Journey of the Heart ~♥~

It seems many people are going through a very difficult season these days. Whether from financial difficulties, stressed relationships, or poor health the sources are endless; the need for a change of season epidemic.
Too many are suffering in a winter of discontent. Do we just endure the long winter or can we change the season. Daniel 2:21 says God can "change times and seasons." If you don't like the season you are in... change it.

So, how do we change the season? If I can take liberty with Shakespeare..."Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of [God]. Through Christ our winter is made a glorious summer. The presence of the Lord will bring us times of refreshing in the midst of our drought.

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," (Acts 3:19)

To change our season we need to repent and be converted so that our sins may be blotted out that a new season "may "[is allowed] come. To repent means "to change one's mind" (Webster.)
If we change our mind...the Lord will change your season. He will change the winter of our discontent into glorious summer. When we change our mind...our thinking... we don't change the winter...we change the discontent!

We still have financial difficulties, stressed relationships, or poor health, but through Christ we can change our mourning into dancing. Through Christ we can choose to be joyful and content in the Lord. For…the joy of the Lord is my strength. We can change our discontent, our whining, and complaining into rejoicing.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

You are to rejoice always, because joy is the easiest fruit to lose. You can't live off of the joy you had yesterday. Joy can give you strength only when you possess it. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight when facing trials.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)

Why is it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight in the midst of your trials. So by rejoicing, you have victory over your trials. When you change your thinking from despair to rejoicing...you can change your season.

Are you facing a challenge or difficulty that seems overwhelming? When you stand strong and remain faithful to God, He promises to set your course for victory! And victory doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going to go our way all the time or work out the way we planned.

The Bible says that the real battle we face isn’t in our circumstances, it’s in our minds. The enemy is after your thoughts. He’s after your peace and joy. He knows that when you have peace, it’s a sign that you are connected to the Father. When you hold on to your peace and choose to be joyful, you are walking in victory, and it’s just a matter of time before your circumstances line up!

Remember, God knew every person who would wrong you, and He’s already laid out your vindication. God knew every disappointment, and He’s already laid out new opportunities. God knew everything that would be stolen, and He has already laid out your restoration. Rejoice today knowing that He has set your course for victory in every area of your life!

"He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones" (Proverbs 2:7-8)

Heavenly Father, thank You for the victory You have in store for me. I choose to be faithful; I choose to walk humbly before You. I stand in faith knowing You are working all things together for my good because You love me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

On this Saint Patrick's Day instead of asking if you are wearing your green... the question should be... Are you "green" with envy?

Do you begrudge another’s good fortune because you feel the good fortune should have been yours? Does it make you uncomfortable when someone has more acclaim, prestige, or possessions than you? Do you ever speak with contempt, or unkindness, or severity about someone with more than you? Do you have any tinge of satisfaction when someone who has more than you is "brought down?" Do you carry old grudges?

Envy/covetousness is one of the deadly sins to which no one readily confesses and yet it is rare to find anyone completely free of its grasp. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17

Envy will always destroy relationships. Often it is a relative who seems to be the most envious and this person can drive families apart. Envious people often tear down another’s accomplishments by belittling or sometimes subtly uttering well-aimed negative comments. Have you ever gone to a person to share good news? The look of ambivalence you received lets you know you hit an “envy nerve.”

Envy is counting another's blessings instead of your own. If you are honest with yourself, everyone would have to admit they have experienced envy at some point in their life. It's the battle with our flesh that wants to say "what about me." However, if you simply are unable to bear the good fortune of others then "the green-eyed monster" has captured your heart.

What spirit do you now find as you search your heart? Individuals attempting to deal with problems of jealousy and envy should strive for critical and realistic evaluation of their own capabilities, both positive and negative. After making the evaluation, they should then give thanks for their strengths and recognize that it is usually impossible to possess everything in life that is valued.

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:24-26.

Lord give me the strength,
To keep loving.
Keep my heart open only to you.
Help me shower all your love,
Like the rain from above,
Not be squandered away without you.

