Sniffles, Coughs, and Wheezes!

These last two weeks have been quite an experience for me. First, I had the flu with the prerequisite nausea, stomach problems, fever, malaise, etc. Then I felt better for three days. Last Tuesday, I woke up with a cough. A deep rattling cough. From out of nowhere. By Tuesday night, I was feverish and coughing like I had been sick for a week. The next four days slowly drug by as I slept almost constantly except to take and pick up my children from school. Friday, I was sicker and had had enough. I get asthmatic bronchitis religiously every year, sometimes 2 or 3 times, and so I have a cough medicine prescribed by the doctor and 2 inhalers that I use when it flares up. I used those last week to no avail. When I finally went to the doctor, he said, "Yes, you have a nasty bronchitis that needs a heavy antibiotic to knock it out." So I filled the prescription, went home, took the meds, and slept some more. Saturday arrived and I felt a little better. Then my son complained that he didn't feel well. He has been running a fever since Saturday and coughing and sniffling and blowing his poor little nose. Tomorrow is school and I have a feeling he will be home with me and another visit to the doctor will be necessary.

To add to my sad story, the church family of Inland Lighthouse has been hit heavily by this flu bug and we have had a lot of absentees! I was one of them two Wednesdays in a row! The choir has been decimated to half it's usual size. The praise team leader has his phone ringing off the hook for finding replacements, as do I for the musicians. Last night during the preaching, there was so much coughing at one point that Bro. Booker said it sounded like a TB ward!

So many are sick that one of our resident RN's talked to Sis. Booker about looking into a flu shot clinic sponsored by the church this next fall!!! They are going to look into the logistics and see if we can't circumvent this awful sniffle season next year! I hope they can but if not, I WILL BE GETTING a flu shot next time! It has been horrible and I am still not well!

Please, pray for the Inland Empire and all the sick saints of ILC!! We need deliverance from sniffles, coughs and wheezes!!

Feb. 13, 2008
Editor's note: Alas, this morning I woke to find my husband and eldest daughter are now battling this awful bug. Justin feels a little better and has finally stopped running a fever but now Mark and Marissa are coughing. Mark went to work because he has not missed a single day for sickness in 3 years!! He doesn't want to ruin that record but I have a feeling I will see him much earlier than usual.

Thanks for the prayers! Oh, and be sure to read our resident RN's comments posted below. She has quite a lot to say! And I must agree with her!!!

New Markisms!!

Okay, finally my hubby has come up with new markisms to share with you. Tonight, we were playing a Bible trivia game and Mark started making up his own questions. I thought I would share a couple with you and see if you can determine the answers.

Here goes....

1: Which prophet couldn't sing?

2: Which prophet liked people to hear what he had to say?

Please, feel free to make a guess about the answers to these deep Bible trivia questions. These questions might have made a great addition to the Occidental Gazette!!! LOL

I love having Mark as my husband because you just never know what he might say next!

Note of Joy

I just finished reading a few of my past blog entries and am feeling blessed to have these reminders of what God is doing in my life. I was feeling quite low last week and fighting a doubting spirit but God took me to a place where I unexpectedly lifted another persons' spirits. I was talking to a friend and as I went to leave, I felt God show me a glimpse of pain she was going through. Words started pouring forth from my mouth and I was astounded at the things I was saying. My friend was in tears and praising God for showing her where she was and what she needed to do to overcome an oppressing spirit. (Just Praise your way out was the gist of the message. Even when depression is on you, just praise Him for what He is doing.)While I was exhorting her, I started hearing myself and wouldn't you know it but He was talking to me as well! Bro. Booker preached a message a few months ago about talking yourself into blessings and such. I truly felt like that was where I was Saturday as God spoke through me to my friend and at the same lifted me out of my doubt.

Then Sunday morning, Adam Pierce taught the Sunday School lesson and talked about how we have to be truly honest with ourselves so that we can fight the real battles. If we are hiding from what we know is really happening, trying to ignore the truth, and put the blame on someone else, then we can never truly grow. Then Bro. Booker preached a wonderful message in the second session about virtually the same thing and reminded us of the past message I mentioned above. I was overwhelmed with praise and gratitude that Jesus was reaffirming my break through and strengthening my resolve to be an over comer.

Sunday night we were supposed to be blessed with a visiting minister but somehow he never made it to the church. The service had just about exploded during song service and again when one of our quartet's sang "Praising for the Victory." Bro. Booker took the pulpit, turned to his son, said, "Joel, pick a card from those scripture cards on my table." Joel reached down, withdrew a card, and read, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was like God smiled down on us and the anointing fell even stronger than before. Bro. Booker took that scripture and preached a POWERFUL message to the saints of ILC!! You can hear it at http://www.inlandlighthouse.com/ online sermons. At the end of his message, Bro. Booker had us pray and ask God for a number of souls we would strive to win to Him this year. After we prayed, he had those who felt impressed with a number to call it out. Bro. Joel and Bro. Mikhail counted and we had a total of over 640 souls that we are going to strive to win this year!!!!! Anything is possible with God on our side!!

At altar call, I sang a chorus that my son wrote. It simply says, "I can do all things, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And when I think I'll fail, I just call on Jesus' name and I can do all things through Christ." The whole service from the first note of the piano til the last beat of the drum was POWERFUL!!!

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word and Your promises!!!!!! I am striving for 5 souls this year and hope to teach many Bible studies!!! God bless you and help you to reach your goals this year as well!