The God who answers prayers

A classmate of mine from my Caring For God's People class is struggling with cancer.  I don't see her; as I said she's a classmate of mine.  She's also a sister in Christ and a tremendous lady who has a heart for the Lord.  Why God allowed this disease in her life I cannot say, but I can say that sometimes God wants to use others to help us along.

I just finished reading an update she posted to an online journal she's keeping.  She had to have some fluid removed yesterday, but a scheduled blood transfusion for today was not needed because overnight her blood levels were back to the point where a transfusion was necessary.  Lots of people are praying for Mary and God answered those prayers with a bit of healing.

God gives each of us talents.  I read stories sometimes about faith taken too far.  By that I mean it's like the old story of the guy on the housetop during the flood who refused a ride in a rowboat, a powerboat, and a helicopter.  When he ultimately drowns the guy asks God why He didn't show up and learns that God sent the rowboat, the powerboat, and the helicopter.  If you've had an opportunity to be a blessing to someone, you know what I mean about being used of God.

There are God things that only He can do.  I was thinking about this today as I mowed the jungle.  Lots of rain and cool temps mean lots of grass, especially in the back yard.  When it's that long, it's a mess to mow because it's so damp and I don't have the luxury of mowing it in the evening.  There are God sized things that humans can't do.  There are times that God takes things from us and the blessing becomes addition by subtraction.  Sometimes God will use health challenges to make us see where we're making mistakes.  We never know how God will answer our prayers.  In the case of my classmate, it was a combination of the gifts God has given to men and then a little divine intervention.

I look at my life and know that God showed up.  It's taken me four years to learn some things and I'm trying to ask God better questions.  Today I asked Him to please if He would, show me some things that are nos.  I'd almost forgot that request and I really believe He did that today.  Some things are changing in my life and I don't know what that's going to look like, so I'm just going with trusting God and letting Him lead.  I've not been at peace like this for a very long time.

It's tough to explain a feeling without any substantive facts other than faith in the God who answers prayers.  And keeps His promises.