We are just pilgrims passing through on our way to eternity with Jesus. He has much work in us, and through us to continue, and complete until that great day. June 2018, our family went on this adventure together up this mountain. I snapped pictures thinking of the Spiritual journey we are on and wrote this story!!! Little did I know two months later, August 8th, would be a significant day that would change our lives forever through the new hard journey we were on, living out this story in our Spiritual exercise of faith.
Forever changed… ALL OF US. FOR..THE…GOOD! More of Jesus – less of us. HIS AMAZING GRACE!!!
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL STORY – it’s important to us. As well as a collage of pictures below, from my husband’s surgery, to first trip in wheelchair through the halls, celebrating a special stroll in the healing gardens for he and I together, a walk with dad for the boys, celebrating leaving the hospital and God’s provision to go to rehabilitation, leaving REHAB after 3 weeks and coming home… and that WHEELCHAIR he left in – he only used once and that is only to make me happy when we went to his first outpatient doc visit. We were praising Jesus to send that off and on it’s way! From no feeling in legs, to learning to stand, walker, cane, walking… praise be to GOD!
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” We ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” – 2 Cor. 4:7
We believe in God’s all surpassing power…
No matter the pain, trial, difficulty, I believe. I believe that weakness is not fatal, but is essential in order to display the treasure inside frail people. This treasure – The ALL SURPASSING POWER OF GOD. Jesus Christ the Lord.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. Persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2 Cor. 4:8-11
We believe in the transcendent stability of God. Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the seas… He is with us, our refuge and strength.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea..He is with us” . Ps. 46:1-2
We believe Isaiah 40:8, that though the grass withers, the flower fades… the Word of God stands forever. Therefore, I stand through it all. Hard winter, rain falling, dry heat, and life springing forth seasons.
I will count it all joy, that by the grace of God, in the beautiful gift of the spiritual and His surpassing ways, even in drought (trial, difficulty, parched season) fruit is springing forth! So, I persevere in trust and His commandment, to not worry. Look and see!
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in HIM. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; IT’s LEAVES ARE ALWAYS GREEN. It has NO WORRIES in a year of drought and NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT.” Jer. 17:7-8
We believe in the full counsel of God…
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One Who sustains me.” Ps. 54:4 “Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live.” Ps. 119:116
Though my soul becomes weary with sorrow, He will strengthen me again and again. That even by His grace, through tears of sorrow, sowing in prayer and His Word, He promises a reaping of JOY that is coming.
“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” Ps. 119:28 “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Ps. 126:5
“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses. In the power of God…dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; SORROWFUL, yet always REJOICING; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor. 6:9-10
We believe in Jesus Who persevered all the way to the cross , that He is the way to the Father. That His resurrection power in His saints, overcomes. But thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. The Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
We believe He will not forget His children on the journey. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has born? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands.” Is. 49:14-16
We know, that Jesus is with us, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:20
As we live each day, encouraging each other, stirring each other to good works, going towards our destination, He who began a good work.. HE is faithful to complete it. For His name IS FAITHFUL and TRUE.
We believe in and KNOW VICTORY in JESUS! We celebrate each small victory today, because Jesus has secured our victory – today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
This little journey with our family today through woods, thickets, an ocean breeze, finally, persevering up this mountain called “God’s Thumb”, is symbolic for the spiritual journey of our faith because of love.
Because.. “if I have a FAITH that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” 1 Cor. 13:2
We love, because Christ first loved us.
LOVE overcomes. God’s love for us. Jesus in us. His love that graciously gives ALL His commandments in His written Word. Among the vast many, His commandments also, to walk in love and love one another. His love as an example so that we would encourage one another, forgive one another, and stir up each other in love and truth, good works, onward to eternity.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things , love never ends. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:7, 8 & 13
WE BELIEVE IN THE SURPASSING POWER OF GOD. I BELIEVE IN THE SURPASSING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. I BELIEVE IN THE TRANSCENDENT STABILITY OF GOD. JESUS THE ROCK. THE SURE FOUNDATION ON WHICH WE STAND. I BELIEVE IN THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOVE OF GOD.
