For His Will and To His Glory: May 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Marriage Is Forever - 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a 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. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

----------------------------------

Yesterday, Faith, Hannah, and Hannah's friend Sarah from Liberty came to meet me for lunch at work. I showed them around the office a bit and then we went to a Mexican restaurant and sat outside near a little lake. It was a beautiful day to be outside and we began talking about a wedding that Hannah and Sarah had been to the day before. As they shared some wedding details, we discussed how many Liberty students find their future spouses and get married quickly after college. But, then a comment that Sarah made gave me pause. She remarked that she had heard about a good number of divorces of former Liberty students and that people had this perception that marriages of liberty students were no longer-lasting than other US marriages.

We agreed that it is sad that the body of believers seems to set no higher standard for marriage than the world as a whole. Maybe this is because Christians feel that if you marry another Christian that there will be no conflict and it will be easy. It could be that they think that since this marriage is ordained by God, they will not need to work at it all that much. Today's verse is probably the most popular passage for wedding ceremonies. It gives many examples of what love is and is not such as: patient, kind, protecting, trusting, not envious, not boastful, not proud, and maybe the most important, not self-seeking.

If we are to have marriages that are lasting and set apart from the world, we need to mirror the love of 1 Cor 13, and of Christ himself. If we try to have a 50/50 relationship, we will end up with a "zero" marriage. I pray that we all will continually work on our marriages and strive to love our spouses as Christ loved the church and always put them first.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

---------------------------------

Family Update: Last Thursday we met with the surgeon again and decided to just keep trying to aspirate the hematomas and take no further action at this point. Kay had another sonogram at the hospital yesterday and there again was nothing to aspirate. However, things seem to be breaking up somewhat on their own so we will keep going down that path for the foreseeable future. Kay also had another radiation treatment yesterday after a 4 day holiday weekend and is still tolerating the treatments well. In fact, Kay said that much of the redness had faded in over the weekend. Thanks for the continued prayers for healing!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Share Your Testimonies - Luke 21:13

Luke 21:13

"But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony."

----------------------------------

God used difficult situations in the Bible (such as Paul's imprisonment) to create opportunities to share the truth of the gospel. Just like Paul, we too have opportunities to share our faith. God will either direct these moments to happen, or he will use circumstances to give us these chances to witness.

Over the last several months, Kay and I have had many chances to share the faith that is getting us through this season of our lives. We have had opportunities to share with unbelievers "the hope that lies within us", and we have also had the chance to encourage believers with our reliance on God to carry us through. And likewise, we have been encouraged by many others in similar situations that have given us the strength to persevere.

Just last night I talked to a friend who lost his job a few weeks ago. He worked for a company that had a contract with Home Depot to install storm doors. He has worked for them for 7 years and all of a sudden Home Depot decided to cancel their contract. Now he is out of a job with little prospects and no post high school education. He is a man of great faith though and told me that he knows God will use this occasion to grow him and provide him an opportunity to witness to others because of this trial.

God never wastes a trial. Whether what you are going through is from God or not, he will use that valley for your growth and for his glory. So be ready and on the lookout for life's surprises, and embrace them and use them for his good.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

----------------------------------

Family Update: Tuesday we went to the hospital to try to needle aspirate the hematomas. But alas, the sonogram still showed nothing to aspirate, so we will try again next week. Today we go back to the surgeon for a check-up and to talk next steps. On the positive side, Kay has completed 5 radiation treatments now and is tolerating them ok so far. Praise God!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Do Good Deeds - Romans 2:6

Romans 2:6

"God ... will render to each one according to his deeds"

----------------------------------

Throughout scripture we learn that God will reward believers for their spirit-led good works. And we also learn that unbelievers will have to ultimately pay for the evil deeds.

However, aren't we saved by God's grace through our faith in Jesus, and not by works lest we should boast? How can we reconcile these apparent contradictions? It is clear in scripture that we are saved by grace and not our own works. But James also says that faith without works is dead. The key is that we are not saved *by* our works but that our works are a reflection or an outgrowth of our salvation.

We should be showing God's love and care for our fellow man because of our love for God and a love for His creation. We will be held accountable and indeed be rewarded for our works when we get to Heaven. But, if you have put your trust in Jesus for your salvation, you should be assured that you won't be greeted at the "pearly gates" by some saint who will be evaluating you on a works-based entrance exam. Praise God for His free gift of salvation!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

-----------------------------------

Family Update: It has been another interesting week for the Rudy family for those of you who are not up to date yet. We started the week on Monday with a visit to our surgeon who then recommended that Kay go back in for surgery Monday afternoon to clear out the hematomas. The intervention radiologist at the hospital on Friday had actually said that he would not go back in at this point and wait to see if it would liquify. As Kay really did not want to have more surgery and we wanted to get on with radiation, we decided to opt out of surgery at this point. On Wednesday, we met with our regular radiation oncologist and he gave Kay authorization to stat radiation! So then on Thursday, Kay had her first radiation treatment followed by her second treatment on Friday. She tolerated both treatments quite well, and we are hopeful that she will handle the 4 weeks of treatments without too many side effects.

