Keep Praying

One of the therapists stopped me this week to tell me how impressed she is with Floyd's "bouncing back" from the surgery last week.  She said it's quite remarkable.  I saw the Doctor a little later, and she said the same thing.

Floyd has been very alert and following everything going on.  He has been smiling when seeing friends and watching intently as they chat to him.  There are also times when he raises his hand to join in with worship.  

I'm grateful for the improvements we see - and encouraged.  We keep praying and waiting to see what God has in store for us.

A devotional I read recently was quoting James 1:2-3 - "Consider it all joy.....when you encounter various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

It talked about how the trials of life can strengthen our faith, and they give us the opportunity to make sure our faith isn't swayed by our feelings.  It definitely is a temptation to let our feelings grow so strong in the midst of a hard time that they can seem stronger than our faith.  I find I need to give my feelings continually to the Lord.....and speak out the truth of the Word that trumps my feelings.

One of the most difficult things about our trials and hard times is not knowing how long they'll continue.  There are times when you can feel like you just can't keep going.  I've found it so very important to go to the Lord right away before that feeling takes control.  Only His sustaining grace can keep me going.  I have to keep my eyes on Him.

I've had a few very low points when I didn't know if I'd make it.  I've found it so important to get a few friends around me to pray for me.  They help boost my faith to endure when my strength is lagging.

There have been a lot of things thrown my way on this unexpected journey, but God's grace, help, and strength has been more than adequate to help me keep going.  I'm so thankful!

"As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength."  Psalm 138:3

"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble."  Psalm 37:39

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  Isaiah 40:29

"But you, Lord, do not be far from me.  You are my strength; come quickly to help me."  Psalm 22:19

His Word is so clear that He is there to help us when our strength is lagging and we're getting tired.  He makes it so easy to trust Him!

One of our All Nations staff shared a post on prayer this week.  I'm sorry I don't know who wrote it, but I'm touched by the message of persevering prayer!  It has encouraged my heart…

"Keep On Praying!

Jesus said, "We ought to pray and not to faint."  Luke 18:1  

He told us to be persistent in our prayer life.

Think about Elijah, who prayed one time and fire came down from heaven on Mt. Carmel.  But it took him praying three times before God resurrected the dead son of the widow.  And Elijah prayed seven times before God sent back rain on the earth during that time of drought.

Elijah learned to pray and trust God's timing......and don't give up.

In Christian history, we also think about George Muller, who lived a life that was one of the greatest demonstrations of answered prayer.  When he died, he had 50,000 documented answers to prayer!

Five thousand of those were answered on the day he prayed them.  Of course that means that 90 percent of the time, George Muller just kept waiting and praying.  He prayed for 63 years for one man to come to Christ before that man ended up doing so!

Like Elijah, George Muller learned that we can trust the Lord.  He said "Don't let yesterday's seemingly unanswered prayers stop you from praying in faith today."

So I want to encourage you: pray!  God knows His perfect timing.  He may answer right after you pray.  He may wait weeks, months, even years.  He will wait until He is most glorified in the situation......so don't give up.  You can wait on the Lord, and trust His timing.  Keep on praying."

I was strengthened in my resolve to keep praying by reading this.  I think the "key" is in the last paragraph - God will wait until He will be most glorified by the answered prayer.  That's what we want!  For God to be honored, worshipped, and glorified by answers to our prayers.

Whatever the answer is for Floyd, my deepest longing is for our wonderful Father to be glorified.

"I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."  Psalm 27:13,14

I know without Him, "I would have fainted!"  I am so grateful for His courage and strength.  I'm glad we can "wait" for that!

Invisible Walls

This past week Floyd has been mostly quiet and alert and I am so pleased that he has gained weight.  Wednesday, however, brought lots of unexpected events.  Floyd needed to be rushed to another hospital for surgery.  There was something wrong with his feeding tube.  They had to operate to clear it up and replace it.  Even though it was a long and intense day, I'm grateful for the blessing of the Lord’s comfort and strength in the midst of it. 

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him."  Nahum 1:7

Something special also happened this past week.  I pray all the time for the Lord to comfort Floyd, give him grace and courage, and surround him with angels to keep him company.  I pray he'll see the angels.  While I was with Floyd and praying these things I had my eyes closed. Floyd was very focused on my face.  As I was praying for angels to be with him - and for him to see them.....I opened my eyes and Floyd was looking up at the ceiling and smiling.  He stayed that way until I finished praying, and then he looked at me again with a smile.  I have no way to know for sure, but I hope he was seeing angels!!

"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."  Psalm 91:11

At the end of our front deck, we have a very large glass window.  It enables us to look down the valley from where we live - even seeing the mountains on the other side of the far bay on clear days.  It's also a wonderful protection from the strong summer winds (the "southeasters") that can almost blow you away.  We love that it allows us to sit outside, and enjoy the balmy evenings even when the wind is blowing strongly.  The big, clear glass is almost like an invisible shield. 

It reminds me of an experience when I was young.  When I was on an outreach one time, we were going to a village that had wild dogs.  We were praying for protection from the dogs as we walked to the village.  I prayed for God's "invisible wall of protection."  He answered that prayer!  The dogs came right up to us, turned, and ran into the woods, never harming us.  Thank you Lord!  The chief of the village gave his heart to the Lord, and asked us to tell his whole village about Jesus.  Many gave their hearts to Him.  

The poor birds don't always realize our big glass window is there!  Some of them fly into it, and then lie dazed for a while.  The other day I looked at one of the dazed birds as it tried to figure out what had happened.  I had a revelation that I can be like that poor bird!  I can be happily flying along, not see the obstacles, and then hit a "wall" that I didn't even realize was there.

Oh how I need God's discernment, perspective, and ability to see the walls the enemy has put up for me to hit and become dazed.  I don't think I've ever had a season in my life where I've cried out to the Lord so much to help me "see" my way through what's happening in our lives.  I've asked Him to protect me from flying into invisible walls. 

He's been incredibly faithful!  I've had a few "dazed" moments - a few times when I've wondered what hit me. :)  But the Lord has guided me day by day, moment by moment through this journey with so many twists and turns.  How incredibly faithful He's been.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' "  Isaiah 30:21

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' " Isaiah 41:13

The Lord sees all the invisible walls.  He knows every obstacle in my path.  I'm trusting in the Lord's continued protection on this journey.  I know He'll hold my hand, light my path, go before me, and whisper in my ear which way to go.  What a wonderful Guide He is!

I've been listening to another of Floyd's sermons.  This one is on "How to Know God's Will."  I love hearing his messages.  It's nice to hear his voice.  He usually says something affirming about me - so it's a sweet encouragement to my heart. 

Floyd talks in the message about "inquiring of the Lord."  2 Samuel 5:19  David frequently inquired of the Lord.  I did a search and found at least 9 instances of this.  Shall I fight the Philistines? Shall I talk to Saul?  Shall I pursue this troop? He had regular conversations asking God what to do.  David's desire to hear from God, allowing God to direct his path and his decisions must have been one of the reasons God called David "a man after His own heart." Acts 13:22 He said of David, "he will do everything I want him to do." Those are powerful compliments!

I talk to the Lord about my decisions all through my day.  There's hardly a day that goes by that I don't have to make decisions about Floyd's care. I'm often at a loss as to what to do.  I ask God about everything - I "inquire of the Lord."  And I love that He responds.  He guides me.  Floyd said in his message that God loves to speak intimately and personally to each one of us about the things in our lives.  He said when we hear the word of the Lord on things we ask Him about, it releases faith and vision into our hearts for what we're asking.

I'm not saying I don't make mistakes - I'm sure I do!  But I certainly make less of them by "inquiring of the Lord."  And it takes such a weight off my shoulders that I don't have to make decisions on my own limited wisdom.

I miss talking to Floyd about the decisions I'm making.  I'm so grateful I can talk to the Lord.  I couldn't make it without His help and guidance.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault."  James 1:5

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go."  Psalm 143:8

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;  even at night my heart instructs me.  I keep my eyes always on the Lord.   With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:7,8

"Since you are my rock and fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me."  Psalm 31:3

I'm so grateful for the Lord's counsel, guidance, and instruction.  I couldn't make it without that.  He has been my adviser, my friend, and my husband.  I praise Him with all my heart.

We have a sign in our home, above the kitchen sink where I see it all the time.  It's rather rustic looking - like it may have been around for generations.  It's taken from Joshua 24:15.  "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  The sign has only been with us for about 15 years, but the proclamation is very much part of our family for many generations.

We have a family heritage from those who have faithfully served the Lord. I've mentioned my mother before, Memaw.  She was a Godly lady, who loved Jesus, and knew how to pray!  I'm in ministry and missions today because of her prayers.

Floyd's parents, Floyd Sr. and Enetha, were pastors for over 60 years. They were prayer warriors too.  Floyd says he would get up in the mornings, and hear his dad crying out to the Lord for people in the churches he pastored.

Floyd's paternal grandmother lived into her 90s.  She wrote poems and hymns up until she went to meet Jesus - and she knew how to pray too. She prayed for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren - she said her prayers would carry on into the future even if she wasn't there. She knew God would be faithful to answer them.

Our families weren't wealthy.  They didn't have riches to leave us when they passed away, but they gave us the most important thing we can give our family - a Godly heritage.  Floyd and I have been able to walk into our spiritual heritage, in no small part, because of the lives that have been lived and the prayers that have been prayed before us. We have chosen for "our house" to serve the Lord, but the pathway was paved ahead of us.  We've served Him all our lives, and He's been so faithful to us.

I had a fresh sense this week that what is happening in our lives on this journey is part of our serving Him.  God is using this season for His honor and glory in ways that we can't see, and don't completely understand - but It's not a wasted season.  In His own special, unique way He'll make this a fruitful season.  Because we have chosen to serve Him, He uses every season as part of that service.

I don't know if we'll truly understand this side of heaven what God is "up to" in this season, but I continue to feel that He is working in ways that we can't see or understand.  For certain all the prayers that are being prayed are having a spiritual impact! 

And I think that part of our heritage is being lived out in ways known only to Him.  I want "our house" to continue to serve Him all our days!

"Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."  Psalm 119:111

"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."  Psalm 16:5,6

"For you, God have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name."  Psalm 61:5

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Some days my body is weary, but my heart is "running" as hard as I can to persevere on this "race" He has allowed us to walk on.  I'm grateful for His sufficient grace that enables me to keep running.  How faithful He is!

A Teaching Series on Hope - Part Four

I shared yesterday that patience is a big part of hope.  I see patience as being in the "present" tense, for the moment.  When hope goes on for a long time, I believe enduring becomes part of hope.  It's a step further than patience.  It's for the long haul.  Hope seeks to endure when the answer takes a long time.  I'm in that enduring phase - as I'm sure many of you are too.

Job was a man who went through many trials.  He struggled to endure.  "My hope has been pulled down like a tree."  Job 19:10.  He felt like his hope was gone.

But hope doesn't give up or give in!  In this day of "instant" everything, we often know little about enduring.  I heard about a man who was having some photos printed, and he was complaining that "one hour photos" was too long.

An optimist (one who has hope) sees an opportunity in every calamity.  A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.  Sometimes we need to refocus our way of looking at things!

God goes to great lengths to teach us endurance because He knows how important it is for us.  He uses every season we're in - not only for the present situation, but to prepare for the next season.  He stretches us.  He grows us.  

I've shared before how I can see that God used each hard season in my life to teach me valuable lessons that prepared me for something that was coming a little further down the road.  I'm so grateful for that preparation.  It is proving invaluable on this current unexpected journey.

I had a conversation with Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, when he was near the end of his life.  I asked him what was one of the most valuable lessons he had learned through the years.  Without hesitating, he replied, "90% of success is simply enduring!"  He said that God will help us, but we have to choose to endure through the hard times.  We can't give up.

David understood this.  In the Psalms, in the midst of difficulties, he said again and again "hope in God for I shall again praise Him."  He endured through the hard times with his eyes on God.

