Thursday, August 29, 2013

It is Well With My Soul

It Is Well with My Soul    8 28 13

This is a hospital experience, but not one focused on me.

When I was admitted to the local hospital early Monday morning, after a long night in the ER, to put it mildly I was exhausted. From the pain as well as all the hospital protocol.

The plan was to do a stress test and a scope to check my esophagus. I asked Amy and Jon not to tell anyone. Tests are tests and we all have them.
However, when the plan changed to transport me to the large Heart Center for a heart cath, I must admit I did a momentary "melt down." Even for one who has spent years in the medical field, it seemed rather frightening. Transfer via ambulance seemed a bit of "overkill," pardon the pun.

So the prayer requests went out. How precious is the family of God!!!  United prayer is a powerful force.  The day dragged on as I was bumped for more urgent patients, which I totally understood.

Moments like this in life are beautiful times for soul searching.  Finally after long hours, I was wheeled into the procedure room. As lights and machines glared and blared, techs, nurses, and doctors scurried around me.  I was read a statement of all the things that can go wrong, without warranty, and the paper was thrust into me hands to be signed. I reminded them that even Walmart gave warranties... lol.

And then............   a miraculous, amazing thing happened(before I was given the relaxing meds!), God's Presence settled over me like a warm, soothing blanket.  The words of "It is Well With My Soul" rang loud and clear deep in my heart.

A peace that this World cannot give nor take away lifted me into His Presence. I'm not writing this for drama. I know a heart cath is routine. But as I look back, the experience is a precious one. Another stake driven to reassure me that our God IS ALWAYS ENOUGH. For today, for tomorrow.

One never knows what tomorrow holds, but on the railway of life, the good and bad run parallel. I think of the railway ties as God's Presence that binds them together.  The way leads off into the horizon, and we know not what curves and valleys lie ahead. But "I know who holds tomorrow, and I KNOW WHO HOLDS MY HAND!"

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Eternal Security and An Abundant Entrance

Peter tells us that we can have an abundant entrance into Christ's kingdom. He also tells us the conditions for such, laying out the "conditions" for being "eternally secure" as we become partakers of His divine nature....


II Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are told to diligently add faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness, and love... and if we do these things we shall never fall!!

No, that's Not salvation by works........because he emphasized that only as we partake of His divine nature will be able to do this!
That is living in Christ, Christ living in me!!

And the result of that is being fruitful!!

Today, Lord, my prayer is to grow in the grace and the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ!!!