Overcoming Obstacles

"15 months after diagnosis, non-stop chemo, Y90 radiation and even a failed attempt at resection - constantly searching for a surgeon willing to operate again - he finally had his tumor resected on 10/31! We've been in NYC for the last 3 weeks - his (amazing) surgeon was Dr Tomoaki Kato at NY Presbyterian / Children's Hospital of NY. The procedure took 14 hours - the tumor was approximately 7" in diameter. My son did very well and was released in just 6 days. We are SO relieved that this beast is out of him, but know that there are many challenges ahead. We will learn more about the next phase of treatment within a few weeks. For now, we head back to Memphis and St Jude - just in time for the holidays - with MUCH to be thankful for. So many on this page have been incredibly supportive and helpful in this endeavor - thank you to each of you! Wishing you peace, love and health - Happy Thanksgiving to all!"     -an update from a mother in a liver cancer group

"Love updates! Thank you for sharing. Praying for your baby boy and your momma heart. May the Lord use this time to refresh your soul! Breathe. Big hugs."     -my response

"Thank you - I hadn't thought about that!! Guess it's time to stop holding my breath for a few days!"     -the mother's response

We can become so caught up in our pain we forget to breathe. The word breath in Greek and Hebrew means, "spirit". When Adam was created it was God who breathed life into him. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 This reminds me our body is a lifeless shell until God brings it to life with the means of His "breath of life." Without His life-giving breath our bodies are dust. Therefore, our lives and worth come from God's Spirit. 

Jesus helped His disciples receive the Spirit of God by breathing on them. And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 There is life in the breath of God. Man did not come alive until God breathed into him the breath of life. God's first breath made man different from other forms of creation. Through the breath of Jesus, God imparted eternal spiritual life. With the breathing came power to do God's will on earth. 

A few years ago, I walked through unexplained deep dark waters. This was a huge obstacle which caused me to be mad and anger. I wanted to go back to who I was before. I wanted out of the web of darkness. During this time, I found benefits of a breathing exercise. Some days it was all I could do to manage relaxing my body. My daily life began benefitting as I healed. My worship time pressed forward one day at a time. I found Him closer as a new season of spiritual growth was being planted.

Maybe you are like the momma at the beginning of this blog post not thinking about taking a breath. We all face obstacles of different shapes and sizes: staying home with three small children, walking through a tough spot in our marriage, a hard day at the office, a cold which causes our child to run fever for seven days, a spouse away with military duties, last week of your college semester, days before a break from the kids in your classroom, tending to an aging parent, walking through grief of a lost love one, etc. My encouraging hope is you find Him too no matter which obstacle is before you. Breathe. Breathe His life into your lungs. Refresh. Relax. Grow. Be open. Take one day at a time. 

You may even like to try the breathing exercise. This exercise can release the feelings of being overwhelmed. If so, open one of your hands, it does not matter which one, stretch all your fingers out. As if, you are going to trace your hand on a piece of paper. Turn your hand over so your palm faces you. Use your pointer finger from your other hand. Start on the outside of your thumb. Using the pointer finger trace up the side of your thumb, then down the inside of your thumb. You will continue doing this on each finger. Each time you go up, breath in through your nose - smell flowers, and each time you go down, exhale through your mouth - blow out a candle. This can be done anytime you think about it. No one has to even know you are practicing this exercise. Do it sitting at a red light, before you go to bed, in a waiting room, at your desk, lunch, walking through the park, etc.

The feelings of being overwhelmed is not of the Lord. It causes our bodies to hype-up which increases our heart rate causing us to breath fast and shallow. Our body then tries to escape the threat of danger by sending unmanaged amounts of blood from our brains out to our limbs looking to escape the challenge of danger. Stress hormones flood our body causing stress and tension-headaches, back pain, indigestion, depression, etc. 

When we practice this exercise, it provides balance. A chance for our bodies to respond redirecting rational thoughts safely with self-control, Galatians 5:22-23, a fruit of the Spirit. This then slows the heart rate with focus providing sensory feed back to our brains. Our bodies gain oxygen, a healing "breath of life"-strengthen the heart, tone muscles, slow down effects of aging, increase energy, improve digestion, alleviate some emotional problems, etc.

INHALE                                                  

clarity                                     

strength                                                                  

peacefulness                                        

positive outlook                          

fresh start                                     

EXHALE

stress

fear

tension

bad stuff

the past

For a moment of worship, listen to Kari Jobe's song Here.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Remeber to breathe this holiday season. I am thankful for you, my readers, more than you will ever know. Share This Post Tabs are located at the bottom of this post for easy sharing. 

Have you practiced this breathing exercise before?

Do you classify your problems as different then others?

Are you overwhelmed?

Are you breathing?

Thank you to the mother who agreed letting me share this portion of her families’ story. She has already touch my heart. I hope others are touched as well. May you be inspired regardless what you are walking through to breathe. 

I said God

Saying something about God in written words is easy.

Saying something about God to the guy at the cash register is a little harder. I handed him my receipt along with the item I was exchanging. We walked over together looking on a table for the new item. Once we found what I was looking for, I proceed to ask him about another item. We walked over to a shelf on the wall. 

This is a store I've shopped in for years. So knowing their normal sales procedure and knowledge of the products, I could almost guess he'd not worked there long. 

After helping me find the second item, I asked him how long he had worked there. His response, "about three weeks". By this time we were back at the register, I smiled nodding my head. "Oh, three weeks. That's cool." 

"Yea, my wife got me this job for now. I used to work at such and such police department."

My eyes lit up, "really". I proceed to tell him I was very familiar with that line of work as it's in my family. "Yea, the administration was a little off and I just needed a break." Expressing I understood, "will you ever go back into law enforcement?" He wasn't quite sure. 

It happened in that moment, I said, "You know, God could have been using the struggle to remove you from there. He could be pressing you on to something bigger and better He has in store for you. Don't give up on law enforcement. There's a need for it more this day and time than anything. I know it can be scary to be out there."

He nodded his head. We talked a little more, I showed him how to combined punch cards. Paid. Said, "You have a good day." Walked out of the store.

This part right here is between you, the reader, and me only. "He'd be better off on the road."

I know without a doubt God was using me in this guys life. This was a store, I typically don't like to go in. Simply, because it's way out of my way. It was something on my to-do list I set out to conquer. I could've gone any other day. He might not have been working another day.

God is good like that. He is tiny stepping stones for some of us. And big gaping leaps for others.

What a great opportunity to shine His love in this guys life. It's easy to share a word from God or even scripture on Facebook, on my blog, in a book, at church or Bible study. This was the real deal. I didn't set out to say this. It rolled off my lips before I knew it. I felt His empowerment. Hopefully, this guys soul ruffled with His spirit like mine did. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Act 1:8

I pray this equips him. And is used as a piece of his story one day. May he remember it for life. 

My thoughts are: 

This guy may have been saved as a child but not currently walking. He may have been out of church for awhile needing this reminder to follow Him again. He may have never had someone mentioned God to him and draw closer to knowing Him. Or he may have been already listening for Gods favorable voice and heard it in that moment. 

Go beyond what you normally do. Ask God to show up in places He wouldn't normally in your walk. Ask him to use you in others life in public in your daily routine.

Say, God.