Jesus, Bring The Rain

Today the weather has been a bit wonky. 


Started out as a beautiful sunny morning with a nice slight breeze, just enough to blow the humidity around.


Then it quickly darkened up. The clouds rolled in and hid the sun. Then the sound of raindrops. And more raindrops.


A downpour of water. 

I went back to my chore, and when I looked out again, the sun was shining brightly. 


I listened and heard no raindrops, but rather the singing of the birds. 


I chuckled as to how quickly things change. 


A few moments passed, and the rains returned. Everything was drenched with water. 


Moments later, the sun peaked through again. 


I got a text from my youngest son. I needed to pick him up from work. He couldn't do his outside job in this rain. I told him it was sunny here, but he assured me it was non-stop rain where he was working.




Before we are finished texting, the rains returned here. I went out into the rain to get to my vehicle. 


I only got a few miles and the sun started to shine again. The edges of the ol' country roads showed pools of water collecting, creating big fresh cool bathing puddles for the birds. 


As I continued to drive, I thought of how the sudden change in weather is comparable to our experience in life. 


One minute we're enjoying the sun, soaking up it's warmth, basking in good times. 


All is well. 


And in an instant the trials, the "rains", come. We're not prepared. We don't expect it. We run for cover and just want to hide. We can do nothing about it but sit and watch and wonder "how long is this going to last!?". 


We all experience it at one time or another. Some more than others. 


But what happens when the sun comes out again..... you realize the little downpour of water was a good thing..... it gave the earth a drink. The flowers and plants appreciated it. The animals appreciated it. The rains didn't last forever; they were just here for a time. 


Same with our trials. They don't last forever. They may seem like they last forever. They may last a few minutes or a few months or years; they may last your whole earthly lifetime. 


I used to really dislike when I would hear people talk about how they thank God for their trials; how the trials made them stronger. I didn't want to hear about that. I wanted to hear how God could teach us to be faithful during the good and easy times!


Now, I'm realizing that's not really possible. Just like when you exercise.... it's not effective without some pain and effort. You don't build those muscles while lying on the couch eating potato chips.


And our lives are the same. We don't always learn much when everything is going along with great ease. 


I cannot tell you how much I have disliked the trials that we've experienced, in the last number of years most especially. And I cannot tell you how I really don't want to keep enduring them or go through them again.


But I can tell you that when I look back, I do thank God for them..... [did I really just say that?]... for they have taught me more about who I am, who I want to be. They've taught me who and what is important in my life. I've learned to appreciate the little things more.... the most simplest little things. 


Would I have learned all of that in the sunshine?  Not likely. I had to be out in the rain. In the downpour. Getting wet. Getting soaked. 


But the sun comes out again. And it's a richer sun. A brighter sun. A warmer sun. 

More rains will come. And the sun will not be far behind. In fact the sun is there, behind the clouds.


More trials will come. And the Son is there for me. Not behind a cloud, but He is there for me..... and in me... and all around me.... and through me.


And I'm slowly learning to understand the concept of "Jesus, bring the rain".

Suffer Hardship

For at least three days now, I've been trying to upload videos to the blog....

.....without success!!!

Just when I thought it was going to work, ALL my PREVIOUS videos on the blog were not working either.

Ugh.

So I don't know what's going on with Blogger. I went online and tried to see if their formats changed, or if I had to install some sort of new program. Everybody had questions, others had answers, nothing seemed to work.

So I got fed up from trying and re-trying and trying some more and I just deleted the whole honkin' post!

I had some really funny videos to share, and maybe there was just a glitch in the system that maybe now has worked out; but I don't have the patience to try again today. It appears that my previous posts with videos are currently working.

This morning I took the time to read a small devotion out of a book I received as a wedding gift. The book is called A Threefold Cord and has 365 devotions in it, one for every day of the year.

Today's (November 16th) is about suffering hardship.

