Sept. 21, 2014

...It is better to groan 
With my old, old load
Than to search within,
And find nothing there
But folly and sin....
--from "The Empty Cup" by Thomas Edward Brown

Oh Father God,
No suffering. No pain. You created us that way, and that is what we long for, and that is what we wait for in eternity.
But for now, we suffer. And we look to You. We ask for healing. But if not the healing, Lord make us better through the refinement, make us stronger with the pain.

Help us Lord, to pray with Paul:
"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."

God we pray for deliverance. For the little girl struggling to breathe. For the mother with an unknown malady causing her dizziness. For those recovering from surgery. For our soldiers who beat their bodies into all kinds of aches. For our parents who deal with the effects of age. We know You can heal all. You know the causes, and the remedies.

You've given us a small glimpse into the knowledge of medicine. Thank You for our doctors and researchers and medicines.  Thank You for the many remedies You give us through our world around us. We pray for continued progress, and may the people see You in all the discoveries.

Thank You for people to pray. Thank You for people who help. May we be available to those in need. Thank You for deepened relationships through walking this road together. And Thank You most of all for Your Spirit that carries us through. You are the source of all courage, strength, endurance.

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

Lord when we are hurting, it is so hard to be good. But with You we can. We can reach out to the nurses and ask about their day. We can be patient with our child's new boo-boo. We can encourage our spouses. Help us Lord. Live through us as we die with Christ.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me..."

Lord whatever Your answer to our prayers, we trust in You. We live for You and give You full rein over our days. We have nowhere else to go, You are the giver of life. You are the one who breathes the stars. You are the one that makes the baby's chest heave and gasp their first breath. You are the one who sees every sparrow. You are the one who grows the beautiful pile of carrots, who swells the apples till they drop, who turns the pumpkins orange and adds the smell to cinnamon. All this to give us life, and life abundantly. You are the one who can rock us in Your arms and give us peace. Unbelievable, unshakable peace.

So in sickness and in health, we face this week with You Lord.

"We pray that you will be STRENGTHENED with His glorious POWER so that you will have all the PATIENCE and ENDURANCE you need. May you be filled with JOY, always thanking the Father." --Colossians 1:11

all other verses from Phil. 1: 19-22