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We should remember that life will always bring its ups and downs, but one
thing that will never change is God's faithfulness. The Lord is constant
in every season and in every year. He has promised to be by our side in
every trial and every hardship and as long as our eyes are focused on the
Lord, victory will be ours. We should never panic or become anxious when
we receive a bad report, but rather that is our opportunity to give God
thanks and praise that the answer is already on its way. Our faith which
is unseen is more powerful and moves God on our behalf much more than
anything else we can think of. (Isaiah 49:15) (Psalm 139:7-10) (Hebrews 10:23)
It is only by faith that we live out our relationship with the Lord. We
believe by faith that He is able to do all things and because we believe,
God is proud to deliver us and meet our every need. Remember what Jesus
said to Thomas in John 20:29 “Because you have seen Me, you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Be encouraged
and know that your faithfulness to the Lord will help you in the trials of
life. He will meet your needs and deliver you and show you how faithful
He really is. (Hebrews 11:13) (Hebrews 11:3) (Isaiah 59:1)
I hope this message encourages your heart to look forward to a better
tomorrow. Never believe that your best days are behind you. As long as
you are alive in this day, good days are promised to be ahead of you.
A PROMISE OF TOMORROW
Hurriedly, I walked out onto the patio to shake the small area rugs.
Thinking all the while of the other mundane things that needed to be done,
I noticed the crocuses were just peeking through the cold, dark earth and
the hyacinths were up ready to bloom. I sat down on the step to get a
better look and felt the warm sun. It was cool, really too cool to sit
outside without a jacket but I hardly noticed because the fresh, clean
smell of yesterday's rain along with the morning sun put new energy into
my soul.
For a few moments my heart sang; yes, right then every thing did seem right
with the world. For a few minutes I was able to put aside the trials that
beset me when I had stepped out into the fresh air. Evidence of renewal was
everywhere. The further I looked the more evidence I saw. After the long
winter and the weight of snow and rain the fragile little plants were
anxiously pushing their way through the warming earth to once again
brighten the lives of all who would take a moment to look at them.
I thought of the times that I had always felt I was too busy to just sit
and drink in the beauties around me - seeing them from the car window was
enough. But then on our wedding anniversary thirteen years before my
husband and I sat in the doctor's office as he announced a diagnosis of
breast cancer.
The nearest treatment center was three hours away. The proposed regimen
was, I would take treatments five days a week and could go home for the
weekends.
The thirty treatments were marked off on the calendar but I could not
understand why my body would not cooperate with me. Finally my doctor
informed me that I was suffering the ill effects of radiation, called
pneumonitis. Such was my new interruption. It manifested itself as a
severe case of pneumonia. I struggled with extreme tiredness, severe
coughing, chills and high fever. Unlike other respiratory diseases, it
does not respond to antibiotics. Days dragged into weeks and I often
thought bitterly, “When will this end?”
Gardening and flowers had been my passion. Every day, I looked out the
windows to see if I could see any of my flowers peeking through the earth
as the snow melted. I told myself, “they will never make and neither will
I.”
This was a new way of living for me - discouragement had never been a part
of my life but now….Early one morning my phone rang and a very busy
religious leader asked me how I was feeling. As he continued to talk to
me, I began to hear answers I had been struggling with and praying about.
For one of the Lord's busiest servants to take time for me was so
gratifying and very humbling. Our conversation brought the relief I so
desperately needed. Even though physically, there remained a mountain to
climb, I had now received inspiration to help me understand some of the
injustices of life.
The next morning dawned a beautiful spring day. I was determined that I
would walk around the lawn and stop at each flowerbed. As I stopped to
rest at the edge of the first bed, I could hardly believe my eyes. There
were little green shoots everywhere, each reaching upward to the light and
straining for the warmth of the sun.
Just like the perennials, I too had come through the long hard winter.
Thirteen years later on our 50th wedding anniversary, the doctor confirmed
that I did indeed have a battle ahead of me this time the treatment would
be chemotherapy.
I had once again come through a long, hard winter, battling cancer again.
This time the battle was Lymphoma and once again I had reached for the
warmth and strained for the light. Light that only God could give. As He
gently guided and I often resisted, His love continued. Everywhere I look
this morning I see what is truly a gift from God. I will never again take
life for granted. God is in His Heaven and that can make all right with
the world.
Yes, each day brings its own priceless miracle - the renewal of life and a
promise of tomorrow.
By Dorothy Casper
blueprint4living@netzero.com
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems
your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender
mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is
renewed like the eagle's.”
2 Samuel 22:29-33 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten
my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap
over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is
proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except
the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power,
And He makes my way perfect.”
Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I
drawn thee.”
Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my
right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory
rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my
soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at
Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem172.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: I WAS ONCE LOST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony21.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
