REFLECTING
I would go so far as to say, I am upbeat and joyful at least 97% of the time.
I mentioned in my post about Michelle being so weepy. Here I was sharing this wonderful couple of hours with Michelle. I had known she was coming and had been looking forward to this time for sixteen days. I was happy!!!
BUT
I have been really burdened lately for some people who I've been following on their blogs for some time. I know a lot of you know them, and follow them, too.
To name a few :
Heather, a young wife & mother dealing with brain cancer.
Shawndra Turner , another young wife & mother dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Josh Buck, a young man paralysed from a freak skiing accident.
My friend, Kahri's, little girl Kadrea, read her story here. Kahri is the one who got me started in blogging.
Annie's beautiful daughter, Izzy.
And the now, Copeland, just a week old and dying.
All very heart wrenching circumstances and YET the faith, the steadfastness, the determination, the Love of God that sustains them is awesome and the
REAL STORY.
And I weep, for them, but I also weep for myself .....because I have to wonder if I could walk in the faith, steadfastness, determination and Love of God that they demonstrate to me day in and day out. Something to think about isn't it? Surely does make me think and WEEP!
I have wanted to be real, to be transparent to all of you who read me or just stumble on this blog of Penless Writer.
That is what I am today: REAL, WEEPING & TRANSPARENT.
I pray I can meet any test or trial Jesus would call on me to walk.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:37
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers , nor things present, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus or Lord." Romans 38 & 39
34 comments:
Those are great thoughts Susan! It's okay to be real. I have found that people long to know 'real' people, because they can identify with that so much more. That is where we can realize how much we need Christ, and therefore help others to realize in their brokeness that they need Christ! From one weeper to another, I hope you have a blessed day!
Thank you Susan... reading about the sufferings of others and how they glorify God through it all makes me ashamed of myself.
I heard John Piper say that the times we go deep with God are not the easy, trial free times, but we go deep with God through suffering. Suffering is a great mystery that I don't think I will ever understand. But I have also been the most encouraged and uplifted through those that have walked the road of suffering. God uses them greatly.
If God were to take you through the deep waters of suffering like they have experienced, I am confident He would sustain you the same as He is them.
I join you in prayer for those who are suffering and struggling. I pray for a miracle in their lives and healing to their bodies. Thank you for reminding us how precious life is.
You are such a beautiful person Susan, such a great encourager. Thank you for continuing to love and encourage me and for your prayers and faith for Izzy.
Your blog, your posts, You never cease to touch me in such a deep way. This blog is so real it makes me cry. Thank-you for being a light for Christ, for being a Yes spirit, for allowing Him to use you in such mighty ways. Thank-you for being real.
I join you today in lifting these mentioned friends in prayer and I lift you dear friend. Have a blessed day Susan!
His grace is enough...
I am thankful to know that people out there in blogland are willing to pray for me if I need it. I am also happy to offer up prayer for them as well. It is comforting to know we are connected by a loving and compassionate God.
Amen Susan. I thank you and ashamed with myself. I have so much to be thankful for and I truly appreciate this post.
I too am a weepy willow and am so thankful that I am.
I have been feeling the same way today, so, so grateful for all that I have but at the same time questioning if I could be that strong.
As I check Copeland's blog every hour my heart is breaking because of their pain, the unimaginable thought that I could lose one of my children, the pain that life is so fragile and the worry that I would be the one to crumble and curse God if it happened to me.
I am glad you are so real, I am glad that you felt led to write this today because I needed it!
Susan, This blessed my soul to read today. Not that the folks you mentioned are going through suffering but that you are transparant. I sense your compassion and love for all those you mentioned. Thanks for seeking after God's heart. We need more like you on this earth!
I think when we see a case like those you mentioned, we always wonder if we could be as strong as they seem to be in their faith and then you hope that God never tests you that way. I read Copeland's story just yesterday and I couldn't stop crying for a long time...I went through my own baby boy dying 2 hours after he was born. To this day I still don't know how I found the strength to go on but I really do believe that God gives you the extra strength to handle these type of things when they come along. xox
I have been reading Heather for a long time and she designed my blog. My heart just aches for her and her sweet family but she is a strong testament to our Savior, isn't she? And I just found the blog about Copeland last week. I just can't imagine losing a child, but her family's faith is awesome. Thanks for writing this.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and prayers for these very special people. I am always humbled when I hear about the journeys of others. We are blessed, even in the midst of our own trials and troubles.
