It Could Be Worse

With all the latest technology at our beck and call, we had known about the coming ice storm practically before it formed.  For days we were told to prepare for a major ice, sleet, rain, and snow event. We watched it raise havoc across the plains with damage to trees, property, and human life.

We did what we could to get ready......enough water~ ck.  candles~ ck.  bananas~ck.  (ok, that may sound weird but we get a bit crabby when we are out of bananas!) We planned on not leaving the house on Monday and settled in for the wait.

 For us the freezing rain started after midnight and continued.....and continued....until late Monday night.  It could be worse.  The roads are thick with ice and standing water in places too.  All schools cancelled.  No travel unless necessary.  Still, it could be worse.  We did not lose power in town, there was little wind and under an 1/8 inch of ice I think, so the branches are still all attached to the trees!

It could have been worse.  I think this is a phrase that somehow brings comfort to us..........whether in a ice storm or a storm of circumstances.  Things could be worse.  And I just need to say it.........things could be better too. And how about the phrase, "It is what it is".  I find those five words to be depressing for me.  When hit hard with a storm in life I don't want to hear or find myself saying, "It is what it is."  Back to the storms..............

Just how do we prepare for the storms in life?  The kind that make us weak in the knees.  Unfortunately, we often do not have prior warning of what is coming.  Something blindsides us.  Smack.  So it might just be a good idea to always be prepared for the storms.  Not in a fatalistic way, nor expecting the worst....but just knowing that the enemy would like nothing better than to hit us hard and lay us flat.  He works at it, believe you me.

So we prepare ahead of time.  We put on the full armor of God.

1.  Helmet of Salvation ~ ck.  We take care of that need for salvation.  Eternal life is ours!
2.  Breastplate of Righteousness~ ck.  We know we are sons and daughters of the KING!
3.  Belt of Truth ~ ck.  We wear it to hold everything up.  The Truth....His Truth!
4.  Shoes of Peace, Good news~ ck.  Where does our peace come from?  From Jesus and His Word.
5.  Shield of Faith ~ ck.  Keep it with you at all times....stopping the fiery arrows of the devil.
6.  Sword of the Spirit ~ ck.  His Word is powerful....Use it like a weapon!
7.  Prayer ~ ck.  Pray without ceasing.......
8.  Adding to the list..........Rest.~ ck.  Stay calm and let Him fight for us!!

These weapons prevent, prepare, protect.

And lets not forget the name of Jesus........the blood of Jesus........Scriptures declared.......and Praise!  All of this helps us be ready for the storms that come............or try to come against us.  God has not left us vulnerable.  No, He has not.  He has given us ways to prepare and stand firm and He fights for us. It could be worse.........and with the list above it will be a whole lot better!!!

Some Questions Are Never Answered

Sunday night we were watching an episode of Blue Bloods and the Police Commissioner, played by Tom Selleck, made a statement that resonated within me.  "Some questions are never answered."  I am one who always has questions......no matter who I am talking to, whether it be Joel, Holy Spirit, or someone in the grocery store.....questions are a part of my conversation.

I have had plenty in the past 4 months as we were hit with a tsunami wave of cancer that brought our plans for moving to a screeching halt.  Joel would often respond to my "why" questions with, "I don't have any answers for the whys..."

Today we ran into friends from a former parish while eating lunch at the local grocery store deli.  After hugs all around, the husband told us he had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He was getting treated here after a second opinion with Mayo Clinic, and his journey with chemo and radiation had just begun.  We talked, answered their questions about my recent journey, and promised to pray for them.

I am so sick of cancer invading the lives of people.  At my appointment last week my radiology oncologist told me that in AMERICA breast cancer is an epidemic.  Seriously.  Why?  And what do we do about it?  We all know so many who are affected by a disease that tries so hard to kill, steal, and destroy.  Does that sound familiar?  John 10:10 tells us, "The thief (Satan) has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give you life and to give it to you more abundantly."   The enemy has used cancer for far too long to take the lives of God's people.  Ugh.

