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Honesty

 If there is one thing that I promised the Lord and you all, is that I would always be honest and open and real as I wrote!

Just wanted you all to know what is going on and ask for your prayers because I know the Lord is indeed my strength, my strong tower, my enablement.

Over the last couple of weeks, it seems like my pain on a scale of 1 to 10, by the VA Medical Center standards, have gone off the scale, to the point of being a distraction and I have found it at times very hard to concentrate on anything, so I have been resting and sleeping a lot to take my mind off of it and hopefully build up strength.

The Lord is beginning to open new doors for me and bringing a lot of things that He has spoken to my heart into being and there is a burning passion to write, to share, to encourage, exhort and lift up others, things that the Lord is making real in my life, yet I know at the same time, that the enemy of my soul will do all that he can, to try and keep that from happening.

A lot of my pain are the side effects of the radiation treatments and the two surgeries and just something that I have to live with, though I am taking medication, I do not take the full dose, because I do not want to be dependent on them.

Earlier today I received an e-mail from a friend, that I had not seen for awhile, till the other day at Starbucks and He sent me the following writing by St. Francis de Sales and though it was written a long time ago, it was a word to me from the Lord and it is called

Your Cross

The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart.

This cross He now sends you , He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with His loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you.

He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

St. Francis de Sales

Thank you Archbishop Mark for sending this, it rekindled a spark, a passion for the Lord, for the Word, a passion to write, to see through the eyes of my Father, that He has and is giving me the strength to share what He has written on and in my heart over these last three years.

I also know that the Lord is giving me the strength, to rise up and see beyond the pain and to lay hold of the promises, of His word and to know that which He has begun within, He will finish and that His plans are good plans and there is nothing the enemy can do to stop what the Lord has begun.

I know that I am just in the beginnings of my Fathers plans and I know also, that each day, as I stay focused on Him, that He takes this gift, of pain, for it is a gift, and reveals Himself even more to me and makes His word alive and real within.

And gives me hope, that He indeed will allow me to be able to exhort, to lift up and to encourage others in the path called life, for we are never without hope, for our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 9th, 2006 at 23:38 and is filed under General, Prayer, Friends, Hope, Purpose. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

14 Responses to “Honesty”

  1. Cathy Says:
    October 10th, 2006 at 08:44

    Paul just thought I would stop by and see how you were doing. Sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling well. I have put you on my prayer list and will lift you up in prayer that God will see you through this difficult time. Thank you for putting “Your Cross” on here. I really liked that. I am going to print that off and have it where I can read it everyday.

    Blessings to you.
    Love from your cousin in Ohio,
    Cathy :o )

  2. Tammy Says:
    October 11th, 2006 at 08:55

    Hi Paul. I hope you are feeling better today. You have my prayers. Take care and hang in there. The Lord truly is your strength!

  3. Sharon Goemaere Says:
    October 11th, 2006 at 10:57

    Brother Paul,
    So sorry to hear that you’ve been in so much pain.Praying that the great love of our heavenly Father will surround you like a warm blanket and that He will heal and restore to you all the years that the locusts have eaten!Bless you brother!!
    Your Sister in Christ,Sharon

  4. Romi Says:
    October 11th, 2006 at 19:15

    Paul, thank you for sharing this. I will keep you in my prayers.

  5. G~ Says:
    October 13th, 2006 at 10:36

    Dear Paul… So sorry to hear you’re in such pain. :( I pray the Lord wraps you in His hands and you feel His strength overflowing you.
    much love in Christ,
    Geannie

  6. mrs darling Says:
    October 13th, 2006 at 18:04

    Praying for healing and relief from your pain. Take care of yourself and know you’re loved.

  7. Norma Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 11:15

    Hi Paul–My first visit, and I find you in pain! How distressing. How wonderful that a friend reached out with just the words you needed. A blessing aren’t they–words and friends.

  8. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:30

    Hi Kathy,

    Thank you for blogging by and checking in on me.

    I so appreciate your prayers.

    Your welcome. Your Cross, is something I think everyone can identify with.

    Blessings,

    Writing for the King,

    Love, your cousin,

    Paul

     

  9. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:35

    Hi Tammy,

    I am a lot better now!

    Thank you for blogging and thank you so very much for your prayers.

    I am very much hanging in there!

    He indeed is my strength, my strong tower and my fortress.

    Blessings,

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

  10. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:37

    Hi Sharon,

    Thank you for blogging by!

    The prayers were much needed and appreciated. Thank you so very much.

    I know that the Lord will restore all that the enemy has taken from me and that He, the Lord will be glorified, when all is said and done.

    Blessings to you too my friend!

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

  11. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:39

    Hi Romi,

    Thank you for checking in!

    I so appreciate your prayers, they mean a lot to me, to know my friend are lifting me to the Lord.

    Blessings my friend,

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

  12. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:42

    Hi Geannie,

    Thank you for your prayers. Indeed the Lord has wrap His arms around me a lot lately and has given me the strength to press on in and for that I am eternally thankful.

    Thank you for your encouragement!

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

  13. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:44

    Hi Mrs. Darling,

    Thank you for your prayers. They are much appreciated.

    I so appreciate the prayers and love of my many brothers and sisters in the Lord. You all have been a source of encouragement to me.

    Blessings my friend,

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

  14. Paul Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 21:47

    Hi Norma,

    Thank you for blogging by and for visiting.

    Sorry that you caught me when I was down physically.

    Indeed it is good to have friends that I have reached out to me through the expanse of cyberspace and covered me in prayers and for that I am so very thankful.

    Words and friend, are indeed a blessing.

    Again, welcome to Hill Country Thoughts, be blessed in all that you do.

    Writing for the King,

    Paul

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