Pray for Amy

This past Sunday Amy and Jonny went to church for the first time since her
stroke. The church family was excited to see her. It was a blessing for us
to watch Amy walk hand in hand with Jonny to take communion together. (no
walker or wheelchair)

Amy still struggles with morning nausea and vomiting. She also still has
some fluid build-up on the back of her head. Pray that the body absorbs this
completely in time. Her surgery scar is healing well and her hair is
beginning to grow back. She has been going  to PT 2 days a week for 2 hours
a day. She is doing well!
Last week she baked brownies for Dinah and I. PTL!

Since we have been home she has been very busy with 3 weddings for Jonny’s
friends. A bridal shower at her house for a high school friend. A reception
and benefit hosted by her employer Woodside Heath and Tennis Club. Thanks
again to all of you who have encouraged us since we have been home. The
welcome at the airport was unbelievable! Jonny has been back to work two
weeks. It’s hard to believe we have been home a month.

In the entrance foyer of The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) there
is a large framed tapestry by Marc Chagall, called Job. The tapestry is 11.5
feet wide and 13 feet high. It is dedicated to all disabled people of the
world. The biblical character Job has often been referred to as “the patron
saint of people with disabilities.”

On the reverse side of the tapestry is a scripture from the book of Job that
says: “For there is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout
again. And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” (Job 14:7): This
verse appropriately reflects the mission of RIC to give hope when life seems
hopeless. This writing is the largest printed scripture verse in the city of
Chicago.

The Bible tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for the
evidence of things unseen. As I was thinking about hope I was reminded of
the list of people in Hebrews 11 who declared their Christian experience a
walk of faith and hope. They believed even though they never received what
was promised.

When Amy went to see her Neurologist, Dr. Ryan told us he had seen 20 cases
very similar to Amy’s, caused by some kind of trama to the vertebral artery.
He spoke specifically of one woman who had very no movement except eyes for
18 months and then one day she began to move and started to recover. He said
he would have never thought she would have recovered. He said he saw her 15
years ago and you would have never known she had a stroke.

This story encouraged me because in my humanity I am sometimes like the
doctor, who knows what he sees and makes judgments on that limited
information. But, the Bible teaches us that things aren’t always as they
seem. The Bible reminds us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight.
Now that is counter cultural to our “show me first” way of thinking.

Time and time again we have examples in scripture to encourage and teach us
to endure, so we might have hope. Romans 15:3-5. Consider Daniel who by the
looks of things may have met us match in the lion’s den but his God
delivered and God was praised by all nations. Or Daniel’s 3 friends,
assigned to duty in the fiery furnace, but not God delivered. In both cases
they trusted God even though the outlook was bleak and the future uncertain.

Over the past 90 days we have had an opportunity to experience the  divine
dimension that we know very little about – the walk of faith without sight.
What has happened to Amy has forced us into that  realm. The realm of trust
and dependence on a God who is unlike any other. We don’t understand, but
are asked to simply trust! In my weakness I do the best I can.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on
wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not
be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,
hope. And hope does not disappoint us . . .

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is
faithful. Hebrews 10:22-24

We are hoping in the Lord that Amy WILL keep dancing! He is faithful! Thank
you Father for what you are doing in all our lives.

KPCC Newsletter 8-25 (This is the Kaw Prairie newsletter sent out this week. Check out page 5)

*Pastor Dan wearing a 586 shirt

(Check out the Shirts Page at the top of the screen)

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lam. 3-22-23

Yesterday was Jonny and Amy’s 7 month wedding anniversary. Wow what a ride these first 7 months have been! Amy looks great and continues to get stronger each day. She goes to PT and OT therapy 4 hours a week. She still struggles with
nausea and vomiting in the morning. Pray that her brain would settle down and the morning sickness would cease. Pray for Jonny as he goes back to work on Wednesday.

Tonight our family  met at the
community pool in our neighborhood for an evening swim. What a joy it was to
have Amy in the pool unassisted walking around and even playing catch with the football. We all had a great time and for two hours this afternoon, life
seemed almost normal again.

Saturday, night Amy’s employer, Woodside Health and Tennis Club hosted a
reception for her. We had a great turnout of friends and family. KC Wolf showed up and danced with Amy. Southwind and McCoy entertained us with some
good music. We celebrated the miracle of life. God is good! Thank you Andy and the employees of Woodside.

Amy loves the cross made from olive wood that was given to her by the Grace On Wings flight crew when she was transported from DC to Chicago. It is a reminder of her rescue and deliverance from an almost fatal stroke and the grace of God expressed on her behalf over the past three months.

The cross is a universal symbol of suffering. Acting in our behalf over 2000
years ago Jesus, rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and delivered us
into the His kingdom of light. Col 1:3. The cross stands as a reminder of my
hopelessness without His sacrificial death.  It reminds me of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness to me. It reminds me of God’s limitless
grace and acceptance for all who put their trust in Him. It reminds me of His triumph over death! Finally, the cross reminds me of life – abundant and
eternal, to all those who in humility and dependence accept this free gift of the Father. John 3:16

Thank you Father for delivering Amy from the valley of the shadow of death
on May 23th 2010. Thank you Jesus for delivering me from the valley of death, the kingdom of darkness, in September 1971! Thank you that the symbol of the cross can remind us of both these miraculous rescues. Praise God!

Thank you again for your faithfulness in standing with us in prayer. Thank you for your financial gifts to Amy and Jonny and our family during this difficult time. We will be forever grateful!

It is exciting for me to report that Amy is doing very well. We had a wonderful reception of family and friends at the KC airport on Friday and dinner that night at Amy and Jonny’s house. This week Amy had an appointment with a neurologist, who was amazed at her condition after reviewing her file. All the doctors have had the same reaction! I still remember the look on the faces of the Neurology Team at George Washington when they saw Amy the week she left as compared to 3 weeks earlier. Doctors and nurses cried at her progress! How great is our God?

Friday she has her first Physical Therapy session, since leaving Chicago. Thank you again for praying. Please continue to pray!

As a Father, I was blessed to have the opportunity walk with my son and my new daughter through their storm. There were days that were very difficult, but we never lost hope. God’s presence was overwhelming. He is a great God!

The Chicago Red Line subway car sign reads – “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction”. Wow, that leaves no question in my mind about the worldview of Richard Dawkins.

My view of God after the past 2 months is much different! I have witnessed Him as a faithful, loving, generous and wise provider and protector. A Father who only wants the best for his children. I have witnessed a great God! In Exodus 34, God describes himself this way: And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

The prophet Jeremiah says this about God – because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. He is a good and faithful God!

C.S. Lewis has said the “problem of pain” is atheism’s most potent weapon against the Christian faith.

On the other hand the Bible seems to suggest that suffering is often the rite of passage into the Kingdom life, and is one way God has designed to advance the gospel.

We all suffer or will suffer. The question is when and how will you respond, and who will you look to for comfort.

As I mentioned earlier in one of my journal entries, God wants to strengthen our faith through suffering but Satan wants to use suffering to destroy our faith! James would tell us that life’s trials that test our faith should be considered an opportunity for joy because those trials will result in the fruit of endurance and ultimately maturity.

Paul tells us that it is in our weakness that we can experience the power of God. The song says “His strength is perfect when our strength is gone” He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on; raised by his power the weak become strong. His strength his perfect.” The verse goes: “I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength”. We can only know the power that He holds. When we truly see how deep our weakness goes; His strength in us begins where ours comes to an end. He hears our humble cry and proves again . . .

In my life I cannot say I have rejoiced in my suffering, but I can say, suffering has made me stronger. Suffering has helped me mature. I believe Jonny and Amy are stronger today because of Amy’s stroke. Did God cause Amy a stroke to make her mature in her faith, of course not, but did God use this time to help them become more like Him, absolutely! Suffering can be a time of spiritual growth and renewal.

