My God, In Whom I trust

Thanks Scott, for your email today. It helps me to remember where to keep my focus in times where I feel fear just like a little child would. You have spoken the words that were in my heart but unable to express.

May I remember also that Jesus loves the little children, and that He would like me to come to Him as a little child would, with trust.


MY GOD, IN WHOM I TRUST !

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His opinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” Psalm 91:1-4 NIV

When we discover that we are powerless to fight our strongholds and our issues alone we become as weak as little children. We feel helpless to protect ourselves, caught in a whirlwind of our own making. We turn to God, our Rescuer, because there in nowhere else to go. He is our Rock and our Redeemer. It is comforting to know that when we cry out, God will indeed rescue us, protect us, and love us as a mother bird protects her young, as new parents protect their child. We are children of God. God, our powerful defender will never fail us when (IF) we turn to Him for shelter and safety.

Have we turned to Him for shelter and safety? Have we surrendered and turned our lives over to God, His Son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit? When we discover that we are powerless where else is it we turn? We may turn to means that will take us away from these troubles temporarily, we think, but when we come back, our troubles are still there. Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness. Make today the day we turn our lies over, surrender to, and invite Jesus to take over our lives. He is as the Psalmist says, My Refuge and my Fortress, My God, in whom I trust.

Have we entrusted Him with our lives, yet?

Today I received some information from my doctor concerning recent bloodwork and an mri.
My rheumatoid factor is skyhigh...95...a typical rheumatoid factor is suppose to be 14 or less. My liver enzymes were a bit high...to be expected since I take so much medications and most go through my liver.

The question that whirls through my mind in times like my appt today is...Why? Why do I have to go through this? I am a good person who has a pretty good life.

Sometimes I wonder what the purpose is in all that I go through. I keep thinking I just cant wrap my head around the possible right answer.

I heard my doctor say nearly the same thing when we were talking about the economy and how are people suppose to live. Why? Why do good people have to go through all this economy stuff? Why do that have to lose their jobs, their homes and suffer? I looked at him and wished I could have given him an answer.

I told him well...I am not sure. I did tell him you know there was a King in the old testament that asked some questions similar to what we are talking about...Why do I have to toil in the sun for nothing???? my dr. smiled.

I wonder the same, why are we toiling away to have everything ripped right out from us. We will possibly have no retirement funds, social security etc. Things really look bleak right now.

The thing in all of this is that whether we are ill, lose our jobs, our homes, and etc. we have a God who cares about us, loves us and knows the plan...and the biggest most awesome part is that God doesnt have a plan B.

I happen to be glad I am not the only one who wonders why about things. I hope Dr. Arabbo is talking to God right now about the things that are perplexing him so much, I know I will be talking to God...I know he has the answer!

Hangin’ In There...

Whew! June is here! Happy June!
Personally, I am relieved we are in this part of 2009.

My husband, Gary, has worked for G.M. for 25 years.

We had known since last winter things were going to happen at G.M. But we weren’t real sure just what would transpire, we were put in a place where information was given on a “need to know basis”.

From December of last year until the last week of April we had been functioning in a way we have never had to before...not worrying and thinking daily. I had an example of living daily from those of Nicaragua, living in the poorest of conditions. They lived daily, in that moment, not worrying, and talking to God about their deepest concerns.

We werent sure if Gary would lose his job, be “re-leveled” (demoted), or stay in his current position. Each of those situations had things to think about, each of those situations had things that worried me. I kept thinking, “how are we going to do this?” Then I heard a quiet voice remind me about, “not worrying about tomorrow”, asking Him for our “daily bread” and “talk to me”.

I am very relieved to share with you Gary is still working for G.M. Please remember to keep us in your prayers. Changes will be taking place within his “group” at work and of course we don't know what these changes are or what they will mean but as you know...information is still given

on a “need to know basis”.

Food for Thought :0)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:6 RSV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV

URGENT PRAYER REUQEST

Hi Everyone. I have an urgent prayer request from my cousin about his daughter(my second cousin).

Ella, my 2 ½ year old Second Cousin, has been in the hospital since last Tuesday (4/28). She was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. She has been spiking a high fever for several days and the doctors found that one of her kidneys was infected. Last Thursday they inserted a pick line for her antibiotics and a tube into her kidney to drain it. Since then her stomach and intestines shut down, they think due to shock, but have that somewhat under control by inserting a tube into her stomach to drain it. She continues to have a high fever.
Today she will get a blood transfusion because her hemoglobin is low. The doctors also plan on tapping the shunt in her head to see if that is infected and do more tests to find out exactly what is going on.

