Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

Irene was out of the house early today, going to Safeway and Trader Joes.  She’s been “on the go” all day and accomplished many tasks around the house.  Although her nausea remained at a low roar, she continued to plod through the day with a great sense of accomplishment.

There’s nothing new under the sun according to Ecclesiastes 1:9, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:16) and can become new.

You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.
Isaiah 48:6

So, why am I engaging in such conversation?  At the risk of sounding “way out there”, the Lord spoke very clearly to me yesterday saying, “I am doing a new thing” .... and I’m still trying to sort out what He means.  I actually responded back to the Lord, “a new thing…now???”  What was His response?  “I am doing a new thing”.

I guess that’s why we walk by faith and not by sight, because, at least for now, I do not perceive what it is that He is doing and what it is that is “new”.  In the meantime, we will endeavor to forget the former things, to not dwell on the past, and trust that He is making a way for the future.

Thanks for praying for us on Irene’s Journey of Faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

“When it Pours He Reigns” is the title of Holly Wagner’s book where she writes about overcoming life’s storms.

Job had the following response during his storm, relating to the sovereignty of God.

He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
Job 9:17

As I read the words “he would .... multiply my wounds for no reason”, I immediately thought of Irene’s diagnosis and the rarity of Primary Amyloidosis because no one knows or understands why it strikes some people and not others.  But, of course, there are many things about this world that we won’t ever understand.  We also have many questions for God that won’t be answered this side of eternity.

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment today with her fatigue and nausea wearing on.  She rested and slowly plodded through the day.  She did, however, make a delicious salmon dinner that we enjoyed overlooking the Monterey Bay!!

According to Wikipedia ....

After several rounds of debate between Job and his friends, in a divine voice, described as coming from a “cloud” or “whirlwind”, YHVH describes, in evocative and lyrical language, what the experience of being responsible for the world is like, and asks if Job has ever had the experiences that YHVH has had.

YHVH’s answer underscores that Job shares the world with numerous powerful and remarkable creatures, creatures with lives and needs of their own, whom God must provide for, and the young of some hunger in a way that can only be satisfied by taking the lives of others. Does Job even have any experience of the world he lives in? Does he understand what it means to be responsible for such a world? Job admits that he does not.

YHVH’s speech also emphasizes his sovereignty in creating and maintaining the world. The thrust is not merely that God has experiences that Job does not, but also that God is King over the world and is not necessarily subject to questions from his creatures, including men. He declines to answer any of Job’s questions or challenges with anything except “I am the Lord.”

In the epilogue, YHVH condemns Job’s friends for their insistence on speaking wrongly of the Lord’s motives and methods, commands them to make extensive animal sacrifices and instructs Job to pray for their forgiveness. Immediately thereafter YHVH restores Job to health, giving him double the riches he before possessed (including ten new children added to the ten who predeceased him). His new daughters are the most beautiful in the land, and are given inheritance while Job is still alive. Job is crowned with a holy life and with a happy death, to the extent that is possible.

The LORD said to Job:

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Then Job answered the LORD :

“I am unworthy — how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke once, but I have no answer —
twice, but I will say no more.”

Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the STORM:

“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

Job 40:1-7

God engaged and chastised Job and He required an answer from him.

And God engages and requires an answer from us.  We cannot ignore God in the midst of the storm.  We cannot overlook His claims, His authority and His ultimate control over all things.  In the midst of the storm, we must respond to Him .... in one way or another.  And if we lean into Him, He promises that we will stand firm.

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
Proverbs 10:25

We also know this .... that storms don’t last forever .... and here are three “takeaway” questions that we’re contemplating in the midst of this stormy season ....

• How does one prepare for a storm (spiritually, physically)?
• What is important during the storm (how do we prioritize and remain focused)?
• What lessons can be applied beyond the storm?

We’re all familiar with the saying, “when it rains it pours”, and it certainly has “poured” this last year.  However, we’re also learning that Holly Wagner’s book title is extremely applicable for us .... that, “when it pours, He Reigns”.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

The Valley of Vision
From Puritan Prayers & Devotions

  GOD ALL SUFFICIENT

  O Lord of Grace,

  The world is before me this day,
  And I am weak and fearful,
  But I look to thee for strength;
  If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
  But on the Beloved’s arms I am firm
  As the eternal hills;
  If left to the treachery of my heart
  I shall shame thy Name,
  But if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
  I shall bring thee glory.
  Be thou my arm to support,
      My strength to stand,
      My light to see,
      My fee to run,
      My shield to protect,
      My sword to repel,
      My sun to warm.
  The enrich me will no diminish my fullness;
  All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
  I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,
  I urge his blood to pay my debts of wrong.
  Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,
      His sinlessness for my transgressions,
      His purity for my uncleanness,
      His sincerity for my guile,
      His truth for my deceits,
      His meekness for my pride,
      His constancy for my backslidings,
      His love for my enmity,
      His fullness for my emptiness,
      His faithfulness for my treachery,
      His obedience for my lawlessness,
      His glory for my shame,
      His devotedness for my waywardness,
      His holy life for my unchaste ways,
      His righteousness for my dead works,
      His death for my life.

John Newton (1725-1807) wrote the words to the hymn, By faith in Christ I walk with God. The music was arranged by Ro­bert H. Earn­shaw (1856-1929)

John Newton’s mo­ther died when he was sev­en years old. At age 11, with but two years school­ing and on­ly a rud­i­men­tary know­ledge of Latin, John went to sea with his fa­ther. His life at sea was filled with won­der­ful es­capes, viv­id dreams, and a sail­or’s reck­less­ness. He grew into a god­less and aban­doned man. He was once flogged as a de­sert­er from the na­vy, and for 15 months lived, half starved and ill treated, as a slave in Africa.

A chance read­ing of Thom­as à Kemp­is sowed the seed of his con­ver­sion. It was ac­cel­er­at­ed by a night spent steer­ing a wa­ter­logged ship in the face of ap­par­ent death. He was then 23 years old. Over the next six years, dur­ing which he com­mand­ed a slave ship, his faith ma­tured. He spent the next nine years most­ly in Li­ver­pool, stu­dy­ing He­brew and Greek and ming­ling with White­field, Wes­ley, and the Non­con­form­ists. He was even­tu­al­ly or­dained, and be­came cur­ate at Ol­ney, Buck­ing­ham­shire, in 1764. It was at Ol­ney that he formed a life long friend­ship with Wil­liam Cow­per, and pro­duced the Ol­ney Hymns.

A mar­ble plaque at St. Mary Wool­noth car­ried the epi­taph which New­ton him­self wrote:

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk
Once an infidel and libertine
A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
restored, pardoned, and ap­point­ed to preach
the Gospel which he had long laboured to destroy.
He min­is­tered,
Near sixteen years in Ol­ney, in Bucks,
And twenty-eight years in this Church.

By faith in Christ I walk with God

By faith in Christ I walk with God,
With Heav’n, my journey’s end, in view;
Supported by His staff and rod,
My road is safe and pleasant too.

I travel through a desert wide
Where many round me blindly stray;
But He vouchsafes to be my Guide,
And will not let me miss my way.

Though snares and dangers throng my path,
And earth and hell my course withstand;
I triumph over all by faith,
Guarded by His almighty hand.

The wilderness affords no food,
But God for my support prepares;
Provides me every needful good,
And frees my soul from wants and cares.

With Him sweet converse I maintain,
Great as He is I dare be free;
I tell Him all my grief and pain,
And He reveals His love to me.

Some cordial from His Word He brings,
Whene’er my feeble spirit faints;
At once my soul revives and sings,
And yields no more to sad complaints.

I pity all that worldlings talk
Of pleasures that will quickly end;
Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk
With Thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.

From cyberhymnal.org.

After dialysis, Irene took a nap and then worked on photo albums and scrapbooking for the balance of the afternoon.  She prepared a very delicious Gazpacho Soup for dinner.  She’s still fatigued and nauseated, but she presses on ....!!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Like Paul, do you ever struggle with our fallen nature?

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Romans 7:15; 18-19; 21b-24

Irene and I reflected on the wonderful yesterday we experienced and Shirley Churchill worked with Irene again today. Irene still remains very fatigued and took a long nap after Shirley’s treatment.  We’re looking forward to March 13th, which is the next outpatient day at UCSF.  Hopefully we will learn more at that time.

Here’s the daily challenge .... we are POLLUTED in the fallen world that we live in .... but I’m not just speaking environmentally as in smog, emissions and other such toxins, but we’re polluted by our SINS, INIQUITIES and TRANGRESSIONS before a Holy God.  My thoughts are not His thoughts; my ways are not His ways.  What am I seeing, hearing, thinking and doing on any given day that is not consistent with my core belief system.  And, with the barrage of data coming at us in this information age, we’ve got to create “boundaries” and/or “filters” for us to process appropriately.  If you’re like me, I am constantly struggling, as Paul was.  It’s when the ability or inability of carrying out my right desires are tested that become the reality check and I realize that I have do so something about it!

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing ....
Romans 7:19

So, here’s the quick answer to the challenge ....

Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24b-25

And here’s the remaining, more lingering, question .... So, HOW do we overcome the challenge?

My good friend, Don Nava, author of Fit After 40 and founder of The Totally Fit Life, www.teamof3.com, puts it this way:

INFORMATION plus APPLICATION equals TRANSFORMATION ....!!!

If we want to live a transformed life and personally appropriate and experience the abundant and victorious existence that God intends for us, here’s a quick roadmap ....

First is INFORMATION, a working knowledge and memorization of scripture, endeavoring to be pure, holy and blameless before an audience of One.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:10

I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Each of these passages can be expanded because of their powerful message.  Suffice it to say, it’s all about Lordship.

Second is APPLICATION.  The following is by no means comprehensive but is merely a starting point.

Private and corporate WORSHIP

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.
Hebrews 10:25a

• For private worship, try listening to CD’s when you have “windshield” time
• For public worship, find a solid church family and attend regularly

Repentance and CONFESSION of known sin

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

• Who are we regularly confessing our private thoughts to?
• What are we allowing into our daily lives that pollute our thinking?  What specifically needs to be eliminated .... right now!

Accountability and APPLICATION of the spiritual disciplines

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35

• How many people follow His example?  Practice DISCIPLINES that aren’t discussed much in today’s pop culture; deliberate prayer, silence, solitude and fasting
• Intentionally meet with individuals or a small group on a regular basis to candidly and transparently discuss your spiritual walk

We must keep all of this in context as well because it is by FAITH first that pleases God…

.... without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

In order to remain above reproach before God and man the TRANSFORMATIONAL third point can only occur when we live within the context of community and deliberate accountability.

Our lives are not to be lived in a vacuum.  We need others to give us courage (encouragement) and also to challenge us along the way.  We will never overcome if we only privately struggle with our fallen and sinful nature.  We’ve got the tools at our disposal but will we use them?  We may have the desire, but do we have the will to follow-thru?  Will we even take the first step?

I don’t know if you struggle with our fallen nature like I do.  But the solution is at hand ....

Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:25

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Today is our anniversary.  March 1, 1980 thru March 1, 2008 equals 28 years of marriage! To celebrate, we spent the afternoon driving a portion of scenic 17 Mile Drive, in and around Pacific Grove and Carmel.  We did the same on our honeymoon!  The evening culminated with a fabulous dinner in Monterey at the Chart House on Cannery Row.

Earlier in the day Shirley Churchill worked with Irene on physiology techniques designed to “wake up” the kidneys.  Ken and Shirley made a special trip to help bring some relief to Irene’s nausea symptoms on this memorable day.  Ken and Shirley are the gift that keeps on giving!!!

It’s been a day of reminiscing and rejoicing in God’s favor and faithfulness.  It’s also been a day of some tears.  In spite of facing the colossal and ruthless enemy identified as Primary Amyloidosis we have grateful hearts for His Presence on Irene’s Journey of Faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Do we long for Heaven or do we long for Heaven in this fallen world?

Can we even begin to imagine what the real Heaven is like?

If you’ve always thought of Heaven as a realm of disembodied spirits, clouds, and eternal harp strumming, you’re in for a surprise, because, according to Randy Alcorn, the author of the book simply titled, HEAVEN ....

…opens your eyes to the wonder and beauty of eternity, introducing you to Heaven the way Scripture describes it as a bright, vibrant, and physical New Earth, a place free from sin, suffering, and death and brimming with all the wondrous sights and sounds that surround us every day.

Irene drove herself to dialysis and drove home, sipping on her favorite, customized Starbucks beverage which I had delivered to her as she was concluding the treatment.  She rested for the balance of the day.  She was extremely fatigued and the nausea was at a heightened level of significant discomfort.  Irene remains, however, very determined and optimistic about the future and had the gumption to prepare us a delicious dinner and apricot crisp dessert!

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Philippians 1:20-26

Paul speaks of living on PURPOSE .... ”if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me”.  Yet, he is TORN between the desire to depart earth and be with Christ in Heaven forever yet the reality was that God still had a reason for him to live on earth.  It’s a dynamic tension, because I don’t know of too many people that feel the way that Paul did .... that passionate desire to depart earth for Heaven .... right now.

Perhaps, if we really understood what was waiting for us “on the other side”, we too would long for Heaven, just as Paul did, and we would without question have more discourse on the matter.  It’s my experience and observation that many of us are trying to create heaven on earth by avoiding pain and producing as much comfort as possible.  Believe me, there is no finger pointing here .... I am as culpable as the next offender. But that’s also why, still remaining on earth, that we need to understand our purpose, which, simply stated, is FAITHFULNESS and OBEDIENCE to Him.

May our longing be for the One True God in Heaven and when we’re ultimately ushered into His Presence, may He proudly proclaim…

“Well done, good and faithful servant”
Matthew 25:23a

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Without question, the single, GREATEST example of SUFFERING is found in the God-Man, Jesus.  He demonstrated to the world not only what it looks like to suffer greatly, to the point of death on a cross, but also, in so doing, what it looks like to demonstrate His amazing love for all humankind.

But he (Pilate) had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:26b

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 26:28-31

Irene had a relaxing day, getting out of the house early this morning to run several errands and then resting for the balance of the day.  With the longer evenings, we were able to take a walk along the beach at dusk.  The air was clear and cool so she was definitely bundled up!!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

I have consistently blogged about the significant degree of suffering that Irene has courageously faced on her journey of faith.  Our single greatest example, of suffering, however, is Jesus, who bore our sins on a tree to free us from the bondage of this world.  In so doing, he models for us how to courageously face suffering, how to appropriate the love demonstrated to us by his suffering, and promises that through His wounds, we are healed.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

CHANGE is the operative word and mantra of this election season .... and it appears that the word “change” is always a good one for capturing the imagination of the voting constituency ....

However, consider the following ....

The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.

Ecclesiastes 1:8b-10

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis today and did the Starbucks routine on her way home.  She was somewhat fatigued afterward but did accomplish several household chores and raked the front yard on this bright sunny day on the Monterey Bay.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever
Hebrews 13:8

It doesn’t really matter what your particular persuasion is .... something that will never change is this: that politicians always promise more than they deliver.

God promises to be there for us as an unchanging and loving God.  He’s also given us His Word, which will never change, full of assurances that God Himself promises to deliver.  And, unlike elected politicians, here today and gone tomorrow, God always delivers on every promise.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Who breathes life into you .... !!!???!!!???

The national news headlines today included the following ....

Starbucks is closing the doors at its 7,100 stores across America for a brief barista re-education.

CEO Howard Schultz announced the 3-hour closure starting at 5:30 p.m. local time Tuesday to energize 135,000 employees.  He wants baristas to share their passion for making espresso, or as he says, “.... to pull the perfect shot, steam milk to order and customize their favorite beverage.”

Schultz says it’s part of his refocusing on the coffee customer experience.

Irene ran several errands this morning, including her stop at Starbucks for her customized tall, soy, green tea latte, no water, no melon, no foam and 4 scoops of tea.  This afternoon Shirley Churchill worked with her on physiology techniques for 2+ hours designed to “wake up” the kidneys.  She is somewhat fatigued but her nausea was bearable (for that we’re grateful .... thanks for praying!!) and both of us savored the bay sunset over a relaxing dinner.

Now, anyone who regularly reads these updates knows that we’re always up for a Starbucks and relaxing conversation over a customized, favorite beverage.  And it appears that Howard Shultz is trying to breathe life into Starbucks for an even improved customer experience.

Here’s the defining point .... the CEO of the universe longs to breathe life into all of us .... if we’ll let him .... and not in a limiting three hour timeframe.  The CEO of the universe calls each of us to Himself and is available 24/7, for an astonishing, inconceivable, indescribable experience as well as an intimate and fulfilling relationship with Him.  And, that experience won’t just last over a cup of coffee, but rather, for all of eternity.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

This wonderful hymn by Annie Johnson Flint is a “just in time” inspiration along the trek of Irene’s Journey of Faith.  We’re thankful to Ken Churchill for sharing these encouraging words which we now share with you.

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment, went to the store afterward and spent the balance of her day resting.  Dialysis, as is the normal routine, really drained her energy today and she’s looking forward to her “day off” which is what I refer to as her non-dialysis days!!  Irene did have the gumption to prepare for us a delicious dinner!!!

And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

We’re grateful that he increases our capacity to possess and that where sin abounds, grace abounds more.  We’re grateful that His love has no limit; that His grace has no measure. Irene’s physical energy may be somewhat diminished but His strength is made perfect in her weakness. 

Caminando con Fé

Dave

You’ll see some photos below that we took while enjoying an early morning drive, listening to “Big Band” oldies from the 1940’s and sipping Starbucks.  The stormy day was a good one for cruising…

Irene had a pleasant day with the nausea remaining at a low roar and not disabling in any way.  She enjoyed some “westerns” (Gunsmoke & Bonanza) and also received an encouraging telephone call from Marsha Tarr, who always manages to lift Irene’s spirits with humor and levity. 

Irene prepared a delicious soup for dinner which complemented the weather…and I devoured two slices of her homemade pumpkin pie!! (…just trying to be a good husband!!!!)     

Thanks for your prayer and care,
Dave

Recently, we were asked why God would allow his children to experience severe pain. In the course of trying to help the person who asked the question, I asked Frank Johnson if he had any thoughts. Many of you may recognize Frank as the internet strategist behind IreneDias.com, but you probably don’t know that he is also a licensed minister. He has also written on the topic of suffering. I’d like to share his thoughts with you:

Dave:

Some quick thoughts:

1. pain and suffering, if embraced, will result in a greater experience of and dependence upon grace (when Paul talked about his thorn in the flesh and asked that it be removed, God’s response was that His grace was sufficient for Paul).
2. through suffering, we are prepared to comfort others with the comfort we receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
3. physical suffering refocuses us on the more important, eternal aspects of life (2 Corinthians 4:7-18)
4. James says blatantly that suffering produces maturity, if we will let it (James 1:2-4 - trials produce endurance and, if we’ll let it, endurance will result in maturity [perfection and completion]).
5. our suffering and the way we respond to it will be the impetus which brings others into relationship with God (Tertullian said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church). The salvation of the Philippian jailer and his family in Acts 16 found its roots in the fact that Paul and Silas were worshiping God in the midst of their suffering.
6. those who suffer experience the presence of God in deeper measure (“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14). This article, entitled “The Valley of Weeping”, may be of interest on this point.
7. Hebrews 12:1-13 - God disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. If we allow ourselves to be trained by suffering, it will yield “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
8. in fact, one thing I would recommend for someone who finds himself in the midst of suffering is to read the Book of Hebrews, remembering that it was written to a group of people tempted to turn back to the law because of the sufferings they were experiencing. The overwhelming message of the letter is this - “Do not grow weary! Do not lose heart!”

We hope you find this especially helpful on your journey of faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

One of Irene’s favorite activities is driving along the 12 mile stretch of oceanfront from Santa Cruz to Aptos .... we did so this morning .... the windy surf was invigorating ....

Hymn composed by John Rippon, 1751-1836

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Irene and I were out early this morning exploring “The Door”, a new Christian bookstore in Santa Cruz, www.thedoorchristian.com.  We also met the owner, Mike Dunn, a local resident.  After coming home, Irene was still up to some additional shopping so while I napped she ventured to Trader Joe’s and jokingly said she was going to visit Beverly at Beverly’s, actually a place of therapeutic value and solace for her .... but to her surprise she actually ran into Beverly Sleeper at the store where they visited in the fabric aisle!!!

Later in the day as the storm front made its way inland we relaxed and enjoyed Jimmy Stewart western movies. 

As Irene patiently and optimistically treks the journey of faith, her confidence and HEALING rests in Him, His timing and in His redemptive purposes.

Caminando con Fé

Dave