When God doesn't answer our prayers for healing~

Today I found out that a dear friend, who has been battling cancer for several years, and always seeming to stay one step ahead, has now been sent home by her doctor and told to call Hospice. As a friend and I discussed how we should be dealing with this, and how we could help and support our friend who is in such deep need right now, I remembered this link that my daughter had sent me a couple of days ago. It is part of a series on healings that is being taught at the Cooper Road Vineyard in Westerville by Rich Nathan.

This particular teaching focused on what happens when God doesn't answer our prayers for healing as we hope He will. I am going to post the link in my links column. All of us will be dealing with serious illness at some point in our lives, and sometimes our loved ones (or ourselves) will be brought back to better health, and sometimes we will lose the battle altogether.

We have prayed for this friend for so long, and so fervently, and I am not willing to give up and discontinue praying for her healing. But, God is in charge, and He knows exactly what is going to happen in the long run, and He more than any of her loved ones has her very best interests in His heart. He is not surprised by this, and His plan for her life is still perfect. As it is for yours and mine.

As I have said to this dear friend, I could go out in my car today and be killed in an accident, so there's a possibility that I could reach Heaven before she does. And if I do, I will be waiting there for her with open arms, and I expect her to do the same for me if she gets there first.

My prayer always to the Lord is this one, which is the last line in a hymn that is one of my very favorites: "O Sacred Head now Wounded". The line reads~"Oh, may I never, ever, outlive my love for Thee." If there is a chance that I could grow cold in my love for the Lord if I live a long time, I would rather by far be taken home to Him today than let that happen. I know my friend feels the exact same way, and I am grateful that her love for Him continues to grow as she gets news that is so disheartening. And she is paving the way for the rest of us as she courageously lifts her head and trusts God no matter what the outcome. May that be said of us all when the time comes.

Confined to a crate, and not liking it very much...

The other day, as I was getting something out of the refrigerator, much to my dismay my favorite iced tea pitcher crashed to the floor and sent shards of glass flying in every direction. Of course, my two very nosy pooches came running immediately to investigate, which caused me to run to head them off at the pass. Much to THEIR dismay, I hauled them off to their crate in the next room, which is used only for a place for them to escape being mauled by the grandkiddos, or simply to curl up and rest. Very rarely is it used for confinement, but due to the circumstances, in this case there was no choice.

The entire time that I spent cleaning up the glass, moans and groans and whines were emanating from the study. You would seriously think they were being tortured. And here I was just putting them there for their own wellbeing! Which got me to thinking...

How many times has God put me in a place of His choosing that feels on my end very confining, uncomfortable, maybe even downright cramped? For instance, when I have gotten sick when I'd rather have been out and about doing the things on my agenda, or my child got benched on their team for something that seemed very unfair, or a plan to travel was cancelled or postponed because of weather, a child's illness, or for any other of a million reasons...

That makes me then wonder how many of those times were meant to keep me safe, healthy, and out of harm's way, and I didn't even know it? Maybe that sickness kept me from going out and getting in an accident, or the benched kid resulted in an intact muscle or bone rather than the other way around. Or perhaps the cancelled travel made room for another event that was much more important on God's agenda than it was on mine.

I realize for sure that I will never know the answers to these questions this side of Heaven, but I do think that it makes me believe I should whine a lot less and ponder God's hand in my life a whole lot more the next time I am confined to my crate. :)

"For we know that all things work for good in the lives of those who love Him, and are called according to HIS purposes." ~Romans 8:28

Planned Neglect
(from Leading the Way-Feb. Journal)

One evening, a man sat in the audience of a performing arts center and was moved to tears by the beautiful songs of a concert violinist. At the reception following the concert, the man approached the artist. He said, "You are so accomplished for your age! What is the secret to your success?"
The violinist smiled and gave a little chuckle as she replied, "Planned neglect!" Noticing the confused look on the man's face, she explained: "Years ago I discovered that there were many things that demanded my time. I would wake up, eat breakfast, then tidy up around the house. I would check my mailbox and return phone calls and run errands. Before I knew it, the clock would be well into the afternoon as I began my violin practice. But by then I was no longer fresh. I was improving my music skills, but not enough to become a concert violinist. I realized that this system failed to accomplish the desired results.
"I decided that I had to reverse things. Now I deliberately set aside everything else each day until my practice period is ended. My chores and errands still get completed, but my violin practice receives the best and freshest part of my day. That system of planned neglect accounts for my success."
Likewise, when we put our relationship with Christ first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. We will grow exponentially in our spiritual walk when we practice "planned neglect" of our earthly distractions. Is your relationship with Christ suffering neglect or is it first in your life?"

I love this term "Planned neglect." I have been doing that for some time in my life now, and it has made all the difference in my relationship with the Lord. There are days when I miss the boat, but most days my first hour of waking up is spent with Him, and it really helps me order the rest of my day.

Quote of the Century

"Your house should be clean enough to be healthy, and cluttered enough to be happy."