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 ...

I'm watching an old Dr. Quinn episode. The story is about the town thinking that a comet is going to crash to earth and wipe them all out. It shows how people respond to the thought of the end of the world. Some turn to alcohol; one spends her life savings on China; another quits working; a couple wants to get married; one builds a shelter; the young people see it as license to do whatever they want; the reverend cancels school and opens the church for everyone to come for confession and counsel; the doctor carries on as usual and her beau tries to encourage her to live life every day in the moment. There is discussion about what will happen after they die. One woman trusts that when she dies, she and her husband will be in heaven. He doesn't see that as enough of a comfort and begins to have a heart attack. The young people talk about all they won't be able to do here on earth and the misinformation they have "heard" about heaven - like they will look differe...

John 5:24 reads, ". . . whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. . . " Salvation. A free gift from God. When we hear the Truth and believe it, we receive the gift of salvation. While this in itself is awesome, there is so much more. I have often heard of the Christian walk being compared to that of a developing child. When someone first comes to the Lord we call him a "baby Christian". He has much to learn about Christ. But the more a person hears teaching on the Bible, reads the Word of God on his own, and enjoys fellowship with other believers, the more he matures in his walk. As his knowledge grows, his relationship with God grows and he develops into a mature believer. This is the goal anyway. But every so often a person who is born again may only remain in the infant stage of his development, or as Dennis heard it called - he is like a stillborn baby - accepting Christ as Savior, and maybe even attending church regularly and perh...

I recently read the book "Jesus Freaks: Martyrs" by dc Talk and the group Voice of the Martyrs. It has been very humbling to read about the faith of so many who have suffered great persecution and even death because of their faith in Christ. Even in the face of great physical pain to themselves and often their family - these believers stood their ground and refused to deny their Savior. A story I read that stood out to me was about Pastor Florescu. He was imprisoned in Romania in the 1960’s. He was arrested by the Communists and tortured in the hopes that he would give the names of other believers. He continually refused to give the names of his fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Then they did the unthinkable and brought in his 14-year-old son and began to whip him. The father watched until the writer says “the poor man was half crazy. He bore it as long as he could. But when he could stand it no more, he cried to his son, ‘Alexander, I must say what they want! I can’t ...