February 16, 2016
http://larrylundstromministries.org/Blog?blogid=1624&view=post&articleid=February-16-2016&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
REQUESTING SPECIAL PRAYER FOR GLORIA'S HEALTH
----THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!---
Last weekend, many celebrated Valentine's Day with lacey romantic cards, boxes of chocolates wrapped in red foil, beautiful bouquets of flowers, all which announce, "I love you."
For Gloria and I, it was our 50th Valentine's Day together. Our first one was in Texas, and I remember trying to afford to buy her a couple of red roses on a $50/month income. But with the smile that was on her face when she saw the roses, I was convinced the money was "well spent." This Valentine's Day, we thought we would be in the warm temperatures of Arizona, but due to Gloria's mom's health failing, we flew back to South Dakota to be with her and help the siblings care for her which meant we were here for some very cold temperatures....thanks goodness we had our "love" (and a great furnace) to keep us warm! HA!
One cannot think about Valentine's Day without thinking about the heart. For Gloria and I in our 50th year, the word heart brings a whole new meaning. In late September, Gloria and I were at our home church celebrating our 50th year in ministry and marriage. What a memorable time! The next morning we were in our own home, in our own coffee chairs, when Gloria announces, "Honey, I think I should go to the hospital and have my blood pressure checked. I am so tired and weak; I'm just having a hard time breathing. Something just doesn't feel right!" In a near panic I questioned, "What do you mean something doesn't feel right?" With a puzzled look on her face, she said, "Something feels wrong-I feel like I have a cage of birds fighting to get out of my chest and it's really hard to breathe."
Thinking to myself it was just a severe attack of fatigue after a power-packed year of rallies and events-we didn't really worry too much… until we were at the hospital and they listened to her heart, rushed her down for an EKG, looked at us and said, "You have a serious case of A-FIB (atrial fibrillation)." Gloria asked, "And, what is that?" The doctor replied, "This is when the heart atria beat so fast and unevenly that the atria quivers instead of contracting. If the atria doesn't contract, they don't move enough blood into the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles), the blood that
doesn't keep moving can pool and form clots and cause a serious stroke."
Gloria and I looked at each other and we went from what we thought was a case of exhaustion to a serious heart problem. From that moment to still now has been a whirlwind of doctors, two short stays in the hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, followed by more tests, medicines, etc. We keep needing to have the medication adjusted...tweaking here and tweaking there. We are praying the most recent adjustment will be an answer to prayer.
Sadly, I have seen Gloria change from a "non-stop, energizer bunny" to hardly being able to walk up steps or very far because it is so hard to breathe. Gloria has been put on a "slow-down, shut-down" order by doctors so she can regain her health. With the "heart issue" we are taking the time, slowing down our schedule and asking God to show us how to balance our ministry and lifestyle that we both love so much. We are asking for your prayers for her and us at this time.
Spiritually speaking, there are times our spiritual heart and lives just seem "exhausted," but in reality it is really more serious than what we thought. I believe we need to change from loving the things of God to loving God more, and the rest (our heart) will heal. Lord, help us to keep a "hot, passionate" heart for you.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
Gloria
UPCOMING RALLIES
***Please be sure to call either the ministry office or the church prior to the service to verify that all is as scheduled due to these health issues as well as some family health issues. Thank you!
March 6 AM
Fountain of Life Community Church
Prescott Valley, AZ
928-775-5148
March 13 AM
First Assembly of God
Apache Junction, AZ
480-983-1200
{Quote}
"Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
{Chuckle/Reflection}
1. WHO SHOULD YOU MARRY?
-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports and she should keep the chips and dip coming.-- Alan, age 10
- No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
-Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
-You might have to guess based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
-Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. -- Curt, age 7
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
-It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is ...
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10
{Recipe}
Red Velvet Cake
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups corn oil
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cocoa
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
2 oz red food coloring
Mix all of the ingredients together . Pour into a 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
{Household Hint}
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
