Category Archives: Obedience

Update on Mary

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Living lifeGreetings to all you blog readers!

My last word to you about Mary’s pancreatic cancer was, “No news is good news.” Until something changed, she thought it best not to continue posting about her. I want to assure you tonight that this is still true: nothing about the way she feels has changed. She says she’s fine; she looks good; and she’s got plenty of energy! Actually, she amazes the rest of us with the busy schedule she keeps, outdoing even her youthful, healthy past!

But this coming Tuesday, June 9, will be an important day for Mary. She has decided to have a full body scan (along with blood work), at the recommendation of her doctor. It’s been 6 months since her last scan, which showed cancer in three places. And so, as is her pattern, she’s asking you to pray.

Mary wants whatever the Lord decides is best for her. If she learns the cancer has spread, she says she’ll be ok with that, though of course it would be a disappointment. If the cancer has stayed the same, that will be wonderful news. And if by God’s doing her cancer has lessened or even disappeared, all of us will be singing, “Hallelujah!” But as Mary says, we ought to be singing hallelujah every day.

Today she reminded me of one of her favorite acronyms: Acronym

So, in whatever way God leads on Tuesday, Mary intends to follow. In the mean time, she mentioned these three prayer requests:

  1. Pray for an absence of worry and a good night’s sleep on Monday.
  2. Pray for a spirit of acceptance for whatever is discovered on Tuesday.
  3. Pray that she will be a good example to others of someone who lives by faith in Jesus Christ.

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

[ We will share Mary’s news on Wednesday’s blog post. ]

 

Accepting Revisions

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In yesterday’s post we learned of little Elizabeth Anne Nyman’s arrival into her family, bringing the revised count up to 7.These first 24 hours have been like a symphony of praise as we’ve all sent waves of gratitude up to the Lord.

Bigger by one!

A sister-blessingFive-year-old Evelyn is gleeful over the blessing of a sister, and the older boys are finding Elizabeth interesting and appealing.

And then there’s Andrew.

One month short of turning two, he has no idea how his life is about to change, and from his point of view, it’ll all be negative. Visitors will arrive with gifts…. for Elizabeth. The camera will be clicking continually…. focused on Elizabeth. He’ll have to wait longer for his turn…. because of Elizabeth. And he’ll be carried less…. since mummy will be carrying Elizabeth.

Look at ME!Over time Andrew may make objections to these and other changes, but his reign as “the baby” has come to an end. Of course his parents will be conscious of this difficult adjustment, giving him as much one-on-one as they can. Hans said it well, though: “It’ll be the best thing in the world for him.”

Most two-year-olds assume they’re the center of the universe, and there’s nothing like a new baby in the house to teach them they’re not.

Interestingly, we adults sometimes have to learn this same lesson in different ways. When God tells us “no” to something we dearly want, he is acting as our loving Parent and has important reasons why a “no” is good for us. As a result, we may have a toddler-style tantrum – not that anyone can see, but inside our heads.

It’s easy to mentally rebel against a choice God makes for us by determining we’re going to do it our way anyway. But he isn’t swayed by our toddler-like behavior and doesn’t change his mind just to make us happy. Katy and Hans won’t acquiesce to Andrew, either, if he makes unreasonable demands in the weeks to come.

No “demotion” from the place we want to be is without its angst, but in Andrew’s case, eventually he’ll adjust to his revised role in the family and life will get easier for him. Hopefully we adults learn to respond to God’s revisions well, too, so we can escape the harsh natural consequences that often come when we resist.

It's all good now!Yesterday’s post also included the story of our Linnea who didn’t get the baby sister she’d been hoping for but got a 4th brother instead. Though she fought it at first, it wasn’t too long before she got on board with God’s choice. And two good things came from that: (1) she learned to be faithful in prayer (asking for a sister), and (2) she learned that God does answer prayer, sometimes lavishly! Not too long after she got a 4th brother, she got two more siblings. Both sisters.

 

As the old chorus goes, God’s way is the best way.

“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life.” (Proverbs 10:17)

A Purple Bible

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Finding myself back in the Chicago suburbs last weekend, I had no idea how much fun God had in store. Baby showers are always energizing as women gather to celebrate new life and help “induct” young parents-to-be into the adventure of parenthood.

Roxanne and me.After the shower, I listened to one of the other guests tell stories of God-sightings in her life, always an inspiration. Hearing the details of another woman’s radical trust in God urges the rest of us to trust him “just like that.”

Roxanne told of a recent mission trip to Hungary with the church high school youth group. Their purpose was to teach English to Hungarians by day and fellowship with them by night. Those whose native language is English are welcomed into foreign cultures by those wanting to learn the language. Roxanne, along with the other leaders, prayed God would use them in ways that would bring the students closer to him.

When Roxanne’s luggage didn’t appear in the Hungarian airport, she became a celebrity of sorts, borrowing clothes for a few days and remaining upbeat about her suitcase. Thankfully she’d packed her “necessities” in her carry-on bag.

One of those necessities was her favorite Bible, the one her husband Ricky had given her as a birthday gift years before. It was unusual in that it was purple, and through the years Roxanne had underlined and filled the margins with notes of personal discoveries.

One evening a Hungarian student named Sabrina noticed Roxanne’s purple Bible. In broken English she asked about it, and Roxanne felt God nudging her to give away her Bible.

“Really, God?” she said. “She can’t even read English, and this is the English Standard Version!”

Purple BibleSabrina asked to see the Bible, and Roxanne resisted, not wanting to part with her treasure. But she had prayed God would use her, and God’s intention was clear.

As Sabrina was walking away with the purple Bible tucked under her arm, Roxanne said, “Try to read the underlined words first. I’ll be praying for you.”

Roxanne’s prayers about the trip began to change. For one thing, they had Sabrina’s name in them. They also pleaded with God to open her understanding to the underlined words in the Bible.

Roxanne wasn’t able to go on the next mission trip back to Hungary, but when that was over, those who’d gone told her they’d seen Sabrina, who was still working at her English. And she was carrying the purple Bible.

God works wonders with his Word and watches over it carefully. From our point of view, it’s a long shot that Sabrina will manage enough English to understand and appropriate the words inside her purple Bible. But Roxanne is trusting God to teach her — both the English language and the truths of his Word.

“My Word…. shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)