How I Fast from Wrong Thinking

Car Keys

2016-01-23T11:21:00.001-11:00

Sometimes, I feel like my prayers are not working.

“You have been praying for your husband for twenty-five years and nothing has changed,” the enemy scoffs. “Alex does not care about your Jesus.”

That day my husband came home late with a few bags filled with groceries.

“What happened?” I asked thinking of the words of the enemy.

“An amazing thing happened,” Alex told me. “I got out of the car to do some shopping and left my keys and my cell-phone inside while locking the car.”

“What did you do? Did you call the police?”

“I tried the rest of my keys in an attempt to unlock the car. No success. A man came to my rescue. I tried all of his keys—no result. In my despair, I asked God for help. I tried the tiniest key on my chain that was from a desk or drawer. It opened the car! I sat behind the wheel looking at my car key and comparing it to the tiny key that was magically blessed by God to unlock the car. The car key was long and slim, the tiny key was as big as the tip of my pinky. Go figure!”

My Second Book Coming Out Soon

2016-01-17T10:59:00.004-11:00

My second book is coming out soon. It is named: Kiss the Old Toad and Believe: A Story Inspired by Real-Life Events.

I want to share a small part of it and ask for your opinion. Do you think people will like it?

Nia turned around the corner of Bogatitsa and Gradina streets and saw the colorful skirt of a girl walking toward her. The olive color of her skin and the long curly hair cascading freely over her shoulders told Nia it was one of those gypsy girls looking to make some money in that wealthy part of the city. The scrawny gypsy was very young; almost a child, but when she opened her mouth Nia felt a tsunami of horror wash over her.

“You are under a spell, girl. Black magic was cast on you. Your husband will never be yours and you will not be able to conceive.”

Nia stopped dead and stared at the gypsy girl in disbelief.

“But I can reverse the magic spell,” the gypsy went on.

“Don’t even bother. I don’t have money,” Nia said. Feeling glued to the ground she stared hard at the gypsy and hoped against hope that she could chase the girl away as if she was a bad dream.

“If you want me to, I can come to your house right now.” The gypsy faked concern. “You need help. Let me help you, girl. My name is Ishe and I have the power to break any spell.”

“Okay, let’s go!” Nia heard herself say. “But if my husband is at home, you are not coming in, okay?” What am I doing? Am I crazy? Is this really happening? Nia thought.

“Got’ya. I have everything I need with me,” the gypsy said. “Here is a piece of black wax, and we will break the spell, you’ll see.”

The two women hurried inside the building. Nia looked around. She didn’t want the neighbors to see her with the gypsy as they sneaked into the condo. As soon as they were sure Ivo was not there, the gypsy began to bark out orders.

“I need a bowl with some water and a candle.”

“Okay, okay,” Nia stuttered. “I’ll find a candle. And a bowl of water, you said?” She stepped into the kitchen.

“Do we need matches?” Nia yelled from the kitchen.

“Yeah, get some matches. Find something to melt the wax in, okay?”

“I am getting everything ready. I’ll be right back!”

Nia heard drawers being opened and closed. She knew she should not trust the gypsy who might be stealing her things.

“Here’s all the stuff. What do we do next?” Nia asked walking into the sitting room.

“We’ll melt the wax first to see if it is a magic spell,” the gypsy said. Her skillful hands lit the candle and melted the wax, and she began murmuring spells. She poured the wax into the water, and right in front of Nia’s eyes the wax became a black serpent.

Nia froze. Her heart skipped a few beats. She opened her mouth to take a breath but instead a suppressed “O-o-o-h” trickled out.

“Yes, it is Black Magic, girl. Do you see the snake? They want your life, woman. You are doomed!” The gypsy went on whispering words of fear.

Nia’s head began to spin. I have always known that there is something bigger against me than human malice and hatred. I have always felt cursed. It’s my grandma’s Curse…. The well-known symptoms of panic tightened her throat and her body began to shake violently.

“I can break the spell, girl, I can break the magic but…I don’t know. It will take a lot of money. Much money has been paid to a witch to cast that magic spell and double the money we will need to break it. How much do you have?”

“I don’t have money,” Nia whispered. “I have only a little left till the end of the month.”

