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Thoughts to Encourage Us by Linda A Spencer ©2002 Linda had been encouraged by the faithful Lord throughout this new journey. These writings are taken from her journal and her emails to friends. Follow the links for any you are interested in. We pray that you will be encouraged as you journey along. Crushing the Grain
I am walking through the Valley of Unknowns With the Omniscient, All-Knowing One.
Delay for the glory of God. That's what Jesus did when he was summoned to come cause Lazarus was sick. And He proved Himself the resurrection and the life. Not only to His friends who already believed, but to multitudes of Jewish men and women who had gathered to grieve with the sisters. My treatment is being delayed. In fact it's been a whole treatment period longer - 3 weeks. The "test" heat intensifies. All kind of "what if" thoughts bombard me as the "presence" within my ab talks. I seek the Lord and seek to believe that indeed "my mind plans my way but He directs my path." And that He means this for good, not evil. And that I seek to trust the Good Shepherd as He leads and to trust His character as He watches over this sheep. I wait on Him, trusting Him to renew my strength. I wait, trusting
That
this delay is not denial
May He be glorified in and
through me.
As you read this, get ready to laugh. Last night, having some reactions to side effects, I experienced some anxiety. I was in the bathroom and there was a horsefly trying to take over. I reached down for something to swat it, and as I reached up with the booklet, I noticed the cover AND the verses on it: "Peace I leave with you, peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27. I was touched by the Spirit and amazed at what He would use. Hey, if God can talk through a donkey, He certainly can use a stupid ole horsefly. I HAD to laugh. And of course that's GOOD!! I also had some anxiety this morn, starting to experience some side effects.... as I ate breakfast I sensed the Lord putting in my mind and heart to read Philippians 4. I KNOW He was telling me that. So I read it... and lo and behold verse 7 "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayers and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses comprehension will guard your hearts and minds IN CHRIST JESUS." What hit me was that peace is IN HIM. Well, where else could peace come from? HE IS OUR PEACE. Also, later in the chapter Paul says he is content in any and all situations. HOW can that be Paul? Well, he answers that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So, how could I but pray, thank,and trust Him to be my strength today. He is so faithful to minister to me constantly. FOCUS not FEAR!! .. fear ONLY God...... not side effects, not cancer, not the evil one..... One other verse He applied to me as I walked to school: We wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but against principalities .... and somehow I think that means the evil one is the only one we wrestle against.... And that my own body and it's ailments.... those are not what I wrestle against.... The evil one means it all for evil. BUT, God means it ALL for good. So, I'm walking, baby steps, but I'm walkin' And thankin' and prayin' and testifying to His word. As I now deal with the side effects, I pray for: 1. grace to trust and not be anxious that they won't be too severe. 2. that the chemo will work for good and not against the good in my body 3. That the Lord will strengthen my own immune system to do what it's intended to do -- wipe out cancer cells So... faithful is He who calls and He will do it. That's my trust. May God bless you richly and give you wisdom.
I got a message from a friend that really encouraged me today: "We love you and pray that God will continue to manifest His gracious omnipotence in your life. The victory is in trusting Jesus! Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the outcome, He can be trusted to see you through. We are fallible. He is PERFECT. We are the sheep, HE is the Shepherd. We are the branches, HE is the Vine. Don't let the devil make you afraid that if you don't say or do things the right way you'll blow your healing. It isn't about our performance. It is all about Him! He can be trusted! Abide in Him! Rest in Him! Delight in Him! He will do what is best." Yes I agree about trusting. This morn finally, I was able to let go and be still some. Man it's hard when the body hurts and people are not around and you're not sure when there's gonna be any relief to the physical suffering. I'm asking Him to share with me the Words I need to hear now. I know that's His will... for faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. And I have had countless experiences where He applied His word to my specific situations. I think He wants us to HEAR. Listen for.... I have to simply trust and rest and let go and be still and know that He is God -- that He will be exalted in the earth. Simply. And simple is probably the hardest isn't it? Sir, we would see Jesus. Oh to see Him. Thank the Lord for the prayers of the saints. That's so
crucial to hearing and listening and obeying and having faith and
trust.
(top of page) Think about it, walking on water. How did Peter feel? Did he feel the waves sloshing and the winds blowing him? I kinda think so. So do we. Where did he focus? Where do I focus? I had a faith day -- but it was like walking on the water -- the waves
continued to slosh and the winds continued to blow, BUT, I could walk -- He gave
tremendous grace and peace. IN THE BATTLE.
Faith says that He will not allow more than I can bear and longer than I can bear. He's grinding the wheat only long enough so that it is usable for the FINEST of bread to serve to others. Too much grinding would mean the wheat would have to be then thrown out. He knows just how long. This truth comes from the following Scripture which I just love: Isa 28:24-29 Does the farmer plow continually to
plant seed? Does he continually turn and harrow the ground?
