Weather the storm

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Last week I wrote about trusting the Lord even through the storms.  As I was thinking of what I wanted to write this week, I actually saw a post on Facebook from a former co-worker and the person that headed up the work place devotions for many years.  Some of you may remember Naressa Allen.  This is what she wrote (I share with permission):

Four years ago last week, I was diagnosed with Stage IV cholangiocarcinoma, which is more aggressive than pancreatic cancer.  My docs said I couldn’t live with only one hepatic vein and 20% of my liver.  I told them, respectfully, that the Lord has His own plan as He is the Great Physician.  They gave me six months…but some are finally understanding that “my times are in His hands”, (Psalm 31:15) and He is in control of this storm.  My oncologists say that we are in “uncharted waters” because I’m STILL breathing.  I’m not in remission, the tumor has a blood flow to it, yet it hasn’t grown any and I haven’t had chemo in over a year.

As I said from the beginning, I wouldn’t trade this cancer for anything.  It has been and continues to be such a blessing.  I thank the Lord for each day that I can tell others about Him and for allowing me these four years of loving on my family, kids and grandkids!  All ten of us go to church together every Sunday, and three of my five grandkids just got baptized.  All this and heaven too!  God bless and thank you to so many for your prayers and being my prayer warriors. 

Naressa is an amazing women of God.  She truly demonstrates considering her life worth nothing to her, but is living to complete the task the Lord gave her.

Her testimony hit my hard last night as when I wrote last week’s devotion, I had just finished under-going some scanning for ovarian cancer.  Praise the Lord that the scans came back clean this week.  Like Naressa though, I had already decided that if that was what the Lord planned for me, then I was okay with it.  I knew that he would use me through whatever circumstances I faced. 

Today, I ask you to join the force in praying for Naressa.  At the same time, I hope that you pray that God would use you as He has her.

Thurs Devo: Wedding Symbols

Today is our 9^th wedding anniversary! (Happy Anniversary, Joe!)

The other day I decided to look back through our ceremony program and saw the information on wedding symbols that we included on the left-hand side of our program. As Joe and I prepared for our ceremony, we were curious about the various traditional wedding symbols and why we have or do certain things at Christian weddings. We decided to research many of the symbols and then included some of our findings in our program.

So, I thought I would stray from our next passage in Revelation and instead share this section of our program with you today!

Wedding

Many of the symbols that are incorporated into modern weddings have traditional biblical meanings. Some of these symbols are as follows:

Bridesmaids – provide light for the groom who comes at night (Matthew 25:1-13)

White wedding gown – symbol of purity and virginity

Veil – symbolizes a wife’s submission, innocence, and being reserved for her husband

Train of the dress – symbol of honor and majesty (Isaiah 6:1)

Jewelry – symbolizes strength and joy (Isaiah 49:18 and 61:10)

White Runner – associated with God’s presence in the covenant

Groom (standing at the front) – symbolizes that he initiates the covenant

Rings/Unity candle/Kiss – symbolize the covenant becoming final and the two becoming one

Reception – Great celebration once the groom has fulfilled the covenant (Revelation 19:7-9 God acts as both host and Groom at the final celebration)

Appreciation Station

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.  Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.  This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.  Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:4-7

The other day, someone asked me how do you stay young?  That’s a pretty loaded question considering that I will soon turn fifty, but nonetheless, I took it as an opportunity to share some of the things that have helped me maintain a youthful attitude.  One of those things focused on the appreciation of others.  Why would that be important to my own youthfulness?  You see, it is very easy to focus on the things that go on in your own life.  However when you focus on the wonderful and brilliance of others, you go beyond affecting your own life.  You directly impact the mood and ambitions of someone else as well.  There is nothing more powerful to say to another person than I love you, and yet, I believe there is nothing more motivating to another person than to say, “I appreciate you.”

God expects us to appreciate the potential of all people through Jesus Christ.  When reading the words of Paul, I love how great an encourager he is.  At the beginning of 1 Corinthians, he displayed an ‘attitude of gratitude’ to the church of Corinth and its people.  Reading his words, you have the feeling of a deep relationship he has with them.  Paul shows genuine love and appreciation for them, and if we were members of that early church, we would feel a great deal of encouragement and strength from him.  Furthermore, Paul himself gained strength from them as well.  Thus, the relationship between Paul and the church was mutually beneficial.  As such, our words of appreciation for others have similar effects.  They can strengthen relationships, inspire others, and break down barriers!  What can be more encouraging to a person struggling with something than to hear they are loved and despite their struggles, they are appreciated for what they have brought in your life.

We are to appreciate others for it is paramount to building God’s Kingdom.  Peter, who correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah, had to feel encouraged as Jesus responded to him in appreciation saying, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.  Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:17-18)  Appreciating others is necessary for and if we accept and love Christ, our hearts will be transformed such that we will see the greatness of not only others but also within ourselves.  And what can be better than seeing how great we can be through Christ?  Who could you show greater appreciation for?  How can you allow God to help you appreciate others?  My prayer is that we open our hearts where we become an ‘Appreciation Station.’  Amen.

Tues Devo: Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:20-25 “Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (NASB)

Hello,

Do you ever wonder why it is that the highest levels of education don’t always yield the most percentage of Christ followers? Why is it that this message of Christ seems so foolish to the world – including those who are considered to be the most intelligent? What are we to make of this passage?

The simplicity of the message and method of Christ is amazing. People want it to be more, or they want it to be dependent more on them, or they want something that manifests itself in a different physical way – but it is none of those things. It is straight forward, it is fully based on Him, and the death and resurrection has already happened.

If we try to make it more, we will struggle with the discussion. It is when we come back to the basics of who He is and what He did for us and the why that we have the most success. Interestingly enough, the harder we try to intellectualize the Gospel message, the more we are making the sharing about us instead of Him….ironic isn’t it, since it fully relies on Him to start with?

Now, don’t get me wrong – I am a big advocate of knowledge and learning. The things we learn about God and His creation can help us answer or ask questions to those we share Christ with. (Let alone, just getting to know Him even deeper). But, we cannot stray from the foundation of the amazing simplicity of the love of God.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill