Kelley says............
The last week or so has been quite difficult for me. I have had such a range of emotions going on it is hard to even blog about it or describe it. I am so glad that treatment is over. Things are starting to taste somewhat normal again so that is good. I am back to eating like I was so I am starting to lose the weight I gained and just feel better overall.
I'll do my best to describe what I feel but it may only make sense to someone who has walked in my shoes. When I was diagnosed back in April, I only had a couple of weeks to let that sink in and then it was on to trying to decide what surgery to have. It took several weeks of contemplating that and then it was on to trying to recover from that surgery. Then it was right on into trying to decide if I would do chemo and then right on into treatment. Then it was deciding what to do with my hair. So it was just one major thing after the other. I don't think I really had time to sit down and deal with all that I was really going through because I had all the above mentioned things going on.
Now that treatment is complete I am on to not knowing exactly when my reconstruction surgery will take place. Sometime before the end of the year, I hope. Anyway, I think that I am just now able to really, really grasp what has happened to me. Now please understand that I absolutely know 100% that my boobs do not in anyway define who I am. However, now that I have finished treatment, I had this sudden realization that I am FOREVER changed. That I will never, EVER look the same again. I imagine that people who have not gone through breast cancer, watches someone go through this journey and at this point in the journey thinks it is all over and done with and the person is doing just great. But the fact is that even though I CAN and am going to get new boobs it isn't like I just chose to go get a boob job and all is well. I didn't choose this and this isn't like a normal boob job. I am scarred for life. I may look great in clothes but every time I step out of the shower, ever time I change my clothes, every time I have sex with my husband, I am reminded of what I have been through and that these scars are permanent.
I also feel very sad because now I know first hand what all of this feels like and so now I know what all my mom went through. Oh how I wish I would have realized this and been there for her more than I was. I wish I could have told her I understood what she was going through. I feel like the Pacific Ocean is sitting just behind my eyeballs waiting to gush forth. But I can't even cry. I feel like if one little thing happened, it would be just enough to send me over the edge. I really hate posts like this because as you know, I love inspiring people and I know this is far from inspiring. But it is just totally real. I want women to be inspired but I also want them to know the truth of what this does to a person. And if you are reading this and you don't have breast cancer and have never walked this road, PLEASE do monthly self-exams and start getting your yearly mammograms if you don't already. I would NEVER, EVER want anyone else to EVER have to walk this road.
On a positive note, I also know that I am forever changed on the inside in so many ways. For that, I will be forever grateful. I will be okay. I know I will. But if I happen to cross your mind, please say a prayer for me. You guys have prayed for me so much and I believe God will hear your prayers and mine and help me through this time.
Love,
Kelley
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
"Feel the Ta-Tas Movement"
Kelley says.....................
I am starting what I am calling a "Feel the Ta-Tas Movement". If you have been following my blog you know that I found my lump through a self-breast exam which is what I believe will be what saved my life. But what you might not know is that if my mom would have done a self-breast exam she would probably still be alive today.
So I think self-exams are EXTREMELY important!! If you want to be a part of it, all you have to do is let me know you want to be a part of it by sending an e-mail to me at kelley@feelthetatas.com I will send out an encouraging e-mail on the 1st of every month to remind you to "Feel the Ta-Tas" then I will send out an e-mail on the 5th to make sure that you did in fact do it!! Anyone can sign up! Even men. Men get breast cancer too and you can use it as a reminder to remind your wife to do it or you can do it for her!!
I am always so excited to hear how many women are doing self-exams and getting mammograms because of my story. That just thrills my heart!! So.....sign-up today if you haven't already!!!! And forward this link to anyone you know who needs this!!!!!
I am starting what I am calling a "Feel the Ta-Tas Movement". If you have been following my blog you know that I found my lump through a self-breast exam which is what I believe will be what saved my life. But what you might not know is that if my mom would have done a self-breast exam she would probably still be alive today.
