I recently received a Post Card saying, "There is NO problem too large for God!" This excited me because I know all of us widows have MANY challenges, from not enough funds to go month to month, family relationship problems, illnesses, things in our homes that need sudden repairs or replacement, (and wondering who we can trust to come into our homes and not overcharge us), peace when we feel alone and have no one with whom to celebrate our holidays, hope when we need new hope for a new day, and so many concerns like these and many others I am sure most of you can add. We discussed some of these items at our last meeting, and are praying for the Lord to bring people into our lives who enjoy doing odd jobs for us at a nominal cost.
I shared with the ladies at our last meeting how I had what I thought was a slight leak, and was told by a plumber it would need to be broken through to my bedroom in the next room, to the tune of around $1,000. My friend suggested I cancel the appointment I had tentatively made and her kind husband looked at it over the weekend, as it was not an emergency. He found there was a small part that the company sent a replacement part to him "as a courtesy". I paid him for his time and kindness, but saved a LOT of money I did not have to dip into ever-lowering reserve funds. Such friends are rare, and we pray more younger men in our churches will step up to the plate and volunteer to serve the ladies in a way they need so greatly. Plus the blessing for all is incalculable, for God's word in James exhorts the Body of Christ to minister to widows and orphans in need. Praise the Lord, most of us have some income, though at times expensive repairs and replacements put a great dent in the budget.
Miriam Neff in her book From One Widow to Another addresses the problem of many friends who no longer want to continue friendships with us when our mates are no longer with us. This is a concern for many. After many years of being widowed, in my present church I have friends who do include me in their picnics and activities. A group of nine of us recently attended an evening at a small theater in Rehoboth Beach for an evening of "Words and Music By Gershwin." It was a delightful time, and the four brothers and five ladies were equally blessed by our mutual time together, with a delicious meal in which we all brought something to share. It was a memorable evening for all, and I wonder how many other couples might think of a lonely widow as my friends have done.
Meanwhile, I feel the Lord leading me to share a bit of the new study book our Well Spring Bible Study Group will soon start, called The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh. Many of us have witnessed many broken promises in the past, many of which we experience as a widow. Our Lord Jesus is altogether FAITHFUL, and He Himself is our Promise. One lady wrote to Sheila saying, "I would not have made it this far without the promises of God." I am sure most of us have had many things happen in which our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer made a huge difference.
The first chapter is entitled: "Promises, Promises ~~ I Need Something to Hold On To." God is not a man that He could lie, and He promises in 2 Corinthians 1:20, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." God says, "YES!" and we say, "AMEN (may it be so)!" Let's think about that. When we agree that He and His Word are TRUTH, we say "Amen" to receive His mighty promise. One quote Sheila has in her book, "This is the shelter of all God's promises: God not only keeps His promises, but He longs to keep us in them." That is delightful, but sometimes friends may get very sick, or even die. Our husbands did, and I'm sure we all prayed for them. Though Romans 8:28 can be very hurtful to hear when we go through a huge loss, such as the loss of our beloved mate, that may seem difficult to believe. Yet, after many years in this walk, I can assure you that I've had lots of challenges, and some are still there, but God uses each one as He promises for His Glory. It usually takes us a while for us to recognize them, but I KNOW, when we see more clearly from God's viewpoint when we reach our Heavenly home, we too will see just how many times He was with us to help us in ways difficult to comprehend now, but all will be clear one of these days.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Cor. 13:12), and "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18) and Jesus precious friend while He was on earth, John, wrote in 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." WOW!
Jesus' friend Peter also wrote (in 2 Peter 1:3, 4) not long before he was martyred for his faith, "According as His divine power has given unto us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye (YOU and ME) might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." WOW! WOW!
So really, is there ANY problem too large for God? I say a resounding "NO!" We will continue to stand in prayer for each other for God's answers when they seem to be too impossible for even Him, but as I am learning, (and I STILL learn something new every single day), I encourage you to keep on believing, trusting, and hiding in the Shelter of God's Promises with me.
I pray you can join us Thursday July 14 at 6:30 at the Calvary Prayer Room for our Widow's Might meeting, and also, if you can join us at my home at 6:30 the previous Thursday, July 7, for our Heaven Study that we are beginning to see come to an end in several short months. Please join us when you can. You are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you at either or both gatherings.
Love, prayers and multitudes of Blessings to all, and May God Bless AMERICA!
Dee
No comments:
Post a Comment