This Week – Starting: 08/12/2024

My Request:

I’ve mentioned the struggle I’ve had recently. Last Tuesday I found out I need another Brain surgery. Back in December 2020 I was diagnosed with an Epidermoid Brain tumor. I had two surgeries in 2021 for this. Due to complications I had after the second surgery I did not have the third planned surgery. My surgeon has been watching it with annual MRIs. This past Tuesday was my year three checkup (hard to believe it’s been three years). It was found the tumor has grown in the past year and my surgeon suggested operation again. There’s no concern with this type of tumor being cancerous but the Epidermoid tumor is like skin cells in the brain which grow like skin and has caused some trouble. I’m not experiencing any kind of negative effects of this right now as I was in 2020. The doctor is hopeful this surgery will be more ahead of the tumor than behind it like we were in 2021.

Here’s my request:

PRAY please. I have three specific prayer requests right now:

• Pray I stay in a positive head space leading up to this surgery which is sheduled for October 9.
• Pray for my family as we go through this.
• Pray specifically for the surgery on October 9 and that I do not have the same type problems I had before. Please pray I get back to life fairly quickly like I did in my first surgery.

Thanks!

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This Week’s Posts:

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Encouragement This Week:

I mentioned some of my struggles last week. These struggles are more mental than anything else. It’s in the quiet I start to doubt. I do not fear death but my fear is more of still being on this earth and not being able to support my family or do the things I love.

I know that in April of 1996 I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Because of this I believe that when called from here I’ll spend eternity in heaven. I told someone the other day I place everything in the promise we’re given in scripture but especially John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

This week in the bible recap reading plan has been mostly from the book of Jeremiah in the bible. The verse that hit me the hardest was Jeremiah 31:35. In it we’re reminded of the power of our heavenly Father. This week, when I start to doubt I’m reminding myself God, who created it all, loves me and sent his Son, Jesus, to die for me.

he who appoints the sun
    to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
    to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
    so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is his name Jeremiah 31:35

As I was thinking about these verses I thought of the song Firm Foundation (He Won’t). After listening to this song I looked up the scripture it came from:

 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

CHRIST IS MY FIRM FOUNDATION!

Do you know him too?

I believe salvation is as easy as ABC. Admit You’re A Sinner, Believe Jesus Is Lord, Call Upon His Name (Confess).

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

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My Favorite Photograph This Week: