God And Man Talk About Driving

God created the world and man and before – even Tom Cochrane, the Lord said, “this Life IS a Highway, sure to make you lose your mind. But not to worry, I have equipped you with gifts, and free will. Do as the Eagles advise and Take It easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.

On this earth you and all of the creatures, even the Beatles have a Ticket to Ride.” And just like that man was hungry for the journey. Immediately he took off – with Meatloaf, like a Bat Out of Hell. On a dark desert highway, man listened to the Eagles all the way to Hotel California. He and Chuck Berry got their kicks going west and east on Route 66, but over time man learned, just like ACDC had, that he might be on a Highway to Hell.

Man was exhausted. If he was heading to where he should be, why was it so draining at times? Man cried out, “I Drove All Night, Lord.  I drove all night, just like Roy Orbison. He got an amazing talent, fame and money. All I got was lost, and my back hurts. It isn’t fair. Here I am, I Wallflower with One Headlight. But there’s got to be an opening somewhere here in front of me, through this maze of ugliness and greed. I’m just deflated, Lord, straight out of gas.”

The Lord replied, “slow down there Prince. You’re like a Little Red Corvette; moving too fast. Your life is not a Drive By, to be seen from the window of a Train. Every time you are On the Road Again, you are never alone. Whether you hear the voice of Willie Nelson, or Bob Seger, it is always me who is with you.”

Man looked again toward the Beatles and he asked the Lord, “maybe you can Drive My Car? Jesus, Take the Wheel like you did for Carrie Underwood!” Man pleaded, “Be like Melissa Ethridge and say to me ‘You Can Sleep While I Drive’. I’ll go wherever you take me, Lord. You know best for me so I’ll just park myself right here and wait for you.”

“Child”, the Lord said, “I am the ruler of your spirit. You must guide your flesh throughout this world but we are better together. Lean into my spirit that resides within you. You always Ride Wit Me, like Nelly rides with City Spud. No more whining or excuses. Just Drive, like The Cars. Drive like Alan Jackson. Shut Up & Drive, like Rihanna. Take this Journey – Faithfully, because I will always have faith in you.

~ Kim Weingart

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Heavenly Places

i want to be in the heavenly places

in the here,

in the now,

with You;

i want to see your kingdom come

in the midst of all the chaos,

fear,

shame,

pain;

i want people to see and know You

for who You really are,

not for what they might think You are

cause You are much more than thoughts could fathom,

more than words can describe;

You are greater than anything here on earth

nothing even comes close to You

cause You are God;

You look down at us from Your throne

and love us for where we’re at,

You never abandon us when we fall

but help us back to our feet

and to fight in victory

from all that’s trying to destroy us

cause with You, we are stronger

than in our own strength;

With You, we will rise,

in every single moment

we are in the heavenly places

cause You are with us and we are with You.

~ Bethany Anne

Overwhelm Us With Gladness

Psalm 90:14-17 is such a great Promise!

May you be overwhelmed with gladness today.

~XXOO Michelle Bollom

Thirsty?

Today is not a song but something else to encourage you. Listen here now

https://anchor.fm/restored-ministries/episodes/Never-Thirst-Again-e256mp

Undisturbed

Undisturbed in a heavenly peace

Who doesn’t want that!

~ XXOO Michelle

My Battlefield Will Become My Harvest Field

Some may not know all the specifics of my medical history and how God has showed up and healed me in some pretty amazing ways.

I am still believing for more healings and to tackle taking better care of myself.

So here it is …I am laying it all out here…

At 20 I was diagnosed with Thyroid disease and put on meds. I was also diagnosed with Chronic fatigue syndrome.

At 27 I had a procedure done for removal of endometriosis and some adhesions.

At 28 I had a procedure to enlarge my bladder for interstitial cystitis after chronic bladder infections.

At 29 I had twins – 6 weeks early but weighing in at full term. I hemorrhaged twice afterwards with the C section and had some complications.

At 29 I was put on anxiety meds for post pardom depression.

At 30 my back was going out weekly and had to have steroid injections. I had some bulging discs and female issues that were later discovered.

At 31 I had a complete & total hysterectomy for an enlarged uterus, my gallbladder removed because it was completely non functioning and some adhesions removed all at the same time.

At 31 I was placed on high doses of HRT – by the time the anesthesia was wearing off my hysterectomy I was in full blown menopause about to lose my mind. Menopause with 2 year old twins!

At 34 after many years of steroids for my back and asthma and chronic bronchitis and just overwhelmed with a corporate job and twins I spent a week in the hospital due to a colitis infection due to extreme stress.

At 35 I left the corporate world to stay home with my twins.

At 36 my brother Toby died suddenly.

My drinking and smoking and eating

was out of control.

I was very depressed and angry at God.

My Dad also was very sick and hospitalized for 2 years at the same time. High stressful times but I found my way back to God and left all religion for a personal relationship with Christ.

At 37 I stopped smoking.

At 38 I suffered a stroke. 1.8.08 –

8 is my favorite number still!

At 38 I was told to stop drinking alcohol due to elevated Liver Enzymes and Fatty Liver. I didn’t drink again until 2013.

At 38 I was diagnosed Diabetic – couldn’t take meds – ended back in hospital with severe kidney issues and cellulitis infection on my face. Taken off all diabetes meds and within 4 /5 years reversed my diabetes and A1C to pre diabetic numbers, lost 65 pounds with a very strict diet and exercise.

At 39 had severe muscle bridging in heart detected after a failed stress test – had a angiogram / Heart Cath and the cardiologist couldn’t find it after the scans and other tests confirmed it. I had so many people pray over me before the test I know it was God that healed me! Has not returned and last stress test was perfect.

At 39 I went back to work part time.

At 40 diagnoses with rare eye condition Retinoscisis where retina is split down the middle in both eyes.

At 40 put on higher doses of thyroid meds due to Hashimoto’s and secondary hypothyroidism diagnoses.

At 41 had a bike crash – broke 3 ribs, collarbone, collapsed lung – damaged an adrenal and went back into menopause with 13 year old twins and was put back on HRT meds. Menopause round 2 with teenagers!

At 42 left working outside the home to go into full time ministry.

At 44 due to a family history of breast cancer and many issues myself and biopsies I was taken off all HRT Therapy. Biopsies all clear.

At 45 diagnosed with another rare eye condition called Poly Choroidal Vasculopathy

(PCV) after losing all eyesight in my left eye for several months. I have since regained sight but limited – but am still believing I will be healed completely and sight fully restored.

At 46 while getting prayer for my eyes I was prayed for and told that God wanted to give a new Thyroid – I laughed but said I will take it!

I have been off all Thyroid meds for 2 years!

Praise God my hypothyroidism / Hashimoto’s and secondary hypothyroidism was all healed!

At 47 – last December, I ended up in hospital for 4 days – tests upon tests ran – 7 biopsies – 2 came back inconclusive for Celiac and Chrohn’s. They also ran my thyroid numbers daily trying to disprove my story that my thyroid was healed by Jesus after prayer. They couldn’t find a thing wrong with my thyroid. They had me on 7 different pills and 2 injections until I refused all meds those last days because they were making me sicker and they were just throwing stuff to see if it stuck without a diagnosis coming back.

I was very discouraged and wanted a firm diagnosis – it didn’t come.

God said don’t let the diagnosis define you – been there done that bought the T-shirt for far too long – He said it’s about trust and surrender – UGH! 2 things I have a hard time with! Of Course!

Now at 48 – I take no RX meds.(years ago I took almost 6 RX meds daily!)

My A1C has creeped up slightly to 5.6 from 5.4 (which is a far cry from 9 at the time of my stroke 10 years ago) my cholesterol is elevated but mainly due to hereditary type and my poor diet choices. I stopped statin drugs after 10 years and refuse to go back on them.

I have gained 30 pounds back of the 65 in the last 10 years – (on top of the 20/30 I still needed to lose so actually I have gained and lost this same 30 pound over and over the last couple years.

Even using some drastic diets that totally changed how I carry the weight and wrecked my muscle tone. But I did have an amazing fasting experience and lots of downloads – you can see our blog for those.

So I have a good 50 pounds I need to lose now.

I stopped running in 2013 – and stopped really consistently exercising at all in 2015 and have struggled to get into a better exercise routine since.

I have done some amazing things in my life and in Ministry – I have awesome kiddos and a jackpot of a husband. I wrote and published 9 books in less than 2 years. I even recently published 3 the last month for friends.

I run a non profit Restored Ministries full time.

Life’s been really good! I wasn’t eating or not taking care of myself because life was bad.

I just stopped planning or worrying about it and ate way too much take out while the hubs was traveling the last year or so.

I share All of this to say ….

Still – some days a counterfeit comfort feels more powerful or soothing to me than the Great Comforter Himself.

I know what to do… But I don’t always do it.

I can get into moods where I put everyone and everything else first but me.

I carry others burdens that are not mine to carry.

I know the steps – I know it works if I work it ( my recovery) but sometimes rebellion wins over my recovery.

I abstained from all alcohol since 2013 because I am not a one drink kinda girl and have chosen to abstain now for over 5 years. (Except recently I drank a beer and knew that with one beer – it would set me back if I did not make the choice daily to abstain completely.)

I help lead a Ministry for recovery for emotional eating and still I struggle after 10 years letting God fill the voids and not Cheetos. I am not a hypocrite – you can help lead others while you are struggling.

It’s called Keepin It Real. Progress not Perfection.

I love God immensely and know He is able but I also have to do my part. Which I have not been.

