Tuesday, January 31, 2006

What a day! I have never seen a bad case of dehydration before, but there is a tremendous difference in Rex since Monday morning. He is doing much, much better. He didn't eat much, but it's only because he didn't take the time to eat much today. He did better this evening, though. He is up and moving as good as before he went into the hospital; although, he doesn't have as much strength or energy since starting the chemo/radiation. That is to be expected.

Well...the devotional that I sent out yesterday has even more meaning today. Since I sent that, I have learned that that devotional was written by none other than Margie Carothers. For you long-time "Tri-Citians"(Tri-City Baptist Church in Conover, NC to those who don't know what in the world I am talking about) Ron & Margie Carothers are the missionaries that Marla Williams (another "Tri-Citian") worked with while she served in Guatemala. These missionaries also went with Paul & Theresa Boyd (other long-time "Tri-Citians") to the mountain house that she mentioned in her devotional. The Carothers were also a part of our church while here on furlough in years past. Isn't that neat? It certainly makes it even more special to me. Rex and I have been blessed with an email from Margie today that clearly expressed her appreciation for being used by God.

How are you allowing God to use you? It could be as simple as a kind word or a good deed to a stranger at the store. It could be being obedient to share the good news of Christ to others, strangers and loved ones alike. No matter what it is, we must allow ourselves and make a conscious choice each day to do something/anything that shows/tells the love of Christ and point to His salvation for us.

Is there someone in your life that you need to express a written or spoken word of thankfulness? It could be just a simple spoken word of thanks. There have been many, many times that I have been thankful in my heart but the blessing was quenched because I failed to "say" thank you to someone. Is there someone that you know that you need to thank? Don't procrastinate or take it out of mind, take the few minutes to say thank you, and you will smile and be glad you did. Most of all, you will be surprised at the blessing you receive when you return the thanks.

I have to say that one of the best things that this trial has done for me personally, is it has given me an opportunity to show people the peace and grace that ONLY Jesus Christ can give. It has given me a voice to say what's in my heart. It has opened a door for me to share like never before. It has taken me to a level of boldness that I only wished I had before. This may seem strange to say that anything is exciting about this, but I'm telling you this has been the exciting part of this trial for us; We want nothing more than for people all over the world to know the salvation that Christ can give when we ask for His forgiveness of our sins, and ask Him to become Lord of our Life not only so we can have an eternity with Almighty God in Heaven, but also, so we can have life on this earth more abundantly!

2 Corinthians 2:4
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

This is what Christ wants for you and me!

Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Truth can change our lives completely if we accept it.

With much love I share this,

Donna