Now, I am certainly not saying that because I couldn't post some videos to my blog that I consider it a "hardship". Not at all. It was certainly trying my patience, but was not a hardship. I think in the last few years I've most definitely experienced some hardships that cannot BEGIN to compare with difficulty in posting a video!

But this devotion really spoke to me today.... kind of like God's way of saying to me, "I know you don't see the purpose in your current struggles, but I've got a plan.... a plan that involves suffering some hardships.... so don't worry about your struggles.... I've got it all looked after, and I promise you will benefit from them."

Isn't it just like God to keep me calm? He's just that kind of God. Must be frustrating for Him to deal with stubborn ol' whiney folks like me!!! I mean, really! Who doesn't want to have a nice comfy life? Who doesn't want everything to just flow along at a nice even pace? Who doesn't want everything to be rosey.

None of us want the storms and the rain and the thunder in our lives.....

We want the sunshine with the birds chirping and the gentle breeze with the flowers in the garden blooming full with colour...... ALL the time!

But God has other ideas. And in the book of James it tells us that we can expect trials and tribulations. Expect it! It's comin'! Unless of course you're experiencing it right now! And then when it's over, there's likely another trial just around the corner.

Well, chin up. It's in The Plan! God knows you're going through it. And some very experienced writers have some thoughts about it to encourage you. Here's today's devotional.

A Threefold Cord

November 16th

Page 327

"Suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God." (2 Timothy 1:8)

Having a hard time of it is not to be counted among the sore burdens of life. Having an easy time of it is much more to be dreaded. Nerve and unfailing pluck [courage] get temper and firmness out of hard times --- not out of hammock swinging. Only out of stress and strain comes the clear grit which tells. God pity the man or woman who has never had a hard time of it.

* * * * *

Dr. A. B. Simpson never sought nor expected an easy life. "What," he said, "would we think of Jesus if we ever found Him looking for His own pleasure and consulting His own comfort?"

* * * * *

The only crown a faithful soul will ever get from the world, or from a carnal church, will be a crown of thorns. Rev. G. Grubb

* * * * *

The way seems rough over brier and root,

And the road is so long;

But the Feet that were tired with going afoot

Help mine to be strong.

The Hand that He reaches out to me

Has a scar in the palm;

'Tis a heart that was broken on Calvary

Teaches mine to be calm.

Never Let Go

There are moments in this life when time seems to stop,

when your breath catches you,

when you get that knot in the pit of your gut,

and then it turns to a sick churning in the deep of your stomach,

when your heart physically feels like each chamber is breaking, being ripped apart.

Every parent feels it when they hear the news.

It doesn't have to be your own kid because you instinctively put yourself in the parents' position.... knowing in your head, knowing in your heart, that one day it could be you getting the phone call, the policeman at the door, the doctor walking the long hall.... to tell you your life is about to change in the blink of an eye.

To tell you your loved one is gone.

Gone from this earth.

All that's left is the body. In this case, a body that couldn't survive an automobile accident. A now broken body. Another boy tries his best to revive the motionless broken frame that lies limp on a roadside.

As humans, we do what we can. Sometimes we can wrap our mouth around their's and blow life-giving air back into their lungs; sometimes we can manipulate their chest and make the heart believe that it's still capable of more years of beating.

And sometimes we can't.

Sometimes no matter what we do in our mortal flesh or in our spirit's outcry to God above, the decision has been made by our Maker that one's time on earth is finished.

That we will no more walk this earth.

That we now come face to face with God our Creator, Who had our lives planned from beginning to end before we were even created in our mother's womb. Our frame was not hidden from Him, for He knit us together; we were woven together in the depths of the earth. All the days ordained for us were written in His book before one of them came to be.

And October 1st, 2010 was the last earthly day that a young eighteen-year-old boy would live here on earth.

Left behind is a mother and father and sister. Ohhhh, as a mother my heart feels the mother's writhing pain. As I watched them hug their son in his casket, the tears filled my eyes and literally gushed down my cheeks along with others in the sanctuary, hundreds and hundreds of students and friends and adults and family watching.... feeling the pain..... shedding their own tears... feeling their own hearts break.... knowing that this mother's heart could never ever hurt more than at this moment.

Stories are told of a kind boy who wasn't afraid to every day verbally share his love to everyone he knew with three simple words.... "I love you". How those words will be missed from the curly red-haired, freckled-faced kid.

I can imagine his mother telling him those very words as she leaned onto his lifeless body and gave him her last goodbyes.... not wanting to let go.... not wanting to let go of his body, to let go of her baby....

As his casket is closed and driven to a cemetery and laid in the ground, she must feel her arms are empty because she's had to let go of him in the physical sense, never to feel his freckled skin again.

Sometimes we have to let go. We may not want to, but we have no choice. In this instance, we cannot hold onto the body. We must let go.

However....

the memories,

the pictures,

the stories,

the conversations,

his favourite toy,

his favourite shirt,

a video of him laughing and talking......

these things we have in our possession, in our minds, so that we never have to let go. These things stay etched in our thoughts and in our hands and in front of our eyes and in our hearts so that we never have to let go.

We have a Saviour Who never lets go of us. He carries us, He walks beside us and before us and around us. He never lets go of us when we're hurting or sad or in pain. Even when we're happy and content, He still doesn't let go.

He surrounds us and lives in us and lives through us. He is there to lift us from the pits and help us through the valleys. He protects us in the dark shadows. He knows what we're feeling, He understands our pain and even our anger that we sometimes direct to Him in times like this. And He still never lets go.

Friend, I would encourage you to call on Him. Be honest with Him about how you're feeling, about your pain, about your confusion, about your anger, about your hurt. Ask Him to help you. Ask Him to comfort you. Ask Him what you can learn from this tragedy and how you can make a difference to help someone else.

He promises that He will never let go. Ever.

Below is a video with a song called Never Let Go. Before listening to it, please scroll to the very bottom of the page and hit the PAUSE button on the blog's music. Then return to this spot and hit PLAY.




Never Let Go - David Crowder Band






Our very deepest condolences to Kathy (and Barry & Ian), Bill (and Rebecca), & Kaitlyn on the loss of your son and brother. Never let go.

God bless.

Tyler McConnell

May 13, 1992 - October 1, 2010

*Photo from Ethan Todd's Facebook Photo Album (Thanks, Ethan.)


He Listened
by Joseph Bayly
Written after he laid three of his sons in the grave

I was sitting, torn by grief. Someone came and talked to me of God's dealings, of why it happened, of hope beyond the grave. He talked constantly, he said things I knew were true. I was unmoved except to wish he'd go away. He finally did.

Another came and sat beside me. He just sat beside me for an hour and more, listened when I said something, answered briefly, prayed simply, left. I was moved. I was comforted. I hated to see him go.

Your Faithfulness

Through the trials we've experienced the last few years, we naturally have many questions as we go through them. We don't like the trials and tribulations because they can bring us pain physically, mentally, emotionally.....

But in going through these difficult times, I have learned what others have said about going through trials... that you come out stronger and closer to God. And when I say stronger, I refer to relying on God's strength. You sure don't feel strong in the middle of your trial, but if you continue to reach out to God and rely on Him to help sustain you through those tough times, He gives you the strength to get through them and you come out stronger in the end.

The battles that we face don't just usually have an affect on one person, but on anyone surrounding the one(s) going through their war. Take Blake, for example. He is the one battling the Crohn's Disease. It's his body that hurts and aches and suffers in a physical sense. It also wreaks havoc on him mentally and emotionally as well. But his battle with Crohn's also affects others: me, his Mom; and Jon, his Dad. It affects his brothers, Jake & Jared. It affects our homelife and the way we try and lead our lives. It affects the grandparents and the aunts and uncles and cousins. It has reached out it's long arms and affected Blake's friends, co-workers, church family, school mates, teachers, community folk.........

The one thing that remains constant through the trials is God's faithfulness. He is always with Blake.... always..... even times when the rest of us can't be there for him. God has His plan for Blake's life, and for our lives. We don't know what tomorrow brings for us. Realistically, we don't know what is going to happen an hour from now.

But God does.

And it is up to us to reach out to Him and fully rely on Him whole-heartedly.... to know that HE.IS.FAITHFUL no matter what tomorrow holds.

On August 22, 2010 Blake took his spindly little body up to the platform at church, grabbed his guitar, and played and sang a song as a testimony that is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I've heard.

I want to share that song with you.

Unfortunately, I do not have a video camera that I could tape Blake singing it. But I did get some photos of him. In the video below, you will hear the voice of Brian Doerksen singing the song "Your Faithfulness". I have posted the words under the video, which I encourage you to follow along while Brian sings. There are no pictures in the video, only sound.

Blake.... you don't think you can play the guitar very well, and you don't think that you can sing very well (and we all disagree with you!); but I will tell you that the Holy Spirit moved in you that morning and blessed many many people. I can't listen to this song without shedding tears as I think about the struggles you have been through. I am thankful that at such a young age you are able to rely on Jesus to help you through your battles. I've said this before, and you've heard it in The Isaacs' lyrics: "there's not a battle that I cannot win, we've already won the war". Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. We're so proud of you.







[Please scroll to the bottom of the blog page and hit PAUSE on the blog music before starting the video.]










YOUR FAITHFULNESS
Sung by Brian Doerksen


I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing or filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness



I don't know if these clouds mean rain
If they do, will they pour down blessing or pain?
I don't know what the future holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness



Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness



I don't know how or when I'll die
Will it be a thief, or will I have a chance to say goodbye?
No, I don't know how much time is left
But in the end, I will know your faithfulness



When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts and storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful, always faithful



Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness



I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing, filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

Stamp of Approval - Blake Health Update 2010/09/03

It is with great pleasure.....









for me to officially announce......










that Mr. Blake Found......









after approximately 11 months of numerous phone calls, paperwork, prayer, and even the odd time of some hair-pulling........









has received.......









word from his Specialist's secretary......









at 8:55am......










on September 3, 2010......










that funding for his miracle-drug Remicade......







is........








finally.........







[hold onto your seat....]
'
'
'
'
'
'
'

We have been notified that, not only will Blake's cost of Remicade be covered but, he is also able to receive his medications when he is out-of-province while attending college in New Brunswick. This means we do not have to cart him back to Ontario every eight weeks for his infusions.

Today, I am one extremely happy Momma.

Just yesterday morning I had a conversation with the Specialist's secretary. She explained to me that I had been misinformed by a few people with regards to Blake's situation. For almost a year now, I seem to get a different story from absolutely everyone I talk to regarding Blake's situation.

I had been told that Blake could, once approved, receive his meds in New Brunswick as long as it was shipped from Ontario to New Brunswick. I spoke to TWO different gentlemen from the Trillium group on TWO different dates who both confirmed it was no problem. I also spoke with a special pharmacy who deals in dispensing Remicade, and they confirmed that it could be shipped in a special refrigerated package and that it must be used within three days.

Our Specialist's secretary said she called Trillium and the pharmacy and was told that it was illegal to ship the meds from Ontario to New Brunswick. She also said she was told that it could not be shipped because it needed to be refrigerated and that it needed to be used within 24 hours.

I don't understand why we are being told completely different stories.

Then the secretary said that Blake would likely have to change his province of residence to New Brunswick and then apply for health coverage there.

Huhhhh??????

Ummmm.... how about NO!

It all sounded very suspicious to me.

Anyways, she called this morning at 8:55am to announce that coverage for this medication will be provided to Blake and that he may receive his infusions while attending college in New Brunswick. They will call him with the date and time of his infusions.

She confirmed we are covered for one year, and at that time she will fill out paperwork to renew the Section 8 coverage and that I am to continue to renew the Trillium coverage.