Lord give me the strength,
To keep caring.
Keep my mouth open only for you.
Help me spread only your word,
To those who haven't heard,
Not be carelessly spoken without you.

Lord give me the strength,
To be quiet.
Keep my ears open only to you.
Help me hear all of your word,
So I can share what I heard,
Not be loud and distracted without you.

Lord give me the strength,
To be humble.
Keep my eyes open only to you.
Help me to grow in your love,
Shining from heaven above,
Not be proud and self-centered without you.

by~bren

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

One by one
The faces go
We meet them everyday.
But, oh what a thrill
That special face
Who touched your world one day.

Remember when
You met someone
Who brightened up your day
You hold them
Dearly in your heart
You wished they'd always stay.

So, show your love
Put a smile on your face
Let the Lord shine through you everyday
So that you might be
That special face Who touches someone else today.

~Bren

After a jaw injury I had vitek proplast-teflon implants placed in my face. They were defective, contaminated, and recalled by the FDA. Not only did the implants fail, but the company used industrial grade Teflon instead of medical grade which contained unknown contaminants.

There is documentation that this company knew these implants would cause devastation of catastrophic proportions. In some people it actually ate through their skull and became embedded in their brain.

Within 3 months the implants had eroded the bones in my face and gone through my bloodstream affecting my entire body causing an autoimmune response. The implants were removed after 5 years, but not before the toxins devastated my body.

I have a lot of pain in my head, neck, back, and arms from the instability and inflamed nerves in my face. I have pain, inflammation, and erosions in various organs especially the digestive system and bladder. The biopsy of my bladder revealed that 3 layers of tissue had been eroded. My thyroid has been removed. I had a breast lumpectomy.

I have constant dizziness and nausea from the vertigo cause by all the damage to the TMJ and surrounding tissue. My entire head is covered in scar tissue from when they removed my face twice and sawed off part of my skull to fit the implants.

I have also been diagnosed with having toxic encephalopathy, severe chemical sensitivity, Trigeminal neuralgia, Autoimmune: thyroiditis - interstitial cystitis - gastritis, Fibromyalgia, and CFS. Several doctors have suspected MS, but I have chosen not to get a muscle biopsy.

I have difficulty walking not only because of the muscular problems, but because my mother had surgery on my feet when I was a teenager after my father was killed in a turbine explosin. They said I might need surgery when I was 40.

In the shock of my Father's tradgic death she was only thinking I have 30 days of insurance...not that I would have my own insurance in my 40's...actually I didn't have insurance in my 40's after my husband left.

Most people find it difficult to believe what I am dealing with since I usually have a smile on my face. Trust me it is far less painful to be joyful than negative, bitter, and focused on your pain.

I choose to be thankful for what I have and not to be complaining about what I do not have or can not do. Yes, there are days I am sad and lonely, days when I am delirious from the pain, days I don’t have the strength to feed myself…let alone make it to the store if I am out of food.

Yet, with all this I choose to be joyful and content in the Lord. For…the joy of the Lord is my strength. Every day is a struggle, but I will continue to praise the Lord.

In His presence there is joy. In His presence there is peace. In His presence there is freedom from pain. It’s a choice and even though I might be crying on the outside…in my soul there is joy.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

- Update -

I want to clarify that not all jaw implants have been recalled. Not only did the implants I had fail, but the company used industrial grade Teflon instead of medical grade which contained unknown contaminants. Even though not all jaw implants have been recalled, long term analysis has shown that any implants in the jaw are not an effective solution. The jaw is just too complex of a joint and the face has many complex nerves and functions. My injuries were extensive. This was not just a case of TMJ dysfunction, not to dismiss anyone with this painful condition.

The disk in my right joint was completely dislocated, my face was distorted and the right side of my face wasn't functioning. The pain was so severe they thought I had a brain aneurysm. I spent three years in physical therapy trying to get the disk to relocate. In the meantime, the stress of my right side not working caused the left disk to become completely mutilated. Not only was the surgery considered my only option it was mandatory as part of my Workman's comp settlement. It was recommended by my doctors and physical therapist who were specialist in TMJ disorders. The physical therapist sent me to the same surgeon his wife went to and assured me he was one of the best in the country.

