Lift Me UP

So when I got back from the emergency room this morning after low potassium, low blood sugars (41) and high ammonia numbers I was feeling overtaken not with love, but fear, weakness and then I put on my new playlist and this song "Lift Me Up" by The Afters Light and it truly lifted my spirits and so just like a good friend of mine whose name will remain unmentioned but she will know who she is (lol) I have had the song on repeat and I am on about round number 10 and I am feeling stronger by the minute, in my body, mind but most especially my spirit, so I thought it would probably be best to just share the lyrics with you all and wish you a blessed Thursday. I hope it inspires you and gives you hope like it has for me, chat again soon....Lori L

"Lift Me Up"

You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up

Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign
That I'm where you want me to be

You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
You're reminding me
That we all fall down sometimes
But when I hit the ground

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up

I know I'm not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let you down
But you love me the same

And when I'm surrounded
When I lose my way
When I'm crying out and falling down
You are here to

Lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
With your love
I don't know what I can offer
In this moment I surrender to your love
To your love

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love

You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up

Mindset

Never giving up is a mindset that we must all lean on as we live our lives everyday. We have to make a huge effort everyday to not only push as hard as we possibly can, but while pushing we must remember to only push in the direction that will take us the places we truly want to be in our own minds and hearts. 

Deuteronomy31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified 

because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Give a supreme effort. Push until you can no longer push anymore, and leave everyday with the feeling of being satisfied that you gave your all, to see the dreams you have inside of yourself come into fruition. 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

1 Corinthians 9:24

[ The Need for Self-Discipline ] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?Run in such a way as to get the prize.

There is truly no goal or obstacle that you cannot overcome. Have an undying amount of faith and be sure to step out on it time after time so that you will continue to grow for the rest of your lifetime.

John 6:27

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Another joint effort with Search Quotes.Com

"Those who succeed are unwilling to quit.

They want it more than those who don't."

Adam Bornstein

                     Lori L 

Struggles Should Not Deter Us from our Just Purposes/Cause

Never let your situations and what you may be experiencing in life deter you from obtaining the dreams in life that you know are really yours. You are stronger than your circumstances, and with a determined mind, and with a willingness to keep kicking in life whether things are going your way or not.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

As people it is very true that we can only go as far as we may allow for ourselves to go. Getting past the pain of growing and reaching your true potential means that we must embrace change and we must readily continue to take risks to grow.

 Exodus 14:31 

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant

Go with what is truly in your heart, and remember not to reach for being comfortable and struggle free, reach for struggle, because their is much reward in challenging your mind, as there is no reward for choosing not to use it.

Nahum 1:7The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

"The possibility that we may fail in the struggle 
ought not to deter us from the support of a 
cause we believe to be just."
                                 Abraham Lincoln

                     Lori L

this was a combined effort of mine with Search Quotes.com and my added scriptures to match their inspiration 

Monsters Within

So what does it mean to have a monster within...to be totally without control of thoughts, actions, bodily functions and the like...it's truly scary but something I must face over the next phases of my liver disease but not one I face lightly or without fears. Lately I seem to be falling, stumbling, and meeting the ground in a very ungraceful way. My dizziness, nausea, and fatigue make me weary and sometimes grow faint of heart but I continue to put one foot in front of the other. I am blessed to have Kevin by my side and soon will have Alex back in our home...I am also blessed to have many wonderful friends who surround me throughout this time. We may need to look at starting some fundraisers here soon and hopefully getting in some more writing of plays, books and continuing to leave a living legacy which is my fondest wish. I have been reconciled with some good friends back in Spokane and restored to the fellowship here in Tacoma and I know God has mighty plans for me whether they be here on earth or for His Eternal Glory in Heaven. If You wish to schedule time with me I would love to hear from you so respond to my posts here or on face book, email or text me and I will gladly see what we can accomplish together. As many of you know it is my goal, gift and mission to encourage others so if I can do so for you in a particular way please let me know and I will pray with you, share a meal, or simply enjoy fellowship time with you whenever possible. If you would like to know more about hepatic encephalopathy  then I will post a link and you can view at your own time and choosing...I do want to warn you that it is not pleasant viewing but extremely informative...I continue to thank all of you for your prayers and positive thoughts and let us continue on this journey together so as to bring our Heavenly Father Glory in all we do and say and let us seize the hope together...Carpe Spero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQBXlrb8Xmk

Novis Steps

The hardest step is the first one...especially after decades of indulgence, running away and fear as the captain of my journey. Today is my first of many in taking back control. New Captain-God. New Goals-healthy choices so that I can treat my body with the respect and honor of the living temple it is. New steps-physically, mentally and spiritually.
A daily admission of my own powerlessness over food, others thoughts choices and actions; yet through Christ I can do all things. As I give Him each new day, treasure each moment and find value in myself and all I observe. This is the New Year and I am embracing it :)

Scriptor Vita- Life Script

So today one of my discoveries is that I have unwittingly been allowing others to write the script for my life and I have also allowed others to direct, narrate and edit my personal narrative. This is not God's design but others. It is not to say that everyone who has been doing this has meant harm or their intent was malignant but some have meant those things and this has caused much damage. As I am now aware of what I have been unintentionally giving away, the biggest crime or shame would be if I were to continue to allow this to happen. Thankfully due to my oldest son, a wonderful counselor and some healthy loving friends I am beginning to write and live my own script. This is kind of scary but it is also exciting and new. I am redefining who I am, who I want to be and who I think God desires for me to be but no longer will I act out what others script for me unless I feel it is in line with mine and God's designs. I have finally realized that what I thought was empathy was driven by my fear of conflict and a deep desire to be perfect and please everyone at the expense of what was right and healthy for me thereby possibly in direct conflict with what God had in mind for me; because I was listening to others rather than my unconditionally loving Father I have unwittingly been living a lie. I want to live out truth, and in so doing bring eternal Glory and Honor to my Savior who died for me and claimed me as His valuable co-heir in the Heavenly Realm. There will be some of you who read this and not truly understand while others of you are nodding your heads and drawing similar conclusions in your own lives. For those of you who don't understand you may not like or appreciate some of the changes you will be witnessing in the next few weeks and months. However for those of you whose eyes have been opened like mine you will welcome me with open arms and we will most likely enjoy writing the rest of our life scripts as we continue as co-authors with our divine creator. I believe this will be a fruitful and more peaceful time for me and I look forward to discovering some new narratives in this journey we call life. 

One Day At A Time

Once again it has been too long since I have made a post.. Right now I am working on my internal character, emotions and spiritual make up. If I must lose weight before I can get on the transplant list then I must work on all of the reasons why the weight is here. My weight is my security blanket and something I have convinced myself is necessary for my survival (as backwards as that seems-in my mind and heart it is true for me). I eat in fear, to feel control, for enjoyment, for fellowship, in rebellion and in anger. I have joined a couple of groups and gotten a counselor in hopes of trying to deal with all these emotions which drive my irrational eating and the fears I cannot seem to get away from as I begin to lose weight. I am attempting to get to the YMCA pool once a week and get in short walks 3 times a week as well as consistently attend these new groups but my sleep is filled w/nightmares and my emotions are highly volatile but I am praying, reading and still putting one foot in front of the other. One day at a time and sometimes one moment at a time...

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

2 Fav quotes from Helen Keller