a bold proposition

Everyone needs to just read this book, because there is so much good stuff in the book that I don’t even have anything to add to. There’s a discussion about joy, and how it is disorderly. Johnson asks a question to the effect of “whose order does it disrupt?” Then he starts to talk about how we interpret events in our life: “When we allow sickness, torment, and poverty to be thought of as the God-ordained tools He uses to make us more like Jesus, we have participated in a very shameful act. There is no doubt He can use them, as He is also known to be able to use the devil himself for His purposes…But to think these things are released into our lives through His design, or the He approved such things, is to undermine the work at Calvary… Neither did He pay for my healing and deliverance so I could continue in torment and disease. His provision for such things is not figurative: it is actual.”

            Holy Cow. Are we so used to thinking of how God works through any circumstances that we attribute things to Him that He did not cause? This may be radical thinking, and I’m still adjusting to it. It is so close to home. Since I first read and bookmarked this passage Suzi was diagnosed with cancer. I don’t pretend to know why God allowed it to happen. But God is not malicious. He did not say, “I need to inflict this cancer to teach Suzi something.”

            You may disagree with me on this, and no one can say for sure why certain things happen. But let’s open the door wide to possibilities. Maybe it was for us to ask for miraculous healing, and have faith that He will heal. God can absolutely, completely heal Suzi. How much would God be glorified if there was inexplicable healing? If the doctors’ jaws dropped in amazement? How miraculous would it be if the side effects from chemo disappeared? How blessed would her family be to know we lifted them up so confidently and boldly? Join me in claiming the power of the cross for this sweet family.

Beth Kropf

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Where God takes you

I'm still thinking about Caz's sermon from a couple of weeks ago where he talked about "As you go, make disciples." He also talks about how God puts us in places we never thought we would be. I wanted to share a post written by Suzi at Live Oak, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. (Please note this is a PG-rated post- it's about breasts, after all.):

"This morning our awesome pastor Caz Minter said something that struck a chord with me right away. He said that God puts you in places you never thought you'd be. The question is what are you doing to with it.
I got to thinking that indeed I'm in a situation that is so hard to even wrap my brain around. My mom is in such pain and is about to do some major chemo in Houston that I can't even be around to help her with. It's killing me to not be able to support her like I want to. Then I get breast cancer. Seriously? BREAST cancer? I have the world's smallest boobs. I'm not even sure how the cancer can fit in there! It's like a cruel joke.
So here I am in a situation and what AM I going to do with it? Well, for one I'm going to do my darnedest to teach my girls to be strong. I don't often feel strong, but knowing that I have to be strong for them makes it more possible. The other thing I'm going to do is find the GOOD things that a cancer diagnosis can bring. Cancer is not a gift. No one would want it under their Christmas tree. But it can make you see things alot clearer. And my goal is from time to time on this page to start listing the good things that cancer has done for me. Number one is that it has made me sooooo thankful for my friends and my family. It's not like I wasn't thankful before. But it's at a whole new level now. So to ALL of my friends and my precious mom, dad, and in-laws, I am blessed and thankful for you!!" -Suzi
Reprinted with permission.
Beth Kropf

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