His Presence in the Tunnel

Last week I was at the hospital having a test done.  Because of our load shedding (loss of electricity), everything took longer than normal.  I ended up being at the hospital much longer than anticipated.  I thought I had prepared safety wise - wearing a mask and sanitizing my hands often......but I managed to pick up a "bug."  I woke up horribly ill last Friday morning.  It hit like a bolt of lightening.

While I was sick, I was reminded of a quote from Corrie ten Boom.  "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."

The unexpected sickness felt like going through a dark tunnel - BUT I sensed the Lord's presence all around me.  He is so faithful!

"Here's what I've learned through it all:  Don't give up; don't be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord.  Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.  Yes, keep on waiting - for He will never disappoint you."  Psalm 27:14 TPT

I can't believe we're already in the 3rd month of this new year.  The days are flying by.  It seems like every day there is a new need, a new crisis, a new disaster.  You think there can't be any more tragedies - and then a new one comes.

The Lord has been reminding me of how important it is to keep my eyes on Him.  If I look around me or look around the world at all that is happening, I can easily get overwhelmed and discouraged.  My heart breaks for the suffering in Ukraine......and for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. There has been great suffering in southeast Africa from a cyclone that hit.  Every direction you look around the world, there is suffering.

And there is suffering for many of us in our individual lives - loss of a loved one, financial worries, sickness.  We absolutely have to keep our focus on the Lord.  He doesn't intend for us to carry the burdens.  Recently some things happened that were unsettling to me.  They were distracting me.  I realized I was losing the peace that the Lord has so graciously given me through the years of cancer and Floyd's illness.

I had to give those unsettling things to the Lord.  In a world of so much uncertainty and suffering, I must constantly keep looking to Jesus.  As I gave each thing to Him, my peace returned.  What a sweet gift it is!

Corrie ten Boom said:  "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed.  If you look within, you'll be depressed.  But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest."  Amen!!

Adversities in life will always be with us - but God is also with us, and He is greater than any adversity we face.  This little guideline is a good one to keep in mind…

Trust in His timing.

Rely on His promises.

Wait for His answers.

Believe in His miracles.

Rejoice in His goodness.

Relax in His presence. 

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus."  Hebrews 12:1,2

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

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28,29

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7

That blessed peace that only He can give.  How grateful I am for that!

At Rest in Him

Last Friday I wrote about worry.  Well, I'm certainly getting a fresh opportunity to respond the right way in a worrying situation!  After a consult with my oncologist this week, my mind and emotions were bombarded with anxiety.  I sat down and tried to separate every anxious thought and bring it to the Lord.  I tried to push the anxiety to the side and concentrate on God's goodness and faithfulness.  I spoke out that He is my refuge!  He is always with me and He holds my right hand.

I admit that this was somewhat of a battle.  Worry/anxiety kept poking its head up.  I would come to a place of peace and then before long I needed to claim that peace all over again.  I find it helpful when a worry pops up to immediately speak out a promise to counteract the worry from the Word.  And to keep speaking it out until I feel it's "solid" in my heart.

I have some challenges in the days ahead, so I'm going to need to keep standing on His promises! 

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory....But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."  Psalm 73:23, 24, 28

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  Deuteronomy 33:27

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

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are."  Hebrews 4:15

I love that last verse.  Jesus understands!!!  When I cry out to Him about what I'm going through, I can just picture Him saying - "It's okay.  I understand.  I'll help you through this.  You're not alone."  What comfort and strength that gives me. 

I continued all through the week to take my anxieties to the Lord - over and over.  As I went to bed one night, I gave the burden of them to the Lord again.

I had a wonderfully, deep night of sleep.  Sleep is so healing and restorative.  When I woke the next morning, the burden was gone!!  Completely!  No anxiety.  I felt encapsulated in peace.  The contrast to the previous day was like night and day.  It was incredible!  I'm so grateful for God taking that burden from my heart, and washing over me with His spirit of peace.

Also as I walked through the week, I was reminded by the Lord of how important it is to "rest in Him."  That can be a lot easier said than done, but it is possible.  I kept speaking out my love, my faith, my confidence, my hope, my trust in the Lord.  The more I spoke it out - the stronger it became in my heart and in my emotions.  I could take a deep breath and rest in His loving arms.  I knew He was carrying me.  On hard days, I missed Floyd not being here to help me......but the Lord reminded me that He's my husband in Floyd's absence.  That's a powerful thought, and I sensed the Lord meeting me in special ways.  I experienced a deep "rest."

"Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions."  Deuteronomy 32:11

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."  Psalm 36:7

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8

I poured out my heart to Him - over and over this week.  He met me!  He has been my refuge.  He is so good, so faithful, so present when we need Him.  I feel "at rest" in Him.

We Can't Be Passive

My heart is aligned to love and trust the Lord.  I know I'm in His hands, and that He is watching over me.  I talk to Him all the time, and feel His closeness. 

So it's surprising to me when something happens physically that is concerning - that my first response is to be anxious.  I guess it's human nature, but I would love it to be otherwise.  I've just had that happen.  I had to rein in my thoughts and emotions and bring them to the Lord.  He wonderfully restored me to a place of peace.   

This fresh experience reminded me of how important it is to control our thoughts.  They can so easily run away from us if we're not careful.  I find it important to bring them to the Lord continually.  Meditating on His goodness and speaking out promises from the Word is a big help.  Standing against the lies of the enemy is crucial.  We can't be passive. 

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

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Philippians 4:8

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

"We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."  Proverbs 23:7

Our thoughts are powerful.  They shape who were are, even who we will become.  They influence our physical well-being.  They impact our emotions.  The Bible makes it clear how important our thoughts are.  That's why we need to continually bring them to the Lord.  We need to counteract lies with truth.  I'm still learning how to do this!

I received a "gift" this week that has so blessed me.  I want to tell you about it because I think it's a gift to all of us who pray for miracles!  I had a check-up with my oncologist this week.  She told me she is very puzzled.  Two years ago when I had the big surgery and spent weeks in the hospital, she had explained to me that there were 2 problems that they couldn't fix.  Over time, the expectation was that those problems would cause even bigger problems and complications.  The outlook was grim.

When she examined me this week, she found the problems were gone!  She couldn't explain it.  She said there's no way that could happen.  She kept saying she was puzzled, and couldn't figure it out.  I told her that "maybe it was an answer to all the prayers people have prayed for me."  She said "maybe so, maybe so."

I came home rejoicing!  I still have cancer and an un-operable tumor, but this "miracle" gave me renewed courage to pray for more healing miracles.  According to my doctor, something like this doesn't just happen.  This has been a wonderful, special, encouraging Christmas gift!!! 

"He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them."  Psalm 145:19

I'm rejoicing this week in Christ's birth - Emmanuel, God with us, coming to earth!  My heart is full of worship for this wonderful gift to mankind.  In spite of our sin, our rebellion, and our weakness God sent His Son to save us.  Thank you Jesus for coming.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel (which means, God with us)."  Matthew 1:23 

I hope you have a wonderful, Merry Christmas!  I pray your heart will be full of worship for Emmanuel.  May you know afresh that He's with you!!

Contentment Does Not Mean Happiness

A friend of mine is going through a hard time. She asked if I had any thoughts to share about contentment......so it got me thinking. The Bible exhorts us to be content in whatever situation we're in. (Philippians 4:11) I asked myself what that meant for me right now......am I "content" with cancer? Can we as believers be content about something so awful? I realized I can be content without being happy about the cancer!! Contentment has to do with peace. I have felt completely surrounded with peace from the Lord in these months that I've been battling cancer......right from the first moment the doctor told me I had a large tumor. The Bible talks about the peace "that passes understanding" that can only come from God. It's not a human emotion, feeling, experience.....it's a gift and blessing from Him. I know no one could be happy about having cancer, but I'm at peace. I am content but praying for healing. Contentment is a spiritual weapon right up there with faith.

The pain, injustices, and hardships of life are only for a little while. Perfect health, fairness, and lack of difficulties will be ours to enjoy in heaven forever. God has my times and seasons on this earth in His control. Contentment in my situation is a spiritual weapon against the enemy and any of his plans. I'm not happy I have cancer, but, thanks to God's help, I think I am content in Christ. I'm grateful for that. It's definitely a gift from Him.

How to Prompt Trustworthiness in Others

When we feel and express gratitude towards others it fosters a sense of trustworthiness in them, which in turn, leads to trustworthy behaviour.  Even the most broken person has potential for greatness.  When we see that potential, we convey it in our attitude.

Be intentional about expressing belief and gratitude in people and you will inspire them to hope in themselves...even when hope has been destroyed in their past

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God's trust in us is a gift based on His grace.  We should trust people for the same reason... His grace.  After all, everything outside of hell is grace.

Most people don't rise above the expectations of others unless there is someone who believes in them, who really thinks they are worth believing in.

Be a leader who believes in people and you will attract them to your cause and inspire them to grow.   Be a leader who sees the potential in others and draws them into their own personal greatness...