I thought I was making an informed decision. It was before all the documentation came out about the implants. I was young, it's been almost 30 years now, and didn't understand the consequences of foreign body reactions. I also didn't understand, nor did my surgeon I hope, the consequences of putting 8 metal screws into the skull of a person with metal allergies. My surgeon who had performed thousands of these surgeries had never seen anything like what happened to me. My head swelled up like something out of a freak show and I immediately was in severe pain in my lungs, stomach, colon, and bladder...not to mention my joints and muscles. As mentioned before, within 3 months it had completely eroded the mandibular condyles in my face and my neck swelled from autoimmune thyroiditis. I looked like I had the mumps.

I didn't think about having a metal allergy before the surgery. Back then I just assumed doctors always had your best interests in mind. I knew jewelry burned and caused a rash. I never thought about it...I just never wore jewelry. I was also never told they would be putting 8 screws in my skull. I would have thought the surgeon would have noticed I didn't even wear a wedding ring. Years later I contacted a surgeon who was doing reconstructive surgery with titanium implants. The first thing he asked was do I react to metal. When I said yes, he informed me that not only could I not have reconstruction, but I never should have had the original implants, not that they were good for anyone.

Having a metal allergy wasn't the only preexisting condition that complicated my recovery. I had celiac disease, hypoglycemia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. so my body was already set up for a major reaction not only to the implants, but to all the chemicals and drugs I was exposed to. I ended up back in the hospital several times with dehydration because I couldn't eat, drink or keep anything down. I am still terrified of throwing up, because I have too many memories of not being able stop and ending up in the hospital. I am however; grateful I had a preexisting faith in the Lord and loving friends who hold me up in prayer.

Where hatred resides,
Let love prevail.
When hatred prevails,
Have love reside.

I awoke to the Lord speaking those words to my spirit one morning. It seems there is so much hatred in the world today, whether it is one race against another, one religion against another, one denomination against another or one believer against another. Even in our own personal life it is so difficult not to respond to hatred with hatred. Our nature wants validation for the injustice we think has been imposed upon us. As if hating them back somehow childishly takes the pain away or evens the score. We need to realize our battle is not against one another...

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13

Our battle is against the powers of the dark world and and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let us not allow the evil forces to use us as pawns in their battle plans. Instead let us get ready for the real battle. Are you ready for battle?

"to prepare for battle" we need to put to death our earthly nature.

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

"to dress for battle" we need to clothe ourselves in what... compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

"to go to battle" we need to walk in love...
before you ever walk out the door or open you mouth or hit send!

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14

Above all be covered with the aroma of Christ...which is love.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

To respond in love to people who have offended you is difficult merely in the fact that it is a choice, a choice contrary to our nature, contrary to our desires, contrary to our logic. It is however, the very nature of God. So where does that leave us? To choose God is to choose love. Only when we allow God to transform our nature can we truly respond in love. We need to let love prevail and reside in our lives. I believe that love is the most powerful weapon we have against the powers of darkness...
Let Love Prevail!

I thought that I was ready,
I went marching off to war.

To challenge the mighty serpent,
It was time to even the score.

I thought that I could conquer,
the might of the evil one.

But, my power wasn't strong enough,
I called out for the CHOSEN one.

Then I heard the trumpets calling,
The KING of kings is here.

His left hand held a scepter, the right a mighty sword.
He came in all his glory, to take away my fear.

He said "it's time for battle,"
Your strength is in the sword.

Just ask and you'll receive it,
Put on the whole armor of the Lord.

For those with ears to hear Him,
Let them call upon His name.

He'll give you strength and power,
And take away your fear and shame.

Are you ready for the battle,
To go marching off to war?

We'll challenge the mighty serpent,
With the power to even the score.

~Bren