It was during a time of suffering that God spoke to me, in my storm, about his plan for the rest of my life. It was September 29th, 2006. O yes, I will never forget that day.

I had been on a business trip in Boston when I became very ill. The next day I flew back to KC and was eventually diagnosed with an abscess on my colon that had perforated. Through the sixteen day process I almost died.

During my hospital stay, I was reading in 2 Chronicles about King Hezekiah. Hezekiah was King of Judah and had got sick. The prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and told him that he was very sick and he that he was not going to get better. Hezekiah didn’t take that news too well and began to cry out to God. God heard his prayer and added 15 years to his life! 2 Kings 20

Now, how does that story affect me – as I read this story God spoke to me clearly – the question that came to mind was, if God gave me 15 more years on this planet, how would I want to spend it? Spend it like I have been; working full time and serving God part time or choosing to be more intentional in Kingdom work. I made no deal with God that day, but I did commit to using my remaining years for full time vocational Kingdom work.

Fast forward almost 4 years. God’s favor has continued to rest upon us and he continues to confirm the work of our hands. Ps 90:17. I have never been more fulfilled in my work, than I have in the past 4 years. God used this time of suffering to help me gain clarity about my life purpose and calling.

In the final analysis, we can look at suffering and pain as being “God’s fault” and a reason to question our faith and doubt the goodness of God. Or, we can look at suffering as one pathway God may use to enlarge our view of Him and His purpose for our life. For me the pathway of suffering has ultimately drawn me closer to Him. I still don’t understand why! But, I do know who is in control and can choose to trust Him!

Worship with me because Our God is Greater!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God…
There’s no one like you, none like you!

As you pray today Praise God for His protection and deliverence these past 2 months.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, let me tell you what he has done for me.

Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf!

In the morning O Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

Surely God is my help the Lord is the one who sustains me.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I will praise you O Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord … You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the people.

My soul finds rest in God alone … He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Thank you Father for your love and faithfulness to Amy and Jonny.

Amy rests quietly waiting expectantly for the trip home tomorrow. In the next room Laurie struggles.  We pray for her strong recovery and have faith that God will do what’s best for Laurie. We pray that she would not suffer. We pray for Kibir, her husband, that God will give him wisdom regarding when to take Laurie home.

For the last two months I have been surrounded by people who have walked through the “valley of the shadow of death.”

Many are being healed or learning to cope with their limitations while others are struggling with acceptance and the reality of their limitations..

The scripture says:
Show me O lord, my life’s end and the number of my days. Let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is nothing before you. Each mans life is but a breath, Man is a mere phantom as we goes to and from : He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you!
Ps 39:4-7

Yes, being at GWU, RIC, and NWU has vividly reminded me that we all have an appointment with death and part of that appointment may involve suffering, pain and inconvience. That’s the part the bothers me the most – we have seen so much in the past 2 months.

The Bible says, it is appointed unto man to die once, and after that the judgment.

James puts it this way … What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (4:14)

Solomon puts it this way … Now here is the conclusion of the matter; fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring ever deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Eccl 12:13-14

I used to sing a song entitled “A Chasing of the Wind” by Greg Nelson and Phill McHugh. Let me close with these lyrics: Are you ready for your appointment?

Every heart is filled with longing to be free from all life’s pain.

Yet the search through earthly pleasures. Always ends in vain.

Only God who made the heavens can satisfy our souls.

Apart from Him and all His meaning all
things fail as they begin.

And hearts deceived
can only know a
chasing of the wind.

All achievements, all possessions all with time return to dust.

Only God can be our reason for deep and quiet trust.

He will guard us from the dangers
that gladly make men fools.

Apart from Him and all His meaning, all things fail as they begin.

And hearts deceived
Can only know a chasing of the wind.