Yes. I can do that!

Just yesterday, after my phone call with the secretary where we discussed all these contradictory statements given to me, I was frustrated because I had worked so hard on my phone calls and keeping good records of conversations, etc. I had spoken to so many people, including politicians offices who were, by the way, of no help to me. I felt like I had beaten my head against the wall. I had gone out later that day to cut the lawns and I could feel myself getting somewhat angry for all these delays and road blocks.

Then it was like a light bulb came on.

...."praise God anyways".

So I pushed out the negative thoughts and said, "Lord, I'm gonna praise you anyways. YOU know the situation and You have a plan. It's not going well here, but You have a reason why. I'm just gonna praise You anyways".

I continued to cut the lawns, row after row, and then the angry thoughts would creep their way back into my thinking. Then, I would hear, "praise God anyways".... and so I'd starting praising Him all over again. I kept pushing out the angry thoughts, allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work.

"Thank You, Lord. You're watching over us."

"Thank You, Father. Your Word says you'll never leave us nor forsake us."

"Thank You, Lord. You have a plan for this situation. You're in control."

"God, You are good. You are so good."

"I will praise Him, I will praise Him, praise the Lamb for sinners slain. Give Him glory all ye people, for His blood can wash away each stain."

And then, 18 hours later, I get the call.

And just how amazing is THAT!?

'

I've had my "God moment" for today.

'

So tomorrow we leave to take my little boy back to New Brunswick. He's gained almost thirty pounds back since June. He's feeling better, looking better, sounding better. Like The Six Million Dollar man, he's stronger... better... faster. Well, OK, I might be stretching it on the "faster" part, but you get my drift.

'

He has spent the day packing, running last-minute errands, and tonight is relaxing with his best bud Billy. They are downstairs now attacking the XBox360. It gives my heart happiness to hear them laughing and hollering at one another down there.

'

Please remember us in prayer as we travel all day Saturday. My brother-in-law, Brent, is able to go with me, and I'm very appreciative of that. The van is almost all loaded up and we strike out early morning.

'

Also remember in your prayers to thank our Lord for His many blessings. What a trial these last few years have been; but we come out victorious because we go through our battles in the name of the Lord.

'

There's not a battle we cannot win; we've already won the war! Hallelujah!

As a footnote, I'd like to include this video. It was posted on another blog that I follow. The lady with the hat in the video passed away this week to be with Jesus after a battle with cancer. I thought this was a beautiful song, sung in a "round"; it's message seems to fit what I was just writing about. Enjoy.

[Remember to pause my music at the bottom of this page.]



Hearts Uplifted

Three Old, One Young

Four beds.

Salmon-coloured walls.

Faded yellow blankets.

Four men.... three old, one young.

One on the brink of beginning his life.... and three inching closer to the end of their's.

One of the elderly

Snoring... non-stop.






Chattering away in his sleep.









Having a conversation with himself... none of it making heads or tails.







Answering his own questions in his sleep.






Screaming out in pain when moved by nurses.







Full of apologies to the darling nurses.... yet also thankful for their care.








Incoherent, by times. Convinced he's getting in his car and driving away from here.




Calling the nurse by the wrong name.




Full of congestion.





Ready to cough up a lung at any moment.





And more snoring.... sawing logs.





In his mind, he's resting peacefully.









One of the elderly





Confused by times.




Concerned about his wallet's whereabouts.




The nurse assures it's in safe-keeping.




He asks for it, in case he needs to prove to someone his identity. The wristband isn't enough.




He moves, adjusts his pillow, and off goes the bed alarm.





He's grateful to the nurse for her care.




Pushes the call-button because he thinks his roommate has had a seizure. It's only a matter of the pillow falling on the floor.... no seizure.





Doesn't like to be covered by the sheets, and the gowns aren't quite long enough. Of course his bed is by the door!





Wants the phone beside him. Doesn't expect any calls, but wants that phone next to his bed.