So I think self-exams are EXTREMELY important!! If you want to be a part of it, all you have to do is let me know you want to be a part of it by sending an e-mail to me at kelley@feelthetatas.com I will send out an encouraging e-mail on the 1st of every month to remind you to "Feel the Ta-Tas" then I will send out an e-mail on the 5th to make sure that you did in fact do it!! Anyone can sign up! Even men. Men get breast cancer too and you can use it as a reminder to remind your wife to do it or you can do it for her!!
I am always so excited to hear how many women are doing self-exams and getting mammograms because of my story. That just thrills my heart!! So.....sign-up today if you haven't already!!!! And forward this link to anyone you know who needs this!!!!!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Breast Cancer Affects
Kelley says............
Breast cancer affects you emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually.
Emotionally- this has been really hard at times. I have been on what seem like an emotional roller coaster. Most of the time I am good. But then out of nowhere I am very emotional. Maybe I hold it in and then BAM, it all comes up.
Physically- this is one of the hardest things for me right now. I have been training for the upcoming 3 Day walk. I am only up to 7 miles and we walk 20 miles a day for 3 days. Monday, I got blisters on the back of my feet so am waiting for those to heal. When I came home from walking I noticed both of my feet were swollen. I didn't walk on Tuesday but noticed after working all day my left foot was super swollen again. Same thing on Wednesday.
When I was first diagnosed, I would get this super hot feeling in my face. I was so hot that I thought I had a major fever. But when I checked it, it was normal. After starting chemo, I went into perimenopause. So, I have hot flashes all the time. But this week that hot feeling in my face has gotten really bad and isn't going away. It seems better at night but is awful most of the entire day. Yesterday, with the swelling and the face thing, I just started to cry. I just want to be well. I am done with treatment and I am SO ready to just move on. I was thinking I was diagnosed 4 months ago. I realized last night that it was over 5 months ago!! I can't believe what a process this whole thing is. I think the longer it goes on the more difficult it is emotionally. Now that I am on the other side of it I realize that when I was first diagnosed, I couldn't see that there even WAS another side.
I started eating an extremely healthy diet when I was diagnosed and lost 20 pounds. Since starting chemo and steroids, I have gained that 20 pounds back. I actually have already lost 4 of those pounds but as any woman knows, this is a tough area especially if you are already emotional.
Socially- this affect is really weird. I mean, it is strange that everyone knows I lost my boobs and that I am slowly getting new ones. And I think once I finish my final surgery and have my new boobs that will be just as weird as when I shaved my head. Just kinda awkward. But, it is what it is. This also affects me emotionally. Although I will have new boobs, they will never be like they were before. I will always be scarred. I will never again look normal. Although women who have had reconstruction after breast cancer look great in their clothes, all of us survivors know what we look like underneath those clothes. And I'm not sure anyone else who hasn't gone through this realizes or thinks about this. It isn't something that gets me down on a regular basis but is definitely an issue to a certain degree.
Spiritually- I love God more than I ever imagined I could. Every single night if my eyes open, which is a lot of the time, the very first thing I think about is God and how much I love him. He is my absolute everything. I feel closer to him to him than I have ever been. I feel like I have been on a life long journey to finding out not only who I really am but who God really is. And I feel like I have finally discovered both!! What an awesome God he is.
Breast cancer affects you emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually.
Emotionally- this has been really hard at times. I have been on what seem like an emotional roller coaster. Most of the time I am good. But then out of nowhere I am very emotional. Maybe I hold it in and then BAM, it all comes up.
Physically- this is one of the hardest things for me right now. I have been training for the upcoming 3 Day walk. I am only up to 7 miles and we walk 20 miles a day for 3 days. Monday, I got blisters on the back of my feet so am waiting for those to heal. When I came home from walking I noticed both of my feet were swollen. I didn't walk on Tuesday but noticed after working all day my left foot was super swollen again. Same thing on Wednesday.
