Thursday, February 13, 2014

 

Seeing God when Satan attacks...

OK.  This is a very personal blog today.  As many of you know, our family has just been attacked by Satan with illness.  My Dad has Alzheimer's.  Marsha's Mom is in the hospital because of pain and her stomach either has a blockage or has quit working  Waiting to see what happens next.  Our daughter Julie is better in so many ways.  Still has a long way to go but God is healing her.  She had a major appointment today and found out the last round of tests showed no cancer.  She has had three years of one thing after another.  And on top of this, last night Julie's Avery fell on their concrete floor.  On concussion watch till around 6 tonight, but everything seems normal so far.  Could have been bad.  And that doesn't even count Jake's Kawasaki disease last summer.  Or my heart scare.  Or Marsha's sister Phyllis and her back surgery.

We are just waiting for the hospital ER to offer frequent flyer points.  Or maybe we can get a "stay 10 nights get one free."

Hate Satan and tired of his work.

But in the middle of this, I want to share three glimpses of God and his love that I saw over the past 12 hours.  And by now you know that we are a family that believes in God.  With everything within us we believe.  So here are the three things that remind me Satan never wins.

Granny wants Grandpa to spend the night in the hospital with her tonight.  He is not in shape to do that. There is not anything he can do for her.  But we are going to let him.  We will put his cot right by the bed and they will lay there and hold hands.  They will pray, and cry, and whisper.  Don't imagine either will sleep a wink.  That is what love looks like after 68 years of marriage.  It is what a marriage built on Jesus looks like.  It is a great love story.

And Julie went to her appointment today.  She went and signed in at the counter.  When she turned around, there was her Mom sitting there.  Julie burst into tears.  She had told Mimi to stay with Granny.  But Granny told Marsha to get over there and be with Julie.  Still Mimi's little girl even at 37.  But when you love, you show up.  You be there no matter what else is going on.  Like God is always there for us.

And when church heard about Avery last night, I lost track of the number of calls, texts, Facebook messages, and emails.  Offers to help.  Offers to sit with Granny, check on Grandpa, help with Jake.  Offers to help Mimi and Pops.  And prayers, prayers, prayers.  Family.  It's what God's people do for each other.

Strong marriage.  Strong family.  Strong church.  Faithful.  Honoring God.  Doing kingdom work in the midst of pain.

Satan doesn't have a chance.

We win.  Now and forever.

Thanks God for the glimpses of your presence.

Comments:
My wife and I go back and forth with diseases and ailments as age goes forth, not always to blame satan, but probably just what happens to fallen man in an biological shell. Even Lazarus died eventually of something.
 
It seems a bit simplistic to blame Satan for all the bad encountered in life, a percentage of the responsibility belongs on the personal choices we make, due to lack of education on a subject or just stupid endevors.

When I oldest son was a baby he had a diaper cover that said"the devil made me do it"once we reach an accountable age the choice becomes ours to have control over our decisions.
 
You both have good points. I do think sickness is in this world because of Eve (and then Adam's) poor choice. We are in a fallen world. Sometimes bad stuff happens, sometimes we cause the bad stuff, and sometimes I think Satan attacks. Sometimes we get old and, unless the Lord comes, we'll die. But at least we will be raised from the dead. And Eloise is right about bad choices. Bad choices because of stupidity, or -- at least in my case many times -- bad choices. But we learn and try to grow. But I do believe Satan will always come hard after God's people.
 
Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?