I find myself here now – again – flabby and fat and dreading the work I know it takes to regain my health. But I know God doesn’t love me any less when I fall short, Or more when I am thinner.

On August 4th I started Plant Paradox.

Initially as a way to keep my Thyroid in top shape since Kelly Clarkson said that is what healed her Hashimoto’s and helped her lose almost 40 pounds.

In 12 days I lost 11 pounds and the hubs lost 6 (he didn’t have weight to lose but agreed to do it with me) we were super excited with the results and then we went on Vacation for 12 days. I didn’t follow the plan even though I wanted to and had every intention of doing so.

I thankfully only gained 4 pounds but quickly lost 2 of the 4 the first week back.

The last few days the 2 pounds are back and I have allowed some life issues and emotions to drive me to the bread instead of the Bread of Life.

I really would prefer a magic pill but God continues to deal with me about counterfeits and putting my Health first and to find a better Balance. I must honor His Temple better.

My Journey may not be a perfect one –

OK – So, I know it will not be a perfect one.

But it’s my journey and God’s to figure out.

So I Keep Keeping On Folks – It’s worth it because I am worth it. You are too!

You are never too far gone to begin again.

The devil is a liar. God’s will is to heal us.

He wants us restored and whole –

Mind Body Soul!

So I am declaring:

I am Healed

I walk in Divine Health

My body is being restored and transformed.

(I am also committing to the work it will take to do my part)

I am not buying the lies or beating myself up.

I am hoping my “At 49” is going to be pretty amazing!

Until then – I got some work to do!

Will you agree with me and pray for me?

I just keep things real because that is the only way we can heal.

Being in denial will never deliver anybody.

Hope my being real and raw – showing my vulnerability will encourage you to make a change if you need to too!

So slap that cake right outta my mouth if you see it!

~ XXOO Michelle

The image is by Dana Jarvis- I so receive it!

My Battlefield will become my Harvest!

Dang That Pothole

Some days we are the shadow of ourselves. You know, kinda shaped like us, but flat and dark and featureless.

I am a positive girl, mostly. I am almost always happy, positive . . . I was blessed with kind of a bubblepot persona, one that hopes and believes in a greater something, even if you don’t know exactly what.

I have these coping mechanisms when I’m having a less-than-stellar day, and they usually work. The usual things . . .play upbeat music, go for a run, play the piano, read my affirmations.

Some dad-gum days my feet are lead, I don’t feel like believing in diddly-squat, and affirmations are sawdust in my mouth.

Let’s just face it: I like for everyone to think well of me, and sometimes it takes me more than a minute to recover when they don’t. OK, I said it.

It’s unrealistic to think everyone will. Yeah, ok. I still have a twinge every time. Call me Pollyanna. I’ll braid my hair and smile big and say you’re probably right. It stings, just the same.

Things change that I hoped would not, and life changes come and faces and numbers rearrange. Sometimes we shrug, or wink or give a dismissive wave. And sometimes it grabs you and hangs on like a stone in your soul and you just need to sit with it for a minute, and feel it.

I am still learning the best way to be a human. In that effort, authenticity works well for me. In the glory or the gloom, to just say “Hey, this is how it is for me right now!” Be real, be present, and keep on keeping on.

Life is like a highway. There are days when you hit a pothole. Days when someone sideswipes you. Days when you take a detour and get hopelessly lost. Days when you have a blowout and you’re stranded on the side.

Not every day, thank God. There are many days when the highway is clear, and the sun is shining, your heart is bursting and your favorite song is on. Those are the days to roll down the windows, turn up the volume, and soak in the joy.

And watch for people on the side of the road. They were you, yesterday, sailing along, singing and feeling like they had the world by the tail.

Dang that pothole.

Pull over. Be roadside assistance. Pay that forward. Tomorrow is another day.

~ Alane Roberts

When I Look Into Your Eyes

As I lay upon infinite verdant fields,

I behold the magnificent firmament,

starry-eyed, reflections of the night,

pondering the meaning of your love.

Impressions flash like movie scenes,

I take in, before me Your Sovereignty,

everything has a purpose and reason,

in the heavens, it is written, Your love.

The fluttering winds sing Your name,

a melody, harmony, rhythmic stanzas,

majestic score, musical composition,

I can hear the composer’s call of love.

Infinite universe is Your colored canvas,

with omega constellations and galaxies,

spiral bands of light, illuminate the land,

at the touch of The Master and His love.

As the Moon’s overwhelming luminescence,

blankets the ocean currents with pearls,

diamonds shimmer in the midnight sky,

The King of humanity tells a story of love.

You stand as the God of this vast universe,

the heavens cry out and declare Your glory,

I want to romance You with a poetic ballad,

when I look into Your eyes, an hymn of love.

~ ©Faith

“When I Look Into Your Eyes”

Public Domain Image