We Can't Stop The Clock

Floyd is doing better than a few weeks ago, but his condition still goes up and down.  I've often reflected on Acts 13:36 - "When David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors."  I pray that all of God's plans and purposes for Floyd's life, particularly in this season, will be fulfilled.  I continue to pray for miracles - while I also tell the Lord I'm at peace for Him to take Floyd home.  Healing or heaven!  Both are great options.

Overall I feel good - and people tell me I look good :) but I am experiencing lots of pain from treatment side effects.  It's draining but I pray for strength.  

As we celebrated American Thanksgiving yesterday, I was thinking I have so much to be thankful for.  In the midst of a long, unexpected journey - God has been abundantly good and faithful to me!  I can't thank Him enough.  In spite of all the hard things - God has been SO good, so sustaining, so available, so attentive to all the needs I face.

Thankfulness is a special thing.  When we are thankful, our hearts overflow and there is a peace, a richness, a joy that fills our sprit.  It is truly "priceless!"  A thankful heart overflows into every aspect of our lives.  It smooths the tracks, so to speak, for everything that comes our way.  A thankful heart just makes all of life easier.

But, if we're not careful, an ungrateful heart can creep in.  Instead of being thankful for the many wonderful blessings that we have, we can, instead, long for what we don't have.  That will always lead to being discontent......and it will rob us of our joy in life.  I think some people live in a constant state of discontentment because they focus on what is missing rather than on what they have.  A restlessness can enter into our lives if we live that way.

There are many things "missing" in my life right now.  I could truly become depressed if I focused on them.  I'm sorry that those things aren't there.  But, with God's help and grace, I have chosen to focus on what I do have!!  And I have so much!  God has been so good to me.  My friends here in Cape Town have loved and cared for me.  Those of you reading this have lifted us up in prayer.  Our family has helped in numerous ways.  I am "rich" in good things!  When I focus on those, there's no room to think about what I don't have.  I just choose what I focus on!

The Bible refers to it as "the sacrifice of thanksgiving."  It's an offering of praise that we offer up to the Father.  We are told to thank Him in each and every situation.  As we do that, the "offering" we are lifting up to the Lord turns around and blesses us.  A thankful heart helps with every single thing we face in life!

"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.....the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name."  Hebrews 13:15

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:11-13

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Psalm 34:1

Being thankful isn't just for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It's a way of life that God wants us to walk in.  It's a powerful way to live that He has offered to us - a precious gift. 

It's hard to believe that we are entering the last month of the year.  It seems like 2019 has just flown by!  The last few months have been particularly busy and intense for me.  Sometimes I feel like I want to "stop the clock!"  I'd like time to stop - or at least slow down.  But it just keeps rushing onward.

I never dreamed that our unexpected journey would go on and on and on.  As I look back on it, I'm amazed at all that has been "thrown into" this journey.  It's been hard and it's been good.  It's been sad, and there have been times of joy.  It's been stressful, and yet there have been times of peace and rest.  It's been physically and emotionally painful, but there have also been some points of healing and relief.  I've often referred to it being a roller coaster.  It still seems like one of the most descriptive ways to explain it.

On some of the good days......I have definitely wanted to "stop the clock."  Not so much on the hard days - I'm happy for them to rush by.  And yet, it's the whole picture that shows the goodness and faithfulness of God.  Hardship is part of the journey for all of us.  Our testings and trials have a purpose.  I can look over this journey and see the fingerprint of God in much of what has happened.  I don't understand it all, but I clearly see God at work!

One of the things I'm so grateful for is all the prayer support.  I’m thankful to each one for every time we have been lifted up to the Father.  I'm confident that those prayers have helped carry us along this journey.  I heard Pete Greig say that "the hinge of human history is the bended knee."  I think that hinge, that track along our journey is what has kept us going, kept us being able to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

As the clock keeps ticking and time rushes on - we can choose how we respond to all the things that life brings our way.  We can choose to make our darkest hour our defining moment.  I don't think we can avoid hard times in our lives, but we can choose for those hard times to be offered up to the Lord and used for His glory.  That is one of my consistent prayers on this journey.  I don't want to look back on this unexpected journey with any regrets.  I want to be able to worship Him for all He has done, for His faithfulness, and for His sustaining grace.  God has been so good to me!

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."  Psalm 16:11

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory."  Exodus 15:2

" ' For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "  Jeremiah 29:11

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"  Luke 12:25,26

"The Lord is a refuge.....a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9,10

I can't "stop the clock" from all that is happening, but I can trust Him to be at work in my life each and every day!  He is so faithful to do that.