congratulations! While I want God to reveal His wonderful plan for me by downloading it directly to me for my stamp of approval, He chooses (wisely) to guide me faithfully through it, one step at a time.
I’m learning obedience and am cultivating a more intimate walk with Him in the interim. To know His good plan will prevail should be enough, for He is faithful and loving and wise! God bless you!
Dear Liz: I pray for you and think of you often; remembering you coming and speaking at our church during my husband’s battle with cancer. Shortly after you shared with our ladies, my husband was “promoted”. The Lord called him “home”. Through all of the pain and grief and transition into a “ new norm”, God has reminded me over and over of His promises. Jeremiah 29:11 has become very real to me. And the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is the same God Who still keeps His promises today; to me, to you, and to everyone who calls on His name. May the Lord bless you richly, as you continue to serve Him, and congratulations on 33 years of wonderful marriage!
Hey Liz! Firstly thank you for your posts…they are definitely part of His Wonderful Plan for me. I pray that your news is positive & is answered prayer. Now, a couple years ago, due to a sad sad situation in which our Lord worked His wonders on me, I sought Him only to find Him already here. He always was & always will be. I lost the love of my life only to find to love of my eternity! WOW! What plan my Lord has from today onward, I can’t tell, but if it’s anything like these past years then I have such wonders to look forward to. Thanks again Liz.
I went thru a really rough time when my husband went off his anti depressents cold turkey. It has taken almost 2 years to rebuild some relationship with him. he burned alot of bridges. I see small miracles everyday, as the Lord works in our life. I thought I would never see normal again. but slowly slowly life is returning to a form of normal. It is by God’s grace that we are still together.
God has shown His love to me in so many ways! The fact that I am alive and well is one; my beautiful family is another. But I am especially thankful that my husband and two children are all Christians. Bc I know their names are written in Heaven, I rejoice!! 💖
It’s amazing to me that 3 of my dear friends, if I may call you that have shown me so much courage as they battle cancer, to Liz, Anne Graham Lotz, and Joni Earekson Tada.
It gives me such hope during a time when faith could falter, but you have shown me to stay in the Word of God, trust His promises and His way is the right way.
Thank you and God bless you.
Still searching for his plan- sadness that a granddaughter has chosen to separate her children from their grandma( my daughter).seeking God’s plan in this but sure what hat Jesus will intervene. Happy anniversary. You continue to bring hope and joy.
I truly believe that God takes you through things for a purpose. Ten years ago my husband put all of 20 years pension into a building project with a friend and the friend disappeared with out money. My husband was without work for a year….we had to put ourselves under debt review and I thank God for the person that thought it up..we did not lose our house or any of our belongings and we are still in the same house.. GOD took us through it all.
I am a lay counsellor and do marriage, trauma, drug & family counselling and I truly believe that if you have not gone through “things” you cannot feel for the next man.
At age 62 I still need to work as we still have a huge bond on our property..(my husbands pension was to settle the bond…but I have good health and a job and lots of gratitude in my heart…I have also been through a short stint with my son and drugs..but all is well due to Gods help
Thank you and God Bless
When I came to the realization that I didn’t need to know God’s purpose for me, that I just needed to trust in His wisdom, anxiety over my future seemed to melt away. I have a few moments when the wonder of ‘what’s next’ overtakes me, but I have more moments when I am filled with a sense of well being. Seeking His wisdom in His word gives me peace that no human knowledge can provide. He is so good and so faithful.
PS praying for you sweet lady. He’s got you!
The Word I’m trying to live with the Lord is yield, Ivrun before Him, I get aggravated, I try to learn more from His Word in my own strength 😩. To let Him go ahead, to lead and I follow along, gladly with a listening heart is my prayer. Happy anniversary Liz! So glad for your news!
Thank you for your wonderful words Liz.
In the midst of all this life has to offer, the good and not so good,
God is always there with us, holding us through it all.
I said a prayer for you today, that you receive the best news.
Happy Anniversary to you both today and may you have a blessed day!
Your flower pictures are beautiful! And that’s how God shows His love to me. With a foot of snow still covering the ground outside my window, He shows me the hope of spring and what is to come! Happy Anniversary. I love the smiles on both of you!
God is so good. He is My Provider. He keeps telling me He will provide. Things may be lean or really great or just soso. I do not know except He will be there!! I hope that made sense.
God has revealed His plans for my life in so many ways this past year but because of my daughter’s family breakup and ensuing life changes I know that He wants me to show her and her three young sons to stand on His promises and to be strong in their weak places. That is what I know I’m meant to do now along with my ministries of writing and speaking, leading and teaching. So glad to be in the service of my Lord and Savior who calms me through the storms of this life.
Happy Anniversary Liz! Those beautiful earrings remind me of the poem “When I am old I shall wear purple…” This year my husband and I will be celebrating 47 years of marriage. God has spent this year helping us to appreciate each other and realizing that we need to spend these precious years He has given us loving each other, our children, our grandchildren and everyone He puts in our paths. The further we are on this journey the more we see people in our lives suffering with cancer, divorce, heart attacks, grief. This year there are more people we are called to hold close every week. I pray for God to hold them in His loving hands and use me to reach out and hold their hands.
Continuing to pray for healing Liz.
Dearest Liz, how faithful is our God to show you the meaning of Amethyst. It is my birthstone. I never knew the meaning. I always loved seeing it was in the foundation of heaven. I’m praying for whatever the outcome is with your oncologist today that you would continue to relish in the joy of your Savior and that He will continue to give you and your husband wisdom. Of course I’m praying for a healing yet His will be done no matter what and it will be perfect. You have been a blessing to me for so many years and I pray that as we both are getting greater in the number of years, that we would both finish well for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and that many souls to be brought into the kingdom. Blessings to you my friend. So what have I learned about the Lord recently? In January I fell and dislocated my My right shoulder and damaged the brachial plexus and it has been a true struggle. I am still unable to use my right arm but will slowly improve. Yet in the middle of all of this God provided for us to get a new roof and gifted us with a second car and provided exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. But even if none of these things were given He still is God and He still is good for ever and ever amen.
God has been showing me the way through a 10 year journey with chronic pain. I have been blessed by bible study relationships, a personal mission statement written thru one which helped me shift careers when I was unable to fulfill the one I held previously. Delightful friends, met while at Mayo in MN, my own church’s daily mass and learning to be much more present to all of His gifts – pure snow, melting icicles, heart shaped stones found on the beach, gorgeous 3 year olds I read to and blessed people at infusion center I connect with as art cart volunteer. “Get out of the MUCK”, so many are mired in it, God has guided me away towards more beauty in all of His glorious creations. I am deeply grateful
Praying for you as you receive information concerning your cancer treatment. I am praying Psalm 27:3 in agreement with your confidence of God defeating cancer.
Happy anniversary!
Thankful for you and your wonderful words. Needing the reminder every day of God’s plan. Praying all is well with your checkup.
God has shown me His wonderful plan for me (which involves being content right now right where He has me for as long as He has me here) through a study I’m doing in 2 Samuel. Don’t focus on the past (a house we liked better in a state we were quite comfortable in) or long for the future (retirement for my husband, living nearer our kids/grandkids) but focus on worshipping, serving, and choosing contentment now.
Well, life certainly takes twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I never would have thought that dementia would rear it’s ugly head in my beautiful mother. I never thought divorce would have entered into our family when my son-in-law decided he no longer loved my daughter and I never thought I’d suffer various maladies causing me pain each day. None did I ask for nor want. None of these can I control. What I do know is that my God is in control. Without Him I am out of control. For each twist, turn and bump (big or small) that is in my path I have the greatest safety net to catch me or lean on. I am blessed to be His child and know that whatever happens He will NEVER leave me or forsake me. This is the comfort I am assured of.
Thank you so much for sharing your faith and your story as you share God’s Word and Goodness. “He is good, good, so good song.”
I’m living on my farm feeling blessed by the One who loves me unconditionally without end. We’re fencing in some pasture for an unknown herd….goats, hair sheep, ??
Meanwhile, I continue to raise laying hens and take the verse from John 10:27 as a lifeline: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” I raise my chicks with singing and humming and lots of love, so they, too, know my voice.
It goes on in John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My Hand.” Hallelujah! Yes, I’ve been known to chase after coyotes with a 2×4 while yelling, but praise the Lord that we CAN NEVER BE SNATCHED FROM OUR LOVING FATHER’S GRASP!
Love ya, girl, and I’ll continue to pray for you to stay on His Path no matter what. Please pray for me to do the same!
Farmer Lisa
Dear Liz, Know you are so loved by all of us. I am praying for healing for you. Lately, the Lord has been teaching me about loving others outside of our country. We have a family member in another country and it is broadening my heart and my horizons. Also, my book group is reading about what others believe and it gives me a heart to pray for them, to see them as Jesus sees them. Walking with the Lord is never dull. Thank you for all you do, you are a treasure. Great pic!
God has revealed Himself and His wonderful plan to me in my daughter Aimee’s wedding this past weekend. My son, Jared, who officiated the ceremony, spoke of gift-giving, sharing relevant anecdotes with regard to knowing and not knowing the value of the gift being given. Then he declared with dramatic pause that God gave us the Gift of His Son and posed the question, “Do you think He knew the value?!” No matter what circumstances try to derail us, we must stand firm in our “marriage to Jesus,” the Author and Completer of our faith. I am looking forward with Joy to the wedding supper which awaits us!
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We are constantly seeking God’s plan for us and our future first grandchild (currently inutero). Everything has not been revealed yet, as we hope & pray for the tiny human.
He is showing me He loves me because He is love, not because of anything I have done or not done, but because of He , Himself .
His plan is marvelous! My husband was given 6-12 months to live 31 months ago. His diagnosis of pancreatic cancer rocked my world. You know purple (amethyst) is the color of pancreatic awareness. He is living a full and joyful life with the assurance that when his life here ends he is promised eternal life with Jesus. He will never die! Chemotherapy continues and he too has a scan next week to see if the chemo is still working. I’m selfish. I want to keep him. A multitude are praying for him. We are trusting for an excellent report.
Dearest Liz. We truly do not know what the next day will hold. On February 25th, my sweet husband and I were talking after a busy day. I was hand-quilting and he was watching TV. Then I looked over to him as he was in distress, gasping for a breath. Within 5 minutes, he was gone. GONE. All the emergency folks were here in 10 minutes but they were already too late, even though they tried. We just don’t know what the next minute holds. Yes, my trust is in God and His wisdom and knowledge but are we really able to say God’s will be done? Only with His strength can we say “Yes. He has a plan.”
As I continue to lead a group of 12 in our mission to bring Jesus to families of preschoolers, I am learning to lean into his words more and more. Words from Isaiah keep coming from multiple directions. So I continue to share his words with the Ark girls, as we call ourselves.
My challenge is to guide the 12, and that is a challenge every day.
My husband and I will celebrate 42 years in June. We continue to find new ways to serve our amazing God, but usually in different places. And we are so comfortable supporting each other.
By the way purple is my favorite color is blue to wear, it goes so well with this white hair.
God Has truly revealed his faithful to me this past weekend.. I had lost my wallet downtown this past Saturday. My husband and I search for it, called the local Police department and canceled my debit card ( which was then only card I have in my wallet) and prayed and prayed and prayed Saturday night.. Sunday morning at breakfast my husband prayed that if it was in Gods will for that wallet to be return then let it be returned with everything in it. We went to church and away for the day… On our way home when we got close to our house , God directed me to go into the house and open the side inside door and without a doubt my wallet was between the doors with everything in it cash, credit cards, liscenses and all … I am so overwhelmed my God grace in this and will continue to share this testimony for a longgggg time… God is sooooooo good. Thru this God has reminded me that he is always there for me . AMEN Looking forward to a Praise Report from you onocologist . Love and Blessings
First of all, Happy Anniversary! May God bless you with another 33 years! We have began a women’s study at our church about our spiritual armor. We can have all the weapons, but prayer is what gives life and energy to these weapons! We are forever learning and gleaning from the Word!
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last April and have had surgery, chemo and now a final treatment for a year. I am thankful for my faith and that of our families and friends for without it I would not have come this far. It’s a scary road but I know that God has a plan for me and my life and that there is a purpose to all this. Praying for you and your results that the immunotherapy has worked for you. HAPPY Anniversary! We will be married 37 years in April. Praise God!! 💕🙏
Dear sister
Praying for you that your doctor will be delighted that that old cancer is taking a beating!
I’m in a time of transition right now. After 12 years my husband filed for divorce last October. Not a real surprise since he had wanted me to go away for a while.
But God is good and His blessings have been more than amazing. I’m trusting Him daily as I wait for His leading and direction. Not going to this time of trials and miss the many lessons.
You are so right. It’s Gods plan on what happens in our lives. Last January I became ill and it was determined I had cancer. Lymphoma a treatable cancer but not curable. My oncologist was very direct in telling me this. My treatments were started and I was able to get the whole course until my platelets went so low that part of it had to be stopped. A scan was done and in July the Dr said I was already 99% free of cancer. But he put me on a 8 week cycle for the next 2 years of getting antibodies to help keep the cancer cells in check.
My goal is living my life to the fullest sharing God’s love with others. God brought me to this and God will see me through it.
You are a beautiful couple. Love the smiling faces. Your books and emails are so inspiring. I too have been married 33 years. My husband is the one with a rare brain disease with no cure, except if God has the cure. His brain is shrinking. Your email is so helpful and give me courage.
I don’t know how I missed that you were ill. God bless you and give you His healing.
Happy Anniversary – your words are exactly what I needed this morning. My husband had a massive stroke on February 20th while I was out of town. All the things that happened that morning were not the norm but all played together to get Steve the immediate help he needed. This was his third stroke in 5 years each worse than the last and God has allowed him to live each time. Through this several non-believing family members have witnessed our faith in our powerful, mighty, healing God. I know that He has us in His loving arms and will carry us through this journey.
I recently moved to the area of Tampa Bay, Florida due to a new work assignment. In the attempts to learn a new work with new people, I’ve been praying that the Lord direct May ways in friendships and ministry. Quite to my surprise, He’s not directed me to minister to those within my workplace, but place on my heart the burden to reach out beyond that, taking the time to speak into the lives of my hair dresser, nail technician, and a few others. I pray each time before entering these places of business that the Lord will open the door to good and healthy conversations as I point them to Him through my actions and responses. When He spurs me to stop by between appointments to say hello and give a smile or simple hug, I do it, not knowing why or how their day has been, but I do it anyhow. They love the special thought and attention without having to give anything back in return. I’m praying these small steps will speak to them of the love of Jesus. Amen.
The earings are very beautiful. My sisters and i are looking to see if you will be in pennsylvania this year.
I am driving to Canton ,Ohio from Pittsburgh to see LCH, along with a old friend. Please visit PA sometime soon.
Praying for His good plan for you, Liz. And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! May you and Bill have a joyous celebration.
Recently I have been feeling down, even to where I barely study the Word. God has been telling me, in various ways, that He is still here with me, even though I may not feel it. He has also put across to me that I need to praise Him, not matter what. Now, that can be hard when depressed. But, I can push through this with my God who strengthens me. Thank you for all you do Liz. You are a Godsend. I was feeling particularly down today and then I read your blog. God is good. Bless you my friend.
Liz, I have been struggling deeply for the last week. My momma passed away 6 months ago at the wonderful age of 89. She had a wonderful life, was a pastors wife for over 50 years. She and my dad were also missionary’s to Italy for several years. I lived there for the first 7 years of my life. Now, my brother that is just 63 has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I have to say I have cried, screamed and yelled. I have said how unfair. But in all reality I have come to know and accept that ultimately it is in God’s perfect design. He will get his healing, his complete healing. But it may not be here. I praise God in all that he is and all that he will be.
https://youtu.be/7tElvdnId4Q David Crowder sings “All My Hope” and isn’t that what we have is Hope!! I’m so thankful that I serve a Savior that gives me HOPE. Thank you Liz for all your wonderful words. I pray that the treatments you have been taken will take care of all those nasty cells. Prayers and Love, Lianne
Congratulations, Liz & Bill on your wedding anniversary!🎉🎊 33 years-how wonderful! May God bless both of you with many more happy years together.
I’ll be in prayer, as will be countless other people, concerning your meeting with your oncologist. I’m glad you reminded us, God always has a wonderful plan, wether we like it or not.
This comment will sound odd coming from a guy, but the earrings are very pretty. I can say this because I really like giving jewelry & flowers to my wife.
My husband and I are going through an adoption process right now. It’s called a process for a reason. For the last 2 years we have waited…and waited. We have had 2 adoptions fall through. Every time I get close to giving up, calling it a day, concluding that maybe I was never meant to be a mother, God gives me a gentle sign that He is still with me and that no matter what, I should still praise Him. It maybe a card from a friend, a hug from a student, or just a still, small whisper of, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve got this.”
one of the wonderful things the Lord has revealed to me recently is that there’s no reason to have unforgiveness God is truly sovereign; “all things work together for good” so how can i be upset/angry about/with with someone or a circumstance knowing that it’s going to be good for me inGod’s design? believing Him & His word is my ONLY hope to live through and endure yhis life!”.
“wonderful plans” come with such a loaded, flooding mix of emotions bubbling up to the top. Juxtapose in full form. Over the top GREAT and plunging sulfur STENCH.
Great? Three daughters that have ushered in weddings, babies and new relationships to pour into in the past 10 years.
Stench? Husbands repeated adultery in various stages over the same years. Women I know, some I don’t. He is a successful business owner and looked up to in the church. Confession when caught … remorse … faux repentance … tows the line until he doesn’t again.
This WONDERFUL part is the suffering it caused my soul to live out a ‘Godly wife’ to such a man, formed an impentrable intimate bond to the Lover of my Soul. I know what a faithful lover looks like by my Jesus. I am known. I am fully loved.
I am also in the midst of a divorce. The demo and construction of a new cottage home fills my future with laughter and healthy relationships. Abba is filling my sails with his breath after the vessel has been dry docked by the storm.
Psalm 142:3 “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.”
I struggled with if and when I should put my mom that had dementia into a facility. I was her sole caretaker living together for 30 + yrs. One day I just fell to my knees and gave it to God. I was drained and emotionally drained. He took it from there . God put Himself right in front of me and said follow me. He led me every day for several months towards finding a solution. The day I was going to take her to facility I didn’t know how I was going to do it but He led me all the way. It was an easy transition. I couldn’t have done it without God’s help
Liz, My mom is in the process of dying. This gives me comfort today and I am going to read it to her, to give her comfort too.
Happy 33rd Anniversary!!!!! It gives me great joy when a couple says we have been married for ____ years; it is so encouraging to see couples live out the Word of God – and the two shall cleave as 1 for all the days of their marriage ( Joy’s paraphrase). We have been married for 47 years ( in April ), and I would do it all over again – the joys and the sorrows, the good times and the bad ( Harry is a cancer survivor – and an open heart survivor ).
The Lord is showing me how to be forgiving of others and myself ( I couldn’t forgive my biological mother for leaving us before I was 6 months old; by the time I was 4 she had committed suicide. How do you forgive someone is gone, but I have forgiven her and I am learning to forgive my past ). I am also learning not to be jealous of my sisters-in-Christ for their relationship with the Lord ( as you may guess I came to the Lord about 23 years ago ).
And as an Anniversary present to ourselves my husband and I are taking a train trip across this great country we live in. We are going to visit family and enjoy a 2 month vacation with just each other. We can’t wait.
My church, Grace Fellowship, has been in a storefront since its inception 7 years ago. This past summer the landlord informed us that he had a new tenant and we had to be out by Easter. God has graciously led us to a new location, but a very costly renovation needs done to the aging building, a 3 year project of which we were short of funds, even with the loan we were able to obtain. Thus a building fund and member monetary commitments are prayerfully being set in place.