This week Kay will have radiation treatments every day. Additionally on Tuesday we will go to the intervention radiologist to try to drain the hematomas again, and then on Thursday we see the surgeon to assess progress and discuss next steps. Thanks as always for all the prayers for Kay's improvement and for our discernment!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Hannah's Faith - I Samuel 1:18

I Samuel 1:18 NKJV

"And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

----------------------------------

Of course the first couple of chapters of I Samuel are pretty important to us VA Rudys. Some of you may not know that we didn't name our first child until an hour or so after she was born! I narrate the first video of Hannah calling her "baby Rudy". After she was born, Kay and I read several verses asking God to show us what we should name our first precious little girl. We knew we wanted to give biblical names to all our kids but we want to ensure that we were seeking God's leading in this most important life decision also.

This part of I Samuel really shows the incredible faith of Hannah. The Lord had closed Hannah's womb and this grieved her immensely. But she took her grief straight to the Lord and she poured out her requests to God with the faith that He would hear her. And this verse tells us that as soon as she had bared her heart and laid out her petitions to her God, she was no longer sad. Her countenance had been uplifted even though her circumstances had not yet changed.

I wish we all could have the confidence and faith of Hannah. We should run to God with our requests and petitions and we should be encouraged just through the sharing of our trials and through the absolute faith that He will hear us and answer.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Family Update: Friday was filled with 6 hours at the hospital trying to extract any liquid out of the hematoma on the right side. In the end they were not successful (most had congealed or hardened), but the Doctor did take out the drain on the left side so Kay would have called the day successful. ;) Today (Monday) we go back to the surgeon to see if she wants to have surgery Monday afternoon to go back in and clear out the hematoma.

On a positive note, Hannah bought a car on Saturday! Hannah had gone car shopping on Friday with a lady from church and had found a very nice 2005 Ford Escape. So, Hannah and I went back out to Winchester Saturday and closed the deal. Here is Hannah's post from instagram: http://instagram.com/p/ZMEi-Mw7EG/

Friday, May 10, 2013

Jesus Loves You - John 14:20, 21

John 14:20, 21

"At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.""

----------------------------------

I am reading a book by Dwight L Moody called "The Way To God". Dwight L Moody was a great evangelist of the late nineteenth century and his evangelism and education mission is still embodied today in the Moody Bible Institute. His book endeavors to show us the way to God through first understanding the love of Christ. He contends that most people believe that God hates them for what they have done and so they continually run from him. Pastor Moody states that these two verses in John are his most read Bible verses. If he is feeling unloved or even unworthy of God's love, he reads these verses and is reminded that as believers God loves us with an infinite love and he has sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

As I was reading this passage, the song "Jesus Loves Me" by Stellar Kart started running through my head. Part of the lyrics say:

I can't make it clearer
Put it any other way
If you can't see the simple truth I do
Then there's nothing in this world that's left to say
But Jesus loves you

The message that Jesus loves us is such as simple truth, isn't it? Why can't we "feel" that love deeply sometimes? If you have accepted Christ as your savior, follow his commandments and love him, then He will love you, be in you, and will show himself to you. If you sometimes are hard-headed and don't feel loved or lovable by God, read these verses, and know that God does not change and He always keeps his promises. Be blessed and loved today!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

----------------------------------

Family Update: Kay had a sonogram yesterday of the right side and they saw excess buildup of fluid and fibrous hematoma. They think that Kay needs to get this cleaned out again and so now we are talking with the surgeon to figure out next steps. She is also having significant discomfort with the drain on the left side also. Please continue to pray for her recovery.

----------------------------------

"Jesus Loves You" - Stellar Kart

http://youtu.be/k_1G0f1wz5k

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Holy Spirit, Give Me The Words - Luke 12:12

Luke 12:12

"For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.""

----------------------------------

Today is going to be a difficult day. I am in Austin, Texas today for some meetings that are not going to be pleasant. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will give me the exact words I need to say at the exact time they need to be said. I know I certainly don't have a picture for how this will play out but I am leaning on the One who has 20/20 vision in every situation. Please pray specifically this morning for me and those I am meeting with. Thanks.

Well, another Dr visit another turn. We are taking it in stride now, but we really do pray that we can wrap up the radiation treatments before our California vacation. We had an appointment with the surgeon yesterday and she put a drain back in the left side and suggested getting a sonogram of the right side. The sonogram is scheduled for this Thursday and a follow up appointment is scheduled with the surgeon next Monday to take the drain out again. If everything goes smoothly (ha!) :) we could start the radiation late next week.

