I started my day with my Upper Room devotional, and it was so appropriate I thought I’d share:

WHEN I was asked to lead a Bible study on the Book of Romans, I immediately thought that I didn’t have enough knowledge or experience. But after a few weeks of study, lots of prayer, and some help from my pastor, I began to see that I could lead the study and make it worthwhile and interesting for the people who attended. Like me, many of us when confronted with a task or asked to be in charge of a project lament that we do not have enough — enough help, enough money, enough time, or enough talent.

The reaction of the disciples must have been similar when Jesus told them to feed the huge crowd of followers with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. I can see them looking at each other, maybe rolling their eyes, and saying under their breath, “This will never be enough to feed all these people.” Then when thousands had eaten their fill and the leftovers were gathered up, the disciples must have been astonished. However, they also must have realized that this was simply another example of the unlimited power of their Lord.

Sometimes we forget to consider this power. If we ask Christ for help in working for the kingdom, help is sure to come; with God anything is possible. Instead of being discouraged when we think we don’t have “enough,” we can decide to be open to the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

John R. Jackson (Delaware, USA)

Thought for the Day
God makes the impossible possible.

I guess we all have days when things seem impossible, and tasks seem to be getting away from us. I’ve had a few of those lately, and have been reluctant to put a post on here because I didn’t want to seem negative, or make my friends feel like I was “down.”

 

Let me start by saying I am tolerating the new treatments quite well. I’ve had several now, and after that first month, where it was so sore I have adapted and don’t seem to feel them as much as I used to. And my pain levels are better. That could be warmer weather or the treatments. Or I’m just at a good place. Whatever–it’s good! We did take a trip to Gatlinburg, and traveling is not always great. I definitely need some help to get through long periods in the car (or big special events, like Thunderfest!), but otherwise I’m doing well.

Speaking of Thunderfest (the Kiwanis Fireworks event for those non-Bowling Greeners), an eye opening experience took place. A young man who was working as a “roadie” with the sound tech tripped and fell on the hill. He hurt his ankle and had to have it wrapped. Let me start by saying, he is down on his luck and has had some bad experiences in his history. But sitting and talking to him while he tried to work through the fact he had put himself out of work (and he has no money), I learned a lot about “there but by the grace of God go I.” We talked about his favorite novel, his experiences from childhood, and of course, the fact he had nowhere to go now. A bad accident had thrown his life into a bad path. It could happen to any one of us. His parents are deceased, so he has no support system. Why do I bring it up? Well, it stays on my mind. I can see a glimmer of hope in him. Yet, when I spoke to the authority figures at the event about where he could go, all I got was the jaded view of the public. They didn’t see a person; they saw a, well, I don’t know how to say it.

Yes, I understand he’s done a lot of it to himself. But I also know that we shouldn’t completely throw people away. I give kudos to the Kiwanians who wrapped his foot (some of the authorities wouldn’t take the time), talked to him, got him a drink, and saw that–down on his luck or not–he needed a helping hand.

 

Why do I take time to write about it? Because we should never lose our sense of compassion. We all get the sweet little internet stories and shed a tear. But how often do we get to try to make a difference? And did I make any impact by talking to him? I can only hope so. Maybe showing a little faith and understanding will help him look for the right path.

 

Back to me. I am, as I said, doing well. I sometimes have to remind folks that just because you have cancer it doesn’t mean every move is about cancer. We have lives to live. Yes, I need my time to recuperate. But I have cancer; I am NOT cancer. And that is true of all of us fighting any kind of disease or issue, be it MS, Fibromyalgia, heart disease, substance abuse. Sort of like my young man. He has issues. At the heart of it, he is not those issues.

 

May everyone have a wonderful day. I just needed to say some things today. They were weighing on my mind, and sharing with my friends and receiving your prayers is what takes us through days. Please add Caleb to your prayers. He is struggling, and needs prayer warriors on his side. While you’re at it, add the authority figures who have seen so much “stuff” that they’ve lost touch with the people behind the problems. They face so much bad in the world. It has to be hard.

 

Stay cool everyone! We love you all.

 

Anne and Mike