This Week – Starting: 08/19/2024

This is my weekly summary of posts made this week plus a few extra parts.

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!

-Michael

Here’s a link to my story in case you’re curious:

This Week’s Posts:

Cut-Off Creek birds

Watching the kite again

Backyard birding

Long exposure photography

Encouragement This Week:

This week I’ve had multiple moments of amazement at the love of our heavenly father, God. We’re reminded (I know I keep posting it) in the bible: 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

As I was thinking on this amazement I turned to our friend Google and searched for scripture on amazement and the next few verses are where I was taken…

I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. -Psalm 119:162

I also read this verse with Psalm 119:162 as it was pointed as a cross reference while I was reading.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. – Psalm 119:111

Then from Psalm 119:162 I was pointed to 1 Peter.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Yes, by his wounds we are healed! I’m thankful, amazed at the love in that statement. Then I was taken to Isaiah 53 to read a prophesy of the coming Messiah.

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. – Isaiah 53:4-6

Especialy, when I’m in the outdoors in creation. Right now that’s in the cool of the morning or as the sun sets in the evening. I’m reminded, I’m amazed, I’m in Awe of the love of our heavenly father who created everything I’m seeing…loved me so much he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for my sins so I could have eternal life in heaven. I’ll repeat it:

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

So I’m standing amazed in the presence of Jesus, who took my sin and sorrows. He made them his very own on Calvary!

Do you know him?

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

My Favorite Photograph This Week:

Michael Gilbert: This blog is a personal project of ramblings from me on a variety of subjects.This blog is a personal project of ramblings from me on a variety of subjects. My focus here will be a life outdoors (mostly in South Arkansas)…looking for beauty from my heavenly father in as many moments as I can find myself in. Of course I scatter in some other stuff as my life is so scattered most days. Sorry if I ramble too much!

If you’re curious on who this rambling redneck from south Arkansas is you can read my story here.

Thanks for stopping by to read my ramblings!

-Michael

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. -Philippians 1:20 (NIV)