Are You Good Enough? - Mark 2:17

Mark 2:17

"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.""

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A month or so before my great Aunt Evelyn died last year, we traveled to Ohio to see her one last time in the nursing home.  We had a very special time with her and we even Skyped in Hannah at college and Aunt Evelyn was waving and blowing kisses to Hannah through Kay's iPad.  Her son Glenn Jr. and his wife Nancy were there also and after an hour or so we left the nursing home and they took us out to lunch.  We had a very engaging conversation at lunch that turned to spiritual things.  Tears were shed and at one point, Glenn Jr said something like "I don't think I am good enough to get into heaven".  Well we then dove headlong into a theological discussion about that topic that lasted quite a while.  After lunch, we went back to the nursing home to spend more time with Aunt Evelyn.  As we closed our time at the nursing home in the afternoon, we all gathered in prayer with Aunt Evelyn and we prayed for her and for her imminent journey home to her Father.  We also prayed for the grief and loss of those that would be left behind.

Well Aunt Evelyn did pass on about a month later and we went to Ohio to attend the funeral.  I got a chance to talk privately with Glenn and gave him a favorite book of mine called "How Good is Good Enough?" by Andy Stanley.  The bottom line is that a couple months later, my mother told me she had spoken with Glenn and he said he had really been thinking about what we had discussed that day at lunch and that he had read the book I had given him.  The premise of the book of course is that we all fall short of God's standard for us and that we all need a Savior.  Glenn said he understood the book's premise and he also said that it helped him to forgive people who he had never yet forgiven.  I don't know exactly what is in Glenn's heart, but I do know that God is working on him.  Please pray for him.

Our passage today talks about how Jesus came for the sinners.  There is no moral bar that you have to achieve first before you can enter into a relationship with Jesus.  In fact, Jesus loved to spend time with the "sinners" of that day.  He spent much more time with the thieves, tax collectors and prostitutes, then He did with the "church leaders" of the day.  This verse is for all of us because we all fall short and sin every day.  But it is especially for those who think they are not good enough or are not worthy enough to even approach God or be loved by Him.  It is not at all about what good we have done (or not done), it is simply about what Jesus has already done for us on the cross.  So in reality, *none* of us is good enough, but we have an advocate standing up for us that is not only good enough, but is perfect!  Remember your perfect Savior today and thank Him for what He has done for all of us. 

...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!  

What If I Would Say - Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

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The Great Commission.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations!  We've heard it a thousand times, right?  But do we live it?  Are we sharing the life-saving gospel of Jesus with everyone we meet?

Attached are the complete lyrics to a favorite song of mine that popped up on my random playlist the other day.  The song is called "What if I would say?" by Charlie Dodrill.  The words to the chorus are:

But what if I would say

Something about You

What if I'd proclaim

What I know is true

I wonder if they'd listen

Or if they would believe

In the One they're missing

Or would they turn and leave

I could just stay silent and pray

But what if I would say?

The verses talking about this guy waiting at a train station and overhearing some people wondering what life it all about.  He then starts wrestling with himself knowing that he has the answer and he is not sharing it with them.  Instead he is worried about his reputation or how those people will react, or if they will walk away.  He finally summons the courage and tells them that what they are seeking is Jesus Christ.  Well they give him mostly a cold polite smile and they part ways.  Well then 4 years later, he happens to meet one of the ladies and finds out that what he said that day played an important part in her eventual salvation?  The lyrics end with him saying that "I'll always have an answer to the question I've got.....What if I would say?"

Do you have stories like this where you did not speak up?  I know I do.  Do you wonder what might have happened if you had shared the gospel with that stranger, or with that coworker?  I pray that we ask Jesus to give us the courage to speak up and always have the answer to that question.

...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!  

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Here is a link to the song on MySpace.  Enjoy!  

http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=26828814&ac=now

Repent - Acts 2:38

Acts 2:38 

"Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

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Last week, we received this email below from Aunt Nancy and I just had to share it.  I am pretty sure she is the funniest relative that we have (except maybe my Dad)  :)  

"A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: 'Stop! Acts 2:38!' (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ , so that your sins may be forgiven.)  The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.  As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: 'Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.'  'Scripture?' replied the burglar 'She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!'  Send this to someone who needs a laugh today and remember: Knowing scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!"

The lady in this story did not have a real ax or gun but she did have something even more powerful.  The writer of Hebrews describes the word of God as "sharper than any two-edged sword" and it can definitely cut to the heart.  It would benefit all of us to know our scripture better and especially to memorize it so that we have it available no matter where we are.  I don't think any of us has the entire Bible memorize though, but with modern technology we can carry the Bible with us always.  For those of you with a "smart" device (eg iPhone), you can have the complete Bible on your device/phone using a Bible app.  The app that I like the best is simply called "Bible" and it is made by a company called YouVersion.  Just do a search in your app store and download it today!