“Then, I will say good-bye and leave. Lots of money has been given. Money asks for money. Give me everything you have, or I’ll be out of here in no time.”

Nia felt tears running down her cheeks. She wiped them with the back of her hand and looked helplessly at the gypsy. Wrenching despair settled deep into her heart. I am doomed! There is nothing I can do….

The Sick Dog Miracle

2016-01-11T15:01:00.000-11:00

“The dog is sick,” said my husband when we returned from our four-day vacation. Oso has refused to eat and kept throwing up. My “old man” Oso looked at me with sad eyes and tucked his tail between his legs.

Things got worse the following day. His stomach started growling and loudly rumbling. The sounds were clearly audible.

“Rumbling stomach can also be caused by dangerous digestive diseases,” Fear whispered in my ear. “The dog is going to die. You are a bad mother. Instead of going on vacation, you could have stayed home and taken care of the dog.”

“That was my first Florida vacation. I was away for four days,” I whispered back defensively.

The loud rumbling and Oso’s sad eyes made me drop to the floor, lay hands on my dog and start praying.

“I speak healing over this sick creature, heavenly Father. I command that mountain of sickness to be uprooted and be cast into the sea in the name of Jesus!”

A few minutes later the stomach growling stopped.

It’s been six days now and the sickness never returned. My dog is one happy “old man” Oso.

A Miracle of Healing

2014-10-14T12:18:00.001-11:00

My trip back to my native country, Bulgaria, two months ago was a miracle. My son was still in college and saving for a ticket was impossible. A credit card company paid for half of the money for my round trip and I kept wondering what God had in mind for my visit there.

It turned out my aunt was in pain and had scheduled a doctor's appointment but none of my cousins was around to take her to the hospital. So I showed up to do the job.

"I want to pray for you, Auntie," I said after telling her the stories of my miraculous healings in the past.

She turned her life over to the care of Jesus and accepted the healing the Lord had provided on the cross.

The hospital tests showed she was in excellent health for her age. The pain disappeared.

Two month later, my father told me that his baby-sister was healed the moment we prayed. He said it was a miracle because for the past 82 years of my aunt's life she suffered from numerous diseases and there was not a single day that she was pain-free.

I praise God for his goodness!

Live One Day at a Time

2014-07-08T08:40:00.001-11:00

I think we need to be reminded more often of what the bible tells us about the things we worry about. I am offering the verses from Mathew 6:25-34:

"So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies! They don’t worry about theirs. Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?

“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

^{Photo credit:} ^{https://us-mg205.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=48ps434966c5f}

God Will Rescue Me

2014-07-02T08:30:00.002-11:00

Trouble seems to be brewing around me. But I recalled the Word of the Lord. His promises revived my sinking soul.

Isaiah 59:19 says that God will come to my rescue:

" When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him."

Photo credit: https://us-mg205.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=9ljmov9fie1le

How I Deal With Sleeping Problems.

2014-06-20T07:54:00.000-11:00

I was not able to get complete freedom from my sleeping problems untill I read Max Lucado's post:

One Step Enough for Me
by Max Lucado

Arthur Hays Sulzberger was the publisher of the New York Times during the second World War. Because of the world conflict, he found it almost impossible to sleep. He was never able to get worries from his mind until he adopted as his motto these five words: “One step enough for me” . . .taken from the old hymn, “Lead Kindly Light.”

“Lead, kindly Light. . .
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.”

God isn’t going to let you see the distant scene either. So you might as well quit looking for it. He promises a lamp to our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We don’t need to know what will happen tomorrow. We only need to know He leads us. As Hebrews 4:16 promises, “we will find grace to help us when we need it.”

From Traveling Light

Photocredit: Lisa Rosario Photography/Flickr2013.Elusive baby sleep.https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/growth-curve/elusive-baby-sleep-miracles-remain-elusive.2014

God Saved Me Out of My Distress

2014-03-27T11:31:00.001-11:00

God hears your heart's cry and He will answer! Psalm 107:19 says, "They cried unto the Lord in their trouble and He saved them out of their distresses…"

There was an accident at my work with one of my students that left me hurting physically and emotionally.

