Deep Roots Of Trust

Floyd has been having some nice visits this week.  He has been relaxed and attentive, and giving the carers some big "Floyd" smiles. :)

I have had some new ‘twists’ on our unexpected journey this week.  After my regular cancer check ups the doctors have found that my ovarian cancer has returned.  I am currently waiting to do a PET scan so the doctors can get a better idea of exactly how the chemo treatment should go. 

Just 2 years and 8 months ago I was at this same place - recovering from the surprise of having cancer and facing treatment.  But that time, Floyd was by my side.  He was such a help and support.  I miss him.

My biggest concern is how I can go through chemo and manage Floyd's care at the same time.  Over the next few days I will be charting out everything I do for Floyd's care and seeing how I can get friends to help me with this.  BUT, I am praying for a miracle of healing!

I know God is not surprised by this.  I am trusting that somehow, in His own unique way, He'll be glorified by all this.

Over the weekend as I prayed, I reminded the Lord that He doesn't give us more than we can bear.  I asked Him to make double sure with whatever was ahead! :)  

As I've pondered all this, and all that we've gone through this past year, some thoughts have come to me:

- He "trusts" us with these trials.

- He knows it's not "too much."

- He will bring good into our lives through it.

- His grace will be sufficient for every need.

- Somehow all this will bring Him glory!

I'm so encouraged by those things.

"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly."  Psalm 112:7,8  NLT

"Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."  Colossians 2:7  NLT

"The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?"  Proverbs 20:24  The Message

I don't need to fear this bad news.  I can put my roots down deep in His truth.  And I can trust that my steps are being led by Him.

I'm very sorry that I'm having to face this again, but my trust in Him is strong.  My heart has been amazingly at peace.  That could only come from Him.

In recent days it seems God is calling us to be persistent, persevering, clear, and forthright in our prayers.  There's been a sense that God has been saying "Ask strongly.  It's okay.  Be angry with the ways of the enemy.  Tell him 'it's enough.'  Don't be afraid to have 'holy anger' at the enemy.  Don't be afraid to pray strong and clear prayers.  Don't be afraid to ask for miracles.  Don't be timid."

Until the day I have to start chemo, I'm asking God for a healing miracle!

"Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'  

For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' " 

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?  I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly."   Luke 18:1-8

I want to be like the persistent widow!  I'm excited to see what God has in store for us as we ask.

"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.  One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: 'Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.'; and 'You reward everyone according to what they have done.' "  Psalm 62:5-8, 11, 12

My confidence is in Him - my Rock, my Refuge!

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!