God is awesome every day, but I forget to pause and take in the wonder of His power. I am in awe of our access to the throne room of a living God, who is waiting to spend time with us. We need to simply be still.
When we pray "Thy will be done", we are bowing to God's sovereign plan. Sovereign means his plan... not ours. Even if we don't understand or like the plan, he has promised to be with us on the journey. Always!
He never promised it would be easy; the promise is that we would not be alone or forsaken. He knew the feeling of forsaken when he hung on the cross alone. He does not want that for us... ever! Not in our celebrations or in our sorrows. "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15)
When God is up to something, sit back and watch him go.
Look at this verse:
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people" -Isaiah 43:18-20
This might get confusing but bear with me. God literally "made a way in the desert" for Moe and Valerie. Long before Moe's pancreatic cancer diagnosis, silently God was at work weaving friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
The image is of my friend, Moe. His beautiful wife, Valerie, took this picture. Valerie was in my sister's class in school and Moe was in mine. A year ahead of Moe (and me) was a guy named Tom who married one of my dearest friends, Lana. Lana's sister, Diana, was close friends with Valerie, Moe's wife.(You can re-read to catch up) Tom and Moe played football together at Central High School in Clifton, IL. Tom (& Lana) & Moe (& Valerie) both came to the Peoria are and lived in neighboring apartments as newlyweds right here in our little village of Morton. When Moe and Valerie needed to move to Bloomington, Randy and I took over their lease. I remember thinking God had a hand in that... and he did.
32 years later... God still writing this story of friendship and faith.
("Earworm is singing "God's not done writing our story".)
Today, Moe and Valerie live in Texas. Tom and Lana call the Peoria area home. Moe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and needed treatment at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. It so happens that about 18 months ago, Tom and Lana bought a vacation home in Arizona, near the Mayo Clinic. The house was currently empty. Tom and Lana offered Moe and Valerie a place to stay while he had surgery and whatever treatment was necessary. They would not have to get a hotel! Talk about their gratitude cup overflowing!!!
God literally made a way in the desert... with clean water and comfy beds... and the luxury of a home where your dog and kids can stay, too.
Moe's surgery was on Monday. Pancreatic cancer is not the cancer diagnosis anyone wants to hear, but Moe was diagnosed earlier than some because his caregivers at home knew what to look for as markers. The diagnosis feels weighty, but people have been praying without ceasing. Yesterday they received this word from the Mayo Clinic care team:
"No evidence of disease!"
Yes... Moe will not need chemo or radiation. He sees the doctor next week for post surgical assessment and then every three months. Read it again. "No evidence of disease!"
More than a place to stay to rest and recover, God moved in a mighty way. Moe and Valerie have claimed every small miracle along the way, from early diagnosis to housing in Arizona.
Big... bold... beautiful...bountiful blessings from above. Coincidence that it all came together perfectly? Okay, believe that if you want to, but I know it was and is a God thing. He never fails. He is always good, even when life is hard.
He's been writing this story for more than forty years.
Today, I am grateful for a way in the wilderness.
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