Encouragement

I was in tears during my quiet time this morning as it was just so appropriate. I am reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It was given to me by my parents for Christmas this year and has been just what I needed. This morning’s reading had to do with spiritual blessings coming through trials and to rejoice in adverse circumstances. God gives peace regardless of the situation. As I was finishing reading, I received a message from my dad saying he had sent me an email and wishing me a great day. The email had a devotional thought that was also really encouraging and fitting. I was in tears again. It struck me how God is my heavenly Father and cares even more deeply than my dad-which is hard to imagine. It also struck me how just as my dad loves me and can send encouragement from a distance, God can reach me anywhere. It was such a refreshing time this morning after a discouraging evening and night. Below is part of the message from my dad. It made my day!

The Mind of God Toward You

There is never a time
when you're not in His thoughts,
never a time without grace,
never a time when He turns away
from any need you face.

There is never a time
when you're not in His heart,
never a time without love,
never a time when you're not blessed
with good things from above!

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I wake, I am still with Thee. Psalm 139:17-18

Excerpt from the devotional gift book Always Loved by Roy Lessin (from DaySpring)

God is good beyond comprehension! As things go “wrong” or fail to resolve, I see ever more of His hand orchestrating things in ways I could not have believed possible. I have every reason to trust, so why is it so hard? The lessons He is teaching me at present are such that I would not trade. He is softening me. It seems as if I end up in tears during my quiet times every morning. Something always reaches me right where I am struggling and brings both conviction and comfort. He is showing me new depth and excitement in His Word.

A Letter in the Mail

This is a story from last week. Most of this is copied directly from my journal from that day. To set the stage a little bit, last week was really hard as were the weeks before it. I have had so many doctor appointments lately, that there are several doctor bills expected.

Last Thursday, I checked the mail when I got home mid afternoon-nothing. Funny, how there was an immediate relief of no bills and also disappointment of getting nothing. Apparently, I’m still a kid at heart who enjoys getting fun mail. It had been late enough in the day that the mail might have come, but early enough that it might not have come yet. So, I checked again later-one item, a Christmas card from my cousin and family with a current family picture! So fun! It made my day to get fun mail! The next day-same story. No mail when I first checked. I forgot until that evening. Again, one item-a letter-not a bill! I looked at it out of curiosity. It was postmarked in Des Moines, but had no return address. I opened it. There was a folded sheet of paper with a Scripture reference; 1 Peter 5:11. I looked it up after “reading” the letter. “To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” So, what was the letter? The sheet of paper was actually blank other than the reference. Wrapped inside the paper was a $100 bill. I cried. I was amazed at the goodness of God and His people and humbled that He would reach out to insignificant me. It was a reminder that He will make everything work out for the best. He can do anything. He is good beyond comprehension. I don’t know who sent it, but God does. God gets the glory and this special person gets a heavenly reward. I felt so reassured that everything will be alright. There has been so much fear and doubt even though I try so hard to trust. I know that I don’t need to struggle and instead need to rest in the victory I already have in Christ. It is so hard. God is faithful and so patient with me. I don’t know His full plan and purpose but He does and that is enough. This was just such a reassuring reminder of what God can do.

In a crazy week that started with me still so sick from medication side effects that I was unable to function at a very good level and ended with me having to stop every medication other than the over the counter pain killers and feeling like I was back at the beginning and starting over, God reminded me that He is here with me. He not only knows about this, He knew it was coming. He prepared someone to send me a reminder of His goodness in time to get it when I was at a low point and be encouraged. It isn’t even the money that has me excited. It is the thought and reminder that God can do anything through His people who are yielded and willing. I still get tears as I think and write about it. God is so good!

Update on Mom: Praise!

Good news! My mom received the results of her most recent scans. There is still no sign of cancer in her liver and the bone scans are also still stable. Praise the Lord for answered prayer! She has the option of stopping chemotherapy for awhile for which she is very grateful. There are still decisions regarding what treatment to pursue at this time for maintenance. Prayer is appreciated for wisdom for these decisions. She will have scans again in April. Thank you all who have so faithfully prayed for my mom and family!

A New Year!

A chance for a new beginning. An opportunity to put the past behind me. There is a fine line between learning from the past and dwelling on the past to the exclusion of the present…and future.

Today has not gone as intended. But then, I can’t remember the last time a day did go as planned. This is just another opportunity to learn to be more flexible.

The past few weeks have gone so fast, yet not fast enough at the same time. So many changes have taken place many of which I am still struggling to adjust to. The Lord has been opening some doors and I am following. I am curious to see where He takes me. He has given new hope. There are so many unknowns in the future and so many decisions that will need to be made at various times. I am in a position that makes it impossible to plan very far ahead at present. Since I am ordinarily one who prefers to have everything planned ahead to the last detail this state of things has been a growing point. Learning to let go of my vain attempts to control things and instead follow God’s lead is hard for me. I love to know what will happen next. God loves to teach me ever more about absolute trust! He already knows and has my future fully planned. I simply must follow Him.