Today was a better day all around for Joyce and I. She didn't get sick at all and only "hit the wall" for a little while this afternoon. The effects of last Thursday's chemo seems to have eased up and she had a pretty calm day. I had to go to the DMV and pick up a disabled persons placard so Joyce can use the handicapped parking spaces. That felt a little wierd. I got most of our Christmas decorations stored away and rearranged a bunch of stuff in our garage...bet you really wanted to know that :-)
Just a few thoughts from our daily reading in Genesis and Matthew: Chapters 20-22 in Gen. cover Abraham's lapse of faith at Gerar, Issac's birth, Hagar and Ishmael's banishment, and Abraham's near sacrifice of Issac.
Pastor Chuck Smith noted on Gen 20: 5-6 that the Lord said that He kept Abimelech from sinning against Him. You would think that the sin was against Sarah or Abraham. When King David took Bathsheba in adultery and had her husband put on the front line of battle and killed, his confession to God in Psalm 51 was, "Against you, and you only, have I sinned..." In reality all sin is against God. It may affect other people, but God is the one I always sin against. And He alone is the One I must ultimately answer to. cs
Despite Abraham's failure to really trust God in the situation, God was not going to abandon him; He would not let Abimelech touch Sarah. That womb was going to bring forth the son of promise, who would eventually bring forth God's Messiah - God wasn't leaving this one up to man!
Even though Abraham is in sin, he is still a prophet and man of powerful prayer; God's mercy has not left Abraham, even though Abraham wasn't trusting God the way he should.
I'm so grateful to the Lord for His mercy towards me!
And on Matthew 6, Jesus is giving His disciples instruction on true spirituality. He warns them and us that trying to appear spiritual to others so they will admire you is phoney and will have no reward from God.
Mt. 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You don't have to worry about the issues of life if you put God First. He knows your needs and He loves you and if you seek Him first your life will be balanced.
If the things of the world are the top priority in your life than your life is out of balance.
Your relationship with God is the most important relationship in your life! In reality, your relationship with your fellow man can't be right or all that it should be unless you have a right relationship with God. Do you?
In His Arm's, Pat
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Thank you for posting these teachings. It helps to reinforce and provide clarity for me about what I have read. I know you are going through the most difficult trial and yet you continue to serve the Lord faithfully. You and Joyce are shining beacons for the Lord.
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