Growing in Grace

July 30, 2011 It’s been a while since I shared an update on Dennis. He has had three of his four chemotherapy treatments and is scheduled for his fourth and FINAL one next Wednesday, August 3. The following Tuesday, August 9, he will have his porta-cath removed (this is how they have administered his chemotherapy). "The light at the end of the tunnel" is getting brighter! Dennis has done okay with treatment. The first one was especially hard on him, he felt pretty bad for 5-6 days following the infusion. The next two were a bit easier. Dennis ended up feeling okay on Thursday and Friday after infusion, but by the weekend he felt pretty crummy. His symptoms included an upset stomach, no appetite, tingling in his fingers and toes, altered taste, and sensitivity to cold both in liquids and touch. It’s very hard to get up and go in the morning of treatment knowing he is going to feel bad for the next 5 days. Although he knows this is the last one, he is still not looking forw

This past week I served at VBS. It was a great week with a wonderful emphasis on the Word of God and its place in our lives. It was easy to get up early and go to church everyday because there was a feeling that what I was doing was important; I was serving the Lord; sharing in His work with my church family; seeing the kids enjoy themselves and many giving their hearts to the Lord. Then the "mountain top" experience is over and I find myself at home with dishes, laundry, and "stuff" to deal with. It's easy to look at these things as dull and non-important. But then I remember that caring for my family and home is just as important -maybe even more important - than serving at VBS. I recalled reading this in my study on "A Life of Worship" and it was a good reminder to do whatever is in front of me at the moment with my whole heart. We all know there are things in life that have to be done, no matter how dull or unpleasant they might be. Those who ca

". . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling. . ." Ephesians 1:18 Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way. You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you. God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly - "By my God I can leap over a wall" (Psalm 18:29). God

Dennis and I have been reading through Oswald Chamber's book "My Utmost for His Highest". We have found a lot of encouraging and thought provoking devotions. This one particularly spoke to us as we have faced our own "boisterous wind and high waves". The reason we have been able to endure it all is because we have continued to recognize Jesus and to trust Him with our circumstances. . . . Peter. . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid. . . Matthew 14:29-30 The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all, he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be