I knew I definitely wanted to be a part of this commitment, but I am a widow on social security and I lost my babysitting job last October and I haven’t been able to find a new one though I am continually responding to job ads. Consequently my income won’t even cover my existing bills, how could I possibly even think I could commit to giving more? I don’t have more to give!
Then God opened my eyes. While I don’t have money to give, I do have unused possessions that I could sell. So my party dresses and shoes are now posted online and I am anxiously & excitedly awaiting for God to send buyers so I can help in the building fund. A car which has been on the market since last summer just sold yesterday. Another answer to prayer. He never answers prayers the way I think He will, or in the timeframe I had in mind, but I am again amazed at His innovative ways so that I can now give my “widows mite”.
P.S. in spite of my “outflow” exceeding my “income” , I have been able to pay each and every bill on time each month. I have no explanation other than I serve a loving, generous God who chooses to bless His children. What an exciting journey He has me on. ❤️
First my friend let me wish you and yours a very Happy 33rd 💐💕Anniversary, may God Bless You with many more. As for the cancer I pray it is all gone, in Jesus Name.
You are special to me and I pray nothing but blessings to you my sweet friend, one day I hope to meet you in person but unto then blessings.
Recently God has put myself and a special friend in charge of the women’s ministry in our church and even after much opposition and nah saying we will follow through with His work as He sees fit. I pray for strength and guidance along the way to be a light and for His words not my own.
Much love ❤️
April
Thank you Liz. I’m praying all goes well. I am seven weeks out of breast cancer surgery and just started estrogen suppression for prevention. My mom and dad celebrated 59 years on Monday and my mom is a three time cancer survivor. Our God’s plans are never what we imagine in our limited thought processes but oh so amazing to see.
Hello Liz,
Lovely post on how God is in control, of your life, my life and all his children’s lives. JESUS instructs, teaches and shows me daily, to just be here and now, trust in Him, live my life for Him. I keep learning to put it all in His hands, stop the worry, the fret, and my plans. Iearn daily to pray unceasingly to Him in all things, in His wisdom.
I pray your cancer battle ends soon and with victory, but like you said it’s His Will for the outcome, trusting all the way.
Thank you for sharing your journey and your kindness of gifts; amethest earrings and a copy of your Easter book. God bless you honey.
His wonderful plan. Hm! This has always been a puzzler for me. I’m not a missionary, teacher or musician. What am I? I am a friend and by God’s grace, I am a good friend. I have been told this so much that I finally believe it. So that’s what I do. That’s who I am and right now that is God’s plan for me, behind the scenes. Encouraging my friends who are more centerstage and those like me who will never be on stage.
Praying for you Liz. 🙏
I’ve been blessed with a loving and understanding family. I have been a wanderer of the world, and after 36 years I’ve decided it is time to move back home to VA to be close to my almost 94 yo father. He has supported me in my decision to join the military, and with that I have been able to travel to many wonderful places and have many memories to share with my family.
I now live in the cold state of Michigan and have been looking for an opportunity to move back home, and I think that with the guidance of our heavenly father, I’m going to be able to move home in the near future.
I’m not a person that can just sit and let life pass me by, I have to be active and involved. I see so many people that retire and it looks like they have given up on life. I have been very active in my church, and my church family for the past 15 years, and this will be one aspect of the move that I will surly miss. But, I am looking forward to the church family that will be opening their arms to welcome a lost sheep back to their flock. I will be returning to the church of my childhood and youth, and look forward to rejoining the fellowship that will be bestowed upon me and my family.
As you said in your message, God has a plan for us all, I hope your treatments have worked the way you want them. I myself battled cancer in 1988 and so far have won the big battle. My prayers and wishes are going out to you.
Sincerely,
Patricia
A sweet friend on Facebook tagged me on your post about having your post chemo follow-up to see how effective the chemo was on treating your cancer. I am also having a post chemo follow-up MRI tomorrow and I am trusting God that whatever the results are he is good. This is my second go around with breast cancer. I guess God needed another round to help teach me how to trust him more. This has been so much more than a journey to heal from cancer. It has been a journey of soul healing and trusting God in so many ways. He has shown himself and his goodness in countless ways through this journey. He wastes nothing And is in control of everything. Thank you for your encouraging blog.
Congratulations Liz, I pray that God will extend your time in service to Him for the many of those who have been changed, rearranged and become whole by the power of His Word taught by you. He knows the plans for your life and honors the desires of your heart. God is so amazing. I also, had to wait for “clearance” so to speak before taking off to continue my journey here a while longer. He is the Captain of our Salvation and will surely see you safely to and through. Be blessed and “keep looking up” Jesus loves you!! Please find further comfort in this Hymn” I am the Lord that health thee”
https://www.hymnal.net/Hymns/Hymnal/svg/e0752_p.svg
Our story began last January 12 when Tom lost his long time job. He had only held two jobs since the military and this was done in a cruel way. I panicked for two days. Then decided to trust God. The next Sunday at church, someone out 750.00 in our hands. A lady handed me a 100.00 bill. The church said they would buy our groceries till we were back on our feet. Money was handed to us in one week that completely replaced Tom’s salary that week. We received a card in the mail with five one hundred dollar bills in it anonymously. We were stunned at every turn! Then Tom’s resume was given to my brother, who worked and was a supervisor at this company Tom had wanted for years to work at. But the hours were horrendous and I balked. I walked in the woods behind our house and prayed, ‘God, if this is what You want for Tom, I know You will give me strength to deal with it.’. Unbeknownst to me, my brother had prayed a prayer in which he asked God if this was the job for Tom to let me be okay with it. When I said I was, my brother saud he saw no reason to pray further because the job was already Tom’s. Condensed version(too late for that, huh?) Was Tom got the job, the hours were changed and it is perfect! Great pay, working conditions, benefits, and loads of down time. He was even told that he would spend part of every shift goofing off! How good is God????
My new job is working with the public, in the hospitality realm, and through my boss, He’s opened the door for me to get more training at the corporate level. I believe it’s to be a ministry and not just a job, so this training, combined with my prayers and leaning into Christ is equipping me for this new thing.
I was having a pain in my abdomen. Went to the Dr., diagnosed myself and she agreed. However, she ordered a CT Scan “STAT”. That same day I had a scan. Around 5 p.m. she called me to tell me they found a tumor in my stomach.
It’s as if I’m living on a merry-go-round right now. This Friday I have a colonoscopy and then next Tuesday I have an ultra-sound endoscopy.
As I pondered and prayed, I felt God telling me, “No you can’t handle this. No, you don’t have the strength. Ask me.”
So I did. I asked Him instead of giving me the strength to go through this… that He be my strength. That gives me comfort knowing the same God who made the sun, moon, and stars is also giving me the strength to go forward into the unknown.
I don’t know what I don’t know… but God does. And for some reason, that brings me comfort.
Life is hard. Sometimes it is hard to believe that God has a purpose in our pain and suffering. It is hard for us to see the big picture. Thank you for your writing on this subject. You have given me a different perspective on God’s Wonderful Plan for our lives. Prayers for you as you see your oncologist.
God’s plan for me is to be a mother and strong supporter of my 30 year old son who is fighting stage 4 colorectal cancer as well as type 1 diabetes. I go to every chemo treatment, I give him vitamins, make him carrot juice, but most of all I try to lead him spiritually. Letting him know that God has many wonderful things in store for him and that throughout this battle God is always with him. To keep his head, heart and soul in sound form. I know he’s taking heed when he says there are others less fortunate than he. And I wonder silently to myself…who? But I do pray and thank God for everyday he is with us! I pray daily for you, Liz, and all those at the cancer center. God is amazing and good! <3 Rj
Many years ago I was at a conference where the speaker encouraged everyone to sign a contract with God. Instead of telling God what we wanted to do or be, we were to tell God we would do anything, anywhere at any time that He wanted and sign our name. I did that and have thought about it many times since then. Last year I was driving down the road and right in front of me was a truck with huge printing on the back: We ship Anything Anywhere Anytime. I almost thought it was my imagination but realized it could be a sign from God to be aware of where and when and what He wants me to do to serve Him. Several months later I saw it again. That was when I realized that He often reminded me that I need to think about what He wants me to do and not what I want to do. I need to be ready to serve wherever I am at any time. He will give me the words when they are needed and with his help my actions can be the message someone may need to hear. And no matter what or where or when I never have to do anything alone because He is always with me. Who knew a moving company could be used by God?!
My husband is in his final weeks of suffering with pancreatic cancer. We have been blessed with almost 42 years of marriage, four children, and nine grandchildren. This terminal illness is not what we have chosen or ever imagined we would experience, but God has allowed. We have expressed many tears, but also realize that we have been richly blessed. Our comfort is in knowing that my husband belongs to Christ, and one day, in God’s timing we will be together in heaven. I don’t know what plan God has for me going forward, but I know He is in control and loves me.
I love that Isaiah declared that God’s plan is wonderful! I love your comment that “God’s plan is good because he is good.” A few years ago, while going through a tough time, my brother became very irritated when people would attempt to comfort him with the “all things work together for good” idea. His logic led him to the end of the verse where he concluded that things worked for God’s good and God’s glory NOT our good. I believe that God is Good and God’s plans are Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing your faith through your cancer journey! May God give you complete healing this side of Heaven through the Powerful Name of Jesus! Amen.
God continues to give me strength in dealing with an elderly parent as I live 4 hours away. As I tell my dad – this is the cycle of life and now is the time to let his children care for him as he first cared for us.
God bless you Liz. What a blessing it was this morning to open the email and read your wonderful words of wisdom. You have really started my day out so well. Hope to see you next week in Pigeon Forge.
Prayers for you today holding you up through out your appointment. Strength, hope and peace.
And congratulations on 33 years! Awesome! Blessings as you celebrate and continue walking this journey together!
Gid’s Wonderful plan is revealed each day as we take one day at a time after my mom’s fall and dislocated shoulder. Therapy to regain use of her arm is slow and frustrating but she keeps trying. Humbling for her as I help her dress and shower. Our whole life changes with a simple fall. Yet we trust and are so thankful no broken bones.
Congrats on your anniversary! And thank you for your posts. After years of wandering I am seeing Gods plan at work. God brought me right here today because it’s where I’m supposed to be. All the struggle I went thru just prepared me for what was to come. I am grateful and praising God for his guidance. God bless.
My God is an awesome God! I just love reading your emails, so thought provoking, pretty, meaningful and insightful. I pray God completely heals your disease and fills you to overflowing!!
We recently lost my mom and I guess I am still processing all that’s happened. It’s kinda funny how you have so many different emotions and feelings going on, what you remember what your siblings remember and how they aren’t always the way you remember. It’s a good thing we have Jesus to hold on to and to read His word and get the same story every time.
Happy anniversary! You are an inspiration to me. I needed to hear this today. I thank you for all that you do and thank God that He has given you such an amazing gift to share with us. I do not know what God’s plan is at the moment for me, but I know that there is one that is unfolding and that I have to cling to Him until His plan unfolds. I have been suffering from pain for 9 years and in the past year and a half, it has gotten worse. I have been to numerous doctors and recently have had a glimmer of an actual diagnosis. God is good! I am praying for good news for you today Liz!
Thank you, Liz, as always for your wonderful encouraging thoughts that point us to the Lord and remind us to “keep our mind on things above” whatever life brings our way.
Praying for you, your family and your oncologist as you meet today.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend my 2nd Christian Writers Conference. This time I entered a contest (I’ll be 46 this year and decided to just go for it). To my amazement, my name was chosen as one of the finalists to be included in an anthology called “Blessings in Disguise” by EA Book Publishing Company for first time published authors. It was a sweet love message from the Lord to me that even though I’m single and sometimes wonder if I’m making a difference for the Lord in this world, that He still has good plans for me and will bring them to completion.
Thirty three years! Such an awesome accomplishment. This year we will have thirty five. Thanks for reminding us that God’s plan is always in place and that it will work out. It’s so easy to think if the plan doesn’t go our way it’s just not what we need. Are awesome God is in control and we just have to let go and breathe. God has us! Wishing you positive results and a fabulous day!
He has allowed me to remain here on this earth (couple health issues myself) for work yet to be done! I am so excited to be deepening my relationship with Him!
Dearest sister Liz, First you are in my thoughts and prayers always!! God has revealed himself to me through so many of his creations this month. Driving to the grocery store here in Hondo NM a very small town here with all the old orchards that are almost gone a few apple trees still around from the 1800 hundreds the gorgeous mountains that the Indians say change everyday and they do He shows me all this beauty and what he has made for us ❤️. I love Him He has captured my heart again!
Praying for your Oncology visit and praising God for 33 years of marriage!! I am such an over thinker that it causes me to stay put and not move forward. This past week, though, I placed a fleece before the Lord and he confirmed the path we should take in respect to new tenants for our rental home. Also, God has clearly answered prayers, recently, and trusting him with the path I should take has become much clearer.
God always gives me a peaceful set of mind when he is revealing his master plan. Happy 33 years!
My husband died 2 months ago. It is hard coming into an empty house. I am trusting that Jesus in filling the house with His love and presence
Thanks for this powerful affirmation. I am preparing for major surgery (first time in 61 blessed years on God’s earth). In addition to all the practical things like exercising, power of attorneys, and wills, I have been praying God’s promises. I am also finding scripture to post in my hospital room.
God is good and He has got this-for me and for you!
First ..thank you for your upbeat, God-honoring message. Praying that God’s healing touch is His plan for you.
It took me years to realize that God’s plan for me wasn’t the Cinderella “happily ever after” storybook ending but rather to:
“…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” And to align the desires of my heart with His and He will lead me in the paths He chooses.
Thank you again for your encouraging messages.
Your thoughts for today were just what I needed. We recently found out my husband has prostate cancer. We know God is in control of everything and his ways are the ultimate ways. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I know God has a plan for me, but cannot imagine what it might be. I am my mother’s caregiver and it has been a very rough ordeal. She used to be my best friend and now I don’t know this woman who gets mean very easily. I can’t seem to get it all right and ask God what he is trying to teach me through this. Now, I am having health problems and so it complicates everything. I know I need to trust him with whatever plan he has for me, but some days, the struggles are worse than others.
Happy Anniversary. Bless you both. I pray your test results are wonderful.
Dear Liz, first of all praying for good news today but most of all praying for you that God will sustain you as He always has thorough out this life journey. Also Happy Anniversary! My husband and I will be celebrating 34 years this May. Some times God’s plans and little reminders of His love can take my breath away and His lightbulb moments can be humorous. I can find something each day that shows me He is in control and I am loved. Recently I was witness to His awesome plan. A friend was out for his routine run and collapsed with a heart attack. God put an angel in his path that saw him collapse and pulled over to administer CPR. The paramedics said if it wasn’t for this lady he wouldn’t have made it. She said normally she would of been in church that morning but something kept her home and she decided to run an errand and that’s when she became our friends angel. It gives me goosebumps when I think of how everything fell into place for that moment in time. GOOD IS ALWAYS GOOD. AMEN!
Oh Liz, your words are such an encouragement!! Happy Anniversary!! I have a couple of big unknowns in my life right now that God has not revealed His plan YET, but one thing I know…He has a plan!!! And I’m trusting fully that He will work out circumstances for my BEST interest. I rest in that TRUTH.
I’m praying for you, Liz.
Happy anniversary tomorrow. I do believe God gives us wisdom to make up for our own weaknesses in our older years. Thanks for today’s message. God bless you!
Praying for a great report at you oncologist visit! May God be glorified in all things! My 88 yr old Mama was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. She tried chemo (they would not give her option of radiation) but after one treatment, she declined quickly so she elected to stop chemo. My mama is a strong woman of faith. There is nothing going on here that has not passed through Gods hands, same as for you! In all things we keep on praising Jesus!
OH, Happy 33rd Anniversary! Celebrate BIG!
I love your thoughts on God’s goodness. I love being able to look back and see how Good has woven something good out of the events in my life. When I was suddenly widowed 4 years ago I couldn’t imagine how something good could come out of it. But here I am leading a Widow’s Group and encouraging other women walking through the valley. God is indeed good.
Thank you for sharing those much needed Bible verses. I was in need of reading them today, and a reminder of verses I had meaning from.
I suffer from chronic pain and Diabetes.
I think back on memories of all my dear loved ones who have gone to Heaven with Jesus.
The faith I have will be brought out in me by God’s will, to my family, and those I come across in life.
A simple God Bless you to someone may bring their thoughts to God and Jesus, and hopefully help them thru their day.
May God touch your life and heal you, as you have touched so many with your kind words, and the Word Of God.
Liz you inspire me to dive deeper into my Savior…thank you.
God’s timing is one that’s so hard for me to grasp especially when I know that He called me to do one profession and I’m doing another one just to make ends meet. Radio is not for the faint of heart, and putting down those headphones to do an office job is not what I had planned, but God did. I have to keep trusting in His timing! Thank you for reminding me of that today. Praying that God chooses to heal and keep you HERE with us!
P.S. Happy Anniversary!
Hoping for good results today! And what a wonderful giveaway to celebrate your anniversary. God’s plan right now is muddy waters but the lesson is clear, simply trust.
Lizzy,
What wonderful thoughts you posted. God is always good. I hope you get good news from your oncologist but like you said, “God is good, either way.”
I am struggling with my diabetes and the doctor found a 4cm aneurism on my aorta. I will have that evaluated at the end of the month.
But whatever happens, I love my God and no one can snatch me out of His hand. He holds me securely. I am so blessed.
Happy Anniversary, sweet one.
God has blessed me this Lenten season with wonderful knowledge of the Holy Eucharist and how his Jewish roots especially the passover meal is a type and shadow of the solemn meal we take in the Eucharist. Its neat to realize that we are every drawing close to Jesus when we partake in this Sacrament. May all have a new look through this Lenten Season and remember that Christ has indeed risen. God Bless
God has a wooed w me through betrayal and trials. He is wonderful
We are navigating life with my husband’s heart disease. He’s been stable for a number of months now, and we are grateful. But, as you said above regarding your cancer, if stability diminishes, we are still grateful. In the Lord’s providence, hubby’s job was phased out by his company in January, and after prayerful discussions, we’ve decided to call this the beginning of retirement. Amazing the emotional load this has taken off his shoulders. So . . . a new season with new challenges, but the same Lord with the same unchangeable love and mercy for us, His children.
I think it was God’s plan for me to get back into His Word every day. Recently, I’ve not been reading His Word daily. I was going to church, and my weekly women’s Bible study and felt my faith was strong. yet, I also knew something was missing. I wasn’t talking with Jesus every day. And He was calling me. I dug out my Bible Reading plan and began reading through His Word. I tend to do a lot of talking to Jesus as the messages become clearer and as I see how passages relate to me in my life and even to others I know. Praying is as natural as breathing now and the peace He has restored to me… Soon the Lord and I will be strolling through the beautiful spring countryside and talking like the old friends we are. He is shining His light on me and I am bathed in the wonder of the Lord. Hallelujah!
Good morning lovely Liz!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Every time I read your emails or posts always takes me back 2 when you came 2 Germany 4 a woman’s retreat and had lunch with me and my friends. That is a great memory 4 me!! Believing with you 4 the cancer 2 be completely annihilated!! His timing is ALWAYS the best timing and I remind myself of that often when my business that He brought me 2 is moving slower than I would like!!! My goal is 2 retire my wonderful husband of 44 years!! He takes such wonderful care of our family and it is his turn 2 do whatever he wants. I remind myself 2 trust in His timing, not my own and not 2 look at other people’s success because comparison is a killer!! This is my journey and no matter what, Abba, Father ALWAYS has my best as His plan 4 me!! So patience is growing, although it seems like I have been learning that one 4 such a long time!! I am so thankful and grateful 4 everyday!! When you have stared death in the face and rebuked that stinkin’ devil away, then, there is no other way 2 live but being grateful!! I praise God everyday and give Him all the glory!! In His precious and abiding love!!
Oh, Ms. Liz, I most definitely pray for you and your oncololgy visit. I am a cancer survivor so I know how difficult the journey can be. But, God most certainly has a wonderful, beautiful plan. He walks us through those hard times.
Bless you, sweet sister!!
Good Morning Liz, I awake this day to your March 13th post and am first am thankful for your ministry. I have never commented or posted anything to your site beforehand but for many years have enjoyed and relished your studies and encouragement.
Thank you for sharing your struggles with us as well as your victories. As daughters of Christ we find comfort and sisterhood knowing He will carry us through in His plan as we enjoy support from one another.
I have had struggles with over the years with double hip replacement, stomach problems, and c-spine pain. I am currently 55 years of age but sometimes feel my body is that of an 80 year old. My mind thankfully feels like that if a child. The pain and struggles though can and do get me down on occasion.
I volunteer once a week at a large hospital surgery area. I see many patients who are suffering and hoping for relief as they enter our doors for their procedure. I am there to guide them in the first part of their time with us. I am able to share my personal experiences if applicable to encourage them that they are doing the best course of action for their medical needs. To also encourage them and I do pray for them privately they might find relief that comes from the great healer. I do find comfort in knowing that although I may have or do suffer in body and soul that I can use it for good to encourage others they are still loved and their is much of life to live and that they can live to the fullest.
Thankful to assist these patients and their families as the health care professionals be it for only a few hours a week I do feel and contribute to pray that I am a positive and couraging light. As I know He has a plan for me always. I may not of expected this path but He is the one who guides me where He needs me to serve in His kingdom.
Happy 33th to yuh and your sweet hubby!
Peace this day
Dear Liz, Happy Anniversary and may this year bring many blessings to your life! God will continue to be faithful no matter what comes. I pray we can all remember that each day. Love and prayers.
He has provided a place to live for one of my sisters who is being displaced. He has always had His Mighty Hand on her life and continues to show us that He is with her in all things!
Thank you for the encouragement Liz. It would have been our 33rd anniversary this past December but God took my husband to his forever home in September after a one year battle with cancer. God is good and He does have a perfect plan. He just asks me to trust and obey as I try to figure out how to navigate life without my best friend.
Oh, Liz, I wish I could meet you in person! Your faith & perseverance are just astounding to me! I read each word about God’s Plan, & I know He has one for each of our lives; but, what if you just never see it until it’s about 10 years in the past? “Oh, yeah, I can see now where it was God’s plan for me to . . . 10 years ago.” I want to have the sort of faith you have so that, right in the middle of Life, I can say, “Yes. Yes, I see where God is taking this.”
Thank you, Liz, for your ministry & who you are!
Several years ago, God shut a door on a job that I thought I’d have for the rest of my career. Then he took me to a job that I only thought I’d have for a year until I found something better. Six almost seven years later I’m still at that job and God is revealing to me everyday that that is exactly where he wants me to be to fulfill the plans he has for me. I love where God has put me, and I look forward to many more years there.
Liz we share so much….c in cancer and C in Christ and I celebrated my 30th anniversary in August of 2018. I was diagnosed on Dec 4th 2018 with Breast Cancer. Surgery, port, and now chemo. Life got real real fast. I have never been so blessed and humbled at the same time. I do get discouraged when I am having a Job moment but that still small voice reminds me that He’s got this. I have a private ministry that has been birthed through my journey…I call it my Luke 1:37 ministry. Although not on a grand scale as yours, I use my inside connections at the Hope Caner Center for women to leave seatbelt port pillows and mastectomy pillows and therapeutic rice packs that I sew. I attach a card of encouragement about the Great Physician. I never know who receives these little items but I receive the big blessing! Have a wonderful day sweet lady
Praying for you, Lisa.
Dear Liz,
I’m praying that your report from the oncologist is excellent. I know your report from the Lord is!
Since I was widowed 4 years ago, God has given me a new plan for my life. As a retired nurse, I was blessed to meet the local director of a pregnancy resource center. It was God ordained. She was a grief counselor prior to working for the pregnancy center. Only God could have orchestrated our meeting and friendship. So now I am blessed to have learned how to do limited obstetric ultrasounds on young pregnant women. Showing them life and encouraging them to keep their babies. We also provide material assistance for them. What a blessing that chance meeting has made in my life. You too have been that kind of encourager in my life. God bless you, Liz.
Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.
Thank you so much for your encouraging e-mails. You are such a blessing to me and others.
We are praying about moving to
Alabama to be with our grandbabies.
Waiting on God to reveal his plan before making any decisions.
God is so good!!!
Thank you for the beautiful earrings for the giveaway..
Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby, y’all look so cute! God has revealed to me that as much as I thought I have been in control, I haven’t. He has also revealed to me that I am loved by Him all the time, every second of every day. After being a Believer for 42 years I am finally grasping how much He loves me no matter my circumstances.
May God bless you with complete healing.
Hello Liz! A number of years ago we moved into our present house. It was sooo big, especially compared to our smaller previous home. My husband and I were so humbled at the size of our new home and the great deal we got that we both felt we had to dedicate our home to God; that our home would be used by and for the Lords purposes. Oh, and let me say it has. I’m hard pressed to count the number of guest and their duration that we have hosted and opened our homes arms wide open to. (By the way, we are not an B&B or and air B&B..lol) To be a blessing and to touch so many peoples lives…it’s humbling to think that God would honor us in this way. When you said that you have given you “new” home to God to use as He will, well I just love that. We didn’t know how God would use our home for His benefit, but we were open to His will and we and those who have walked through our door have been touch by Him as well. We are now at the stage in our lives to “down size” too. However that looks or where the Lord sees fit to land us, that house too will be dedicated to His use as He wills. We cannot stop being a blessing to Him and others He puts in our path.
I also want to say, you humble me Lizzy too. With all you are going through your positive, happy, move ahead attitude is an inspiration to aspire to. You have toured throughout this illness and I can only image how exhausting that must be; but your faithfulness to continue in the desires of Gods heart are truly inspiring. I see God is working and moving in and through you. I know it’s because of God that your attitude is so powerfully inspiring. Thank you for your faithfulness. I also pray that your tests come back just as positive as the one who is moving in and through you…God. Be blessed Lizzy!
God indeed has a plan for all of us! We can’t second guess Him! Happy anniversary to you and your love! 33 is a great number! God has brought us our wayward, addicted daughter back home to us, and has delivered her from her drug addiction and set her on a good path! We praise Him everyday for His goodness toward her, and us! Praying you get a good report today, Liz! Thanks for always encouraging us!! Blessings, blessings, blessings abound!!
Awww Lizzy, praying for your appointment today! You are so full of wisdom and I appreciate your insights into God’s Word.
God has directed my path in so many glorious ways. Right now He is allowing me to teach His word to some very special ladies. He has also given me a great blessing to pour into my daughter and granddaughter’s lives! The amethyst is my birth stone and my children tell me I am full of God’s wisdom. Isn’t that sweet! Love you!!!
God keeps revealing His plan if faithfulness to me over and over. In the time gram of 6 months…my husband and I closed my spa business , walked through a horrifying church split which caused a huge rift in his family, lost $10 000.00 in a car scam, suffered chronic physical pain in shoulders, and I discovered my husband was right in the midst of an emotional affair all before our oldest daughter was to get married and our youngest suffered a broken engagement. After some gut wrenching turbulent months and the most brokenness I have ever lived through God spoke to me so tenderly and truly. I see His plan for us even amongst all the pain of those months!! He loved us enough to move us to a church where they were praying for help in their music ministry. I am now the music director. He healed our marriage and now we spend time talking and praying like never before! He saved my youngest daughter from a life of misery and placed in her path a Christ believing walking wonderful man! I am teaching in my industry and loving every minute of it…something I couldn’t have done while running my business. Oh He is sooo good!!! I am so thankful thT He loved me enough to allow this what I see as a harsh plan…turn into a lovely blessed plan. Hallelujah!!
My Bible study this week is on faith. Realizing that with even a teeny tiny bit of faith our God is almighty and big enough to be able to move the mountains in our lives. Trusting in him. Increases my faith but I have to pray (sometimes beg and plead—-dear God Dear God )for the Holy Spirit to give me the peace that passes all understanding . My precious friend, your strength is encouraging. May we opening our hands as we receive Gods love and blessings.
God is good all the time! God walks me through everything I go through! I’m nothing without Him. I praise His glorious name! Glory to God!
Through it all, my eyes are on You…my go to and my verse “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”He directs our paths, even when we are not sure how the path is going to bend and turn. Keeping our eyes on Him,who is all faithful and nothing on this earth will happen to us that He does not already know. Faithful to me through the death of my precious Stan, at the age of 42; raising 3 kiddos by myself; going through the blessings of life: graduations,weddings,grandchildren, by myself. And then, after 17 years being blessed with another Godly man to hopefully walk to the end. He has never failed me and never will, because we walk to heavens gates. Please share the earrrings with another, even if you feel this is worthy. I just wanted to share my life and know I love and follow and pray for you.
He hasn’t yet. I still have a lot of unanswered questions, but He has filled me with peace and the knowledge He has got it . . . . and in case I forget, my kids will song me the Veggie Tales song “God’s Way is the best way!”
Happy Anniversary.
Good morning Liz, and foremost I pray for good results today. I am not sure what wonderful things the Lord has in store for me as he has blessed me so much already. If anything I pray he gives me patience as my daughter is so far away right now and going through a hard time. She has found 2 lumps in her breast and one in her armpit. Please pray for my daughter Dawn, she has had the necessary test and will see the Dr. today. Thanks for listening Liz.
Ina
How has God revealed his wonderful plan for me lately? Wow. He’s given me two beautiful grandchildren and one more coming in July. I will be watching them all at times, slowing down my writing, but it’s his plan and I’m being blessed beyond measure.
You have such lovely, encouraging wednesday e-mails! We can be thankful everyday for God’s provision whatever our need as we learn to trust Him in every situation!
I have really taken more comfort from Psalm 23 lately. This Psalm gives me encouragement in knowing no matter what I go through, he will always be by my side. Thank you, Lord for loving me through good times and bad times!
Good morning Liz,
Just wanted you to know that I am praying for you today as you go to your appointment with the Oncologist.
I also wanted to tell you how much your books have meant to me, especially this past year.
I lost my beloved husband to brain cancer almost a year ago. As I have told many friends , Jesus has become ever more precious to me now that it’s just Him and me.
As the psalmist said, He has , “restored my soul.” Praise His Holy Name.
God bless you as you celebrate your wedding anniversary tomorrow. I will remember it because it was my dear mothers birthday.
Prayers for good results for you today and prayers for you and your husband for many years ahead together. Praising God for such insight from you in your emails. Thank you for your example, that even in the time of storms God is right there on our side to lift us and be with us. I pray for myself to be more diligent in His word.
I have survivors guilt, and no one was more surprised than me to discover the root of my problem. I present a very happy, hopeful face, trusting in God. I am 9 years out of stage 4 ovarian cancer and I speak to groups of women all the time about my faith in God. I started a blog a futurewithoutfear.com, but every time I sat to write I could only stare at the screen and wonder what the heck was wrong with me? A wise friend suggested I was fighting a spiritual battle, so I decided to pray about it. Whoa!!! I realized I felt unworthy of being healed in the face of meeting so many people who have lost loved ones, much younger than I, even children, and I didn’t have the answer to why not me? It seems simple and trite to even type it out, but God revealed to me in a mighty way that He is God, I am not, His ways are higher, not for me to understand, but to trust. Like I said, simple but revelatory to me in such a huge way I was able to rough draft my book to the tune of 21 chapters. His plan is for me to trust Him implicitly, no one is promised tomorrow. Happy anniversary Liz. Each day is a gift and I know you know that as well.
Liz, I like you, love my oncologist. I had a visit with him yesterday and as he stated, everything is perfect. My God who heals and holds me is the perfect one and I am thankful. I will be praying for a good report for you also!!
God is also leading my minister husband and I to another church after 34 years at our present one. It is still a process in the works, but we see His hand at every turn. While it is sad, I know His plan is perfect in this as well, and we will trust Him.
Blessings to you and Happy Anniversary!!
Good morning,
These are lovely thoughts to read this morning and a great assurance that our Lord holds all things in His hand, is trustworthy and worthy of praise!
May you be blessed today with results that make your heart sing.
Btw, is there somewhere to read about 33 being a year of wisdom? My son just turned 33.
Loving my Women of Easter started reading it the day it came! Goda has revealed that retirement from teaching is good…only subbing 3-5 days a month now. Is good I am freer to take care of brain injured son and my 87 year old mother. He is always with me leading me through my days.
God has revealed Himself this year by providing for us. He has blessed us during my husband’s retirement. Last year I convinced him to retire at the age of 68. It’s best to retire while you can enjoy life. I told him God will provide. It took longer than planned to receive his funds but when we did it was double the amount expected! God is so good!
I am always blessed to find your emails in my email box when I get to work in the morning. It is a glorious reminder today how God meets us in our mess. A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with colon cancer and her resilience and faith is a testimony like yours where we call on God’s goodness with or without healing of the body, for we know to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. One of my favorite verses in scripture, I have so many. I was considering my daughter’s struggle and wondered how I could have done things differently where her choices might have been different. She is a nurse, mother of 2, living with her boyfriend and she lives in constant chaos, day in and day out. She told me on the phone Mom, I have become you, how did I get here. The heart wants what the heart wants. I remember sharing with her at 13, 15 as having been earthly fatherless(so to speak) that God is the Father to the Fatherless, that love is not a sexual act, but, a pure one, for God is love. She does however, find herself in the same position as I was when she was a little girl. I have an incredible opportunity here to continue teaching her God’s truth, to call her to make better choices in the kids youngest years than I did, and to choose Christ in the midst of the chaos. God is good all the time. I can’t go back to yesterday, neither can she, but, we can walk this road together and call each other higher, and rest in God’s everlasting arms.
First of all, Happy Anniversary!! Prayers for your appointment! I know God has got you!!
God is always finding new (and usually exacerbating or hilarious) ways of revealing his plans for my life, but one of my favorite and most recent was just a few months ago. My husband and I had been struggling with the decision of whether I should get a job. I have been a stay-at-home mom of my two wonderful blessings/ daughters for several years and I have several health issues that make it very difficult physically for me to hold down a full-time job without over doing it and ending up in the hospital. So…we prayed about it. God has always given me a love of children and working with them. It’s no surprise then that when I walked into my girls’ school only a few days after my one of my husband and I’s conversations and heard them talking about substitute teaching, my interest was peaked. This sounded like a great opportunity because it’s only 3 times a week max, and I can turn down a day if I am feeling under the weather or my children need mom at home that day. I was told before that the process usually takes about a year to become a sub. Would you believe my God laughed at that and had me certified and working in four days?!? It was like my Lord had put this opportunity at my table on a silver platter. This new adventure has been such a blessing to my family and my soul. Our God is so good y’all!! His timing is always the right timing!
I am just over 5 years out from my completed treatment of breast cancer. The last 2 blood draws have shown one of the cancer markers elevated. Even with clear scans the oncologist is concerned my body is trying to tell us something. Next week I have another blood draw with results coming in the following week.
I try so hard to keep my focus on the wonderful Savior and cling to Him during these days leading up to yet another blood draw. Though, I will admit, fear does creep in.
I love your mind set of praise God no matter what the outcome of those tests. It is such an encouragement.
Praise God for whatever outcome and may His glory be all anyone sees in me.
Hugs.
Liz, How has God revealed himself to me? On December 6, 2018 I was finally released from visits with my oncologist after over 13 years of treatments for breast cancer. Praise God! Then the next day, on December 7 my husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer, aggressive and high grade. We were devastated. Now we return to that same cancer center for chemo treatments and then surgery afterwards. God has prepared me for being my husband’s caretaker and prayer partner through my own experience. Every day, one of the verses I read is Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. God is us each day and we know that whatever the outcome is, we will praise him always! Thank you, thank you for your words today. Many blessings to you, prayers for a cancer-free diagnosis and congratulations on 33 years. That is marvelous. My husband and I plan to celebrate 38 years this November!
Thanks for the reminder of Who holds our future! His plan is always the perfect plan for me.
My husband and I will be married 40 years this year. We had a lovely home a wonderful family, but this year we lost almost everything. We discovered mold growing between the walls and we had to leave our beautiful home behind and move into a 2 bedroom trailor (our tin can). I lost my one and only family member, my beautiful sis, and a misunderstanding over money caused me to loose my son and his family (my 4 grandchildren). but I know God will see me through this storm, my faith is strong and my Bible study class loves and supports me. Life is Good.
Blessings to you and your family.
As I talk to God every evening, I am emotional (thankful, grateful, …) as I am giving Him thanks for His continual blessings. It is comforting and amazes me to realize that I am worthy of the time and love it takes for the Lord to be with me every moment of every day. That I’m not alone. The Lord is constantly with me guiding me, helping me, protecting me with His love and wisdom. Praying for your Dr appointment.
As you are about to celebrate your 33rd wedding anniversary, I am facing my third year after my divorce. I was married for 30 years. God has shown me how he has always been my my side. He has walked with me through this trial ,at this stage of life when I thought I’d be retiring and enjoying the golden years with my husband. Not to be part of my story. He is always with me, he never leaves me, even though there are times I feel like I have left him. He holds me tight. He loves me dearly. He is rescuing me from me self hate, denying all that is good. He is my God.
It has been a tough few years. I recently lost my mom. As now my family looks even more so for spiritual guidance; i work through my grief. My only hope is in Jesus.
Ah, sweet sister, you continue to teach & inspire in season and out! Thank you for bringing your joyous, infectious enthusiasm for God and His Word to us again and again!!
I’m a homeschooling mom who has seen God opening doors to public school for my children next year. By faith we are following His plan, actively nurturing our relationships with our kiddos, and keeping God and the Word as a centerpiece in everything.
Your generous, viviacous spirit is such a gift, Liz!! Happy anniversary and much joy to you both!
HI Liz,
I’m praying you have wonderful news today. I have been a fan of you for many years and love your books, facebook live chats, etc.
I’m in a good place in my life, but kind of in between what I see as God’s plan for me. I’m trusting he will show me the way when he’s ready. He has blessed me immensely but I usually see his guiding hand in my “rear-view” mirror!
Thank you for your joy of life and your love of our Lord. You are an inspiration!
My husband and I will celebrate 36 years in August. One of the best parts of our marriage is a shared faith in Jesus Christ. I guess I’ll have to look and see what the traditional gift for 36 years is!
Blessings,
Vanitta
Praying for your next oncologist appt, that good news will be shared!
For me, I have learned this year that God is walking alongside me in this hard season. He is not behind me, pushing me to go through the season quickly, ( although I want to run through) His timing is perfect. He is not in front of me, clapping His hands and saying “Hurry up” but right beside me holding me with his righteous right hand ! I look to my side, as we are moving through this journey together , knowing full well He will not let me stumble as I gaze on Him.
Liz, I look forward to your posts, as they always remind me to keep my focus on Him and not myself. I am a mental health therapist, and as I saw my business dwindling, I wondered if I should close up shop. My husband and I began to pray for clear guidance, and within days, my phone started ringing off the hook with new clients. I would say that message was pretty clear.
Praying for you daily!
P.S. My husband and I first heard you speak in Indianapolis at a Gaither convention type thing (we were there with our son who is in Christian music, singing and producing music). You told the panty hose story and we laughed so much our sides hurt! I’ve heard you several times since then and love, love, love you!