Again he thanks the nurse, not wanting to be a bother.







One of the elderly



Directly across from Blake's bed.



Coherent most of the time.





A retired Priest.





Extremely kind.





A sense of humour.





Another bed alarm.





He wants to walk on his own.





He tries.





The nurse comes running at the sound of the alarm.





No walking alone.





Sits in the chair by his bed.






He has many visitors.








Visitor sits on the side of the bed to chat.










Gets up to leave and sets off the alarm.










The looks on the faces are priceless. "What have I done???"










We grin.










Elderly man laughs.










Visitor waves goodbye, exclaiming "I'm outta here!"










Priceless.














One young man.




Waiting for his healing medicine.








Waiting on the Lord for a miracle healing.










Confident that the Lord can heal him of his Chronic Disease.










At any time.












At any moment.










Knowing that the Lord's timing is best.










Trying to keep open ears to hear His Lord.










Trying to have open eyes to see His face.










Trying to have an open heart to do His will.










Trying to understand what good can come from an illness that eats away on his insides.








Confident that God is all-knowing.












All-wise.










All-healing.










All-loving.










Striving to be a 'patient' patient.








One woman.









One mother.










One caregiver.










Wanting to take the pain on herself.










Wanting to understand God's plan, too.










But knowing His plan is best.










Lessons to be learned through the trials.










Knowing there's green grass in the valleys.










Wondering how others have any hope without Jesus.










Thankful to be a child of The King.










In Jesus name, we press on.

Are You In The Fire Today?

"No weapon forged against you will prevail... " - Isaiah 54:17 NIV

If you could talk with the three Hebrew children about their experience with the Lord in the fiery furnace, perhaps they would describe it this way: The fire was all over us. Our robes were ablaze, yet amazingly, our skin was untouched. We had no idea what was going on. Then something moved among the ashes; we were not alone. Suddenly, out of the smoke came a shining, gleaming person! We never got His name; He never said it. He never said anything. But just knowing He was there brought such comfort. His presence protected us in the midst of the crisis. Now, we do not mean to say that the fire went out, or that the heat was reduced. No, it still burned, but the brightness of the flames was eclipsed by the brightness of His presence.'We never saw Him again; He showed up only when we needed Him. One thing is sure however, looking back, we are glad they dragged us from the presence of the wicked king into the presence of the Righteous One! In His Company we learned that, "No weapon forged against you will prevail. You will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord."'Are you walking through a fiery trial today? If so, you are not alone - God is with you! Take courage! When He brings you out you will know Him better, trust Him more, and have something to say that will make others want to listen.

From The Vine (July 9, 2010)
"Are You In The Fire Today?"
The Word For You Today - Bob Gass

Thankful For..... Heat & Humidity?

It's been sooo extremely hot and humid here. I am NOT in my happy place. I know that we're supposed to praise God for all things, but I find it very difficult to be thankful for this humid weather. It's simply draining what little bit of energy I actually do have.

This week has been the week with the most sports events for Jared. SIX games in four days! Extra games were scheduled to make up for some cancelled ones from last week due to heavy rains. He's had three soccer games and three baseball games. Fortunately we were able to make it to all the games except one baseball game tonight. It was an extra game that conflicted with an already scheduled soccer game.

I do NOT know how those kids can play in this heat. They had water breaks, but still..... it was hard enough for us parents to WATCH them play, let alone actually run after a ball for well over an hour! Way to go, kids! You're amazing!

So this humidity has been playing some games with my joints. I have been bothered with some pain in my right leg, especially my knee, as well as my feet and my hands. There's no swelling, but the throbbing pain is terrible by times.

Blake was feeling some discomfort today with one of his legs as well. I really do believe it is the weather toying with our bodies.

