it's getting real

So many times in life, when the going gets tuff, it can feel like we are treading water. Simply trying to hang on to the life board. Earlier this week I thought I am fine as long as I don't look over the edge of the Wings that are carrying me. I am so thankful for the image in "Exodus 19:4 you yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself." The great unknown can be so easily accompanied by anxiety and fear. When I look back on my life Journey, so many times I can see God's faithfulness. Even now as we look ahead preparing for Car t therapy in Hamilton Ontario for my lymphoma, I can see God in the details. In the midst of the very hard he has placed so many truths in my heart that bring me great peace. Beautiful verses and hymns that I learned as a boy spring into my mind. We are so grateful for the over provision for our stay in Hamilton. We are so thankful that we have not had to self Advocate, but rather the direction from the doctors has been very obvious so far. This is something we have prayed a lot about, that it would be obvious. I am so thankful that in the midst of the hard, when I cry out I know my cries are being heard. We very much value your prayers during this very overwhelming time.

when life Feels Like a Hurricane

Be strong and courageous is what we are commanded to do. But how Lord we ask when we don't feel like it. How do we do this when life Feels Like a Hurricane? "Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Recently I did a devotional on prayer and we were encouraged to ask the Lord to tell us what we should pray for. Very clearly I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to pray for courage and strength. We all have our goliaths,  things that seem so enormous, God's word is reminding me that I do not face mine on my own. I do not face my current health Challenge on my own. He goes with me and he goes before me. "Lord I Thank you for this promise that you are with us wherever we go. I thank you that it is not by my strength but by yours. Thank you Lord for surrounding us with an army of friends. Amen"

stage fright

Stage fright, I remember as a boy whenever a school play happened, it seemed we all had to participate, but I always got the silent act parts. Been wondering how we as humans would respond if we knew what the whole play of our life looked like. I can only imagine the stage fright. Perhaps it's good to start with silent parts in a play. I think God knows what he's doing when he puts us through many tests before we get to exams. He knows what he's doing when he gives us a small part in the play before he gives us big parts. He works so patiently amidst our human weakness, tweaking us and guiding us along life's way.

Rain clouds

When I look ahead all I see is rain clouds, then I remember where my help does come from, from the author and finisher, the Alpha and Omega. The same God that provided a way of salvation, that parted seas and has performed many miracles, is on my side. The God, who I can speak directly to, the one who provided the Holy Spirit, my comforter, that God is on my side. When I am weak he is strong, when I feel deflated by cancer diagnosis and waiting and stress, he is there. Praise be to God in the midst of my circumstances. Thanks be to God that he does not take my moaning and groaning as an insult, but instead is there without outstretched hand. After a tiring year of cancer treatment and recovery, it looks like more is ahead. It is when I can come to him in my humanity, in my weakness, that he wants to increase my faith. I must decrease and he must increase. When my heart is heavy for those close to me, I am thankful for a bottomless well that God provides.

Lord help me not to go around that well but to walk right up to it. Your child, Scott

nothing is enough until God is

Nothing is enough until God is. Until God Is Enough nothing is. This is a tough message to understand in our material and self-reliant world. Often we need to come to our end to say that God is enough. And then it's a discipline to keep saying, God is enough. It's so easy for me to take my eyes off Jesus. When I look down, it's when I am in control but when I look up with my hands open to the heavens, that's when Jesus is. He wants that to be my attitude every day, a surrender to him of all that I am, all that I dream of and all that I have. Funny that all that we have is from him anyway but we hold it so tightly. As I go through another tough spot in my life, I am reminded to look up, he is enough.

Hear my cry

Father in heaven I thank you that you give us permission to ask why questions and how questions. I thank you that you give us permission to complain, to lament. I know I can have deep confidence in a big God. Your power and might are established over and over again in your word and in my life. So I cry out to you and lay the heavy burdens I carry at your feet, and surrender them to you for your purpose to be worked out. Amen

why do we worry

Why do we worry? It is because we are in control of our life versus God. I am certainly a worrier. Overtime I have learned to take my worries to God sooner. It's not easy when we wonder about our families and loved ones futures. It's not easy when life is in upheaval. Prayer - I thank you that I can trust you in all things, help me to cast my worries and fears at your feet. Help me to seek you first. Amen

“Mathew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."