When I was first diagnosed, I would get this super hot feeling in my face. I was so hot that I thought I had a major fever. But when I checked it, it was normal. After starting chemo, I went into perimenopause. So, I have hot flashes all the time. But this week that hot feeling in my face has gotten really bad and isn't going away. It seems better at night but is awful most of the entire day. Yesterday, with the swelling and the face thing, I just started to cry. I just want to be well. I am done with treatment and I am SO ready to just move on. I was thinking I was diagnosed 4 months ago. I realized last night that it was over 5 months ago!! I can't believe what a process this whole thing is. I think the longer it goes on the more difficult it is emotionally. Now that I am on the other side of it I realize that when I was first diagnosed, I couldn't see that there even WAS another side.
I started eating an extremely healthy diet when I was diagnosed and lost 20 pounds. Since starting chemo and steroids, I have gained that 20 pounds back. I actually have already lost 4 of those pounds but as any woman knows, this is a tough area especially if you are already emotional.
Socially- this affect is really weird. I mean, it is strange that everyone knows I lost my boobs and that I am slowly getting new ones. And I think once I finish my final surgery and have my new boobs that will be just as weird as when I shaved my head. Just kinda awkward. But, it is what it is. This also affects me emotionally. Although I will have new boobs, they will never be like they were before. I will always be scarred. I will never again look normal. Although women who have had reconstruction after breast cancer look great in their clothes, all of us survivors know what we look like underneath those clothes. And I'm not sure anyone else who hasn't gone through this realizes or thinks about this. It isn't something that gets me down on a regular basis but is definitely an issue to a certain degree.
Spiritually- I love God more than I ever imagined I could. Every single night if my eyes open, which is a lot of the time, the very first thing I think about is God and how much I love him. He is my absolute everything. I feel closer to him to him than I have ever been. I feel like I have been on a life long journey to finding out not only who I really am but who God really is. And I feel like I have finally discovered both!! What an awesome God he is.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Missed Opportunity
Kelley says................
Last night, I spoke to a group of women at my church. I spoke on the Prison of Perception.
The Prison of Perception-
Self imposed limitations in our minds. Limiting beliefs that keep us stuck. We build the walls of our own private cell with assumptions and ideas that have accumulated over a lifetime. These negative thoughts make their way into our minds by repetition, until our sub-conscious is so weighed down with them that they dictate what we actually think. And as negative things happen throughout our lives, they are reinforced and their power grows. The sub-conscious mind has no ability to distinguish between what is actually happening and what you are remembering. You can never underestimate the power of your mind, and how hard it will try to hold onto what it already perceives to be real.
Prior to me speaking, I asked several women who are close to me if they would fill out a "speaker evaluation" form for me. On the form, I asked them to give me 3 things I did well and 3 areas I needed to improve on. Well, when I started talking my voice was a little shaky and I was pretty nervous. But that didn't last long. The more I talked I was fine. Anyway, the only way I knew how to really share how I came to live in a prison of perception myself was to share my story. I went with the major events in my life all the way through being diagnosed with cancer. There was so much more I wish I would have had time to share but there was only so much time. And I guess they were wanting to keep it kind of "light" so I didn't want to go too deep into my story.
Most of the feedback I got on my evaluations were very positive. Most of the areas where I needed to improve were areas that I already knew and felt myself were things I am going to have to work on. You know, like talking too fast and just take a breath and slow down, etc. But a dear friend who filled one of these out for me asked me "When was your point of salvation?" Well, my immediate response was that while I do feel called to help women detect early breast cancer as well as help them find God, I don't necessarily feel called to lead people to Christ. I am just not an evangelist. When I wasn't saved and people would preach at me for the way I was living my life, I would run as far as I could in the other direction. They just totally turned me off.
When I woke up this morning, I went for a walk (training for the 3 day!) As I was walking I kept pondering what my friend said. I thought about all the things that my friends said I needed to improve on. I thanked God for these friends that were open and honest with me and that I know this will only make me better. As I was remembering the night, I realized how much of my story I didn't tell. I thought boy, I've been through some stuff!! There is a huge story that goes along with each chapter of my life. After my friends comment, I just realized that OH MY GOSH, I didn't share enough of God and what HE has done in my life and how HE is the one who has changed me. I still don't think God is calling me to go out and "witness" but I do know for sure that he is going to use me to help others find him. I totally missed a big opportunity by not sharing that part of my story.
