Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Rex is in Room 638 at Catawba. His first day went pretty well. He has not been nauseous yet. It seems that the chemo gives him an appetite. He ate well today. God has graciously allowed Rex to eat these past several days. This is an answer to prayer!

I have been looking at the story of the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus to ask for healing of her vexed daughter. It is a little different than some of Jesus' other healings. (Matt. 15:22-28, Mark 7:25-30) Here was this stranger (not of the house of Israel) finding Jesus, who had retreated to a house. She was looking for Jesus to heal her daughter. Can you imagine the desperation she felt as she humbly fell at Jesus' feet not caring that she was a stranger and that Jesus had retreated from public eye. She made her request known unapologetically. However, Jesus ignored her at first. I can see the disciples looking at the woman and looking back at Jesus and wondering why Jesus did that. Then, the disciples interfered and tried to fix it. Isn't that so much like us: we follow Him, but when we don't understand why God hasn't answered our prayer, we try to interfere and fix it instead of waiting on Him. Jesus finally responded, not in healing, but stating that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. How many of you would have given up at this point? Not this woman. Again, she came again asking the Lord to help her. Jesus answered again but not with healing. Still, not put off, she persevered and again asked for a third time for the Lord's healing of her daughter. Do you believe that this woman believed that Jesus was the answer to her problem. Absolutely. Jesus, then commended her on her great faith and healed her daughter. I wonder what this Canaanite thought all the way home. Do you think that she was wondering if her daughter was really healed? I don't think so. She knew that Jesus had done as she asked. I can just picture her rushing home with a new song knowing that her daughter was healed and anticipating being reunited with her new daughter. I can picture the joy in her heart as she rushed home.

I want to have the faith that this woman had. I want to firmly hold onto Jesus and ask him to heal Rex believing that Jesus can do this. I don't want to be discouraged by silence or seemingly unanswered prayer. I don't want to let go until God blesses.

What desperate prayer do you need answered? Hold onto Jesus and don't let go until He blesses you.

Donna Meadows

Monday, January 23, 2006

We are definitely headed to the hospital this morning. As scheduled, Rex will be at Catawba through Friday. We really don't have a clue what this week will be like for Rex as far as nausea and sickness goes. I believe that they will be able to keep it under control with nausea medicine. Pray that this week will work over and beyond what the doctors' believe on Rex' cancer.

I can't help but think of one word this morning: COMPASSION. What exactly is compassion? If you look it up in the dictionary, it is the deepawareness of and sympathy for another's suffering or the humane quality ofunderstanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.When people ask why does God allow stuff like this to happen, I believe withall of my heart it is to teach us to have compassion. Compassion drives andmotivates like few other things do. He wants me to have compassion forothers as we go through this; there are people out there in far worse situations than we are. He wants you to have compassion for others.

What does compassion do? It causes you to care, love, help, share, pray, listen, and do. It is a powerful thing. Compassion opens your eyes to the reality that this life is temporary; it compels you to do things that you normally wouldn't do. It helps put your life in perspective. It has a wayof tweaking your priorities.

For Rex and I, compassion has given us an urgency to share Christ's love andthe peace that only He can give. It has created a whole new desire to knowHim more than ever before.

Lamentations 3:21-3621 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They arenew every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion,"says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" 25 The Lord is good to those whowait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him; 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust-- There may yetbe hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion according to the multitudes of His mercies. His mercies are new every morning!

I am thankful that I serve a God who loves me and gives me new mercy every morning.

Donna Meadows