Time..........

Time is an interesting factor in our lives. If we are enjoying ourselves, time seems to fly by. If we are in pain, time seems to literally creep by. Something important happens, and we remember that; then endurance sets in until the next big happening. We do not remember the time in between, only the big happenings.

Someone asked me some time ago, do you get used to having cancer? I had to give an honest answer and had to say yes, it does become part of your life. The doctor visits, the treatments, the side effects of the treatments, the sleepless hours and the list goes on, all become part of daily life.
One thing however that has not become part of the things that I get used to, and that is time; it is an ever present thought. No, not that it makes me afraid or anxious or still wanting to do the things I never had a chance to do. I have to confess that at times I wonder how much more time God will give me on this earth and how I can best use this precious time. Never in this life has time become so important to me than now.

Ecclesiastes 3 always made an impression on me, even in my youth when my father would read this chapter when seated around the table. When I was young I sometimes questioned some of these truths, wondering if they were true. Now that I have more years behind me I understand more of what these verses mean.

A time for everything.1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace..

The time I have been talking about above is the time table God has for us to use here on earth. The only occasion that time is important to God is in His dealings with us. You see in eternity (where God dwells) time will not have a cycle like we have here on the earth, but will be everlasting. There will be no days, months or years and no clocks or calendars.

Are you ready to face this Eternity? I invite you to watch the movie clip below and get more details on time and what God wants us to do with this precious gift of time.

It has been one week ago that I started Chemotherapy treatment again. The first week is usually good until the side effects start to appear in the second week. I am praying that I will not get these side effects, or at least less of them. So far it is going well, except for the sleepless hours during the night. But even those hours can be a blessing, not to count sheep, but to talk to the Shepherd. We so often have so much to pray for, which is good; however please take time to listen to what God has to say to you, through His word and Holy Spirit.
Thank you for your compassion and cares, your greetings and well wishes.
May God be with you, always.
John

Smooth seas do not make skilled sailors.

This African Proverb has a lot of truth in it. When we go through adversity, we can have a lot of questions. One of those questions could be, Lord why are my prayers taking so long to answer? Are we really to question God? The answer is no. Do we at times question God? The answer is yes. In fact, most Biblical characters that we hold in high esteem, at one time or another questioned God. Job is the classic example.

Jesus faced a man in Mark 9 who believed in Him, and His ability to heal his son. You remember the occasion in Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.


At times I have to confess to God these words "I believe; help my unbelief!" I know and believe that God can heal me, yet at times satan can be so over powering when sowing the seed of unbelief in my heart. However when I look back at the last 5 ½ months I can only praise God for His mercy as in Psalm 150, Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! We serve an amazing God who heals bodies and souls.

God has given me an amazing recovery from my kidney surgery and I gained my weight back (and some). Yesterday, September 16, I started my Chemo Therapy treatments again. No, I am not looking forward to it because I know what lies ahead in regards to side effects. On the other hand I know that the Lord blessed these treatments far beyond expectation. Even the doctors had no explanation for it, however I do. My faith is in Christ, I look to Him for perfect and complete healing, knowing that He can do it.

With today’s modern technologies we are able to track many things. I can see the amount of people visiting this blog, the countries they are from and the comments that are made either on this blog or to me personally. I welcome each one and pray that God will be glorified through it all, and if I fail or if I am wrong don’t hesitate to correct me.

Wherever you are in the world, I want to ask you to attend church tomorrow. The Lord is waiting for you with open arms. Luke 13: 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

I look forward seeing you in church tomorrow.
John

 

All who sail the sea of faith

Just a short posting to tell you that all is well, I am still gaining strength and each day is better than the last. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. Lord willing, on September 16, I will start Chemotherapy treatments again.  I am going to take a break from posting on my blog for a couple of weeks and hope to write again around the time I start my treatments again. Thank you for showing your care in so many different ways, a big thank you from my heart.
God be with you.
John

Friends emailed me this poem, I thought it be worthwhile to post it on my blog. They too experience Gods grace often in a very real way.

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ

No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Scott Krippayne