Monday, December 15, 2008

Thank you!

Thank you seems so inadequate to say to all of you who are praying for (and with) Mom and me, loving us, encouraging us, volunteering to do things to help us, coming to see us, calling us on the phone, sending us cards--the list goes on and on. We are both so very grateful to God for you and for all the things you're doing to help us during this difficult season in our lives.

It is my understanding that the initial pathology report will come while I am still in the hospital. I don't know if I'll receive the final pathology report before being dismissed or not. I am expecting the best report possible. (Nevertheless, not my will, but God's.) I have prayed that the doctors will be surprised at how good everything looks once I am in surgery--and you know that God will get the credit, praise, and thanks for that.

A dear friend will update my CarePage http://www.carepages.com/ as needed so you'll know what's happening as the journey continues. Thanks, Sally! You can find me by using TheTuneRoom as the page name. You must register/join to visit the page, but it is easy to do. I encourage you to leave a message for me--you can even mark it private if you want and only you and I will see it.

It is my habit to pray for people whenever they come to mind because I believe that is Holy Spirit letting me know to pray for people when they need it the most. I will continue to make that my habit during my days in the hospital as well as in the coming weeks as I recuperate.

Love & prayers to each and every one of you. You are near, dear, and precious in my life and in Mom's.

Because of Jesus,
Janet

Friday, December 5, 2008

"The Case of the Disappearing Bride Doll"

My "bride doll" had been missing for many weeks and I was angry that she was gone, yet fearful for her well-being. I knew without a doubt that I had carefully placed her (and the few clothes she owned) back into the third drawer of the marble-topped dresser. This was the bride doll’s "bedroom" and I was certain I’d put her there after my cousins and I had re-enacted yet another wedding with her in the starring role. It did not matter to any of us in her "wedding party" that she had no wedding gown nor veil because we were great at pretending and imagining. I even tried to convince myself through make-believe that my doll was missing because her "honeymoon" with her invisible "groom" had been extended. Still, I feared the worst–that I’d never be able to play with her again.

Although it was never spoken aloud, my radar-instinct told me that since my doll was not to be found in her usual location, that my Mom must believe I had lost her! How could my own Mother think such a thing? I was very careful with my toys, and the bride doll received extra-special attention and care.


"Okay" I reasoned to myself, "since I did not lose a happily-married doll, she must have been kidnapped." As a result of the fact that Mom appeared not to believe me regarding the whereabouts of my doll, I had to be my own private detective in the search for the disappearing bride doll. There was no ransom note to indicate she was kidnapped, so I assumed that one of my cousins had accidentally taken her home with their dolls and toys. By now I’d called in all the troops–aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, etc.-–to help with "The Case of the Disappearing Bride Doll." Everyone assured me that the doll was nowhere to be found at any of their houses. I was discouraged and confused. Where could she be?

Christmas was quickly approaching and I was convinced I would not get any presents, since current evidence indicated that I could not take care of the toys and dolls I already had. How could I expect to get more? No adult ever said such a thing to me, but my overly-active imagination had convinced my already broken heart that nothing else could possibly happen. No gifts at Christmas? It was definitely going to be my saddest Christmas ever.

It was puzzling to me that my parents never expressed anger over the doll being lost. Daddy and Momma were not angry with me very often, but I felt so guilty that I assumed they would at least be annoyed. They weren’t, and I couldn’t figure out why. Perhaps my parents were so irritated that they couldn’t even speak about it! I was really in T-R-O-U-B-L-E if that thought were true.

Christmas Eve found me eager, and yet reluctant to go to bed. Santa most certainly would not deliver presents for me during the night because I’d been naughty and lost my most special doll. As I gazed longingly at the marble-topped chest where my doll was supposed to be, I finally fell asleep in my bed In spite of my childish worries.

On Christmas morning my bare feet were moving quickly along the cold linoleum floor of my bedroom toward the warmth of the carpeted living room. My eyes were open, so I gave the appearance of being awake, even though I did not feel very alert on the inside. (Even as a child I was never a morning person.)

The farm-cut, home-grown Christmas tree of cedar in the living room was twinkling with its multicolored lights and silver tinsel. My sleep-sluggish body contradicted the jolt I felt inside when I looked at the base of the tree. I had to be dreaming! I rubbed my eyes fast and hard to get the "sleepy-seeds" out and to make certain I was awake. Could my bride doll indeed be standing under our Christmas tree? Yet it was unquestionable–my bride doll had come home for Christmas and besides that, she had on a glamorous white-satin bridal gown and veil! She also had a wardrobe case overflowing with beautiful new clothes. In my excitement I ran to her, snatched her up and gave her my best welcome-home hug.

I heard Mom and Dad laughing in the background as they tried to explain what had happened. Grandma Dovie had made all the clothes for my bride doll and she’d needed the doll at her house for all the "fittings" required for the newly-fashioned clothing. In addition to that, all the adults in our family knew exactly where the doll was the entire time! Suddenly I knew why nobody was angry with me–they were all a part of a well-kept secret so that I could be surprised on Christmas morning!

That Christmas I learned in an unexpected way that all hearts really do try to come home at Christmas, even if the "heart" is inside a plastic doll’s body! "The Case of the Disappearing Bride Doll" had now been officially solved. Case closed.


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©10-20-03 and 12-06-04 by Janet Faye Broyles of Edmond, Oklahoma . This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from Janet F. Broyles. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please leave a message for me here.
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"NOW AND THEN"

Even though the baby was born in His father’s hometown, no one but the novice parents knew of the baby’s exact moment of arrival. His parents were in every way fascinated with their infant’s tiny fingers and toes, His rosebud lips, His crinkly eyes, His hair that was softer than words could express. Everything about Him was absolutely perfect–a fact they would realize even more fully as he grew into a teenager. Only moments ago it had been just the two of them. In the next few moments Mary struggled to comprehend that she was a mother and Joseph, a father. But for now they were content to snuggle up together as a family of three.

As Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and placed Him in a borrowed manger she had no idea that one day He’d be wrapped in cloth again and laid in a borrowed tomb. Joseph was with her now and Joseph of Arimethea would be with her then. For now, "The heavens–wrapped in wonder–knew the meaning of His birth. In the weakness of a baby, they knew God had come to earth!"*(1) This newborn who couldn’t speak a word was the fulfillment of The Word of God to man. As Mary watched the first light of a new day gradually appear, she joyfully accepted her first full day as a mother.

While the newborn cried softly, those in the world outside continued their morning routines as usual. Mary tried to relax and rest as she nursed Jesus, but she had so many thoughts and questions swirling through her mind that she couldn’t settle down. Instead of being anxious and concerned, she chose then and there to ponder things in her heart, a habit she’d continue for the rest of her life. Yes, the first light of this new day was very pleasing to Mary and she held Jesus even closer to her.

Little did Mary know that before the first light of a new day some three decades later, Jesus would be betrayed by one of His disciples, and yet another would deny three times that he even knew Him. Then, the first light of the next day would bring trials filled with false accusations and undeserved physical brutality. Jesus, The Word, had not been able to speak words on His birthday; He was only able to cry out to His father and mother. One day He would choose not to speak during difficult days of trial. On the day of His death, Jesus would only be able to cry out to His Father in heaven while His earthly mother stood weeping nearby.

After Jesus was born He had been placed inside a wooden cradle; in the future He’d be placed upon a wooden cross to die. Soon after His birth, the Name of Jesus was listed on the census by his proud father, Joseph. Shortly before His death thirty-three years later, a sign on a cross would list Jesus as King of the Jews.

In Bethlehem, His earthly parents were rejected at the inn. At Golgotha’s crucifixion, Jesus would be rejected by men. Shepherds had guarded their flocks and surrounded the birthplace of Jesus, The Lamb of God. Someday soldiers would guard and surround a tomb, the burial place of God’s Son, His Sacrificial Lamb.

In the first light of a future day, things would continue as they had been as the Son of God arose from the dead! Angels would be speaking at His resurrection to perplexed, terrified women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. At His birth angels spoke to two confused, frightened parents, Joseph of Bethlehem and Mary of Nazareth. Jesus was born into this world through a mother’s labor of love and eventually He would be resurrected into the world eternal through His Father’s labor of love.

In the first light of His first day on earth, angels announced the birth of Jesus; there were no trumpet fanfares announcing His arrival, even though He’d come from an impeccable lineage, straight from Father-God’s throne. In the first light of the last day, He will come from Father-God’s throne with trumpet sound announcing His second arrival to earth. Then our song will be greater than what the angels had to say at His first arrival on earth! Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Amen!

For then, for now, as well as for eternity–that’s why we celebrate Jesus’ coming!

*(1) based on the song "In the First Light"

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©11-20-02 and 12-12-04 by Janet Faye Broyles of Edmond, Oklahoma. This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from Janet F. Broyles. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please leave a message for me here.

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

How God Works!

Wow--God is SO amazing! I posted my "nevertheless" prayer this morning on this blog and on my CarePage. Then I talked to some ladies here in the church building about God showing me last night that I should pray "nevertheless." When I returned to the office, the phone rang and I told Janice that I would answer it for her. Guess what--it was Dr. Rahhal's office calling w/ a surgery date! God is so wonderfully perfect in HIS timing. He wanted me to learn that lesson and I am glad that He helped me "get it!"

SURGERY IS NOW SCHEDULED THIS MONTH @ MERCY HOSPITAL IN OKC WITH DR. McMEEKIN & DR. RAHHAL. I go for a pre-op visit to Dr. Rahhal next Monday.

To find out the exact date and time of my surgery, please visit my CarePage at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/carepages. The name of my CarePage is TheTuneRoom. (no spaces and case sensitive.) You must register to access this page, but it is free and easy to do. I will continue to post things there as often as possible.

Thank you for continuing to intercede for me and Mom.

Nevertheless....

God has shown me in the last two days that it is okay to continue to pray that this surgery could be done in December. In addition, He has shown me that I also need to pray "...nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done."

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Waiting Game

12-01-08 UPDATE: Today I called both surgery schedulers at both doctor's offices to let them know that I would be willing to do surgery anytime in December, even if it means that I will be in the hospital recuperating over Christmas. I haven't heard anything back though.

Please continue to pray that the surgery can be done in December so that I can start getting better sooner and so that the financial part of the $1500 deductible on my insurance can be a part of 2008 expenses instead of starting over on the deductible in 2009.

I continue to be amazed at all the wonderful messages that all of you are sending my way. Outside of the love of God and that of my parents, I have never felt so loved and prayed for in my entire life! I am humbly grateful for everything that all of you are doing to encourage my heart through your prayers, uplifting messages, and by offering to do every-day things to help me and Mom. I am blessed indeed!

Love & prayers to you and yours,
Janet =o)


11-28-08 UPDATE: We are still waiting for a phone call from Dr. Rahhal's office about the surgery date. ~~Please continue to pray that it can be done in December to help out with the insurance deductible for me. Also, a new pastor is coming in January to the church where I work and I am the pastor's secretary as well as doing publications. ~~Pray that my absence will not create a burden for anyone in the office, especially the new pastor, Griff Henderson.