Finally, Hannah is home and she is no longer a freshman! Can you believe that? And next month, Faith will be done with her school year and she will be a Senior! And let's not forget about Jake, as next year he will be in high school! Our baby will be in high school? What are we going to do? But seriously, I am really looking forward to this summer to spend some good family time together. I fear that there won't be too many more summers where we are all here at the Rudy house on Twin Oaks. Love you all.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Train Up Your Children - Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."

----------------------------------

So we come to a transition point. I started this daily devotion last August on the first day that Hannah went off to college. Today, Hannah takes her last exam, finishes her freshmen year and comes home! But as Hannah went off to college 9 months ago, I felt God calling me to keep pouring spiritual truths into Hannah's life even though we would be a couple hundred miles and several hours apart. I was convicted that maybe I had not really spent enough time talking to Hannah about the really important things in life. I knew her faith was solid but I also knew what kind of change and stress that college life could bring upon a person. I also selfishly wanted to ensure that Hannah and I did not grow apart and I thought the daily devotion would at least remind her of me in a small way each day. Then in January I felt led to share the devotions with the rest of the family, and started sending them to Kay, Faith and Jake. And finally when we found out about Kay's cancer, I expanded the devotion further to other extended family members to share what was happening with Kay's care also.

For me, writing this devotion has become a very effective medicine to treat the ups and downs of the roller coaster we have been on these last 4 months. I have heard from some of you that you have gotten some meaning out of a few of these devotions. But I can assure you that I have grown much more in my walk through really searching each day for how God was speaking to me. There is nothing like teaching on a topic to really bring you to a deeper understanding and application of a message. God has really sustained me during this period through regular and deep time spent in his word looking for His personal message to me.

Today's verse is also a very special verse for me as it relates to my relationship with Faith. Several years ago as we were experiencing the early teen years, Faith and I had a falling out and our relationship was strained. My heart was aching and I wanted so badly to have that close relationship back that we once had, but was now so fleeting. I tried everything in my own strength and it was always the exact opposite of what I should be doing and usually only made things worse. One day driving home from work, I said "God I need to hear from you that there is hope and that we are only in a season that will soon pass". I turned on my audio Bible and I continued my petitions: "God I *know* you are going to speak to me today through one of these verses and that it is going to happen before I reach our house!" (I was basically challenging God to come through that day) Well, the readings went on and on and nothing spoke to me. However as I was about 3 minutes from home, today's verse was read and I knew God was giving me a little nugget, a little ray of hope to hold on to that things would work out eventually in His time (I can still remember the exact spot on Old Colonial Highway as I had to really concentrate to stay on the road). Of course in time, God drew us back together, and I believe even because of that experience, we are now closer than ever. I am truly astonished at how Faith has grown and matured and has become an amazing young woman of God (for an example see the devotion on March 5th titled "The Faith To Step Out And Give"). Of course Faith and I still have our disagreements which I am sure will last a lifetime because we are *so* much alike. ;) But we know now that each of us loves the other deeply and unconditionally, and that nothing can come between us. I love you always Faith.

So, does this mean that this devotion stops here? - by no means! I intend to continue sharing how God is speaking to me and also sharing what is happening with Kay's treatments and with the rest of our family (eg California trip next month!). However, I won't be writing *every* day, but just periodically as the Lord leads. Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has written me back or shared a positive word for one of the devotions. You will never know how much your words encouraged me and I am thankful to God to have each and every one of you in my life! Until next time....

... don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

-------------------------------------

Family Update: Kay and I go see the surgeon again today to see how we can continue Kay's healing. Also tonight I fly to Austin for a quick business trip coming back on Tuesday night. Please keep my travels and Kay's recovery in your prayers. Love you all!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

The Unending Mercy Of God - Psalms 52:8

Psalms 52:8

"I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."

----------------------------------

Do you ever get tired of being around someone? ...your friends, even your family? Does your patience wear thin sometimes? I know mine does, especially if I am tired or have a sleep deficit.

Thank goodness that our God never tires of us. He never tells us that He is too busy and we need to come back later. His love, patience and mercy are eternal and unending.