We can endure and keep hope alive, or we can let it die.  We can give up.  Thankfulness and worship are big keys to enduring.  That's a whole other lesson I'm learning - but so important to remember.  As we worship God, the strength and grace flows to be able to make it through.  It's another one of those "tools" that God has given us.

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along.  If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter.  He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.  He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.  That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is working something good."  Romans 8:26-28  The Message

I've had lots of sighs, groans - lots of moments when I couldn't find the right words to pray what was in my heart.  I'm thankful God has still heard me as I've endured on this journey.

"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized."  Hebrews 6:11

God has answers for me, for Floyd, for you - but He may ask us to endure with hope.  I'll keep trusting Him as I endure.

I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what has been going on in my heart regarding hope, but I've saved the best for last!  Hope includes encouragement!  Definitely one of my favorites.  I love encouragement - both to give it and to receive it.

Hope is all wrapped up around encouragement!  God wants us to be people of hope so we can be ministers of hope.  As we encourage one another, it builds hope.

Jeremiah 31:17 tells us "there is hope for your future!"  We need to encourage one another with that wonderful promise of hope.

I've mentioned that I love to hear Floyd preach.  I think he's one of the best. :)  It always surprised me when I'd heard him preach an awesome message, and then when we'd get home, he'd shyly ask me - "Was it okay?  How'd I do?"  It's made me realize that we all need encouragement!  

The Father even affirmed and encouraged the Son when the Spirit descended as a dove from heaven and God said "this is my Son in whom I am well pleased."

As we journey through life, we need the encouragement of one another.  God's made us that way!  It's one of the ways He wants our lives to be interwoven.  We need to keep hope alive in our own hearts so that we can pour out that encouragement to those around us.

A person can endure and survive the most horrendous of situations when they have encouragement that kindles hope.  We live in a world filled with difficulty and despair - lots of hopelessness in people's lives.  God wants to use us to encourage through hope.  Hope helps us trust and believe that there will be change for the better.

If you're practical like me, you're already wondering how to do what I'm talking about.  It's simple.  We can share words or acts of encouragement.  We can believe in people and instill faith and confidence in them.  We can reach out to those around us in times of disappointment, failure, and grief.  We can pray to get an encouraging "word" from the Lord for those in need.  We can share testimonies of God's faithfulness and goodness - that always spreads hope!  The possibilities are endless.  God will give us lots of creative ways to encourage and build hope.

It surprised me, although it shouldn't have, that in some of the very hard days when Floyd was in ICU and we didn't know if he'd make it - God allowed me to encourage some of the other families that were there with their loved ones.  A simple word of God's love and encouragement ministered hope to others who were in distress.  One time, all I did was put my arm around a wife and cry with her.  I didn't know what to say, but I told her I was sorry and prayed for her.

Hope looks for the good in people, instead of pointing out the worst.

Hope opens doors when despair is trying to close them.

Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot.

Hope regards obstacles and problems as opportunities.

Hope pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit - it doesn't give up!

Hope "lights a candle" instead of "cursing the darkness."

I am so grateful that God has been stirring hope afresh in my heart.  I feel energized by all that He has been speaking into the depths of my soul.  I love Psalm 71:5 - "you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth."  He'll continue to be with me and be my hope in my "old days" too!

We can have hope in our hearts today that is:

·      rooted in Him and who He is

·      expecting Him to answer

·      growing as we spend time in prayer

·      keeping our spirits joyful

·      being patient while we wait on His answers

·      choosing to endure 

·      endeavoring to give and receive encouragement

I'm asking Him to help me keep hope alive for all the things He has in store for Floyd, for me, and for our family. 

A Teaching Series on Hope - Part Three

One of my favorite things in reflecting about hope is that joy is an important part of hope!  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy..." Romans 15:13.  There is joy in our hope because of who it's based on.  Our hope is not only an expectancy - it's a joyful expectancy!  Joy is a wonderful characteristic of hope.

Some people talk about their hope in the Lord like they're going to a funeral.  "My hope is in the Lord" or "I'm hoping for an answer from Him" - I've heard people say, but their face looks like they've just had the worst news in the world.  Their response would not inspire hope in my heart!

It's also not going to the other extreme and being flippant - with glib answers about people's problems.  "Just leave it to God" people may say without compassion or helpful understanding.  

And it's not having a false, "super" spirituality with all kinds of spiritual cliches.  I've been the recipient of quite a few responses on this journey.  The glum, glib, super spiritual ones that offer no true hope, and certainly none of His joy - are not helpful! 

Hope is sincere.  It is real.  It faces life's difficulties with true, Godly hope - a hope that is also filled with His joy.  "Be joyful in hope."  Romans 12:12

Hope, with joy, is grounded in knowing God and His character.  It's knowing that God is in control.  He's always faithful.  He doesn't go on strike.  He doesn't get tired.  He doesn't quit.  It's knowing we can always rejoice in who He is - through each and every situation. 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.  For He who has promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:23

We have to keep our focus on Him as we stir up hope in our hearts.  If we get our eyes on circumstances, on the situation, on the problem - we'll easily lose sight of who He is.  Very quickly, worry and anxiety will rob us of our joyful hope.  If we give in to anxiety, we'll be more concerned with what's wrong around us rather than focusing on what's right in Him - that God is at work in the problems.

When I'm stirring up hope in my heart - the hope that is rooted in Him, that is expectant, that is in an attitude of prayer - I can see Him smiling at me.  He is pleased, and His pleasure brings joy to my heart too.

Through all these long months - with all the ups and downs - with the feeling of walking on a tightrope - with tears and uncertainties......deep underneath it all has been hope in Him and hope from Him.  It's knowing that He is in control, that He has plans and purposes for all we're walking through.  And, yes, it's been a joyful hope.  "The joy of the Lord" has been my strength.  His hope, filled with His joy has been my firm foundation along this unexpected journey.

I'm so grateful that joy is part of hope!  He knows how much we need that when we're going through a hard time.

This hope is not one dimensional.  It has so many layers.  One of them is that hope includes patience.  Patience is a very important characteristic of hope.  This is one that we don't get too excited about!  There are often delays to the things we're hoping and praying for.

"Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"Hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he already sees.  But if we have hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."  Romans 8:24,25

Delays come.  Setbacks happen.  Prayers are unanswered.  We get impatient, discouraged, and we can give up.  We can lose heart as it talks about in 2 Corinthians 4.

Patience is the best remedy for lots of our troubles.  There's always room for hope coupled with patience in the midst of things that don't go according to plan.  There's always hope in the midst of disappointment and even despair.  No situation is too despairing, although we may need lots of patience.

I remember being a bit "concerned" when we ran out of money for the house we were leading with about 40 young people in Afghanistan.  I told Floyd at dinner that we had no money, and no food for breakfast.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  We'd had some guests for dinner.  As I was clearing the table that night, I found some money they had left under their plates.  We could buy food for breakfast!

Things like this have happened so many times in our lives.  One of the big lessons I've had to learn is that hope combined with patience means I need to wait to see God's provision without worrying.  SO much easier said than done - but such an important lesson to learn.

Hebrews 6:15 tells us that "after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."

Romans 4:18 says of Abraham "in hope he believed against hope" though his body was old.  Abraham was patient.  He waited for God's timing.

I have to tell you that my sense of timing is often very different from God's!  I wouldn't have waited over 20 years for my dad to give his heart to Jesus.  I wouldn't have waited for years to see the first prostitute come to the Lord in our ministry in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.  I wouldn't have waited over 6 years for our daughter to be healed.  But God's ways are not my ways!!  He has plans and purposes that I can't see.

Patient hope is accepting a difficult situation without giving God a deadline to remove it!  God's timing is perfect.  He knows what He's doing.  We can trust Him.

I've reminded myself of all these things as we've prayed for Floyd.  I know I would do things differently. :)  But I also know that I can trust His wisdom and timing.  Whether God is going to heal Floyd or take him to heaven, I am doing my best to hope with patience.  I trust Him and look forward to His answers.

A Teaching Series On Hope - Part Two

The second thing that's been stirring in my heart these days about hope is that it involves expectation.  Hope without expectation can be just a nice feeling.  I'm realizing yet again that I need to allow the Holy Spirit to let hopeful expectation grow and rise in my heart for all He wants to do on this unexpected journey we're on.

Hope in scripture usually means a strong and confident expectation.  It's often linked with trust.  It's active, not passive.  "We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust His holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."  Psalm 33:20-22

Waiting with hope for me is very active.  I'm not just sitting still.  I'm praying.  I'm seeking God.  I'm asking Him for revelation on what He's doing in this season.  I'm trusting Him to act.  I'm worshipping Him for His goodness and faithfulness.  I'm "going for it" in my heart.

Hope is used many times in speaking of the results in the lives of those who had hope.  Hope is not an escape, a wish or desire - it's meant to be strong and move us forward in expectation.  "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."  Micah 7:7

We "watch."  We "wait."  And the longer we wait, the more our hope must be filled with deep trust toward Him.  Expectant hope may not be immediately rewarded.  We always have to trust God's timetable, knowing He'll do what's best.

"Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."  But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.  I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side."  Psalm 3:2-6.  David waited, and had expectant hope.

Faith is a foundation for hope.  It's an active ingredient.  Faith believes that God can do something.  Hope is the active expectancy that He will.  They go hand-in-hand.

When I think of hope involving expectation, I have two very clear images that come into my mind.......very different ones:

1.  I see a little girl standing on tiptoe......trying to see, expecting something.  Hope is always on tiptoes!

2.  I also see a volcano.  It's rumbling deep in the earth.  Something is shaping, rising inside it.  Something is forming, planning, expecting to break through......until suddenly it bursts out of the mountain and flows everywhere.

Hope expects!  It doesn't disappoint when it's rooted in God, as I wrote of yesterday.  It keeps us going in difficult times.  It makes a hard day bearable because of the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Our expectant hope can be weakened in the world we live in.  People tell us:  "I hope so" in a very weak way - or "don't get your hopes up."  I want to get my hopes up!  I want to believe and trust God.......and expect Him to move.

I love Psalm 71:14.  It tells us how to respond to these kinds of responses from people.  "I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more."

There are many examples of true, expectant hope in the Bible.  Three of my favorites are:

-  The three men who were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to bow to the king's image......they were hoping to be delivered, but said if they weren't, they'd still serve God.

-  Daniel in the lion's den.......expectantly hoping for safety, and staying true to God.  He had no fear of the lions.

-  The children of Israel as they were waiting to be delivered from Egypt.  They faced an impossible situation, the odds were against them.......and I'm sure someone said "don't get your hopes up!"  But they had high expectations.  God moved in spectacular ways on their behalf.

As a leader, I know it's very important for me to have a heart of expectant hope.  If hope leaves my heart as a leader, it won't be long before those under my leadership will follow the same path of hopelessness.  I'm responsible to God for my heart, and for how it impacts those in my spiritual care.

I know that we can lose hope.  I've lost it at times!  It can be easy to do when we face huge things we're asking God to do, and they don't happen right away.  But hopelessness isn't a terminal disease.  God can put hopeful expectation into my heart afresh if I humbly go to Him.

I don't know exactly what God has planned for Floyd's future.  As I've said before - it may be healing or it may be heaven.  But not knowing what He has planned doesn't mean I can't ask, or that I can't have expectant hope for God to move and answer prayer.  I have felt Him encouraging me to let hope rise afresh in my heart.....with lots of expectation.......because I trust Him.

Confident, expectant hope is wonderful.  But it will go nowhere without prayer.  It's like a beautiful new car without an engine.  Prayer is the powerful engine that is needed for that new car!  This is the third thing stirring in my heart about hope - how closely it's linked with prayer.

Hope is so closely interwoven with prayer that it's hard to separate the two.  Hope spurs prayer on......and prayer helps keep hope alive.  It's in the place of prayer that our sometimes weary hope can be rekindled.  If the flame of hope in my heart gets weak, then I know I need to spend time on my knees with Him.  I need to let Him stoke the dying embers of hope back into life!!

If hope is dying in my heart, I also find it good to look at why hope is being drained:  

-   It can be my own thoughts - focusing on the problem, the difficulty, the impossibility rather than focusing on who God is.  

-   It can be negative, discouraging comments from others.  

-  It can be focusing on the "what ifs" of the situation prematurely.  I find it so important to stay in the present and deal with what God is saying and doing right now.  He'll help me deal with the future when it's time. 

If my hope is being drained, I need to try and stop the leak!  We can't allow hope to die.  Prayer is the key to keep it alive.

I've heard people speak of prayer as if it's a drudgery - something that requires a great effort on our part and will leave us tired and weary.  I've often found that it's in the place of prayer that I get re-energized.  I come to prayer weary, and finish by feeling refreshed by His Spirit.

It's also in the place of prayer that we can ask God to remove unbelief from our hearts.  Unbelief will kill hope!  Unbelief drains us and keeps us from moving into all that God has for us.  Unbelief can be turned around by proclaiming who God is, and focusing on worshipping Him.  We need to ask God to remove any unbelief from our hearts before it destroys our hope.

Hope intercedes and reminds us of God's mercy.  In the place of prayer, it's hope that helps us believe for the impossible.  It's hope that says "we don't deserve this, but because of God's mercy we ask and believe.”

"But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you."  Psalm 39:7

"Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for."  Job 6:8

I don't understand all that God is doing on our unexpected journey, but one thing I'm sure of - He has used it to call us to prayer!  God is using our prayers in ways that only He can.  Our hope combined with our prayers is powerful.  God is doing something through it.

Hope linked with prayer is a wonderful "tool" the Lord has put in our spiritual armor.  I'm grateful for it on this journey.

A Teaching Series On Hope - Part One

It’s now been 11 months on this unexpected journey of Floyd’s illness.  When it began, I didn't expect it to last 11 days.  Then certainly not 11 weeks.  And now we're at 11 months. 

People ask me all the time where I get the "material" for the prayer updates.  Well - I get it from my life.  From my quiet times, from the Word, from things I'm reading, and from impressions to my heart.  It's all things I'm processing as I'm walking on this unexpected journey.

Many times the Lord is speaking to me about areas He's touched on in my life before.  I often go back to my notes from previous times of learning.  He seems to continually use things from previous learning seasons......and take them to a deeper level in my heart.  That's happening right now.  He's been speaking to me about hope.  The Lord is stirring my heart to keep hope alive as we continue on.

I've found a number of definitions about hope.  Here are some of my personal favorites:

·      to be confident/to trust

·      to look forward to with confidence of fulfillment

·      to expect with desire

We all have hopes.  Some are realistic.  Some are unrealistic - more dreams, wishes rather than true hope.

And we all have disappointments in some of those hopes.  Solomon, the wise king, wrote about the impact in our lives of losing hope.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."  Proverbs 13:12

One of my favorite aspects of God's character is His faithfulness - especially that He is a faithful teacher on any area that I'm needing to learn about.  One of my favorite areas that He's taught me in is HOPE.

I've been in quite a few situations in my life where I've had to learn to persevere.  Situations where I've needed to keep going when it would have been so much easier to quit.  Scientists say persevering is a natural instinct, but I don't think that is always the case.

A key part of persevering is hope......and learning to keep it alive when things are hard.  Hope helps us persevere in difficult times.  There have been a number of very, very difficult times in my life where hope has been a key for me.

Just one that comes to my mind is when our daughter, Misha, was very sick for over 6 years.  The doctors told us at times that she might not live, but if she did, she could be severely disabled.  They told her she'd probably never marry, and she'd never have children.  The forecast the doctors gave her was very bleak.

God put hope in my heart for my daughter's future.  I felt I was to start a "hope chest" for her children, my grandchildren.  I put in some toys, some Classic Winnie the Pooh items, some clothes - especially one cute sunflower dress because Misha loved sunflowers.

Years later, I'll never forget opening a letter from Misha months after my granddaughter Kezia was born, and seeing a photo of Kezia wearing that sunflower dress!  Tears ran down my face.  We serve a God of hope!!!  Doctors are wonderful, but they aren't God.  The doctors were wrong.

We hear a lot about faith - it even sounds strong, firm, secure.  Hope sounds different somehow - softer, kind of weak.  But hope is equally as strong as faith!!  The Word has a lot to say about hope.  We'll look at a number of scriptures this week.

"Hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."  Romans 5:5

Hope is instilled in our hearts by God through the Holy Spirit.  He wants to teach us how to keep it, maintain it, and not lose it.  There are 7 simple things about hope that I've found important to me for maintaining it and keeping it alive.

God spoke each of these things to me at different seasons in my life when I was facing something that looked impossible.  I've seen God do a number of impossible things - some small, some large.  In recent weeks I have felt stirred in my heart to pour back over my notes.  I felt God saying He has a lot more to teach me.  He wants to take the earlier lessons much deeper into my heart as I'm on this journey.  

I've been praying, pondering, searching the Word, and hungering to see what God has to say.  May I invite you on this journey with me in the next few days?  I dare say each one reading this has something that you are hoping for, trusting God for.  I'm stirred to believe that God is going to do something for each of us.

Because of who He is, we can have hope......even hope for the impossible. 

The first thing I've learned about hope is that it comes from God.  I can't have true hope apart from Him.  He is the root of hope.  Hope can't grow in our hearts unless it is coming from who He is.  

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

That's one of the reasons we can trust Him.  The hope for that trust is grounded in Him.  Thank goodness it's not grounded in us.  We're too fickle.  Without God's help, we can be blown about by every wind of adversity that comes along.  But our hope is rooted and grounded in knowing God and knowing His character.  He is a God of eternal encouragement - not just for a season, but always.

He's gone before us to prepare the way!

He's never left us, never forsaken us, never changed!

He's with us - every second, every minute, every hour, every day!

He's won over loneliness and despair, over every difficulty!  

He's conquered death and the grave.  He is victorious!

He's longing to fill our hearts with His joy and peace!

Because of all these things, and so much more, we can have hope.  In a world that is so often full of doom and gloom, full of despair - He is our sure rock, our anchor in life's storms.

"So we who have found safety with Him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.  We have this hope as an anchor for our lives.  It is safe and secure."  Hebrews 6:18,19

Eleven months ago my life took a very unexpected turn.  And in the months afterwards, my life has had so many twists and turns that I almost feel dizzy.  I keep saying that "I trust Him."  And I do!  But the only reason I can trust Him is because of the hope He has placed in my heart that is rooted in who He is.

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him."  Psalm 62:5

In hard times, like these last 11 months in my life, there is no middle ground.  My only hope is to press into Him - knowing it's a safe place to be.  My trust is based on a God who sees and knows everything.  A God who can do anything.  A God who holds our lives in His hands, and has a "future and a hope" for us.

I trust Him because of the hope He's put in my heart that comes from Him.  I've simply opened the door wide to invite Him in.

His Unending Supply

These past few weeks Floyd has had more days of being quiet and relaxed.  He has had times of really responding to the things I am saying and telling him about.  On some visits though, he has been very solemn and distracted.  I sensed that his distraction was sadness.  I am praying for encouragement for him and comfort for his heart.  Reminding him how much Jesus loves him, how faithful Jesus is, and how worthy He is of what we are walking through.

I am praying for grace for him to endure the suffering he's in and fresh courage for him.

Suffering, our Gethsemanes, are hard places.  They are times of anguish in our souls, but good awaits on the other side.  And Christ Himself will be guiding us and telling us the way to walk.  I'm praying for this for Floyd.

"On that day it will be said, 'Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.  This is the Lord; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.' "  Isaiah 25:9

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He.  I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4

We wait for Him to save us with His plans for us!  I love him, trust Him, and know He is faithful.

I've been listening to one of Floyd's sermons - "Trusting God for the Impossible."  It's lovely to hear his voice, and I'm being challenged by his message.

In the message, he talks about "God Room."  God Room is when we get to the end of ourselves - to the end of all our talents and abilities......and it's not enough to accomplish what God has put before us.  At the end of ourselves, we step into God Room - where we are totally reliant on Him. If we're to accomplish the "impossible" that is in front of us, we need God to come through.

Floyd says if our faith doesn't grow, it dies.  Yesterday's faith is not enough for today.  We can't live on yesterday's challenges, and yesterday's successes.  We have to live by the word of the Lord, and by the new challenges He puts before us.

I'm certainly living in "God Room."  I can't survive on this journey without Him.  And I definitely can't see Floyd improve without God's miraculous intervention.  It's a bit of a scary place to be, but it's also "safe" because I'm not alone.  Jesus never leaves my side.

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' "  Matthew 19:26

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?"  Jeremiah 32:27

Across the street from us, our neighbor has a gorgeous tree that has been a brilliant orange/red for weeks.  All of Dec. it was so vivid.  As I would look out at it each day, it almost took my breath away because of the bright colors.  It's slowly fading, but still very lovely.  I'm kinda sad to see the vivid brightness go.

It triggered my thinking about how grateful I am that God's "supply" to meet my needs is never depleted.  It never fades.  It never stops or finishes.  It's unending.

The strength I need.  The grace I need.  The wisdom - the comfort - the provision - the friendship - the health - the guidance........the list is endless, and so is His supply!!

"My grace is sufficient for you....."  2 Corinthians 12:9

"My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19

"God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:8

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened."  Matthew 7:7

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask."  Matthew 6:8

The Word is so clear about His provision being abundant and sufficient to meet our every need.  The hand of God's provision is always open to us. His resources are ready to meet our needs.  We don't have to be anxious about the supply ever running out.  (Philippians 4:6)

He may get tired of hearing from me, but I ask Him continually to help me and meet my needs.  He's always met me out of his sufficient, abundant supply.  I couldn't make it without His help.  He's so faithful!!

His Umbrella Of Faithfulness

Floyd had a bout of really bad wheezing and coughing again this week.  It’s so awful for him when that happens.  We continue to pray for this to be permanently cleared up.

The weather has been warm and lovely so the nurses took him outside to enjoy the fresh air.  He turned his head from side to side looking at everything.  It must have been so nice for him to be "out."

I was talking to the Lord about the roller coaster nature of Floyd's condition.  It's hard on my emotions when one day is good, the next day is bad - repeat over and over, month after month.  I was thanking the Lord that He is my stability in the midst of this.  He is my peace in the midst of the storm that comes and goes. 

I remembered a definition of peace that I heard Floyd give in one of his sermons.  Peace does not mean the absence of trouble, but the presence of what is good - God is good!  We can rest in His goodness even in the midst of trouble, of storms.

Various forms of peace are mentioned 429 times in the Bible, so the Lord certainly understood that "peace" would be an issue, a need in our lives.  Our actions, our attitudes may influence peace, but true peace comes only from God.

"Great peace have those who love your law."  Psalm 119:165

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You."  Isaiah 26:3

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  John 14:27

This has been a tumultuous year for me, and for our family.  But, in the midst of it, God has been my stabilizer.  He has been my Rock, my safe place, my strong tower, my strength, my security, my help, my guide, my comfort, and, yes, most certainly - my peace!  He has brought calm to the troubled waters of my heart.

If I had to choose just one word to describe 2016, it would be "faithfulness" - God's faithfulness.  It was, without a doubt, the hardest year of my life!  And I have a few other years that are in close running!!  But through all the hard things, there has been a common thread......and that is God's faithfulness.

I could never have made it through this year without His goodness, His grace, His strength, His faithfulness.  When I look back over all these months - that's the main thing I see......how good and how faithful He's been.  Yes, there's been sadness, tears (lots of them!), pain, stress, grief - but like a big umbrella over everything is God's faithfulness in the midst of all that.

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations."  Deuteronomy 7:9

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22,23

"The Rock!  His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He." Deuteronomy 32:4

Someone recently sent me a phrase - "be still and know that I am God."  I have been meditating on it as we have entered the new year.  Facing a new year and not knowing what's ahead - especially after such a tumultuous year last year - has felt a little daunting.  I don't know what to prepare myself for, and I think I'm feeling weary.

I've felt His sweet spirit saying to me:

• I need to rest in Him and as I do, He’ll give me new strength.

• I need to remember that He is God and that gives me the perspective I need on how to look at everything and how to pray.

• I need to trust that He will fulfill His plans, His purposes. As I trust Him, He'll give me the grace and peace I need to keep going.

It's as simple, and as complicated, as that! 

I've said a number of times through last year that I think God is up to something more/bigger than just what's happening with Floyd through all the prayers that are being lifted up.  I still feel that very strongly.  I believe the wave of prayer that has been released is touching the heart of God, and He is at work.  There may be "breakthroughs" happening that we can't see or that we don't know about.  One of our family members was reminding me that my/our perspective is limited.  We can't see all that God is doing, but He is hearing each and every prayer we are lifting up to Him.  He is at work whether we see and understand it or not.

I need to be still......and know that He is God!

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.  Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."  Psalm 62:1,2

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalm 46:10

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."  Psalm 37:7

"Put your hope in the Lord."  Psalm 131:3

I will rest, remember, and trust!

Jesus Is The Light In Our Darkness

Floyd has been quiet, peaceful, but attentive this week.  He has communicated with his hand about a few things on four occasions.  I am encouraged by that.

I spent Christmas morning with Floyd.  He was asleep when I got there, but I woke him up by playing Christmas carols.  I read the Christmas story to him, and I shared some special family moments from various Christmases through the years.  He responded with sweet emotion to a number of the memories.  It was a sweet morning.

Over this Christmas time I've been reflecting on Isaiah 9:8,  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given".  

As I've thought of all we've gone through this year, I couldn't help but think of how suffering, pain, and the trials of life bring a certain amount of "darkness" with them.  The heaviness from that darkness can feel overwhelming.  But that's why Jesus came - to bring "light" into any darkness in our lives.  He, the "babe born in the manger" brought true light!  Whatever darkness we face, God in the flesh knows just what that feels like, and He came to bring us light. That is staggeringly beautiful!

Christmas, His coming, is all about light!  Wherever we look in the Word, we find that Christmas is about light, because Jesus is the Light of the world! 

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:4, 5

"Jesus addressed them: 'I am the world's Light.  No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness.  I provide plenty of light to live in.' " John 8:12

Our suffering, our trials - no matter how dark our situation is, Jesus is the light that comes to help us!  What sweet joy that brings to my heart. Fresh hope rises in me.  His light lifts the darkness from any suffering. His coming brings victory to us.  Thank you Father for sending Jesus, the Light of the world!

Hope and faith go hand in hand.  As we hope for something, and we keep our eyes on Him - it's so important for faith to rise in our hearts. True faith is not just believing that God can, but it's trusting that He will.

When we look at something that is impossible that we're praying for, the enemy loves to impress upon us how impossible it is!  He loves to get us to focus on that one aspect.  God wants us to keep our focus on Him.

Faith is living in the middle of a miracle - right on the edge, facing disaster, and waiting for God to come through.  We look to Him in the middle of whatever the hard thing is.  Faith only becomes faith when it's tested!  And faith never demands it's own timing.  Faith hopes, prays, trusts, and leaves the details to God.

A friend of mine read a devotional about faith by Andrew Murray.  He summarized the points for me and I've been meditating on them:

1.  Faith claims every promise that God has made.

2.  Faith counts upon God to do all He has promised.

3.  Faith trusts in the power of God to fulfill His promises.

4.  Faith yields itself to obey God's commands because of the link between God's commands and His promises.

5.  Faith waits on God for the fulfillment of His promises.

6.  Faith rests in the hope of what God will do.

7.  Faith abides in the presence of God while waiting and resting.

I love all those points, and found it helpful to talk and pray them through with the Lord!

Through the years, I've trusted God for a number of "impossible" things. We don't need faith unless we're praying for something that is outside the realm of what we can accomplish.  I've seen God do so many things that were impossible.  I know He can do them.  "When God is going to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty.  If it is going to be something very wonderful, He begins with an impossibility." 

I'm still praying for a breakthrough for Floyd.  While I believe for the impossible, I also tell the Lord I trust Him.  I know I can't demand the outcome - I can only ask.  My trust in Him won't be shaken if He has another plan!  Faith puts God between us and (impossible) circumstances. That's where I am - looking to God as I pray for the miracle.

"So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."  1 Corinthians 2:5

"Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' "  John 11:40

"The testing of your faith produces perseverance."  James 1:3

I believe!  I look to Him.  I trust Him.

As the new year is approaching, I can't help but look back to this time last year.  Wow - so much has changed.  It seems like pretty much everything in my life has been turned upside down this past year.  The one "constant" is the Lord.  I'm so grateful for His grace, strength, and help.

I realize more and more that in hard times, in trials, in seasons of suffering - there is no middle ground!  We have to press into Him.  If we don't we'll either collapse under the pressure of it all, or we'll harden our hearts towards Him because of the hard time.

"We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Romans 5:3,4

These are the "building blocks" of our spiritual walk.  I might stack them differently :) but I certainly need them all!  And it seems like a key ingredient is pressing "in," persevering, in whatever comes our way.

The purpose of our suffering is to produce hope - not to diminish it or destroy it!  I've found that really important to remember as I wait.  I don't want my hope to weaken as time goes on.  In fact the "hope" for answers, for change is part of what keeps me going.

Our own thoughts, the comments of others, all the uncertainties and "what ifs" can so easily drain hope.  It's crucial to keep my eyes, my hope on Him, and Him alone.

"For you are my hope, O Lord God."  Psalm 71:5

I read this quote - "the ladder of hope has nothing to stand on here below; it is held up from above."  God is holding it secure!  Without God, there is no hope.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."  Romans 15:13

"Hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through His Holy Spirit which has been given to us."  Romans 5:5

I don't know what the year ahead holds in store.  I would never have dreamed of what this last year has had for us.  I hold onto Him, the "constant" that is solid and secure.

One of the times I was doing my daily walking and praying this week, I was thanking the Lord for His goodness, His help, His strength, His grace - my heart was filled with gratitude and praise.

Then all of the sudden, my mind started thinking about all the "what ifs" of my future.  And, as if someone pulled a switch, I could feel anxiety growing in my heart.

Thankfully I realized what was happening and caught myself!  How easy it was to let fear, worry, and anxiety come into my heart.  All I had to do was allow my mind to wonder about things to come.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you."  Isaiah 26:3

I have to keep my mind on Him.  God guarantees grace for everything but worry!  When I worry, I take myself out of His hands.  If I am careful to keep my thoughts on God, on His goodness, on His steadfastness - I won't have time to worry or be anxious.

"Be anxious for nothing, but.......let your requests be made known to God."  Philippians 4:6

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"  Luke 12:25

"The beginning of anxiety and worry is the end of faith - and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."  I don't know who said that - I had the quote in my notes, but it's sure true.  When we put our worries and cares in God's hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.  It's a peace that can only come from Him.

"Do not worry about tomorrow - each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:34

One of the best things about the future is that it only comes one day at a time!  We don't have to be afraid of tomorrow, because God is already there. And God doesn't ask us to carry tomorrow's burdens with today's grace. He gives us fresh, abundant grace each day.

I'm so grateful for that daily grace.  I would have never survived this year without it.  His grace is truly "sufficient!"  2 Corinthians 12:9  

If God has taken care of us today, He'll certainly take care of us tomorrow.  How faithful He is!

I heard someone say - "Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway!"  Some nights when I'm having a hard time getting to sleep, and I can hear thoughts echoing through my mind - I, one by one, give those thoughts to Him.  I'm grateful He's going to be awake.

Every hour, every minute, of every day - His grace is there.  We can give all our cares to Him.  Thank you Lord!

His Well Of Grace

Floyd has had a mostly peaceful week and it has been wonderful to hear from the carers that he has been doing lots of smiling!

I got lots of smiles too - especially when I massaged his face because his skin was dry.....and when I reminded him that we are best friends.

One day this week as I was doing my walking/praying, I was sharing with the Lord how tired I am.  I immediately felt He took me to Isaiah 12:3  "With joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation."

And I love how The Message puts it:  "Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation.  And as you do it, you'll say, 'Give thanks to God.  Call out His name.  Ask Him anything!"

I am so very grateful for His faithfulness, and grateful that I can drink cool water from His wells.  He gives water of refreshment, joy, strength, grace - all I need.   And His wells never run dry!  How good He is.

I'm thankful that no matter how many times I call out to Him in my need, He always answers.  He always meets me.  He always understands.  He helps me go deeper and deeper into His abundant provision.  His wells of grace run deep and plentiful!

I am grateful to have had some quiet days this week.  I really, really needed that after a number of very busy weeks.  I've had the phrase from Isaiah 30:15 going through my mind - "in quietness and trust is your strength."

I've enjoyed talking quietly with the Lord.....sitting quietly and singing some worship songs.....resting quietly on our deck and looking at my favorite ocean view.....letting my heart and mind stop being busy doing things for Floyd's care and just allowing my spirit to be quiet.  In the quietness, my trust in Him is releasing Him to renew my strength.

How grateful I am for His grace and strength that has sustained me all these months.

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' "  Psalm 46:10

"Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."  Psalm 37:7

I'm grateful for the quietness of the day, of His presence......and I trust Him for what He has in mind for our lives

I’ve been thinking about times when I've said to the Lord - "not my will, but thine be done."  I guess each of us comes to our own Gethsemane when we say those words that Jesus prayed.  God takes them seriously.  He orchestrates our lives in such a way that He brings us to a point where He allows His will to unfold in ways we never dreamed of.

I'd put this year of our lives in that category.  It's not been easy!  (I guess that's quite an understatement!!)  I thought I'd been through hard times before, but this year tops them all.  It's been tough, tough, tough.

And yet.......as I think back over the months, the tough times have brought me so much closer to Him.  I've discovered rich depths of fellowship that I've never experienced before.  I've seen His faithfulness in greater power than I've ever known.  He has met me time and time again when I've yelled "help!"

There have been times, I certainly have to admit, when I wanted to run the other way.  I've heard Floyd say - "the trouble with "living sacrifices" is that we get up and crawl off the altar when the going gets rough, when the pressure builds, and when we don't like the cost!"  So true.  But I had no where to run except to Him......and He met me time and time again.

I'm not quite to the point where I'd say that I'd willingly choose to go through what we've been walking through, but I can say that I'm grateful God has allowed me, trusted me to go on this journey.  I am so humbled by His goodness and faithfulness.

"And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will but as You will.' "  Matthew 26:39

"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God."  Psalm 143:10

" '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

His plans are always for our best.  And, thankfully, He walks right beside us on whatever pathway He leads us on.  How grateful I am for that!

The world would look at this season we're walking through as a "wasted" time for Floyd.  He's missed lots of speaking opportunities - some big missions conferences which he would have loved.  There are books in his heart that aren't being written.  There is leadership mentoring and discipling that can't happen.  These things, and more, are certainly true, but it's not the way God looks at things. His perspective is so contrary to that of the world.

I wonder if we'll look back some day and see this season as one of the most fruitful of our lives.  Certainly the impact of all the prayer during this journey has far reaching influence.  I'm continually amazed at the sheer numbers of people praying - and God hears each and every one of those prayers!  The new depth of fellowship with the Lord that I've been sharing about is certainly priceless.  And I'm not the only one!  Others are telling me how they are learning and growing as they walk this journey with us. I am trusting for spiritual "gold" to come from this journey that will bless generations to come.

God always has a purpose and a plan for what we go through.  When our prayers or our faith doesn't see the answers we're expecting - we can pray with Job "teach me what I cannot see."  Job 34:32

God will bring about things from this journey of difficulty that we might never have seen otherwise.  Only He can bring good, bring beauty, bring hope and growth from the pain and suffering.  

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

Not all things are good.  There's lots of bad in the world.  But God will continually work in things, in situations for good for His children.

I don't understand this journey.  I can't see God's perspective.  But I know God, and I'm trusting Him to bring much good from this season.  And in the meantime, I know He'll be faithful to give His enabling grace to walk it through.  

I love the Christmas season, but it's very different for me this year.  It seems so very strange for me without Floyd by my side.  But with Christmas only a few days away, I've been thinking of how grateful I am that Jesus came!  I wrote a poem years ago that I thought I'd share with you.  It expresses some of the things on my heart.

SILENCE?  It's unknown here

    where the city's heart beats.

QUIETNESS?  Not here in the 

     midst of the masses.

PEACE?  A thing of the past they say now

     that terrorists pose a constant threat.

REST?  None for the weary.  Everyone scurries

     like the city's mice trying to earn their

     daily bread while they can.

But......YES!  There's a breath of soothing

     silence.  There's quietness in the midst of

     the storm.  There's peace in the face of 

     despair.  There's rest from the heavy burden.

In HIM.  The one alone who can hear the

     faintest whisper.  The one who quietens

     the storm.  The one who brings hope 

     because He is hope.  The one whose

     shoulders can carry any burden.

All this, in Him!

The baby who came to die so

     we can live!

How grateful I am that Jesus gave up heaven to come to earth - to live and to die for us.  We face many seasons in our lives.  We experience many unknowns.  But the baby who was God among us will help us make it through each thing we face.

Thinking of what He did for us - how He came......it renews hope in my heart and makes my trust in Him for our future more firm.  Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice in coming.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manager.'  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those to whom His favor rests.'"   Luke 2:10-14

My heart joins that heavenly host in saying "glory to God."  I'm so thankful that Jesus came, and I'm thankful for the peace He gives.

Waves Of His Goodness

I had a special, tender visit with Floyd at the beginning of this week.  He was a bit pale, but alert and focused.  He looked straight into my eyes for my whole visit.

Several times he teared up, crying tears - plural.  It seemed like he was trying to talk a few times.  I told him I was sorry he couldn't speak, but that I understood his heart.  It was very moving.

On other days this week Floyd has been a bit feisty sometimes.  I wish I understood what things upset him, so that we could make adjustments - but it's not usually clear. 

A friend called me this week with a reassuring "picture" of God’s sufficient grace.  As waves come in from the ocean onto the sand, they sometimes bring sea life with them.  Then when the next wave comes, it often takes the sea life back out into the ocean.  

God's grace is similar.  It lifts us from where we are, and puts us where we need to be!  His grace doesn't leave us "stranded" in a place where we don't belong.

I've been thanking Him for His grace and His covering!

"My grace is enough; it's all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:9 (The Message)

"So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield."  Psalm 91:4

I'm so grateful for His help.

I've had a very full and quite exhausting week.  Managing Floyd's care is a full time job, and I've had quite a number of other things that needed my attention too.  I find all the emotions of Floyd's situation to be very draining as well.

A few of my days were overwhelming in their busyness and activity.  Feeling frazzled a couple times, I felt the Lord's gentle reminder to let Him be part of all the "little" things of my days so that He can help me.  Nothing is too little for Him.  He's a God of detail.  He's even more detailed than me - and that's saying a lot. :)

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered."  Luke 12:7 - Now that's a God of detail!

I've realized that when I include Him in the details, it lifts the tediousness and heaviness of them.  His presence and grace lighten the load.  The more I acknowledge Him in the small details, asking for His help and wisdom, the more He can help carry the burdens.  It makes perfect sense, of course, but sometimes I get busy and forget to include Him.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."  Matthew 6:26  

If God meets the needs of the birds of the air, how much more is He wanting to care for us and help us with the details and needs of our lives?!

And compared to His awesomeness, actually everything in our lives is "little."  And He cares about it all!

As my days have continued to be busy and intense,  I've been meditating on this verse - "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."  Psalm 94:19

How grateful I am for His "consolations."  They come in many ways:

- His sweet, small voice speaking strength into my heart

- an encouraging word from a friend

- drinking in of the beauty of His creation

- receiving strength from the truth of His word

- being blessed by a lovely worship song

- receiving refreshment from a good night's sleep

- meditating on His love and care

- knowing the support of those praying for us

I'm so grateful that He knows what consolation I need, and He sends it my way.  How personal, and how faithful He is.  I truly could not have survived what has come our way this year without His help, His consolations.

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:8

"You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."  Psalm 119:114

Living "near the water" is a constant source of peace, comfort, rest, and joy to me.  Several years before we even thought of moving to South Africa, the Lord put a desire in my heart to be "near the water."  At the time we lived in the middle of the continental US - about as far from the water (ocean) as you could be.  Every time that desire came up in my heart, I just gave it back to the Lord - not understanding it and thinking it must just be some crazy desire in my heart.  I grew up on an island, so I thought maybe I longed for the 'good ole days' of my youth.

Until - we began to explore moving to South Africa and made a trip here!  From the minute I stepped off the airplane in Cape Town, I knew we were going to move here, and that God had been preparing my heart for change.  He had been preparing me to move here and live "near the water."  I think I needed that confirmation.  I loved where we lived, and had no desire to move.  I was tired of moving. :)  I've done that waaay too many times through all our years together.

These days, even more than the past 10 years of living here, I am loving being "near the water."  It daily, many times a day, ministers to my soul.  God speaks to me through it continually.  On my hardest days I look out at the water in the distance, and feel God's peace washing over me.  I love how He uses what He's created to speak to us and minister to us.

One of my favorite ocean scenes is watching the fishing boats go out every afternoon, and return every morning.  They are beautiful as the line of boats sail out - almost like a parade.  Small, medium, and large fishing boats heading out to work.  They always make me think of Jesus calling some of His disciples from their fishing boats to come and "follow" Him.  They had been following fish for years, and now they were going to follow the 'fisher of men.'  Quite a career change.

The colors of the ocean (constantly changing), the clouds, the waves, the dolphins, the whales (when they're in season), the surfers and kite surfers, the sailboats, the huge ships, the mountains, the green trees framing the ocean view - all of it speaks to me and ministers to my heart.  Only God could know and understand how much it would help me through this difficult journey.  He alone knew what I would need, and prepared the way so many years ago.  Someone told me recently that they were praying for an oasis for me.  I think that's what God has given me!

I am absolutely in awe of His planning and direction - His personal care for my needs - His love for me - His faithfulness.  What an awesome wonderful God we serve.  He knew the "details" that I would need, and He put it all into place.

I can't help but wonder if there are other little thoughts and feelings He has sometimes put in my heart and mind, and I easily dismiss them because I don't understand.  This incredible process of God leading me to be "near the water" has given me a fresh sensitivity to the little things He puts on my heart, the little thoughts.  Maybe He's trying to speak something big that I just don't understand.  I want to listen more carefully!!  And how very, very grateful I am that He speaks to us!  

The other thought that's been going through my mind about all this is that the thoughts/impressions we have from the Lord can often seem so "random."  They don't seem to make sense at the time.  They feel like little pieces that don't fit.  Only God can see the big picture and know how the pieces all fit together.  It may even take a while, but He has a plan - He is fitting them together.  I'm trusting Him to fit the pieces of this journey all together.  I can't see how they all fit, but I know He has a plan - and I know I can trust Him.

He speaks to us.  He prepares us for what He has for us.  And He fits all the pieces together into His plan for our lives.  How faithful He is!

Wrapped In His Loving Care

Floyd has had a good week.  He's been calm and peaceful.  In some of my times with him this week his responses to everything I shared indicated he understood what I was saying - smiles, teary, facial expressions, etc.  

I'm encouraged that Floyd has been more peaceful all this week.  I think it's an answer to prayer. 

A dear intercessor friend who prays daily for Floyd has been visualizing in her mind a receiving blanket, the kind we put newborns in to keep them wrapped tight and held secure.  She said she sees Floyd being held by the Lord Jesus like that. 

I found that image so encouraging.  I remember wrapping my newborn daughter in Afghanistan (where we lived at the time) in a receiving blanket so she'd feel secure.  And later when our son was born in Amsterdam where we lived on "The Ark" houseboats ministering to young people - I did the same with him.  Carefully wrapping him in baby blankets so he'd feel warm and secure.

The whole image of doing that with my children has such sweet memories.  To think of God wrapping, holding Floyd in His care in much the same way is very comforting to my heart.  I know Floyd is loved and cared for by the Lord in such a special way in this time of suffering.

"In the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as a man carries his son....."  Deuteronomy 1:31

"Listen to me - you have been borne by Me from birth and have been carried from the womb; even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you!.....I will bear you and I will deliver you."  Isaiah 46:3, 4

After sharing in my updates about this image of Floyd being wrapped snugly and carried by the Father.......a number of people told me it reminded them of Lazarus being wrapped in his grave clothes.  Jesus called him forth and told them to "unbind him."  I'm grateful God is holding Floyd snugly now, but I will continue to pray for God to "unbind" him and set him free from the physical bondage he is in now.

Some pointed out that Jesus was swaddled at birth - wrapped in linen after his death - and left His bindings behind when He was risen from the dead.  I love all the imagery of His life example.

I was thinking about all this and talking to the Lord about it.  It would be so easy for me to be "bound" by all I've walked through this year.  But thanks to the beautiful, wonderful, powerful name of Jesus - I have been able to be "free" in my spirit and in my heart.  He has been so good and so faithful to me.  There have been hard moments, LOTS of them - but He has come with His help and peace every time that I've needed Him.

"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name."  Philippians 2:9

"No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power."  Jeremiah 10:6

What a beautiful name!!  We celebrate it, and celebrate His coming in this season.  And we pray that name over Floyd.

Every time I'm with Floyd and see his suffering, I feel so helpless.  My personality of organizing and accomplishing things wants to actively help. And I can't.  All I can do is love him, pray for him - ask others to pray as well, manage his care, and wait for what God has.

I know Floyd would not like or want the condition he's in.  But he'd also say that he trusts God, and wants what God has in mind.  I guess we're both helpless to do anything to change his condition.  

We have actively committed our lives to Him together for 49 years - and, individually, for many years before that.  We've told God over and over that we put our lives in His hands.  This is living that out with no control over what happens.

But while I feel helpless, I don't feel hopeless.  My heart is full with trust and hope in God.  I hope for the breakthrough still, but I trust whatever God has in mind.  Some have said the "breakthrough" could be to heaven.  Yes, that may be the case......but I still "ponder."

"God, the one and only - I'll wait as long as He says.  Everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not?  He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I'm set for life." Psalm 62:5,6 (The Message)

My heart thanks Him!

I’ve been reading a book on waiting by Ben Patterson.  My heart was gripped from the very first page with a quote by a man named Richard Hendrix:  "Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in Godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality that most of us ever encounter."

I have certainly been in the "waiting" room - no wonder I'm learning so much!  God is allowing me to be stretched and matured.  I hope I can learn faithfully and quickly so we can move on.  I'm quite sure, though, that this is one of those areas where God's timing is different from mine.

Patterson says early in the book, "waiting has everything to do with hope.  It's really asking: 'Can I trust you, God?  Is there any meaning to this?  Why me?  How much more do you think I can stand?  What are you doing Lord?' "

I've certainly asked/wondered/pondered some form of those questions.  In fact, I've told the Lord more than once that I'm not sure how much more I can take.  My energy has been so depleted a few times, that I wondered if I could make it much longer.  Of course, God in His goodness and faithfulness has come through and sustained me!  I absolutely wouldn't still be standing without His goodness.

Patterson also says "one central conviction – that is at least as important as the things we wait for is the work God wants to do in us as we wait."  So I guess I'd have to conclude that I'm not just praying for Floyd......but for me too, and what He's doing in me while I wait.  Dare I say - maybe what He's doing in ALL of us?!

I was speaking with a dear friend, and we talked about what an incredible "wave of prayer" this has been as we've prayed for Floyd. Once again I have to say that the prayer that's been released is SO much bigger and greater than just praying for Floyd!  God is up to something greater.  Floyd has been the catalyst......but God's view and plans are much more.

Maybe one of the most important things is what God is doing in us, His Body - the Church through all this prayer.  My heart rises and says, "Yes, Lord!  I/we want what you have for us in this time of focused prayer! 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done' through our prayers!"

My hope starts rising.  My heart yearns for all that God has in mind.

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!"  Isaiah 30:18

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:14

I have to say in all honesty, that I still don't like waiting!  But I'm gaining fresh perspective on how God sees it, and what's He's doing through it.  I certainly continue to trust Him and thank Him.

