I have had some very interesting comments. Suzanne said in her comment that she had given up getting her nails done so that she could do a little something for a person in need. We should all take that as a challenge. What can we give up? Who can we help?
Another message that I got from Lance Abate was really good, too. He reminded me of the miracles that happen everyday and how easy it is to take them for granted. Life itself is an amazing miracle. Lance notices this even though his family has been through some rough times. If anyone is deserving of a miraculous healing it is the Abate family. So, why isn't there bitterness there? I would guess that being missionaries to a foreign country has a lot to do with it. They put their lives in God's hands long ago.
I'll try to make my point clearer by using an even more extreme example; martyrs. At what point does a martyr give up their life. When the stones start flying? Or when the guillotine drops? To them that is simply the point that they leave their temporal body. Their life was given up long before their physical death.
How do we apply this? It can be hard to submit everything to God. I think it all starts with something simple. Hand it over one thing at a time, if you have to. Think about the eternal value of what you have vs. what you trade it for. Such as, a manicure vs. showing God's love by buying someone groceries. It could get very addicting. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2. (A friend posted this verse on Facebook today. Very fitting.)
Debbie wanted to leave you this verse (Mac issue hehe). Thanks for the mention of us in your blog. Here is a verse that has meant a lot to us. "Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." My thought is that in the light of eternity the harshest suffering will be but pimple in the light of eternity.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I think Mom and Dad don't have any bitterness towards not receiving instantaneous healing is perhaps because they have already seen so many miracles of healing in our family? They know it can be done in God's perfect timing. 3 near death experiences and threat of blindness in my life alone. God delivered healed and restored each time not just the physical but the financial impacts of each of those. Its hard not to have complete faith in God's ability to heal after seeing (or at least hearing the stories about it--I was kinda little) those miracles in our family.
ReplyDeleteSo why doesn't God just heal us all instantly All the time? I know we wish he would in my Mom's case just as he has done for our family before. I don't know...I won't pretend to know but I do know that my mom is learning to sit still for once in her life...THATS a miracle! :)
For my brother I know we all wish to see healing in his life as well but over the past 2 years we have seen a different kind of healing in his life and he is now gaining perspective on his situation and seeing the platform of influence he has been given because of it.
In my case hearing the stories of so many near death experiences when I was younger my parents always finished the story by telling me "Thats how we know God has such great plans for you--we always felt the enemy was trying to intervene and prevent you from doing what God has in store, and God always won". Maybe I was naive to the fact that all parents say that to their kids, but hearing my parents say that over and over again made me believe it and place value on my life and the potential impact it could have on others, I was honestly scared of screwing it up by making bad decisions after that.
So perhaps it is these opportunities that God presents us with to put the value of our lives and the impact that they can have on others in perspective and give us a renewed sense of focus and passion.
WHEN God heals you and he will we are all praying he will. Your life and its value will never be the same in your eyes or the eyes of others.
It is obvious that you already see this and are most definately taking advantage of this opportunity to speak on a platfrom that would not have existed otherwise and God is using you in amazing ways. We are all so grateful to be able to enjoy the perspective you have in all of this and it is ministering to so many already.