Helpful Reading
In A Boat In The Middle Of A Lake by Patrick and Ruth Schwenk
My best friend gave me this book to read. She reads Ruth's blogs and when she found out about the book she said she just had to get it for me. It’s largely about Patrick’s battle with blood cancer, but the truths can be applied to any circumstance or trial in life. He states the truth here when he says, "trials uniquely position us to see our need to come to God and be changed by Him." pg 43 That's a big nugget to chew on. He also points out that living a blessed life is more than health, wealth and prosperity. It's much deeper than that. Being truly blessed just might come from having an, "abundant life of loving God and others. Even if it's not easy. Or convenient. Or comfortable." pg.90 I've held on to these principles and the challenge of letting go of my preconceived ideas of trials. As a result, I got closer to God and allowed Him to mold me during my own storm.
After reading the book, I was so moved and convinced that it needed to be shared, that I gave a copy to a couple on the floor. After they read it, they were compelled to donate several copies to the unit for patients to read. It's that life changing!
*Early in the morning on January 5, 2024, Patrick's battle with cancer ended and is now in heaven completely healed!
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The Well-Watered Woman by Gretchen Saffles
This book was given to me by a nurse at the hospital. Although not specific to cancer or disease, it was what I needed at that time. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I saw myself in just about every chapter. I went from a period of being okay to not okay. Emotionally I was brought to depths I had never gone before. Getting a cancer diagnosis will do that. The soil of my heart needed stirring and some roots needed to be dug out or the fruit of anger or bitterness would have sprouted. My soul needed to be tended by the Master Gardener. This book hit all of that plus more. It taught me to live in the moment and to grow where God had me planted. That meant right there in the hospital room in the fight for my life.
The book was so good, I bought one for all the women in my family.
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Stay Off My Operating Table by Philip Ovadia MD
Meet the cardiovascular surgeon who doesn't want to increase his wealth by operating on patient's hearts! In his timely book, Stay Off My Operating Table, Dr. Ovadia discusses clinically proven ways to reverse metabolic syndrome- a group of conditions together that lead to heart disease. They are high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels, excess belly fat, high triglycerides and low HDL levels. A person only needs three of these conditions at the same time to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and therefore be at risk for a cardiovascular event. In his book, Dr. Ovadia busts many diet myths we have swallowed as truth such as, following the food pyramid is healthy! Or, only overweight people are at risk. How about this big lie we've all heard, it's cholesterol that causes heart disease. This is a must read for your health and the health of your family.
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