This Week – Starting: 09/02/2024

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!

-Michael

This Week’s Posts:

Milky Way Photography

More Long Exposure Photography (with moonlight)

A surprise sunrise

Star Trail Photography

Encouragement This Week:

My scripture and encouragement came from a book I’m reading right now: The Bait Of Satan by John Bevere. In it the other day he mentioned Peter from scripture. Peter had messed up. He denied knowing Jesus three time (just as Jesus had said he’d do). In my encouraging verse of scripture for the week the bible says Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to Jesus’s tomb to put spices on Jesus’s body in the tomb but they got to the tomb and found the stone rolled away and were told Jesus had risen. Then they were told to go tell the disciples and go tell Peter specifically he was risen. The point in the book was after Peter had messed up he was specifically called out. It was known he was down and needed the word from the Lord. But “Go tell Peter”… Go tell Peter I’ve risen, go tell Peter I forgive him, go tell Peter I love him. Go tell Peter. A little later we’ll see Peter in scripture go tell many others about Jesus. We’ll see him be used to spread the good news!

Peter, who had so many experiences with Jesus even though he messed up he was called to go see Jesus who is ALIVE! The point that hit me in this is Peter was in the group of disciples who were mentioned but he was specifically called to be told.

 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:6-7

He calls us out.

My song of encouragement is Laren Daigle’s “Trust In You” this song came on the radio the other morning. There’s so many nuggets of hope in it. My life has been full of struggles, when I get down and forget something like this song comes on the radio. I’m thankful for the hope I have in this life because of my faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ.

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:

Wish to support future content here on my blog? I have this beautiful canvas print available for purchase:

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

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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

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