God Is For Us!

Floyd has had times of being agitated and feisty.  I've been told that the agitation is common to people in long-term care.  I can certainly understand that.  But as we've prayed specifically for him, he's been calm, attentive, quiet, and peaceful. That is a sweet answer to prayer. This has been a good week.

Someone sent me some daffodils this week.  Not real ones - wrong season for that, but a lovely "bouquet" none-the-less.  Daffodils are one of my favorite flowers.  I've always loved them - bright colored, fresh, happy.

The person who sent it was telling me the meanings for the daffodil flower - one of which includes hope.  That, of course, is very special to me on this journey.  They are one of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring.  They come out of the cold, dark days of winter just as the warm rays of spring start appearing.

As I was thanking the Lord this week for the fresh hope He has given me, I felt Him speak into my heart that He is always, always a God of hope!  In the bleakest, hardest, most impossible situations - He is our hope!  He brings hope!

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Psalm 31:24

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you."  Psalm 33:20-22

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.  Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:5-8

He is faithful.  He is trustworthy.  He is my rock and refuge.  He is my hope!  He gives fresh hope to my heart.  I can't help but thank and praise Him!

In this life we don't get to choose our trials......and we don't deserve our blessings.  God is in control.  He chooses what hard times to allow to come our way, and He knows what blessings to release into our lives.  Our response is to know that God is good, and we can trust Him with whatever comes our way.

To be "content" as we're exhorted to be - the important thing is for us to always remember that He is good.  He is trustworthy.  He is working for what is best in our lives.

It's easy to think, I can be content if only.........!   But that's not what God has asked of us.  I sometimes think I'd like to share with God what it is I need.  But He doesn't need my help!  :)

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation....I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12,13

If I TRULY trust Him, then I need to thank Him for my trials and my blessings.  I'm trying my best to do that.

He's good.  He's trustworthy.  And He loves us more than we can possibly comprehend!

This week I've been reading in Romans 8, and have found myself impacted by verse 31.  "If God is for us, who is against us?"

I've been thinking how powerful that statement is.  God (the almighty ruler of the universe) is FOR us!  Wow!  Who can hold up to being against us, if He's for us?!  Every knee has to bow to Him.

I started thinking then, of all the ways He's for us.  Here are just a few that have come to mind:

• He gives us strength.

"The Lord is my strength and my song."  Psalm 118:14   

"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides."  1 Peter 4:11  

Whatever way we are serving God, whatever ministry or act of service......the strength comes from Him.  My strength on this journey is from Him.

• He gives us grace.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:9

One of my favorite verses.  I know I'm weak.  I know I can't make it through.  But He gives sufficient grace, and His power shines through in all its greatness in spite of my weakness.

• He gives us wisdom.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."  James 1:5  

I could not have navigated all that I've had to deal with this year without His wisdom!  Oh my - I'm so, so grateful for His wisdom!

• He gives peace/takes away anxiety.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust you."  Isaiah 26:3

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6, 7

In the midst of some very big storms this year, God has given me wonderful peace - it's totally inexplicable!  Only God can do that.

• He helps us with whatever we are facing.

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber."  Psalm 121:2, 3  

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

He is my constant help.  He won't let me fall.  He never sleeps - He's always "on guard."

• He works on our behalf.

"With God we will gain the victory, and He will tread down our foes." Psalm 108:13  

We're not alone - He's working for us.

• He sends angels to guard us.

"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."  Psalm 91:11  

We can't see them, but He has angels all around to protect us.

• He carries our burdens.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you."  Psalm 55:22  

Most of my burdens these days are too big/heavy for me.  I regularly give them to Him.

• He provides for us.

"God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19  

He has provided for every need on this journey.

The list could go on and on.  It's endless.  He is everything we need!  And He's FOR us!!

"He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world."  1 John 4:4

Don't you just love the beauty and power of His word?!  So rich - speaks to every need and situation.

How good and faithful He is!

When I was a young leader, I was mentored in the principle of the "relaxed grasp."  Whatever God places in our hands - people, ministry, money, giftings - we are to hold them with open hands, with a relaxed grasp.  If we do that, God will know that He can let things flow into our lives and hands because we'll hold them lightly and let them flow on when the time is right.  

If we grasp things and hold them tightly, they're ours not His.  When He knows He can trust us to have open hands with a relaxed grasp, He'll release much into our hands knowing it's His, not ours.  He gives us these gifts, and we need to thank Him - but hold them loosely.  We can let go and let them flow out when the time is right.

I have been blessed to "hold" Floyd in my hands for 49 years.  I have always held him lightly, knowing He's a gift to me from the Lord.  I have been telling the Lord afresh that I have a "relaxed grasp" on Floyd.  He's not mine, he belongs to Him.  I have released Floyd anew to God's will. There's such a sweet freedom and rest in that.  

And I have to say that I'm so grateful that God never lets go of us!!  He holds us securely in the palm of His hand.

"Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."  Psalm 139:10

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' "  Isaiah 41:13

I don't know God's plan for Floyd - healing or heaven - but I know he's in good hands!  And I know I'm in good hands too.

Being Thankful For The Thorns

I've been asked to describe Floyd's current condition so people will know how to pray more specifically for Floyd.  I'll try.  If you walked into Floyd's room, you'd notice that he's lost lots of weight.  Being on a liquid diet does that.  He's very thin.  As time goes on, and after the infections he battled, he seems more and more frail.  

His hair is a beautiful white/gray, and his eyes are a clear, light blue.  We don't know why, but for some reason his skin has a lot less wrinkles.  It's quite amazing.  I wish I knew his secret!  His moustache has been shaved off.  He's had that for so many years, so he looks different without it.  And, of course, he's not wearing his glasses now.

He would probably be awake - although on "weak" days, he sleeps.  He would look at you, and follow your movements with his eyes - sometimes turning his head slightly.

He can't speak, but at times you get responses as you talk to him - with facial expressions (smiles, looking upset), with small noises, or with his eyes (like when he tears up). He often listens very attentively, but one of the hardest things is that you really don't know how much he understands.  Some days he seems to understand more than other days. And sometimes he is quite "distant." On these days, you're not sure if he's even aware that you are there.

His right side is immobile.  His left leg moves sometimes.  His left arm is very active, and very, very strong!!  I think all the energy from his whole body is channeled into that arm.  I'm sure he could win strength competitions.  He definitely expresses himself with his left arm at times. :)

Hopefully that gives a "feel" of how he is, and how he looks these days so it’s easier to understand.

The one thing that impacts me each time I'm with Floyd, is that he's in a state of suffering - on so many levels.  It is hard on my heart to see him like this.  I've been reflecting a lot on suffering in recent days.

"Let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator."  1 Peter 4:19

We learn several things from this verse:

-  some suffering is God's will/He allows it for His purposes

-  our choices/to "do right" are important

-  we can trust the Lord, and He's faithful

As I see Floyd's suffering (and my heart suffers too because of what he is going through), I try to respond in the right way, and I keep trusting for all of God's purposes to be fulfilled.  I absolutely know He's faithful!

I've found it's easier to bear the suffering if I keep my heart full of gratitude for God's goodness too.  God has been so, so good to me/us and our family on this journey.

George Matheson (1842-1906) was a Scottish author and preacher.  He was blind.  I recently read one of his prayers: "I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn.' Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn.' Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain.  Show me that my tears have made my rainbow."

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."  Romans 8:18

"We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Romans 5:3,4

I'm asking God to help me be thankful for the "thorns," and to learn perseverance on this journey.  I know He's in control.  I know He has a plan.  And I know I can trust Him.

Someone also sent me this post by Anne Graham Lotz:

"Do you sometimes cry out, as I have, "God, don't You see my tears? Don't you see my broken heart"  God, never mind me, but how can You bear to see the agony of my loved one?  God, I know that You care.  I just don't understand why You don't intervene in this situation right now. Why don't You do something?"

Then to my heart, I seem to hear His still, small voice whispering, "Anne, trust Me.  I know what's best."  And I'm left to wonder why I think I know better than God what's best for me or my loved one."

Her father, Billy Graham, is 98 years old and going through a "long goodbye."  I assume she is referring to him.

I can so identify with her heart, her cry, her wondering.  I don't understand the waiting with Floyd's situation either.  Waiting is hard.  I have to keep coming back to the same thing.  God knows what's best.

In his book "Waiting" author Ben Patterson says there are 2 virtues required for successful waiting - humility and hope.  Humility teaches us that we exist for God's sake, not for our own - but for His purposes. Hope assures us that there is something worth waiting for.

I'm praying that I'll have the humility to bow to God's purposes on this journey - and the hope to keep looking to Him for what He has planned.

"With humility comes wisdom."  Proverbs 11:2

"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life."  Proverbs 22:4

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:25

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."  Isaiah 40:31

"The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love."  Psalm 147:11

When my heart hurts over Floyd's situation, over what he goes through - I have to keep focused on trusting God.  I do trust Him.

I’ve been reading 2 Corinthians 4:17 this week too.  "For this slight momentary affliction (some versions say trouble) is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."  I think I've mentioned before that when we're in the midst of the affliction/trouble, it certainly doesn't seem slight or momentary.  It seems huge!

But in the midst of our trouble - every word, every choice, every reaction or response has eternal value and importance, significance and meaning. God takes these "troubles" that seem like adversity in our lives and uses them for opportunities to impact us in an eternal way.  

He doesn't shelter us from the "winds of adversity" that we face - He uses the trials of life, because we live in a fallen world, to strengthen our faith. He builds character in us.  He takes us deeper in our trust.  He reaches out to us in greater intimacy in our walk with Him.  He works to bring good from the trials. (Romans 8:28)

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him."  Nahum 1:7

"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

"You have been a strong-place for those who could not help themselves and for those in need because of much trouble.  You have been a safe place from the storm."  Isaiah 25:4

I don't like trials.  I'd rather not go through the hard times.  But in the midst of the storm these last 9 months, He has been my "safe place" and my "stronghold."  Whatever the eternal significance of this time has been, He has proven so very faithful in taking me through "this slight momentary affliction."

" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord."  Isaiah 55:8

If we only look at our life and the things we face from the world's perspective, we'll miss out on all God is doing in our lives.  It usually takes me a while to figure out God's thoughts and ways like Isaiah talked about.  I wish I could say otherwise, but sometimes I'm slow to "get it."

I remember my mother telling me when I was young that our prayers and God's answers are many times far apart - but we can absolutely trust His will.  He always answers, but many times not in the way we thought He would.

I've tried on this journey we've been on to see things from God's perspective.  I think I understand some things, but I certainly don't understand them all.  But I do know He has a plan, and I can absolutely trust Him as my mother said.

I'm convinced that God is "up to something" that I don't see and understand.  I "feel" it in my spirit, but I can't yet see it with my eyes.  All I/we can do is keep traveling on this path He has us on.

"Aunt" Corrie ten Boom said - "If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes."  I'm grateful for the "boots" He's given me on this journey.  I've needed them.

"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you." Exodus 33:13

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths."  Psalm 25:4

I'm asking Him for grace to continue on this journey as He unveils His ways and plans.

Some years ago, Floyd wrote a paragraph for someone's book: "Everything of God flows out of the secret place. Everything good and lasting - everything that survives the ultimate test is born in the secret place.  We can "make it" to heaven with empty hands, but why do that? Why not go instead with crowns to lay at His feet?  If we give Him crowns, it will be because we met Jesus daily in the secret place."

I don't remember Floyd writing that.  Someone sent it to me recently.  It was very meaningful to me.  I think Floyd is living in a secret place with Jesus right now.  I know how much Floyd loves Jesus.  Just 2 weeks before Floyd got sick, he preached a message where he said that his one goal in this final season of his life was to center everything around Jesus.  Floyd can't communicate with us right now, but I think He and Jesus are in sweet fellowship.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."  James 1:12

The crowns we wear in heaven must be won on earth.  I want to keep meeting with Jesus in that secret place!  I don't want to stand before Him some day, and regret not having spent more time with Him in the secret place.  

It's in that secret place that I'm finding grace and strength to persevere. He faithfully meets us!

The Balm Of Truth

Floyd continues to be a combination of active and quiet this week.  Some friends came to the hospital to give him a haircut.  And on one of the beautiful warm days, the therapists took him outside for some fresh air and sunshine.  I'm sure he loved it. It's his first time to sit outside in almost 9 months.  He always enjoys being outdoors!

I think sometimes he is bewildered by all that is going on around him.  I see it reflected in his eyes.  I can only imagine how strange (frightening?) it must feel to have no control over what is happening to you - and not understand things.  We keep praying for the Spirit to remind him that he is loved and not abandoned. 

There are many things that have been hard/difficult over the last months.  It’s been a challenging time on so many levels.  But there are two things in particular that have seemed constant – and difficult. 

The first one is the “aloneness.”  We married so young (18 and 21) – we say we “grew up” together. :)  A deep friendship developed as we learned and grew.  We’ve considered ourselves each other’s best friends.  We talked about everything.  We loved being together.  We had lots of plans for the future years.  

It feels so strange not to have Floyd to talk to, process with, ask advice, and just share life after being together for 49 years.  Everything happened so quickly with his illness.  When things started on that Tuesday morning, we were just dealing with the problem of the pain – trying to find out what was wrong and how to bring relief.  There was no inkling of where this was headed and how things would end up.  I would have never dreamed that all these months later he would be in this condition.  It often feels surreal.

I would have loved to have talked about “what if.”  And how shall I handle a myriad of things?  What would you like me to do?  There was never even a chance to say goodbye because we had no idea it would be needed.

I wish I could turn the clock back and do things differently.  But we rarely get those kinds of opportunities.  I saw a phrase recently that spoke to me - "When God conceals His purposes, He consoles with His promises."  God has no responsibility to tell us all His purposes.  I've longed to know what God is "up to."  But I don't yet understand.  However He doesn't just leave us on our own - He consoles us.  I love how God balances things out!

I've been reflecting on a few of His promises.  There are so many that it would take whole books to mention all of them.

"God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19   -   He'll take care of me, meet my needs.  He'll be a husband to me in Floyd's absence.

" 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthians 12:9   -   His grace is sufficient - His power will be with me in my weakness.  He's not frustrated or disappointed in me when I'm weak.  It's an opportunity for Him to show His power.

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13   -   He'll remember that I'm weak.  He'll give me strength.

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5   -   I may feel alone as I shared above.....but I'm not!!!  He never forsakes me.  He never abandons me.  He never leaves me on my own.  Thank you Lord!

The second thing that has been very hard is that I feel “stuck” in a situation – while life around me continues on.  This contributes to the feeling of aloneness.  I am alone – while everyone else continues on with life, activities, etc.  I have to daily keep going with no end in sight to what I'm walking through.  It's a bit like being on a never-ending merry-go-round.......that goes around and around and around.  The scenery doesn't change.  The horse I'm riding on doesn't change direction.  It just keeps going around endlessly.

I don't exactly know how to describe it.  It feels claustrophobic - like things are closing in on me in the "sameness" day after day.  And while I love going to be with Floyd, it's also such an emotional experience each and every time.  I expect it to get easier because I know what to expect, but it doesn't.

There is nothing “wrong” about any of this – and I certainly want everyone else to continue on with their lives.  But it’s a just part of the challenge of what I face in my life right now.  It accentuates everything else.  I ask for His grace to be faithful as I circle around and around.

Again, as with just about everything in my life, I turn to the Word with this burden. The Word speaks to what I'm walking through and nourishes my heart to not faint, but persevere.

"I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me."  2 Timothy 1:12   -   I have come to realize that God has "entrusted" this journey to me.  I don't know why.  I don't feel adequate to the task, but He's given it to me.  I know that HE can help me "guard" this path I'm walking on and fulfill His purposes.

"David strengthened himself in the Lord His God."  1 Samuel 30:6   -   Every time I feel weak, overwhelmed, stuck, inadequate - I breathe a prayer and ask for extra strength.  Thank goodness God has a never-ending supply to draw on and give to me.

"The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  Deuteronomy 33:27   -   When I'm feeling particularly weak, I picture myself relaxing into His strong arms........or running to a secure dwelling place where I'm safe.

"I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill."  Psalm 3:4   -   Every time I'm feeling alone, stuck, like I just can't make it - I cry out.  He hears me from His holy hill in heaven and sends His Spirit to help and rescue me.

I'm so grateful for God's faithfulness in meeting me in these things.  He never reprimands me for my vulnerability and tenderness, my "rawness" in the emotions of it, my weakness.......He always responds with love and grace.  And His word pours the balm of truth and who He is into my wounds.  Thank you Lord!

Over these months the Lord has given me a way to process and handle these difficult times.  God always provides help for what we face!

I've found that there are three simple keys/tools He's given me to respond with when I'm feeling weak, in need, vulnerable:

-   The first is to simply dig deeper in my walk with the Lord.  At the point of difficulty, I need to immediately acknowledge my need, my weakness. Doing that is a protection from the enemy trying to exploit my vulnerability with his lies!  It also stops the focus of being on my needs, and turns it to a positive of deeper intimacy and friendship with Him.  I'm sure one of the things the Lord wants to do in me during this journey is draw me closer to Himself!

I should also say - that sometimes when the hurt and pain is so deep and overwhelming, it may be hard to even pray and turn to Him.  I find I have to choose to do that - to fix my mind on Him not on my troubles!  It can be hard when the pain is so strong.  But as I ask for His help, and go deeper in my love for Him, it brings peace of mind and calmness of spirit.

-   As I'm doing this, I need to immerse myself in the truth of the Word.  Going to the Word is so important because it takes the focus off of what I'm feeling to the solid foundation of what God says in His Word.  The promises from the Word can also be turned into prayers.  And, again, speaking out the firm, secure, wonderful truth from the Word is a further protection from the enemy.

-   I also find it so very helpful to bring to mind how God has met me and our family in the past with answered prayer.  I recall specific testimonies to mind of His goodness, His help, His provision, His healing.  It's a "stake in the ground" in declaring God can do this!!  He's helped us before and He'll do it again!  It builds faith in my heart, and it releases a spirit of praise by acknowledging His faithfulness in the past.

In moments of vulnerability and weakness, I have found these steps to be incredibly life giving and helpful.  It turns the difficult moments around, and gets them focused in the right direction.

The "secret" of finding His peace is in giving every pain, every care to Him.

"I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.  You are my help and my deliverer."  Psalm 40:17   -   We are always in His thoughts, and He is ready to deliver!

I have been thinking about a quote I read.  "Faith is the link that connects our weakness to God's strength."  I pictured a heavy gold link charm bracelet in my mind.  One end is a charm that symbolizes my weakness, my tiredness, my vulnerability.  On the other end is a charm that symbolizes God's power, might, strength, sufficiency.  And in between are links of FAITH!

I feel challenged to keep faith alive in my heart.  Faith for all of God's plans and purposes to be fulfilled.  Faith for God to meet me day by day on this long journey.  Faith for abundant strength and grace.  Faith for God to be glorified in His will for Floyd.

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  Jeremiah 33:3   -   He'll show us difficult things, impossible things.  He'll answer prayers that we hardly have faith for, because He is great!

"The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  Hebrews 4:2   -   Faith - that very important link that we need!

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1   -   I want to keep my faith alive to pray for what I do not yet see!

Some days in my tiredness, I don't think I can......but He can.  I'm stirring my faith up to receive from His mighty hand!

Abounding In Hope

Following Floyd's condition is like riding a roller coaster - up and down. He has been responding well to some of his therapy, and his kidneys have improved a bit.  He has also understood and responded to some of the things we have been saying to him.  There have been days of being alert and days of being very sleepy and weak.  

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."  Romans 15:13

This verse has been echoing in my mind for days.  I feel God is stirring my heart to not give up hope.  The hope is for healing or heaven - it's God's choice......but I feel God wanting me to keep the hope alive for all of God's purposes to be fulfilled on this journey.  To not "let down" because I'm sick, tired, weary.  

It's been a long journey.  I'm grateful for all those who have persevered with us in prayer.  I know it isn't easy!  But God has a plan, and I feel He's saying to keep the hope alive for what He is doing and what He has in mind.

Recently I came upon an article that Floyd had written in 1989 about "when things don't work together for good."  He's referring to Romans 8:28.  I loved reading his article in the midst of this journey we're on.  He started out by saying in the original Greek the verse actually says - "in all things God works for good," not things.

I thought I'd share his points with you:

- God will be with us.  He never promises that everything in life will go perfectly.  But He promises that with whatever problem or difficulty we face, He will be right with us in the circumstances we are walking through.

- We will be victorious.  "In all these things we are more than conquerors."  God isn't promising worldly success, but He's promising us spiritual victory.  In the mist of hardship, sickness, persecution, famine, danger, even death - we will be conquerors.  How?  We trust Him!  We give Him glory in the midst of difficulty.

- We are loved.  Verse 37 - our victory is "through Him who loves us." The love He gives us isn't dependent on the circumstances.  Our intimate love relationship with Him is based on His victory on the cross.  We are forgiven.  We are redeemed.  We are reconciled to Him.  No one, and no circumstance, can take that away from us.

As I read through the article - I could almost hear Floyd's voice - and I loved the smiling picture of him.  Floyd was reminding me - God is with us.  We'll be victorious in Him, and He's with us in this long trial.  He loves us.  It was a sweet encouragement to find this article with Floyd "speaking." : )

I've felt the Lord saying to me all these months that gratefulness will keep bitterness from my heart.  As I thank Him for His faithfulness on this long journey, it protects my heart from being poisoned by any negativity.  I'm so thankful for that.  And there is so, so much to thank Him for!

"On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased."  Psalm 138:3

I have called out to Him daily - usually many, many times a day.  He has carefully carried and strengthened my soul.  He has strengthened me physically.   He has protected me.  He has given me eyes to see His goodness.  He has sustained me.  He has deflected negative darts from my heart.  He has helped me keep my focus on the truth of who He is in the midst of trials.  How wonderfully faithful He has been!

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal."  Isaiah 26:3,4

I have been meditating on His grace this week.  I remembered hearing Floyd speak about it years ago, and went back to some of those thoughts.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield.  The Lord gives grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."  Psalm 84:11

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:8

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

Once again, I'm so grateful for the clarity of God's word.  He has outlined how we find help for every need, including His grace. 

** His grace enables us to face whatever is before us.  No matter how great our need, the divine resources He has for us are never exhausted! His plan is for us to turn to Him in our weakness, and He will meet us with His strength and power.

** He wants us to dig deep when the need for His grace grows.  He doesn't run out of grace!  There's plenty there for us, but we may need to go deeper in Him for our need to be met.  Just a few steps past the darkest, unplanned moment of need lies the deepest, fullest grace.  I'm digging deeper these days!

** He wants us to depend on Him, on His sufficient grace.  In fact, we can only receive the grace He has for us when we depend on Him.  It's His favor and blessing as we depend on Him at our deepest levels.

I've also felt Him reminding me that I have to get new grace each day.  I can't bear tomorrow's burdens with today's grace.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  How true! Matthew 6:34

I am digging deep for His enabling grace while telling Him how utterly dependent I am on Him.  He meets me afresh each day.  How grateful I am for His grace.

Jesus Is Awesome!

I can't believe we're in November already!  The year has been intense, and seems to have gone by so quickly.  I have spent most of it at the hospital!  Not my favorite place I have to say.

In the past few weeks we had a meeting with Floyd's head doctor to get some more understanding of Floyd's condition and the time ahead.  He told us that there is no way they can help improve his condition.  Medically speaking, they are at a loss.  We've heard this before, but it was very sobering to be faced with it again.  The doctor said because of Floyd's limited cognitive ability, he doesn't feel Floyd is aware of everything.  For instance, he doesn't think Floyd would be aware of the passage of time.  So there is hope that he may be more at peace than we know.  He may not be suffering as much as we feared.

