Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Strange Encouragement

There is a saying "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." I'll come back to that thought.... Vange and I are in the middle of building a great frienship with another family. They are REAL people who experience good times and bad times, fears, accomplishments, and mistakes. Recently, SHE was carrying their 4th child (they are just trying to keep up with Vange and I) when the doctor anticipated MAJOR health issues for the baby. We got to hang out with them and watch (through a process over time) God step up and heal their baby. The little one has a relatively minor issue that has to be dealt with...... OK, move forward a few months... Last night HE calls me and says their middle son has some UGLY physical stuff going on and that they would have to go to the hospital today for evaluation / prognosis / treatment. (Side note - keep this family in prayer.)

So here is the strange encouragement... I'm betting that Satan operates with the principle of "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." I think he targets people who are disrupting his plans.... (You could ask Bob about his too..... Satan is doing his best to take Bob out.... No such luck.... Bob has a role in God's story...) The encouraging part is that this family is ticking off the devil. (I said it was strange...) Keep this in mind... Satan roams about seeking whom he MAY devour...
Check this out from 1 Peter 5:

6 Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. 7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. 9 Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith. You know that your Christian family all over the world is having the same kinds of suffering.
10 And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. 11 All power is his forever and ever. Amen.


ALL power is his.... That's the God we serve and worship.... even in the scary times.

Live loud, live intentionally, and love God / Family / and Friends with every word and every action.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

You are the "strange encourager"! You are a huge reason, maybe the reason that the family is where they are at. God has worked through you and Vange in a big way with tons of families and LifePoint is blessed to have you! Thanks for all you guys do for the people around you and for us and LifePoint!

emily and kyle said...

I can't wait to see how God continues to use them to change the world! Also, thanks for the encouragement...I needed to read that scripture today!