“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
In order to stand firm in my faith, I must have God’s word in my mind and written on my heart. Without His word I am as helpless as a little child standing at the edge of the ocean crying and afraid to move as his feet sink into the soft sand and the waves wash over his toes. 
“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:23
Have you ever been in a car accident or heard bad news and felt so frightened by it that your legs started shaking and you could hardly stand? Jesus promises that He is faithful to help and support us when we cast our troubles on Him. He promises to never let the righteous fall.
“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.” Psalm 34:15
Righteousness is not just being good or doing good. When God told Abraham, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be. Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:5,6 Righteousness is believing God!
When we fix our eyes on Jesus we develop a trust that can not be shaken by the storms of life. We are convinced that Jesus has our situation under control and we know that we can depend on this awesome and loving God as we walk though our difficulties with Him. Thus even in the midst of a storm we will be completely at peace in His Presence. 
I would like to tell you about a young husband, the father of two small boys who has shown what I think of as Invincible Faith. These are his own words and his faith in God will bless your heart.
“It’s hard to believe it has been over four weeks since the initial aneurysm ruptured. It can’t be that long ago, but it has been. Four weeks, two days, 20 hours, and one minute exactly, but who’s counting? Me. I’m counting. I’m counting all the horrifying images when I first saw Jana unresponsive and gasping for air; I’m counting the multiple hospital trips to finally get her where she needed to be; I’m counting the numerous surgeries and procedures that seemed to come almost daily. I’m counting the lost hours from an exceptional wife and two adorable children, hours that I will never get back. I’m counting that yes, but do you know what else I am counting? I’m counting the thousands of people who have cared enough to pray continually and at a moments notice. I’m counting the many doctors and nurses and residents who have worked their hardest to keep Jana alive. I’m counting the opportunities to connect with other families and share in their strife. I’m counting a best friend who takes on this ordeal as his own, has organized and planned so my focus was on Jana, and will drop his life to be at my side any time of day or night. I am counting my family and friends who have taken my children as their own and allowed their lives to go virtually unchanged considering the circumstances. I am counting the miracles I have witnessed with my own eyes and the hand of God that embraces me still. I count and see how in the midst of pain there is joy; in the midst of sorrow there is laughter; in the midst of defeat there is victory.”
The following was posted a few days ago following Jana’s move from the hospital to a rehab center where she is in the Disorders of Consciousness program.
“So I am talking with the doctor about what my expectations were. I told him that I didn’t have any. I know what I hope, I know what I want, I know what I pray, but I don’t know what to expect. I was getting the feeling that he was preparing me for the fact that she may not awaken. That I needed to think about the next step. Funny, but I thought this WAS the next step. Having been through it before, I saw what he was doing. He was preparing me and didn’t want me optimistic.”
“But why was he telling me this as we just got here? So I asked him what he saw that made him say that. He said it’s not what he saw, just all that she had been through. Then I realized something: He doesn’t know my wife or my God.”
“So I smiled a little and said, ‘I know where you are going, but you haven’t seen what I’ve seen. You haven’t experienced the miracles that I have experienced. So I tell you what, I won’t get too optimistic, and you allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised.’ He looked with a half smile and said okay. I don’t think he had much faith in my faith. I look forward to sharing with him God’s power over the next four weeks.”
“Jana seemed more alert today than I had seen her in the past two days. I know the move was very stressful on her, but she kept her eyes open much longer in spite of that. Her eyes were scanning the room more and not just staying in one place like they had been. She even followed me with her eyes as I walked closer to her bed.”
“Jana is working every day with three therapists sometimes individually and sometimes as a group. Today in therapy, we actually used her phone and I called her. (The ringtone on Jana’s iPhone is a recording of her son’s infectious giggle. It makes you smile every time you hear it.) Jana seemed to lean her head towards the phone and “speak” many things. Most of these were nonsensical and barely audible, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care that she wasn’t answering me, or that her responses were not appropriate or that I could barely hear her, it mattered that she made the effort and that made my heart sing. I have never looked more forward to the mundane task of talking to my wife on the phone as I do right now. I will never take it for granted again.”
Jana is the beloved teacher of two of our grandchildren and is a dear and much loved friend of their entire family. Please pray for her and her family. Prayer is powerful and God is still in the business of working miracles everyday.
“O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Psalm 84:12
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This evening I went down to the creek where my children and grandchildren have loved playing for years. Last year the meadow along the woods was nothing but mud because bulldozers had dug a deep trench so that the Marathon oil pipeline could be laid down the field and across the creek. I hated the way our privacy had been invaded and the lovely quiet of the wooded creek seemed to be a thing of the past. But the people from Marathon had been very nice and I was thankful that they had saved as many of our trees as possible.
I also discovered great bunches of black-eyed Susans and lovely pink, lavender and white wild flowers which may have been some kind of phlox. I am convinced that God not only provides for our needs but He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts when we love Him. 
“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
It occurred to me that the real treasures of darkness and the riches stored in secret places spoken of in Isaiah 45:3 are NOT gold and silver or precious jewels. The real riches are those that God has hidden in seeds that suddenly spring forth producing the beauty of a tree or flower. Or think about what happens when the seed of a man and woman is fertilized in love, and by the power of God brings forth the beauty and sweetness of a newborn baby. 
This is the awesome, amazing power of God to give a seed life and energy and purpose. And it fills me with praise for the one and only Creator.
illumylife 