Kind of Long... but read!

You know those things that we all think about. You know, those, "That will never happen to me," things. Well, this is one of those things. I have had friends who have had this happen, I give them pity, and we go on. But, now, it is a reality to me.

Today, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer (in the midst of National Breast Cancer month). As far as I know, the Dr.'s caught it early enough so that the surgery next week (10/26/2007) will be an "outpatient" surgery. So please pray that is all she needs!

I am not sure if it's that it hasn't sunk in yet, or if God is totally working in my life and calming my spirit. My family is really doing ok. Ok meaning that we aren't freaking out, we are looking towards God in this storm. When I first heard the news this morning, while I was at work, I was so nervous. I couldn't grasp that it was happening to us, especially to my mom. But, after a while I was thinking to myself that it could be A LOT worse. God is going to bless us and teach us all through this experience.

I got an e-mail from my sister-in-law this morning after we got the news. She wrote:

I found this scripture this morning and thought it was so fitting for what we, as a family are dealing with at this hour. I had sent it to Mim before even learning any news and so now, I thought it would be good to share with all of you. I hope this gives you all the strength we are searching for right now and that we can all rejoice in God's glory and know that He will heal Mom/Mim. Most importantly, we are not alone and should not give any thought or recognition to the enemy. God restores everything!! I love you all! -Wendy My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

This is something we should all ponder on. Why should we be immersed in sadness in a time that God is right here with us. We get so bogged down in the present. Asking questions like, "Where are you God, I am in pain, I am in darkness, where are you?" In Exodus, Moses goes through the same thing that we all go through...

Exodus 33:19-23

Moses said, "Please show me your glory!" And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

The part I want to emphasize on is in bold. The place that God is talking about is a cave, somewhere dark, unknown to man, but it is near to God. God says that He will put us there, cover us until He has gone. Then He will allow us to see his back, the end.

This shows us that even in the dark and painful parts of life, God is there, but He doesn't want us to see what He is doing. If we did see what He was planning or doing in our lives, we wouldn't be able to exist. If we saw His face, we would die. Jesus saw God's face while praying in the Garden. He started to sweat blood because of God's pure Glory, and Jesus was God.

Some more scripture to think of are some of my favourite verses, Isaiah 43:1-3

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush ^[a] and Seba in your stead.

Take peace!

For His Glory!

Jon