Unexpected Gifts from God!!!

Ever have one of those days, weeks, months.... you know the ones where you aren't sure where the money to feed the family is coming from, there is no gas in the car, no funds in the bank? Well I, (being a single mom and self employed) Have had my fair share of these moments. This week has been no exception. With my daughter falling ill with headaches there have been several trips to Sick Kids to figure out what is wrong. This means lots in gas, paying staff/being closed. And while God has usually provided exactly what i needed when i needed it, this surprise was like no other. All this week God has being showing me His care and without a doubt answer to my prayers. Even though my gas tank had been on empty for a week, MIRACULOUSLY, every time i got in it i had just enough gas left to get me where i was going. In 8th of a tank intervals God was filling my gas tank. I don't know how exactly it kept going but who am i to question a bit of gas from a divine man that can create a waterfall or twinkling star at His mear request. Anyway, by Sunday i have pushed every stitch of everything to the last drop, including my miracle gas. i went to my sisters for Sunday brunch...(thanks by the way) and when i returned home i found an envelope in a bag on my door. I opened it, taking it out of the envelope. It said " Thank-you" on the front. I was thinking who could be thanking me for anything, i have so busy running around i didn't think i had done anything extraordinary enough to warrant a thank-you, let alone a card. When I opened it and read the note that was TYPED inside i fell over and wept. In church earlier that day I had taken my quiet time prior to communion to ask God to please just get me through the next few days, All i needed was enough to get a bit a of gas and some much needed groceries. This is what was typed inside the card...

Leanne,

My beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased.

I've been watching you.

Thank-you for giving of yourself,

when that was almost all you had.

Thank-you for reflecting my love to your friends.

I appreciate you. Keep it up girl.

DAD

Praise the Lord, like the card and encouragment wasn't enough, neatly tucked inside, was exactly enough money to get just what i needed. I am not entirely sure who left it but i do know that God used their extreme generosity to answer my prayers yet again. I am reminded of the scripture Matthew 6:26-27

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

God is good and so are those He chooses to carry out His answers to prayer. Without them i don't know where i would be right now.

Thank-you who ever you were, for all you have done.

Praising His name,

Leanne

Never more than you can handle...EVER?

As you might remember from earlier posts my daughter has hydrocephalus. In September she underwent a cranio-plasty. When she was 9 she had 2 craniotomies. This is when they remove a section of your skull (about the size of an adults palm) Well one hadn't re attached to the skull. They went in during the cranio-plasty and riveted the skull flap back on. We were only in hospital for about 4 days and sent home. Her poor head by this point looks like a road map.

We had her follow up last week and seemed well. no CT or visits to neurosurgery for about 2 years unless there is an issue. Well after 15 years and 16 brain surgeries i am pretty sure her head just knows that if things are well and she is given the clean bill of health it is time to shake things up again. For 3 days now she has had major headaches and it would seem to me (although i am no neurosurgeon) that the flap they attached is sunk in a bit again. I am not sure how this is possible as it is riveted in place with titanium screws and plates. but i am praying earnestly that it is nothing more than the virus that is going around which does cause headaches. I am not sure, even after all this time how to differentiate between the normal ailments and the life threatening shunt malfunction because the symptoms are the same. I can only pray that God will give us a year or two of normality. He will not give you more than you can handle and i am pretty sure we have both handled more than enough. It is incredibly hard on my son as well as we are away from home and he is made to stay with family... Not really a big deal but there is the worry of your sibling lingering over head it can be difficult. SO lessons in life...
As i was reading In my email study of 2 Corinthians 6 3-10. 3

3We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be
discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in
great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings,
imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity,
understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in
the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good
report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown;
dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing
everything.

So while i have my fair share of troubles it is a huge comfort to know that even though these men faced certain death, torture and imprisonment they made it, They are with our Lord and Saviour as i type and I am ever grateful to God for the Word. Stories like theirs make mine seem insignificant. Everything i s possible through Him. I will survive, Life will go on, I will continue to thank God for everyday we are able to be here and are able to praise Him openly. God is Good no matter the circumstance.

Praising His name,

1st LOVE

This past weekend was my second trip to the first love conference in Niagara Falls. It is a women only event (with the exception of a few band members and wait staff.) Glorious praise and worship music, Ann Mainse from 100 Huntley street is the hostess and this year Liz Curtis Higgs (author of Bad girls of the bible) SHE WAS HILARIOUS! she was open about her tumultuous past giving everyone hope for the future. The message was FORGIVENESS and GODS UNFAILING GRACE... What a powerful message she gave. 600 women were in attendance and all were laughing and crying in the same instance, it was almost overwhelming. Imagine if you will 600 voices, strong and diligent, praising the name of our Lord in unison. It was moving and rejuvenating. Talk about a revival! If you think that is fabulous what is even better... Women were saved! one of my dearest friends gave her life to Christ one evening and i was blessed enough to bear witness to it. She collapsed into her own hands, sobbing! one of the ladies at our table came and knelt in front of her and prayed... I fell to my knees and prayed with them! She was saved! Praise the Lord for working through women like Liz and Lori Dortano (the praise and worship leader) If you ever get the chance go to this event you should...It will change your life. you can find out information about the first love conferences here. To find a list of Liz's books including Embrace Grace, follow this link. you won't regret it. There is information here about how to get the live video of her Embrace Grace talk that she gave at the conference... what a truly gifted servant she is!

God Bless you and yours,

Leanne