So, here goes. When my parents divorced, I was mad at men. When my son died, I was mad at God. When my mom died, I was mad a ME. I vowed to my mom while she lay in her casket to never again touch drugs and to live a Christian life. I got saved as a little girl but never lived my life for God. It took me a few months to start trying to look for a church. I was single and always dressed like I was goin' to the club! Every church I tried was full of old people. You can imagine how all the women in these churches looked at me when I walked in. After about 6 weeks of trying to find a church to go to, I said okay well, I tried. I thought to myself, I gave it an honest shot and if God wants me in church he will just have to bring it to me. Literally that very night, my phone rings, I say hello and a little girl says to me..."Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" I say, "Who is this and how did you get my number?" She got really nervous and said she got it out of the phone book. Well, my number was unlisted and so I told her that that couldn't be true. She went on to say that she was really, really sorry and she didn't want to get in trouble but that God told her to dial my number!!!! I asked her where she went to church and it was not 10 minutes from my house.
That next Sunday I went to church and loved it. Everyone was so nice and friendly to me. They accepted me right where I was at. I had always worked two jobs. I did nails during the day and I worked in bars at night. I immediately quit the night job. But after a few months, I was unable to get by financially. I watched my mom work two and three jobs my entire life and scrape by. So, when it got down to it, I went back to work in the clubs to make ends meet. A friend I worked with at the salon had been praying for me. She prayed I would find a good Christian man. Well, when I went back to work, they had hired a new assistant manager and boy was he cute!!!! I loved being single and had absolutely NO intentions of EVER getting married again. But when I saw this man, I thought to myself...."I am going to marry that man!" The thought came out of nowhere and I thought that it was really random that I would even think that.
Needless to say, the man was Deryl and we started dating. We had been together for a couple of months and the friend at work who had been praying for me asked me if she could pray with me. Before, I didn't know she was praying for me. Now, she wanted to lay hands on me and pray for me. I said sure thinking she was totally wasting her time. She said a prayer that I don't even remember. I went to work that night and all my friends looked different. I couldn't believe this was where I worked and the kind of people I hung out with. It was full of darkness. Usually, I could drink anyone under the table and I drank one beer the entire night. I didn't know what was going on but I knew it had something to do with that girls prayer. The next night, I told Deryl that I couldn't live this life anymore and that I was going to go to church. At the time, Deryl didn't even believe in there was a God!!!!! So, I really thought that would be the end of our relationship. Well, he said he would go with me. I immediately rededicated my life to the Lord. Within 2 weeks, Deryl had given his notice to quit and was looking for another job. God quickly provided a good job. We were driving down the highway and Deryl asks me to pull the car over right then and there because he HAD to get saved. So I pulled over on the side of LBJ Freeway and led Deryl to the Lord.
So, that is my salvation story!!
Love you all more than you can ever, ever know!!!! And thank you to my dear friends who love me enough to challenge me because you love me and care about me. YOU ROCK!!
Kelley
Last night, I spoke to a group of women at my church. I spoke on the Prison of Perception.
The Prison of Perception-
Self imposed limitations in our minds. Limiting beliefs that keep us stuck. We build the walls of our own private cell with assumptions and ideas that have accumulated over a lifetime. These negative thoughts make their way into our minds by repetition, until our sub-conscious is so weighed down with them that they dictate what we actually think. And as negative things happen throughout our lives, they are reinforced and their power grows. The sub-conscious mind has no ability to distinguish between what is actually happening and what you are remembering. You can never underestimate the power of your mind, and how hard it will try to hold onto what it already perceives to be real.