Liz, you are so beautiful and such an encouragement to me. Last fall I experienced an autoimmune flare up that had really been building up for months that left me with severe fatigue, headaches, emotional lability, and fear. I felt like I was dying. God had been telling me over the course of many months to “stop striving”, and I don’t think I had been listening, until now. I realized that I was still trying to do things on my own and just allowing God to come along for the ride. Not anymore, sister. He is leading me down a path where I am seeking His face for every step. God has led me into the wilderness where He is preparing me for His purposes and plans. I do not know what they are yet, and that scares me sometimes, but God is so good, and I am finding rest in His shadow. Every day (unless it’s storming or too cold!) I go for a walk in the park close by my house, and I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I found a sweet little spot in the middle of a small area of woods where I lean against a tree for a while. I talk to Him, I cry out to Him, I praise Him there. He is healing me. He led me to an amazing autoimmune coach who is helping me get back to God’s design for our lives. I am learning to give Him my toxic thoughts and my anxiety and trading them for His peace. I am redeemed, and I am His beloved. I struggle so much with wanting the approval of others and wanting to do something BIG with my life, that I often find myself very envious and jealous of others. He is showing me that He is enough, and that I can be content with all of the countless good things He has given me. Wow! It feels good to write all of this down! I love you, Liz, and I thank the Lord for you, your testimony, and your ministry. I think about you with fond memories of your time here last year at the Set Apart Conference. God was stirring things in me then!
Hi Liz,
Your devotion today was beautiful. Such a comfort again to be reminded that God has everything in our lives under His control. I’m praying for you in regard to your cancer. God has a reason for everything he allows in our lives. It’s such a relief and comfort to know that as adult Christians, in this evil and confusing world that we deal with daily, we can still be dependent on our Heavenly Father because he adopted us as His own. What a marvelous and loving gift!
My Lord has allowed some difficult times for me in the last few years since my daddy died in 2014. My mother was diagnosed soon after that with Alzheimers. Having been a very healthy woman physically all of her life, this was a real blow to our family. I am the only daughter and oldest sibling. My daddy wanted me to be the POA for my mother which I am. As is in often the case in many situations like this, I met with much criticism and unfairness from my three siblings regarding the descisions I made for our Mama. My mom is in a very nice memory care facility that she loves which is very close to me. This has been hard on me physically and emotionally. I’ve had to work through a lot of emotional pain with much prayer and have learned that God has so much to give no matter how cloudy the days are. He’s always with us working through us what His perfect will is and molding us to be more like Jesus. I love my brothers and I pray for their salvation. They may never understand but that’s OK.
Thank you Liz.
Been listening to and reading you for years Liz and I love you dearly and I love your ministry to women. I will be praying for you today dear friend as you go to your oncologist. I do know that he has wonderful plans for you and for me. It’s interesting that I had chosen the word wonderful as my word of worship this year In my devotional time. You’ve helped to make that word more wonderful to me as I read your inspiring words. By the way happy anniversary!
God has shown me his circle of life in the last week of February. A family member died and we made plans for the funeral which was out of state. The night before we were to travel we found out that our son’s wife(who was 9 months pregnant) had to be admitted to the hospital because the baby was pressing on the cord. The baby was born healthy. We celebrated our family members life as he was with Jesus at the same time we celebrated a new life coming into this world at the same time. Joy and Sorrow at the same time. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Magnificent! That is our God and healer. I have full trust and confidence that God will reveal to me what my purpose is in this world. After having been in a motorcycle accident last year and a car accident this year already, I know He keeps saving me for something!! In the mean time I am reading and studying His word and prayerful that He will answer and show me the way I should go. I will continue keep you in my prayers as well, God bless you and your ministry even through Illness. Much love, Kimberly
Liz,
For 28 years, I was our church choir director. I don’t know if I was in a rut, or just needed a break, but I got the message to “take a break”. I didn’t have a time limit or anything. Well, my husband and I just started coordinating Financial Peace University for our church. I now understand why I needed to step down as choir director. God had a new plan for me. Things are going great and someone else has even stepped up to the plate to lead the choir! God’s revelation in this just amazes me!
God’s grace is a wonderful gift! My husband is living several states away due to a new job. It’s so challenging to be so far from him. Then I think of my mom, she lost my dad the day after Christmas. At least I can reach out to my husband by phone or FaceTime when I need him. Pray for mom as she adjusts to being a widow. 1 Corinthians 12:9. Dear Father, we are so grateful for Your Grace. And that Your mercies are new every morning! Amen.
Happy Anniversary! Your special day is on my father’s birthday! God has been teaching me how important it is to let go of what was. He is teaching me that the things I have been holding onto, are not as necessary to who I am today.
Both of my parents have passed away, Daddy in 1982 and Momma in 2001. I have struggled so much with the losses. I have held on to so much stuff because it was theirs.
We moved a year ago and had put most of our things in storage. Two months in our apartment and God answered the prayer of reuniting my husband with his son. Realizing that soon into our lease we would need another bedroom, we kept our things in storage, since another move would be necessary and we were already cramped for space. My husband then had a pituitary tumor removed. When he was released to return to work, he worked 3 days and had to have emergency back surgery. He has nerve damage and the doctor said he can’t work anymore.
Long story short, we lost the storage unit. Photo albums, keepsakes, my Dad’s desk, his army medals, flowers that had been professionally dried from my mother’s funeral, books I have written, clothes, birth certificates, marriage license, family Bibles, everything is gone.
I have grieved this loss so hard, like losing them all over again. I have felt so lost. Who am I without these things?
But God has been busy teaching me that I am more than my past. The things I have held onto are just things. I will forever have the memories. But more importantly I am learning to look to Him. I have been putting so much value on things and focusing on where I came from that I have not been living in the present in the fullness He has intended for me. He never meant for me, or anyone, to live in the past. I am daily learning to be here and now, to look for the plan for today. I still have moments of grief over not having pictures or mementoes, but, I feel like I have a fresh canvas just waiting for new memories.
God knows the plans He has for us. Thank you for being such an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing His love for us in your work. I am so thankful for you, your laughter, your insight, your gift with words both written and spoken. May our Heavenly Father continue to Bless you and keep you always.
Liz, I’m praying for you now as I type this & going to my knees when finished. Our Lord has blessed me numerous times to many to count through you sharing God’s Word & how He guides you, your books, & more importantly your testimony and dedication to our Jesus.
Easter is a glorious time to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior !! God’s plan for me is to be more bold in sharing His Word to family members back home in VA. There isn’t one family member that attends church or even reads the Bible. I want to see them in heaven & if I don’t start sharing more about Jesus to them & He is the only Way, then I have failed as a witness for Christ. God give me Your words to share to them.
God is amazing! I don’t know where I would be without the Lord. I am a cancer patient. My plan was that I would lay down one night and go quietly in my sleep. And my precious husband of 17 years would lay down beside me and do the same. Quite the love story right? But my plan was not Gods plan. In May of 2018 I lost my son to a motorcycle accident he left behind three sweet little boys. On the day of his memorial service we got the call that my older sister had passed away. She had just been told that she had stage 5 kidney failure. While we were already so devastated we found out that my nephew was a heroin addict. All of this just seamed to much to handle. Wade my best friend, my lover , my everything was their for me through it all. But my plan was not Gods plan. Just four weeks after all of this my precious Wade did lay down and go quietly in his sleep. On June 25th 2018 my life as I knew it was over. I was left to suffer alone numb to everything. I didn’t know what to do. I stopped going to church no I didn’t blame God. I was mad at Wade you see he didn’t go to church but he made sure that I went. I would ask him to go and he would say I’m not ready. I would pray and I would ask for prayer for him. I was going through hip phone one day a few weeks ago and I found text messages where he and our daughter were talking about Josh our son. Wade told her that he had never been saved but that he wanted to go to heaven when he died so that he would see our son again. That was my sign that God does not make any mistakes he was right on time with everything. I truly believe God touched my sweet husband and he is walking with God today. I am back in my church love God more with ever day that passes. Please pry for me as I walk this walk and battle this bad cancer. I know God has left me here for HIS purpose. His plan is much greater than mine.
Dear Liz, You continue to be one of the most precious, inspiring, and fun women I “know”! Congratulations to you and your husband on your 33rd wedding anniversary! God’s wonderful plan for my life includes bringing my wonderful husband to me at age 41, 13 years ago! Love and blessings!
Actually, I am still in the waiting…
I trust Him with all of my life.
I surrender myself to Him to be Lord over my life, whatever comes.
So many things on hold…
Where my husband I are to live.
How we’re to serve.
How I’m to best help my aging parents in assisted living.
How I can support my husband with his health concerns.
In the waiting, I will keep my eyes on Jesus.
The Lord guides me through every minute of every day by gently holding my hand, supporting my faith and directing my path so that his will for me is by his glory.
HAPPY 33 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, LIZ AND BILL !
Blessings to you Liz and Happy Anniversary!
God’s plans are so timely and perfect, even when at first we don’t see them. When my husband decided to use his retirement to buy my mom’s house, which was paid in full, little did I not know then what not having a mortgage payment, would be such a blessing to me. It will be 5 years this November that my husband passed away. And, God blessed me, so that I would have a home to live with no mortgage payments. Otherwise, I’m not sure what would have happened to me and my mom. Mom has since passed away and is with our Lord. God’s hands were in this situation before we ever decided to buy mom’s house. God is good. To Him be the glory.
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary! I pray fir you two, to have many many more! I thank you for always being so positive! I pray for you and thank God for you! Thanks for telling and teaching us about the ladies!
The Lord’s Marvelous, Wonderful Plan, His power was revealed last Friday. My husband’s parents needed a personal care giver to remain at home, The Lord sent a beloved sister in Christ, from Zambia which my husband and I recognized as a believer, though she quietly and graciously bore witness of her Lord. My father in law has been ill. Was then hospitalized, when I asked him where he was going if he died, he said no, don’t do this. I asked him if he knew Jesus, again same response I asked another question, same response. I let it go into the Lords Hands. Talked to the caregiver, she said seeds planted , so I continued to pray for his salvation. Last Friday my father in law died, Praising the Lord as prior to this he called God to help him. The precious caregiver said how can I help you, you need Jesus, he call again for God to help. She said you need to believe Jesus died for your sins. You need Jesus. You need to believe he died for your sins. Do you? He said God help me. She said as soon as she said this My mother in law was at his bedside, saying Psalm 23 and singing Jesus Loves Me. The caregiver said he said sing it, the sang louder. He said it again, they sang louder. The caregiver said he became peaceful and settled down. She said when he died, there was no struggle. I’m Praising the Lord! He is So MERCIFUL! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Thank you Liz Curtis Higgs for the privilege to share!
Ruth is the caregiver and I said to her, God had a purpose for sending you.
Thank you for your utter reliance on the exceedingly great and encouraging truth of Scripture! Your Spirit is contagious! My story is sliced from a large part of my life’s joy: sharing the Word of God with my unbelieving Facebook family and friends, as He directs and illuminates, each morning for the past five years. I have not seen much in the way of “visible results,” i.e. comments or “likes”. But, as He has persevered with me in my life, it has been my joy to persevere with the privilege of sharing His Word with my family and friends in this way. He promises, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) The phrase, “will not return TO ME,” speaking of Himself is key. I do not need to know. I just need to be obedient. But, God is so loving! I am now witnessing the amazing effects of His Word in two members of my family audience with their recent salvation! As we rely upon His faithfulness in honoring His Word, others are blessed. You have blessed me today. Thank you and may He heap blessings upon you!
God is teaching me how to pray His Word. How the spoken Word has so much power. It has taken me to a new place with my faith and His peace. I am awed at my Lord and Savior! I have learned to praise Him in All Things. The peace I have experienced is amazing even as I wait for Him. My love for Him has grown so big that I can’t contain it! I love Him so!!!!!!
Oh, what a mighty God we serve. He is indeed the same yesterday as today. The same in the darkest of night as He is in the noon day sun. I’ve known dark season that lasted days. I’ve also known dark season that seemed to only darker as time goes by. But in those darkest night God was faithful. Even if His presence wasn’t “felt” He reighened in all his glory working on my behalf for my good. The only thing required of me is a choice. Do I choose to go my own way or do I choose to be obedient, to be faithful. Do I choose to walk Hab. 3:17-19.
The truth is there is no choice!!! Not if I want life. The choice however great, how ever small is always die to self ,live in Christ.
Blessings on your journey dear sister.
Happy 33rd Anniversary!! What a great picture of the two of you!! Seeing you both smile, knowing all you’ve been through, is such a testimony to your faith! (Praying for good results for you today!!) As a caregiver I know I am right where God wants me. I am a full time caregiver to my husband who has Parkinson’s Disease. As a caregiver, I don’t get out much. Recently God provided just what I needed. Friends took me out for the day, but also one of their husbands came and spent the day with my husband. It was such a blessing to spend time with friends, be refreshed, and know that my husband was in good hands and enjoying social time with his friend. It was a much needed time of refreshment for me!! God knows what each of us needs. He cares even about our smallest need. God reveals Himself in many ways. I’ve learned to look for His blessings because if we are not looking for them, we miss them! Keeping my eyes open! I’m thankful for the many ways God reveals Himself to us!!
Liz,
Thank you so much for sharing your joy and helping me to refocus. I will be praying for good news at your oncologist. My family and I have been trying to upgrade our business by purchasing a zoo for the last year and a half. Prayer has told us that this is God’s plan for us, but it seems every turn there is a hurdle. As we are basically starting over my joy is that God kept us from getting scammed by an unethical lender that would have taken enough money that we would have been ruined. God saved us! We still believe that this is God’s plan for us, we just have to keep moving forward. God bless you Liz. Happy anniversary ❤
Thanks for this inspirational message, Liz. Just this morning I taught on the Armor of God from Ephesians at our Bible Study here in Florida in our retirement community. Satan has no inroad into our lives unless we allow him in. As Christians as we put on all the pieces of the armor and use the Sword of the Spirit (His Word), we are overcomes and our God will keep His promises. WE CAN COUNT ON IT. Praise God, we can be overcomes in whatever situation we find ourselves and the lying devil has to flee in the face of the power of God and name of Jesus. Hallelujah!
Our Abba Father is faithful. He is wonderful. He loves me! Me! This past December the Lord spoke to me in my sensing there would be no Bible study in 2019. It is a new year. New things will take place. I had taught a Bible study in my home following a torn disk in lower back in 2016 – healing time; a right hip replacement in 2017 then broken femur – healing time; a left hip replacement in 2018 – healing time. Unable to sit for long periods knocked me out of many things. Now, finally, I am up and able to get back into church activities, Bible studies, as I had been before 2016. God is faithful in that He provided me with women to come to my home so that I could take part in His Word. God is wonderful in that He has ushered me through the last three years in His love, strength, and healing. God loves me and has let me know in many ways and beyond a doubt that His love is everlasting. He is worthy to be praised every moment of every day. His Kingdom come and His will be done.
I pray for God’s perfect will upon and in you, Liz. You are salt and light to multitudes and that does not go unnoticed by our Abba Father. And Congratulations on 33 years of marriage. have fun. Be full of joy. Do something wild and crazy – but good! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! On March 28, 2018, my boss of 25 years – the President of Judson College, lost his battle with cancer. A search committee for a new president was formed and last Friday we announced the candidate that was selected. It was a long and stressful year of waiting and not knowing, but God placed the right person in our midst and we are forever grateful for His hand of mercy over this institution, her vital mission of Christian higher education, and her faithful employees. To God be the glory!
Our church is stressing the theme “Calling” during this Lenten season. In our Bible Study group each of us is going to share a brief biography of our lives up to this point and then share what we believe is God’s calling our our lives during our 3rd chapter of life as Senior Citizens. As I have contemplated this, I have realized that God has given me the desire to bring people together in Christian Fellowship. Whether it be a supper gathering before attending a Christian concert, a game of Pickle ball, a pot luck dinner, a Bible Study of our women’s group in our home, a leadership role in organizing our Bible camp’s annual quilt auction fund raiser, He nudges me to volunteer to be involved. As a former teacher and coach, He has given me the gift of organizing events and the gift of providing encouragement to others and including others who may have been left out or overlooked. Through my own diagnosis of bladder cancer six years ago, I have learned what a BIG GOD we serve and we are never too old to serve!! Thanks be to God.
Have been a follower of your studies for 20 years❤️ Thank you for your faithfulness and your rivers of “living water” continue to flow to all of us! I have prayed over a wayward son for 8 years. He recently left for California packing up what he had and selling the rest. To our surprise, he called his dad his first morning on the road and said, “I have been reading my devotional daily for the last two weeks but it is packed away. Would you read Jesus Calling to me and the verses while I drive?” To God be the Glory for His faithfulness to work on the hearts of prodigals no matter what. I look forward to what God will show me next about my son…..and thru this experience, about Him!☝️❤️
God has shown me that He had a plan even when I was in my Mother’s womb. He allowed me to make decisions throughout my life, some of them good and some bad, but no matter which I chose, He stayed with me and steered me back to the right path so that today I am just as He desired, His child, loved by Him. I love Him today in such a way that I fear nothing. I know He will always be with me if I have one day or a thousand. It seems so simple for such an enormous God.
Oh my March is a busy month for you! Congratulations on your 33rd wedding anniversary! My oldest daughter’s birthday is on the 14th. And continued prayers for God’s healing of your Cancer. Thank the Lord for the wisdom he has given to your Oncologist!
This year the Lord has been tugging at my heart. You know that powerful feeling deep in your chest? He’s placed this scripture on my heart, 1Peter 4:10, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.(NIV)
I love to crochet. The creative process of buying just the right yarn, the right color scheme, the right pattern. I love it and believe it is a gift from God. So, along with a friend, we began a Prayer Shawl Ministry at our church. To have tangible evidence of the power of prayer, is a blessing to those who are in need. Work of the hands with prayers from the heart. Not only a blessing to the recipient, but for the giver also. I feel this is what God has called me to do. For a time such as this. I have been blessed beyond all measure in my life, and I thank Him every day. I also pray to be a Woman of Wisdom. To be a servant to others. Starting this Ministry feels big, but God is bigger. As always thank you, Liz, your words are always encouraging to me. God’s Peace,
I feel God will and the Holy Spirit has guided me daily. Now I am not saying everything and everyday, things are always rosy, but He is there every step of my way. I have a daughter that I am in constant prayer and two growin grandchildren too. All are far away from me but I know he is caring for all of us in the world.
God has big shoulders and you just need to ask!
Amen
God has given me 75 years with mostly joy. I am a breast cancer survivor and I know I couldn’t have done 5 surgeries without God beside me. I praise His glorious name.
On a day when I had thought I really had not heard from God recently I was driving home and saw a hawk swoop down right next to my car and basically hover in the air. I am a fascinated by large birds and God has used them to speak to me before. This felt like a wake up call that God is communicating to me all the time whether I am listening or not. It was also a reminder that God is concerned with every moment of my day and my future.
At 82 and with failing health, I was considering giving up teaching my Sunday School Class of dear ladies. After much prayer, I had a dream. God was telling me that the class could find another teacher, but without them I would sit around and just waste away physically and spiritually. They didn’t need me but without them I would not fulfill His plan for me. Needless to say, I am still teaching the class. The look of joy on their faces when I told them reinforced God’s revelation to me. Praise to Him who answers prayer.
God is Awesome! My Mom was diagnosed with 4th stage uterine Cancer 2 1/2 yrs ago. The doctors gave a prognosis of being able to possibly keep it from spreading more but unlikely eradicate it. My Mom got saw her oncologist Monday and she is 1 yr and 3 months cancer free. We continue to praise the Lord for His goodness and grace.
Congratulations on your 33rd anniversary! We celebrated our 54th on January 23 this year. God is faithful in every situation. Sometimes when we are going through the fire or facing a raging river to cross, He is still there waiting to cover us with His wings taking us through to the other side. We want instant solutions, He wants us to trust Him. It isn’t always easy, but obedience to His Word always wins in some form or another. Praise God for the good news from your oncologist and again, happy anniversary!
What a timely word and awesome reminder! Thank you Liz for sharing this! Within the last two weeks I have been in utter despair and fear for my future. I was falsely accused of a terrible thing by my employer and have no idea why she would accuse me of such a thing. She has no grounds for it and yet I am now without a job. And possibly without a career. She may even go so far as to press charges against me. I’ve never faced such a difficult situation in my life but God has been with me. He has held me together and through my spouse, my discipleship group leader, and now your beautiful post he is reminding me that all his ways are good and that he will make all things work together for my good. All I need to do is trust him! Thank you again, such a blessing! And I will be praying for you!
Love in Christ,
Joy
God bless you as you meet with your oncologist. I pray for God’s peace and presence be with you whatever the outcome. This past year has been one of eye opening trust, faith, and growth in my relationship with our Savior. It has been a year of job loss, helping my mother and father with his Alzheimer’s and some surgeries for them both (out of state and leaving my family for weeks at a time), a total car wreck where my son and I and no one else can explain why we were able to walk away, helping my mother in law out of state for a sudden health crisis and moving her in with us, losing my best friend to cancer, and now again away from my family to help my mother and father because my mother now has cancer – have put everything into place where I live to move them near as soon as I can – through all of this – I have found a peace I have never experienced, a reliance on my Lord I have never felt and was so extremely grateful for and a closer relationship than I have ever imagined. As Paul stated how he learned to be content in all circumstances – that has been the process I have experienced in trusting in the Lord’s plans and His goodness. I love the idea of the amethyst earrings and wisdom! Happy Anniversary!
Prayers prayers prayers dear Liz!! 💗💗💗🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
God has been giving me a season of more of Him and less of me. I am reveling in the goodness of God and how He takes care of even the smallest of details in my life. He really is WONDERFUL!! It overwhelms me at times. Thank you Liz for all that you do to make His name great! Praying for amazing news from the oncologist and Happy Anniversary!
I have watched the life of my daughter, a single mother of two, unfold in ways that only God could have planned. Her path is not one that I would have chosen for her but I have watched God gently guide her back to the path He had for her while healing the scars of the choices she made before surrendering to His plan. And in the process, I have gained two beautiful grandkids that have a unique destiny that I get to be a part of. He truly is a mighty, faithful, and merciful God!
What an awesome blessing from the Lord. Congrats on your healing and God’s glory. Congrats on your anniversary and the joy of partnership with your the love of your life. I have to admit, I didn’t know you until a few days ago, I didn’t know your writings. Thanks to a dear friend she sent me an invite to your fb page. What a joy I received that Weds listening to your excitement about Jesus and his wonderful ladies of the Bible. So excited to spend time in your writings and listening to such an awesome women whom drips the love of Jesus off of her like rose petals.
Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word. Just to rest upon His promise, just to know “thus says the Lord”! That old hymn came to mind as I read your post & I know how sweet it is because for over 67 years through thick & thin, He has constantly been true to His word! Thank you for your encouragement today. My prayers are with you!
Continuing to pray for you Lizzie! God is revealing his plan for me by leading me into a job change and a new season. I’m grieving some of the things I’m leaving behind, but I’m also celebrating what God has for me in the future.
I smile and consider you blessed. Not at first though. I was angry because it was as if the oncologist gave up on my Mom and would not treat Mom’s cancer “because of her age” was their reason. Not even immunotherapy. Why were you considered and not Mom? As I continued reading this sweet message, I was reminded that it is all God’s plan and not mine. Continue to be blessed and share your sweet words..R.I.P Mom 1.19.19
Hi Liz!
I am glad your fight with cancer is almost over. Recently, we lost a friend.
The year 2019 brought surprises. Our family business supported a family of four but was shut down for a few months due to a serious injury my husband sustained to his right leg–no income during this difficult time.
This is a perfect time for reflection. Instead of asking God why we were not shielded from so much pain in such a short time, I thank God this situation isn’t permanent. While my husband’s leg heals, our family heals as well. We are thankful every day. People have much worse than us.
I have been retired from hospital nursing for 3 1/2 years. Recently, in December, God led me back to work as a substitute school nurse. I’m really liking it as I love kids and I felt also that God had more for me to do. I am 62 and not done yet! Thank you God! Praying for God’s best for you Liz!
As we mature in His word we learn how to cope with our fears of what the future may hold. We know He is much more capable of taking care of us than we are. He knows the future and loves us so much that we can trust in His care and wellbeing. There is no need to fuss or worry about tomorrow we can enjoy the journey and look forward to what He plans for us.
It is very inspiring to know couples who truly believe in keeping their vows and enjoying life together. Happy 33 years together – in love, in unity, and serving our Lord. Bill and you are shining examples!
So glad the news is good from your doctor. The Great Physician’s treatment plan can’t be beat!
God’s wonderful plan has indeed made our lives better through the health trials of me and our parents. We know without Him, the struggle would have been hard to endure. His Word guides us daily.
I am so thankful for my transplant donors, my husband, and children and grandkids. After 44 years of marriage, life just gets better every day!
The LORD told me that 2019 would be a year of restoration for me as well as my family. I am clinging to that promise. February started out with a gallbladder surgery for my special needs daughter. That was followed by two vertebrae removal and fusion for my husband. That same week, as well as the next, came cataract surgery for myself, THE CAREGIVER, for all. There were days believe you me I didn’t know who was caring for who. God is good and He is faithful!
The plan is to keep trusting Him and keep putting one foot in front of the other until He calls me home.
Liz – I know God’s plan for your medical report today is the right plan, I’m just hoping that His right plan is the same as the result I’m praying for you. 🙂 Happy, Happy Anniversary! Last year was a tough year for me – it seemed like one thing after another. And while it was hard, God brought me through it all, just not as quickly as I would have preferred – teaching me patience along the way. 🙂 This year has been easier so far, and I can see some of the hard things from last year have worked out to make some of the good things this year possible – all things are possible through God!
Praying your test results are perfect. Congratulations also on your anniversary. Additionally, your photographs are beautiful.
Blessings!
I knew God was not done with me because we talked about it as he carried me on the water. It was during my cancer stem cell(my darkest place) the dr.didnt have much hope( stage 4). God said to me on the beach ” go tell everyone what he did for me. So here I am today. I was feel GOD gave me another chance.
Hi Liz and Happy Anniversary to you and Bill! 33 years-I think it’s going to take, ha!
I pray your gift will be great news from your recent tests. I took my mother in for tests for possible colon cancer several years ago; the doctor shared the test results with us so she was in the dark and thought she was ok. We had to tell her it was cancer and her words were like yours, “Praise the Lord anyway!” That is faith and I’m so glad you can hold on to your faith throughout this journey. I pray your news will be wonderful and you can “Praise the Lord” with a lighter heart.
I’m taking the online Bible Study at Northwestern, Life of Christ. It ends on Good Friday and reminds me of your book “Women of Easter.” What a blessing! Thank you!
Dear, dear Liz,
Thank you for your beautiful post, with its heartfelt words of encouragement and lovely photos. I am praying for God’s sweet presence to carry you today and for your anniversary with your beloved Bill to be filled with joyful serendipities. (I’m so glad I was blessed to also meet him last year at Mount Hermon!)
I read all the comments, and I was overwhelmed by all the pain and hardships but also uplifted by such amazing faith and trust in God. I feel like I’ve been in a wonderful “testimony service” at church, and I am praying for these dear ones.
Earlier this week the enemy tried to derail me with “a dark night of the soul,” and I shed many tears, but I know God will have the final word–even though I’ve never been more mystified by his ways. May marks 19 years since my marriage ended, and I’m still waiting on God and his promises to me. I know the truth of “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” but I also know God’s timings are perfect as I look forward to the truth found at the end of that verse: “but desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
The earrings are exquisite, and I pray God’s blessings for the recipient. I bought myself a beautiful amethyst ring for Christmas several years ago, and it felt like God’s love gift to me. Who knows? Maybe my future husband will give me some amethyst earrings someday! Makes me smile just to think about that possibility.
Love you, dear Liz, and I thank God for the gift of you and Bill and how God continues to use you in the lives of so many. Hugs!
Yes, I attest God’s plan is wonderful even when incomprehensible! Last summer we moved to glorious Myrtle Beach SC. In my prayer time one day I prayed, “Lord, give my husband your direction and I’ll follow.” Less than a week later my husband heard our Lord tell him three distinct times to “Go home.”
Less than 6 months after we’d purchased our “dream home” we were supposed to move? Yup! Our home sold in less than two days. We sold or mostly gave away our furniture. We’re back on the west coast now headed to rainy Washington State. We have fond memories of sunrises on the beach, gracious neighbors, joys of putting it all together. But God has another adventure ahead for us. Bless Him. It too will be wonderful.
For four years my husband’s health has declined which has also affected him emotionally. With Abba’s help, I have found I am stronger than I ever realized I could be. I am amazed when I look back and see how He put some of the pieces in place for this many years ago. Isn’t He wonderful? So, despite what my mind says, my heart says I can endure this this because my trust is in my Creator.
Hope you and your handsome hubby have a delightful anniversary. Love you, Liz. Still praying for you.
P.S. The earrings are lovely!
God’s plan is alive and well … getting better, anyway. Last year God & I spent 3 stints in an acute care rehab facility and had 5 surgeries to correct/cure a hip replacement infection, replace a knee joint, & remove a diseased gallbladder. God drew me close, wrapped His arms around me, & covered me with His healing grace. I am a walking, recovering child of His, grateful for each day, praising Him with a loud song!
A couple of weeks ago, while on tour in Israel, I did a ”face plant” in my hotel bathroom. God led me through a bewildering day to the right doctors for the right treatment (one was a plastic surgeon). No one accompanied me. I saw parts of Jerusalem & its cultural diversity not on any tour guide’s agenda. I knew from the get-go that it was just God and me–a blessed day of fellowship with him, praying for all those in the waiting rooms. He kept this 78 year old in perfect piece. God is so good.
Dear Marilyn,
What an ordeal you encountered! Thank you for sharing how God took you on a detour, gave you peace and pieced you back together! Thank you for sharing and encouraging us. Finding the right doctor can be daunting, in the best circumstances. You’re an inspiration.
Linda
So glad to hear that you are doing so well. You were often in my prayers.
I think to believe I am in God’s wonderful plan is just all a matter of faith for me. Right now I can’t see the next step, but I continue to do the next right thing as they say. We are homeschooling our son with high functioning autism and hoping good things for him. We just got a golden doodle to train as a support dog for him and hoping he will grow and feel supported in spite of other challenges.
Liz, I pray that I could have your faith if I ever got that frightening diagnosis! Your words always bring me peace in this frazzled world! I join you in praising God for the report from your doctor!! And I wish you and your beloved a wonderful year to come!
This is awesome and just wanted I needed to hear today. My husband is 69 and is recovering from the worst bout of pneumonia. 10 days in the hospital. I’m 65 and wondering what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. Time to really lean into God and let him reveal his plan for our lives. I’m such a control freak I like to know what I’m going to be doing every minute. God put a stop to that as I sat in the hospital watching my husband struggling to breath. Thank you for sharing your story.
Pauline
I have a Cardiac MRI scheduled for Mar. 25 — I gather they are quite rare, and mine is a little more complicated because I have a pacemaker implanted. (There will be a rep from the pacemaker manufacturer on hand to make sure the MRI doesn’t cause my pacemaker to malfunction — I haven’t even tried to understand what it might/might not do!) As you so wisely wrote, Liz, IF I have evidence of Cardiac Sarcoidoisis in my heart, The Lord be Praised … If I don’t have evidence of Cardiac Sarcoidoisis in my heart, The Lord be Praised! My life is in His Hands; My heart is in His Keeping (thanks, Kathy Troccoli, for the lyrics of that song, which comfort me so often!!). Praying for you, Sweet Liz!!
His wonderful plans for me come from daily reliance on my “health for the day.” I know if He wants me to serve and do, that He will enable. Therefore remembering to thank Him and say”what about today Lord?” keeps me trusting, knowing He has me doing all for His glory.
After many years of ‘farming’ which involved a lot of use of my right arm [my dominate hand] on Jan 28th I went through a total shoulder replacement at 8 that morning. I guess a vein got nicked and bled and a couple stitches were put in it. In recovery tests were showing not proper pulse in my right arm – sent for a CT Scan and then into an ambulance to a different hospital where I underwent a second surgery to take a vein from my leg and do a bypass around the blood clot. Usually I am very sick because of the anesthetic and it takes hours for me to be alert but had asked for prayer before [only knowing of the one surgery] and it was amazing how the Lord intervened – no vomiting after EITHER surgery and I was alert after wakening each time. It is 6 weeks now with a brace on for 23 hours a day mostly but the entire time it has been amazing how well I have been and no infection which always can be a problem and the nerve damage in my entire arm is much better already. I continue to heal and thank the Lord who is our ‘Great Physician’ who I’m so grateful for. Gratitude is not thanking someone for some service that is required, but for the gift given without strings attached – that’s what the Grace from God is – Grace that I am studying about and Grace that is underserved but soooo wonderful!
So good this sweet reminder as I am in my own storm of parenting. We trust in your goodness Lord even if today holds “bad news” or difficult circumstances. Thank you liz for being a godly woman of wisdom willing to keep it real and be an encouragement to other women.
Through a new job!!!
I am amazed at the faith of so many women, who have already written their comments. I am trying to think back to when God recently revealed His wonderful plan for me. Right now, I cannot think of one. The winter has been so hard — weather-wise — and I am drained because of it. Shoveling snow, running the snow blower, chipping ice, spreading ice melt. (I am alone, so I do it all, on top of a full-time job and a long commute and a 93 year old house.) I feel shell-shocked from all of the unrelenting weather we had. Yet I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, every day, and just keep going on. That is all I can do. For now.
Praying for you sweet sister and I completely understand your attitude and trust in our heavenly Father’s plan He continually shows me His grace and plan for me. The most recent times have been in the two months I’m just finishing up at the beach with my brother-in-law and sister. My sister has Alzheimer’s so the days have been long and upsetting at times. Yet God consistently reassures me that I’m where He wants me to be.
Happy Anniversary to you and Bill.
Dear Liz,
Thank you for your testimony and for sharing your health journey. We all must learn to trust our Heavenly Father with every aspect of our lives. I am in a similar journey….just before Thanksgiving my mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She has exceeded the time that the doctor gave her, praise the Lord! I have assured her that our times are in his hands and that we are all only given one day at a time. Our family is so thankful for this precious time with her, but it is still hard to watch. Also, I have been dealing with osteoarthritis of the left hip and it is finally come to the point that I must have the hip replaced. I have been in great pain for a long time and kept telling the Lord what I wanted him to do to heal it. I finally realized that I must trust him to choose the way in which he wants to heal me. As a result of that, when I called to get a surgery date, it was scheduled very quickly! I know that God has his hand on me and on you, dear sister in Christ. Thank you for allowing me to leave a comment. “By his stripes we were healed.” I Peter 2:24. God bless you! 💜✝
As God has taught me about tithing and I have been obedient to those precepts. About half of the needed money for my dog’s surgery has been gifted from outside sources! Both of which do not usually grant that much to one person(dog). My sister offered to lend me the money I do not have at no interest…wow! Bella’s surgery is Friday. I am believing God is going to do a good thing there too..:)
The Lord has answered years of praying for my son. He has a panic disorder and although he has mostly been able to support himself for many years. About a year ago he started to decline and lost his job. He asked us if he.could move in our other us. Most parents would think this was a disaster. But, we see Gods Hand in it. We feel privileged to care for our son during this very difficult and emotional time in his adult life. At the very least we know where he is, he’s fed and not living on the streets homeless. Praise God. We are awaiting whatever Gods next plan is.
I had a birthday a few days ago and can’t stop praising God for His presence in my life, for helping me grow closer to Him.
He has called me to the ministry of intercessory prayer. It has been a fruitful year of presenting physical and spiritual needs to the Heavenly Father on behalf of needy people. I am truly looking forward to continuing to grow in God’s love for others in the coming year!
Thank you precious Liz for your generous heart! Happy Anniversary to you both! 33 years! To God be the Glory!! I am praying for a good report from the doctor!
My husband and I talk quite a bit about “finishing strong” as we realize we are in the last 1/3 of our lives here on earth. I want to leave behind a legacy of faith to my children and grandchildren; that I may model faith, trust, joy (in whatever circumstances) and love. I want to live a fully surrendered life and pray for the Holy Spirit’s power to accomplish it!
Our God reigns, He is good and forever FAITHFUL!!
Much love and prayers send your way!
On February 9 we were rear-ended by a semi truck that catapulted us into another semi truck. By all reason we should be dead. The car was totaled. God is in control. He will take us home when it is His time. Thank you for your wonderful insights into Gods Word. I am praying for you. Hugs Karen Giarde
Hi Liz praying for your oncology visit. Praising God for your 33 anniversary. I am seeing God faithfully helping me with post op pain and increasing my walking. Due to the pain med I have had difficulty paying attention when I read but did get audio of Women of Easter it is so good to listen to you daily and have given my book to a friend who came to visit me. Thankful God has ministered to me with his love and care Soon he will have me running and walking in his paths
How has God revealed His wonderful plan for you recently? I have been dealing with a family and my work relationships and change. I am wanting to move on – with work, to a higher level – with family, move away from a person who is co-dependent. I have stopped trying to “fix” these two issues myself.
I pulled back from the co-dependent family member (not cut them out) and they are blossoming!
As for work, I just spoke with my boss concerning pursuing a search for a higher level position – and instead of this being an issue and talk of loyalty (I was so nervous!), he said he could potentially help open doors for me if I needed it! Open, honest and no need for “sneaking” around.
For me, walk God’s way on everything – it will be the best life you could lead!
I have to say my life has definitely been a whirlwind this past year. Some of which were because of some of my choices. I have been through a divorce, moved out of my home and had a new baby. I had to find my way back to his Love and the truth is it was always there but we tend to hold ourselves in our own condemnation.
One day about a week ago, me and my almost 3yr old son were listening to some praise and worship music. As he was singing along with me, and rasing our hands, I felt Gods Spirit come and rest in my dinning room with us. Such Peace and Joy filled my heart, one to be able to share this with my son and two because these moments have been so few and far between for me lately.
#thankfulmommy
My husband of only four and a half years died a week before Christmas in 2018. I am still feeling and reeling from heartache, stress, fatigue and loneliness. If I think too hard on all that still needs to be done I am completely overwhelmed. However, with God’s strength and the hope that I have in Him, I have begun writing again which is something I love to do. A publishing company is interested in a children’s book I have finished. I have found a network of friends and church family that helped me very much! But most of all, God and I are closer than ever and that is the most precious thing………………..
It would have been my husband’s and my 33rd anniversary this year as well. He went home 12 years ago. I have had to trust that His plan is wonderful, that His wisdom succeeds even when I don’t feel it or see it, and I praise Him.
I am looking forward to seeing His plans through and always finding joy in the adventure!
God has been teaching me to embrace adversity with thanksgiving. Not that I’m grateful for the pain and suffering, but thankful for the opportunity to trust God. To grow deeper in my faith and in a deeper relationship with Him. You, Liz, are the shining example of what that looks like. It’s small steps, but with each opportunity I learn to love God more. I know His promises are true and His love immeasurable. I want His plan for my life. There is no safer place to be. Thank you for encouragement when I’m sure some days haven’t felt that way to you. God bless you dear sister.
God has pulled me out of a deep, dark depression. I am so glad to see His light again. While in the depression I cut myself, of which I am not proud. But, God pulled me up and into His light once again. I will always love God for keeping me afloat and never letting me sink to the bottom. Happy anniversary, may you and Bill have a least thirty three more.
