WATCHWORD:
Special Edition
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. Romans 8:26
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7,13
Meditation:
Two days ago, I learned that my sister-in-law and occasional confidante was afflicted with reoccurring cancer. Something happens to a person when you learn that someone very close to you, someone that has had a significant role in your life over the years, is so very ill. It’s as if you are on the verge of missing an important compass point, a source of wisdom.
In answer to my request for permission to share her story, she responded with these statements:
“Well, God is in charge for sure. My favorite Psalm is 91, as is my favorite song, “On Eagles Wings”. Thank you for the kind prayer request as well as the inspiring message today that spoke directly to me. Your channel of listening to the Spirit is open and flowing. Blessings.
“I survived 6 primary (different) cancers and now have metastases throughout my body. I know God saved me each time and as a result I tried to live a purpose filled life. No regrets, only love remains.”
In a recent Oswald Chambers devotional, he asked this question: “Who is the most moral person I know.” That, would be Sue. If the question had been “Who was the most non-judgmental person I know. That, would be Sue. If the question had been “Who was the most active Christian I know. That, too, would be Sue. Who most personifies love? Sue.
How would you answer those questions in your life?
In that reading, Chambers is making the point that we are called to act out in our lives what we have learned from God. To walk in faith. In our sister Sue, we have a model of what that means.
None of us go through our lives without touching the lives of so many others. Regardless of all of those intersections that we have encountered with others from the moment of birth to where we are at this point, we exert influence. Sue’s influence on those of us who know her, has been positive and active. The point is, day by day, month by month and year-by-year, regardless of our belief, we are planting seeds, seeds that influence and encourage. Sue is a good seed planter! Amen.
— Stan
Closing Prayer:
Dear Father God, Thank You for Your unfailing love for Sue and for all of us, Your blessings, and goodness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to guide us and see us through times of uncertainty, for lifting us up, and setting us on high. Thank You for Scripture that comforts and reminds us of Your promises, plans, and provisions. Thank you for taking away our fears and worries, the what-ifs, and reminding us that our help comes from You. Help us be good stewards, to sow wisely, and to always trust in You. Strengthen our faith, Lord, in the full knowledge that these lives we are living are according to Your plan and Your love for us knows no bounds. In Christ’s name, Amen.