I prayed for God to remove the pain.

He brought a lady who asked me to pray for her daughter who was also autistic and bipolar.

"Pray about that girl and your student the way you would have prayed for your own sons," I heard the Holy Spirit prompt me. I took the Word to heart and the pain in my body and soul disappeared. God saved me out of my distress.

Photo credit: Moonrise, Lake Vermillion, Banff National Park, Albertahttps. http://www.webshots.com/photos/national-parks/moonrise--lake-vermillion--banff-national-park--alberta?utm_source=PS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=032414

God is My Turnaround-Specialist

2014-03-16T10:10:00.000-11:00

We all come up against some stubborn situations or areas of our life, where it just doesn't seem like it will turn around. I am in such a situation right now.

Everything in me cries out, "This will never change. It is impossible to change"

Yet, as Pastor says often, God is my turnaround-specialist. He turns mourning into rejoicing (Psalm 30:11); turns darkness to light; turns the curse into a blessing, etc.

In one moment, God can turn around years of defeat and frustration and give me the victory I have been praying for.

God loves me and is willing to turn my suffering into a blessing. I chose to believe not what my flesh tells me but what God says about me. My due season is coming. My turning point begins in my thinking today, in Jesus' Name.

Photo credit: http://www.united-church.ca/files/slideshow/slideshow_tato.jpg?1394037870

Listen, My Most Beautiful One

2014-03-08T12:39:00.001-11:00

Listen, My most beautiful one—

If you ever lose sight of Me

Just follow My footsteps

Where I have led my beloved ones.

Come with all your burdens and cares.

Come to the place near

The sanctuary of My shepherds—

There you will find Me.

My dearest one,

Let me tell you how I see you--

You are so thrilling to Me.

To gaze at you is like gazing

At one of Pharaoh’s finest horses.

The strong regal steeds

Which pull His royal chariot.

Your tender cheeks are so radiant--your earrings and gem-laden necklaces set them ablaze.

from chapter 1 of the Song of Songs (The Passion Translation by Brian Simmons

Do Not Fear

2014-02-24T07:58:00.002-11:00

I fell on the ice, hurt my right wrist, dusted off the snow while walking through the door, and started weeping, "Lord, it hurts so-o much, I am out of sick days and I don't know how I am going to work this physically challenging work.... Please, talk to me!"

I opened the bible randomly, and my eyes fell on verse 57, Lamentations 3,"You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear."

Photo credit: ryk_neethling. http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2010-11/editing-bible. 2014

Last Night's Storm

2014-02-21T12:28:00.001-11:00

The wind is having a blast, I thought listening to the severe rattling of the windows in my room. I had the feeling that the glass will burst out any moment and cover my bed with sharp transparent daggers.

God is not the source of that storm, but He is my shelter in the midst of it. Isaiah 25:4 says, "…You are a refuge from the storm…"

"I will have peace in the midst of the storm, Lord, for you will protect me," I whispered and drifted back to sleep.

Photo credit: paul bica, impending storms, 2007. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dexxus/4670941507.2014

You Shall Live and Not Die

2014-02-02T09:28:00.001-11:00

One look at my hibiscus made me stop in my tracks. The bright green leaves had turned yellowish and most of them had withered up. Bare branches stuck out of the main stem in grayish color.

"My hibiscus tree is dying!" I mumbled. It seemed only a few days ago it bloomed in enormous bright pink blossoms challenging the power of the fierce winter storm raging outside. Snuggled against the corner of my warm dining room the plant was full of life and promises. A bible verse from Proverbs 18:21 came to my mind, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

"In the name of Jesus I speak LIFE over this tree. It will live and not die!" I proclaimed boldly and walked away.

A few days later, sweeping the dead leaves, I decided to prune it. Scissors in hand, I looked closely at the branches.

They were covered with tiny green buds.

Photo credit: Sheba, John, Hibiscus Pink Macro-01, 2011, http://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/6016802186/in/pool-hibiscuspics, 2014

I Said to the Devil...

