Saturday, January 25, 2014

Nothing is wasted

Nothing is wasted

The worship team plays that song again. The one that makes my hands fly up in surrender as the tears fall over my cheeks. The sanctuary is dim, the tissues come out and the wiping begins.  Only my dear Phil standing next to me, and God see the release.  The tears are for me and for Him.  For my cleansing and His glory.

You raised the dead to life.  You’ve done the same for me Jesus
You are loving, You are wise.  There is nothing in my life that You cannot revive
You are loving, You are wise.  There is nothing too hard for our God.

I am singing with my lips but the sound doesn’t surface – there is too much emotion inside stifling it, and all that is bottled up comes bursting out as tears.
You have gotten me through this Lord.  I am alive and so grateful.
Cancer is no big deal to you - you raise the dead.
My body is still weak, but you can revive it.  You can make me whole again.

They are singing the chorus now.

Nothing is wasted  
You work all things for good

The presence of the Lord hits me harder now as the song gives answer to the question I had been asking over and over.  What is all this for?  I know there must be a reason for this trial I am going through.

Nothing is wasted  
You work all things for good

Repeatedly the answer comes.  God is not wasteful. He uses everything.   He will use this for good.  As I lift my hands in surrender, I give him everything.  All the pain, the hurt, the tears, the emotions, and say “Take it Lord.  Make something beautiful.”

My dear friend, what is the fiery trial or dark valley you are walking thru this day?  Give it to God.  Let it become seed in His hand that He can plant it in the rich soil of His love and mercy.  Watch expectantly as He nurtures and waters it.  That seed will yield a plentiful harvest that will bless others and you.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

I have seen the seed begin to grow.  He has used it all.  Nothing is wasted.



"Nothing is Wasted" by Elevation Worship



Friday, January 10, 2014

Fresh Grace


Fresh Grace

In June 2012 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  I don’t tell you this so that you will feel sorry for me or even so that you will offer up prayers on my behalf (although prayers would be welcome and appreciated).  I tell you to let you know how this blog and future writing came about.  Going through surgery and chemotherapy was the closest I ever got to a  “valley of the shadow of death” experience that the psalmist alludes to in Psalm 23.  This fiery trial that I had to go through, although not pleasant or easy, has given me new eyes and a fresh vision.  Truly it has been a gift that has given me a greater and fresh revelation of God’s mercy and grace. 

Mercy
During this difficult time, while taking the bible study “Missing Pieces” by Jennifer Rothschild, I came to realize that I not only deserved cancer and sickness but death and separation from God. I deserved it because I am a sinner. The bible says the wages of sin is death and I, like every human, am a sinner so I deserved death.  But I did not receive death; instead I received God’s mercy. The definition of mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. In other words, not getting what we deserve. The only one who could enforce this death sentence, was also the only one who could who could absolve me. God the father was able to forgive me and cancel my death sentence because Jesus paid the price for my sin.  Jesus took my sins upon His body and paid my sin debt with His precious blood on the cross of Calvary.  He took my punishment and in exchange gave me eternal life with Him.

Grace
Thank God that I did not get what I deserved but not only that, I got what I didn’t deserve. Grace is defined as the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.  James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." The beautiful world all around us, the tender love of family and friends, the delicious food we eat, the warm cozy home we live in, are all manifestation of God’s amazing grace. Grace is being treated to God’s best even though we did nothing to deserve it.

Several years before I found out I had cancer, God was telling me to write down things I was thankful for.  I was not a good listener and started a list, but soon got busy and quit. He also was urging me to read “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp which I highly recommend, but I put off reading until recently. I am on my way to listing my thousand and more gifts, but more than that, I am seeing everything with fresh eyes.  Like the song says “I was blind but now I see.” God’s grace and mercy had always been with me but I didn’t always see them. Now I see everything as coming from the Father’s hand.  Trials, joys, laughter, contentment, struggles, harmony - these are all gifts of grace.

Sometimes it takes the long, dark, bleak night to truly appreciate the bright new dawn.