Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Suffering

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Wow! What a deluge we had yesterday. God answered prayers for rain, abundantly! I'll have to be careful what I pray for!

I had a couple meetings yesterday, plus an appointment in the afternoon, so I was out in the rain a lot! I had a doctor's appointment in the middle of the afternoon, and since the office is in the St. Anthony's office building, I had a tough time getting to it, because of the huge construction project going on. After asking directions of a workman, who was standing in the rain, I found the way to drive in and then got escorted through a maze of new roadways to the valet who parked for me, I have no idea where. There was a green barrier separating the road from the construction.

I was covered in prayer by my friend, I could tell, because right after I got in the car, the heavy rain started, and I drove home in the pouring rain, but got green lights all the way! Now, maybe I pray for green lights sometimes, but God never promised that we would always have them, but I really appreciated the green lights yesterday!

While I was in the waiting room, an old friend from our former church, signed in and saw my name and was talking to her daughter about me. She spotted me and we talked for about five minutes before she was called in. She was in rather frail health with two stents in her heart already. I hadn't seen her in about thirty years. She said I hadn't changed, but she had, but frail health will do that.

I did get to the park before the heavy rain started and a few people were taking advantage of the lull, to walk, and a couple bus loads of Shorecrest students were picnicing under the shelter. I think most of the pollen has been washed off the trees now, so the allergies should not be so bad. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:

Isaiah 43:1-2 Now, O israel, the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name, you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

We belong to the Lord. He knows us by name and will not allow anything to cause us lasting harm. We may go through deep waters of trouble and intense fires of trial and testing, but we will not go through them alone.

Romans 8: 36,39 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The greatest comfort in life is knowing that God will never leave us. Nothing can drive us from his presence. No matter what we are going through, he is there to comfort, sustain, encourage, and direct us.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis