Caught up with another good friend today, someone I hadn't seen in quite awhile. I told them about my illness and they thought initially that I was kidding. Everyone, my doctors included, find it amazing that I am doing so well, especially after thirteen treatments of chemo. They are all still amazed that I am working. You readers who've been following this site for a little while know the secret: God answers prayer, and thus far his answer has enabled me to continue to work, and also given me the occasional burst of energy to help around the house.
God's presence with us has also compelled Cynth and me to rest as best we can in the promises he has given us throughout his Word. Many times I find that doubt creeps up on me, enticing me to give in and spiral down into fear. God continues to hear those doubts and fears as I take them to him and I am renewed in his strength. And so we go onward toward whatever he intends for us in this journey.
I am often asked how the children are doing with this. We believe they are watching us and taking their cue from what they observe in us. By the way, we are not hiding any of our doubting and fear from them. We tell them of the very frank conversations we've had, anyhow we continue to trust God just as we have from the beginning. One thing I keep stressing is God's perfect plan that results in his glory and our good, even when we cannot understand it.
It is near impossible for us to see the good in pain, sickness, death, disaster or countless
other evils that brokenness thrusts upon humanity. We have to trust God and his Son who is our only hope to be able to see good. We also have to learn a new definition of good. If God is not God and Jesus is not the Christ, then what can be used as the basis for good? Where then would be our hope? Certainly every temporal thing fails us, disappoints us, and confounds us. Even our own hearts turn after that which we know deep down cannot ever satisfy us. Even Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones know this.
So you trust in God. Is that it? If, when you trust him you also empty yourself of your idols and give him your whole heart, the throne of your life, the yes. We need to be filled, under the influence of God the Spirit so we can see, even slightly, the good in those things we cannot ever imagine as being good. And with a right understanding, that is,'God's understanding of good, we begin to see that God does work his will and perfect plan for our good.
So, while Cynth and I wait for the next phase of treatment per our doctors, join with us as we pray for healing,for minimal side effects, for continued strength to work and carry out as close to normal days as possible. I have asked that you pray with us for the following: Elva, Joe, Pam, Debbie, Mark, Rick, Steve, Frank, Marie, Dan, Dennis, Olivia, Justin, Doris Anne, Jane, John, Tucker, Hugh, Robin, Leah, Aaron, Tom, Danny, Hooker, Mike, "Pig," Miriam, my co-workers nephew and all their families, Darrel and Claudia and their son and his family, Cynthia (another), Mark (a co-worker's brother), a co-worker's infant daughter, Mike and Tonya, my parents and my sisters and their families, Cynthia's mom and sister and her family, Delores and the entire Kyle family. Please add to this list Shirley's grandmother and my Aunt Gail to this list of people who are struggling with many of the effects of brokenness.
A few weeks ago as I was walking through discouragement, Cynth shared a passage with me that reminded me of where we go for help. For background, Hezekiah, King of Judah, has just received a distressing message from Assyria. Notice the progression of Hezekiah's actions.
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:
"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD."
May it always be that we go first to God, give him our praise for all that he has wrought in our lives, and spread our petitions before him.
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