Tag: joy

  • Unexpected – Thoughts on worry

    Mother Sandhill with chick
    Mother Sandhill Crane with juvenile

    Some personal reflection this morning. Today’s image has  nothing to do with the content. I simply like this image of a sandhill crane.

    Just over five years ago, I had surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my left kidney. It was discovered quite by accident (read God’s providence) when I rolled my truck, and the hospital ER was checking out the extent of my injuries.

    Each year, near the anniversary of the surgery, I undergo a series of routine blood tests and have a CT scan to confirm all is clear.

    Last year was my five-year check-up.

    I was feeling great as I awaited my by-phone doctor’s appointment. I would be officially five years cancer-free, and the risk of recurrence was considered extremely low after that point.

    The doctor informed me that all the results from the blood tests were normal. My kidney function was so high that there was no evidence of it ever having had an issue.

    I was feeling great, five years cancer-free. Then, you guessed it, there was a “but”. I have a lesion on the left kidney and spots on the right, which will need further testing.

    I was crushed and depressed for the balance of the day. I had known that such a result was possible and that if something showed up, it would be in the very early stages, so easily treated. I also knew that God is entirely in control, no matter what happened, so that I could face whatever news without fear.

    I promptly forgot all that for the next twenty hours and felt sorry for myself. Then I remembered what I knew about God and His plans and moved forward.

    The next step is an MRI, which, depending on the backlog in our medical system, could take many months to get an appointment. From there, only the Lord knows the next step at this point.

    Is it cancer? Maybe. Am I worried? Not really, for the same reasons I forgot.

    My faith in the goodness of God and HIs love for His children is stronger than my fears. More than 350 times in the Bible, we are told to “Fear not”.

    I know he has my back.


    Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:26-34 ESV

    With Jesus, we can face anything, even if the outcome isn’t to our liking.

    Trust Jesus no matter what and praise His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Where do you find faith in chaos

    Some thoughts on tribulation and perseverance

    When the end comes, can you claim you didn’t know?

    Monsters in the mist

    Facing into the wind

  • Growing in Character

    gnarled old tree

    I’ve always enjoyed trees with character. You know  them—old, gnarled, and still going strong, like the one in this photo. They have defied the odds and the ravages of the years. 

    Getting older always carries some scars and disappointments. There is a pervasive lie circulating in our society. It tells us that once we have hit “retirement age,” our usefulness is done, and our role is to spend the balance of our lives in some form of recreation and play.

    It’s even visible in the church. Far too many people tell me they have served their time and will not be ministering to others. They have hit their magical retirement age and quit contributing.

    Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing wrong with a round of golf or a day of fishing, but we got to be older for a much larger purpose.

    As we’ve aged and experienced our share of health and other issues, indeed, we can’t do everything we used to, and we are certainly slower. We might have more in common with the gnarled old tree than one in its prime.

    Yet, we are still called to serve, give, and love. Ministry has no upper age limit. By God’s grace, we have been given some modicum of wisdom and experience that younger folks can benefit from. Let’s use that.

    That doesn’t mean we tell all the young folks how to do it, or insist that the church music never changes. We don’t become curmudgeons who rejoice in telling everyone how it was different in our day.

    We do it by seeking to glorify the Lord every day. We build relationships with younger generations and mentor. We do the tasks that we can do. We encourage. We pray.

    The psalmist proclaims,

    “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?” Psalm 71:18 ESV

    Not everyone makes it this far. It is a gift and a privilege, and isn’t always easy. Yet God has allowed it for a reason.

    Be a person of true character. Live a righteous life, even in your later years, and serve the Lord always.

    Let us boldly proclaim God to the next generations.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    You might like these devotionals

    Paul’s journey to humility

    Why everyone knows the truth

    Gospel truth – great news