Monthly Archives: August 2008

Well, the symptoms are all gone. So the lovely health care provider figures his job is now done. No idea what caused my week and a half of abdominal mayhem and chaos. Two doses of antibiotics “cured” whatever was causing my belly to feel like I had been a kick boxing bag…..and by cured I mean, the insurance company won’t take pictures if the pain isn’t there anymore, they waited long enough to be safe and nothing ruptured…. so it must not be anything serious.

I detest small town medicine! We have ruled out 2 causes, but they listed about 4 other things that they wanted to look for. After freaking me out, they decided to stop looking, because the pain went down. Hmmm.

My talk with the doctor went something like this:
Me: So have we ruled out cancer, polyps, diverticulitis, adhesions, or cysts?

Dr: No, but your pain is gone!

Me: But will it come back?

Dr: Well it’s possible…maybe..yes..probably, but THEN we can run tests that will determine what’s causing it!

Me: Then why didn’t you run them this time….when you were poking and prodding me while I was being scraped off the ceiling?!

Dr: Well, we had to establish that it wasn’t your appendix.

Me: But the mention of cancer, cysts, and scar tissue that takes over my abdomen…..that doesn’t concern you anymore, when it did last week?

Dr: Well the pain is gone now, so we can’t really order a test for something that isn’t there

So there we have it….no symptoms, no concerns…..just ignore all the things he mentioned ruling out last week while he scratched his head and looked worriedly at my charts! Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to have the pain let up, I’d just like to have a few more of those “could be’s” ruled out. SIGH.

Spiritual Discernment

-A gifting from God….. the ability, influenced by the Holy Spirit, that provides insight, clarity, or direction…usually exposing truth from falsehood or revealing previously unknown information. Discernment includes, but is not limited to:
* exposing spirits that hold a motivating influence (Mark 5: 2-13)
* revealing actions or intents that are not what they seem (Acts 5:1-5)
* personal detail revelations (John 4:16-19)
* identifying other Christians (Malachi 3:18 and chapter 4)
* a warning system to be on guard (Luke 13:56-57 and Matthew 16:3)
* judgment of fellow believers (Hebrews 4:12)
* common good and cohesiveness within the church body (1Corinthians 12:1-11)

Discernment and prophecy often lapse over each other, but they are not the same. Discernment does not hold as much detail. Discernment will give you a glimpse of something, whereas, Prophecy may give you the bigger picture or a vision with more details. Discernment can not be called forth on anyone, at any time, on any topic. It is insight that God bestows upon us as it pleases Him, we can pray for discernment in a certain situation, but it is not a guarantee that it will happen instantly. We rarely get the whole picture, as this would promote pride and self worship. God’s gifts are designed to glorify HIM, so any knowledge or insight should point us back to God and the Bible, not draw undue attention to the messenger. (Deuteronomy 13:1-11)

Discernment is a command. As Christians, we are commanded to test everything of a spiritual nature. We are warned repeatedly that we are easily deceived if we let our guard down.
* 1John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world
* Ephesians 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The ability to use Discernment can be taught. It begins with knowledge of God’s Law, Prayer, and Scriptures. It is something that increases with spiritual maturity and grows stronger the more it is used.
* Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
* Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Miscellaneous facts on Discernment:
Discernment is two pronged, one can study God’s word to better learn the heart of God in all matters…..but some of discernment is hidden info that God alone provides into a situation.
It pleases God when we seek discernment (1Kings 3:9-11)
Job possessed discernment of calamities, yet God allowed him to suffer and try to make sense of things for a time. (Job 6:14, 30)
God shows compassion to those that lack discernment and don’t know better. Those with higher understanding, He holds to a higher level of responsibility (Luke 12:47-49 and Jonah 4:11)
The ability to discern may fade with age. Speculation: too taxing, senses dulled, or lax in spiritual growth/walk? (2Samuel 19:35)

Mommy has been sick lately. I went in this week to get it all figured out. I was poked and prodded, x-rayed twice, and then they did blood work. Now we wait and wonder….the hardest part. Hopefully they will have more answers by the end of the week.