We have been praying for AARON BOYDSTON who is a youth pastor in Ojai, CA. He was diagnosed with a rare kind of leukemia in May. He ended up in ICU with an infection on top of that. After a month in ICU a scan on Friday shows there are no more leukemia cells. Here is his wife's explanation of what happened:
June 27th, 2006 "
ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth!" Ezekiel 7:9
Ever since the bone marrow results came back positive for leukemic cells (after Aaron's first round of chemo), I have devoted myself to praying about these cells. When the results came back, there was a natural tendency to look at this as a negative situation. But the thing I keep learning about faith is that no matter what things look like, we are to keep trusting God. Since those results came back, I have worked at keeping my faith in God by CONSTANTLY squashing every discouraging, doubtful or negative thought that comes into my mind regarding Aaron's leukemia and replacing those thoughts with truths from God's Word about who God is and what He desires from us and for us. I have reminded myself that those results could be completely wrong, changed immediately by God or used for Aaron's protection in some way that is not obvious right now. As I have put my trust in God concerning the leukemia that remained in his bone marrow, I thought of the word "smite." I thought this word not only fit in well with Dad's description of the cancer as a battle but I thought it was a good King James word, too. I began to pray that God would smite the leukemia in Aarons bone marrow. Everyday, all day long, for the last couple of weeks this has been my cry to God. My good friends, Lisa and Nathan, have been praying for this smiting, as well. It was one of the best things in the world to get to make the "smite call" this morning to Lisa. In fact, she answered the phone by saying, "Is this the smite call?" We absolutely had faith that God would smite these leukemic cells in the marrow. We just waited on God's timing. Well, now the leukemic cells are gone from Aaron's bone marrow and I give absolute praise to God for this. It was not the doctors, it was not the medicine, it was God that removed the leukemic cells. I am very grateful for all of the doctors, nurses, medicine, technology, etc. that God has used thus far but I recognize that it is God that decided to remove the leukemic cells. Please, continue to pray with me. First of all, praise God for what He has done! Secondly, ask and believe that God will continue to bring complete healing for my husband. God has been faithful so far, there is no reason to doubt Him.
Praise the Lord!!!!
"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is ready for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."
- epitaph of Winston Churchill, as quoted in Summon's Christian Miscellany
--Copied from Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox #264
Perhaps that is a good self evaluation, but it does not reflect God's love, mercy, and grace. When we accept His plan, which is faith in Jesus Christ, He receives us with all our imperfections and hangups. It is His job to clean us up.
The question each must answer: Am I ready to meet Him? He is always there for us!
In 2 Kings 6 there is an account of Elisha being surrounded by an enemy army. Verse 15-17 reads thusly:
When the servant of the man of God got up and went our early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha prayed for the servant's eyes to be open to see God's army surrounding them to deliver them. We need to pray that our eyes be opened to see God around us to provide for and protect us. We also need eyes to see how God might use us to minister His love to someone around us.
Lord, Open our eyes.
Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Buel Mouser in Chico. Buel was 80+ and died of stomach cancer. It was my honor to share in the service by offering the invocation.
I knew Buel through stories, history, and through being pastor to 3 of his 4 children.
If you judge a man by the character of his off spring, Buel was a great man.
If you judge a man by the reputation he attains, Buel was a great man.
If you judge a man by the size of the crowd at his funeral, Buel was a great man. The church was full and they stayed for nearly 2 hours!
Indeed Buel was a great man, but he would probably say that the only reason was because he had a GREAT GOD!
Buel left a legacy of faith and integrity that has been picked up by his children and grandchildren.
I think his grandson caught it best. After several had lauded Buel for his accomplishments, his grandson expressed the confidence that Buel is in heaven with God. He noted that he is not there because he was a great man. He said that he knew his grandfather was in heaven because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
He paused for a moment and then said, "By the way, in case you havn't figured it out yet (it had been expressed several times in the service), thats the way you get to heaven -- by faith in Jesus Christ. He proceeded to encourage anyone who had not expressed faith in Jesus to see him or one of the 5 pastors before they left. Buel could not have said it better.
So I type these words in tribute to Buel Mouser who was a great man who left a great legacy, because of his GREAT GOD.
Because of his greatness, he will be greatly missed, but as we trust his God, we will be carried through the sorrow of parting and we can look forward to a reunion one day.
To God be the Glory. That would be Buel's desire.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. --- I Thessalonians 5:15 NIV
Be kind to each other, is speaking to believers in the church. "Evryone else" then refers to those outside the church. So "kindness" is a characteristic that we must strive for in all of life's relationships.
Jesus is our example here. He was kind to the Pharisees who constantly bugged him. This is a high goal for each of us. Only with His help can we do it! Remember, Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) So can we.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Dont worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendableif there is any moral excellence and if there is any praisedwell on these things. Phil 4:4-8 (HCSB)
In this passage we have these challenges:
Rejoice in the Lord always,
Trust in the Lord,
This will lead to prayer rather than worry.
Think on positive things,
Enjoy the God of peace
He gives His peace in all kinds of situations.
Rejoice!
I have decided to change my approach to this blog. In viewing the blogs of friends, I find two types. Some are meant to deal with a single issue. Others are simply miscellaneous notes about whatever in on the thoughts of the blogger.
I propose to make comments in the latter vein. Not necessarily on a daily basis, but often enough that if you check it once in a while, maybe there will be something new. I still invite comments.
God bless,
Pastor Fred