2014-01-23T12:34:00.002-11:00

I pressed the gas pedal but instead of accelerating, the car slowed down. "There is something wrong with my new car. What if it stops altogether?" I thought driving in the middle lane of the highway. Fear wrenched my stomach. I stepped on the pedal and it slowed down back again. Maneuvering to a slower lane, I felt my heart in my throat. Fear found a permanent seat in my head and began its monologue: "Now, where is your God to rescue you from trouble. Didn't you pray this morning asking him to protect you?"

Shaking, I still remembered what the bible says about situations like this in Psalm 91(MSG), " Say this: 'God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe! That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe.'

I turned to the enemy in my head and told him, "Devil, this is what God says. Also, you have already been defeated at the cross of Jesus Christ! (John 19:30)

I walk by faith in the victory that is already mine. Get out of my head and my car, in Jesus' name!"

I had no more problems with the car.

Can You Sleep Well?

2014-01-22T12:24:00.001-11:00

"I don't pray enough," I sometimes think when I don't get an answer to my prayers right away. Well, the truth is that it's not the length of my prayer that counts, but its strength. It's not about praying enough. It's about praying the Word of God, reminding Him of His promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

For many years I've been plagued by insomnia. Now I pray the words of Psalm 4:7-8, "You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."
And I never forget to add, "Amen!"

Photo credit:Duncan Hull. Babies Sleep in the Weirdest Positions.2005. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/11259594775.2014

New Year's Wishes for You.

2013-12-27T13:13:00.002-11:00

“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”
― D. Simone

“

The Best is Yet to Come

2013-12-26T05:54:00.000-11:00

Dear friends,

Thank you for your friendship. And thank you for following, reading, and sharing on this blog. I hope that my posts have contributed to your spiritual growth. I believe that you have found new hope and new happiness. I trust that our lives have been changed.

As my Pastor often says, "Remember, expectation is the womb of manifestation." Acts 3:5

I expect that THE BEST IS YET TO COME in my life this year. What about you?

Love Your Husband!

2013-12-18T15:42:00.002-11:00

God performed yet another miracle in my life. He filled my heart with supernatural love and kindness toward my husband!!!

I have to admit that my heart is not naturally overflowing with love and kindness toward my fellow human beings and especially toward my husband. I often criticize him and pray for him to change (although I know very well that the only person I can change with my prayers is me).

That "unkind" and "ungrateful" brat (that's how I often call my husband) worked on the repair of my car for three days in our freezing garage. He never complained or asked for attention, never mentioned the fact that he was doing me a favor. And he fixed the car.

That's how I came up with a New Year's resolution: It's Only Love and Love is All. I will not allow any accusations in my mind against my husband. I will think lovingly about him and thank God for him.

What is your New Year's resolution?

Photo credit: josh james, Love Note, 2011, http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshwept/5453004531/in/photostream.2013

I Am Going to Rip This Enemy Apart

2013-12-12T10:37:00.000-11:00

As the holidays approach, my resolution to stay away from processed sugar and flour dwindles.

I have read that sugar was not just something that would tick off the dentist, but rather poison me.

Sugar, refined, processed, and the diet stuff too, all leave an acid “ash” residue in the body. My body’s ability to fight against aging and disease, as well as find happiness becomes very low.

My powerlessness over carbohydrates invites a strong enemy named Helplessness to attack me. Fear of the future follows in its steps.

When I pray, verses from the bible come to mind. Judges 15:14-15 says about Samson: "The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men."

The same spirit, the Holy Spirit, lives in me. (Romans 8:11)

Whatever "lion" is coming against me, I have the power to rip it apart. I walk in the power of God.

Photo credit: British Army Soldier in Afghanistan Engaging the Enemy.UK Ministry of Defence Defence. http://www.flickr.com/photos/defenceimages/10172985145/. 2013

When I am Battered and Scarred

2013-12-07T13:21:00.003-11:00

Pain, exhaustion, hopelessness--all these "friends" of an old enemy--cunning, baffling and powerful--attacked me from all sides.

"Lord, please help me!" I cried out.

Tears streaming down my cheeks, I clicked on my Facebook mail and the first link that I opened was an answer to my prayers. The song was called In Jesus Name we Press On by Selah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPUP8jenE9I

Here are the words:

When the valley is deep, when the mountain is steep, when the body is weary, when we stumble and fall, when the choices are hard, when we are battered and scarred, when we've spent our resources, when we've given our all....