Why do we live without Jesus? Why do we waste another day? He is the life that sustains us, the only hope for us today.

So tell me, why do we live without Him?
Are you ready for your appointment?  Have you left anything undone that you would do today if you knew tomorrow may not come. If so, do it today!

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”

In the past sixty days I have climbed more steps, ridden more trains, buses  cabs, and escalators than I did in my first 63 years. It will be great to get back to the simple life in Kansas and my old 2004 Grand Cherokee.

Thanks to Mary and Ken, Anu, and Gio and several others who were willing to keep a couple guys from Kansas, we always had a place to stay. God magnificently provided.

Today I read the Story of King Hezekiah found in 2 Chron 32.

The nation of Judah had been terrorized by the King of Assyria. Hezekiah encouraged  his people with these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. (sound familiar – see Joshua 1) because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”  And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.  Then the King of Assyria continued his assault. Listen to some of his questions:

On what are you basing your confidence? v10

You are being mislead! v11

Do you know who I am and what I have done? v13

What God is able to save? v14

How can your God deliver you from my hand? v 14

Don’t believe him, no God can deliver you from my hand! v15

Remember Satan’s strategy is to derail our Faith in God. These mental assaults can create fear and discouragement and steal our peace, joy and confidence.

We have been confident because we have experienced that “greater power” fighting this battle for us for these 2 months.

It has been a good  thing to have the  ”arm of flesh” – (however you choose to label it, wisdom, education, strength, medical training etc.). We are thankful for the wisdom and intelligence our medical healers. But, it has been far greater to believe that the creator of the universe has orchestrated the details of this battle plan and has stood with us fighting this  battle! When the medical team had no answers, God did!

And so it has been since May 23rd – we have chose to trust in the Lord and not lean unto our own understanding, to trust in the creator not the creation, to trust in the Lord our God to help us fight this battle. The question remains for all of us:

What battle are you fighting today? Is it your job? Your kids? Your marriage? An serious illness? A relationship with a family member or co- worker? Your church?

Are you going it alone? Are you relying on the “arm of flesh”? Or, are you relying on a “greater power”, the Lord our God? Be confident in this today:

… for there is a greater power with us, than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Oh by the way, the rest of the story goes like this … Hezekiah prayed and God sent an angel who annilated all the Assyrian army  … so the King withdrew in disgrace … And the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem.

Our God Saves!

Rejoice in the Lord with me and again I say Rejoice! Amy is coming home! Our Savior Is Mighty to Save! The chorus of this song says:

Savior, he can move the mountains, for my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save!

Forever, Author of Salvation, He rose and conquered the grave. Jesus conquered the grave!

It is hard to believe that this part of our faith journey is almost over. We got word today that Amy will be discharged on Friday, 61 days after her stroke. We are all excited, especially Amy! Thank you Father!

We will be forever grateful to those of you who have stood with us, faithfully prayed, encouraged us with cards, emails and notes to our guest book, visits and gifts. God’s favor has abundantly rested upon us during this time.

Yesterday morning I attended Park Community Church in Lincoln Park.

Earlier that morning 92 people were baptized in Lake Michigan. During the service the pastor invited those who were baptized to join him on the stage to watch a video of their baptism. Three of those (all 20 something) shared their faith journey experience and how their lives had been transformed. They spoke of how they had received Jesus in their hearts and not just in their heads.

As the video played the song “The One Who Saves” played too, listen with me:

Come join the song, lift your voice, As heaven and earth give praise.

Fall to your knees, at the feet Of the Son of The One True God.

Turn from old ways, lift your eyes For the kingdom of God is here.

Open your heart, offer all, For Jesus Christ is here.

We will find our home, we will find  our peace, we will find our rest
In the One who loves.

He will light the way, He will lead us home, As we offer all, to the One who saves us

Call on the Name, that is hope, Jesus the Son of God, Lord over all, He is good
And His mercy endures, Always His love endures, Forever His love endures
Forever His love endures.