I have learned on this journey that we do not get to have all the answers to our questions with God.   We all can nod our heads in agreement, I am sure. But when those times come and questions are hanging in the air where we are confused, downtrodden, or fearful, we need to go back to the answers we do have.  The answers found in the words we read in our Bible.  God is faithful.  Jesus died on the cross for iniquities and diseases.  He is the God who heals you.  He is our guide. God loves us.  What we know for sure, that is where we stand firm.  On the solid rock of knowing what we know and leaving the mysteries as mysteries.  And we know that He delights in us, the way a parent delights in his child.  He is our mighty Warrior.

We may never have the answers for why our move was interrupted, why cancer came calling, why I was healed through prayer by Lyme, but through surgery for cancer.  We may never have the answers why bad things happen to good people like the friends we ran into today. But we do know who we can turn to, trust, and rely on.  We know where we are to rest when hit by tsunamis or storms in life.  Yeah, some questions are never answered, but many more are.  Important ones like how are we saved?  What are His promises?  Is healing for today?  What does His Word say?  We can take comfort in the One who walks with us each day of this crazy life, whether we know the answers to our whys or not.
                                                       

I am linking up with Bonnie Gray today for onewordcoffeeWednesday.  She asked us to pick a word out of Zephaniah 3:17 to speak about.  I love this verse that tells us how much God loves us. When you are not feeling loved, or safe, or sure about what life is throwing your way, here is a great verse that speaks over us all with such powerful truth.  Hold it close as you ponder those questions that are never answered.

“The Lord your God is in your midst. 

He is a mighty Warrior who saves you

He will take great delight in you; 

He will quiet you by his love; 

He will rejoice over you with singing.” 

Zephaniah 3:17

In The Midst of it All

I woke up this morning after 9 1/2 hours of sleep and thought.....I don't really want to go to Bible study today.  I have no energy, I am down and out, and lets add a little "poor me" to that.  I hurt and I don't like going out in public without a bra.  Seriously, I am way to over-endowed for this kind of free living!  I told Joel I was not sure I was going and he said, "Well just ask Holy about it. "  I knew I was not in a good place when I resisted asking.......

I showered, dressed and then asked.  I asked Holy if He wanted me to go to Bible Study......He said, "It is up to you."  I then asked if it would help me if I went and before I could finish asking I got a strong, "Yes!"  Okay then.

I went in down and came out up.  Isn't that just how it goes when we study the Word, share with fellow believers, and are able to lay hands on and pray over those in need.  Hearing the faith stories of others is always uplifting.  Seeking wisdom found in His Word encourages.....Getting the perspectives of others enlightens.  Praying for others brings our focus on the One.  God is in the midst of His people.

.  This morning I saw on the TV a written statement concerning this latest mass murder in CA.  "GOD IS NOT FIXING THIS"  I don't know what it means and I am not so sure I want to know either.

Where is God in the midst of it all?  In the midst of a newborn baby who's brain is dying............in the midst of a waiting room with women suffering from the affects of radiation............in the midst of a group of people celebrating Christmas who are gunned down by senseless violence...in the midst of it all.......

God is in the midst of it all.  It is much easier to see God at work in a room full of women studying prayer, and actively praying, then in the midst of a senseless  act of violence or a baby dying.  God does not want this baby dying, women suffering, mass murders.  NO.  It is Heever from God.  It is the enemy that has come to kill, steal, and destroy.  Not God.

God weeps with us.  I had someone ask me once where God was when I was being sexually abused as a young child.  I told this person that God was with me, holding my hand and crying with me.  God weeps today too.  He waits in expectation for us to seek Him.  God weeps with those who mourn the loss of life yesterday in CA.  He walks with those who endure the radiation in the hope of restoring their health, and provides the wisdom and care of the medical world.  He comforts the baby who's brain is dying.  He heals.

I don't pretend to have answers to the whys of sickness, disease, pain, abuse, and murder that comes against people.  BUT when the world seems to be losing its senses, when the enemy of God seems to be winning the battles, what I do have is His Word and His promises. And His Word is truth.  I do have His truth.  I hold tightly to His truth.  It is all there, inside those pages. And the truth sets us free.