Greetings Friends,
How are you today? I’m supposed to take it easy for a bit after my second Rhizotomy (aka radiofrequency ablation). It’s a non-invasive, neurosurgical procedure which ‘selectively destroys problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord.’ It’s designed to ‘provide lasting relief for people with chronic pain, especially in lower back, neck and arthritic joints.’
In my case, the right side of my low back was done several weeks ago and today was the left. This time I decided to receive the sedation – my doctor was pleased.
LUMB RFA LT L3/4 L4/5, DESTROY L/S FACET JNT ADDL
Thankfully ‘non-invasive’ means recuperation time is minimal and the sedation seems to have helped – I’m already feeling better than I did after procedure #1.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY: Hurts, Habits and Hang-Ups
Dear loved ones, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m sharing my life with you in encouragement and love to help point the way to Jesus Christ. Yes, I also have thoughts on politics – but everything in moderation.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
JESUS as ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life’- excerpt from John 14:6
‘I am a great sinner, yet Jesus Christ is a greater savior.’ Honestly, our world is so broken, and the hunger so palpable, that we as Christians should shine like the Son despite our brokenness. I’m willing to be available and vulnerable – God willing also wise in discernment, love and grace as I much rather share my faith in Christ rather than my frustrations with the Biden Administration and the globalists.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY: A CHRIST-CENTERED, 12-STEP RECOVERY PROGRAM
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. Celebrate Recovery utilizes Biblical teachings and the words and loving power of Jesus Christ – thus making CR a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling your life.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY: YOU BELONG
There’s something very powerful in becoming heirs with Jesus Christ and really knowing you belong to the Father (YHWH). In the Celebrate Recovery (CR) literature I am classified as an ‘Adult Child of Family Dysfunction’ – but I certainly need not remain there. While we all deal with trauma and loss in different ways, I find that staying connected to other likeminded, honest and vulnerable ‘sinners saved by grace’ helps me maintain and grow healthy relationships and ultimately deepens my relationship with God.
Our church hosts Celebrate Recovery every Monday night and the process is welcoming. At the beginning there’s worship in song and a lesson or testimony; afterwards men and women separate into smaller (gender specific) groups for a time of sharing. No one is required to speak – only if they desire to do so; confidentiality and anonymity is respected and maintained.
As you can imagine, a diverse group of women (in our room) will certainly have diverse opinions along with diverse hurts, habits and hang-ups. And in order to have friends, you must be a friend. And if I imagine any honesty or level of vulnerability from these ladies, I must be willing to do the same for them. Plenty of times we are laughing and sharing victories as well as our challenges.
I’m thankful God has included me in other Bible studies and gifted me in music. We choose Contemporary Christian Music and Hymns for the CR group and weekend services. Below are examples of my voice – songs I previously recorded for Christmas.
Blessings, Mary Budesheim
Biblical Wisdom: JESUS as ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life’ – JOHN 14 (FULL) from Holy Bible In My Father’s House Are Many Rooms 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” The Way, the Truth, and the Life 5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Med for anything in My name, I will do it. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 16:5–16) 15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me. 25All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I Leave with You 27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 28You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