The pastor then charged them to remember three things: Remember the Gift – although our faith stories are all different the gift of grace is common. Live your life marked by grace! Remember the Command – “so walk in Him”. Let others see the grace of God in your walk. Be different! Remember the response. Be abounding in thankfulness.

It was refreshing and inspiring for me to watch hundreds of people, many of whom were 20 something, worship God together without pretense in spirit and truth while at the same time with simplicity and reverence.

I believe our 20 something generation (and Jonny agrees with me) is tired of the church playing church. They are tired of the market-driven, self-help rhetoric that characterizes the mega-church model of recent years. They want to simply worship God in spirit and truth!

I was refreshed and inspired to hear them sing – to see them open their Bibles, and listen as they shared their testimonies.

I was impressed to participate in a service dedicated to challenging and commissioning those who followed Christ in Baptism to “continue to walk in Him”. I was impressed to see those who were baptized, actually in church boldly sharing their testimony.

Thank you Father for the opportunity to worship with part of your church in Chicago. Thank you for encouraging my heart. Renew your spirit within me!

Yesterday, was Amy and Jonny’s 6 month wedding anniversary.

Ashley took Amy to Panera Bread – she really enjoyed getting out. Jonny and I went to a Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field.

It was a great experience to see how a town can rally around a sports team – even a losing team! For almost 100 years loyal Cubs fans have been coming out cheer their team on – win or lose. Oh, if we as Christ-followers had the same passion and enthusiasm to live for Jesus as the Cub fans have for the Cubs. It was Paul who said, “for me living is Jesus”!

(ln the third year of a controversy over whether to install lights for night games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Scott Mutter created this image of the fans lighting the baseball diamond with flashlights. It touched off a national sensation and became Mutter’s most popular photomontage. Even though night games at Wrigley Field are no longer a novelty, the magic of this image endures. It provides a dramatic graphic depiction of the symbiotic relationship between professional players on the field and the fans in the bleachers .)

The loyalty and commitment of these fans as they cheered and sang reminded be of the song – I Am Determined.

I hope this song can be our prayer today – that the Lord would create in us a renewed determination to live boldly for him in the marketplace of life, allowing Him to use us to advance His Kingdom and Gospel.

Darkness around me, sorrow surrounds me;
Though there be trials, still I can sing. For I have this treasure – my God reigns within me,
And I am determined to live for the King.

I am determined to be invincible. ‘Til He has finished His purpose in me. And nothing shall shake me, For He’ll never forsake me, and I tam determined to live for the King.

The rest of the song goes like:

Hell’s gates are trembling from our prayers ascending
Darkness is crumbling from praises we sing.
Our Sovereign, Victorious is marching before us,
And we are determined to live for the King.

When I am weary – I’ll look to His face;
And when I am tempted, I’ll trust in His grace.

I am determined to be invincible, til He has finished His purpose in me.
And nothing shall shake me
For He’ll never forsake me. I am determined to live for My King.

Thanks again for your faithful intersession. We will never forget the works of God and how you have faithfully interceded for us.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Ps 77:11-15

Amy is headed back to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. They will reevaluate her and set a new date of discharge. She is doing well. Eating well. The trach and stomach incisions are healing well. There has been no vomiting or coughing. Amy is looking forward to getting back to therapy and
home.

Last week while I was home, I was cleaning up 6 week of emails on my home computer and I saw the the following email I sent early on May 24th.

“Unless we have a miracle, Amy may not live through the day ….”. That morning we were desperate, we needed a first century miracle and asked you to pray for one. God heard our cry of desperation and answered with a miracle. Thank you Father, we are forever grateful.