In Jesus' name we press on.

Dear Lord, with the prize, clear before our eyes, we find the strength to press on. In Jesus' name we press on.

Photo credit: Cindy Cornett Seigle.Sad Clown. cindy47452.2012http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindy47452/8200519183/

New Hope

2013-11-10T10:06:00.002-11:00

God has given you a new name if you believe in Jesus. He called Abraham "a father of many nations" (Rom. 4:17-21) when he was just an old man with a wife past child-bearing years, and no children.
He called Gideon a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12-16) instead of “least in his father's household,” as Gideon thought about himself. Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and turned him from persecutor of Christians to Paul, an apostle to the gentiles (Acts 9:15).
Do you see yourself through the natural eye as old, weary, weak, and defeated? Or, do you see yourself as the man or the woman that God intended you to be? I know that He has added a new value to my Bulgarian name, Nadia, which means "hope."

Photo credit: Sevin, Angela.angela7dreams.2005.http://www.flickr.com/photos/angela7/87957759/.2013

"I promise to be a good girl, God."

2013-10-31T08:55:00.001-11:00

I love the promises of God in the bible. I know that the Lord keeps his promises and is not like me to change his mind ten times a day. The words of Psalm 91saturate my whole being with peace:

No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Thank you, Father, for your loving care!

Photo credit: Drew Bryden Cape Cod Cyclist. Serenity is.2006.http://www.flickr.com.2013

Perfect Healing

2013-10-27T12:52:00.002-11:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had a tooth surgically removed in a non-typical way. The dentist looked at it during my follow up visit and said, "Everything is healed beautifully. There is not even a scar left."

I remembered a visit to the podiatrist. I had fractured my left foot and the physician wanted to make sure it was well. He asked me to walk around without support, looked at my foot, then looked at the x-ray and said, "I don't see even a line, a mark where the foot was broken. It has healed perfectly."

I thanked the Perfect Healer-Jesus for his amazing gifts.

Photo credit: http://cdn.theresurgence.com/files/2011/07/23/healed.jpg?1311488151

The Tooth

2013-10-14T11:48:00.000-11:00

I woke up at 2:00 one morning from excruciating pain. My head throbbed in unison with the tooth ache.

The tooth that was bothering me was a part of a huge bridge covering my whole upper jaw. I had paid thousands of dollars for it only a few years ago. It took a year of extra work to pay the loan off.

"God, I need help," I feebly started my nightly prayer. It was up to God to rescue me. I had already asked a few dentists and one surgeon. All of them made it clear that the whole bridge needed to be removed and destroyed. Some implants needed to be made....

"Lord, please lead me to the right dentist that will help me."

I went to a place called Naper Dental. I told them about my trouble. Doctor Jason Crescenzo examined me and offered to extract the tooth without removing the bridge.

"Can it be done?" I asked.

It turned out that Dr. Crescenzo had experience with exactly that type of surgery. But that was not the whole miracle. That dentist had an amazing caring heart. He worked hard for almost eighty minutes to preserve most of the bone so that there would not be a gaping hole on my gums.

It has been only a couple a days now, yet I already feel healed and happy that God led me to the right person in my time of need. Because my heavenly Father is faithful.

I've Been "Burned" Before

2013-08-11T10:58:00.000-11:00

Everyone knows what it feels like to be "burned." Your marriage goes up in flames; your investments, business is gone up in smoke after a bad decision; your close friends betray you; your plans turn to ashes.

Some of us think it is therapeutic to talk about our problems. My Pastor, Gregory Dickow, says, "Talk to the problem, not about it. Give God the ashes, the hurt. He can turn them into something beautiful as he has promised in Isaiah 61:3. Talking about your burned dreams with people makes you spread the ashes even more. An exchange has to take place--take your ashes and give them to God. God will restore the broken, the damaged, the burned. Get the skeletons out of your closets and give them to God. He can bring the dead bones to life. Give your broken pieces to Jesus and remember that he is the Potter and you are the clay in his hands."

And remember: The more ashes you give God, the more beautiful your restored life can become!"

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com