So, remember that scripture is a powerful weapon that we need to take with us everywhere.  To be prepared, we need to read our Bibles, meditate, and memorize scripture daily!

...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! 

Prayer for Good Health - 3 John 2

3 John 2

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

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Last night, Kay saw this posting below on the Facebook wall of a dear friend and former neighbor. Kay had just told this friend about her diagnosis a couple days ago.  We are so blessed by all the people that are interceding for us in prayer. We are especially encouraged by those that are sending scripture to us. Thanks everyone - we love you all!!!

"We pray for all those undertaking chemotherapy "chemo" the use of medicine or drugs to treat disease, that the Lord will work out His perfect will in your situation and bring about healing.  We ask that the Great Physician will heal all those that have undergone surgery and radiation therapy and that the fire of God will destroy all the cancer cells.  We speak peace to all the patients and ask the healing virtue of Our Lord God will flow through every vein, tissue, cell, ligament and that healing will manifest.  His desire is written in 3 John 2 "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along". We speak peace to all the families having cancer patients.  We speak uncommon provisions to cater for all the expenses needed to take care of the patients.  We destroy every generational curse and declare that they will not continue but the blessing of God will overshadow each and every one of you.  We are in agreement with God's word in Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declared the LORD."  So be it in Jesus Name.  To all the friends, neighbors and family I know who are afflicted I send my love and prayers."  

...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!  

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Family Update: After talking to another Doctor yesterday, we are leaning toward going for one more surgery before the radiation. We need to work out some logistics/timing issues, so please pray for this to resolve itself in the coming days.
 

The Right Thing at the Right Time - Proverbs 15:23, 24

Proverbs 15:23, 24

"It is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind."

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Our Pastor's message yesterday was "The King's Wisdom" and this verse in Proverbs was one of his scripture references.  Wouldn't it be great to always know the perfect words to say at the exact right time?  I know I stick my foot in my mouth from time to time and say things that evoke the opposite reaction to what I was intending.  Our pastor went on further to define wisdom as doing the right thing at the right time.  Whether it is saying something or doing something, timing is everything isn't it?  If you pick the right lottery number, but on the wrong day, you won't get a payout.  If you arrive for a job interview at the right time, but at the wrong building, you will not get that job.  If you give the right answers for the wrong questions, you will fail the test.

The main text of our pastor's message was Matthew 12:1-50 which describes various actions that Jesus took at exactly the right time.  At the perfect time, Jesus rested, Jesus healed (even on the Sabbath), Jesus withdrew (from potential danger), Jesus confronted (the Pharisees), and Jesus ignored (the scribes and His family).  In the same way, we need to know when to rest, when to heal (with a word to a friend), when to withdraw (from an argument), when to confront (a believer's sin), and when to ignore (bad advice from a friend).

But the key to making all these decisions is to do them in God's timing.  Just as we covered in the March 3rd devotion ("Is God Speaking to Us Still"), our pastor described the various ways that God is communicating his wisdom and timing to us.  He shared that God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit of Jesus living in you, His Word as a lamp unto our feet, prayer through listening to God, circumstances, and the church through leaders and brothers in Christ.

So this week, let's try to first recognize our selfish desires and timing, and then purposefully seek God's wisdom and timing by listening for him in all the ways that he speaks to us.

...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! 

Be Still - Psalms 46:10

Psalms 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

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Today's verse comes to us from the background of Hannah's laptop.  The other day, Hannah posted an Instagram picture of her desk at school and commented "Bible, Journal, coffee, MacBook, #myhappyplace".  While I can understand the first item on list, the other 3 are difficult for me to relate to.  I am a PC and tea person, and I have never had the inclination to keep a journal, except when I was required to on my mission trip to Jamaica.  But the verse she included on her background caught my eye.

I am sure many of you have heard this verse before and I believe it speaks to us in several ways.  The first thing I think of when I hear the words "Be Still" is my Grandpa Cooper.  Grandpa Cooper has already gone on before us a couple of decades ago, but when my brother Scott and I grew up we often heard this from him.  He was basically saying "calm down, quit screwing around, and be quiet".  In a way, I think God is saying the same thing.  He is telling us to quit messing around with temporal and unimportant things and listen to Him and realize his greatness.  The verse also says that He is God (Big "G"!) and he will be known, praised and worshiped throughout the entire world.

So when life is crazy and moving a thousand miles an hour at you, take some time to be still, listen to God, worship his majesty and know that he is with you and loves you.

...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! 

Do Everything For Him - I Corinthians 10:31

I Corinthians 10:31

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

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All of my family and friends know that music is an important part of my life and of my faith. I firmly believe that God  uses music to speak directly to our heart and I really appreciate good Christian artists that are carrying His message.  One of my favorite Christian artists of all time is Stephen Curtis Chapman (or as TobyMac calls him "S-C squared"). One of SC2's most recent songs is called "Do Everything" and it is based on today's verse. 

The simple message of the song is that whatever you do in this life you need to be doing it as if you are working for the Lord. Your job can be a McDonald's cashier, a Janitor, a stay-at-home mom, or the CEO of a company, but its all the same to God. Or whether you are sitting in school, working in an office, eating in a 5 star restaurant or feeding orphans in Southeast Asia, you need to do it all for the glory of God.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the things of this world, that we put God in a box on Sunday, or even in a few boxes throughout the week.  But Paul is telling the Corinthians that you need to have God in *everything* that you do.  Yes, everything!  This week, bring God with you to the office, to school, to your friends house, and everywhere you go.

...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! 

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Enjoy Stephen Curtis Chapman's acoustic version of "Do Everything" here:  http://youtu.be/cW2Cz4dmz8o 

As you listen to the song listen to the powerful lyrics.  You can read them all here:  http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/steven+curtis+chapman/do+everything_20976410.html

The Secret Place - Matthew 6:6

Matthew 6:6 

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

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Are you ever stuck for how to pray to God?  Do you close your eyes sometimes and don't know where to start?  Well immediately following today's verse in Matthew 6, Jesus spells out for us a model prayer which we know as the "Lord's Prayer".  Jesus says he does not want us to pray on the street corners or to babble on and on about our needs.  Jesus knows exactly what we need so our prayers should be focused on Praising Him, Admitting our mistakes (confessing our sins), and Thanking him for what he has done for us.

Many of you might have acronyms to help you remember the key elements of prayer.  The one I learned a long time ago was P-A-R-T which stands for: Praise, Admit, Request (yes, you can verbalize your requests but only as one "part" of your conversation with God), and Thank.  I learned this acronym from a speaker (Becky Tirabassi) that Kay and I saw many years.  She said that P-A-R-T was your part of speaking to God, and God's methods of speaking to you were "L-M-N-O-P" which stands for L (Listening - meditating, being quiet in prayer), Messages (from Pastors, etc...), N (New Testament), O (Old Testament), and P (Psalms & Provebers).  That must have been an effective mnemonic as I have not forgotten that in over 20 years!

Now the element of prayer that our verse today focuses on is "location".   This passage tells us that we need to go into a room (King James translates it literally as a "Closet") by ourselves and pray to our father who will meet us there.  I believe this means that we need to get away from the clutter and noise of the world sometimes so we can meditate on God's word and listen for that still, small, voice.  We recently converted our den in our house from a computer room to a library/prayer room and I like to go in there, shut the doors, and read, write devotions, pray, and just think sometimes.  Even Jesus, the very son of God, often got away to be with God in a "solitary place" (Mark 1:35).

I pray you find that place where you can be alone with and focus on God.  He wants to have a deep and continual relationship with you and if you seek him, you will find him in that secret place.

...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!

White as Snow - Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18

""Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow"

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Of course this just had to be the verse for today, as yesterday we had our only significant snowfall in 2 years in the DC area.  I love getting big snowfalls because the sight of that complete white blanket over everything is just so beautiful and peaceful.  And in addition to the sights, the snow also brings a quietness and stillness to the air.

Well just as a heavy snow will cover over all color (including scarlet) on a landscape, Jesus' ultimate sacrifice has covered over our scarlet sins and has cleaned them to be as white as snow.  Our sins are forgotten and thrown "as far away as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).

Be thankful today for a loving and gracious father who does not force us to "work off" our sins, but instead wipes them away just for the asking through true repentance.

...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! 

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Family update:  Kay and I went to another surgeon yesterday to get a second opinion - and we definitely got some more opinions!  We still have some decisions to make on treatment options and we have more doctors to see in the coming weeks.  We are thankful for all the helpful and caring medical staff, but we also would appreciate your prayers to help us filter all this information and discern the correct path. 

Who is your Hero? - Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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Many of you might recognize this verse out of Isaiah as one of the key texts for Handel's Messiah. And now many of you are humming that section of the Messiah. :)    But I have chosen this passage today because I learned recently that Martin Luther translated the words of this verse "Mighty God" as "Mighty Hero". 

If we were to take a survey of people on the street, who do you think they would say their heroes are?  Would they be athletes, actors, or musicians?  Or maybe they would be wives, husbands, brothers, sisters or best friends?

If your hero is anyone here on this earth, then your hero is going to fail you at some point.  God made us to yearn for our divine and perfect hero and nothing this side of eternity is going to fill that void in our hearts. It would be like trying to put a round peg in a square hole. - it just won't fit. 

I am reminded of a song by one of my favorite Christian hard rock groups Skillet.  The song is simple titled "Hero" and some of the words are: "Who's gonna fight for the weak, who's gonna make 'em believe?  I've got a hero,  livin' in me....My hero's gonna save me just in time!"

I pray that Jesus is your hero and that you put your faith in him to save you on this earth and to save you for eternity!

...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!

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Here is the song "Hero" by Skillet!  You older folk might want to turn the volume down.  :) 

http://youtu.be/y9x2CHQClTU 

The "Faith" to Step Out & Give - Matthew 5:42

Matthew 5:42

"Give to the one who begs from you"

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Wow, these words from Jesus are pretty direct, eh?  How about a modern day example to illustrate this commandment in action.

Last Sunday after church, Faith had a sudden desire for some Chick-fil-A.  So she drove over to the Chick-fil-A in Leesburg and was a little disappointed when she arrived.  Of course Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays, so Faith turned around and as she was leaving the parking lot she saw a family in a car with a sign that read "Homeless family of 4.  Any help is appreciated.".  The light was green so she pulled out and headed off to decide on her second choice for lunch.  After she had gotten about 1/2 mile away, she had this gnawing feeling that God had drawn her to that parking lot for a reason, so she turned around and headed back.

She pulled back into the parking lot next to the family and boldly got out and started talking to the family to hear their story.  She found out that they were homeless and that the father had been out of work for 6 months from his construction job because he was injured on the job from hot tar.  Faith of course talked and play with the 4 year old twin boys and developed a bond almost instantly (that will not surprise any of you who know Faith).  Then Faith gathered them all together holding hands and prayed over them!  What a bold witness for Christ's love!  It is only by the power and confidence that we have in Jesus, that we can be his instruments for displaying his love in such a way.  The family then thanked Faith for praying for them and she left them with some money and went on her way.

There is so much more to the story and if you get a chance you should ask Faith to give you all the details!  But, the quick summary is that after Faith left and drove away, she could hardly drive through all the tears so she stopped off at our friends the Richards in Leesburg to gather herself.  Well after she told them the story, our friend Mark wanted to go meet them also.  So Mark, Faith and Sam (Mark's son) all went back and talked to them.  Mark gave them some money also and left them with his business card and told them if they needed anything to give him a call!

So, do you think that family felt the love of Jesus that day?  I challenge all of you that the next time you see someone begging, stop and hear their story.  Be empathetic to their situation, listen to their plight, pray with them, and give them something if you feel led.  You just might be the only person that day that shows them any concern and love.  But when you do, just be sure to point them to the One that can satisfy not only their physical needs but their emotional, spiritual and eternal ones 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!

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And please pray for safe travels for Faith and her friend Natalie as they drive back home this morning from taking Hannah back to Liberty.

Be Ready - Matthew 24:44

Matthew 24:44

"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

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I am sure everyone has seen books or TV shows or preachers who claim that they have cracked the numerical code of the Bible, or found the hidden secret to interpreting Revelation, or seen an end times vision in a dream.  Have you?

Well don't believe any of it!  This passage in Matthew clearly says that Jesus is coming back at an hour that you do not expect, and you need to be always at the ready.  Furthermore, Matthew 25:13 is even more direct in saying that "you know neither the day or the hour", so be on watch.  As we get older and experience more trials, we realize that our lives are fragile and they can be gone in a minute.  So, I think that Eschatology (or study of end times) can sometimes be a distraction for believers.  Regardless of when Christ will return to earth, in a moment we could be in his presence and being held to account for the things we have done.

But in any circumstance we should have hope.  Because as Christ-following believers we can have 100% confidence that whenever that time comes, we will be welcomed into his kingdom with open arms.  So have confidence in Christ, but always be at the ready to be in his 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! 

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Also, please pray for Hannah and Faith as they drive back to Liberty today (Faith is taking Hannah back).  And we praise God for the great weekend we had together as a complete family! 

Is God Speaking To Us Still? - II Peter 1:21

II Peter 1:21 NKJV

"For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

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I believe that God speaks to us in many direct and tangible ways today such as: His Word (the Bible), Creation (this world), prayer, and other believers.  A few years ago, I read a book called "Hearing God" by Dallas Willard.  It talks about how God speaks to His believers, but that in order to hear his message, we need to be mature people (in our faith), and in a close loving relationship with Him.  The book also warns though that as we hear from God, we need to test what we hear against scripture to ensure that what we are hearing is not from Satan, or is not even just a selfish desire (e.g. God is telling me to buy a new car).  This verse in II Peter echos this point that prophecy (or a message from God) does not come out of the will of men, but mature Christians speak as they are spoken to through the guiding of the Holy Spirit.

A few days ago I received a social media notification about an old colleague and friend who is a Christian living in Chennai India.  Her name is Sumala and we both used to work for Software AG.  She is a faithful believer and we have shared our walk over the years, and prayed for each other from time to time.  Well I just felt called to reach out to her and let her know what was going on in my life right now.  She responded to my email almost immediately and she shared that over the last few months (since Kay has been sick), she has been praying almost daily for me and was waiting to hear from me.  After she got my email in the afternoon, she went about praying what she should respond to me with and this is what happened that evening (in her words):

"At around 8 pm, we get a call, from a distant relative, she says she needs to come to our house immediately and give us a book. We are puzzled but we say ok, please come. She is a Hindu, and in 5 min she arrives and gives us a christian book given to her by her friend. She says her friend gave it to all as she has become a christian who received healing from the Lord. We then talk about 30 min about kids and stuff. Just as she is about to leave, I ask her what healing did her friend receive from the Lord. She answers "From breast cancer" and she leaves."

What an amazing, timely, and encouraging story!  This is a great example of how God can speak encouragement to us through other believers.  I am so thankful for Sumala's friendship and for her obedience and faithfulness to God.

I encourage you to listen intently for that "still small voice" of God speaking through His word, His creation, His believers and through our dialog (prayer) with Him.  We have direct access to God and he wants us to approach his throne boldly.  Take your petitions and praises to God today...this minute!

...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!

Is Jesus Safe? - Matthew 21:12, 13

Matthew 21:12, 13 

"Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!""

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A den of thieves!  Them was some fightin' words from our Lord.

Whenever I hear Jesus put into that finite box of adjectives such as loving, kind, gentle and compassionate, I think of this verse. Yes, Jesus is all of these things but he is also bold, passionate, unbending in principles, and yes sometimes a little threatening and scary. 

We should have that same passion when we see something happening in the church or in a fellow believer's life that we know needs to be addressed.  Sometimes I think we are too nice and safe with others and that might not be what Jesus is calling us to be in that situation (see the song below and listen to the lyrics describing "Aslan" from Chronicles of Narnia as "not safe").  

I challenge us all to be bold, take a stand, confront the issue or person, but ensure you do it wrapped in the truth of scripture and with love, gentleness and respect. 

...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!

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Aslan - Kendall Payne

http://youtu.be/m76wSTnwZAk

A very nice cover I thought at least Hannah might enjoy.  :) 

http://youtu.be/_a2iVwURb14

Trust in The Lord - Psalms 20:7

Psalms 20:7

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God."

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Well yesterday's Dr visit was back to our original surgeon to have another consultation about our last pathology report. Our radiation oncologist expressed concerned over Kay's margins and so the two doctor's fought it out (er, I mean, discussed it professionally). So they compromised and Kay will get another focused mammogram next week. The purpose of this mammogram is to see if they can see signs of any more calcifications which would indicate remaining cancer cells. There is a type of this cancer called multi-focal DCIS which essentially means that there can be multiple scattered origins to the cancer. If they see signs of this on the mammogram then they will probably operate again. If it shows nothing, then we will most likely move on to radiation. 

But as we were talking to the surgeon, I was struck by the amount of uncertainty in her statements.  At a couple points, she said "we just don't know" or "we are not sure".  Well I am a very analytical person so I was asking her lots of questions and not getting definitive answers. It seems this type of cancer is somewhat unpredictable and there are not as many studies to rely on as with other cancers.

With all this uncertainty, I think today's verse is quite appropriate.  Yes, we rely on our doctors to give us the best information and recommendations on our care.  But in the end they are all just humans with finite minds that have finite knowledge and can make the wrong decisions.  Ultimately, we cannot rely on our chariots, our horses, or even our charioteers.  In the end, all these things are fallible and can break down.  There is only one charioteer that never makes a mistake or gives bad information.  We need to put our complete trust in the Lord of Lords for our future and maybe spend less time worrying about those things of today that will soon pass away.

So today, I am not going to worry about the decisions of men and instead pray for direction from our comforter and counselor.  I pray that you too will not put your trust in the things of this world, but will put your trust in our eternal, omniscient and omnipotent God that loves us and protects us.

...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!