Part of the prayer of Jabez says "enlarge my borders." and I have to say that's been one of the blessings in spite of these hard circumstances. In fact, not just in spite of, but because of. God has used this illness to bring me in contact with people I NEVER would have known, and with those contacts have come many "good works prepared -- Eph 2:10" For example, when I went to get blood last week, the lab technician was with me a lot of the time. I was sharing about how God was taking care of me and she opened up and started sharing about some situations in her life. I was able to share with her some Scriptures that applied and she wrote them down to look at them later. And when I asked her if she had any friends she could openly share with the funny thing is she said, "I just don't open up to people." But here she had just opened up to me. Why? God decided to enlarge my borders. And then one other example: I spoke with a hospital lab
technician to arrange pickup of x-ray film. The lady was having a really tough
and long day complete with some illness problems. My heart was burdened for her
and I prayed for her through the night and next morn. When I saw her later that
day as I picked up the film, I asked her how her evening before had gone. She
said, "You know, I started feeling better and things got much better."
I told her I had prayed for her last night and that day as well. She thanked me
and opened up about her faith and we shared fellowship in the Lord. I left there
rejoicing because if I hadn't had the extreme fever and thus have the extra CT
scan, that would have never happened -- God had that good work prepared. I was
blessed.
"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than
I." (Ps 61) My heart has felt overwhelmed for a couple of
days -- the presence of the tumor which seems bigger than ever.
And today I just haven't felt well. Have slept more than normal.
It's a beautiful day outside, but cloudy inside me.
Last night as I talked with a student about how to pray the Scripture, the
Lord spoke to me from Hebrews 13:5,6 "...... I will never
forsake you. I will never leave you. So that I can confidently
say, 'The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can
man do to me?'"
So this morn as I faced the sense of overwhelming again, I cried out to the
Lord. And He reminded me from those verses... that HE is my
helper. So I looked in my concordance at "help." And searched
every verse.
So I wanta share with you the encouragement He has given me. Yea,
I still feel bad. And yea, the circumstances haven't changed.
And I can't say I FEEL much better. But, HE is helping
me. And I trust by His Spirit I will STAND on these truths.
So I hope you too will use these to stand on. We NEED His HELP!!!!!
First let me define the word from Hebrew and Greek as I understand it: He helps us by aiding, relieving, frapping--drawing us tight, assisting, surrounding, protecting and succouring us. caring and nurturing in a kind sense. Greek and Hebrew words are 998 boethos (bo-ay-thos') and related 995, 996 means the following - to aid, relieve, succour(to nurture and care for in a kind sense; furnishing relief); to aid as in frapping a vessel (to draw tight); 1947 epikouria (ep-ee-koo-ree'-ah);assistance. And finally - 5826 `azar (aw-zar');to surround, i.e. protect or aid. He encouraged me by saying He is my HELP, therefore I need not fear. Because He is assisting, drawing tight, surrounding, protecting, aiding, I need not fear. Think about it, if I'm tied to HIS pier by HIS own fraps (arms) AND surrounded by God Almighty, What in the world should I fear? Cancer?? don't think so. Treatment.... nope; Is fear human? Yes - I think God says more times than anything in the Bible: "Do not fear!!" After all He does call us SHEEP. And He does understand that I am frail. But, He in his nuturing, kind care furnishes GRACE TO HELP in all of this. Take it from one who was down in the dumps and He is my "glory and the lifter of my heard this day. Take it from one who still doesn't FEEL it. But who's heart has some rays of Sonshine enlightening and making it warm. Is. 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you... I will strengthen you..... help you. Ps 121 - my help comes from the Lord who made heaven,earth - nature is in HIS hands. He guards my going out and coming in.... to doctors etc Ps 46:1 A very PRESENT help in trouble. Therefore I will NOT fear though waters rise, TUMORS rise, mountains move, body changes. 46:5 God is in the midst of her. She will NOT BE MOVED. God will help her when morning dawns. He makes wars to cease. Ps 54:4 Behold God is my helper. 54:7 He has delivered me from ALL troubles. Ps 30:10 - Hear... O Lord be my helper. You have turned my mourning into dancing... loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. (Sackcloth represents trouble, sorrow, suffering.... He has LOOSED my sackcloth. Yea!) Ps 42:11 - Why in despair or disturbed, hope in God... I shall yet praise Him; the HELP of my countenance and my God. He helps my very countenance. Ps 33:20 He is our HELP and our shield... 18 eye of the Lord is on them who fear Him ... to deliver their soul from death Ps. 30:2 O Lord, my God, I cried to you for HELP and You did HEAL me. ...You have kept me ALIVE!! Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. I wasn't looking up verses on healing. BUT, He gave me this promise. Yea!!! Ps 10:14... HELPER of the orphan... that's ME!! And LISTEN to this one.... again I wasn't looking for verses on healing: Ps 41:1,2 - How blessed is He who considers the helpless (ME). The Lord WILL deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect Him and KEEP HIM ALIVE and he shall be called BLESSED upon the earth (that's me... I'm blessed) Do not give him over to the desire of his enemies (the evil one wants me ineffective and useless and dead.) The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed. In his illness YOU do restore him to HEALTH. Jn 14:16 - give you another HELPER, that is the Spirit of truth... abides in me. 26 - The Helper, the Holy Spirit... peace I give... don't let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. Mk 9:24 - I do believe, HELP my unbelief. (Yes, He even helps that... aids, draws tight) Mt. 15:25 - Caananite woman said "Lord, help me." She wanted Jesus to help her demon possessed daughter... Heb 4:16 - Draw with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and GRACE TO HELP in time of need. GRACE helps... a gift. I Samuel 7:12... Samuel took a stone... named it EBENEZER saying "thus far the Lord has HELPED us." v 9 He cried out to the Lord for help. Then the Philistines were routed.... "Hence I raise mine Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I'm come..." And finally one in thanks for YOU: I Cor 1:11 - "You join in helping us through your prayers... that thanks may be given by many." Yep!!! and AMEN. FRIENDS, God is my HELPER. And He uses you to help through your prayers. He is my hope. HE is my helper, I will not be afraid. By faith I stand on His WORD and trust in HIS character. May HE be glorified in my life.
Faith is the evidence of things hoped for...
things not seen....
So here's what is SEEN: I
had a blood test yesterday - White Blood Count (WBC) .4 Normal
range is above 4.7.
More SEEN: The nurse's
instructions were to stay away from people. So what about the two
girls spending the holidays with me? And what about Easter Sunday
and the kids I'm taking to that service? And what about the classroom?
Now, faith is evidence of things NOT SEEN:
So this a wonderful opportunity to exercise faith?? So what does faith
SEE?
FAITH SEES: I Peter 4:11
.......whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so
that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs
the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
WHO is my strength? Who
gives the SUPPLY of strength? Who gets the glory? So, I rest in
His Word. I rest in Him. I choose faith in His Word.
FAITH SEES: Proverbs 3:1, 2,
5, 6, 8 Let your heart keep my commandments. For length of days and
long life, and peace, they shall add to you. Trust in the Lord with all your
heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths..... it shall be health to your
body and marrow to your bones.
Trust in Him. Leaning NOT to my understanding (or the world's). Acknowledging Him... trusting His direction. Trusting Him for health to my body and marrow to my bones (blood). Trusting Him for "length of days, peace."
Is this the way the world looks at it?
Absolutely not. And if the world looks at it one way, God usually looks
at it the opposite.
So the focus: the Lord and His
Word and His character -- not me. He is good.
Thanks for trusting with me. FOR
SEEING THE UNSEEN!!
(top of page)
Resurrection. As Chuck visited me in September in the
hospital before I knew anything about diagnosis, he said, "There's
gonna be a resurrection." What he said spoke to my spirit.
I didn't understand it at the time but I knew that the words were from the
Lord.
Think about it. a resurrection is a raising up.
from old to new.
And I've seen that in many ways through this journey. From fear to
faith. From sorrow to joy. From discouragement to encouragement.
From confusion to peace. From lack of seeing to vision. From
hopelessness to hope.
I am thankful for the resurrections I've seen already! I encourage
you to reflect this Easter on the resurrections you've seen in your life
recently. And I pray you are encouraged to see the raisin' up He's
done.
Some thoughts I've had today - TRUST in the Lord with all your
heart. Lean not unto your OWN understanding. And put your faith
NOT in the wisdom of men, but in the POWER of God.
Those are KEY verses for me. As well as listening to the Spirit's leading and being obedient. Trusting Him to guide my appetite and EVEN desires for food. Trusting HIM to use chemo, diet, herbs, etc. After all, without Him all of man's efforts are pointless. Without Him, life is pointless. And life can be had no matter what's going on. LIFE: Jesus in me, the hope of glory. I am thankful for this journey and HOW the Lord has used it to transform this one more into His image. As David said, "in your faithfulness you have afflicted me." I'm thankful that HE is my Shepherd on this journey. Good Shepherd. Do I LIKE the hard stuff? Absolutely NOT!! But I am thankful my Shepherd is with me through it all.
THANK you for your kind prayers and thoughts. MUCH appreciated.
You MADE A DIFFERENCE!! Really!!
Happy Resurrection Day!! And Happy resurrections!!
Nehemiah Ministries would
love to hear from you. How can we
encourage you?
Click here
to let us know.
You can reach us by e-mail: James@nehemiahmusic.org
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