Thank God today in your prayers that He never changes, and never tires of us; so that we can have a confident unchanging hope in Him!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Are You Ready To Go Home? - John 17:16

John 17:16

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

----------------------------------

We had an appointment with the radiation oncology Dr this morning to get Kay measured for the radiation treatments. The measurement went ok, but he told Kay that she needs to be completely healed and she cannot start her treatments next week. So, now we head back to the surgeon on Monday to see how quickly we can get Kay to heal. If she is not healed up in a couple of weeks, then we will lose our window before vacation and we will have to wait until we get back. The ups and downs of this ride never cease to amaze us. ;)

As we were driving back home from the Dr appointment this morning, my shuffle playlist came up on Shawn McDonald's "Home". I just love the quality of Shawn McDonald's voice and the words to this song are pretty powerful. Part of the lyrics go like this:

I am ready to go home
I'm packing my bags and I'm hitting the road
Yes, I'm gonna run, I'm gonna run for my home
To stand in the sight of the Living God
That's where I'm longing to be

As John says, this earth is not our home, just like it is not Jesus' home either. We were made for heaven and one day we will be there with our Savior. Are you ready to go home? Have you got your house in order and have you packed your bags? Are you ready to eagerly run to your Father? Are you longing to stand in the sight of the Living God? My prayer is that you are able to answer yes to all these questions! But if you answer no to any of these questions, then ask God to give you an eager, anxious, and longing heart so that you want to run headlong into His eternal presence.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

----------------------------------

Home - Shawn McDonald

http://youtu.be/fYUt1Vr136k

Friday, May 3, 2013

Against You, You Only, Have I Sinned - Psalms 51:4

Psalms 51:4

"Against You, You only, have I sinned."

----------------------------------

David starts out Psalm 52 asking for mercy from God. He asks God to blot out his transgressions and to wash him thoroughly of his sin. David has finally broken down, understands his wrongdoing, and is asking for forgiveness. David has sinned against Uriah by commuting adultery with his wife, and David has also sinned by plotting Uriah's murder! In addition he has sinned against Bathsheba and against his people.

Yet all sin is ultimately against God and David is finally approaching the throne to ask forgiveness from his almighty God. Do you ever justify a sin because you don't think anyone was hurt or injured by your sin? Do you sometimes compare your little sins to someone else's big sins (you probably have never murdered or committed adultery like David).

But in God's eyes, even the so called little sins grieve him and separate us from him. I challenge you to find some quiet time and think back over the last week, or last month, or last decade. Meditate on your life and ask God to reveal to you a sin you have not asked forgiveness for. Then, ask God to blot it out and help you to sin no more. And then if you have hurt someone through that sin, call them up and ask forgiveness from them also!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Family Update: Kay and I see the Radiation Oncologist this morning. He is hopefully going to say that Kay is healed enough to start radiation next week. If so they will measure her and schedule the first radiation treatment for next week. Let's get on with it!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Level-Headed in The Lord - Proverbs 14:29

Proverbs 14:29

"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."

----------------------------------

This week in Bangalore all of my leaders were together for the first time in 7 months and we had a brand new leader join us also. This was the first time I had met the new leader in person and we had an excellent chance to mature our working relationship. One of the pieces of feedback that I gave him was to be calm and reasoned in his approach to problem solving. I had a couple of interactions with him this week, and he sometimes came across as scattered, nervous, and worried.

One of the strengths of my work personality is that I am fairly laid back and when presented with a new problem, I always try to stay calm, methodically understand the issue, and then take a step-wise approach to solving that issue. This proverb today is advocating a very similar strategy. It is saying that there is wisdom and understanding in patience, and that quick-tempered or overly emotional responses are foolish.

Our emotions can be a great asset on activities such as starting new initiatives, working through personnel issues, and maintaining high morale. But when it comes to analyzing issues and solving problems, patience and persistence pay off. The next time a problem or trial comes your way, I would suggest pausing, praying and pondering (TM Kevin Rudy - I just trademarked that alliteration by the way.... ;). Let's ensure that we take a reasoned approach to problems including taking the problem to our Lord.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Family Update: I am home!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Sealed With The Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13, 14

Ephesians 1:13, 14 NKJV

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

----------------------------------

I am writing this devotion very early Wednesday morning from the Frankfurt airport in Germany after spending a week in India. We had an exciting and very productive week but now I am ready to get back home to my family and my own bed. As I was thinking of what I should write about it came to me that I needed to write on a theme from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Of course Bonhoeffer's homeland was Germany and it seems fitting to honor this great saint while I am here.

The premise of Cost of Discipleship is that discipleship is costly because you need to give up your life completely. But at the same time we are given the inheritance of eternal life by faith through God's grace. Bonhoeffer uses today's verse to show that we as believers (and the church itself) are sealed in our faith by the Holy Spirit. He even uses Noah's Ark as a type or model of this seal in that Noah and his family were sealed in the ark by the pitch they used to water-seal the ship.

John MacArthur's Study Bible describes four primary truths that are signified by this seal: 1) Security 2) Authenticity 3) Ownership and 4) Authority. Given these truths and this promise inheritence, we as believers need to have security in our Savior, confidence in His authenticity, comfort in his ownership and a spirit of humbleness in his authority. I pray you know that your are sealed with the Holy Spirit and that you live out your days knowing you have an eternal inheritance.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!