God, why me? God, why now?

Lewis, Troy. Another Second Chance: God’s Story. Writing Career Coach Press. November 30, 2011. Paperback: 220 pages, $14.95. July 18, 2012. EBook: 726KB, $7.77  ISBN-10: 0983360774 ISBN-13: 978-0983360773 ASIN: B00954GKEC Text to Speech Enabled.

Everyone, at one time or another, questions God. Oftentimes, like Job, we examine the why. Why me? Why now? God, where are you going with this? God always has a solution. Often it is not the one expected nor the key for which one even hopes.

Paul sought the answer in Romans 8:18 by comparing present suffering and future glory.  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Lewis sought the answers by writing this book “In my darkest moment, as I lay on death’s doorstep. Hope showed up in a miraculous way.” This is a story that is the reader’s, as well as the author’s. We all deal with health issues, the loss of loved ones, the changing of a career or some other difficulty that was unexpected. The reader can enter his or her private moments of fear, possible loss, pain, heartbreak, defeat and ultimate success.

Suffering from a rare and incurable kidney disease, Iga Nephropathy, Lewis, at age 40, became a member of the 20% of those with the disease who fall into kidney failure and end up needing a transplant. At first he tried to keep his chin up, but he like others got to a place where he could not do it anymore.

The first miracle was a brother whose kidney was a match, but then the realization that his brother had an aneurism and could not donate. Would God put a second miracle kidney in time? Lewis’s kidney function was deteriorating rapidly. Even glimmers of hope could only see him to a place where he could wonder when it was all going to end. “Just when I counted on a brother's love to save me, it was a Father’s love that saved us both. A thousand miles away, a stranger stepped up and courageously gave with nothing expected in return.”

“From time to time, [God] would peel back the curtain and let me see pieces of the plan. He would let me see sparkles of hope. He’d show me a reason for living. He’d create those miracles that let the process jump ahead. All of it brought us to [a place where were we discovered the answer to the ultimate question]. In our sacrifices lies our own deliverance. In our giving we get our return. In our willingness to serve, we are served.”

Lewis’s short paragraphs make this book easy on the eyes, and easy to read, a necessity when the pain, the loss, the unforeseen has one in its grips. The story must have been told many times, honing its design and power orally before it was written down. Even if, God’s miracle is future glory, the power is not diminished. The simplicity and understatement of the tone and style makes the book accessible even when attention and concentration are at a minimum. While not downplaying the costs and difficulties, Lewis convincingly encourages trust and confidence.

All Saints Nov 1

Psalms am: 111, 112 pm: 148, 150

Neh 4:1-23

am: Heb 11:32-12:2 pm: Rev 21:1-4, 22-22:5

2012/Year B

Psalm 111:7-10 (MSG)

He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!

Psalm 112-4-6

Light arises in the darkness for the upright, gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God].

⁵ It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.

⁶ He will not be moved forever; the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall be in everlasting remembrance.

First there was Prevenient Grace. All the people, places and things God placed in my path. The nouns that caused me to stop and turn to see who was REALLY tapping on my shoulder

Next there was Saving Grace. The mystery of faith. Christ came, Christ died, Christ rose, Christ is coming again. All the verbs that caused me to stop and turn and place my life, my being in the hands of God.

Next there is Sanctifying Grace.  All the adjectives and adverbs that give faith it's meaning. From Paul and the apostles I learned it is sanctification by grace not works. From Luther I learned  it is the working out of my faith. From Wesley I learned the theology is in the hymnal. For me it is learning to be rather than to do. But out of the abundance of my heart, I give and give and give. Until there is less of me and more of Him.

 

^32-38 I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.

^39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

 

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

12 ^1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (MSG)

 

Some days, the work seems too hard, too scary, too far to go. But I am reminded over and over again. Do not look at the work or the adjectives or the adverbs. Look only to the goal.

 

I only know that every morning I wake up it is because God must have something more for me to do. More prayers to pray, More cards to send, More love to give, More blogs to write. More books to read. Whatever it takes to draw nearer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

The New Jerusalem

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.^{[a] 4} He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
 

 

Monday, October 29, Year B

October 29, 2012 Year B
Psalms 41, 52, 44; Ezra 5:1-17; Revelation 11:1-14; Luke 11:14-26

 


Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers and dignifies the weak and the poor.

You are like a green olive tree in the house of the Lord.



Yes, Yes, Yes!

You guarded those who rebuilt your temple.
You will guard those who witness in your name.
Even more blessed, happy, fortunate, to be envied are those who hear your word and guard it with their lives!

 

Out on the Road of the Dark Night of the Soul

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, Year B

 

Psalms 38, 119:25-48; Song of Songs 8:5-14; Revelation 8:1-13; Luke 10:17-24

 

Did anyone ever tell you if you just prayed hard enough you would be healed? Did someone whisper you must not have enough faith? Did your friends remind you how you should just get over yourself? Did a doctor ever suggest it was all in your head? Did you ever think God must be extraordinarily angry with you? Did you ever meet a “dark night of the soul?”

 

 

 

Listen and watch. Then start the video again, and listen with your eyes closed. Then listen one more time and read the following as you listen:

^25-32 I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse!
Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
When I told my story, you responded;
train me well in your deep wisdom.
Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
build me up again by your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
if you’ll just show me how.

^33-40 God, teach me lessons for living
so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
I love traveling this freeway!
Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me—
promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
preserve my life through your righteous ways!

^41-48 Let your love, God, shape my life
with salvation, exactly as you promised;
Then I’ll be able to stand up to mockery
because I trusted your Word.
Don’t ever deprive me of truth, not ever—
your commandments are what I depend on.
Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me,
guard it now, guard it ever;
And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces
as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
Then I’ll tell the world what I find,
speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.
I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—
relishing every fragment of your counsel.

Psalm 119:25-48 (MSG)

 

 

Then another Angel, carrying a gold censer, came and stood at the Altar. He was given a great quantity of incense so that he could offer up the prayers of all the holy people of God on the Golden Altar before the Throne. Smoke billowed up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the hand of the Angel.

Revelation 8:3-4 (NIV)

 

 

 

21 At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 22 My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Happy are the eyes that see what you see. 24 I assure you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.” Luke 10:21-24 (CEB)

 

 

Lord, let me walk through the dark night of the soul, knowing the Light of the World, He who flung the stars into space, who made the lesser light of the moon, will guide me through the shadows and the dark places. I praise you that you have kept my heart safe and quiet. Keep me malleable so I, like you, may be filled with love and the Holy Spirit and sing your praise. So be it. Amen.

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

CEB  Common English Bible

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

MSG The Message Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

Daily Readings, October 23, 2012

Tuesday, October 23, 2012   Daily Readings from the Book of Common Prayer (Revised)  Year B

Psalms 26, 28, 36, 39

Song of Songs 5:2-6:3 (Substituted for the Apocryphal Reading)
Revelation 7:9-17
Luke 10:1-16

 

            When I cannot stand it anymore, I retreat to sacred places. There, I lay before your mercy seat. If I am so tired I cannot lift my hands, I raise my heart in thanks for Him who teaches me to walk in Truth

            When my feet can no longer bring me, my heart leaps and jumps and skips to take me to a place where I can worship my Strength and my Shield for the Lord is my Salvation. He Redeems and is Merciful.

            When my tongue no longer forms syllables or words and my voice no longer creates sound, my heart will shout for joy. It will sing my thanks for You. How priceless is your Love for me.

            When my eyes no longer see, my heart will rush to the deepest seas and find You there. My heart will soar above the highest mountains and find You there, for You are Abundant and full of Light.

            When my body is so heavy, so stiff, no longer moves, my heart will take refuge and fly in the shadow of your wings. Your Faithfulness is great, and You hear my cry and bring me Hope

 

            When the darkness presses in and I am nothing but my pain, Christ comes to me. He whispers to my heart. In my imperfection, my heart seeks Him who is perfection and He can be found in Solitude.

            When I am at the end of my rope, the end of my self, the Holy Spirit groans for my heavy heart. My heart’s desire is Christ alone. My heart climbs two steps forward, one step back to a place where I can hear the angels sing

 

            When I have nothing but time stretching out before me, my heart finds a moment of Spiritual Beauty where my soul is cleansed of darkness. Out of His Abundant Salvation comes Spiritual Fullness.

            When I learn to be still, in the stillness my heart is healed, and I feel the nearness of the Kingdom of God. My heart longs to walk in the Garden. For there, the Hand that flung the stars in space will hold my heart.

When I cross over Jordan, the Hand that bore the nails for all my sins will Heal my broken body. The Hand that stilled the waters, will wipe away the last tears my eyes will ever shed.

