Category Archives: Everyday News

He NEVER Leaves Us!

 

Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain

As followers of this blog you may have noticed I haven’t posted anything since my April 7th message “Are we a people of the WORD?” .   We, as Christians have all heard or made the statement “If you’re going to talk the talk; then ya better walk the walk”.  I say with honesty I will not post anything on this blog that I don’t live by myself.   Thursday April 4th as I studied in John chapter 10 (The Good Shepherd), Scofield referenced Jeremiah 23:1 with John 10:1 so as I often do, I went to Jeremiah 23 and began reading.  I got so caught up in the message, I read through the 28th chapter.  I looked up at the clock— WOW  1:10 pm — I missed my noon medications and snack.  I got up quickly from the couch (too quickly I realize now), my feet went toward the kitchen and my torso stayed in a forward position.  I heard a snap; like a rubber band being stretched to its limit, ready to pelt someone across a room.  I walked two steps before I experienced a twisting, tightening muscle spasm.  Down the leg on the outside, across the toes and up the inner thigh– one humongous ‘Charlie-horse’ (have no idea why they call it that).  I attempted to walk it off and stretch, but nothing helped.  No let up… this thing was constant.  Anyone familiar with the 1-10 pain scale… this was a 12!  I’ve birthed 7 children, and this was like being in labor.  By Friday evening I knew something was wrong (duh) so a friend drove me to the ER.  One of my herniated lumbar vertebral discs decided to “pop”… diagnosis  lumbar radiculopathy.  After giving me 2 shots (dilaudid and tordal–the strong stuff) the doctor wrote out 3 prescriptions for some heavy-duty stuff, let me rest some and sent me home with a referral to my family doctor on Tuesday.  My family doc sent me for an MRI, scheduled an appointment with a specialist and I had to retrieve any previous MRI s to take with me to that appointment.  Now, I am not a pain wimp; but even those super meds did very little to alleviate the constant,  excruciating muscle spasms and loss of feeling in my toes and lower leg area.  For two full weeks I lived in sheer agony with little sleep (maybe 24 hours total) until I saw the neurological pain specialist last Friday the 19th.   The specialist I’d seen 7 years ago for my back issues, so he remembered my condition.  He looked at the new MRI, did some reflex and feeling tests and told me “Well, I don’t like to do surgery until we try shots”.  So the next thing I knew I was in the surgical pain unit of the hospital being prepped for a ‘epidural steroid injection’.  The entire procedure was like an out-patient surgery.  They sedated me, used an x-ray machine to locate the precise spot for the injection, and kept me until I ate a cookie (smile) and drank something.  I was given a follow-up appointment for May 3rd and told by Doctor D. that I’d be back to normal within 2-3 days.  Whoopeee…  I would be able to take care of myself again!  I must tell you I have wonderful neighbors and amazing children.  One neighbor loaned me a recliner and brought me a few meals, another gave me a special pillow and checked up on me 2-3 times a day.  My daughter’s called often  and even helped me out with washing my hair.   I must stop here for today because sitting on this office chair is quite uncomfortable, so I’ll finish up tomorrow.   I learned three very important lessons during this time about our flesh, our faith and God’s caring love.  I will share them with you (hopefully) tomorrow.♥

During that time, my prayers were simple… Father I love you!  My Bible reading was nearly impossible because of the pain and medications, but I did read John 10 everyday on my phone’s KJV app. 

Genesis 28:15 ” And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest , and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

Hebrews 13:5 ” Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said , ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ “

May your day be blessed with the power and knowledge of His continual presence in your life as His adopted child through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! © Streim

Praise To Our Faithful God (prayer request report)

To all of you who faithfully prayed for my daughter Mandi’s ovarian surgery and my granddaughter’s hand surgery I say (with much honest, heartfelt, Holy Spirit ignited joy) THANK YOU! 

Mandi’s had a cancerous tumor removed and a small portion of her fallopian tube.  It tested “benign” and the doctor was able to save the ovary!   Right before they wheeled her into surgery, she posted on Facebook a family picture and said “Surgery time.  MAY GOD’S WILL BE DONE”.  Mandi had placed all her trust in the Lord… as did all of you, along with family and many others in the Great Physician, our Heavenly Father.   Mandi’s recovery is going extremely well, with the assistance of her boyfriend and her sisters.

Missy (Joeie-JoJo’s mommy) also sent out a text message with a similar message.  Joeie’s surgery went well.  Both thumbs are straightened and the extra tendons released!  Praise God this little 25 pound toddler made it through this.  She calls the big bandages on her hands “mittens” and wants to take them off already.  Mom said this morning she’s back to her normal self!

I Thessalonians 5: 16-24 “  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Quench not the Spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Prayer Chruch Sign

The Word of God is Truth, and when we live obediently according to the Scriptures, Our Heavenly Father desires to answer our petitions, requests and supplications.  In faith believing and in the blessed name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, being led by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God… joyful praise and thanksgiving is given to our Most Holy LORD God because He is and always will be “faithful and giving to His children”!   ♥Streim  ©

~~Prayer Warriors Needed~~

I know we have a very strong prayer community within this “blogging” space– so my dear brothers and sisters within the True Body of Christ, I’m reaching out today on behalf of two very special people in my life.   Tomorrow morning (Tuesday 7:30 CDT) my second youngest daughter Mandilyn (27) is having a very serious surgery, while 100 miles away, at the same exact time my youngest granddaughter Joeie (2) is having hand surgery.

I’ve requested prayer for Mandilyn before that the trial birth control would shrink the mass on her right ovary.  (for a little history Mandi had a mass removed from the left ovary July 2011)  The previous mass was created by a ruptured egg , however this one is completely different.  And… it hasn’t shrunk at all, it is the size of a golf ball.  Her doctor has no real idea what the mass is but it’s not the same as before and we know that the doctor may have to remove the entire ovary.  Mandi understands state and has accepted that God is in control of the situation (she knows Him as Savior— but is not walking with Him). 

Little Joeie has a strange condition for an infant.  Both of her thumbs has extra tendons; causing the thumbs to always be bent.  It looks like arthritis would.  A hand specialist is going to snip the extra tendons to release the thumbs.  Her mother, my youngest daughter Missy knows the Lord and trusts all will work well.

I am asking 1) prayer for Mandi that the doctor may have true wisdom; for Mandi to be impressed by God’s love for her through this; and finally that it is not ovarian cancer!

For little Joeie 1) that there won’t be any difficulties with the surgery and that recovery be minimal, as you can imagine a 2-year-old with bandaged hands; also prayer for my daughter Missy and daddy Justin. 

*** As I been doing my study through the Gospel of John I am finding the most beautiful, blessed truths about the love of the Father in heaven and how He loved us so much to send His ONLY begotten to live as we, die a horrible death without any sin of His own (of course Jesus was God in the flash) for the sole purpose of reconciling man to the Himself– The LORD God Almighty.  This past week I’ve been reading and studying the words Jesus spoke to His disciples just previous to His death.  I found none of these recorded in the other 3 gospels.  There is so much there— I’m craving the Word!  This I’d like to share, as it concerns me asking you for prayer support.***

John 16: 20-24  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament , but the world shall rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful , but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice , and your joy no man taketh from you.  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you , Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask , and ye shall receive , that your joy may be full .

Oh how I love you my Savior Jesus and my Forever Father in heaven.  Bless all those who will believe your words… and crave them!  Thank you all for considering, as the Holy Spirit leads to pray.  ♥ Streim