Recent happenings...
Well, lots has happend in the last few weeks. The day after Karen and Nazgul left we found out that my grandfather has cancer. He hasn't been doing so well lately, and now we know why. He has aggressive non-Hodgkin large B-cell lymphoma. They are doing several tests to detirmine if it has spread and if his heart is strong enough to do chemo. Apparently the particular kind of chemo which is very effective for this kind of cancer is really hard on your heart. So, if his heart is not strong I don't know if there is really anything they can do. My family is praying that he might be open to some alternatives, but don't know if he would be willing to try anything other than drugs. The Lord knows, however, and we are trusting that this is part of His plan to glorify Himself through us at this time. We do appreciate your prayers for him.
I have been reading in Jeremiah and have been struck how often the Lord refers to the heart in this book. The people of Israel are condemned because their hearts are not following the Lord. This is seen in contrast with Jeremiah's heart which delights in the Word of the Lord.
Jeremiah 17: 5-10 really stood out to me this time:
Thus says the Lord,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength,
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes,
but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream
and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green,
and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds."
My prayer is that I would have a heart that trusts and delights in the Lord and His Word above all else. I desire not to be affected by my circumstances, but bear fruit for Christ regardless of what happens around me.
I have been reading in Jeremiah and have been struck how often the Lord refers to the heart in this book. The people of Israel are condemned because their hearts are not following the Lord. This is seen in contrast with Jeremiah's heart which delights in the Word of the Lord.
Jeremiah 17: 5-10 really stood out to me this time:
Thus says the Lord,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength,
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes,
but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream
and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green,
and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds."
My prayer is that I would have a heart that trusts and delights in the Lord and His Word above all else. I desire not to be affected by my circumstances, but bear fruit for Christ regardless of what happens around me.
posted by Marcia @ 4:45 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:14 PM ,
The DJ said...
Well said, Marcia, well said. It is so easy to focus on the outward resemblance of piety and neglect the true heart condition. We should all be challenged with these words.
At 1:36 PM ,
The Johnson Family Adventures said...
I'm so sorry about your Grandpa, Marcia! I will pray for him. The Lord loves to do "the impossible".
~Katie
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