Tag: ailments

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When Will The Storms Stop?

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful.  We just past 3,625 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Help us to make it to 4,000.  Could you be the one that puts us over the top? Our goal for the end of this year is 5,000.

Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.

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Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It will be reaching out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.  

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If you follow Twitter, join me by following @heavenencounter. Many veterans are starting to follow and we hope to have many more to share thoughts and ideas with. You can also connect with my on Facebook by putting my name in the search area.

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I see it has been almost three months since I last posted here. I have spent my whole summer battling an infection in my spine. I am just starting to feel well enough to be able to stop the daily IV doses of antibiotics.

I missed so much because of this. My family went on summer trips, but I couldn’t go because of the IV treatments everyday.

I wasn’t able to drive because the effects of the antibiotics made me drowsy and sleepy. So, not only was I in severe pain, I also was grounded and sent to my bedroom like a disobedient child.  I spent three weeks staring out my bedroom window hoping some birds or squirrels might come by for me to see.

This is a pretty sad story so far.

I want you to know something. I never faltered. I never cursed God. I never gave up my positive attitude.

I could have given up and let the dark side have its way.

It reminds me of when I was in a huge battle with depression while in the military, and beyond. I spent many days wondering what the world was all about, and if I wanted to be a part of it.

In 2001 I actually was sitting in my Ford Explorer thinking of checking out of this hotel called earth.

God woke me up that day. He stopped me in my tracks. He had plans for me, and it wasn’t my time to leave this earth. So now I am writing this post to you to share hope.

I also share hope on my blog at www.dailysignsofhope.com. As the title states, you get daily signs of hope. Check it out and join me there as well. Find out why 94,000 people are subscribers to the blog.

I have been labeled as the “hope whisper.”   I go to writer’s conferences and people address me with that name.

Why? Shouldn’t I be angry at the world? I had over ten years of serious ailments including five surgeries. This latest trial has been one of my hardest to accept.

I don’t feel anger. I don’t think this world is an awful place to be.

I have learned that we will all face trials and storms. Some will be raging storms. I have also learned that each time I make it through the storm I am a little stronger. I even learned that I can use my adversity, pain, and suffering to help others who may be going through the same things.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Do You face More Than Your Share of Ailments?

We have had a big increase in subscribers lately! We just passed 1,100 subscribers! That number jumped from 800 just since January. Time for a celebration! Time for new goals. We would love to make it to 1,500 subscribers by the end of this new year. Please help us to continue to grow in 2014 by subscribing. You can do this by clicking on the icon right after the title.

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Exciting news! We have a new book on the way that I am writing with Dennis Booth, from New South Wales, Australia. It will be called, “Signs of Hope: For the Weak Days.” (Working Title.) It is a compiling of posts that Dennis and I have been doing on my blog at: www.dailysignsofhope.com. There are 0ver 57,000 followers on that site, and it is because so many people are seeking hope and it is provided there.

*Update: 4-4-14. 

We have a big delay in writing our book right now. Dennis and I have been going through some physical ailments. I have had to have a defibrillator placed in my chest, and I am struggling with a viral infection. Dennis had surgery last Wednesday on his hip and will down for a while. So the writing process has been slowed a great deal. 

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I have had quite a ride since I last posted here. I have received some awards for my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World:

  • I have received six new 5 stars awards for my book. Check them out on Amazon.
  • I received a national award from the Reader’s Favorite Awards.
  • I was a runner-up in the MARsocial Author of the Year Awards. (This is like American Idol, except it is for authors.)

All this can be done by anyone of you. It is just doing the hard work of promotion, and persistence. (Like….go to the top of this page and click on bookstore to find out about the book that is receiving so many awards.)

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I mentioned above about having some health issues. I seem to have new ones every time I post here. I have had a bad couple of months.

I started feeling exhausted all the time, about two months ago. My cardiologist was seeing me and I told him it was getting worse. he tested my pacemaker and it seemed to be working fine. I continued to feel too tired to even get up each day.

Finally the doctor did a scan of the heart and he had to inform me that my heart was only working at 30% capacity. he felt there need to be something done right away to correct that.

He decided that I need to have a defibrillator placed in my chest. It would function in a manner that would surpass the pacemaker, and would provide a shock treatment if the heart stopped.

I had it put in and the energy went up quickly. I thought we had finally found what I need to enjoy life, and live it on my terms.
Then two weeks later I felt pain going down my left arm. I made an appointment with my cardiologist and he discovered that I had a hematoma forming in the surgery area of my chest. He said it wasn’t life threatening, and It would be OK in a couple of weeks.

I went home and the next day I cam down with a viral infection, and I am just getting over that.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because I have found that when I start feeling sorry for myself, I go into depression, and battling the usual demons of anxiety, fear, self-doubt, etc.

I give all my pain and agony over to God, and I am able to withstand all the storms and trials that come my way. Is it that simplistic? Yes, it is. God is a very loving God. He cares. He is always there for you. If you ask Him for help he will be there walking with you.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above ll…never, ever, give up!