I just visited a blog you might enjoy seeing--It will lift your heart! Amanda at Baby Bangs--you can link to her at my blog list) has a post about a Hot Air Balloon Festival. Sweet pictures! I thought of you when I was reading it.
Susan,
You are such a precious heart! I just love that about you. You are always so kind and gracious.
It is important that we do weep for others, it is the heart of God in us.
Thank you for sharing these storys with us, I will be praying for them too.
Blessings,
Sue
Thank you for sharing such sweet thoughts for these families. I will continue to pray for each of them. Life is so precious and we need each other to pray for and for comfort.
What wonderful thoughts Susan. I appreciate that you are real and share with us what you've learned and what God is teaching you. By being real, we are able to help one another and grow stronger!
Thank you for bringing this fresh awareness. God has gifted us in particular ways to be a blessing to others. I pray for Izzy, and will check out these other blogs as well. What a caring heart you have.
We really are a family here in blogland, aren't we. We hurt when others hurt, we offer up prayers for healing and comfort, we laugh and share joys in births, good news, and life in general. I'm so transparent, it's not funny. I appreciate that you are too. I think it makes you open to sharing with others.
Bless you this day, Susan, and I'm offering up prayers for your needs today.
Blessings,
Karen
Susan please check your email. I am sorry!
Wonderful post Susan. You inspire me with your 1/2 full attitude. I try to be like that but really struggle some days. I think we all struggle with it now and again but it's what we do about it that matters.
Oh that just makes me so sad too.
I will join you in praying for each of them.
Hugs to you, Lori
i understand how you're feeling. it makes your heart break when you read about someone suffering, or even worse, dying.
it's part of life, so it's a part of the blogging world. if you can think of anything we can do, besides pray, let us know.
I read the Voice of the Martyrs mag on a regular basis and I weep for my brothers and sisters in Christ who go through all sorts of unimaginable suffering because of their love for Christ. I have several friends/family in ill health and a young son in the midst of a divorce. Well likely never see our three grandchildren again...
"His grace is sufficient for me."
I know that whatever circumstances He allows and/or orchestrates in my life, He WILL give me the grace to go through it enveloped by His love and care.
Come over and see the winners of the caption contest!
yep, nothing can separate Uz from the Love Of God ;]
What wonderful thoughts those are. I weep a lot to when i think of such things. It makes you wonder, could I do it if I had to go through that? I look at my cousin, Pastor Brent, who lost his 18 year old son in December and think, how hard it must be to walk through that trial. It always seems my own trials are not nearly as hard as others. i am sure some look at my trials and think the same. But my trials have brought me closer to God and made me who i am so I will try and not complain to much. I will weep for others and with others and I will love them with the love of Christ in the midst of their trials!!
There are so many sad, really sad, stories that it just makes it very hard for me to be happy at times and to appreciate the sunshine in my life. It doesn't seem fair that young people with children should have to face challenges as tough as cancer. How they are able to do that and keep their faith is amazing to me. It humbles me.
So hard to understand suffering but so good when we look at our suffering and compare it to what Christ suffered for us. Nothing we go thru can compare to what Christ went thru . I find that when I am going thru a hard time in my life that is when I draw closest to God.
Today you shared your soul with us. Gave us a peek at the 'Soul of Susan.'
I think many of us have had similar thoughts but it took 'Penless Writer' to put those thoughts into words that open the eyes and touch the heart.
Thank you Susan.
I weep with you for the bitter sadness of all those who are suffering, and I also rejoice with you for He said, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
They are in my prayers. Yes, I am happy, too, and safe, and well, but others aren't and we must remember them and take them to God in prayer.
It's sometimes good and necessary to weep with those who are weeping...and you obviously have a tender, compassionate heart.
I, too, have prayed and cried over others I have heard of here in our blogland.
Thank you for letting us know all of these needs- and for being real, Susan!
Wonderful post Susan. Thank you for sharing your sweet heart.
Susan,
I am just catching up with you today and this post really touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your heart. What amazing people you have linked to who are walking through the shadow of darkness and gloriying God on the journey! May we all be encouraged to do the same.
Hi! Susan
I have always believed that God gives us what we need to walk through what we have to walk through when we need it and not before.
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