Liz I discovered your website through Author Media. I rejoice with you on your good report from your oncologist. Our daughter was free from cancer five years ago and we know how your heart and all your friends and family feel after praying for you and seeing the answer to your prayers. I love your uplifting encouragement just what most people need the most. What a blessing to find your website.
I didn’t know if I could share this funny true story about our great grandsons adventure or not. I thought you might enjoy it so I just posted it in faith. I could have sent a link to my blog, but here it is for you to share with as many as you want to. Tell me if I should not have posted it.
The Bear and Angels a True Story
By Joan Jessalyn Cox
Our sixteen-year-old great grandson Colton, decided to accompany his good friend Jonathan and his older brother, on a bow and arrow hunting outing. Colton didn’t have his hunting license, so he went along I guess for moral support.
The older brother took the first tree stand, then Colton and his friend climbed up the tall tree in the second tree stand, a few yards from the first one.
They settled in whispering and watching for deer, when Jonathan’s older brother messaged him on the cell phone. He read it to Colton, “Black bear just passed me headed your way.”
Panic triggered their fear and Jonathan said, “What do we do?” Colton whispered, “It’s not far to the truck, we’d better book it.”
They frantically hurried down the tree and saw the big black bear ambling toward them, they started running to the car, and the big black bear began to run after them.
Breathing hard they barely got to car and popped into it, when the bear was right outside the windows.
The next day Colton was talking to his grandmother, telling her of the frightening experience in detail.
When Colton related his story to his grandmother Joanna, she said “That’s why we pray everyday for the Lord to protect you and all our grandchildren. We pray for the Lord to send his angels to watch over you and protect you.”
“Those angels were really running Grandma!”
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Psalms 91:11 KJV
I haven’t used this story in a book yet since it only happened a few weeks ago.
I share this real experience about the bear and the angel with our GoodReads group. I also shared it the next day with my doctor, who thought is was very funny.
Joan Jessalyn Cox
I feel Gods presence in my Bible study every week and through wonderful people like you. I saw you in Charlotte, NC last year with my girlfriend that lost her 25 year old son to suicide. That weekend was such a blessing to both of us and strengthened our friendship through the love of God. Our birthdays are two days apart in February so our birthstone is amethyst. Thank you for your uplifting Wednesday messages and Happy Anniversary to you and you husband. I am working on 43 years this August. Bless you Liz and keep kicking those cancer cells butt!
I’m at an exciting place in my life as well. Encouraging my brother’s family to lean on the LORD during trying times. Encouraging people to utilize God’s pharmacy and blessings for healing in their lives. I just read a Lenten devotional written by a woman that I was blessed to minister to several years ago in a simple act of praying with her and her daughter when they were in need. Their lives were turned to the LORD that day. A remarkable change has brought them to God and His church. She has been studying God’s Word and the Lenten season and here is the summary of her devotional: I can only say that I mean everything to Jesus and Jesus means everything to me.
Another wonder this day, I was able to link to your Wed. Live presentation to re-listen to the Lydia teaching in spite of facebook being down for mandatory maintenance. I couldn’t log-in to add a like to the post, but I was able to watch the whole message anyway. Blessings on your upcoming home Bible Study.
Love, peace, health and joy,
Joanna Kline
I think God is wanting me to let people know how special they are and how they are making a difference, whether it is at church or at a local senior center. My husband passed away last April and I know this is something he would like for me to do also. I have been writing letters or notes to friends at church, and one to the Chaplainat the local hospital who guided me and my sons in what options were there for my husband. All these people have made a difference in my life and I want to tell them so!
Liz, I feel like he shares his plans with me everyday. I have some health issues that are very tough but I feel incredibly blessed that I have help with everything.I love what you said about no matter what happens everything is wonderful. Because that’s exactly how I feel. Thank you for sharing your journey.thank you so much for all your inspiration and encouragement. I have had the opportunity to hear you speak and I absolutely love your sense of humor and your love for God. Have a beautiful day today and happy anniversary!
Several weeks ago I underwent a total knee replacement. Before I could go home from rehab, my femur, right above the same knee fractured. I was devastated!! I had never even had surgery, so now I had two in about a week. I was immobilized for 7 weeks, totally dependent on others . Why had God allowed this to happen to me?? I’ve always been very independent, lived alone and taken care of myself. One of the deacons came to see me regularly and discussed Job with me. In the last part of Job, God teaches him that sometimes we have to get to the bottom before we can see up and one of the things we need to see is how even in our disparity, we still need to remember others
God has been opening doors for me. I applied for a job in the technical field which my college degree is in. However I have not worked outside the home in 17 years as I raised my children. I got the job. It was totally God. New job, new schedule, new income a new path. God is good.
Had some bad dental news yesterday. It has been one thing after another but I am so thankful for the reminder that God has walked with me in all the other work and He is with me now. Gods path is the only place I want to be and I am so thankful that He made a way for me to walk with Him.
I am praying for you, Liz! And appreciating your posts, videos, and god given wisdom that brightens my days. The Lord reveals His plans to me daily, if I have ears to hear and eyes to see. As a 24/7 caregiver, I rely on His anchor to hold me and He does. And even though in my occasional frustrations I question what is “excellent”, there always proves to be His peace and beauty given in His goodness to us.
Happy Anniversary and many more! Liz you look wonderful. I cannot imagine that God has anything but good news for you!
Thank you for your emails, posts and speaking around the country.
All my adult life I worked as a secretary, typing and filing day in and day out. It was interesting work but I felt like my job was nothing more than helping the boss or the CEO get richer. I felt like God was calling me to do something else, I wasn’t sure what, but something. So I quit my job…
Months went by and I still had no idea what I was supposed to do and I needed a job, finds were getting tight!
A friend of mine suggested I call a company that cares for the elderly. Well, I LOVE spending time with elderly people (both of my parents died young), but that thought hadn’t crossed my mind. So I called!!
From the moment I called, I knew that’s what God had for me. I had to take a few tests and aced them, everything I needed to donor get to fill the position just fell into place!
Two months later, I can’t give God enough glory for blessing me with my job!! I spend my days assisting and helping elderly women with everything from bathing and light housekeeping to grocery shopping and errands. They all struggle with Alzheimer’s and have some rough days, but I am blessed to go in and love on them, encourage them, help them and simply be the hands and feet of Jesus every day!!
I have to say, these ladies bless me day in and day out! What a privilege it is to hear their life stories, their hurts and their hopes! They love hugs and we share them often!! When I leave they tell me how much they’ve enjoyed our day together and I am blessed beyond words!
God has blessed me with a job that allows me to share and show the love of Jesus! Thank you Father!!!
We serve a good, good Father!!
HOLA Liz,
The Spirit of the Lord is revealing change to us right now. My husband, Bud, and I are Christian missionaries in the Dominican Republic and we’ve had a holistic ministry here for 13 years….we fill in the gap for local pastors, also a church plant, discipleship, counseling, feeding the needy, hurricane/earthquake relief, teaching, and ladies bible study in our home. We just finished “Bad Girls of the Bible”! Seriously, I’m not just trying to make brownie points!
The reveal lately is God is moving us in a new direction, doing a ‘new thing’ in us! We live in Santo Domingo in a decent house with running water, but we are sensing that He is taking us out of the city to a rural area to the east. The Lord is my strength and shield and my heart trusts in HIM! As this year unfolds, we have begun to set our mind to His will and HE will direct our steps.
PTL for the blessings you have been Liz and continue to be. We met when you spoke here in the DR many years ago, remember? (haha) I was in the front row when you spoke to many of the missionary women before the conference in San Pedro. (Allison Hale)
We celebrate OUR 45th wedding anniversary this July! I’d love some new earrings to wear, so if you pick me, Praise the LORD, and if you don’t pick me, Praise the LORD! I’ve not read the Women of Easter yet either! 😉
I pray the Lord of all comfort be with you in a very real way this year.
HAPPY Anniversary to you both.
Your sister, ~ karen
Even when I can not see or know exactly what my future holds, I know God has a plan and a purpose for my life and He is in control.
Isaiah 55:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Ah, what a fabulous God we have!!! He has provided for me over and over and over and over again…when I least expect it His provision is just in His perfect timing! Congratulations on your 33rd!!! Thanks for the chance to win these beautiful earrings!
Liz my dear….Congratulations on your 33rd wedding
anniversary and may God Bless you both many more.
On March 21st would have been our 65 th wedding
anniversary, but July 30 th my precious left go of my hand
and took hold of Jesus Hand. He’s safe, he’s healed and he
definitely is with Jesus. Oh happy day …Sunday is coming!
Hi Liz,
You are the wiser older sister I always wanted to have. Thank you for being you! Heard you speak twice and was inspired to dig deeper into the Bible. Recently reading Ezra and the Lord birthed a desire to study obey and teach the Bible to others. That is amazing grace because I was a wretch, a rotten apple so to speak. So thankful to Jesus for salvation!!
God is working a lot on me by showing me that I have looked at everything backwards almost since I was saved. I am learning that I don’t know HIM very well at all. When I think HE doesn’t hear me, HE does. When I think HE is disappointed in me, HE isn’t. When I think I know what HE wants, I don’t. I am glad in some ways that I don’t know HIM well since I love who HE is showing me HE is better than who I thought HE is. I have a loooong way to go, but I think HE has me on the right path. Or am I? Let me ask him.
God is showing me that His plan for me is to love those certain people that annoy me to exasperation.
PS When I first saw the photo of those beautiful earrings I thought you were going to tell us that Bill got you those for your anniversary. 😊.
Happiest of happy anniversaries! What a wonderful thing – 33 years of marriage. I am so glad for you, and sending thanksgiving for your good report from your doctor so far. God’s wonderful plan for me lately is apparently a program to take fear of the future out of me, and replace it with complete trustful rest in Him. Pray for me…I am sometimes at the bottom of the class. 🙁 I do understand and believe in the goodness of our God who weans us from this world in preparation for the next far better one. Please do not consider me for the earrings, my ears are not pierced; I just wanted to comment anyway. 😀
No matter what – He Is The Lord Almighty! Just grateful, because when the doctors said I would not have children, the Lord opened my womb and gave us a son and a daughter. Then, when our daughter was trying to get pregnant, she had some complications – but now we have our first grandson Levi! Yes, the Lord is good no matter what! Blessings from a grateful Abuela!
Thank you so much Liz, for sharing your heart and struggles and being so transparent and uplifting. I love that you always strike to the heart (God’s heart) of a matter and share encouragement that we so desperately need in this day and age.
God is revealing His plan for me and my family- step by step- just what we need in the moment. We lost my father-in-law 2 weeks ago (massive heart attack following their trip to FL) and now have my Mom-in-law in the cardiac care unit- she’s in afib and sugar is high following what we believe is “broken heart syndrome” from the stress of the last weeks. God’s timing and care are complete- but, He is showing me His timing is perfect, and that we are to wait and trust in Him fully. Also, showing my husband (a self-described workaholic) the worth of fully being there for our family- and maybe even helping him find a better balance of work and home. Whatever God’s plan, I seek that and pray that we learn the lessons He would have us learn. Thank you for your uplifting messages- they truly carry me through on days that are dark.
God’s blessings and healing hands be on you. Thank you for all you do.
Happy 33rd Anniversary to you and your wonderful husband! My dad was buried on my parents 33rd Anniversary, my husband and I have been married 33 years, and tomorrow (March 14th) is my daughter and son-in-law’s 10th Anniversary! Lots of coincidences here! I have begun to notice that God speaks to me many times through things that seem to be coincidences, but I look at them differently these days. A friend sent a message about a well known pastor (that we thought was deceased)and inquiring after a friend of mine from over 30 years ago. The very same week, the friend she inquired about posted a picture of himself and this well known Florida pastor visiting and talking about the Lord. This led to me finding and listening to one of his sermons on a Sunday morning when I was sick. It was so uplifting and really spoke to me! It helped me so much! Looking at our coincidences made me decide to dig out your “Embrace Grace” book and begin reading ! I believe God will use it in my life! I pray you get a great report! Love you, Sister!
The Lord has given me the thought if I divide my life in 20 yrs increments that I most likely am in the last of the “20 years” which make me want to be more faithful and increase in knowledge of Him and His Word, prayer and righteous living. The thought of His soon coming should encourage us all to do just that!
I work as a church secretary and I prayed to God last week- if you want me to stay here I will, but I need more money to make this work for my family. Monday, I received a raise! (Thanks for your listening heart Lord❤️).
Oh Liz, I hope you have the news that the chemo has worked and you will have NED (no evidence of disease) but as yo so beuatifully stated, It’s all in God’s hands. When I was being treated for breast cancer 7 years ago now, I said, “No matter what, I win!” so I had peace and rested in Him.
One year before I was diagnosed, I was unexpectedly rifted from my job. I was 70 and ready for retirement. I can see now that God planned that timing so that I would be able to handle the next “big thing” the following year. About 2 years later, I felt Him telling me to do something for others fighting cancer. Now, I have an email Cancer Support Ministry. It started with about 10 folks and caregivers and within 2 years, had had been cured and were in heaven. So I made it a “Cnancer Prayer without borders”. The prayer warriors pray wherever and whenever based on a list I send periodically. We have seen God work in granting peace, comfort, healing and joy to many. It is a wonderful way to serve Him and give back. I praise Him for the paths He has had for me. He is faithful, loving, and kind, gentle and absolutely Wonderful! I am so glad for His leading and His love for both of us! I love you and happy anniversary! We will celebrate our 52 year anniversary in November. Praise God!
.
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A year ago this March I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer. I had surgery and spent a brutal 10 days in hospital. I struggled with God’s plan but fed my faith and not my fear. People prayed, a humbling thing. Final diagnosis was stage 4 Uterine cancer which was a better diagnosis, treatment is once a day pill, no chemo and good survival rates. Since then I’ve become a grandma for 3rd time, traveled to Peru and Africa on mission trips and praise the Lord for the gift of cancer
God reveals His plans through the Word, what I am reading, my community sisters, and even a tv drama. He is reinforcing His plan for me to love my neighbor, love my family, love my friends, and love myself into His goodness. It is has been hard to feel beyond the numb in what was a year of great loss-my marriage, my father, and my son. I had come to question whether I was even capable of loving again. But, God…
Oh, my dear, Liz,
I’m claiming the same peaceful blessings for you that I was able to enjoy this year. After two breast cancer speed bumps, 2007 and 2011, we were faced with the possibility of ovarian cancer. Praise God it was a fast growing, benign mass! I had DaVinci robotic surgery, for a hysterectomy, and was home at 11pm, the same day! We will pray for you, knowing that God is holding both of us in His hands, according to His plans.
Hugs for you, lovely sister,
Linda
God hasn’t revealed His plan for me, that I know of, but I do know He is saying “trust me”. I’m praying for good news for you from the oncologist, and wanted to also say how much I love your flower photos! Are you the photographer?
Happy Anniversary! My husband and I celebrated 35 years of marriage on Sunday, March 10! That is a reminder of God’s plan and faithfulness through the years for our lives. We are approaching the season where retirement is looming which will involve a move. Although it is intimidating I know God is in control and preparing even now with the details. The giveaway prize is gorgeous. Thank for the opportunity to win!
God had plans for me in a big way! From the waist down I am classified as a paraphilic incomplete. When this struck me I could not move anything! I was in the hospital for 2 months and in a nursing home for a month, with everything set up for me to be in a wheel chair! No control over my bladder or bowls! I was totally fine with this as long as I knew this was God’s plan! I was not afraid and I had the peace that passes all understanding! The only thing I asked of God was please don’t take the children’s ministry from me. Not only did He not take away the ministry I love but I am able to walk with the aid of a rollator and I can drive! Only God could have this happen! I know that no matter what heals and don’t heal physically I am healed 100%! He is not finished with me yet. See I can feel sensations but if you poke me with a pin I do not feel it! God is amazing and I can’t wait to see where He leads me!
As a single mom of 3 boys in their 20s God is showing me how he has the whole world in his hands 24-7. So many things I wish i could race ahead get beyond but He slows me down shows me what I need to know & moves my family forward. Life can be hard but Gods love will pull you through have faith believe He is directing your footsteps..his timing is perfect.
God Bless you always Liz!
I sang (a solo) for the first time in the church I’ve been attending for a couple of years & made some mistakes, & felt really bad–as I left the platform, out into the hallway, one of the TEEN girls saw me & told me she loved my voice & wanted me to sing again next week–made my day! 🙂
Wow! I just love everything about this post, and I love you, too! I pray that you received a wonderful report today, and Happy Anniversary! Hydrageas are my favorite flower!! Amethyst is my birthstone. Thirty-three is the year I began fully gaining wisdom, I do believe! I watched my mother bleed from every pore on her body due to losing too much blood during a routine doctor visit, and then, her blood could not clot. I miss Mama so much. Not a day goes by that I don’t think, “I need my mama.” This may sound crazy but at age 33 I had been married 15 years and had three kids, but that was the day I truly had to grow up. Mama was gone. Through the next several years I lost Daddy, a set of grandparents, and an aunt who was like a mother. My husband, who is a police officer, got run over by a drunk driver, and my 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer. My husband is doing wonderful, and my daughter has been off treatment almost four years and on April 2 will be celebrating her 13th birthday! Praise God!! I have gained a daughter-in-love and two precious grandchildren since the 33rd year. God is good all the time. These events sharpened my faith. I love Jesus so much! I praise His Holy Name! God bless you, Liz! I just wanted to share what the 33rd year meant to me.
God shows me daily what I mean to him by allowing me to be a part of each day. I am a Special Education teacher and this is my retirement year. I, with hesitation, turned in my retirement notice in December and it was a bittersweet moment. I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted to do. I truly love my work and the special kiddos I work with and I will miss them dearly. But after about two weeks, I had a sense of joy and peace come over me that I know was from the Lord. He assured me that this was the right decision and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me!
Your article came just when I needed it most! I have glaucoma and am facing laser surgery in a few weeks. This is critical because I only have one eye. I lost my left eye in 1991 and have had several surgeries on my right eye over the years. They hope to release the pressure so the glaucoma will stop progressing. Your faith in the Lord has given me strength to trust Him knowing whatever the outcome…it will be His best for me. It is hard not to want things to go my way, but He has NEVER let me down or left me to walk alone. Please pray for my faith to become stronger and stronger and my worries to be in His hands every time I start to fret or doubt. I just had peace as I wrote this and I know only His peace is the truth! So thankful for your cancer progress. Jesus, continue to be with Liz and give her Your healing. She loves You and has blessed so many people in Your name. She is Your child. Remind her how much You love her. Thank You Jesus.
God is answering prayers in big ways. My brother called me about his Lenten journey, that actually started weeks ago. While people are “giving things up” my brother has started attending mass again, faithfully. It’s a prayer that I have had for him and his family. We talked about going to church as kids and had moments of remembering our parents, who are both in Heaven. He said he goes alone to mass (even though he has a wife and teen children). I continue to pray his family will join him. As for me, God is leading me to search for work that will not compromise my faith. One I am fully embracing. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.
Blessings on your anniversary.
God has shown His will in my life through opening some doors while closing other doors. I trust God and know He directs my path. I daily pray for His guidance.
My theme verse this year is-Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips” I’ve been praying and asking God to help me to respond rightly – especially at work. Having a good attitude and not complaining. So far I’m making progress!
God has directed me to family I have never know since I was adopted at 3days old. God has perfect plans. Now at 70 years of age I have some new family.
Always encouraged by your words, and by your actions.
We are given gifts from God, whether we like them or not. We cry when we are given gifts we don’t like, and we cry when given gifts we adore. The same reaction to totally different gifts?
No matter the gift we are given, no matter the source of those tears, our reaction is steadfast– We Love the Giver of it all!