At that moment, we felt like Paul. We felt under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure … with God as our only resource and hope. Listen in to Paul as he shares his heart – “we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure … But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead … He has delivered us from such deadly peril and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 2 Cor 1:8-11

That’s where we were, I physically felt the pressure in my chest, I felt the blood rush through my body when the neuro-surgeon told us Amy may not make it through the day. Our hearts cried why, sweet Amy? But God who raises the dead delivered Amy from this deadly peril! Isn’t that a great verse! The verse goes on to say – but, this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead! Now how is that for a resume, a God who raises the dead? As a result of Amy’s stroke we will never be the same again. We have seen God save Amy from the grave. We are learning to rely on God and not on ourselves. Every day since May 23rd we have chose to rely on Him and to experience his daily provision of grace and mercy to act on our behalf. Thank you for helping us do this through your prayers.

So, why do bad things happen to good people? How do you reconcile the fact that an infinitely good and omniscient God allows bad things to happen to Good people. I don’t claim to understand this on this side of eternity. But, we can look to scripture for some biblical thinking on the question. Two case studies come to mind – Job and Joseph.

Several weeks ago Amy asked the question, why me? I am a good person, I love God, I go to church – why did I have to have a stroke? That’s a fair question. The RIC Chaplain said, “If I stop to ask why, it will drive me crazy.” She went on to say, we are taught that we have a “cause and effect” God. We are taught if we do good, good will follow us. But we know all too well, that isn’t always the case. We we need to focus on who, not why!

First let’s look at Job. He was God’s man, a righteous man who feared God and avoided evil. God called even called Him his servant – and God said to Satan – “have you considered my servant Job, there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job had everything going for him; family, business, wealth, a strong spiritual life. Job had done nothing to deserve such suffering and by God’s own testimony he was the best man on earth. So why did God allow Satan to test the faith of Job. I think Job would answer at the end of his life, because he is God! When the storm had passed, Job choose to value his faith in God above his own life – “though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”. Even through God never answered the “why” question, Job was reminded that God was still in control and God cared for him.

John Piper says that all suffering and persecution have two things in common: First, the design of the devil is to destroy our faith. Secondly the design of God is to strengthen our faith. The real issue for Job was faith. Would he continue to trust God despite his suffering? Was his faith based on circumstance or was is it based on the character of God? Would he continue to trust in a loving and good God, even when he didn’t feel loved by God?

Enter Joseph, a young man who’s faith journey was also very stormy. Let’s consider a couple sound bytes from Joseph’s faith walk. When Joseph was going through his various storms, one sound byte that is repeated is, “and the Lord was with Joseph” – Gen 39:2. Another sound-byte toward the end of Joseph’s life was is “I am in the place of God”. And again as he spoke to his brothers, “you meant it for evil but God meant it for good”. I believe Joseph always had a sense of God’s presence and purpose for his life. You could say Joseph had God at the “fixed center” of his life and that made all the difference how he viewed these interruptions in his faith journey. Joseph could say with confidence, I am right where God wants me to be – I am in the place of God and he is with me.

In the book, In The Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado, Max writes, “a season of suffering is a small price to pay for a clear view of God. You see Job, Joseph, and Amy had an encounter with the God who raises the dead. They will never be the same again. God never abandoned them in their storm. He spoke to Job out of his storm (Job 39 and 42) and was with Joseph is storm. Amy asked Jesus to help her speak, and he did! They all had an upclose encounters with the God who raises the dead, as a result of their suffering.

Someone has said the pathway to the Kingdom is through suffering. I believe that is right on – the man who delivered flowers to Amy said, when you are in the hospital “you check your ego at the door”. Suffering involves humility and humility is the first step in acknowledging our need for God.

Satan was betting that Job, Joseph and Amy and Jonny would ditch their faith when life got tough, but they didn’t. They valued their faith in God more than temporary inconvience and suffering. Their faith got stronger. How about you!

Max Lucado writes: “When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him. When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him. When you discover his strength, you will rely on him. But only when he saves you will you worship him … Before your rescue you could keep God at a distance . . . and from that moment on, he is not just a diety to admire, a teacher to be observed, or a master to obey. He is the Savior. The Savior to be worshiped.

Thank you for praying!