Being Faithful In the Smallest Of Tasks

Bein

Nature is the canvas God paints on and I love photographing His work, especially in the early spring when the season begins to awaken the sleeping things of the earth and tiny new leaves and buds begin to appear.

It’s magical!

I’m amazed at how the tiny things begin as infant bulbs that slowly cultivate petite and fragile petals as they grow. I took special care in noticing how new little buds of every growing thing hold their petals together as in a gesture of prayer before opening themselves into full bloom to expose their inner beauty.

We could glean a mighty lesson from nature.

Little buds take days to fully flourish. I’ve spent some time observing them; and as I say this, I envision the tree in front of my house. It is adorned with numerous newborn buds. I’ve been watching and recording their progress in photographs. Some of the buds have blossomed into clusters of tiny delicate yellow flowers. There are several of them on each of the branches. Soon they will mature into leaves and the tree’s seasonal cycle will repeat itself each year until the tree ceases to exist.

I’ve been in this location for a while so I’m privileged to see the changes taking place on this particular tree throughout the seasons of the year. The little yellow flowers become tiny leaves that fill the tree and grow into bigger leaves that provide beauty, shade and housing for the birds of the air, and a frolicking place for the little squirrels. It’s invigorating to watch these exquisite leaves dance, and listen to them sing whenever a gentle air current wafts through their branches. It’s like a chatter of song giving praise to the season of summer sunshine.

Fall enchants me with a glorious display of colorful leaves on the stately tree. I sit on the deck or view this magnificent tree from my patio window and marvel at the spectacular display of gold, red, pink, yellow, green, brown, tan, and lavender leaves quivering in the breeze as gusts of wind snatch them, one by one, from the arms of the tree. They soar on the wind or twirl as a ballerina in a pirouette as they dance along the streets and walkways. And then they are gone forever, never to return again. The same leaves will never return. New ones will come and take their place. We can be sure of this, as long as the tree remains.

We could glean a mighty lesson from nature.

Winter comes too soon. All the leaves disappear, withered, disintegrated, and dissolved into dust that blends itself back into the earth. Then the branches become heavy with snow as soft, cold mounds of white recline on frozen branches and glimmers as sunlight momentarily peeks through the gray cloudy skies. Winter has its own beauty.

After the winter, spring sings in celebration of its return and the cycle begins again with new little buds.

It’s a faithful tree, that extraordinary maple tree in front of my home. It continues to be faithful in all the little tasks that have been assigned to it throughout the seasons of its life; and it isn’t discontent with its assignment, nor does it uproot itself in search of an accomplishment that it might consider to be of greater value. It is content to be a Maple Tree and flourish in the way God intended it to do. And I, for one, am blessed that it exists.

We could glean a mighty lesson from nature.

God’s propose for us, I believe, is to love Him, and to learn from all His creations; and like the maple tree, to be faithful in all the little tasks He assigns to us through every season of our life. By doing so, we bless others; and we are exceedingly blessed in return.

Walking In the Light Of Miracles

Meet Fred, an amazing guy and a cancer survivor - three times in his lifetime. He won the victory over leukemia after a hard battle - twice! Much later, Fred battled and won the victory over non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fred is an inspiration and an encourager of hope and peace in the midst of life's toughest battles. He tells his story to all who will listen, crediting His Creator for the healing in his life. I saw him briefly while I was in California a few weeks ago. He had to leave for rehearsal so the visit was short. The next visit will be longer. Fred is an accomplished musician and an award winning water-colorist. But more than that, Fred is an amazing guy with an ever-ready smile and and inner joy that spills over to others.

Fred is my cousin.

Looking back on the growing up phase of our life I remember the horse episode most. Fred was ten years young at that time and I was fourteen. He'd selected a horse for me for my very first ride - a horse called Diablo. I didn't know the horse's name when I climbed up on his back, but Diablo lived up to his menacing name. However, I was a determined kid and Diablo didn't get  the best of me. I stayed on that frolicking horse until someone brought him to a halt. Fred got into trouble for selecting Diablo for me to ride but the experience gave me further insight into myself and I gained a greater confidence in my ability to cope with difficult situations. I'm confident that Fred had no malicious intent. He was just being a  ten-year-old with no insight into possible consequences. My belated and much wiser thanks to Fred for that opportunity to gain an important insight into my coping skills.

A more recent example of strength happened a few short weeks ago. I'd been very sick in past months and was getting progressively worse. My strength and energy were gone and I was in pain most of the time. In months past, doctors couldn't seem to locate the source of my progressing symptoms. But now it had a name. One doctor finally looked in the right place and found it. Its name was cancer.

When I was told that I had cancer, that I needed to have surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, radiation therapy, and possible chemotherapy as well. I refused to panic at that shocking news. I remember taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out as the doctor was busy with a referral to an oncologist. I remembered that this situation was in the control of my Creator and I just needed to claim His peace in the midst of this difficult situation and trust Him in the process.

As I was leaving the doctor's office, he said this to me, "We're sending you to the best place and putting you in the best of hands."

I turned to the doctor and with the greatest of peace and confidence, I replied, "The best hands I'm in are in the hands of my Creator."

It was during that very moment, as the words left my mouth: "...in the hands of my Creator" that I felt a physical change taking place within my body. A gentle source of energy and strength, powerful enough to displace the sickness, was being poured into me. It was an incredible feeling! I knew at that very moment, that the biopsy was going to prove that the cancer was gone. I felt physically strong, spiritually energized, and filled with that powerful peace that passes all understanding - the peace of God.

Because of all the high risk markers (my symptoms, test results, and the doctor's findings) the oncologist had me sign permission papers for surgery and for radiation therapy. I signed the papers, still confident that I had been healed. The oncologist did the biopsy that very day and the report (a few days later) was negative for cancer. I thank God for His Divine healing and for the strength He gave me to trust Him while in the midst of that ordeal.

Today, I continue to experience the healing. I have more energy, strength, and stamina than I had in past months. The pain is gone and all the other symptoms I had have left. Whatever the illness was that I'd had (cancer or otherwise) is healed.

The photograph of Fred and me is one of triumphant joy and gratitude. I'm not new to experiencing God's miracles in my life and I suspect that Fred is no stranger in this area either. As we shared our stories with one another, Fred agreed that we had both been healed of cancer. I believe that there is more work for us to do for God's Kingdom purpose. I look forward to that purpose with great anticipation and excitement as I walk in the Light of God's incredible miracles. He's already put things in place for me and I'm already heading off into that direction. I'll share more of this at another time.

God's Word says,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). 
I believe this and I have seen the evidence of it.

My life is in your hands

Moving Forward

I believe that everything happens for a reason. I think the stressful things in life happen to test the limits of our souls or to help us see more deeply inside of who we think we are so that we can grow in a different direction if we need to do so. I've learned to be grateful for these growing times, as trying as they are, because I believe that means I’m moving forward -- not sinking helplessly in a stagnate pool of hopelessness.

In spite of the storm, I know that I can make it!

A Most Magnificent Thing

Driving home from a doctor's appointment with several medical test request forms lying on the seat next to me, I found myself feeling discouraged and a little frustrated with life and the misery that illness brings. As I contemplated hosting a small pity party for myself, something gliding overhead and just in front of my view caught my attention. I glanced up, being careful to keep most of my focus on the road ahead as I entered the freeway overpass. It was a dark image flying low and across my path as it headed in a northern direction. At first glance I thought it might be one of the f117 stealth fighter planes because it had a most unusual shape. Then the thing moved its wings and I recognized the mighty wing span and the feathery white head -- a very clear image of a mature bald eagle. I had never seen one of these superb creations outside of captivity -- and especially flying over the city!  It was a most magnificent thing!

Continuing my homeward journey, I thought about the eagle flying across my path. I looked up through my windshield at the blue sky again, hoping to catch another glimpse, but the eagle was no longer in view. It flew across my path so swiftly, so briefly, but the memory is a treasure I will always keep. One legend has it that eagles deliver messages from God. With this in mind, I thought about the many times God sends me His peace and comfort during difficult times. The Sovereign Lord had, again, reminded me that there is nothing outside of His control as this scripture from His Holy Word came to my thoughts: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) NIV.


As I let go of the discouragement and frustration that bound me like a heavy chain wrapped around my chest, my heart began to sing the song, "It Is Well With My Soul," and my spirit began to soar with renewed strength.

For more information about bald eagles go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle

Philip Yancey On Prayer

I Believe

I believe that in the face of overwhelming challenge, we will be okay; that in the path of that which we perceive to be completely destroyed, there is hope; that believing we are going to make it is what gives us strength to go on. But more than this, I believe in the God of the impossible who takes us through those challenges and those perceived destructions with renewed strength and demonstrates His power over weakness and impossibilities. mg

For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6

A Miraculous Recovery

My dear friends, Larry and Priscilla Larsen, are the featured story on Healthy Outlook, a quarterly magazine published by Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington.

Larry suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in January 2010. A number of miraculous events occurred during those critical moments that led to Larry's rescue and subsequent healing. They would be too numerous to list in this short account. I was blessed to have been a part of the prayer team interceding for Larry and Priscilla during those minutes, hours, and days. Priscilla was a tower of strength, demonstrating the power within her -- the power of the Sovereign Lord sustaining her through that time, and besides staying by her husband's side and encouraging him, she also took the time to send email updates to everyone.

An excerpt from Healthy Outlook article says this:

"The team raced against the clock in those first few minutes, but Larry still wasn't entirely stable. On his fourth day in the Critical Care Unit, his heart started quivering erratically; he stopped breathing and flat-lined three times in six hours. Doctors shocked him 24 times and worked tirelessly to save his life. Ten days after the heart attack, Larry's cardiologist delivered the welcome news that Larry was well enough to go home. Hours later, Larry walked out of the hospital."

"Larry's cardiologist said, Clinically speaking, Larry died in the car -- and three more times over the next several days while in the hospital."

Larry and Priscilla tell their story:

Larry can hardly believe his recovery. "I'm biking a few miles a day, and by the end of the summer, (my doctor) says I'll be able to hike up the nearby mountains again."

Priscilla adds, "I'm so grateful to all the doctors and nurses who healed Larry's body, but I also believe the fact he came back to me with his mind intact is truly a sign that God gave us the miracle we asked for. Just think, six and a half weeks after he died, and the doctor has just given him the go-ahead to continue his life as before! And once again, I am observing the miracle which our loving God granted us."

It has only been six months since Larry's death and life experience. Not many people come back from the dead. But he did -- several times. His healing is a witness to God's loving mercy, compassion, and Divine healing.

A little more about Larry and Priscilla Larsen:

 Priscilla is the chairperson of the Global Missions Department at her church. She and Larry travel the globe, visiting several mission ministries that they have helped establish, and lend their help and support through short-term mission trips and financial contributions.

For further reading about Larry's miraculous recovery, go to:

http://sammamishreview.com/2010/02/08/larry-larsen-comes-back