Oh I just love it when I see you in my in box!
Your smile can make anyone’s day more beautiful, you just radiate God’s love and goodness.
Congratulations to you and your dear hubby! Enjoy the day and whatever the Lord has in store for you.
You are one generous lady with that gorgeous pair of earing’s as your give-away, and oh that book, what a wonderful read as we approach Easter, Resurrection Sunday, Hallelujah!
I just celebrated my 60th Birthday on the 27th, amethyst is my birthstone.
I truly looked forward to turning 60, and the desire of my heart is to faithfully follow hard after my Lord and Savior as I continue to “run this race He has set before me.”
Due to health issues I have had to step down from helping others in the Health Care field through Hospice, but I believe God wants to continue using me in ways where I can reach out to others, one on one, as He leads and brings others across the path He has me on, and He has been doing just that!
When I least expect it, He is right there showing me the need, and sometimes in very subtle ways.
I just want to be a willing vessel, an instrument in His hands.
Thank you for the opertunity to enter such a beautiful and blessed give-away.
God bless you for your goodness to others.
Because of Christ,
Debbie
God does have a plan! I had breast cancer, stage 3. Yes, it was the fight of my life, but so many people prayed for me, thanks to the power of prayer, a year of chemo and radiation, and a good team of doctors I pulled through. I didn’t know the plan God had for me then, but within 5 years I cared for my mother as she died of breast cancer, then 2 years later I cared for my mother-in-law as she died of breast cancer. See! God’s plan was to educate me so I could care for others. I now consider my cancer a blessing. I have been able to care for loved ones, and help others as they went through what I went through. I feel so lucky to have been able to help so many through this terrible fight, and I always, always tell them to believe in the power of prayer.
Good luck on your fight Liz, and know that you are added to my prayer list!
At the age of 75 I am learning more and more to give thanks for ALL things in my daily life. All things good or not so good. They are all from God and there is good in all things from God.
Yay! Kept reading…just to hear your blessed news from the doc! Yay!
God is working in amazing ways. Next fall, I will teach in a different school district, and I am so excited to feel the Lord in every step of this decision…and it all started with a former student…who is now a teacher…continually contacting me. I now refer to her as my Moses! 🙂
God is good…all the time…and all the time…yes!…God is good!
Congratulations on your 33rd Anniversary! You have my husband and I beat by one day. Our 33rd is on the 15th. Many blessings….
Congratulations on your anniversary!
My husband, Sam, and I celebrated our 50th last July. Fortunately, we made our “anniversary” trip to Israel in April. Although he was having some problems breathing and was being treated for COPD and asthma, we didn’t know that he had lung cancer (he never smoked, but he did work in a factory as a painter).
The Lord took him home last November. The cancer was taking up about one-fourth of his lung capacity, and in the hospital he got pneumonia which the antibiotics couldn’t conquer.
I am so grateful to the Lord for so many things…
that we got to spend over two weeks in Israel, something that Sam had always wanted to do.
that Sam didn’t have a long illness—he wouldn’t have borne that well.
for my family
for my church family
for the comfort that He gives daily…
I’m trusting Him to see me through all the adjustments that I need to make—because He is always faithful!
I love your writing! I have most of your books.
In Him, Eloise
P.S., I don’t need the earrings…my ears are not pierced.
For your anniversary may I offer praise to you and most especially to our Lord for the great book your wrote –” Really Bad Girls Of the Bible”. Picture 6-9 women sitting around a table, alternately laughing and shedding a tear and an “ewww”as we study such people as Jael and Athaliah. One woman praises me for the good choice of the book for our Bible Study, but I chose it because it spoke to me! They say they are learning so much. It’s Relevant!!! A new girl has joined our group and is asking questions a mile a minute in response to the things she has learned from your book. God is getting the glory and we are thanking you whole-heartedly for prayerfully and hilariously (“don’t get your bloomers in a twist”:) writing this book. Happy Anniversary!!! and God bless you with many more!!!
You are a beautiful light for Jesus, Liz. Thank you for sharing your journey of faith and trust with us. The amethyst earrings are so pretty and because I too have been married 33 years I’m thrilled to hear their meaning! 💞
Oh where to begin….. I see Jehovah Jireh’s faithfulness each moment of the day….. He provides, He supplies…. His plan is being woven together as my beautiful daughter waits patiently for infertility to be healed…. He gives protection over our first grandson serving in the US Navy….. Our loving Father has guided my broken minister son out of his darkest days of divorce back into His shining light of love and mercy…… From years when I didn’t have hope for my marriage, my sweet Jesus has given 40+ years together. And if this isn’t enough…. well, eternity with Him had been bought and paid for me because I am the apple of HIS eye…..
I too have been following God’s plan as I walk in His shadow through stage 3 Ovarian cancer. I am grateful to say that I am a 6 year survivor and doing really well. I tell everyone that I have been really blessed to have had this woman’s cancer.
I had Jesus whisper in my ear that I was to hold on to Him and He would teach me a new dance. I picture myself being swirled around the room in a beautiful waltz. Due to the chemo
I lost my hair and He said not to worry He made me beautiful and that is how it would always be. Because of this I have more confidence and assurance. As long as I am clean and moisturized, I am good to go.
I can now approach anyone without fear or shyness to share my story of God’s love and presence in my life. People ask me if I am cured now and I always answer that I am a survivor of the treatments (they are hard to go through) but that I am just leaning in as we dance together through my life. I give thanks and shake my tambourine as Miriam did after crossing the parted sea. She did not know what was coming next but gloried in the path she was taking.
I am reading the Women Of Easter during Lent and am so blessed. I am praying for you as you make your journey. He has a plan for each of us.
What a great teaching. I love your style. Congratulations on 33years. Keep on keeping on, dear one.
I was going to go on a trip to my daughter.s. Her husband was in was given days to live. I wanted to be there for and see him. I opened. Bible to new. Testament. It said”tarry til. I come to tell to go. I waited and then the Lord said. Go. I went. I got to see him and he died next day. And I was there to. Help my daughter thru the funeral. And. In her sorrow. It was a blessing to me. I,will always. Trust the. Lord!.
Liz,
I continue to remember you in my prayers. Praise God for all he is doing in your life. Praise God for your anniversary and your years together. Blessings to you both!
God has been reminding me through a difficult time with a chronic disease that He has me in his care and I can trust him. I’m reminded again that I have to let go of what I cannot change and embrace his favor in the here and now each day. Because he is good; all the time!!
God has brought me home…again. He is faithful and good, and I am where I belong by Gods mighty grace and mighty love.
Woo hoo!!! No evidence of disease! Praising God for you, Liz.
God has been near to me as our youngest child left for Army Basic Training. Letting go in one fell swoop…a near communications blackout…knowing he’s being yelled at and pushed beyond his limit…knowing he’s being trained to be a warrior…what a plunge into the Empty Nest! I’m thankful for a God who offers strength and compassion in equal measure.
Hello Sister Liz!
My birthday was March 9th. If I had been born a few days later, I would have been the 3rd generation to be born on the same day, March 14. That is a special day for me, as well as for you, because my mom was born on that day. My mom passed away from cancer when I was 16. She was my best friend as well as my mom. I still miss her. And the 33rd anniversary is also special to me. My husband and I would have been married for 33 years this coming June 28. He went home to be with The Lord on October 13. I keep telling everyone that he just lives in a different place and is waiting for me to come and be with him someday. I had a necklace made with 2 hearts that has his fingerprint on one heart and mine on the other and on the back it says, Together Forever – Jim & Mary. We will be together forever when God calls me home. For now it feels like I have a part of him with me because God made each of us different (even our fingerprints) and I have a copy of his fingerprint with me.
The purple flowers are gorgeous! Purple is my favorite color!
I love your book, The Women of Easter! I chose it for our women’s book club, with Easter coming soon and we have really been enjoying it. You make scripture come to life!
I just recently saw that you are going to be on Mackinac Island for Win-Some Women and I am looking forward to seeing if someone will go along with me. I met you once at a Women’s Conference at Springhill Camp and you are such a JOY to spend time with! Also, you were here in Traverse City too.
Well, finally getting to what God’s wonderful plan is for me, I have prayed about that. With my husband being a disabled war veteran and myself caring for him for many years and now with him gone, I feel that God is wanting me to help other veterans as well as helping other widows. In God’s Word it talks about us taking care of orphans and widows. Lately, quite a few dear friends have lost their spouses, or parents. I have been praying for them, sending cards to them and meeting for coffee with them. With financial struggles I’ve gone through and other difficulties, God has been AMAZING! He is my ROCK!
I feel that God wants me to write a book about my life. I’ve never done anything like that but really feel He will help me and will use my testimony to help others. It scares me but I’m going to try.
I’ve read many of your books and love them! I know God made me to be the person He wants me to be but down deep, I sure wish I could write like you! He has blessed you and your husband. I’m praying for the both of you.
Now I should end. I could go on and on and talk about what The Lord is doing in my life but I’ll save it for my book. This is probably a book in itself. Sorry it is so long.
God richly bless you, Sister Liz!
Dear Liz, From one cancer patient to another. You have given me great strength as I’ve followed you while I myself was going through treatments. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on September 28,2017. 2018 was going through treatments and growing so close to God, Him taking me so deep I could literally feel Him carrying me through. 2019 is learning how to live after treatments and seeking God with every thing I have that I would live His will out for my life. I want to glorify Him so as I,a hairstylist, live this out my clients see Him and want that loving, caring, comfort and life giving relationship that they saw While He carried me through. Thank you,sister for this very model you lived for me! Love and Prayers, Sherri
Hi Liz, God has shown Himself faithful to me so many times. Yes, He is good and I love Him so. Yesterday, I was feeling sad about a family situation and asked God to work. Within a few minutes after praying, God answered. A text message was sent to me. This type of situation happens so often to me. I pray….I trust God and He is so faithful to me. God, our ever present help in trouble.
Liz,
Congratulations on your 33rd Anniversary, first of all.
How has God revealed his plan, or answered my prayers? I believe that He helped me prioritize after much struggle and busyness. I have opted to care less about making money, and make myself more available for my family. I am taking trips to see some of them after about two to three years of not seeing them. I keep in contact but it isn’t the same. I am also going to watch my grandchildren more while their mom attends nursing school, something she has wanted to do. I have struggled with these decisions since my husband of 37 1/2 years died in 2016. I am grateful that I am finally able to listen better. I pray for peace for you no matter what path of healing you are on.
I want you to know how I encountered Jesus last month when you were in Sequim, when I heard you speak on Mary of Bethany and how she broke the bottle and poured it out on Jesus’ feet, completely abandoned to Him. My heart pounded with the question “Are you willing to pour out at Jesus’ feet what is most precious to you?”. You began to elaborate on how she wiped His feet with her hair, and, as you related your journey of losing your health and hair, you emphatically repeated “God is enough! He is enough!”, and threw down your wig. I have never seen anything so horrifying and so beautiful in my life. You were so beautiful, it was as if Jesus were shining right through you! I, the strong one who never cries, began weeping, broken. I realized that my “alabaster bottle” is my personal image of strength, capability, and invulnerability, and that, as long as I cling to it, I can not pour out my life for Jesus. To “take off my wig”, as I have begun to coin the phrase to those I interact with, is to admit my failings, struggles, and weakness, as an avenue of sharing with them the hope and strength found in Jesus, as I daily seek and surrender to Him. This new vulnerability led me to share my health journey with a new friend I met at the conference, as well as to begin to text my friends and family a verse for the day(as consistently as I can), along with an encouraging thought, and to ask how I can pray.
I thank God for you, for the joy you choose, and how you love Jesus. You are in my prayers!
God has shown us another church to attend, after feeling that the one we attended for 11 years was not quite right anymore. We have been spiritually fed again, and are ready to give back with teaching and worship team. I feel like God led us to this church, and he is leading my husband and I as we get closer to being true empty nesters. I have been married 32 years in August.
He is still revealing His plan as my husband and I settle in to his recent diagnosis of the early stages of Alzheimer’s. We will celebrate 39 years of marriage in May. We know God has a plan and will see us through this just as he’s sedn us through all the other challenges and heartbreaks so far. We will continue to trust and pray and believe in Him. Congratulations on 33!!!
Thank you so very much for sharing your cancer journey. You traveling with such dignity and faith in Our Lord and Savior.
My cancer journey brought a closeness to the lord I would have never found without going down this path. I have people come up to me and say how they love my hair ( or lack of ). My answer is always with a smile…. HAIR BY CANCER…. LIFE BY JESUS! How Blessed I am to be here and know he is using me to touch others.
Love you Liz, and Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
My husband has wanted to move out of the Reno area for various reasons for the last year or so. For other reasons, I have been resisting this move, until we visited where he wants to go. No, I didn’t fall in love with the area (yet), but the peace that overwhelmed me when we signed the rental application for the new apartment reinforced that this is the time. (Doors to other areas closer to family closed, which had been sad for me until I realized God was using them to funnel us in this new direction)
In the last year, God moved me into a new area of ministry, which was scary for me, and I definitely will pursue that in our new area. We are moving in May.
So today is my birthday and tomorrow, your 33rd anniversary, is my husband’s birthday. As we celebrate our lives together we have been blessed to come in to the inner circle of our church pastor, who is battling stage 4 liver/gall bladder cancer. As he shares his innermost feelings, thoughts and emotions about how God is still blessing him daily, even through his chemo, nausea and hospital stays, we feel privileged to know this brave man. Brave, yes…..but also scared. Scared that he has not lived his life as fully as God has intended. Scared that he has left someone lacking the opportunity to know Christ. Scared that he is not “living” his cancer. As he says, this is all living……even, dying is living. He has no idea the impact his cancer is having on our lives……my husband and I. We want to “live” every aspect of our lives; our happy our sad, our love our hate, our bitter our sweet. It is all “living”. Thank you heavenly Father for allowing us to live……as we die to know how you want us to do it.
At the age of 80 Jesus has led me to the Fellowship of The United Methodist Church. After my husband of 55 years went to rest in His arms in 2015, many challenges and changes have had me crying out for Peace and new purpose in my life. I finally started attending Church regularly about 6 months ago. I joined the Choir, a small Dinner Group And Buddy Call (calling 3 people everyday who live alone ) and began to feel the love of God and his people there. I will be joining there this Sunday.
The passage of scripture that you wrote about today comes from a chapter the God used to minister to my soul when I came back from my first year battered, bruised and exhausted. What a year it had been . I got engaged in April, in July my fiance received an invitation to join a ministry in Russia which had just opened its door to missionaries for a year. We got married in August and left for Russia in January.
Our ministry and my husband thrived but I dived. At the end of our year we were asked why we hadn’t yet signed up to continue. It was at that point I shared honestly from my heart where I was at. Praise the Lord that the person who listened to my torrent of pain, which had been dammed up behind a wall of performance, received it with Grace. In God’s wisdom he suggested that we go back to the States for a time of rest and restoration before returning.
It was during that time the Lord gave me a dream in which I was again a young girl lying on the floor with the large ornate family Bible opened to Isaiah 28. When I woke up I opened the small Bible by my bed and read Isaiah 28 and realized that God was using my time in Russia to help me see my need to rest in HIM and LISTEN to what HE was saying and not reject His invitation but rather enter into the rest he offered.
After 20 years in Russia we have returned to the U.S. and I find myself in a similar place as I was when we returned after our first year. After being given a time of rest and renewal we are now transitioning back to a new life and ministry in Chicago. Once again my husband is doing well and I am struggling to find my purpose in our new ministry. Today your post was an answer to last night’s prayer of “Lord what do you want me to do?” Your reminder that it is Jesus who decides what’s next for me made me realize once again He is giving me an invitation to rest in HIM, listen to HIS voice trust His “wondrous advice and supernatural guidance”.
Thank you and enjoy your year of wisdom and spiritual reflection!
Dear Liz, I love how your mind works and the way you describe scripture so that it just resonates so much with me. God’s plan for me was so evident when everything fell into place in picking up and moving from Washington state to Arizona to be near my widowed mother and provide any assistance she needed PLUS it was the instrument that brought my husband and myself to the Lord 20 years ago. Now at 98, my mother, who is fiercely independent, is finally needing my assistance almost on a daily basis and I’m so thankful that I live nearby and Jesus gives me wisdom and patience to deal with my daily happenings as care giver. Praying that you got a good report from your oncologist. Bless you for all that you do for all of us. Polly
Thanks so much for these beautiful words of wisdom and encouragement Liz. His word is awesome and His plans are wonderful! I have been wondering where I am headed next, and asking what I should be doing. The Lord has recently revealed to me that I am right where I am supposed to be and doing what He has called me to do. He is so faithful to us.
I am praying for a good report from your doctor Liz!
Happy Anniversary Liz and Bill!
I am a breast cancer survivor PTL! I was diagnosed in 2008. I have had bone biopsies that came back stage 4 breast cancer has returned in my bones. When I try to think this out by myself it does not work. I turn to my Lord and King he always calms my mind my heart and my soul. what ever this does to my body I know that God will be Glorified.
Sweet Liz: I am rejoicing with you and your family regarding your good news.❣Our God is ever faithful, at all times in every circumstance. I am a widow for almost seven years and never cease to be amazed at God’s care for His daughters. Oh, how He loves us! My family is my greatest concern and I am privileged to meet with a small group of women each week to pray for our loved ones. We pray with HOPE and anticipation, fully trusting that our God is working, whether we see it or not.
Also, I just received 30 copies of your wonderful book, The Women of Easter, for our spring Bible study beginning March 26th. We are so excited to see what God is going to do!
Thank you for being such a lovely example of God’s amazing grace. What would we do without Him?! I love your writing, your careful presentation of God’s Word and your beautiful photos. 🌷🌹🥀 Please don’t stop encouraging us until God says, “Well done my daughter, Liz.”
My love, Millie
ps. I have read each of the comments posted here and am so touched and inspired by each one. We are highly blessed!💖
Hi Liz!
Happy 33rd Anniversary!
It really struck me when you said “praise God anyway “ even if circumstances don’t turn out as we expect, because God has a purpose in all things. I forgot that truth as I am struggling to “fit in” and serve in a new church for me. I am learning to rest in His leading, instead of just doing what I always did before in my former church.
Thanks for sharing truth!
Also a breast cancer survivor (2010) Sister, Sinita
Dear Liz,
I am learning to really listen and to be quick to obey. Trust and obey, while giving thanks with a grateful heart, is new application of God’s wonderful love and direction in my life. Happy 33rd anniversary to you and your beloved Bill! Congratulations on receiving this last cancer-free report! Joy! Laurie Diggins
Just waiting each day for his wisdom in my life.
Happy Anniversary!!! And many more!!!
Congratulations on 33 years of marriage Liz and blessings on your report from the Doctors! God is so faithful and so good–all the time! I recently attended a woman’s retreat and God spoke to my heart to trust Him in everything. I’ve been saying it but now I really believe it. You are such a blessing in my life and thank you for sharing your faith. If you are ever in or near Duluth Minnesota, please stop in at our bed and breakfast Inn–I’d love to share it with you. Have a beautiful day today!
Health struggles are hard. How we feel is so central to who we perceive ourselves to be. I’m so glad you are experiencing victories! I’ve been challenged by Natalie Grant’s song “More than Anything” lately.
“Help me want the Healer, more than the healing.
Help me want the Savior, more than the saving.
Help me want the Giver, more than the giving.
Help me want you Jesus, more than anything!”
