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Counter Attack the Enemy!

I am beginning to have real pains from the cancer tumors that are growing in my body. Before, over the last four years, I did not experience any pain from the cancer except in the chemo drugs used in fighting the disease. During Chemo, I would experience a stabbing sensation and the hope was that the chemo drugs were killing the cancer cells.

Think about it – a monster lurking in your body, quietly invading and taking over space pushing vital organs out of the way as it grows and manifests into an insatiable beast! I was almost convinced that I didn’t have cancer for I looked well, (in between chemotherapy and hair loss), I regained my energy and was able to live a full life! I even been able to push the big “C” to the back of my mind and act as if I was okay,

But reality always has a way of showing up. Pet and CT scans told a different story and revealed the immunotherapy was not effective anymore. The monster showed itself and I could not ignore it anymore.

Just as I am counter attacking the cancer, I think of spiritual warfare. What are the dark thoughts that enter into your mind unbidden? Where did they come from? Why do we dwell on them?

Spiritual attacks come at anytime. I’m usually the optimist and I had thoughts of hopelessness.. I had to catch myself and ask myself, when have you become the glass is half empty girl?

The devil and his minions certainly want to sever your relationship with the Lord, and he will try to convince you of feelings of hopelessness while fighting disease, addictions; worthlessness, of past regrets you relive over and over, that you are evil for having dark thoughts, and that how would God want you in His Kingdom because you are not good enough? Distrust and losing faith in the Lord come seeping in and you lose sight of Jesus as the waters sweep over you, feelings of drowning and being lost in the tempest of the storm of hopelessness.

I am here to tell you – Jesus is there! He always has been and always will be! In the storms of life the battle matures our faith as we go through the fire. We keep our eyes on Him as He pulls us out of the raging seas that are threatening to drown us and pull us under. In the storm, our faith is tested and strengthened. Here are my suggestions for fighting the darkness :

1. Know Jesus Christ as your Savior.
2. Be in relationship with Him and talk, pray to Him every day.
3. Read the Bible every day, even if it’s only one verse you have time for. Dwell, and meditate on its meaning and how it applies in your life. This is the Sword of the Spirit, (which is the Bible), and it’s used as an offensive and defensive weapon. When you take verses in the Bible and speak its truth, the darkness runs away, and peace, blessed peace and assurance returns.
4. You have a choice! When dark thoughts enter your mind, reject it and speak back to it. I speak this Bible verse often: …”We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5. NIV
5. Praise God! Be thankful and thank Him continually throughout the day. It’s very hard for dark thoughts to enter when you are thanking and praising Him through your words, by singing and reading the Bible verses throughout your day.
6. Serve the Lord. With the many blessings God bestows on us, I liken it to a water fountain overflowing onto others. What does it look like? To me, it is showing compassion and kindness to others, sharing Jesus, using the generosity that God gives us to help others monetarily. For how we treat others we are treating the Lord.
7. Keep your commitments. Stay busy and show up when you commit yourself to something. I realize that pain will keep you housebound at times, but try not to let it become the main thing. When you dwell on others, it helps to manage the pain.
8. Even if housebound, you can still read the Bible, praise Him and thank Him that He has brought you thus far. You can use one of the biggest weapons of all which is prayer and intercede on the behalf of others.

In the storms of life, God is in the midst.

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:7-8. NIV

In spite of adversity

I’ve been fighting cancer for 4 years. I recently discovered my cancer has grown and action has to be taken. In the past, I’ve underwent chemotherapy twice and 5 internal radiation treatments. Now I am facing a harsher chemo drug and 10 rounds of radiation to break up the nodules on the left side of my neck that has become quite painful. To say I feel deflated and defeated for a brief moment is an understatement.

But then I remembered a dream I had a few years ago. I was sleeping and in my dream, my surroundings took on a warm, yellow hue. My whole being was infused with a deep indescribable joy and I was being lifted upwards. Unfortunately, the sensation lasted for a few minutes as I felt myself being yanked down back into my body. The love I experienced was so strong and the joy so deep, I knew it was Jesus and I didn’t want to be separated from Him.

I hold on to that joy I experienced in my dream, it bubbles up, even in the valleys and tribulations in life. I feel the joy deep down inside, even when I must face hard things in life. Jesus is my source and strength.

You too can experience the joy of Jesus! Call out to Him, ask Him to forgive you for your sins and turn away from them. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and He came to earth in the flesh through a virgin girl to carry out the mission of the Father, to save whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life! This is the joy I feel, the sustaining love that Christ lives in me! The Holy Spirit, also known as the “Comforter” lives in you once you accept Jesus as your Savior. Therefore you are not alone.

God’s presence is complete and lasting joy.

”You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever more.”

Psalm 16:11 NKJV

In Remembrance…

Charlie Kirk will be remembered for being a man of faith. He spoke for truth in love and made an impact on many lives including my own.

His life reminds me of an old Christian song, one that I was saved at a Christian campfire at the age of eleven. The song,

It Only Takes A Spark also known as “Pass It On” by Kurt Kaiser (1969)

It only takes a spark, to get a fire going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing, That’s how it is with God’s love, Once you experience it, You spread His love to everyone, You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring , when all the trees are budding, The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming, That’s how it is with God’s love, Once you’ve experienced it, You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I have found, You can depend on Him, it matters not where you are bound, I’ll shout it from the mountain top, (Praise God!), I want the world to know, the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.

Lord, let me step out and be courageous and say, yes, I will share the love of Christ wherever I go; to speak truth in love, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God.

That’s what Charlie Kirk did.

Hello, let me introduce myself, my nickname is Jennie and I want to share my stories with you that are faith based.

I am a new blogger and I’m learning how to blog as I go, and it seems that’s how I operate in life so please bear with me. I’m here, fulfilling a purpose, I believe, to bring light when there is darkness.

You see, as I was going down the highway in life, my life was transitioning to new beginnings, a new chapter I eagerly anticipated. I was easing into retirement, all the hard work done, and now was the time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Then there was a bend in the road. Cancer. Why me? I had a relatively clean lifestyle, except for a D. Coke fetish. I thought I was healthy but there was something wrong. Looking back, I can see now my body sent out signals, which I ignored. In 2019, there was a light spot of blood on my underwear and then it disappeared for 6 months to come back again in a cycle. I thought it was stress. Or how my stomach would feel bloated and full after eating. I had hot flashes, and felt like my period was starting. I was a woman who at age 58 could not be bothered with minor irritations. Hormonal right, it was just part of being a woman, right?

Until that day, on August 11, 2021, my symptoms were subtly getting worse. I inserted a tampon and when I took it out a huge clot of blood was staring back at me. I stared at the tampon in shock and disbelief. My knees gave way as I sat on my bed wrapping my brain around what I was seeing, not registering what the implications of what this meant.

So begun my bend in the road. I was going 65 mph and didn’t see the steep curve up ahead until I saw a yellow caution sign saying, “Slow, 35 mph.” I stomped on the brakes as I careened around the curve, car on two wheels, barely hanging on.

This is my journey and my hope is to encourage people who have experienced a bend in the road to have a closer relationship with God.

Lord, thank you for this bend in the road. Let it be my divine appointment to grow in maturity, serve others, and show the love of Christ.

So begins our journey together, and I pray my revelations enriches your life to draw on the strength of the Lord.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV