Eternal Glory
We were glad to be halfway finished with treatment, especially because Dennis was beginning to have some very uncomfortable side effects. We continued to focus on our eternal hope and glory to get us through. . .
November 30, 2010
We have reached the halfway mark. Monday was treatment 14 out of 28; three weeks down and three more to go. For the first time in those three weeks, Dennis’ Monday schedule went smoothly and he was even done early. We pray this will continue to be the case for the remaining Monday and Fridays. Dennis still has his cough and congestion, which the radiology doctor was concerned about. However, when she looked at his blood work, it did not show that he had any infection and, in fact, showed his counts were up from the previous week. They are still low, but in the normal range. On the down side, Dennis has begun to experience side effects from the chemo. He has broken out in canker sores along his lower lip and he is very fatigued. The nurse told him yesterday that the side effects would begin to peak in the coming weeks. She offered encouragement, though, by saying that he should feel good again by Christmas. So we will continue to mark off the days on the calendar, pressing on with our task and looking forward to December 17!
Since my Daniel study has concluded, I’ve gotten back into my Women of Faith study on “A Life of Worship”. On Friday after Thanksgiving, I came upon a section that was quite encouraging.
“What do we imagine when we think of giving glory to God - singing, preaching, giving testimonies, writing psalms? And yet, the Scriptures are filled with other ways of bringing glory to God - ways that are a little unexpected. Take a look at these":
In John 11:4, Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness would bring glory to God. Specifically, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Hmm. That was a really neat verse to read while sitting outside the cancer center at UCI.
1 Peter 4:14 says God can be glorified through being insulted for Christ‘s sake. “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Our shame leads to His glory.
In John 21:19 Jesus said Peter would end up glorifying God through his death. I have seen God glorified in the death of His children. While it is hard to say goodbye to our loved ones, sharing how their life honored the Lord is encouraging to those remaining and often leads others to salvation. What greater glory can their be?
“Shame, insults, sickness, and death are hardly the means we would choose for ourselves, even if we did want to glorify God. But many believers are asked by God to endure these things. They can glean encouragement from Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17.” This hard path is still a good one because “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” The leader‘s guide adds ,“no matter how difficult our life may seem, in the end we will call it a light affliction. In the face of eternity, the suffering will have been fleeting, momentary. And then, we will understand how God worked through those hardships for good, bringing glory to His name through them.” The NIV study Bible adds, “seen in the perspective of eternity, the Christian’s difficulties, whatever they may be, diminish in importance. By comparison, the eternal glory is far greater than all the suffering one may face in this life.” It’s all about perspective. Maintaining a heavenly mindset makes all the difference in the midst of difficulties.
The study went on to ask, “how else is God’s glory spread according to Psalm 66:16? This verse says, “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.” When we share with others what God is doing in our lives, we bring glory to God. How we hope that is true with these updates.
2 Corinthians 4:15 says, “all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” Even in the midst of trials, we are to maintain an attitude of thankfulness. Sometimes we have to concentrate, and really look. But the more we practice this, the easier it will be to recognize God’s blessings.
Some great verses concluded the study. These are verses that have been shared with us and ones we have turned to on our own. Each one speaks of our suffering as a means to bring glory to God. They offer encouragement to us.
Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us , because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” We can rejoice in our suffering because it is not without a purpose; our character will be developed, and we can rest in the hope of our future home in heaven.
2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” The NIV study Bible says, “No suffering is too great if it brings about the salvation of God’s chosen ones who will yet believe.” If our trial leads others to seek God, than we are blessed to have played a part in God’s plan for them.
1 Peter 1:7 “These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” God values faith and challenges us in order to cause our faith to grow.
1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” We desire to see Dennis’ health restored and to finish stronger than we started; giving all praise and glory to God in the process.
God has been so faithful to provide just the right words for the right moment. Tonight we read some other insightful words from Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”.
“Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment. . . God wants you to be something that you have never been.”
We are definitely in the great depths of God as we rely and trust in Him alone to bring us through this storm. But we do so willingly in order to become what we’ve “never been.”
We experienced some wonderful refreshment being with family over Thanksgiving. We are very grateful for the continued prayers, encouragement and support. Have a blessed week.
Carolyn
November 30, 2010
We have reached the halfway mark. Monday was treatment 14 out of 28; three weeks down and three more to go. For the first time in those three weeks, Dennis’ Monday schedule went smoothly and he was even done early. We pray this will continue to be the case for the remaining Monday and Fridays. Dennis still has his cough and congestion, which the radiology doctor was concerned about. However, when she looked at his blood work, it did not show that he had any infection and, in fact, showed his counts were up from the previous week. They are still low, but in the normal range. On the down side, Dennis has begun to experience side effects from the chemo. He has broken out in canker sores along his lower lip and he is very fatigued. The nurse told him yesterday that the side effects would begin to peak in the coming weeks. She offered encouragement, though, by saying that he should feel good again by Christmas. So we will continue to mark off the days on the calendar, pressing on with our task and looking forward to December 17!
Since my Daniel study has concluded, I’ve gotten back into my Women of Faith study on “A Life of Worship”. On Friday after Thanksgiving, I came upon a section that was quite encouraging.
“What do we imagine when we think of giving glory to God - singing, preaching, giving testimonies, writing psalms? And yet, the Scriptures are filled with other ways of bringing glory to God - ways that are a little unexpected. Take a look at these":
In John 11:4, Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness would bring glory to God. Specifically, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Hmm. That was a really neat verse to read while sitting outside the cancer center at UCI.
1 Peter 4:14 says God can be glorified through being insulted for Christ‘s sake. “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Our shame leads to His glory.
In John 21:19 Jesus said Peter would end up glorifying God through his death. I have seen God glorified in the death of His children. While it is hard to say goodbye to our loved ones, sharing how their life honored the Lord is encouraging to those remaining and often leads others to salvation. What greater glory can their be?
“Shame, insults, sickness, and death are hardly the means we would choose for ourselves, even if we did want to glorify God. But many believers are asked by God to endure these things. They can glean encouragement from Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17.” This hard path is still a good one because “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” The leader‘s guide adds ,“no matter how difficult our life may seem, in the end we will call it a light affliction. In the face of eternity, the suffering will have been fleeting, momentary. And then, we will understand how God worked through those hardships for good, bringing glory to His name through them.” The NIV study Bible adds, “seen in the perspective of eternity, the Christian’s difficulties, whatever they may be, diminish in importance. By comparison, the eternal glory is far greater than all the suffering one may face in this life.” It’s all about perspective. Maintaining a heavenly mindset makes all the difference in the midst of difficulties.
The study went on to ask, “how else is God’s glory spread according to Psalm 66:16? This verse says, “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.” When we share with others what God is doing in our lives, we bring glory to God. How we hope that is true with these updates.
2 Corinthians 4:15 says, “all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” Even in the midst of trials, we are to maintain an attitude of thankfulness. Sometimes we have to concentrate, and really look. But the more we practice this, the easier it will be to recognize God’s blessings.
Some great verses concluded the study. These are verses that have been shared with us and ones we have turned to on our own. Each one speaks of our suffering as a means to bring glory to God. They offer encouragement to us.
Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us , because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” We can rejoice in our suffering because it is not without a purpose; our character will be developed, and we can rest in the hope of our future home in heaven.
2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” The NIV study Bible says, “No suffering is too great if it brings about the salvation of God’s chosen ones who will yet believe.” If our trial leads others to seek God, than we are blessed to have played a part in God’s plan for them.
1 Peter 1:7 “These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” God values faith and challenges us in order to cause our faith to grow.
1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” We desire to see Dennis’ health restored and to finish stronger than we started; giving all praise and glory to God in the process.
God has been so faithful to provide just the right words for the right moment. Tonight we read some other insightful words from Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”.
“Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment. . . God wants you to be something that you have never been.”
We are definitely in the great depths of God as we rely and trust in Him alone to bring us through this storm. But we do so willingly in order to become what we’ve “never been.”
We experienced some wonderful refreshment being with family over Thanksgiving. We are very grateful for the continued prayers, encouragement and support. Have a blessed week.
Carolyn
(paragraph #8)"...the eternal glory is far greater than all the suffering one may face in this life." This brings me to tears today & reminds me of the song by All Together Separate "It will be worth it all someday" Jesus you are the Beginning & the End AMEN! Come Lord quickly! <3
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