. . . blazed from the pathology report handed to me three weeks before Christmas. Though stunned, I told Gale not to worry; we would get through it. He wasn't convinced and gave me an early Christmas present when we got home -- a nicer set of wedding rings to replace the cheaper ones.
The sober reality didn't hit me until I woke up, weak and vulnerable, after breast cancer surgery. I've told this many times, but the spiritual experience that followed is ever so precious to me today on my seventieth birthday.
With tears, I prayed, "Lord, what's going to happen to me? I'm not afraid to die, but I'm a wimp when I think of chemotherapy. I don't like nausea. I don't think I can handle this."
Suddenly, I literally felt God wrap His arms around me, telling me He would help me through it, and then He gave me a song:Sheltered in The Arms of God. I sang it in my mind.
I recently told Gale that not once did I think of dying during the year of chemotherapy, two additional high dose sessions, radiation, no hair, and learning to eat again after being fed by tube a couple months. I had very little nausea. God is good. Happy birthday to me.
. . . when he sent two disciples to fetch it. We can learn something from this animal.
The untamed colt was tied by the door on the outside as Christ said it would be. If you've never accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are on the outside of Christ, the door to heaven. You are tied to sin, bound by a sinful life style. Some unbelievers make excuses like, that's just how I am. I was born that way. That's why they need to be born again.
The colt was at a cross road where two ways met. If you are tied to sin, you too are at a cross road, and its decision time. Do you go man's way -- Satan's way, your way or God's way?
Isaiah55:6 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon him while He is near:
They untied the mule and brought it to Jesus. To be free from your sins, you have to come to Jesus. God's grace for salvation gives you a new walk. Christ is the truth, the way, the door, and the difference maker.
. . . as well as blessings in our lives. Believers suffer for different reasons. Our bodies change as we grow older, causing normal problems of life.Sometimes we're foolish, disobedient, and rebellious to the Lord. He may see fit to chasten us in His love, as He did King David
God may use suffering for building godly character. Paul, a man of rich Chrisian character, permitted God to mold and make him in the painful experiences of his life. He had letters to write, trips to take, sermons to preach, churches to visit, and dangers to face as he ministered.
He prayed three times that his affliction might be removed from him. God never promised freedom from sickness or suffering, but He does heal. God gave him a message that stayed with him.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities , that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God's grace is sufficient to keep us and strengthen us in our times of suffering.
. . . He is for us, in us, on us, with us, and coming to take us to live forever with Him.
FOR US: Jesus took our place on the cross. I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
IN US: As a child of God, Christ leads us, intercedes for us, and makes us overcomers. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God;
ON US: The light of Jesus should be on us, shinning to the world.Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
WITH US: We have assurance that we will never walk alone.Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
Christ has our back, and He's coming to take us to heaven.