Randy & Lori (Her parents) and Ella are drained emotionally and physically. Please pray that Randy & Lori will be able to make good decisions regarding Ella’s care. Ella is not allowed to eat or drink anything until they can get some answers.

How

Often after I past the question of why, I then move to the question of how.

God how would you like to me use this to glorify you?

So right now...I am wondering this. I am staying quiet so I can hear what he might say.
Looking at life right now to see where the how question to be answered.

Suffering...

Suffering...why?
I often wonder why.
I'm not sure.

I wonder when I will be healed. Some days I dont care what day it will be, whether it will be here on earth or in heaven. Those are the good days. :) The bad days I believe this too. Just a bit harder to believe I guess.

I often wonder why I have to be in pain.
I learned that pain is God's gift to us to help us know when something is wrong with our bodies so we can get the care we need. Im glad that He made our bodies in such a way to signal us when things are going wrong.

Back to the orignial question, why suffering?
Is it for us to reflect on our lives, ourselves, others, God or what?

I know my response for the past 10 years has been whatever God, and I dont mean that to be a sarcastic thing. I mean God whatever your will is for the pain, and weird things that go on with my body.

I cry in his arms, they are the strongest. When I relax I see myself laying in His arms, and Him stroking my head and hair ever so gently.

Really I cant think of any other place I would rather be, in His arms being comforted. Because there is no other place I can get comfort that is so loving and gentle.

Those are my thoughts on suffering. I dont know the whys of suffering, but I know who to turn to in times where life is hard. It is easier than what I might resort to.

What is my focus...what will be the response???? I can focus on suffering and how terrible it is, or I can focus on who God is. My response can be one of surrending the battle of suffering with a huge fight, looking to Him for answers about treaments, doctors, and respond with thanksgiving, praise and worship for the things that can be done. The things that can't be done, well He is gonna get the glory cause I dont know how He will use me and the situation I am in!

Below is an execerpt from a Grief Share Devotional that I received in my email.



Excerpt from Grief Share Limited Answers Day 192

Here is the challenge: Do not use your suffering as a time to discover if you believe in God, but focus instead on discovering what you believe about Him. In times of suffering, God does not change, but what you believe about Him, what you understand about Him, may.

You will likely have questions to which you will never receive answers. It is human nature to want all the pieces to fit, to want to make sense of things. But there are times when that will not happen.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).

God, instead of focusing on the questions, I want to start focusing on the Answer--You. Help me to better understand Your attributes and Your plan for my life. Amen.


Suggested reading from the GriefShare HelpCenter
When God WeepsJoni Eareckson Tada

WHY, God Why?!

I often have the question, Why God?

I was reminded of this again this morning through a devotional I have been receiving through an organization called GriefShare. It is a ministry for those who have experienced a death of a loved one. I was involved in a support group that lasted 3 months. A very good program.

I am sure others have the same question on their mind when things happen in their life and they have no answer.

In the past year I have asked the Why question many times. Often times there is no answer, not one I can come up with from myself or others, God doesn't answer either. I get frustrated. I think okay, when will the answer come?

Then my thoughts come back to this verse,

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, declares the Lord."

This brings me back to this one thought track I have been having...where is my focus...and what is my response going to be.

In this I am brought back to the thought that God's thoughts may be such that I won't understand the reason he has for things that happen in my life, that I won't understand why. I have decided I dont have to understand why, but trust and have faith that God does know why. I have learned to trust that God has the answer and that He knows best for me in my life, now that is FAITH! I have faith even though I dont know the answer.

Below is the copy of the devotional I received this morning.

The Why of DeathDay 188

Right now you might not be feeling very close to God. You might be thinking, Where is God? Does God really care? How could He let this happen? What does my future hold?

Dr. Robert Jeffress shares the response of a man who lost three of his seven children through horrible deaths to leukemia: "When somebody asks him, 'How could you keep believing in a God who would allow you and your children to experience such a tragedy?', this is what he says, 'In those kind of experiences you have two choices: You can either give up or you can keep believing in God even when it doesn't make sense. Faith means something when it's exercised in the darkness.'"

Dr. Jeffress adds his own insight: "I believe that faith means something when you don't understand the whys. I don't think God ever condemns you for asking why. But in the ultimate analysis, the question is not why but it is Who? God calls on you to believe in Him who said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live again' [John 14:6, 11:25]. Ultimately you must trust in that."

Lord God, I have so many questions and doubts and feelings of guilt and blame. Where do I go from here? Lead me in Your way, truth, and life. Amen.


If you are in a Season of Grief, you can go to GriefShare to find a group and read devotionals, and even receive devotionals if you would like!

'A Season of Grief' from GriefSharedaily emails to help you through the grieving process--------------------------------------------------------
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