Oh, Pastor John, so much goodness came from this morning’s reading Brad and I had that I am compelled to write you about it.
Of course, Song’s trial and now news of Doris’ mass as well as the trials gone through by other members of the body, have been on our heart.
Brad and I read nearly every morning and have wonderful fellowship from our morning time together. Today, the Spirit led Brad to read Looking at the Same Thing – a Thought for the Evening for 12-21.* What we felt from that Thought for the Evening was that cancer is a giant like the giants Joshua and Caleb saw in Canaan’s land. And, like Preacher Clark said, it’s all how you look at the giants that determine how you react to them. As it says in the Thought, “If God is bigger in your eyes than the giants of this life, then when you see those giants, you feel different from the way others feel…”
We can/do look at the giants in our life, like cancer, differently. Gary’s response, and most likely Song’s response, is a clear demonstration of looking at the giant differently. Living through the giant that Sister Natalie faced allowed me to see and feel how God is bigger than what she faced. Both clearly demonstrate speaking about the “wondrous works of God” coming from facing their giant. And, Sister Lou’s giant nearly took her down but, with Jesus’ wonderful intervention, allowed her, and us, to see how bitterness and complaining can be replaced with His glory and truth of everlasting life!!!
If this wasn’t enough goodness of God, for our Old Testament class** we are reading Suffering and the Saints*** and today, Brad and I finished reading Chapter 7 – The Divided Kingdom – The Fall of Israel – and the Spirit fell on us and I can hardly put into words all that was felt and said during the fellowship that ensued. But, I will try because it was THAT GOOD
- God and His Son love us so much that they both provide continual opportunities to receive correction. All we have to do is heed that correction. And, by correction, He means for the Body, not the individual who is suffering the affliction. This isn’t about or for only the member of the Body suffering from the affliction, it is, as Brother Billy M. and as Brother John David testified, for the Body! The trials of individual members are for us to grow as a body not only the individual being afflicted.
- This “for the Body” knowing let me see for the first time, that my mother’s constant thankfulness for God – the only words she spoke were “Thank you God for everything” during the last visits we had with her – was for ME. It wasn’t a commentary on her state. It was Jesus’ love for me, His child. It gave me peace to hear those words. It comforted me. It blessed me and Brad. Praise God!
There was more – but it suffices to say that the glory of God was in our house this morning and it was GOOD!!!! Thank you God for this Life! Thank you God for this Family!
With a full and desiring heart,
Allison
* Going to Jesus.com – Looking At The Same Thing