After these recent meetings we've had with Floyd's doctors and therapists, I found myself very tired and emotionally drained.  I am facing lots of decisions about Floyd's care.  It is challenging and intense for me.  I've been encouraged by a number of people that the Lord's "got" me!  He is carrying me, and He won't give me more than I can handle.  I am trying my best to rest in His love, receive His peace, and let Him carry the burdens.  He is able and sufficient!

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

Other versions say "He will quiet you in His love."

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14:27

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

I love how the Word speaks so specifically to what we need.  I thank Him for His goodness!

A lady I know in the U.S. sends me her weekly blog post sharing inspiring and devotional thoughts.  I've been thinking and reflecting on a recent one.  The points below are hers - the comments are mine.

- Jesus is no respecter of persons.  I've often thought that God doesn't "owe" us anything.  When I pray, or ask for prayers, for Floyd - I'm very aware that anything we receive from Him is a gift.  He doesn't care any more or any less for us than others of His children.   

- Jesus shows up in obscure and remote places.  And I would add that He often shows up when we least expect it!  And He often doesn't show up or answer our prayers when we think He should.  We don't have to be in church for Him to show up.  I remember when we lived in Afghanistan thinking that I was so glad it wasn't too remote for Him to answer our prayers there......and He answered so many!

- Jesus waits for us to call out to Him.  He loves for us to ask!  I think He wishes we would call out to Him more.  He wants to be involved in all aspects of our lives.  Nothing is too big - or too small for us to ask.

- Jesus honors our faith.  His answers don't depend on our faith - they're because of who He is!  But He loves for us to believe.  He wants us to grow in our faith.  He wants us to "expect" answers from Him.

- Jesus deserves praise and thanks!  There have been times when I've been so excited about the answers to prayer, that I almost forgot to stop and thank Him!!  He loves our praise and worship.  He responds to thankful hearts.  He created us to worship Him and have fellowship with Him.

As I've been thinking of these aspects about Jesus, it's made me aware all over again of how awesome He is!

"Jesus, name above all names.

Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.

Emmanuel, God is with us.

Blessed Redeemer, Living Word."

"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name."  Philippians 2:9

I'm so grateful that Jesus invites our prayers.  He listens.  He cares. He is answering in ways that we don't even know. We can keep asking!

Just this past week I was reminded that when Jesus did some of His miracles, He wasn't in a hurry.  We see this with Lazarus and with Jairus' daughter.  I keep thinking that if God is planning to heal Floyd, I'm sure He has His own time table for it.

I was reading Job 14:5-7 too.  "A man's days are numbered. You know the number of his months.  He cannot live longer than the time You have set."  If God plans to take Floyd home, He also has His time table for that.

All I can do is look to Him, and keep trusting for His will to be done.

Through the months that we have prayed for Floyd, there were many times when it seemed we were doing spiritual warfare.  Certainly times when we felt to resist the enemy - to stand against him and his plans and purposes.  It would seem we should have conquered and moved beyond that.

But I find myself standing against the enemy more and more - rather than less!  I sense that there is still warfare going on in the spiritual realm during this journey of intercession we are involved in.  I feel the enemy is fighting.  I don't know exactly what the battle is, but the enemy isn't giving up.  One friend said maybe he knows his time is running out and he's losing.  Thank goodness we know that Jesus is the victor!!  I just keep praising the Lord that He is over all, and that His purposes will be accomplished in this journey!

"Great trials often precede great triumphs."  This has been a long, hard journey - but I believe God has some victories in mind for the Kingdom through it.

"Victory rests with the Lord."  Proverbs 21:31

God Is In Control

This week the doctor said that Floyd’s condition is much the same - he's still battling the infections.  He has been a combination of quiet and attentive sometimes, and feisty and agitated at other times. We are continuing to ask God to minister peace deep into his being.

The therapist has been getting him into his chair everyday.  This is so good to strengthen him and I think he likes the change from lying down.

Floyd was treated to his own personal worship recital by a Christian musician friend this week!  I'm hoping it really blessed him.

As I was doing my daily walking exercise one day this week, I had a good time talking with the Lord.  I feel at a loss knowing how to help Floyd right now.  Battling these 3 infections seems to have taken such a big toll on his body.  I poured out my heart to the Lord asking Him to give me wisdom - and to intervene and relieve Floyd's suffering.

I felt (as I have so many times when I've cried out to Him) that I just need to give everything to Him, and let Him do as He wills.  I gave everything over to Him afresh.  It seems to be important to do that no matter how many times I've done it before.  I don't know what He has in mind, but I am powerless to do anything.  I'm grateful He is carrying me - and carrying Floyd!

"Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations He has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire.  He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth."  The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."   Psalm 46:6-11

He is mighty.  He is in control.  He is our refuge.  He is worthy of our praise.

I think I'm being realistic in realizing Floyd's condition could go either way - and yet I'm feeling to keep asking.  Jesus never rebuked anyone for asking.  I can ask for the miracle, and still surrender to His will if His plans are different.

"Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.  Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray....I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."  Psalm 5:1-3

"I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."   Luke 11:9

"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."  John 16:24

"Lord, help!" they cried.....and He rescued them from their distress." Psalm 107:6

He is trustworthy whatever the outcome, but I ask for miracles!

So, as we continue asking for healing for Floyd, we believe "there is something about asking that is worship."  It signifies that we understand God's greatness when we ask for the impossible things.

I was sent the picture below.  It depicts visually the "breakthrough" we are asking for.  It's hard.  It seems impossible.  It defies logic.  It's amazing when it happens.  It shows nothing is too hard for God - part of His creation did this!

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"   Matthew 19:26

I've been privileged to see God do the impossible during my life.  I humbly ask for it again.

Worry Is Like a Rocking Chair

Floyd is gaining strength.  He is coughing less, but when he coughs it is still deep and congested.  We continue to pray for complete healing from the 3 infections he is battling.  The doctor does feel that there is improvement and Floyd has been more alert and active with his left arm again.  This is really good but also challenging for the nursing staff and therapists.  It makes their jobs so much more difficult.  But they are awesome!  They are to be commended for their patience and care.  I pray often for them to be blessed.  I’m very grateful for them!

As I watch Floyd in this condition, I get worried about him. I've heard the saying that "worry is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."  I've actually always like rocking chairs. :)  But I don't want to be burdened with worries.

I've been reflecting on this scripture - "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." Philippians 4:6 NLT

God has done so much these last few months.  I'm so very grateful for that.  I choose to commit the present needs to Him.  I know He's aware of them - and He has a plan.  He's more concerned about Floyd than I am.

I look to Him, and I trust Him.  Come, Lord Jesus, and touch Floyd!

From the very first day of this journey, I've felt that God has asked me to trust Him.  With His help, I've done that.  The steps of trust have been big - facing issues of life and death.

But the issues we're facing now of not knowing what's ahead and Floyd feeling the frustration of his condition - these seem even harder to bear. I am feeling that God is calling me to even greater, deeper levels of trust.

As I've been praying, I've realized afresh that I can embrace this kind of trust because of who God is.  I wrote out this graft while thinking about that.

TRUST

T - one who tries, who tackles a task (works, does the utmost)

R - one who is reliable (dependable, steady)

U - one who is unwavering, unfailing (solid, constant, a rock)

S - one who is sure (faithful, doesn't give up)

T - one who is true (accurate, honest)

There has to be a good reason to trust - and God is trustworthy for thousands of reasons.  He is so worthy of my/our trust!!

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, my stronghold."  Psalm 18:2

"Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 62:6

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."  Psalm 9:10

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."  Psalm 56:3

There are so, so many verses about how trustworthy He is.  I read through dozens and dozens of them.  It built up my faith, my trust, my absolute dependence upon Him.  It renewed hope in my heart.

He is firm, solid, secure - worthy of my absolute trust.  I am choosing to trust Him more deeply as we face the new challenges.

"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living."  Psalm 27:13

In the midst of so many ups and downs in Floyd's illness, I see the goodness of the Lord all around me.  Even on the hardest of days, I am aware of His presence and His care.  He is so faithful.

"Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."  verse 14

I continue to wait - to see what God has in store.  I ask His help daily to be brave and courageous.  I can't change anything on my own, so I wait as patiently as I can.  Again, He is faithful to help me.

As I've been meditating on God's faithfulness so many, many verses that affirm how good and faithful He is come to mind!

"Your faithfulness endures to all generations."  Psalm 119:90

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:20

He is present, even if we don't "feel" Him.  His faithfulness is not dependent on my feelings.  He doesn't have "bad" days.  He is never too tired to listen, nor too busy to hear.

I started to think about my faithfulness.  I wondered how I was measuring up!  My prayers started to change.

There's not a lot I can do right now to change our circumstances......but I can try to be faithful to the things God has for me to do.  I need to keep my eyes on Him.  I need to continue to trust Him.  I need to take care of myself and persevere on this unexpected journey.

Proverbs 24:10  "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."  

I often feel like my strength is small.  I keep asking the Lord to increase my strength on this journey.  I don't know how this journey will end!  But I'm asking God to help me make it all the way, to help me be faithful.

God Wants His Church To Pray

I found out at the beginning of this week that the infection Floyd has been fighting is pneumonia in his right lung.  Then, after doing more tests, Floyd’s doctor told me on Wednesday that he is actually battling 3 infections.  This is very hard on his body.  Our prayers have been for these to be cleansed from his body - soon!  And for protection from any new ones.

Since yesterday Floyd seems to be slightly better.  He was strong enough to be up in his chair, which hasn't happened for quite a few days.  His eyes were clearer, and he was alert.  I'm hoping and praying that we have "turned a corner" on these infections. 

One of the hospital staff printed some scripture verses and put them up in Floyd's room.  One of them is Hebrews 13:5 - "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  I read it to Floyd today.  He teared up when I did.  We are praying that Floyd will be so aware of God's presence with him!!

As we continue to pray for Floyd, we know that God can do anything.  He's the God of the impossible.  And He knows just what He wants to do - what His will is for Floyd.

But He involves us in the process in the place of prayer.  I heard someone say recently, "God does more when the church prays for the church."  He wants us to lift each other up.

He wants us to ask.  He wants the conversations with us.  He wants the relationship with us as we meet Him in the place of prayer.  He created us for friendship and communion with Him, and the primary place for that is in prayer.

When I first asked a few friends to pray for Floyd back in February, I had no idea of the worldwide wave of prayer that would break out.....a mighty wave that runs deeper and wider than just praying for Floyd.  I think God had in mind something so much greater.  Our intercession during this journey is as important as the outcome from all the prayers!  

This intensity of prayer has something to do with things that are on God's heart for the Body of Christ.  We must keep pressing into Him for His purposes to be fulfilled.  I truly believe there are big things coming.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me, bringing His miracle-deliverance when I needed it most.  The angels stooped down to listen as I prayed, encircling me, empowering me and showing me how to escape.  They will do this to everyone who fears God.  Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God.  Experience for yourself the joyous mercies He gives to all who turn to hide themselves in Him."  Psalm 34:6-8  Passion Translation

How faithful He is to meet us - whenever we call.  The angels protect us - and He delivers us and washes over us with His joyous mercies.

I'm so grateful I can turn to Him again, and again, and again.  "His mercies never come to an end."  Lamentations 3:22

And I know He is being just as faithful to Floyd too!

Daniel 3:16 – 18 says:  "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.'"

From the beginning of this unexpected journey of Floyd's illness, I have "released" Floyd to the Lord.  Our family has done that collectively.  Individually many have done that.  I personally have told the Lord repeatedly that I trust Him, I release Floyd to Him, and want His will to be done.

I've also spoken to Floyd and told him that I release him to go be with Jesus if that is what he thinks is best.  I've told him that I'll be okay - not to worry about me.

While we have fervently prayed for the "breakthrough" like the word the Lord gave Floyd for this year, we've realized that there is no guarantee of that healing.  We have made all the choices and responses that we know to do - including releasing Floyd to Him.

All we can do is ask, wait, and trust!

Like the three Hebrew young men, we say "we know God will deliver us, but if not..." we serve only Him and we trust Him!