The past 9 years have been a very difficult time. While dealing with our own family of 5 problems (cancer, car accidents, no work, etc.) the hardest time was walking my mom through her breast cancer journey. The original diagnosis was caught early, operation to remove, and follow up with oncology intervention. And then cancer free! 8 years later, she began experiencing discomfort, which turned into a very long 1.5 year journey ultimately finishing with Mom finishing her race with her Lord and Savior. Through it all, while difficult, we always talked about the Lord’s blessings. The amazing 60 previous years of marriage, the amazing time travelling and seeing God’s creation, the wonderful people that Mom was a Christ-following example to, 2 children who were faithfully walking with Christ and 3 spectacular grandsons all who also chose to give their lives to Christ – and 1 who is currently in Bible college studying to become a worship pastor (that overflowed Mom’s heart when he told her his chosen post-secondary path). Our reflections and positive attitude were often commented on by medical staff… including the oncologist who said “I’ve never seen your reaction in a patient when I’ve told them such devastating news.” Of course we witnessed to him! Even in mom’s suffering she never lost sight of her Lord and the opportunities He allowed.
Mom’s now singing with the saints. She’s been reunited with all of her family and friends. And while we miss her deeply, we know we will all see her again. The largest legacy that mom left behind for all of us was to praise Him in the storms and even when the waters and winds are quite. He deserves our ultimate praise because our lives belong to Him. We are His servants and it is only because of Him and His plan for us that we are here.
I love your praiseful attitude Liz! Love ya to bits! I thank God for you and your ministry that He has blessed.
Praying for you Liz! Your witness is so amazing of trust in the Lord and His love.
I feel my life is changing as I grow older and the Lord is slowly revealing His wonderful plan. I am praying that I keep my eyes and ears open and with trust I walk in the way He has prepared for me in this season of my life.
Happy Anniversary!
In a season of second-guessing decisions He reminds me to, above all others, listen for HIS voice. Peace…guaranteed.
This was so timely…I have so many friends that are dealing with life issues…wondering what God’s plan is! We can trust that WHATEVER the outcome we have, God is in control.
Liz, Happy Anniversary!Please extend that to your husband as well!
I believe God has lead me to your site with a purpose for me – He is showing me how to be strong in Him through you. You see, I have an undiagnosed problem causing occasional brain swelling, severe weakness, and over all just bad stuff. In my relationship with God I have released all of my health to Him and found peace. I am resting well in His Word and am at peace. But I am human and need some support to not dwell on each new part of this problem but to instead dwell on Him and His love for me. I am a daughter of the King and so loved by Him. Your words have given me insight on how to handle the reality of this and His love at the same time. I Thank You for doing His work which has blessed me and I pray for you to know how Gods blessings through you have given me strength.
Congrats on the anniversary, Liz! And praise to God for the good medical report! We’ve been doing a study on Psalm 23 at my church, and God has taught me that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”–even if live is rough.
Wow Liz, I love what you are saying and believing about our Lord’s care of you.
My response to what the Lord is doing in my life…I have just gotten out of an abusive marriage relationship. It has been a year of spending time with Jesus.
I was approached by a co-worker with a newly abusive girl in a surprisingly abusive relationship who needed refuge. The Lord is using me in this girls life, not sure if she is a believer which is all the better.
She is staying with me.
Pray for us and God’s guidence!
His plan is teaching me to trust him in every aspect of my life. The past year and a half has brought devastating loss and change into my life, that without our Lord and Savior, I would not have been able to make it through.
Isaiah 28:29 has been my life verse since I read it a few years ago. Having you share it was a huge blessing to my heart! I love that verse because it is a wonderful reminder to me that our Precious Savoirs plan is better than mine. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if I had planned it out, I would have been married with a family. ( which is my hearts desire ) But He has had different plans for me, I have been able to teach kindergarten students about His love for 7 years and I was able to pour my heart into teenage girls who desperately needed to know they are valuable and loved! Through coaching them in a basketball program for the past 6 years. And He amazed me yet again by taking the coaching position away…asking me to leave my comfort zone because it was no longer a safe place to be. So I am stepping out in faith, awaiting what’s next and I have a hope because His plans are wonderful and His wisdom is magnificent. So much better than mine. God bless you dearest sister!
When everything’s been tried
And healing is denied
Can’t count the nights I’ve cried
The many days I’ve sighed
Countless times asked why
No reason satisfies……
I’ll run to You to hide
Cling tightly to Your side
Your Word will be my guide
I will be alright
I will win the fight
Heaven’s in my sight
God has blessed me beyond what I thought I could do he blessed me with a wonderful group of lovely ladies that I’m teaching a bible study at our church God is Good.
As I prepare this week for my ostomy support group, I lead, I always pray for wisdom and for God to give me the right words to say to our patients. I have had an ostomy for 3 years and it has been a blessing in many ways. During my 2 week hospital stay, in much pain and anguish, I prayed for God to just get thru today…and then another day and another. He wrapped His arms around me and cradled me like a baby. I have not felt such love and strength since I was a little girl and my earthly father held me when I was sick or afraid. The surgery was the most painful physical experience I have ever had, but it was also the most spiritual experience I have ever had. I thank my God for it all. As I move forward trying to lend support to other patients going through ostomy surgery, I ask for strength, wisdom and I always get it from my Father. Thank you for all you give to us.
I’ve been taking immunity infusions for 3.5 years. . It seems to be working. I have had brain surgery since. I never give up. I let the Lord work and I know that he is in control. Keep up the fight.
I often wonder myself what plans God really has for me. I try to do everything that I think is what He is wanting, seeking what he has for my life but I still ask what plans do you really have for me? God is good and I know that as the song you quoted “no one can pluck me from his hands” so I’ll continue to pray and seek what plans he has in-store for me. Happy anniversary Liz a millstone of 33 years is great. God bless both of you
The Lord’s will is revealed to me every time someone asked me when I will be re-entering full time ministry. I’ve been homeschooling my kids for 4 1/2 years, and on leave from being a full time pastor. God’s plan for me is to be with my kids right now. We are learning and growing together. We are leaning on and loving each other in this full time together. Regularly the people around me ask when I’m going to “get back to it”. Each time, the Lord’s words tumble out of my heart and mouth: this is where the Lord wants me right now. When a new path opens up, I am sure it will be revealed. Praise be to God!
Thankful for your wonderful news!! God has been in the details lately. When I feel like I’m on autopilot and in the trenches when it comes to parenting and homeschooling and unsure of the work I’m doing, He has been showing me that I am right where I need to be. And He’s showing me some fruits of my labor and that keeps me going. Just when I start feeling stuck, He gives me exactly what I need to keep going. God is good!
Blessings on your continuing healing ! I have wondering myself about God’s plan for me. Right now I feel like I am at a crossroad. Until now I felt God was calling me to take care and treat cancer patients which I truly love doing but I feel a pulling to do something else and can’t decipher the suggestions. I don’t think I’m zigging where God wants me to. Perhaps I’m not listening well. I do that a lot. I will keep praying about it and hope that the message comes through and I understand it !
How has God revealed his plan to me? Some days I’m not sure I get the plan. Things don’t go my way at work. My kids yell at me and are moody. My dog won’t stop barking. Its cold and snowy. My husband is distant. Then, out of the blue my youngest says “I love you Mommy” or my oldest gives me a high five getting on the bus. That’s how God’s plan is revealed to me. LOVE. That is the plan. Unfortunately, its way too easy to miss those whispered moments. I pray that I can learn to listen.
God Reveals His Wonderful Plan most days to me in the simplest and tiniest of ways…. I am of Mustard Seed faith these days…. When I force myself to be silent and listen – I do indeed hear His glorious voice scream into my heart and veins that my faith alone is sufficient. This is His simple plan for me. It’s so simple even I get it! All I have to do is BE and that is enough. I feel as if I struggle most days to contribute to the human race. At 54, I have endured a slow decline in my self esteem, my 23 year marriage is an absolute emotional drain. We are self-employed, so the winter months are slow for me. And with that my motivation and enthusiasm plummet. Knowing that His plan for me is to get through the day is some times all I need to keep on going.
I have very recently joined your mailing list and this afternoon opened my first edition. It’s all glorious! I loved everything about your website/blog, etc. I was especially drawn to the photo of you and your husband…. I literally stared at it and cried. Happy tears! The joy you two exude was just way over the top; and I sat there with an enviable heart wishing I had what you both obviously have. But God has His plan for me. It is one of the sweetest pictures I’ve seen.
I am quite familiar with you, your enterprise, your wonderful books (I love your style of bible study at the end of some of your books) and speaking engagements, etc. I have read your bio and felt as if I were reading my own… we eventually grow up – lol. Thank you so much for your spirit, your grace, your enthusiasm and motivation. And you’re pretty funny too, I might add.
Trusting in the Lord is my daily walk. For 14yrs now I have had to have knee surgery they are bone on bone I have seen 5 surgeons and schedule surgery 3 times. The Still voice said trust me! I have for 14yrs .sometimes the pain is so horrific and I schedule surgery and he shows me once again to trust him . I can walk and now no pain except standing for a long length of time. I am expecting a perfect healing! I understand why now he has said trust in him. It’s not for everyone to be like me but it’s what he had to do with me to get my attention. He said it’s not about me its about him in me! Think about it! Totally him in me! Example: I am vacationing in Colorado and I have 5 tall steps to climb and when I got to the last step I fell backwards and I cried out to God and all of a sudden a hand held me up still falling backwards and started to take giant steps backwards down the steps and ended up still standing and hit the garage wall gently! Trust his love is all you have in this earthly world. Thanks for letting me share !JUJU
******HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! *****
Hi Liz, I so enjoy receiving your emails. They are inspiring and encouraging.
I started my cancer journey fall 2018 and will have breast surgery April 16th. From the moment the pathology doctor said “it is cancer” I knew God was in control. I knew He knew my diagnosis before I knew it. I knew He was walking with me, carrying me and that He had gone before me and knew my future. That what ever my future held that I could rest in Him. He has put both you and Ann Graham-Lotz in my path as strong Women of Faith and I know He has us in His hand. Ii know He has a plan for me. I am the WOmen’s Ministry leader at our church and I want my journey to encourage and inspire women to be strong in their faith, in their walk and to always trust their Father. Praying for you and trusting God with you for His perfect plan for you. God Bless, Anita VanHaitsma
Wonderful Easter has blessed each and everyone on us in the
United States and the world .Thank you Jesus for the Wonderful
Easter.
Happy Anniversary and wonderful health news !
God has been revealing his plan for me regarding retirement and moving from NJ to Georgia. We have been praying for some time about this and wanting to follow Gods plan. We visited the church we will attend in Georgia and first person we spoke to was at the welcome desk from New Jersey ! Then she proceeded to tell us one of the Pastors was from the Jersey Shore. Our cashier at Belk in the mall, you guessed it from NJ. And on the way home our car rental lady was from NJ. We are feeling very encouraged that God is speaking to our hearts. What an Amazing God we serve. He is either say Jersey girl stay there or Okay Jersey girl come on down. HAH Blessings Liz
It’s a happy day when your email arrives! Wishing you and Bill a happy anniversary and so many more happy years together. Praying for your health and that God allows you to continue being the wonderful encourager and teacher to so many people. Lots of love and hugs,
Liz
Always enjoy your studies and books.
I lost my beloved of 44 years to Agent Orange. Not our plan but God’s.
Gerry’s battle was long and hard. But was so faithful. The right medicine, Drs..The right and only God in control . God gave us the strength to keep him home till, He took home.
God has redirected my life. A life I wasn’t ready to accept. Lonely, scared but Blessed. His love, grace ,has replaced the emptiness. Each day he shows me the jewels He has laid before me.
To comfort others, help them find God’s grace through their pain. His word is so full of hope. It is new each morning, the pain will lessen in time, and a time to remember with tears of precious joy and sorrow all in one. God Bless you and for the your books and studies.
What glorious news indeed 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
My husband was injured at work 6 years ago. He became angry, bitter, unkind and disabled.
Years of verbal abuse and control lead to one day of physical constraint. In A fit of anger one day, he pinned me in a chair by the wrists, shouting all sorts of abuse at me with our three sons in the room next door.
I prayed in tears for the strength to call the police and he was arrested and out of our lives for 18 months.
Time for us to heal and when I could return to church ( he had banned us from the indoctrination of religion years before. )
Fast forward to thanksgiving last year, and I find out he’s in hospital in end stage kidney disease and going to a nursing home.
I’m from Scotland, have no family in the US, his family are distant.
I prayed for so much guidance and wisdom, spoke at length with the kids and we decided to bring him home on hospice care.
He’s a changed man in so many ways, and physically weak and appreciative.
I didn’t know what to expect but I’ve trusted God to give me what I need when I needed it and He has been faithful.
Love, a sister.
Happy 33rd anniversary Dearheart ! I love that picture of the two of you . You just look jubilant!! Thank you for oozing with joy ,and being so willing to continue encouraging us all to press in to God .
Oh, lass, such great news! So happy for your “no sign of disease” and the WONDERFUL celebration of 33 years with your Bill. Thanks for letting us share in your joyful news.
Had an amazing journey with g\God in February ~ through some family chaos and confusion on my part, I ended up with the goal of finishing a novel by Feb. 28 (for an open submission) and by Feb 1 being only half finished. I doubted I could complete the book much less revise and polish but asked God to guide me each day what he wanted me to do, and to give me the strength for whatever he wanted. Instead of the time I could usually devote before pain knocked me out, I found He not only enabled me to work long hours, but guided the story in some downright surprising ways ~ and we finished the book, revised, polished, with hours to spare and 4500 words over the minimum! In His gentle and totally reliable way God showed He still has stories He wants me to share, and He taught me how to write WITH Him. Glorious month. Thank you, Lizzie, for always encouraging us to trust Him. He IS.
So happy to hear your wonderful news!! His blessings are magnificent and new every morning!! I just want to share that I live by this verse every day. God is creating a new work in me, which seems like it has been a long season, but I know to Him it is momentary. I know that God has and is calling me into a deeper prayer ministry. Some what intimidating but so necessary! I read about the power of prayer and have listened to so many awesome stories and testimonies of the power of prayer that I am in awe! My heart wants to increase this wonderful communication with Him, but my life gets in the way at times. He is teaching me day by day how to pray for others and when I can’t find the words He is teaching me to trust in His Holy Spirit to pray on my behalf!! Some days, this is scary and other days this is overwhelming, but I long to spend my time with Him in prayer more and more! I am excited to see His hand at work in my life and how my prayers for others are answered by our one true God!! Amazing!
Liz, the Lord revealed His plan for me just two days ago — when I was told that I’ll be in the control group for a clinical trial. The cancer I have had spread to my lungs, so something “aggressive” was recommended — either immunotherapy or chemo. Because this trial is randomized — 50 % of patients go on each “arm” — I knew God would determine the outcome. The group I’m in is on chemo, and I am trusting God’s wonderful plan! “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Hi Liz,
This is your one million and one friend from now in Florida, from Wisconsin. The year 2018 was a year that Adonai showed me how much He loved me. I was told in April of that year when I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia that I also had a heart problem. My heart was weak only working 25% and I had a number of clogged arteries. So they wanted me to rest and take a bunch of medication to strengthen it. So I July 6th, I had five bypass surgery and it was awesome what Adonai did next. They have you watch videos and I also spoke to a person who had open heart surgery so I would know what to expect. So I wake up from surgery expecting the side effects from the surgery and there were none!!!!!!!!! So I came home and I followed the doctors orders and sat for eight weeks, except for the exercises they wanted me to do. I had a home nurse come to visit for two weeks, and she was a Christian, so I told her I didn’t have any side effects, and we got to talk about Adonai. I also had to have a Therapist and he also was a Christian, so he could see I was doing well, like six months beyond what one usually is after surgery and of course we talked about His Word and how AWESOME Adonai is. So I am walking outside in this gorgeous Florida weather before the heat and humidity come and going three miles in the morning and I get to intercede and praise my God!!!! What I learned was even if you are expecting the worst, Adonai does His best. The medications are also down to only four kinds, going for none, and I know He had healed me!!!!
So for you, I am adding you to my prayer list and will pray the Word over you every morning until it is answered.
Have a Fabulous Friday!!!!
Your sister in Christ
Joyce
God has been wonderful through the women of my Bible study. We met this Tuesday, opening His Word and hearing His voice. The Lord does something wonderful when we gather and open our hearts to hear Him.
What a marvelous Super Strategic God we serve! I was unemployed due to a layoff with NO INCOME for seven months. None, nothing, nada. I have never been in this place before. Twice I was denied unemployment because I worked for a religious organization who was not required to pay into unemployment. Friends blessed me again and again. Father continued to meet every need. Indeed, Career Builder, and Zip Recruiter were in my mailbox every day, all day. I stopped counting the number of resumes and applications filled out on line after 100. Then it happened. In January I received a call and on February 19th I started a new job making more in salary then I ever have in life. And guess what? I originally applied for work with this company in July, then again in November. Neither time was I offered the position even though I thought the interviews went well. I worked with them for 12 years about 15 years ago. The day before they called in January to offer me the position, I was standing at the kitchen table and said, “Lord, You know I qualified for that job. What happened? Then I said, “Lord You know all things. I will continue to trust You!”. Oh yes, He always has a plan and knows just what He is doing. I am forever grateful for His love and care!
“Blessed to be a blessing” our Pastor is now with the Lord – however he touched so many lives including my own. When I lost my Dad, he sent a card from his wife and himself – “We are Easter people”. Indeed we are. I pray for friends, coworkers, family – every one is going through something and most is unknown to others. We need to be kind to each other and listen. We need to live the words…
Thank you Liz for your encouragement as you yourself have gone through so very much in your life. To share your story, your journey with others to lift them up and give them hope. Our hope – our Savior, our Lord…being Easter people.
I have been blessed to be stay at home mom for the last 30 years. Recently we came to the conclusion due to medical bills, I will need to go find employment. This may sound wimpy, but I love being able to watch my grandson and homeschool my youngest daughter and be available to the family. Working outside the home was not my plan. nor my desire. However I wrestled with God and have completely surrendered to what He wants for my family and myself. Whatever He wants for me…. I know His plan is best. What an adventure walking with God is.
I have been struggling with whether I had heard the Lord’s calling in volunteering in a particular ministry. I though I had heard His call, but as humankind does, I was questioning. So on a night of particularly bad insomnia (medication induced), I thought and prayed and talked to God. I had a particular church in my area that I was concerned about ( I serve as a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child). I knew I needed to reach out and planned, the day before, to do so. So that night I prayed a lot, about many things, but mostly was my service pleasing to Him? I am not even kidding when I tell you that the very next day, while driving, my phone rang. The caller ID indicated it was THAT CHURCH!! It is in His time! His plan IS wonderful! All things are in His time. Needless to say I went on with my day ( after the conversation) with an amazingly happy & grateful heart! Praise His holy name!
Isaiah has so many beautiful verses among which Isaiah 28:29 is a favorite. Thank God for your good report. God is good all the time,God is good.
It was a pleasure to be able to hear you speak at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. this past February 1 & 2, 2019. It was one of the best conferences that we’ve had and all that came with me enjoyed the inspiration that you brought to us. I previously had purchased a couple of your books, but now have started to read and I’m so caught up in the story of Unveiling of Mary Magdeline that I can’t put it down. I had purchased several others at the end of the conference and just ordered 3 of the Easter books for my sisters. I hope I will get to personally hear you speak again as your personal story meant a lot. I will continue to pray for you and your ministry and service to the Lord.
I have (had) a friend that was my best friend. Something changed and she has been cold and distant. It hurts horrible. I work with her as well. God has placed it on my heart to let her go. After months of agonizing over this, He has allowed my heart to be calm. Work will be work not social anymore and it will all be ok. I can feel him holding my hand and so much peace in my heart. I will forever have lost someone I love but as it goes….if you love someone set them free. What a beautiful season to have this peace as Easter is my absolute FAVORITE. Not the bunny but the lamb. And purple has ALWAYS been my favorite color, even as a child. So this season I will be at peace with life and know that God is holding me in his love. CONGRATULATIONS to you Liz!!!