Challenges of Life

Today Carol’s cancer buddy John will have a procedure to move his vocal cord closer to the other one which hopefully will allow him to be able to speak again as he continues his cancer battle. Friend Ross did not get as good a report from his surgery as I had prayed, but we are reminded that God is still in control. The team of three surgeons found that the tumor had wrapped around his colon and that the bladder had fairly extensive involvement. They did some temporary work and plan a resection and bladder repair in about three months after radiation and chemo treatments. Friend Joe is confined to bed with the effects of cancer but continues to be an inspiration. He is using these final days to focus upon God’s word and is a blessing to all who come in contact with him. Join me in keeping each of these before the Lord in prayer.

Last evening I talked with our “old” friend Maxine in Florida who lost her husband to cancer earlier this year. She too is greatly missing him and we had a good time remembering times spent together in Michigan as well as on Cat Island in the Bahamas. Wonderful memories with laughter and a few tears as we recalled many blessed times together and with our spouses, sharing some of our adjustments to life without them.

Hearing Carol’s words in my mind, I put up some Christmas decorations in the house and outside…to avoid being a Scrooge. The lights, angels and manger scenes keep directing my thoughts to the true meaning of Christmas…Christ with us! I like the words of the elderly apostle John as he describes his close relationship with Jesus. I can only imagine what a thrill it will be when I join Carol on the other side of that curtain of death and meet him face to face.

“From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.”

“We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” (1 John 1:1-4 The Message)

Might each of us enjoy His presence in our lives as we are obedient to Him!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Chuck