If there ever came a day when the powers to be would remove all Holy Bibles or other books and or literature concerning God and His nature, how would we know or see God? What are visible signs that there is a God who works through His people on earth? And if there is, where is the visible evidence in our culture?
In this second teaching series on The Heart, I decided to revisit the post surgical advancements of Karen Renehan, [Karen is pictured on the left of me and another colleague and personal friend Ashley.] Karen is the person who wrote the foreword to my book, “Suffering With Dignity”: The Pathway To Ultimate Shalom. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478757078
Below is some selected portions of her well written foreword:
“You have cancer,” are three dreaded words no one wants to hear from their doctor. What is the first thought that pops into your mind? Am I going to die? What did I do to deserve this? For me the questions were: how bad, what stage, and what do we need to do to get rid of it? Each person brings their own questions to the conversation based on their own personal experiences, but everyone suffers “a crisis moment.”
Karen was diagnosed with triple positive stage 1 breast cancer December 2014. She chose after appropriate consultation to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction and implants in January 2015. After surgery, she begin chemotherapy and additional treatment up to 4 treatment of a planned 6 treatment regime. The treatment was stopped due to the development of peripheral issues in her hands and feet.
Karen was able to go back to work full-time after being off for surgery for 10 weeks. She states that some days were very challenging but she found working and being around wonderful group of friends/coworkers helped get her though the bad days.
Karen most recently stated that she now see the light at the end of the tunnel because she have only 4 more Herceptin treatments to go. January 2016 she says hopefully will be the end of every 3 weeks visit to the oncologist. “I remind myself daily the dealing with cancer is a journey. Some days are rocky and others are a smooth trail.”
Karen is an inspiration to so many people as she very quietly yet boldly “bears a strong witness for Christ in her faithful journey through the valley and the shadows of death.” To revisit her in this blog is not just an honor for me, but hopefully it will encourage others who are suffering in silence, to learn that we are expected to become bold witnesses in our hardships and trails. You are not alone in your living, share your experience with someone!
What are visible signs that there is a God who works through His people on earth? And if there is, where is the visible evidence in our culture?
One manner in which God speaks to the world loudly today is by requiring a faithful follower to have to endure testings, trials, temptations and tragedy such as Jesus did to redeem souls to the Creator. Matter of fact, a follower of Messiah is commanded to boast, [exult] in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the Love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:3-5
Other very distinguishing spiritual signs that God uses in His faithful followers are granting them Shalom with Himself through Messiah [the peace that is not of this world], He grants total access to His presence in prayer via the grace and mercy of God on behalf of Messiah. And last, he provides unshakable faith in those things that are “unseen” as in eternal life.
If there ever came a day when the powers to be would remove all Holy Bibles or other books and or literature concerning God and His nature, the visible signs that I have mentioned above are not the sum total ways that God reveals and works through His people.
- Nature will always reveal God to us.
- Our conscience tells us that there is a Creator
- History reveals that God exists
- Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God
Grace and Peace