In His sovereignty God allows human suffering to accomplish the purposes of His will.  Do you agree or disagree…?

Consider this…

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Job 1:8-19

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 2:-37

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis.  Today was particularly debilitating because the dialysis treatment really took its toll on her physically.  She came home and slept for almost 3 hours then rested because of severe fatigue for the balance of the day.  The nausea was also relentless and severe.

What was Job’s response to his circumstances ....?

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:20-21

As Irene has journeyed this last year the mystery of God’s sovereignty and what He allows related to affliction and suffering has certainly been a relevant topic on many fronts.

As Irene continues on her “bed of suffering” she follows Jesus and Job’s example by not blaming God for the challenging journey she’s on, fully realizing that He gives and He takes away.  And all the while she worships and praises Him.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Psalm 145:1-19

A psalm of praise of King David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. 
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ....
Jeremiah 1:5

.... the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes ....
Psalm 118:23a

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis this morning and rested most of the day.  We watched with intrigue the amyloidosis episode on the Discovery Health Channel this evening.  It was particularly emotional to see the program although Irene’s journey has had a significant degree of complexity beyond that depicted on the program.  What we’re most grateful for is the public exposure to this hideous disease.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

What we have concluded is this .... that before we were formed in the womb, God knew us.  Each of us is unique and God is the giver of life.  God makes no mistakes; He ordains our steps and directs our paths.  We are here on purpose.  In other words, we were born on earth for His purpose.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  We have complete confidence in Him, even with the challenges of the amyloid journey.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Saturday night Pajama Tea Party in Aptos ....

Irene’s sisters, Carmen and Jane, arrived Saturday evening and after dinner they relished each other’s company and took delight in a fun pajama tea party .... you can observe Carmen and Jane drinking from the world famous Azusa Pacific University mugs!!!

After a continental breakfast this morning they went out for shopping spree at West Marine!!  They’re seen below sporting their recently acquired totes and treasures ....!!!

Shirley Churchill graciously also worked with Irene for two+ hours on physiology techniques designed to wake up the kidneys.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Discovery Health Channel!!!

Monday, April 7, 10 p.m, Eastern Time, (that’s 7 p.m. CA time!!)
Mystery Diagnosis, Amyloidosis episode

Caminando con Fé

Dave

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the WIND……..

He makes winds his messengers ....
Psalm 104:4a

.... stormy winds that do his bidding ....
Psalm 148:8b

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
John 3:8a

It’s been a very good day for Irene!!

We were out of the house early this morning running several errands.  We had a terrific interaction with three cheery credit union employees who were stirred by Irene’s journey of faith after we gave them her book and told them some of her story.

After returning home she worked in the yard before the WIND brought her back inside the house!  She went out by herself to a couple more stores before returning home and resting.  I’m glad she rested because after she did, she baked a batch of my favorite cookies .... oatmeal smothered with chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts!!!!  Yuuuuuuuummmm ........!!!!!!  It’s a good thing that I had a good physical work out earlier in the day!!!

Late in the afternoon both of us worked in the yard after the WIND calmed.

Irene’s sisters, Carmen and Jane, arrived this evening and are spending the night at our house.  At the time of this writing all of them are outside in the flower garden!!!!

Irene’s unwavering, undoubting and foundational faith “grounds” her amidst the amyloidosis “wind”, resting assuredly that God answers prayer. 

.... he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the WIND, which retreats into submission at the command of His word ....

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:39

HE IS LORD OF ALL, including the Amyloidosis.  We trust that He will rebuke the amyloid into submission at the command of His word.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the

Discovery Health Channel

on Monday, April 7, 10 pm EST (that’s 7 pm CA time) for the

Mystery Diagnosis

Amyloidosis episode.

Heaven His “throne” and earth His “footstool”!!

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment this morning sipping on a tall, soy, green tea latte from Starbucks on her way home.  Her blood pressure drops during dialysis treatment which leads to extreme nausea have led to a 50% reduction of her blood pressure medication for the next two weeks.  If it goes well she can permanently reduce the blood pressure medication.

Irene’s nausea remained at a low roar but she was extremely fatigued from the dialysis treatment.  She plodded through the afternoon, rested, and enjoyed the backyard “Wisteria” garden.

God created lights in the great expanse.  Heaven is His throne and earth His footstool.  That’s a metaphor worth musing upon and gives perspective to the HIGH VIEW of God we diligently maintain on Irene’s Journey of Faith.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

First “NEW DO“ in a very LONG TIME ....!!!!

Irene got her hair cut today for the first time since being discharged from UCSF in July of 2007.  Her hair “thinned” through the chemotherapy/stem cell transplant process but she never completely lost it as many do.  It was cut short when she was hospitalized at UCSF in preparation for the journey.  Irene has been contemplating this haircut for a couple of months and finally scheduled the appointment for today.  Her nausea remained a low roar and she was able to get several things accomplished on her to do list.

We’re very grateful for Irene’s continued progress and the reason for it which is God’s grace and mercy answering the intercessory prayer offered by so many.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

From The Valley of Vision

Longings After God

My Dear Lord,

I can but tell thee that thou knowest
I long for nothing but thyself,
Nothing but holiness,
Nothing but union with thy will.

Thou hast given me these desires,
And though alone canst give me the thing desired
My soul longs for communion with thee,
For mortification of indwelling corruption,
Especially spiritual pride.

How precious it is
To have a tender sense and clear apprehension
Of the mystery of godliness,
Of true holiness!
What a blessedness to be like thee
As much as it is possible for creature
To be like its Creator!

Lord give me more of thy likeness,
Enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness;
Engage me to live more for thee.
Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences,
And when I feel at east after sweet communings,
Teach me it is far too little I know and do.

Blessed Lord,
Let me climb up near to thee,
And love, and long, and plead, and wrestle with thee,
And pant for deliverance from the body of sin,
For my heart is wandering and lifeless,
And my should mourns to think it should ever
Love sight of its Beloved.

Wrap my life in divine love,
And keep me ever desiring thee,
Always humble and resigned to thy will,
More fixed on thyself
That I may be more fitted for doing
And suffering.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:15-20

Irene had a much better day than yesterday!!  Despite the nausea remaining at a low roar she was able to get several errands done around town and worked in her hobby/craft room for part of the afternoon.

Our hope is in Him, the visible manifestation of the invisible God.

Caminando con Fé

Dave