Tender Mercies - Gods Hands in our lives

I found this sweet image at
http://www.markmallett.com/blog/2007/12/those-hands/

I am such a believer in the Tender Mercies of the Lord.  They are all around us and His hand in directing our lives is shown through them in all the time.  This has happened for me over the past few months, as I have had some serious health issues that I have had to confront.  I have been blessed to see the Lords hand, throughout this process and today, I received the answer to my hearts desire, and my prayers.  Once again, He showed me in quite a miraculous way, that He is  mindful of me, and knows my heart, and needs.  I know that if we put our faith in Him and recognize even the little things that happen around us, we all can know and feel the
direction that is given for us in our lives, by our loving Heavenly Father. 

When we can understand that Heavenly Father knows much more about us and our lives, than we know ourselves, and that He knows our past, present and even our futures, then we can acknowledge and receive of His Tender Mercies to help and bless our lives. 

I would like to share with you one of the tender mercies that have brought me to this point today and testify that without recognizing that they came from the Lord, I may not feel quite so blessed today.
Last year, for many months I experienced some pain in my neck, below my ear, and I thought somehow it was related to my type 2 diabetes.  It became so painful that I began telling my doctors about it, and that it felt like I had the mumps on one side of my face.  This would come and go and I though at the time that it was a result of my blood sugars going to high or too low. 

In about September of last year, I began to get these feelings that I needed to go see an Endocrinologist, because I felt that I not only needed help with my diabetes management, but I felt that something was definitely wrong with my glands.  My doctor would not give me a referral to an Endocrinologist, but wanted me to come in talk about it.  I had such strong feelings inside of me that I needed to see an Endocrinologist, I found another doctor and went in and told him what had been going on with my health.  He not only referred me to an Endocrinologist, but ordered a scan on my neck to be done to try to find out what was causing me such pain.  (This was the first tender mercy.  The Lord gave me the feeling that was very strong and didn't let up, that I needed to go see an Endocrinologist. )  

The second tender mercy came when I went in for the scan and the woman who was the technician, offered to scan my whole neck instead of just where my glands were by my ears.  I had told her that I believed that I had some glandular issues and would be going in to see a Endocrinologist and would she please take a look at my Thyroid as well.  She agreed, and through the scan, she found a very large nodule on my Thyroid. In doing my own research, I realized that nodules on Thyroids can turn into cancer if left undetected.

Well to make a longer story a bit shorter, 2 Months went by and finally this past week, I went in to see the Endocrinologist, who scanned my neck once again and found a second nodule on the other side of my thyroid.  She did a fine needle biopsy and told me that I needed to have my Thyroid removed. She sent the biopsy in to be tested.   I scheduled an appointment with a surgeon and will be seeing him to schedule surgery in a couple days. 

Just about an hour ago, I experienced yet another tender mercy, that just about swept me off my feet.  I had been praying to my Heavenly Father, along with all of my family and some friends who I have told about what has been going on with me, and I received a direct answer to all the prayers that have been said on my behalf.  Even though the biopsy and scans indicated that one of my nodules looked irregular, deep, dark, and contained many elements that could indicate caner, the biopsy results came back that there are no cancer or unusual cells in the tissue samples taken.  I cannot tell you how grateful I am feeling after receiving this news.  I have been worried and actually making plans about how things would be orchestrated with the iodized radiation or other means of treating thyroid cancers.  I also knew and had faith that Heavenly Father could bless me to be healed if it was His will. 

I have a long road to travel before this experience is over and once my Thyroid is removed, it will still need to be tested further, but for now, I am so humbled and gratified by this tremendous tender Mercy sent my way. He put into my mind, what I needed to do to care for something only He knew was happening inside of me.  He inspired the technician who found the nodules, and He guided the Endocrinologist to find yet a second nodule. It was Him, who answered the prayers and fasting that had taken place on my behalf, and I acknowledge all of these tender mercies came directly from God!

I testify to all of you who read this blog post, that I know the Lord loves each and every one of us, no matter what and including how imperfect we are!!  I also know that He is in our lives all the time and watching over us, and we can know and feel His hand and presence in our lives if we are in tune to His promptings, and recognize even the little things, that lets us know He is near.  I have felt His continued presence and I am so grateful to know that I can pray to Him at any time, and anywhere and He will be listening and provide me comfort.   I know and testify that He hears my prayers and the prayers of all of us, and that He answers them, though sometimes in ways that we have to look alittle  harder in order to to recognize from whence they came.  He knows us and He loves us, and wants us to come back to Him one day, at the right time, that only He knows.

I hope this experience will help you in some way and that you will feel Gods love and power in your own life.  Now.... Have a marvelous day!!  Love, Katie G.