Prior to me speaking, I asked several women who are close to me if they would fill out a "speaker evaluation" form for me. On the form, I asked them to give me 3 things I did well and 3 areas I needed to improve on. Well, when I started talking my voice was a little shaky and I was pretty nervous. But that didn't last long. The more I talked I was fine. Anyway, the only way I knew how to really share how I came to live in a prison of perception myself was to share my story. I went with the major events in my life all the way through being diagnosed with cancer. There was so much more I wish I would have had time to share but there was only so much time. And I guess they were wanting to keep it kind of "light" so I didn't want to go too deep into my story.
Most of the feedback I got on my evaluations were very positive. Most of the areas where I needed to improve were areas that I already knew and felt myself were things I am going to have to work on. You know, like talking too fast and just take a breath and slow down, etc. But a dear friend who filled one of these out for me asked me "When was your point of salvation?" Well, my immediate response was that while I do feel called to help women detect early breast cancer as well as help them find God, I don't necessarily feel called to lead people to Christ. I am just not an evangelist. When I wasn't saved and people would preach at me for the way I was living my life, I would run as far as I could in the other direction. They just totally turned me off.
When I woke up this morning, I went for a walk (training for the 3 day!) As I was walking I kept pondering what my friend said. I thought about all the things that my friends said I needed to improve on. I thanked God for these friends that were open and honest with me and that I know this will only make me better. As I was remembering the night, I realized how much of my story I didn't tell. I thought boy, I've been through some stuff!! There is a huge story that goes along with each chapter of my life. After my friends comment, I just realized that OH MY GOSH, I didn't share enough of God and what HE has done in my life and how HE is the one who has changed me. I still don't think God is calling me to go out and "witness" but I do know for sure that he is going to use me to help others find him. I totally missed a big opportunity by not sharing that part of my story.
So, here goes. When my parents divorced, I was mad at men. When my son died, I was mad at God. When my mom died, I was mad a ME. I vowed to my mom while she lay in her casket to never again touch drugs and to live a Christian life. I got saved as a little girl but never lived my life for God. It took me a few months to start trying to look for a church. I was single and always dressed like I was goin' to the club! Every church I tried was full of old people. You can imagine how all the women in these churches looked at me when I walked in. After about 6 weeks of trying to find a church to go to, I said okay well, I tried. I thought to myself, I gave it an honest shot and if God wants me in church he will just have to bring it to me. Literally that very night, my phone rings, I say hello and a little girl says to me..."Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" I say, "Who is this and how did you get my number?" She got really nervous and said she got it out of the phone book. Well, my number was unlisted and so I told her that that couldn't be true. She went on to say that she was really, really sorry and she didn't want to get in trouble but that God told her to dial my number!!!! I asked her where she went to church and it was not 10 minutes from my house.
That next Sunday I went to church and loved it. Everyone was so nice and friendly to me. They accepted me right where I was at. I had always worked two jobs. I did nails during the day and I worked in bars at night. I immediately quit the night job. But after a few months, I was unable to get by financially. I watched my mom work two and three jobs my entire life and scrape by. So, when it got down to it, I went back to work in the clubs to make ends meet. A friend I worked with at the salon had been praying for me. She prayed I would find a good Christian man. Well, when I went back to work, they had hired a new assistant manager and boy was he cute!!!! I loved being single and had absolutely NO intentions of EVER getting married again. But when I saw this man, I thought to myself...."I am going to marry that man!" The thought came out of nowhere and I thought that it was really random that I would even think that.
Needless to say, the man was Deryl and we started dating. We had been together for a couple of months and the friend at work who had been praying for me asked me if she could pray with me. Before, I didn't know she was praying for me. Now, she wanted to lay hands on me and pray for me. I said sure thinking she was totally wasting her time. She said a prayer that I don't even remember. I went to work that night and all my friends looked different. I couldn't believe this was where I worked and the kind of people I hung out with. It was full of darkness. Usually, I could drink anyone under the table and I drank one beer the entire night. I didn't know what was going on but I knew it had something to do with that girls prayer. The next night, I told Deryl that I couldn't live this life anymore and that I was going to go to church. At the time, Deryl didn't even believe in there was a God!!!!! So, I really thought that would be the end of our relationship. Well, he said he would go with me. I immediately rededicated my life to the Lord. Within 2 weeks, Deryl had given his notice to quit and was looking for another job. God quickly provided a good job. We were driving down the highway and Deryl asks me to pull the car over right then and there because he HAD to get saved. So I pulled over on the side of LBJ Freeway and led Deryl to the Lord.
