Hhmmmm

As you know, the Lord has been speaking to me lately about being thankful for the afflictions, difficulties, trials, pains and sufferings of this mortal, temporal life. Also, I have been having some physical difficulties these past few weeks, which, so far, is nothing of much significance.

So, yesterday morning, as I washed the dinner dishes from the night before, I went to the Revive Our Hearts website to listen to the latest broadcast from Nancy (Leigh) DeMoss Wolgemuth.  Wouldn't you know... she has started a new series called The Blessing of Thorns. I tilted my face toward heaven and said, "Ok, Lord." 

This afternoon, out of the blue, I decide to hit up Wretched Radio, completely forgetting about what time Todd Friel airs his radio show, and (I kid you not!) he's in the middle of broadcasting pieces of a sermon from Steve Lawson about suffering for the glory of God. 

WOW!

Do you have a broad smile forming on your face right now? I certainly did at that point this afternoon. Both of my arms raised up, dripping soapy water everywhere (again, I was doing dishes) and I ask, "Lord? What are You trying to tell me?" 

Certainly, this is no coincidence. 

I can't help but wonder....  Do I need to just get this concept into my head in general, or is God preparing me for something?

Thankful Thursday ~ Thankful for Grace & Peace

I am so thankful that God is gracious and extends His grace to us:

I'm still waiting on an ultra sound report from the doctor for last week's pains.

I am taking it easy again as I strained some muscles in my back from picking up a box that was heavier than I thought. 

Nonetheless, God is good. I can rejoice and testify that through His strength, I am able to endure and cast off anxiety. It's amazing to me that I can be so calm and peaceful about waiting for the ultra sound results, not becoming anxious about what the results might be and even to be able to say, "Ok, Lord" when I must rest for yet another week. I quoted it last week, but let me quote it again:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 4:6-7

None of this is because of me. It's all because of HIM! When we are weak, He is strong. When we put our trust in Him, He gives us the grace, strength and peace to endure. Nothing can take that away.

I don't know what the Lord has planned in the next few weeks exactly, but I'm sure it's to conform me to His image and for me to be able to give glory to Him alone, no matter the circumstance. 

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes. For those whose He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,   ~Romans8:28-29 

To God be the glory indeed! Thank you for Your peace that sustains us. Your grace is sufficient! 

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.  ~Psalm 115:1

Linking up with Fellowship Fridays

Again: Consider It All Joy

In my last post, I talked about being thankful for the trials and difficulties of life. In my last The Homeschool Mother's Journal post, I talked about just wanting more of the Lord. I also shared my heart's desire last month. Is it coincidence now that I find myself walking through a trial? I think not. 

I suspect that God may have been preparing me for this present affliction, unbeknownst to me. That's good because it's always best to be prepared for the storms rather than to panic and try to find something to hold onto in the middle of them. 

Today, I am going to the hospital for a CT scan on my abdomen try to find out why I have been having such horrible pains. Bladder infection has been ruled out and my blood shows elevated levels of white cells. That may just be normal for me, or it may mean I have an infection somewhere. It's hard to say since I don't have any blood work such as this to compare this one to.  

These pains I have been experiencing are no joke. The only relief I get is by just being still. Absolutely still. To get up and sit down, up and down all day is to have more of this pain. To walk around is to have more pain. To bend over, or pick up anything with any kind of weight is to have more pain. To laugh, cough, sneeze or to be jarred in any way is to have seriously sharp pain. 

If you know me, you know that I have an extremely low tolerance for pain; so low it's basically nonexistent. That's not an exaggeration. Ask my husband and my mother.  :-D

In the past, I have had anxiety, fear and stress come over me when I encounter such pain. However, to God be the glory, I am absolutely calm and worry-free about any of these pains or what the causes might be! It's only because of God's grace that I am able to endure. 

Thank You, Father!

There are a couple of people who have openly declared that they are worried about me. The only response I can come up with is: "Put your worry away" and "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

That kind of peace only comes as we are in constant fellowship with the Lord, conversing with Him and hiding His Word in our hearts. 

I have asked for prayers and I'm sure everyone is praying for healing, which is good. I believe in Divine healing, however, I am praying for God's will to be done in this situation. I desire to seek only His glory to be revealed and reflected in my life so that others may be drawn to Him. If God will get glory from healing this corruptible body of mine, then I fully accept it. If God will get glory from letting me walk through this affliction, thus conforming me to His image and teaching me to rely fully on His strength, then I accept that. It is well with my soul. I ask for God's guidance, wisdom and strength. 

Guys (and gals), I just know the Joy and Solid Rock that I have found, which is Christ Jesus. I'm just stating the facts. Jesus is the righteous ruler, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. His Holy Spirit is my comfort and the river of living water. 

My soul cries out for more of the Lord and less of me. I am willing to accept anything that life throws at me if it will conform me to His image. Temporal comfort means nothing to me if it doesn't draw me to Him. 

To be closer to Him, reflecting only His glory, is all that matters to me. 

Linking up with Fellowship Fridays

Thankful Thursday ~ Thankful for Afflictions

I was praying with Adelle the other night and we were thanking the Lord for all the blessings and good things He bestows on us. In the middle of praying, it dawned on me to be thankful for those blessings that don't seem so good to us: trials, afflictions, pain, suffering, distress, hardships, etc....

Examine what the Word says about tough times,  how we should respond to them, and what the benefits are: (This is not an exhaustive list)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

...but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:13-16

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:16-18

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1-2

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,... Romans 8:28-29

I am challenged to be thankful through the difficulties of life. We must keep in mind that the end goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus, thus giving Him glory in every detail of our lives. The trials and afflictions we face does just that, should we choose to let The Almighty God work in our lives. 

To God be the glory forever and ever. 

Amen!

Linking up with Fellowship Friday