Monday, August 23, 2010

All We Need For Today

We feel so blessed to have so many praying for us and helping us keep our focus. We can feel your support and it is wonderful! Ted's first round of cancer treatments were found to be very effective. His smile has returned and his energy will, too (as soon as he can grow some more red blood cells).

A journey like this helps us remember to rely on God for our every need...our daily bread. If we could, we would be tempted to do it on our own, but we can't. We need Him and He is there for us. We rely on Him for strength, wisdom and peace.

Sometimes on a significant journey, I find myself pondering the path of "what if." You know? It's the path that leads straight to worry, with anxiety around the bend. But that is the route of the evil one and it's not where God wants us to be! He tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything..."; we can have the peace of God that transcends all understanding. (Phil. 4:6-7) He longs to give us that peace when we let Him direct our paths. All we need to do is keep our eyes and hearts on Him.

Jesus taught His disciples to fully rely on God. He told them to pray: "Give us today our daily bread." (Matt. 6:11) That is, all we need for today. All we need... All we need... All we need for today! We needn't worry about tomorrow because God can do all kinds of things between now and then.

He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19) He knows our needs, even better than we know our own. Maybe we needed this bump in the road to help us rely on Him for our daily bread. He knows what necessary growth it will bring.

And when we feel overwhelmed, we can ask for wisdom, because God gives it generously to all, without finding fault. (James 1:5)

Can you think of anything that hasn't been covered? It sounds like we have all... we need... for today.

Thank you, God, for giving us our daily bread, for supplying all our needs. We surrender to You because You have everything under control. Give us the peace You so long to give.

Write a comment. What needs are we trusting Him to supply?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Our Journey Begins, Again

Three days ago, my husband began chemo treatments again. It came upon us quickly. I saw him wrestle three sleepless nights, trying to find comfort in any position -- bed, couch or recliner. He spent more time wandering than sleeping. And with no rest, he wasn't his jovial self. He barely had energy to talk or smile.

Thank God that the cancer (CLL) is a slow-growing type. Yet we were hoping not to be here again so soon, having just completed treatments in March of '09. This time, the doctor wants to approach it more aggressively to keep the cancer at bay a bit longer.

So our journey begins, again. We trust our doctor and his treatment plan, but more importantly, we trust God and all that He is doing in our lives. We press in to God, hold on tight and learn a new way of abiding in Him. He is all we need. We take things one day at a time and make the most of life every day. Isn't that the way we should always be living? Every day I have thanked God for this wonderful man, who is my best friend and the greatest blessing in my life. Now is my turn to be there for him.

Really, we're in no different place than many of you. We all have great needs to trust to Our Loving Father. We all have times we feel we are standing at the edge of a cliff, but lovingly invited to walk in faith. We don't know what's on the path ahead, but we can trust Him to walk it with us, direct us, guide our steps and provide what we need, in any situation. He must become greater, we must become less (John 3:30 NIV). We must trust more in His agenda than our own.

Whatever uncharted territory you are facing today, whether it be health-related, financial, relational or other...I pray that you would use this to allow God to become greater in your life.

Lord God, may Your strength be with each one calling out to You today. Thank you, Father, for You have blessed us with wonderful and supportive family and friends -- another sweet example of how You provide what we need. 

Give the doctors and health professionals wisdom and finesse tomorrow. May your peace and presence be with Ted. Give him a good tolerance for the surgical procedure and a brand new drug.

Thank you, dear ones, for your prayers. What can we pray about for you?