January 18, 2018

Happy New Year! Ooops….another speed bump!  Here is the update!  Several months ago the doctor found a questionable cyst through a CAT scan on my right kidney....

UPDATE:  We just wanted to let you know that Gloria went through her surgery like a champ and is recovering at this moment.  Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for a quick and full recovery!

 

*If you are reading this and going "what surgery"?  Feel free to read down to the end of this update, and you can read all about it!


Happy New Year! It seems like only yesterday that we were talking about the beginning of 2017…and now we are already dipping our toes into 2018. Let me correct myself! Not "already" as it has been 365 days, but my how time flies! 

We've enjoyed so many wonderful memories made with family over the holidays! 

 

 

The beginning of a new year often marks the time that we take inventory and see how many of our 2017 resolutions we kept and ask ourselves if they are still worth all the energy and intensity put into them. We ask questions like, "Did those resolutions strengthen my relationship with God, my spiritual walk, my emotional being and my health? Did those resolutions build stronger family ties, strengthen my marriage and make me more effective at my work?" Those are all important questions. If the answers are "Yes", then that is a good indicator to carry those resolutions into the new year.

 

Just as we evaluate the successes of our resolutions, we also consider the failures. We don't choose to dwell on them or beat ourselves up for not accomplishing them but we learn what we can from them, forget them and move on. Like Paul, we should

say, "…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth into those things which are before…I press toward the mark." (Phil. 3:13-14) In my experience, I find it very interesting that satan is always quick to bring up my failures of the past year

rather than my successes. Revelation 2:10 mentions that he is the "accuser of the brethren." That is what he does…he accuses. "You are a failure as a mother. See the struggles your children go through. You are not a good wife, mom or grandma because if you were, this bad thing would not have happened. You didn't accomplish this or that…so Gloria, it's your fault because you're not organized. You are a failure!"

Satan dwells on our failures. If I listen to him, I would give up, run away or dig a hole and crawl into it! But I find great comfort in God's Word in Philippians 4:13. I cannot and do not have to be perfect, but I do have to be dependent on Christ and abide in Him, finding my sustenance from who He is!

Psalm 62:5-8 says, "I depend on God alone; I put my hope in Him. He alone protects and saves me; He is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; He is my strong protector; He is my shelter. Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell Him all your troubles, for He is our refuge."

John 15:4-5, "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."

 

I can't afford to dwell on my failure of the last year. I must press forward and ask for God's wisdom and guidance to help me every step of the way. I would rather choose to try and fail, then to not have tried at all. I know that if I vow to put Christ first and foremost in my life, if I will get into His Word and devour it and if I will spend time in prayer each day…He will give me ALL that I need to live a life of godliness. 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

God has been faithful and will continue to be faithful as long as we are faithful to Him. I can truly rest in the words of the old hymn, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus."

 

 

Ooops….another speed bump!  Here is the update!  Several months ago the doctor found a questionable cyst through a CAT scan on my right kidney.  I am scheduled for aspiration surgery on January 24th.  At that time, they are going to drain the 12 centimeter cyst on my kidney.  They are pretty certain it is noncancerous but will do a biopsy at the same time.  The surgeon would like to try this procedure first.  They feel it will refill but feel this is a safer route than surgery to remove it as there is concern about messing and moving other organs during surgery.   They feel with that kind of surgery, there is 50/50 chance it will be successful and a 50/50 chance it would make it worse.  Thus, they are going to do the aspiration to drain it to relieve some of the pain and discomfort and….I look like I am six months pregnant!  (at this age…that doesn't feel very funny…HA!)  I told that to the surgeon and he responded, "Well, the cyst is the size of a baby's head so I can understand why you feel that way."  The surgery requires they will go through the back or side.  I chuckle a bit as it appears that life is taking on the "patch, patch, patch" pattern.

 

We would greatly covet and appreciate your prayers for successful surgery.

 

Sadly though, as a result of this latest speedbump, we felt it necessary to cancel our rallies in Arizona as the window of time for recovery was not matching up.  We are greatly saddened by this but know that we have to at this point.  The dates affected are February 4th in Apache Junction, AZ and February 11th in Glendale, AZ .  Thanks for your understanding, prayers and sticking with us! 

 

 

Gloria

 

 

 


REFLECTION

 


 


 

RECIPE

 

Broccoli Casserole

2 pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli

1/4 c. onion, chopped

1/2 c. butter

2 T. flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. water

8 oz. Cheez Whiz

3 eggs, broken

1/2 c. cracker crumbs

 

Set broccoli out to thaw. Melt better; add onion, flour, salt and water. Stir until smooth. Add Cheez Whiz and eggs. Stir until sauce forms. Mix 1/4 cup cracker crumbs and broccoli. Pour sauce over broccoli. Sprinkle with remaining cracker crumbs. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes. 

 

 


 

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