Monday, March 15, 2010

Memorial Box Mondays: The Divine Mix-Up

I wrote about this recently for Spiritual Sundays but felt it needed to be shared as a story for Memorial Box Mondays. If you wish more information about MBM, and want to learn how the stories we share remind us of God's goodness in our lives, please go to Linny's blog, A Place of Simplicity. Her link is on my sidebar.

My sister Jan ordered me a birthday gift from Dayspring Company this past week. Along with the gift she had ordered me a couple of packets of cards since I enjoy cards and stationary so much. When I opened the gifts and started reading the cards, I realized they were almost all meaningful for me at this time in my life. I will be having surgery on March 23rd for uterine cancer. I have Lyme Disease, CFS, and many many allergies that make surgery more risky to begin with, and now facing cancer seems more than a little daunting. We are hopeful since it is the slow growing kind it will be self-contained and not have spread. There are a lot of unknowns that have fear camping out in my living room too much of the time. God has been in the details of my life every step of the way, reassuring me that I am not alone, and this story is one of those times.

After opening my gifts, I read through all the cards and decided I need to keep some of them for myself as they were so comforting. I called my sister Jan and told her thank you, and how much the cards spoke to me. I jokingly told her I was going to sign her name to some of them and keep them to read for encouragement. Here is where God comes into the details.

Jan said to me, "I know you like the Wooley brand of cards, so I ordered some for you."

I replied, "Jan, I did not get any Wooley cards, the cards were by Max Lucado and Roy Lessin."

She said, "Oh there must have been a mix-up or substitution."

I said, "If there was a mix-up, Jan, this was a divine mix-up. I think I am going to sign God's name to these cards!"

God knew just what I needed to hear during this time of anxiety and fear of the unknown. One of the cards had a verse I have been reading almost every day ~ Isaiah 41:10, another quoted Matthew 10:30 about God being in every detail of our lives....another had Isaiah 40:31 (wings of eagles).....There were 11 cards of the 15 that gave me comfort and assurance to face my present circumstances knowing GOD IS IN THE DETAILS. That He is walking with me. Amen and Amen!
I am going to keep these cards to put in my memorial box as a wonderful reminder of an awesome, loving God. I don't know everything my future holds, but I know who holds my future, therefore I need not be afraid.

9 comments:

Sherri said...

Wow! What an AWESOME FATHER we have! He cares about us and when we are afraid or down he sends us a whole box of cards to make us feel better! God is Amazing! He healed me and I am praying for a DIVINE healing for your body. I am praying that when they do your surgery the surgeon has to say "I was wrong...there was NO cancer" and you get to say..."Well you see my Father God took care of that and he also sent me 11 cards!"

Because of CHRIST,

Sherri
http://romans12-9.blogspot.com/

Joan Hall said...

Renee, I enjoyed reading this story again! And I love the title. It reminded me of a devine mix up that happened to my husband. I'll have to write about that and possibly share on Spiritual Sundays.

Thinking of you today.

Joan

Leah Wentzel said...

how precious to get cards straight for GOD!

From the Old InkWell said...

Renee, I pray that your surgery will go well. God bless!

Todd and Jenny said...

I found your blog by clicking on the links at Linny's blog--A place Called Simplicity. I enjoyed reading your memorial box--thank you for sharing! As I began reading through your blog, I felt compelled to share a website and the title of a book with you...(I just finished this book tonight!) The website is www.beinhealth.com and the book (from that website) is called A More Excellent Way by Henry W. Wright. It has been life changing for me and is scripture based. I have to admit I feel kinda weird recommending a book to someone I have never even met, but wanted to obey if it was the Holy Spirit's promptings. May God bless you and protect you.
Jenny
http://jesusbabies.blogspot.com (I have not updated my blog in a very, very long time, but at least you can see who I am!)

debi9kids said...

WOW! What an amazing God we have. He is subtle at times, but yet at the same time, speaking LOUD & CLEAR :)

Blessings.

Shannon said...

Renee! That is so amazing!!!!! He cares so much and is literally carrying you through this! Praying for you!!!! thanks for being such an encouragement and for sharing your story!
Shannon

Goodness and Mercy Mom said...

Renee, what a wonderful story of the power of God's word to comfort and encourage and for this special delivery of just the right scriptures. I used to attend a camp and they would write a scripture verse on the back of our nametags. Every year the scripture I got was always exactly what I needed. God is so good.

I'll be praying for your surgery on the 23rd and for you to have peace and strength in the days prior. If God cares so much about the greeting cards you get, just think how much He cares about your health and healing.

Much Love,
Kathie

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your lovely comment!

I'll be praying for you a lot!

I love the idea re the cards!