Let's talk more about hands and hearts...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-28

I am truly amazed at medicine and technology today yet it's just like our heavenly Father to give me the privilege to say that Mom came through surgery with flying colors and believe it or not is already at home! In less than 24 hours she had surgery on her heart, rested for a night, and then headed for home! God is good all the time but sometimes we see His goodness a little more clearly! Take some time today to truly meditate on the verses above. Do you live life like you are in the palm of His hand? Do feel His gentle caress as you walk through trials and hardship? He is there all the time. He will lift you up eventually. Think of a time someone gave you a hand or simply held your hand. He does so much more He scoops you up in the powerful hand that formed the universe and holds you with the gentleness of a mother with her newborn.

There is one detail though. You have to believe His son died for your sins and rose from the dead to give you the eternal life mentioned in verse 28! If you do believe this, I pray you truly rest each moment in the palm of His hand. If you do not or until now have not believed in this miracle and gift of God, I pray you do not let this day end without asking Him to allow to see His hand reaching out to scoop you up and you scramble in like there will never be another chance!

I started this entry amazed by medicine and technology and end it acknowledging the hand that created it and allows it to heal our physical hearts. Make sure He also gets the opportunity to heal your spiritual heart.

Would you go to the throne...

Friday sometime around noon, my mom is having surgery again to repair or replace her pacemaker. She called today and said something was not working correctly. So she and I would truly appreciate your bringing her name before the throne of the Greatest Healer of all Time/Eternity. We have a very big and sovereign Lord and our confidence is in Him but...boy does it give extra peace to know others are praying for her! I will not complain if you pray for a little extra peace for me too. It is has been a crazy couple of monthes and I really was not ready for another call like this. Thanks!

No words to express...

Can I just ask you to pray for:

Irma-tumor in her nose

Guadalupe - congestive heart problems

Lucia-breast cancer

Lupita- lung problems

Abril-marital problems

Miriam- marital problems

Soccorro- marital problems

Elisabeth- unsaved husband and rebellious son

Evelia- marital problems and abuse

Bethany- grandfather fell and injured a vertabrae

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James 5:13-18

If these hands could talk...

This picture hangs above my desk. I bought it because I had seen it hanging on my friend Rosie's refrigerator. I also bought it to remind myself that He holds me in the palm of His hand.

When I got sick a few weeks ago, the IV caused an infection in the vein in my hand and arm. It caused me to look at my hands alot. I have always loved my mother's hands and suddenly find that mine now look like hers. I pray that they are as comforting, giving and strong as hers always seemed to me. I was showing my wedding album to a friend on Sunday. We came to a picture of Antonio and my hands. I was kind of sad as I looked at the soft hands, manicured nails, and a sparkling diamond. I could read into the picture all the excitement and hopes to be. The diamond fell out two days after Alyssa was born. I haven't had or done a self-manicure in years! Just when I was going to cry, Antonio walked over and said "So what do you think of the album? Diana has the touch, her hands can do miracles."

I just kept looking at the pictures. Later as I tried to think of one miracle they have ever done, Alyssa walked into my bedroom and said "I have a sliver in my finger and nobody can get it out. Will you try?" After poking around for awhile it came out. Alyssa said, "It's a miracle. I tried all day! Thanks supermom!" Okay so it isn't really a bonafide "miracle." But it did make me realize how many real miracles happen without our noticing.

Like the sun rising and setting everyday.

Like waking up.

Waking up and being able to walk, talk, smell, taste, hear and see.

Being able to pull out a sliver.

Sharing a meal with a friend.

Reading the Bible without fear.

Singing praise to my Lord even if I sing like a frog.

Holding two babies God let me birth.

Watching those babies hold babies at church.

Today my devotions talked about lifting holy hands. I confess my hands aren't near as holy as they need to be but...I think I am more desirous that they be holy than ever before.

About time....

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is. C. S. Lewis

If I had my life to live over again, I'd not be afraid of more mistakes next time.
In fact I'd relax a lot more.
I'd limber up,
I'd be sillier than I've been on this trip.
In fact I know of very few things that I would take so seriously.
I'd take more chances,
I'd take more trips,
I'd climb more mountains,
I'd swim more rivers,
I'd sit and watch more sunsets,
I'd go more places than I had ever been before.
I'd eat more ice-cream and fewer beans.
I'd have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I was one of those people who lived prophylactically
and sensibly hour after hour and day after day.
Oh ! I've had my moments.....and if I had my life to live all over again
I'd try to have more of those moments.
In fact I'd try to have nothing else but wonderful moments,
side by side by side by side - instead of living so many years ahead of my time !
I was one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had to do it all over again,
Id travel lighter next time.
If I had my life to live all over again,
I'd play with more children,
I'd pick more daisies.
I'd love more!
If I had my life to live over again ....but you see I don't.
We are only given one!!

-Author unknown-

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

No I am not going to fill this blog with New Year's resolutions! I simply will say: I pray for all of us to be faithful to do all that God has for each of us in this coming year to His honor and glory.

I praise God for the part you have played in my life in 2007 and pray that the part I played in your life was a help and blessing to you!