For over a year now, I have been giving out a ministry card that Arlette Revells designed and has printed for me. I am now well into my 2nd thousand card to individuals I meet, or when I sent a letter, or pay a bill. Here it is:
The question comes to us at different times in our lives, "Where is God when I am hurting so badly?"
I am reminded of the song that goes like this:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
The hymn is entitled, "The Solid Rock."
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' Name
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
Melvine, Greg, and my faith are being tested to see what we are made of.
For us, there is no turning back. We will continue to trust God in the darkest night, in the deep valley of the shadow of death, or whatever comes, we believe we can never be separated from God's love that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. God has not promised us a rose garden. He has promised never to leave us not to forsake us. The 8th chapter of the Book of Romans is one I often quote and have used over and over again in my ministry of preaching, teaching, counseling and in one on one ministry.
Let me quote it for you:
Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, Who died — more than that, Who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
On Wednesday afternoon, the nurse from St. Mary's Hospital Hospice Care paid us a visit. She had her smart phone and asked a myriad of questions. Some she asked of Melvine to ascertain if she is orientated to person, time, place, and situation. Melvine passed it. I did not have to help her and would not. Her mental status was being evaluated.
Melvine has a strong constitution. She is solid through and through. My maternal grandmother saw character in her, and told me she approved of Melvine. She based it on a photo I showed her. In fact, the day that I proposed to Melvine my grandmother died. She was 95 years old.
We are looking up and claiming the promised of God that are ours to receive.
Should Melvine die within a few months we believe that death is not the end. It is the beginning of a life we will enjoy throughout eternity with Jesus. If God allows Melvine to live, we want her to have a quality of life that she can enjoy with health, strength, joy and peace.
The nurse today assured us that every thing we will need will be provided for us. What a blessing it is to have people who are professionals who are well-trained to minister to Melvine, Greg and me.
This morning Greg will drive me to my cardiologist's office where I am to take a nuclear stress test. I will have to fast and not drink anything from midnight tonight and until the test is completed.
I need your prayers. I am not afraid of this test. I have had one before. God is with me.
Bonnie Bender will be here in our home with Melvine to take care of her.
Yesterday, Audrey Cox, wife of Jim Cox, stayed with Melvine while I was at the pain management doctor's office.
Thank you for your prayers for Melvine, Greg and me.
Have a blessed day.
I am reminded of the song that goes like this:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
The hymn is entitled, "The Solid Rock."
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' Name
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
Melvine, Greg, and my faith are being tested to see what we are made of.
For us, there is no turning back. We will continue to trust God in the darkest night, in the deep valley of the shadow of death, or whatever comes, we believe we can never be separated from God's love that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. God has not promised us a rose garden. He has promised never to leave us not to forsake us. The 8th chapter of the Book of Romans is one I often quote and have used over and over again in my ministry of preaching, teaching, counseling and in one on one ministry.
Let me quote it for you:
Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, Who died — more than that, Who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
On Wednesday afternoon, the nurse from St. Mary's Hospital Hospice Care paid us a visit. She had her smart phone and asked a myriad of questions. Some she asked of Melvine to ascertain if she is orientated to person, time, place, and situation. Melvine passed it. I did not have to help her and would not. Her mental status was being evaluated.
Melvine has a strong constitution. She is solid through and through. My maternal grandmother saw character in her, and told me she approved of Melvine. She based it on a photo I showed her. In fact, the day that I proposed to Melvine my grandmother died. She was 95 years old.
We are looking up and claiming the promised of God that are ours to receive.
Should Melvine die within a few months we believe that death is not the end. It is the beginning of a life we will enjoy throughout eternity with Jesus. If God allows Melvine to live, we want her to have a quality of life that she can enjoy with health, strength, joy and peace.
The nurse today assured us that every thing we will need will be provided for us. What a blessing it is to have people who are professionals who are well-trained to minister to Melvine, Greg and me.
This morning Greg will drive me to my cardiologist's office where I am to take a nuclear stress test. I will have to fast and not drink anything from midnight tonight and until the test is completed.
I need your prayers. I am not afraid of this test. I have had one before. God is with me.
Bonnie Bender will be here in our home with Melvine to take care of her.
Yesterday, Audrey Cox, wife of Jim Cox, stayed with Melvine while I was at the pain management doctor's office.
Thank you for your prayers for Melvine, Greg and me.
Have a blessed day.