Thank You, Lord!

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Such was our Thanksgiving Day.  We had planned to have Thanksgiving lunch with our neighbors, but the Lord obviously had other plans for us.  We ended up spending the morning in the emergency room and the rest of the day at home.  Praise God that He provides all that is best for us.  Every tiny detail of our day was planned by Him before the foundation of the earth.  It just surprised us when it happened.  Certainly was not expecting it.  Yes, I am healing now, but it was scary there for a little while.  Don’t you think God laughs when we tell him OUR plans?  I am so thankful that HE is the One Who is in control, not me.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, even when those blessings come in disguise as a trip to the emergency room...

Jesus Loves Me and You

Do you ever need for the Father to remind you just how much He loves you?  Well, obviously I needed a reminder this week as I struggled through some health issues (again...), so the Lord did just that for me.  He showed me His great love for me again and I didn’t even know that I needed to be reminded.  I love how He knows just what I need even before I know it myself.  Of course I shouldn’t be surprised about that.  After all He knows EVERYTHING about me (Psalm 139).  What a peace I have in knowing that (well, most of the time... unless I’ve really blown it in His sight)!  

Many years ago the famous theologian Karl Barth was asked to tell what he believed was the most profound thought he knew of.  “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” was his answer.  After all of his study of the Scriptures Karl Barth quoted a children’s song as the most profound thought he knew of, a song that was included in a children’s book written by two sisters in 1859.  I love the simplicity of God’s love.  His love is always there and it is always unconditional.  Oh that we humans could grasp God’s love so completely.  

The Lord took me to His Word and reminded me there just how much He loves me... and you... as I read the well-known passage in John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Is that not the most amazing news you’ve ever heard?  He loves everyone so much that He sacrificed His only Son on the cross at Calvary so that they could come to Him through Christ and have life with Him forevermore.  Who but God would do that for us?  Then He took me to Romans 5:8- “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  We didn’t even have to “clean up” first before His dying for us.  Incredible....

OK, maybe you don’t need reminding how much God loves you at this particular time, but you will need to be reminded at some point (or points) in your life.  The love of our Heavenly Father is so much greater than we can ever imagine and He is more than willing to remind you of this whenever you need to be.  He certainly lifted my spirits and my heart to Him as He showed me once again how great His love is for me.  I am so grateful for His unfathomable love for us.  Thank You, Lord, for Your unending, unconditional and precious love.  

“... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

Faith

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”  Hebrews 11:1

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  Colossians 3:2

The challenge of keeping your faith rears its ugly head when our circumstances are greater than we can imagine.  There are no easy answers and all things seem overwhelming.  Circumstances are complex and not understandable.   We just don’t know if things will ever get better or we have no idea how long it will take for the problems to resolve.  So where do we turn when we face challenges to our faith in the Lord.  Do we trust Him to work in the situations or do we turn from Him and to our own resources?  Where are we putting our faith in troubled times?  

Lately I’ve become extremely aware of the many circumstances in my life and the lives of those I love and care about that seem impossible.  I’ve had to decide where I will put my faith.  In man or in the Lord?  This decision should be a “no brainer” for a Christian, but even Christians struggle with the things that God causes or allows in their lives.  Because God’s ways and thoughts are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), we find ourselves wondering what He is doing with the dire circumstances that we find ourselves in.  How many times have we cried out “Lord, I don’t understand!!!  How can THIS give You the greatest glory?”  Thus we have to decide where we will put our trust and faith.  This is what I’ve come up with (again) because of the hard circumstances around me and those I love and care about.  

First, God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  He knows what is best and I can trust Him to do whatever is necessary to resolve each circumstance in the very best way for all involved.  He knows everything and has created all things, knowing them intimately.  Whatever He causes or allows in our lives and the lives of those we love and care about is for good (Romans 8:28) and for His greatest glory.  God knows what needs to take place and His plan is always perfect, whether or not we understand what it is or why He is doing things in this certain way.  Yes, God has  a perfect plan and I can trust Him because of Who He is to work it all together for our good and His greatest glory.  

Second, God’s timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  While we would love to have things resolved quickly and neatly, God’s ways and healings are usually progressive.  The process draws us closer to Him because of our severe circumstances and needs.  Though we want Him to “get ‘er done”, He knows that we could not stand the intensity of an immediate resolution and we would see Him as a “Santa Claus” for all our needs.   I have certainly seen that as I struggle with the frustrating situations around me.  I am learning to trust His perfect timing because everything comes together in the most amazing and the best of ways when I wait on Him.  I need His grace to wait and pray for it frequently.  It is not easy to wait on Him but it is always the best thing to do.  

Last, God truly is in control (Psalm 11:4).  Nothing gets past God.  He knows what is going on and is tempering it all so that we can tolerate hard times without being crushed by them.  Yes, we all have times when we think He has gone too far, but, by His grace, we make it through as we step out in faith and entrust everything to Him.  We can rest in Him and have His peace in the most difficult of circumstances because He is always with His children and will guide and direct us if we will listen to and obey Him.  

I have surrendered all my faith challenges to the Lord and declared my trust in Him to work all out in His perfect ways and timing.  That means I must seek Him moment by moment and rely on Him and His grace.  I will come forth as gold through the process of all the circumstances that baffle me.  So, by His grace, I continue to wait on Him and stay in His Word.  There He speaks His encouragement, wisdom, and guidance to me so that I can make it through each moment of every day.  Praise Him! 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Merciful, Merciful God

The Lord has given the doctors the answer to my physical problems.  I am very humbled and grateful for His answers.  In His mercy I do not have the major abdominal problems that I felt like I had.  Although this particular condition is chronic and ongoing still, the Lord has provided medications for much of my relief.  He has also provided a change in pain medication for me for another health issue I deal with all the time.  Although I’m still in the beginning stages of taking these new meds, I feel as though the Lord is using them to enable me to become a functioning person again.  All praise, honor, and glory to Jehovah Rapha, our Healer.  Yes, I will still deal daily with these and other health issues, but the Lord has graciously intervened so that I can do all He has for me to do.  Praise Him!  Hallelujah!!!  He is so good to me.  To tell you the truth, I am awestruck and speechless to express all my gratitude and thanksgiving to Him for what He has done.  Believe me, my symptoms indicated much more serious disease possibilities.  

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.”  1 Chronicles 16:34

“... for I am the Lord Who heals you.”  Exodus 15:26