My Heart, My Passion

Many of you know that recently God has allowed me the opportunity to speak to various groups in the midwest area.  He has ignited a passion in me bring His healing truths to those who are hurting.  I am not exactly sure where God is going to take me on this great ride, but I am going to hang on and allow Him to lead me.  Thank you for encouraging and loving me.
In His Love,
Lisa

Women's Retreat

Treasure of the Heart

Women's Retreat

A Women’s Conference to Experience God and be Encouraged

Saturday March 27th
9-3:30pm FREE!
Massages, Manicures, Gardening Advice, Lunch, Chocolate & So Much More

CrossPoint Church
10936 Foley Blvd.
Coon Rapids
Questions? Call 763-755-3748
www.crosspointmn.com

Happy Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (March)

So I am a little ealry... (there is always time for a first)

For those of you who don’t know March is colorectal awareness month. Your probably wondering “why in the heck is Lisa putting that on her blog, she has really run out of things to talk about.” But then you remembered its me and I never run out of things to talk about. Here is the deal, I work in an Endoscopy clinic, that is where they take care of your not so cute side. I say in my profile that I won’t tell you about my job because it will “bore you to tears” so today I am making an exception. I am not a nurse or a doctor, just an outsider looking in. Since I have worked there I have seen many (yes I mean many, more than several) diagnosed with colon cancer. Colon cancer that is completely avoidable by a simple procedure. A colonoscopy. It is not an evil word I promise. I am going to give you the honest truth about a colonoscopy, here it is…

The prep- It is a gigantic jug that you have to drink, it is nasty and this by far is the worst part. You can put crystal light in it, but it is still gross and you may never be able to drink Crystal light again. After you drink it, you will empty your colon, quite quickly I might add. Some people may get nauseous when they drink it.

The procedure- You go in and (especially if you go to my clinic) the nicest nurse will greet you and make you feel at ease. (Our nurses are the best, just sayin…) She will have you get undressed (and guys, yes you will have to take your underwear off) and put a beautiful gown on. She will talk with you a while and put in a IV site. They will use this to insert the meds (the meds you will love I might add) The doctor (especially in my clinic) will come in and answer any questions you might have and put any other worries you might have had to rest, the nurse will then administer the meds and you will lay there for a moment and then all of sudden I will come in (especially in my clinic) and turn on the lights and say “Hi I am Lisa I am going to move you to recovery” then you will ask me, “When will the procedure start?” and I will say “You are already done.” And then the polyps you may have had that were starting to cause cancer have been removed. Congratulations!!!

The recovery-You will likely recover in 20-30 minutes and you will need another nice friend to drive you home, next week you can come back and be her/his driver. You will need to pass some gas, drink some juice and go have an excellent lunch.

A few disclaimers… this is not meant to be medical advice, so if you have questions go talk to your doctor. -please do not sue me This is only a typical description, some people remember the whole thing, some people get sick from the meds, all people are unique (and so are their colonoscopies)

If you think this is bad and not for you, you should consider… carrying around a colostomy bag for the rest of your life (this is a bag carried on the outside of your body that does the work of your colon) and the effects of treatment for cancer. (You get the point) This is of course only if you avoid death.

To my young friends-Talk to your parents and find out if they had polyps and if they were pre-cancerous type, if so you may need to be seen earlier. Also ask to make sure that great aunt Betsy didn’t have colon cancer. Talk to your doctor and even if they don’t ask, tell them and see if when they would recommend you get screened. Know the symptoms and signs and don't be afraid to ask your doctor, trust me, they have heard it all.

Earlier is always better than later.

To my older friends- I love you, your kids love you, your friends love you, go get screened.

Below is a quote from the mayo site and the mayo site, check it out, it will be in more scientific words then I used =) and if you need a good clinic (mine is the best) let me know…..

Bottoms Up!!!!


“Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer by identifying polyps before they become colon cancer.”

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cancer/DS00035

Just Plain Lucky

“Ma'am you are just plain lucky” the kind gentlemen said as we both stared down the embankment. There were two problems with this statement, first I hate when anyone calls me ma'am that term should be reserved for those over 70; I prefer to be a Miss. Secondly, luck really? I just traveled down 4 lanes of traffic, hit some ice while changing lanes and then proceeded to do spin completely around in one direction and then completely around in the other direction. I watched as headlights came at me and then moved just in time, I watched as the cars slid by only inches from my bumper. After the second spin, my car slammed into a snow bank pushing the mound of snow over several feet. When the car finally came to rest I got out and realized that I was only a few feet from where the Mississippi River Bridge began. The cement barriers that would have protected me from falling to the frozen water below were significantly smaller than the snow bank that saved me from the steep embankment.

Lucky.
So is luck the air of fortune that blows by? Is luck when you leave a moment later because you left your wallet in the house and had to run back in, only to find that you missed an accident on the way to work by just a sheer moment? Is luck when someone else bought the car you wanted and the engine died two weeks later? Lucky you weren’t the sap who got stuck with that.

Luck and coincidence.
Coincidentally for me a fire fighter pulled up behind me and took control of the situation and coincidentally an Army soldier pulled up shortly after with his truck and a tow strap. Coincidence or something more? Luck or something entirely different?

Here is my proposition, the creator of the earth, God, spared me. He held my car in His hands. He sent His angels who pushed the other cars to the side. He provided the snow bank and made sure to keep me from making it to the bridge. He then provided the fire fighter and then the army soldier. He knew their willing, serving hearts and knew they would choose to stop. This for me is so much easier to believe than the idea that by some wave of good fortune, or by some arbitrary distribution of events, it was my turn to be lucky. This perfect chain of events that happened to remind me who my creator was; was no accident.

The struggle even I have with this theory? A few weeks ago another woman was heading home from work, swerved to avoid a stalled car and rolled her car into a pond. Sadly, she passed away. She was mother to a little girl. The sweet little girl will live the rest of her life without her mother. Where were her angels? Where were God’s hands then? Maybe this is why people choose to look to luck. I can only struggle with the multitude of possibilities although I realize God is so much bigger than. My brain is so significantly smaller than his. While I can’t explain why God allows some tragedies and prevents others. I will say this. Some things happen my someone’s choice and some things happen by chance. God has control through all. He allows people to make choices and He allows life to happen. He is there every step of the way. He will provide support through tragic times, He will work through all things to draw you closer to Him. He will use every circumstance (good and bad) to turn you towards Him.

It’s only my personal belief but I believe, God was with that mother. I believe He held that car in His hands. I believe His angels held her hand as she was carried to the gates of Heaven. Just as He will with me, when it is my time.

I stood bewildered looking down this embankment listening to this man tell me how lucky I was. I shook my head at the kind gentlemen who stopped to help, “luck” I said “had nothing to do with this.” I gave him a hug and thanked him and thanked God for another day.

All You Need is Love...

I know, many, many people tell me that I was born in the wrong decade. I probably should have been born in the 50's or 60's. I want to ride the freedom bus and burn my bra. Still might do that anyway. (not for any femminist reason, just don't really like em is all) So yes all you really do need is love! Since God is love and Jesus is love, it truly is all we need. Today I am tired of politcal platforms, I am tired of you must hold this belief to be a Christian, or vote for that person to be a Christian. Who says? Sometimes Christians are so insecure and why? What do we have to be so insecure about? I believe in the Bible every single word, but telling someone who doesn't believe the Bible how to live their life, isn't going to make them believe. It also isn't going to jeopardize the status of God. God is God, always has and always will despite anyone's belief or disbelief. Isn't it really just our job to point them to Jesus? Let Jesus do the convicting, isn't our job to love? I am sure this can get out of balance but if I have to error on one side or the other, I choose to error on the side of love. I went to the most amazing church today and sitting in front of me was a man in a suit and a tie, on my right was a woman in sweats, on my left was a homeless man. I looked around and saw every color, race, age and economic status and it worked. Aren't we all God's church? Let's get rid of our religious junk so that the path will be clear for Jesus. Let's look at people and see through the eyes of Jesus, see who God made them to be. Let's try not to judge and love instead. Let what break's his heart, break ours.