This Week – Starting: 08/26/2024

My Request:

I’ve mentioned the struggle I’ve had recently. A few weeks ago 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!

This Week’s Posts:

---

---

---

Encouragement This Week:

This week’s encouragement will come from two day’s reading in the Bible Recap reading plan. Saturday’s reading was Lamentations 1-2. I’ll admit I was not too excited for Lamentations! The verse that really stuck out to me in this day’s reading was Lamentations 2:19.

Arise, cry out in the night,
    as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
    in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
    for the lives of your children,
who faint from hunger
    at every street corner. – Lamentations 2:19

This reading really convicted me of my need to pour out my heart to the Lord. I spend too much of my time pouring it out to others but not to the creator God who loves me so much he sent his only son to die for me so that I may have eternal life.

I spent quite a bit of time Saturday thinking on this verse then late Saturday was out in creation listening to music and taking pictures (I’ll post those next week). One of the songs in my playlist is the hymn How Great Thou Art. In this moment I was surrounded by God’s creation and could not help but “Lift up my hands to him”.

How Great He Is!

Then Sunday’s reading in the Bible Recap was Lamentations 3-5. Lamentations 3:18 hit me. I said yep, been there!

Then I thought, “My future is lost,
as well as my hope from the Lord.” Lamentations 3:18 (CSB)

Then I kept reading and I marked Lamentations 3:22-24 as a BUT God moment.

Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish, for his mercies never end.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” -Lamentations 3:22-24 (CSB)

Because of his faithful love…

Great is his faithfulness!

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:

---

Thanks so much for stopping by to read my ramblings! I have a few requests:

• Please consider subscribing if you’d like to be notified of when I post again.
• Leave a comment
• Share with a friend.

These three items help me to know if I am doing this right. A comment (good or bad) helps me to know what’s working and what’s not.

Thanks!

-Michael Gilbert

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