My new t-shirt reads, “I CONQUERED GROS PITON!” That’s right! My hubby and I completed this hike on Saturday, February 4th, 2023. It was likely the most difficult hike I have ever completed. The journey up the mountain was filled with boulders, uneven terrain, and steep climbs! Our legs were burning and shaking with fatigue. Our lungs were straining to get enough air from our exertions. Our hearts were beating out of our chests. We were soaked with sweat. And we craved water for our thirst.
The hike reminded me a bit of my journey in life in this world, at times…
Life is hard.
I feel fatigued and drained.
I am out of breath from the pain and grief of heartache and loss.
I am shaky from my emotions due to my trials, challenges, and anxiety.
I am thirsty for more depth of community and closeness with friends, family, and my Savior.
Our Lord does not leave us alone in our suffering or in our journey. If we invite Him into our lives and accept Him as our Savior, He promises to never…NEVER…leave us. He will be with us always, strengthening us and guiding us in our journey. I was struck by this similarity on the hike. The guide did not leave us or give up on us. She walked ahead of us…providing guidance and encouragement on how to navigate the climb. She sensed when we needed rest, but also pushed us to continue and to not give up.
Jesus does the same for His people. Scripture is filled with His words of encouragement to press on and to let Him guide our life. The stories of the Bible describe over and over how much God loves us, His great displays of mercy and grace, His intervention on of His people, and ultimately His sacrifice of His own perfect son, Jesus, to save us from sin and ourselves. The Bible is a love story. It is a love story of our Creator to His creation. Below are only a few verses speaking to God’s encouragement to us to press on and fight the good fight for the Kingdom of God; words of His love; and the Truth about His plans for us.
1 Timothy 6:12, ESV
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NLT)
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Yes, life is hard. BUT we have Jesus standing strong beside us to lift us up! (Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 3:16)
Yes, we will feel pain and loss. BUT we have Jesus and the Holy Spirit to provide us peace beyond our understanding. (John 14:27)
Yes, we thirst for more out of this life that leaves us parched. BUT we have the promise from Jesus that He offers us living water where we will never thirst again. (John 4)
I never thought I would be able to do a hike like this at this point in my life. With my anxiety issues, on-going pain, and vertigo, I thought this would be impossible. But I was wrong. I did it! I am praying that you have confidence through the power of Jesus, determination to press on through the trials, and hope for the future bounty of eternal life. All things are possible with God and He will never leave you alone.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What mountain is in your path of life today?
How do you feel about it? Fear? Anxiety? Challenged? Determined?
What first step are you willing to take today to climb up and press on through it?
Please share your thoughts in the comments. Your story will be an encouragement to all of us and we want to encourage you in your journey!
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
Gros Piton in St. Lucia is the mountain in the front. It stands 2,619 feet tall.Pat…my hubby…and I at the half way point with Petit Piton in the background.We made it to the TOP!! Yay!!
Hello, Sweet Circle! You may have been wondering…”Where did she go?” And that would be a completely appropriate question to ponder. My last post was 8/23/2022. I am shocked by how long ago that was. Bottomline: Life took hold of me with both hands, and I was overwhelmed! Have you ever felt this way? I know the feeling too, and I am here to share that, “It’s okay!” Sometimes this happens and we just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and lift up our prayers ever minute, if necessary!
Here were some of the things that happened to me:
In August 2022, I was made aware that the IN Department of Revenue was going to perform an audit of both our businesses in October 2022. I went back to work full-time to prepare for the audit. UPDATE: That is still going on and we are hoping to receive our reports from the audit in March 2023.
September 2022, I went to Oregon to spend two glorious weeks with my daughter. My Hubby was there for the last week. She was in-between terms in Veterinary School at Oregon State University. We had an amazing time visiting, crafting, and traveling to Crater Lake…BEAUTIFUL!
October 2022, My Hubby and I went to Columbia, MD, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We saw their new apartment. We visited Johns Hopkins University where Mitch is going to grad school. We went to a Purdue football game at University of Maryland. We went to an apple orchard for the fall picking. And we had an amazing time being with them too.
November and December 2022 were a blur with the holidays.
Through all of this…I had several relapses with severe break-outs of my autoimmune disease…Cicatricial Pemphigoid…due to stress and anxiety. This took a toll on my health. My stress, increased anxiety and depression, and insomnia were in full swing. Yikes!!
So, I needed to take a break to continue to have margin for rest, yarn-therapy and soul-care. God is GOOD, and met me in my trials. I was never alone. He continued to provide strength for me and hope for new treatment. My family and friends continued to support me, pray for me, and listen when I needed to vent. I am truly blessed. I am praying that you have people you can lean on too, when life seems out of control. Just remember…God is always in control!
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
~ Psalm 73:26
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? “
~Psalm 27:1
BUT I MISSED YOU!! I missed writing to you, and I missed the chance to get to know all of you better.
I would love to hear from you!! Whether it’s a quick HELLO and introduction, a longer note to share your story, your favorite verse for encouragement, or anything else that is on your mind. Please COMMENT below or send me an email at stacy@stacyturley.com.
YOU are loved, valued and worthy!! Let’s stick together and support each other through our daily lives. I want to know you and pray for you too! Reach out, Friend. You are not alone and I can’t wait to hear from you!
Hello, Friends. I asked for your prayers and support last week during my whirlwind of doctors’ appointments, and I THANK YOU for lifting me up. My appointments grew from four over two days to SIX over three days. Here is a summary…
Thursday, August 18th –
Audiologist for slight hearing loss
GREAT News! My hearing improved and the issues were due to swelling of my ear canal. We used antibiotic drops and my hearing returned to normal. I had no pain during this time. I had no idea my ear was irritated and swollen internally. Thank you, Jesus!
Orthopedic Surgeon for pain in my hips with a lovely limp to match
We have an answer! I have two strained muscles in two different locations. The left hip is a mid-glute muscle strain. The right hip is an upper IT band strain. So different locations of pain but both due to muscular issues. I have to cut back on high impact exercise. No running, jogging, or sharp changes of direction. Walking and elliptical machines are best for now. I am grateful it is NOT arthritis or anything more serious. Thank you, Jesus.
Friday, August 19th –
ADD ON Appt: Dentist for dental trays to soak my gums in a steriod gel to heal my blisters and help prevent more….at least that is the hope!
I love having another option in my cocktail of medicines to FIGHT Cicatricial Pemphigoid! The battle is not over and we keep fighting for a solution. God is GOOD!
Optometrist for a regular check up and vision test. One of my meds may cause blindness so I have to get my eyes checked every three to four months.
No serious issues, but my eye sight changed enough that new glasses are recommended. I cannot wear contacts so I love to shop for “new looks” with my glasses. I am trying something new and a little edgy…for me. That part is so fun!! Yay!!
Colon Surgeon…hmmm, nuff said!!
All is well now. Nuff said!
Monday, August 22nd –
ADD ON Appt: General Practitioner for increased anxiety and a few days of depression.
We have a plan! After a year and a half of trying to find a solution to control my autoimmune disease with little progress, my stress and anxiety has increased. I am currently on the lowest dose of anti-anxiety medication. So we will increase the dose and pray that it controls the anxiety which may be the cause of the bouts of depression. Thank you, Lord, for my understanding doctors and the medical assistance with these emotions.
Yes, I sometimes feel like this is a bummer that I have more and more ailments to keep track of and medicines to remember and food restrictions. However, most of the time I am so grateful that God has blessed me with an amazing team of doctors to help monitor my ailments and provide solutions. God is so good!! I am never alone for I know Jesus is by my side through it all and I am grateful for the gifts and progress of medicine to help bring healing to so many people along with God’s power, strength and peace.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14
I would also like to pray for you! Please leave a note in the Comments section if you have a prayer request. I would be honored to lift you up in the name of Christ. Amen, Sisters!
Have you ever been inspired by the picture or example of a piece of art or craft? I have…many, many times!! My dear husband will attest to that from my stash of projects to work on in my craft closet! I love to take an idea and tweek it a bit to make it my own, so that it speaks to my heart.
In Matthew 5-7, Jesus was sharing with the crowds who had gathered many instructions and words of wisdom in the passage called the Sermon on the Mount. Within the text, Jesus explains the posture we should take when praying. We should not proclaim our prayers loudly in a crowd where we draw attention to ourselves. We do not need fancy words or flowery language. He tells us in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” He reminds the people and us that God already knows what we need before we utter a word! He knows us that well! Jesus goes on to give us the exact words we all may use to commune with God. Jesus gives us the prayer of the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
Just like the crafting projects that I like to make-my-own, I find comfort in doing the same with the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. I like to pray-through-the-prayer. This helps me truly internalize what the prayer is saying and how I may pore out my heart to God with the Lord’s Prayer as my foundation. Let me show you what I mean. (The words in CAPS/BOLD are from scripture. The Italics/Normal text represents my prayer within the prayer.)
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN,
Abba, Father, you created and oversee everything from Your throne in heaven.
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME.
You are holy, mighty, glorious. You are so pure my mind and eyes cannot comprehend.
YOUR KINGDOM COME,
Lord, may you come in glory. May you set right all that is broken in this world. I await eagerly for your coming again when Eden is made perfect again.
YOUR WILL BE DONE,
Lord, I pray that your will be done, not mine. That through the obedience of your people, we may change the world in Your Name for the better. I pray we set aside our selfish ambition. We focus on loving of others and our service to others just as You served us with Your very life.
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Father, let earth be restored to perfection as it is in heaven. I pray You will conquer all evil and remove it permanently from existence in Your perfect timing.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,
Lord, give me what I need for this day only. Help me to live in the moment and be content with what I have…that which You have provided me.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
Lord, Jesus, forgive me. Help me see where I have sinned so I may repent and be made right in you. Cleanse me, Lord. Purify me. Open my eyes.
AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
Lord, Jesus, as You have forgiven me and set the example of grace and mercy, help me extend the same forgiveness to others. To show others the love of Christ by my actions and words.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
Lord, when I am tempted, please be with me and give me the strength to overcome and not submit to what my humanly body and mind may want. Help me to live righteously for you. Even under the pressure I may feel from others.
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
Give me a way out, Lord. When evil is in front of me, help me to call out in the name of Jesus, “Get Out! Leave me, in Jesus name!” Help me feel the peace and strength of your Holy Spirit in me to overcome and squash the influence and deception of Satan in my life.
AMEN.
Amen!! Thank you, Jesus. You are mine and I am yours.
Sometimes I feel like I cannot find the words I want to say. Using the Lord’s Prayer as my foundation, it lays the ground work for my heart and soul to speak through. Jesus gave us these Words to speak to the Father. When you need to pray and don’t know what to say or how to say, take time to slow down and say these words which Jesus gave us. Pause after each line, and let your heart speak.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please respond in Comments section below.)
Do you pray through scripture? If so, what passage do you pray through most often?
How do you battle temptation?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. You are so generous! You have given us the very words we may use to come to the foot of your throne. Thank you for the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father. Thank you for the guidance on how we may approach you. Humbly, quietly, with no fan-fare. Lord, help me remember to bring my laments and celebrations to you. That you are my Savior, my Comforter, and my Creator. Only You know what’s best for me. Amen.
Are there days when you can literally feel your age in your bones? The little creaks, pops, and pain? The sagging skin and weakening eyes? Do you feel sore after doing a chore or task that you have done for years and years and it never hurt before? Maybe you have a new ailment or diagnosis that leaves you wondering …where did this come from??
I am one of those people who absolutely LOVEs my birthday!! I love to celebrate the day that God brought me to the world. The first day of a new plan for His kingdom with me (and millions of others who were born on April 10th,) in mind. I have cherished each year of aging as a gift from God. Another 365 days to reflect on where God has shown Himself in my life and the lessons that I learned.
I normally take the day off of work. I like to celebrate “my day” by filling it with activities that bring me joy. These activities definitely start with COFFEE! I love to explore new coffee shops, find a quiet place to sit and knit, read, maybe get a facial, share a meal with a friend, and normally end with dinner with my hubby, Pat. Phone calls from my kids, my parents, my brothers, and my friends are part of the days smiles and warm fuzzies too!
At 53 years old, I am coming to realize that along with the celebration of the years since my birth, I also have a few unwelcomed guests…aches, pains, medications, more frequent doctors’ appointments and unwanted diagnosis’. It seems like I knew this was coming as my mom always warned me, “Getting old is not for the weak.” My Grandma Saltsgiver told the same thing to my mom when she was growing up, and I am sure I will pass along the same words of wisdom to my daughter!
Oh my word! This week I am living that reality with four doctor’s appointments in two days!! Yikes!!
Thursday, August 18th –
Audiologist for slight hearing loss
Orthopedic Surgeon for pain in my hips with a lovely limp to match
Friday, August 19th –
Optometrist for a regular check up and vision test. One of my meds may cause blindness so I have to get my eyes checked every three to four months.
Colon Surgeon…hmmm, nuff said!!
Yes, I sometimes feel like this is a bummer that I have more and more ailments to keep track of and medicines to remember and food restrictions. However, most of the time I am so grateful that God has blessed me with an amazing team of doctors to help monitor my ailments and provide solutions. God is so good!! I am never alone for I know Jesus is by my side through it all and I am grateful for the gifts and progress of medicine to help bring healing to so many people along with God’s power, strength and peace.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14
So…would you pray for me at all the upcoming tests and appointments this week? I would also like to pray for you! Please leave a note in the Comments section if you have a prayer request. I would be honored to lift you up in the name of Christ. Amen, Sisters!
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