A Dangerous Trend

I keep seeing a trend in churches and I find it disturbing and counterproductive to a Christian walk.

This trend is pastors instructing their flocks to study their sermon all week. They're not telling the people to study the passage that was preached......they're telling the people to study the sermon. Some have gone so far as to create study guides for their sermons and even use them the following week in a Sunday School lesson. Some are encouraging families to use their sermon in their family "devotions."

This is dangerous to anyone's Christian walk. Pastors who do this are openly encouraging their people to replace God's Word with their own. Please do not cooperate with such instruction. Please study only God's Word, not the words of your pastor. 

Does this mean I do not support the preaching of God's Word? NO! Of course not. The Bible has many references to the importance of preaching God's Word.

Romans 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

2 Timothy 4:1 - Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season

I Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them who perish but unto those which are saved it is the power of God.

Those verses are just a few references to preaching and I wholeheartedly endorse anyone who preaches the Word of God.

But, I'm not going to study your sermon. I'm going to study God's Word. Replacing the Word of God with a sermon is idolatry. Those who are telling you to do that have exalted their own words above God's Word. This is idolatry. Have no part of it. Reject this idea. 

This is the opposite of what the Bible tells us to do. The Bible instructs us to study the Word. We are never once told to study someone else's words. 

You have the power to stop this trend in its tracks. If you receive instruction to study the sermon instead of God's Word, don't do it. It's God's Word that is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. 

Study God's Word. It will change your life no matter where you are in your walk with Christ.

~Tricia

Stroke - One Year Later

 One year ago today, April 5, 2020, I had a stroke. It severely weakened my right side and it has been a long recovery. I am 98% recovered and I want to tell you more about what helped me recover, and what my continued struggles are so perhaps you can learn something that will help you or you can gain compassion for someone going through a similar recovery. 

First and foremost, I thank God for His protection and for being ever-present to help in time of need. I cannot so much as breathe without Him and He did far more than help me breathe through this process. He protected me when I was in the hospital being neglected; He protected me from having a worse stroke; He gave me increased compassion for others who are suffering; He stayed stedfast when I could not so much as read His Word or pray. I could go on.

I have to give much, much credit to Leon and Carrie Knight, The Performance Doc, who gave my life back to me and helped in more ways than I can express. They cared so deeply about my recovery and helped every step of the way. To this day, we keep in touch and I consider them friends. The confidence they gave me was one of the highly motivating factors that led to my recovery. Thank you to Leon and Carrie!

I also needed help with my speech and swallowing. I was originally sent to a speech therapist but she offered no help whatsoever, so I was on my own. I found a lady on YouTube who helped me the most. She gave exercises that really helped, and helped quickly. I did them several times a day and they worked. Find that resource here.

I still struggle in a few areas. I still have Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) and it is difficult. PBA is when one laughs or cries at potentially inappropriate times, or laughs and cries uncontrollably for no apparent reason. I've found that when I'm upset or facing a difficult conversation I will lose it and either begin to laugh or cry and, at that point, the conversation is really over for me. I've had a few people not take this well and I've had no ability to correct their misunderstanding of it. On another note, my husband wins all our arguments now because I start laughing or crying and that's that. I have found that if I know I'm going to face something emotional, if I have a good cry before hand, I do better at the time. It is better in that sense. It's still a challenge. It's like my emotions are incontinent....I can't control my response to things.

While my speaking voice is 100% healed, my singing voice is not. I used to sing soprano, but right after the stroke, I could not sing at all. Now I can sing, but I sing tenor. That's a big adjustment. Singing soprano is still too taxing.

My typing, aka keyboarding, is slower. Before the stroke, I did 90-95 words per minute. Now I'm going, maybe 55-60 words per minute. Very frustrating but at least I'm typing, 

Occasionally, I choke when drinking water or another liquid. I have found that using a straw gives a big advantage with drinks and I almost always use one now. This is the opposite of the advice a speech therapist gave me. She said never use a straw. That was not good advice. A straw is better in this situation. 

I can honestly say I am healthier now than before the stroke. I've lost 50 pounds, my energy has skyrocketed and I sleep so much better. My doctor put me on Hydroxychloroquine to avoid Covid19 and it has had tremendous health benefits for me; i.e. my arthritis cleared up as did my severe eczema. It helps the body with inflammation and lowers cholesterol as well. It's been good for me and I plan to keep taking it long after Covid is gone.

Overall, I'm pleased with my progress and I will never forget the helplessness I felt when it first happened. Thank you to all who have prayed for me and continue to do so. I had to blog about this a year later. Such an interesting anniversary to have!

~Tricia

Jimmy had a Horse

Jimmy had a horse. It was a beautiful horse. He rode the horse frequently and while she was high strung at times, overall she was the best horse Jimmy had ever owned. She was valued at $5,000.00.

One day, Jimmy's horse was stolen. Jimmy was devastated and worked with the authorities to find his horse and get her back.

They soon found Jimmy's horse and he was so relieved. He couldn't wait to get her back, ride her and treat her with her favorite foods. He was excited to make her world secure again.

But, as soon as they found her, they told Jimmy they were going to let the thief keep her. Not only that, but they were going to give the thief a certificate of ownership. Jimmy was stunned! "But," he told them, "she's my horse! She's worth over $5,000.00. She belongs to me."

"Not any more," the authorities told him. "She is now rightfully owned by the thief. You have to accept this and realize it's for your own good. If you don't accept this, you are a troublemaker and that will not be tolerated. Accept this, Jimmy, and move forward."

Jimmy, in disbelief, was ostracized by many of his friends, and even some family, because he just could not accept that a thief got away with stealing his horse and the authorities condoned it. Jimmy did not riot. Jimmy did not burn any buildings, shoot anyone, or destroy any statues. 

