“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:22.
There is no other way to say - yesterday was a horrible day! I watched my sister with cancer painfully suffer through an examination that only God will be able to remove in time from my mind. I spent the rest of the day home alone crying for my sister and the rest of my family. Faithfully, God answered my prayer of complete rest last night with an awesome night's sleep - one I haven't been able to have in months. I knew that God would love me enough this morning to help me understand suffering. He did not disappoint! He has opened up new meaning for suffering. I had written in my book that sometimes suffering is God-ordained, God-driven and God-made. Through His light dwelling on this subject He has revealed an understanding that has been previously hidden from me. The best way to explain this is to put on my parental hat.
I have a will for my 18 year old daughter, Caroline to graduate from a 4 year university so I put that will into action and she is now going to ASU. She will remain under that will until its purpose is realized. My will for her was centered around my love for her and what good I want her to experience in life.
Suffering through discipline - If she doesn’t go to class and gets in academic trouble the university will place her under probation possibly losing her place at the college. I did not cause this suffering but it came as a result of her actions. This consequence would greatly grieve me.
Suffering through evil – While under the umbrella of my will, someone breaks into her room and robs/harms her. I did not cause this suffering but was a result of evil. This consequence would greatly grieve me.
I might use her experience to grow and show others but I didn’t send either of those. I had an ultimate will for the next four years and suffering came either as a result of sin or a result of evil.
I feel that this revelation is huge! God wills something for our lives never ordaining the suffering but ordaining the will. Under this will, the consequences of sin and/or evil may induce suffering. His response will always be the same as ours are as parents. We cry when our children cry, we hurt when they hurt, we grieve when they grieve but we never leave them and remain with them through the suffering under the original will. My comfort to her came out of love not whether she deserved comfort from the circumstances. I am not directing her daily suffering but responding to it. Such is the same from God.
Suffering is a by product of God’s will playing out based on our obedience and evil that is in the world. God’s will always comes in love and his motives/ways are always perfect. To relate this to my sister, it may be that God's will for her is to have a powerful ministry. Under this will, the evil of disease came but God is faithful daily to ease this burden and comfort His child.
Thank you Father for this amazing realization and how it applies to my life as a mother, sister and child of God. Amen!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Simple Words with a Powerful Punch!
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." Psalm 62:11.
We are blessed with the Psalms in the Bible which 72 of David spoke. These simple but powerful words were spoken when David was on the run from his enemies. They speak volumes of David's faith in a time when there was little stability and lots of fear, loneliness and despair. His core beliefs are spoken in these simple words: God is strong and God is loving.
"that you, O God, are strong" - When we are facing "life on the run" trying to escape our circumstances we can take rest in knowing that our God is strong enough to conquer any of our enemies or situations. At any point, he can release us from the strongholds of our lives if we seek His strength instead of our own. He is bigger than our circumstances with a strength and power that only He can possess.
"that you, O Lord, are loving" - No matter what we are facing in life, we can be confident in God's love. As parents we set up a wall of protection to show our children how much we love them. Hopefully, most of our actions are motivated by love and concern. Our Father is so much more and we have complete confidence that everything in our lives, both good and bad, will be anchored in His love.
With these two truths we can rest from our weariness, loneliness and fears.
Remember these two things: God is strong and God is loving!
We are blessed with the Psalms in the Bible which 72 of David spoke. These simple but powerful words were spoken when David was on the run from his enemies. They speak volumes of David's faith in a time when there was little stability and lots of fear, loneliness and despair. His core beliefs are spoken in these simple words: God is strong and God is loving.
"that you, O God, are strong" - When we are facing "life on the run" trying to escape our circumstances we can take rest in knowing that our God is strong enough to conquer any of our enemies or situations. At any point, he can release us from the strongholds of our lives if we seek His strength instead of our own. He is bigger than our circumstances with a strength and power that only He can possess.
"that you, O Lord, are loving" - No matter what we are facing in life, we can be confident in God's love. As parents we set up a wall of protection to show our children how much we love them. Hopefully, most of our actions are motivated by love and concern. Our Father is so much more and we have complete confidence that everything in our lives, both good and bad, will be anchored in His love.
With these two truths we can rest from our weariness, loneliness and fears.
Remember these two things: God is strong and God is loving!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Him Who Is, Who Was & Who is to Come!
"The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37.
This verse is so important to me this morning. My dear sister is in the battle of her life and is facing a Goliath of enormous strength.
When David told Saul that he was going to slay this giant, Saul told him that he was a mere boy and wasn't strong enough. All circumstances pointed to the belief that David could and would not prevail against this force. David began stating times in his life when his LORD gave him victory against other forces greater than him as a testimony of faith that his LORD would also be with him in battle. This is the cornerstone of a Christian's faith. What did we learn last time around and did it place a brick of faith in our foundation that we are building as Christians?
When my daughter was in the depths of her drug addiction I was in the valley for 8 years and what a dark valley we were traveling. That was my first big valley and I really didn't have much to pull from as far as "deliverence from the pit." What a blessing that valley was, however dark is might have been, for now I live a 1 Samuel 17:37 kind of life where I can take comfort and encouragement by stating the times our Savior delivered me and claiming future victory of deliverance based on past faithfulness.
Praise God for adversity for it helps us gain hope for the future!
"Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come." Rev. 1:4
This verse is so important to me this morning. My dear sister is in the battle of her life and is facing a Goliath of enormous strength.
When David told Saul that he was going to slay this giant, Saul told him that he was a mere boy and wasn't strong enough. All circumstances pointed to the belief that David could and would not prevail against this force. David began stating times in his life when his LORD gave him victory against other forces greater than him as a testimony of faith that his LORD would also be with him in battle. This is the cornerstone of a Christian's faith. What did we learn last time around and did it place a brick of faith in our foundation that we are building as Christians?
When my daughter was in the depths of her drug addiction I was in the valley for 8 years and what a dark valley we were traveling. That was my first big valley and I really didn't have much to pull from as far as "deliverence from the pit." What a blessing that valley was, however dark is might have been, for now I live a 1 Samuel 17:37 kind of life where I can take comfort and encouragement by stating the times our Savior delivered me and claiming future victory of deliverance based on past faithfulness.
Praise God for adversity for it helps us gain hope for the future!
"Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come." Rev. 1:4
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Therein Lies the Question
"Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." 1 Sam. 14:6
This is what Jonathan, son of King Saul, stated to his armor-bearer as they were contemplating whether to attack a small army. Jonathan's faith was based in His heavenly Father instead of his earthly father since the Spirit had been removed from Saul previously. Jonathan basically states two core beliefs: 1) Belief in the will of God, and 2) Belief in the power of God.
This is the $64,000,000 question - Will He save? As my family journeys through this season I am sure we individually and collectively have pondered the thought, "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf". These statements sum up my conviction of faith.
My conviction of faith is faith that believes Christ can and hopes that He will.
May you experience today the peace that God gives His best to His children so His will is always going to be His best for us.
This is what Jonathan, son of King Saul, stated to his armor-bearer as they were contemplating whether to attack a small army. Jonathan's faith was based in His heavenly Father instead of his earthly father since the Spirit had been removed from Saul previously. Jonathan basically states two core beliefs: 1) Belief in the will of God, and 2) Belief in the power of God.
This is the $64,000,000 question - Will He save? As my family journeys through this season I am sure we individually and collectively have pondered the thought, "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf". These statements sum up my conviction of faith.
My conviction of faith is faith that believes Christ can and hopes that He will.
May you experience today the peace that God gives His best to His children so His will is always going to be His best for us.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Life Hurts, God Heals
I have been asked by a member of my church to attempt to write a cirriculum to accompany a study we are presently doing for teens. The study is "Life Hurts, God Heals" and it focuses on teens who have and are experiencing deep problems at this point in their life. The cirriculum I am writing is to assist the parents of these troubled teens.
Well guess what? Yesterday "life hurt"! Our sister Beth was to have liver resection which provided great hope only to be abandoned prior to the surgery due to the extent of the cancer in her body. In working on the cirriculum I share a few things in the hope of comforting us all through the words of God.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:9
"...to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3
"I will extend peace to her like a river...you will nurse and be carried on her arm...As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you...the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants." Isaiah 66:12-14
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him...It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-9
In the words of my pastor: Despair turns the temporary into permenant but hope remembers the eternal!
May we all take comfort that when life hurts, God heals!
Well guess what? Yesterday "life hurt"! Our sister Beth was to have liver resection which provided great hope only to be abandoned prior to the surgery due to the extent of the cancer in her body. In working on the cirriculum I share a few things in the hope of comforting us all through the words of God.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:9
"...to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3
"I will extend peace to her like a river...you will nurse and be carried on her arm...As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you...the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants." Isaiah 66:12-14
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him...It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-9
In the words of my pastor: Despair turns the temporary into permenant but hope remembers the eternal!
May we all take comfort that when life hurts, God heals!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Here I Am!
"You will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Isaiah 58:9
When my daughter, Caroline was a child as soon as she entered the front door she would start yelling, "Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?" She wouldn't even give me a chance to answer "Here I am" before she was calling to me again. Her number one priority once she got home from anywhere was to search me out, "touch home base" which brought her great comfort.
I believe Caroline had the right idea when she was a child spiritually speaking. As soon as our feet hit the floor each morning and throughout the day we should start calling, "Lord? Father? Redeemer?" and just like I was for Caroline our Father will always be there waiting for a pause in our words for Him to answer,
Father, give us that passion for your presence as we continuously call out to You. Amen.
When my daughter, Caroline was a child as soon as she entered the front door she would start yelling, "Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?" She wouldn't even give me a chance to answer "Here I am" before she was calling to me again. Her number one priority once she got home from anywhere was to search me out, "touch home base" which brought her great comfort.
I believe Caroline had the right idea when she was a child spiritually speaking. As soon as our feet hit the floor each morning and throughout the day we should start calling, "Lord? Father? Redeemer?" and just like I was for Caroline our Father will always be there waiting for a pause in our words for Him to answer,
Father, give us that passion for your presence as we continuously call out to You. Amen.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Faith in Full Bloom
"Blessed is she who has believed that what the LORD had said to her will be accomplished" Luke 1:45.
This is the blessing that Elizabeth spoke regarding Mary once she was carrying the Son of God. I am so tenderly touched this morning as I think about the women in my immediate family. Throughout Beth's journey of cancer I have consistently seen the women in my family live out this blessing that Elizabeth spoke a couple of thousand years ago.
In general, women are both trusting and believing unless someone has deeply wounded that trust. But, thankfully the LORD, our Father, can restore, rebuild and resurrect any trust that was taken away from any woman.
I am so proud in Him to be one of the Miller women who has been blessed by God for believing Him and am basking in the happiness of what is being accomplished in the life of our family.
He has given me faith in full bloom - Belief and trust in His deliverence when everything points to the opposite of our desires. Thank you Father!
This is the blessing that Elizabeth spoke regarding Mary once she was carrying the Son of God. I am so tenderly touched this morning as I think about the women in my immediate family. Throughout Beth's journey of cancer I have consistently seen the women in my family live out this blessing that Elizabeth spoke a couple of thousand years ago.
In general, women are both trusting and believing unless someone has deeply wounded that trust. But, thankfully the LORD, our Father, can restore, rebuild and resurrect any trust that was taken away from any woman.
I am so proud in Him to be one of the Miller women who has been blessed by God for believing Him and am basking in the happiness of what is being accomplished in the life of our family.
He has given me faith in full bloom - Belief and trust in His deliverence when everything points to the opposite of our desires. Thank you Father!
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