 

Daily Readings, Monday, October 22, 2012

Psalms 25, 9, 15
Song of Songs 4:1-5:1 (replacement for Apocryphal reading)
Revelation 7:1-8
Luke 9:51-62

What I learned today:

I have named my enemy: Chronic Pain. The one place agony cannot touch is my soul (or heart) the place where Christ resides.

I can hide my soul from the pain by choosing to rejoice wholeheartedly rather than grumble and complain. Grousing and complaining will allow the enemy through the gates.

I do not have to meet the pain. God takes care of my enemy. I can expect and be full of confidence that God has it covered, so I can put down my sword.

He just expects me to trust and wait in anticipation. (Well, that is not so easy now is it!! But wait, He tells me how…)

While I am waiting, my role is to be sure to keep my heart pliable and teachable. I must not let pain - the enemy - harden my heart. I must not let pain - the enemy - make me selfish and self-centered. I must not let pain – the enemy – change my focus.

When I choose to worship God with all my heart and soul I am not focusing on the pain. 

When I choose to pay attention to the ways God is working in my life, I am not paying attention to the changes pain is making in my body.

When I choose to remember and share what God is doing in my life today, I look outward, not inward. I can choose the pen over the sword!

I pick up my pen and write to tell someone to look for God, not out there somewhere, but right here in the midst of the pain. One can wade through the stagnant places. One can muck through the grime. One can revisit the way it was before the pain. One can bathe in the flowing fountain of Living Water. God can wash one's soul, and let the blood of Jesus describe the past.

I can stay in the present knowing God sees me as beautiful. God sees me as perfect and perfected. Because of Jesus, my walk is blameless. I may enter the holy of holies. Because of the Holy Spirit I may dwell there, in the high places, instead of leaping into a pit of despair.

I will choose to make a vow, and follow the oath even when it hurts the worst, by speaking the Truth from my heart to yours. Live in The Truth that allows one to tell abundantly of the joyful place where one lives while God is out there, dealing with the enemy – pain.

Was I chosen to live in pain? Does it matter? The only flaw in me is choosing to wallow in my pain. If I choose instead to let God worry about the pain, He seals my heart.

I can talk and write from the abundance of His mercy. As Jesus did, I cry out to God in my Gethsemane of pain, and I know that the cost is paid. God will hear my cry. In His mercy, I can feel the touch of the Spirit moving gently around my pain, honoring those who walk beside me. In His mercy, he provides abundantly.

When I seek God in the pain, God provides protection. God provides opportunities to sow the seed of righteousness. God provides a home away from the isolation and selfishness. God provides hope and expectation. God provides protection. God provides a wealth of ink for my pen.

Selah. Deo Gloria.

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Action Alert October 11, 2012 Greetings! The RSDSA would like to make you aware of a petition currently before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that requests labeling changes for opioid analgesics (narcotic pain medications). Since many individuals with CRPS rely on opioids as part of their medication regimen, we wanted to bring this petition to your attention. The petition, submitted by Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), requests three specific changes to opioid analgesic labels: 1- That they no longer be prescribed for "moderate" noncancer pain, but only for "severe" noncancer pain 2- That the maximum allowable dosage per day be equivalent to 100 mg of morphine for noncancer pain 3- That this medication can only be used for a maximum duration of 90 DAYS. What this petition appears to mandate is a "one size fits all" prescribing mentality which DOES NOT benefit the chronic pain patients in general and CRPS patients in particular. The RSDSA has chosen to oppose the PROP petition on behalf of you, our members. On Wednesday, October 10th, The RSDSA sent this opposition letter to the FDA.  Cick Here to read RSDSA letter .   For those of you who would like to send your own individual response regarding PROP to the FDA, we encourage you to stress the specific details that your medication enables you to do that without it you would be unable to do. We suggest you use the following language to keep the message clear: My name is  _______. As a person  who suffers with the chronic and  yet incurable pain of  CRPS,  I ask the FDA to deny the PROP petition. I use opioids as prescribed by my physician allowing me to function better and partake in life in ways I would be unable to do without this prescribed care.  To send your comments to the FDA click here.  The category to use for your response is Individual Consumer. Your immediate action to this issue will make a difference. To read the PROP petition, click here. Please forward this email along to your friends and loved ones. Should you have any questions or would like to receive further information, please email or give me a call.  Sincerely, Jim Broatch Executive Vice President and Director RSDSA 877-662-7737 203-877-3790