However, I cannot blame the humidity on some abdominal pain that Blake is experiencing last night and today. And actually, pain isn't the correct word. Discomfort is what he is feeling. This means that the June 22nd dose of Remicade did it's job for two weeks, and now we need that next dose to continue the healing of his intestines. We are waiting for a call from the hospital to have him admitted. I confirmed today with the secretary that we are on the Urgent List. I made her aware of Blake's discomfort, and I asked her to let the doctor know so that we might be able to get the ball rolling a little faster in getting him his next infusion.

I think that I am quite over-tired this week because my brain is just not, well, working properly. I am feeling "out of sorts" and seem to have a bit of anxiety. I don't know why, but I do know that I do not like this feeling. I have sometimes felt this way, off and on, years ago; and it usually passes quickly. This time it's hanging on longer than I like. Maybe I've reached "that age". haha. So I decided I needed to just sit and do some reading and re-program my way of thinking.

I picked up a book that was loaned to Blake. It's called, "The Journey Home - Finishing With Joy" by Bill Bright. I am enjoying it.

Mr. Bright, who is now in Heaven with Jesus, suffered from an incurable disease called Pulmonary Fibrosis. He wrote this book, "The Journey Home", during his final time on this earth; and much of what he said in a particular chapter really touched me. I wanted to share it with you.

Here's what he writes:

"One day, my beloved [wife] asked me: "Why do you think you are suffering; why would God put you through this?"

Immediately, I sensed this reply in the Spirit: "I'm not suffering!" At least, it does not seem that way to me. Suffering is what our Lord endured. There is no comparison between what I'm going through and what Christ went through. He was beaten beyond recognition; He spent six hours suffocating on the cross; He bore the sins of the world; He was cut off from God because of our sins for there was no other way for man to be redeemed. The agony of the trial that had been totally illegal. Then you can think about Peter being crucified upside down. Paul's persecution and his eventual beheading. All the disciples were persecuted and finally martyred, except John, who, after being burned in oil, then was exiled on an island by himself. Through the centuries there have been many martyrs. For their faith in Christ, millions more have spent many years in prisons infested with lice and rats, suffering torture and deprivation of all sorts.

"How can I say I am suffering when I am here in a bed of relative ease? I am surrounded by people who love me; suffering is a matter of perspective. It is not pleasant, humanly speaking. All disease comes from Satan, but God allows only so much --- we can see those limits in the lives of Job, Joseph and others."

Romans 5:3-5 says: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us --- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." ..........

I looked at [my wife] and said: "We are most blessed; we are to look to God's grace, and oh, Father how great You are."

[My wife] told a friend nearby: "Bill has been filled with such praise. What a man."

But, dear reader, please know I tell this so you can know for certain that God is faithful to His Word and He is present with you to help you through whatever stages of difficulty you may face.

The Journey Home

- Finishing With Joy

by Bill Bright

Pages 38 - 40

What a blessing those pages of that book were to me as I read them. Although I am not suffering from an incurable disease, I could put my name in his place, and it helped me to put things in a better perspective. I could also put Blake's name in there, as he battles this Crohn's disease, and I could see how the same could apply to his own situation.

Sometimes I think we forget how good things really are in our lives. We have soooo much more than others in the world. And I am not talking about fancy cars and boats and luxurious houses and all the bells and whistles. I'm simply talking about a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, loved ones around us, and, for many.... good health.

We can be like Bill Bright and praise God even when things aren't going the way we'd like them to. No, it's not easy. But God didn't promise us an easy and fair life here on earth. But we can still praise God for the many things we do have, for the things that he daily provides, even for the air that we breathe.

Even for the humidity. Boy, I'm stretchin' it here! Sometimes we must praise God for things that we don't even understand, because somehow it all works into His plan. He is all-knowing. We are not. And if humidity plays a part in the bigger picture, then who am I to not praise Him for it?

So Lord..... I don't fully understand why, but I am praising You for this heat and humidity. You have a plan. Help us to bear it. You can somehow use it for good. Our suffering is nothing compared to Your's. Teach us to be truly thankful in all things and in all situations.

And thank You also, Lord, for air conditioners.

[grin]