Today’s devotional was all about recalling all of the victories God has already granted us, even as we prepare for another battle.
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/26710/day/2?segment=0
Category: Scripture
From the Holy Bible
The Battle Belongs to God
www.bible.com/reading-plans/26710/day/1
I am the person who gets overwhelmed easily when there is no way that I can make a plan to get out of a situation or solve a problem. I want a solution to present itself readily, a problem that I can attack and then work it out to a satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, Isaac’s cancer is not such a situation or a problem. I don’t see what the end may be and I have nothing to do with the solution. However, I can “fight on my knees” and let God know how I am feeling about this whole “Big C” thing. I want to be a source of strength and encouragement for my son and his family, especially our grandson. We are going to make the trip tomorrow to see Isaac and take him to lunch. We have tried to see him before but he has been busy with his college classes, medical appointments and just life and dealing with it. When my husband finally got in touch with him last night, he said he is free tomorrow, so we made a plan to take him out and spend some time with him. I want to be a good listener, a heart that reaches out in love with the same unconditional love that God shows me. May this be the first of many times that we get to spend with Isaac, sharing and caring and listening to his heart’s cry. If all I can do in this battle is be there to listen, may I be the best listener that God could ever use! Let us be a support system for him when his world and the plans he made for this future seem to be cracking apart. God is still right there, and we want Isaac to know His presence and His love without a shadow of a doubt!
A Savior with Four Titles
www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/16
Jesus actually has many more names than this. Which one do you need to call on today? He is always ready to answer your call.
Right-Size God
www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/15
When I look at all that is happening in my family right now, I have to right-size God to get the correct perspective on things. Yes, cancer is a terrible diagnosis. But it is a hynena or a bear in the face of an awesome and omnipotent God. Isaac is at the hospital now having his bloodwork and CT scan done. We don’t know what the results will be, but God does. I am praying for God to be close to Isaac and to reassure him of his love. You know, I have said before on this page, when things go wrong, it’s difficult to see God’s hand in it. But God never moves, never stops loving, never stops reaching out. So, I am believing that even in this, God is right there, right beside Isaac and his dad, giving them the comfort of His presence that they need.
I do appreciate all of your prayers and hope that I am not wearying you with this topic. I cannot focus on anything else these days, and I ask that you bear with me as I process this new bump in my road. Thank you for your patience and lovingkindness. I do appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers even when I don’t reply to each of them.
Come and See
Happy Resurrection Day! God does not fear honest investigations and questions. He welcomes them, for in our curiosity, we approach an empty tomb and find that Jesus is indeed alive. His Spirit lives inside us while He is preparing a place for us in Heaven. Rejoice! He is alive, just as He said!
Trusting God
www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/13
As usual, this devotional spoke to me right where I most need it. This last week has thrown me for a loop, and not in a good way. Hearing that Isaac likely had cancer last month, well, to be honest, I handled that news pretty well. I prayed and trusted God to take care of him. After all, the surgeon was confident that they could remove it all and he could go on with his life. Then, the surgery happened. Same reaction, same report from the surgeon. Unfortunately, the news at the follow up was not all sunshine and flowers. In fact, our family is still reeling over the report that Isaac has to have bloodwork to check for the cancer spreading into his circulatory system, he is getting a CT scan to see if it has spread to other parts of his body and then he is getting a referral to an oncologist and going to talk to that specialist about chemotherapy. Wait! What just happened? My mind nor my heart can keep up with the changes. From, “It’s all fine” to “You need to undergo treatment for aggressive cancer.” All at the ripe old age of twenty-two. So, I have gone through some real rebellion and pouting this week. Yes, I confess. I got mad at God, but He is big enough to take it and loves me enough to understand it. I ranted and raved at the unfairness of it! I told God that I would rather the growth that they found and removed in me be cancer than that my beloved grandson be stricken in such a way. “Unfair,” I cried. And God patiently waited for me to calm down so he could speak to me. This devotional was one way He spoke to my anxious heart. Things are not better physically, but I am calmer and more willing to listen to God’s Spirit speak words of comfort and encouragement to me. Am I happy about everything? No, of course not. Do I understand why this is happening? No, of course not. But I am CHOOSING to trust God in spite of my feelings and the circumstances and trusting that God will come through and fulfill His will for Isaac, even in the middle of bad news that keeps getting worse. God says to fear Him. That means to me that I need to let Him be God and I will just be the loving Nanna, standing by and praying, and crying some, too, of course.
By the way, I do have a prayer request/favor to ask of you, my readers. If you or anyone you know has the capability of videotaping the eclipse next week and sending me a copy, I would be very grateful. Isaac and his dad planned for two years to go to northern PA (where my daughter lives) and see the eclipse. But because of his new health problems and medical appointments, they can’t go. I just want something to give to Isaac so he can see the miracles of God in the heavens and believe that same God is working in his life. He can’t even see the 85% eclipse in VA because he has an appointment at that time to get a referral for an oncologist. If you can help, thank you in advance. If you cannot help, would you please remember to pray? God bless you.
In the Throne Room
I am not worthy to stand before God, but Jesus makes me worthy and He is waiting for me there. In these troubled days, I find myself crying out to God, not for an explanation of what is happening, but for some relief from the heartache of the unknown. Every day brings more questions, yet God is patient and continues to answer with patience and kindness. He wants me just to be still, trust and wait. Jesus knows exactly what I need and He is providing it in His time…not according to my demands. We can go boldly into the throne room because the door is open to us, and once we get there, we need to be willing to be completely honest. My frustration at feeling helpless, I am laying at the foot of His throne. My anger at a disease that does nothing but destroy, I am laying at the foot of His throne. And the pain I feel for my young grandson, I am laying at the foot of His throne. May God do with it all as He will, but may He know that I am committed to not turning away from Him for guidance and help. He is the only one I can turn to, and I am thankful that He welcomes me into His throne room, even when I’m an emotional wreck.
Keep Preaching
www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/11
What a challenge this is to keep preaching when it seems none are listening! We live in a world in which so many things grab people’s attention, and unfortunately, God is not usually their attention grabber. In a world of Apple, Microsoft, Google and Tik Tok, we are called to be an “Isaiah,” one who does not let people bad choices dissuade us from sharing the truth. We never know when one might turn to God, and after all, isn’t one soul worth all of the effort we put into going and telling. We are being obedient; God is waiting. Maybe this is our time to step out, accept the challenge and tell until there are no more left to hear.
Amazing Grace
There is nothing better than knowing that God’s grace is there for each of us, His love reaches out to us from an empty tomb, and we can rest assured in the fact that God has a plan for each of us. Part of His plan is to make sure that we spend eternity with Him by asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. Life doesn’t always make sense, but God’s plans for eternity do. During this Holy Week, let’s take time to reflect and thank God for His “Amazing Grace.”
Bearing Fruit
www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/7
As you read the devotional and Isaiah 5 today, consider that the vineyard can be any nation that the Lord has called to serve Him and to bear fruit for Him. Yes, the verses are applicable to Israel first, of course, but are they not also applicable to the current nations of the world? God has blessed the United States for many years with abundance, prosperity and a reputation as a world leader. As I watch our slowly losing all of this because of our great determination to go our own way and against God, I am not surprised that the vineyard is not producing fruit. We who are Christians need to produce fruit, pray for God’s mercy on our land and give the fruit that we produce to others so that they, too, may know of God’s goodness and provision. We are not producing fruit to consume it ourselves; its purpose is to feed others so that they may live an abundant and God-fearing life.
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