So, that is my salvation story!!
Love you all more than you can ever, ever know!!!! And thank you to my dear friends who love me enough to challenge me because you love me and care about me. YOU ROCK!!
Kelley
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Last Chemo/Worry Challenge Update
Kelley says............
Well, Friday was my last chemo treatment. Unfortunately, it took two times to get my blood drawn and two times to get the IV in. I have to go back for the next two weeks to get my counts checked and then two weeks after that to see the Oncologist. Then I think it is again in three months, then six months, then every year for five years. Of course, I will start seeing the plastic surgeon more often now that chemo is done. I'm hoping that moves along nicely so I can get that surgery done THIS YEAR!!
This last treatment really wiped me out. I have been so tired. Last night I got really, really hot and then very dizzy. I felt like I was going to pass out. Just haven't felt great. But, I am still excited because I know each day will only get better and I know I don't have to go back! That was a bummer before. Just when I started feeling really well, I would have to go in for another treatment. But I am so very grateful that I only had to have four treatments. I know there are many people who have to endure an entire year of chemo!
I am speaking this Friday at a women's event at my church. I will be speaking on the "Prison of Perception". I'm really excited about it!! I fully trust and believe that God will speak through me to the hearts of the ladies and that I will feel totally fine to complete this task!!
I can't believe that today is day 17 of my worry challenge. It has been going great! I haven't even needed to use my "worry time". I have been able to cast my cares on God much easier than I would have ever anticipated. Any time I catch myself worrying about finances, I just say to myself..."We will have it when we need it". And God has provided!! We needed $800.00 in repairs done on my car. If you are following my blog, you know that my dog has needed surgery for almost 5 months now. Within one week, God miraculously provided the money for both!! I don't know about you, but I think this is a monstrous miracle!!!!!
It turns out that my dog's ACL was actually intact. But he has arthritis really bad and they had to do something else to the meniscus. They said he will most likely have problems with his leg throughout the rest of his life. And that he could end up lame. Well, I've never had a dog that I love more than this dog. He is the perfect dog. So, this news really broke my heart. But, I will still be praying for him and believing God will heal him and give him many more pain free years.
Kelley
Well, Friday was my last chemo treatment. Unfortunately, it took two times to get my blood drawn and two times to get the IV in. I have to go back for the next two weeks to get my counts checked and then two weeks after that to see the Oncologist. Then I think it is again in three months, then six months, then every year for five years. Of course, I will start seeing the plastic surgeon more often now that chemo is done. I'm hoping that moves along nicely so I can get that surgery done THIS YEAR!!
This last treatment really wiped me out. I have been so tired. Last night I got really, really hot and then very dizzy. I felt like I was going to pass out. Just haven't felt great. But, I am still excited because I know each day will only get better and I know I don't have to go back! That was a bummer before. Just when I started feeling really well, I would have to go in for another treatment. But I am so very grateful that I only had to have four treatments. I know there are many people who have to endure an entire year of chemo!
I am speaking this Friday at a women's event at my church. I will be speaking on the "Prison of Perception". I'm really excited about it!! I fully trust and believe that God will speak through me to the hearts of the ladies and that I will feel totally fine to complete this task!!
I can't believe that today is day 17 of my worry challenge. It has been going great! I haven't even needed to use my "worry time". I have been able to cast my cares on God much easier than I would have ever anticipated. Any time I catch myself worrying about finances, I just say to myself..."We will have it when we need it". And God has provided!! We needed $800.00 in repairs done on my car. If you are following my blog, you know that my dog has needed surgery for almost 5 months now. Within one week, God miraculously provided the money for both!! I don't know about you, but I think this is a monstrous miracle!!!!!
