LASER BEAMS, SPROUL, TOP 10 LIST 7/15/09

Update 7/15/09

Thank you all again for your kind words and prayer.
Radiation is going along smoothly!

I have had 2 treatments, and they are really quite a breeze so far.
THE WHOLE THING (RADIATION) GOES LIKE THIS -
- Eric and I drive down to Hollywood, about a 30 minute drive, park in the garage, check in, then wait in a waiting room with lots of other people.
-Over the loudspeaker I hear my name and the room to which I am to report, so I head down the hall to the mini dressing rooms and put on a gown.
-Then I stand awkwardly at the door of the therapy room until the therapist comes to get me.
-I head in and lay on the treatment bed with my arms over my head in “stirrups” and de-robe slightly.
-They make sure my pin-prick sized tattoos are aligned to the green lasers coming from the ceiling, and then press on a remote control to move a large machine around me. They stop it above me to my left and then leave the room.
-There is a buzz sound and light indicating that xrays are happening (like at the dentist), and after about 30 seconds they come back in and move the machine below me slightly to my right and leave again. Buzzing and light. They come back in and move my “bed” down and then it’s over.
-The therapy part is really as fast as getting 2 or 3 xrays from the dentist. Pretty amazing. I feel like I’m experiencing medicine from the Jetsons because I feel nothing and it’s just lasers and whatnot.
-Then I change back into street clothes and leave with Eric.
-30 minutes back home and the day is done.
-The whole thing takes about 1 1/2 hours.

SCHOOL
Thanks for your prayers about school planning! I still need it!
-But I’ve started and I’m excited about the upcoming semester!
-I got my schedule and it is exactly what I wanted! Praise God! I will teach 9th grade Reading, 10th grade AVID, and 10th grade English. I would love your prayers for wisdom and efficiency in preparing units and lessons that will help me keep a balanced and more simple life.

SPIRITUAL RESOURCE
Today I listened to a great message by RC Sproul — from “Themes from James: Grace to the Humble” — 6/26/09 Renewing Your Mind Podcast (available free on Itunes! Check it out! 30 well-spent minutes!)
MY HIGHLIGHTS:
-Why do we have conflicts and disputes? Often it is because of envy — wanting something that we do not have, believing it will make us happy. We do not have because we do not ask, or we ask amiss, wanting to spend it on our own fleshly desires.
-What must we do? Realize that God’s grace is sufficient for us, and He gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. We must come before Him remembering what we are — servants who have received everything from His hand anyway. Do we go before Him demanding from Him what we want? What arrogance! Do we go trying to persuade Him as if he needed our counsel? As if we know a better way than He to provide for us? No, we go to Him thankful for the abundant grace He has already provided, and ask of him in humility. He gives grace to the humble but He resists the proud.
-Sproul’s practical “assignment” — I’m going to do it, maybe you can too!
List 10 things you want the most out of the rest of your life.
Look at that list and say, “why do I want these things? are these the things that really matter? are these the things that will make me truly happy and will truly fulfill me as a creature made in the image of God? are these the things that I could walk into the presence of God without embarrassment and without shame say to God, “God, will You please give me these 10 things?”
See if you can find a mirror of your own soul in this list, and then get on your knees and say, “God, give me humility that I may enjoy Your grace.”

One of the things on my list:
1. I really want to be a mother... I would love to partner with Eric to parent children the Lord brings to us, either naturally or through adoption. I would love to be able to parent children from a less “fortunate” situation, be it from a depressed area like Uganda or Ethiopia or Haiti or….?, or perhaps children from the foster system.
When thinking about this first desire, I realize that I am not always thankful for the grace God has given me now. I am able NOW to partner with Eric in teaching and encouraging people around me that God has brought into our path — people who may already know the Lord but that I can still encourage them to live before the face of God.
As well, I also have a myriad of people around me who do not really know or love God that I can do all in my power to try to lead them to His throne as one beggar bringing another to the treasure she found.
These “mothering” instincts can be poured out on any with whom the Lord has already surrounded me. Meanwhile, I can still petition the Lord in faith for my original request, while trusting that His grace is truly sufficient for me! And I can pursue the humility of contentment — being thankful for the grace that He has already ridiculously lavished on me.
Hope ya’ll can also find contentment, peace, joy, and thankfulness in the grace you’ve been given today!!
God bless.

PICS

Radiation fun — dressing room and gown sign

Radiation fun — dressing room and gown sign

Came home from radiation on Tuesday to Kristin M’s gift on the porch! She always leaves the present on the porch, wrapped up very pretty. :) She’s so kind!

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