Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
Dementia, Alzheimer’s, memory loss, confusion, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — whatever it is, I hate it.
I hate what it does to anyone, be it someone I know and love or be it a total stranger (whom I should also love).
Some days I even pray against it in a specific person or two. Read it all
I believe that my Heavenly Father will provide for me as His child.
I believe that Jesus the Good Shepherd will meet my needs as one of His sheep.
I believe that the Comforter will do exactly that for me.
I believe all that because the Bible tells me so.
But I still struggle against doubt and fear and…well, never mind.
What do you know about trust?
Do you believe this chapter (from a book my friend Steve H loaned me)?
He Always Provides for Our True Needs
Have you asked the Lord to fulfill all your needs? This mighty request requires no intercession from others, for God will provide for all of your needs in Christ Jesus without their asking Him to do so. He is your heavenly Father, and as such, He has obligated Himself to meet your necessities.
Any anxiety we have concerning temporal necessities issues from unbelief. We need never worry about what we shall eat, drink, or wear. These things our Father knows we need, and so we must not fret about them as do those who are not in living union with the Lord.
The reality is that if I do not have something, I do not need it. God is meeting all of my needs at every moment. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack. That is always true. Read it all
I don’t know Desmond Bishopnotes. I’m more interested in most supper bowls than I am in any Super Bowl. And I’m no cheerleader (though I should be a much better prayer leader) for President Obama. But this, in my estimation, is a disappointing loss:
When the Green Bay Packers visited the White House on Friday to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl title, linebacker Desmond Bishopnotes wasn’t with his teammates. He had forgotten his license on the team charter plane and without a license, there’s no getting past White House security.
Source: Packers linebacker forgets ID, can’t get into White House
It didn’t matter who he is.
It didn’t matter what he’d accomplished.
It didn’t matter how far he’d come.
It didn’t matter with whom he was.
It didn’t matter that he knew the requirements for admission.
He wasn’t ready. He didn’t meet all the requirements.
And his experience made me think of this man’s experience:
“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
(Matthew 22:11-13).Other Biblical passages fit as well. Please use the comment section below to add one(s) that come to your mind.
I got to the morning of August 12 and read this:
The Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion.—LAM. 3:31,32.
Fear thou not, . . . saith the Lord: for I am with thee; I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure.—For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Jer. 46:28. -Isa. 54:7,8,10,11.Mic. 7:9.
Selection source: Daily Light on the Daily Path
That is timely for me, almost beyond belief (oh me of little faith).
So here is my most basic response and I’ll leave it at that:
“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
Sometimes the wait seems…
…so long.
…and fruitless.
…and pointless.
…and well-deserved.
So I keep on waiting.
What else am I to do?
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He brought me up . . . out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. —You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world. We all had our conversation in times past in the lusts our flesh.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. —Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. —We went through fire and through water: thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.
—PSA. 18:16. —Psa. 40:2. -Eph. 2:1,3.Psa. 61:1,2. -Jon. 2:2,3. -Psa. 66:12.Isa. 43:2.
Source: Daily Light on the Daily Path
To the only One who sees all:
Thank you, Lord, for being right. All the time. And for being good. All the time. Even when I simply don’t see it. Nor understand it. Like now. To that I yield. And to You.
Amen.