The child might dutifully accept the coat or the umbrella; he might also be trusting  her judgment; in addition, he might be reflecting and [...]]]> A mother hands a child a coat as he prepares to head out the door.  You’re going to need this, she says, it’s cold outside.  Another time, she hands the child an umbrella.  You’re going to need this, she says, it’s raining out and you’ll get wet if you don’t open it as you step off the porch.

The child might dutifully accept the coat or the umbrella; he might also be trusting  her judgment; in addition, he might be reflecting and acting on past experience.

Whatever the case — obedience or experience — in the coat or umbrella scenarios above, the external conditions are present and so it’s really quite simple to accept the coat for the present cold or to accept the umbrella for the present rain as these two situations can be either presently felt or presently seen.

Sometimes we don’t understand why we’re being handed something.

We receive unanticipated work and, thus, more income than we would normally have.  Accustomed to less, we might wonder, Why we have so much more?  We delight in our “windfall” and dream of the different things we want to get.  And then… an appliance breaks or a vehicle needs a new transmission or a tooth cracks and needs a root canal and crown. We feel surprised that we have just the right amount of money needed to cover the repairs!  We then remember we were handed something we were going to need.

Other times, we’re handed an experience or many experiences and we might ask or cry or even complain, Why is this happening?

The first days of running or dieting or learning a new skill sometimes seem so arduous — so impossible!  Most of us give up or what to quit in the face of such difficulties.  Then, someone comes along — say an experienced runner — and he says, don’t quit; keep going… you’re going to need this for the steeper parts of the road.

Sometimes we’re handed illness or tragedy or sorrow and we think, O, can’t do this, I cannot handle this — I just can’t do this — this is too hard for me.  We want to turn away from the problem — we want to run from it because looking at what we think we’re able to do, we can’t see our way through.  And then, by the grace of God, we see a little beyond what we see.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46.1

As we continue to walk with the Lord, as we continue to trust in His Word, we grow… we grow in grace, we grow in wisdom and strength and we grow in trust that He *is* with us — He *is* for us and He really does do all things well.  Not that He will answer or provide or guide in the very same manner He has in the past, but simply: He will answer.

Each situation we face, each heartache that comes, each sorrow that washes over us, each disappointment, each failure, each loss — each thing can be a blessed experience that reminds us of God’s dealings with us in the past — as if He handed us something and said, You’re going to need this.  We may not understand why at the time, but down the road a bit, we’ll see…

We’re so tempted to measure a situation by what we can see — not by what God’s got planned or by what He’s doing.  He is our refuge — we can trust in Him.  He is our strength — we can lean on Him.  He is our very present help in trouble — we can accept what He hands us.  Even when — especially when — we can’t see the storm ahead, we can take the coat of His salvation and the umbrella of His Holy Spirit that He hands us, saying, You’re going to need this.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

O will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever… He has once again – in a remarkable, amazing, loving and merciful way – that He alone is Lord and He alone (Romans 8.28-29) works all things together for [...]]]> Truly, the devil does only seek destruction.
God is only good. All the time.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

O will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever… He has once again – in a remarkable, amazing, loving and merciful way – that He alone is Lord and He alone (Romans 8.28-29) works all things together for good to them that love Him and are the called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Though sometimes painful and seemingly hopeless, things the LORD allows us to experience are for our good and His great Glory. We do praise Him and Him alone for the great love wherewith He has loved us and for His watchcare over our little lamb. We can only take that sweet cup of salvation and say: Thank You.

When a prodigal returns, walking back down the lane, sees the lights of Home and is welcomed into the arms of her father & mother, sisters & brothers, there is much joy and rejoicing — the kind known only following much travail, heartache, pain and sorrow. Sorrow endures for a night, but truly, truly, Joy does come in the morning!  Praise only the Lord.

more later.

As you read the testimony of their lives in the blog entries of Grace’s Journal, you will [...]]]> I have written about this reMARKable couple some time ago…  Andrew & Grace have faced an extremely arduous ordeal with  Andrew having cancer  in the last year.  Please, please remember him in prayer – that God would comfort him, ease his pain and, if it would be His will to heal him, pray God’s swift and merciful healing would be done in and through Andrew.

As you read the testimony of their lives in the blog entries of Grace’s Journal, you will be blessed by the faith and trust in the Lord and His sovereign grace.  They’re such a young couple… facing things in their young life – young marriage – young family – that most people never face in a lifetime.   When Andrew learned he had cancer in his mouth… he and Grace embarked on what has proven to be a very, very painful and difficult journey.

The story begins with January ’07  journal entries.  The entries chronicle the highs and lows of the journey and throughout, you will see the tracing of the Hand of the Lord and His provision, His mercy and love.   And their deep abiding love for Him and one another.

Please join the many who are in prayer for them and also for their families;  thank you.    I suppose much prayer is needed on behalf of so many.  We have friends here locally who are very close to Andrew and Grace and so this is also a very heavy time for them as they watch and wait for updates.