It turns out that my dog's ACL was actually intact. But he has arthritis really bad and they had to do something else to the meniscus. They said he will most likely have problems with his leg throughout the rest of his life. And that he could end up lame. Well, I've never had a dog that I love more than this dog. He is the perfect dog. So, this news really broke my heart. But, I will still be praying for him and believing God will heal him and give him many more pain free years.
Kelley
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
If Christ is a Sweathog Part Two
Deryl says............OK. So I feel the need to explain the title of my previous post for those of you who are under forty. There was a TV show from the 70's with the title Welcome Back Kotter. Mr. Kotter was part of a gang called the Sweathogs as a high school student and came back to the school as a teacher. So he was welcomed back by the Sweathogs hence the title If Christ is a Sweathog Call me Mr. Kotter as I was welcomed back just as Mr. Kotter was. If you have never seen it I highly recommend it and it was John Travolta's first show.
But that is the thing about Christ he always welcomes us back no matter how far away we have gone. I want to share the love of God with everyone. Because God loves EVERYONE! It doesn't matter what you have done in the past or even what you are doing now. The church has hurt many people. It has offered judgment and spite when love and compassion were needed. Did you know that God loves gay people? But many in the church act like it is THE unforgivable sin. When the AIDS crisis took place the church said it was God's judgment. What? When Katrina hit New Orleans many in the church said the same thing. Fortunately there were many churches that offered love and help during that crisis which gives me hope.
Jesus said the world will know his disciples by their love for one another. He also said you can sum up the entire bible in the following statement "Love God with all you mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." The word love is used 649 times in the bible. It is mentioned more than money, sin, faith, judgment, and obey are used in the bible. Rick Warren had one of the greatest quotes I have ever heard about the church he said "The church is supposed to be the body of Christ. In the last 50 years the body has had it's hands and feet amputated and the church has become one big mouth." We are a society of sound bites but God cannot be conveyed in a sound bite and many times is misrepresented. There are many good churches out there. Unfortunately they are not getting as much press.
But that is the thing about Christ he always welcomes us back no matter how far away we have gone. I want to share the love of God with everyone. Because God loves EVERYONE! It doesn't matter what you have done in the past or even what you are doing now. The church has hurt many people. It has offered judgment and spite when love and compassion were needed. Did you know that God loves gay people? But many in the church act like it is THE unforgivable sin. When the AIDS crisis took place the church said it was God's judgment. What? When Katrina hit New Orleans many in the church said the same thing. Fortunately there were many churches that offered love and help during that crisis which gives me hope.
Jesus said the world will know his disciples by their love for one another. He also said you can sum up the entire bible in the following statement "Love God with all you mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." The word love is used 649 times in the bible. It is mentioned more than money, sin, faith, judgment, and obey are used in the bible. Rick Warren had one of the greatest quotes I have ever heard about the church he said "The church is supposed to be the body of Christ. In the last 50 years the body has had it's hands and feet amputated and the church has become one big mouth." We are a society of sound bites but God cannot be conveyed in a sound bite and many times is misrepresented. There are many good churches out there. Unfortunately they are not getting as much press.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Prayer Requests
Kelley says............
Two things.......
1. Please pray that my white cell counts continue to go up so I can get my LAST treatment
Friday.
2. And if you could also pray that my blood draw and the IV only takes one stick and that it
goes really smooth and easy I sure would appreciate it!!
Worry Challenge is going awesome! Really amazed at how good it is going. I'll be sure to post later more on this. Thanks for the prayers!!
Two things.......
1. Please pray that my white cell counts continue to go up so I can get my LAST treatment
Friday.
2. And if you could also pray that my blood draw and the IV only takes one stick and that it
goes really smooth and easy I sure would appreciate it!!
Worry Challenge is going awesome! Really amazed at how good it is going. I'll be sure to post later more on this. Thanks for the prayers!!
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