Still FROGin

Chuck here filling in for Carol who arrived safely in Milwaukee about noon yesterday, with her lost luggage promised to arrive on a later flight. At last report, it is to be delivered this morning. Fortunately all urgently needed items were in her carry-on.

These past months dealing with Carol’s cancer have caused me to think much about the importance of my daily decisions. Frequently I think about dear ones who have entered eternity, and stop to think about what I have learned from them, and what it was that drove them on to finish well. Every time I come back to recognizing their humble reliance on, and obedience to, the Lord. Frequently Carol and I ask each other…”You FROGin?” (Fully Relying On God) It is so easy to develop a confidence or faith in our own abilities, a doctor, a medication (even chemo) and forget that it is God that is at work accomplishing His purpose as we obey Him. At times He may work through someone or something, but ultimately it is His working, His will, and what ever the outcome, when I let Him be in control, I know that the final result is GOOD…Every time!

Recently while reading about King Asa (2 Chronicles 14-16) I was reminded how easy it is to be FROGin for many years, and then rather than trust God, believe that we can handle life on our own and “blow it”.. It appears that things went well for Asa as he reigned for thirty-five years, seeking God’s guidance, crying out to Him when confronted with problems. Then in his thirty-sixth year as king, when faced with a major problem, he proceeded to handle it on his own without consulting God. I have thought a lot about that recently, and I suspect that pride may have overtaken his heart. More success and comfort than he could handle, and he proceeded to “do it his way.” Even when that wrong was pointed out to him by Hanani (16:7) he refused to repent, and threw Hanani into prison. Before long Asa developed a life threatening disease, still refusing to seek the Lord’s help, only looking to physicians for help. Chapter 16 ends “…and at his funeral the people built a huge fire in his honor.” What a sad ending of what could have been a fully productive life, ending with a pile of ashes.

Even though we would have chosen to avoid cancer, it has been good for us. We have seen God work in ways we would not have otherwise seen, helping our faith and trust in Him to grow. We have connected and reconnected with people who have blessed us richly. And the bottom line I believe, is that we are daily becoming better prepared for that final step from this life into eternity with our Lord, while at the same time being more available to Him for the remaining time that he gives us here.

Recently I read “God never does something through us until he does something significant in us.” May our hearts always be open for Him to accomplish His purpose!

We love you all,

Chuck…and Carol