He tried to have his say; he tried to reclaim his horse, but no one in authority would listen. They told Jimmy he had to accept it, take the loss, and rejoice that the thief had gained such a fine horse.

And all his life, Jimmy knew his horse never did really belong to the thief.......and the thief knew it, too.

~Tricia

A True Story

 This is a true story. Names have been changed for privacy purposes.

Savannah has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. She is already very sick and receiving treatment for that, aka CLL. Because of the CLL, Savannah took every precaution against Covid-19, She always wore her mask, she only went out when necessary and avoided other people at all times.

But, Savannah contracted Covid-19 despite her precautions. She had done everything the governor said to do, yet she still got Covid-19. She was worried because she knew her CLL made her more vulnerable,

She began to cough pretty bad and developed other symptoms. According to her, she "ran the full gambit of symptoms, you name it I've been there." 

Her doctor prescribed a cough medicine. It didn't help.

Savannah was really suffering, getting worse every day. She was so frustrated with her doctor because he would not prescribe help. She suffered with these symptoms for 10 days and they were very rough days. 

Her sister, growing ever concerned, recalled seeing an article on Facebook about a cure for Covid-19, and, looking it up, she shared it with Savannah. That article, and others, pointed them to America's Front Line Doctors. Desperate for help, Savannah made an online appointment. She said the doctor "was very thorough. She called in a prescription." She gave Savannah Hydroxychloroquine, Z-pack, 4 steroid pills, another antibiotic, an inhaler, and told her to also take zinc and vitamins C & D. 

Savannah took the meds and within a day, felt better, was able to eat and really turned a corner in her illness, despite her CLL. She was able to eat for the first time in 10 days.

It saved her life.

Her own words: "Why will the doctors here not do that?"

Good question, Savannah. Why won't they?

If you get Covid-19, there is help. Go to https://speakwithanmd.com/ and get the help you need. They will give you the needed meds. DO NOT WAIT! There is a cure. Get it.

There is a cure. It's best if given early, but, as Savanna's case shows, it's also good given well into the illness. 

There is a cure.

~Tricia

The Candace Owens Show: Dr. Stella Immanuel

Upside Down Medicine

A friend of mine is in the ICU with the China virus. It did not have to come to this. Had his doctors treated early with the many treatments available, he would likely be well right now, The main news outlets do not report on the cures for the China virus......they only report death and sickness. Just think of it, several highly effective treatments are available but doctors allow their patients to get very sick instead. Many have died unnecessarily.

When will it stop?

In the course of raising eight children, there were countless trips to the doctor and NEVER ONCE did any of the doctors tell me to take my kid home and see if they got worse. NO! They treated them for what was wrong. They treated them on suspicion of disease or infection. They did not leave them untreated.

But, the CDC, for the China virus, recommends waiting at home to see if you get worse. Look it up for yourself if you don't believe me.

What?

Who does that?

That's upside down medicine.

More than 20 studies have shown effective early treatment with a variety of medications. Why are people still getting deathly ill?

Because the media is withholding lifesaving information. The media is your enemy.

Our president got the China virus......and what did they do? They treated him early and he got better right away! He has advocated for early treatment......and the media has been silent.

If you get the China virus, don't wait to get worse. If your doctor won't give you early treatment, you can go to America's Front Line Doctors and get treatment. Do not wait until the disease worsens. Get treatment early.

If you do not have the China virus but are in a vulnerable category for it, you can get preventative treatment if you qualify,

No, I am not a doctor; I am referring you to the best doctors in America. They have saved lives. They will save yours.

~Tricia

Book Review - Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

I just finished reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly and I can't get it out of my mind. This book has stayed with me. An historical novel, it's based on the true stories of several women who lived - and didn't live - through the Holocaust. Their stories are followed from the start of WWII until long after the end. Some were killed; some were tortured; some were the torturers; some were simply bystanders trying to get through the day. All were affected. 

A few things that stayed with me and why: 

A common phrase, "For the greater good," was used frequently to gain control of people. But those people, no matter how complaint they were with this mandate, were killed anyway. It reminded me of 2020 in that people were forced to give up their livelihood and shut down "for the greater good." It gives me shivers. Just 2 weeks of shutdown? No...it wasn't true. They take your livelihood without a second thought. They will leave you in the hospital alone without a second thought. All "for the greater good."

The innocent were killed. Many, many women, children and men alike were killed for simply existing. It reminded me of abortion today. Many thousands of babies are killed daily for simply existing. 

Those who dared to speak out were quickly hushed by those who wanted to comply with the "new order." They were encouraged to tattle tale - and some did, to the detriment of their loved ones they tattled on. No one could be trusted as a result. 

The thousands of victims were lied to at every step and it sounded reasonable and plausible each and every time. Today, we are lied to on a regular basis by certain media and certain politicians who want their way. Pregnant women are lied to so they'll kill their babies. It's all lies, just like it was then. 

Read this book. See how things played out in people's everyday lives. Look at how "good" and "righteous" they made the compliance sound while they lined the compliant up, naked, at the top of mass graves and killed them all. 

Today, girls line up in a waiting room, repeatedly told that what they are doing in aborting their baby is "for the greater good" because it would be horrible to bring an "unwanted" child into this world who may end up in poverty. 

Those who work to protect individual liberties protect your liberties as well as their own. They don't bow to the "for the greater good" mantra because they already know it's a lie. Do not be fooled. There is no "greater good." There is only "good for me too bad for you" in the politician's voices. Not one politician gave up their salary for the shutdown. Not one missed a paycheck. You may scramble to pay your rent or mortgage but they never do. Nothing is for the "greater good." Nothing.

Let Lilac Girls be a stark reminder of how easily the people fell for the lies. I highly recommend this book. 

~Tricia