Pressin’ On
Last week I confessed to all my friends and family here that I was struggling with “unbelief”. I was flooded with comment after comment all graced with wisdom, encouragement and love. I am still walking on air from all your compassion!
I had a friend make a statement in a comment that I haven’t been able to get off my mind. It said, “Us mere mortals can’t know what the future will bring. We have two choices when faced with a problem. We either give up or we persevere. Persevering means pain and suffering. There is no way around it. Giving up is worse.” How true is this?
My favorite book in the New Testament is James. I love how he speaks. No beating around the bush – he’s all in your face. My kind of friend…time is short, get to the point! In chapter one of Faith and Endurance James says this in verses 3 & 4…“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” I love the “let it” part. It’s my choice to move on. And like my friend commented last week, “Giving up is worse.” I agree!
And Friend, you went on to say one more thing…“As an atheist I have no answers for you.” That’s not true… You helped answer a lot right there! Thank you!
I’m sure everyone of you is facing something right now that seems like it’s too much to take or handle. If you’re not, you’re going to! Don’t give up! Press on! We won’t know the part our trials or afflictions will play unless we stick it out and persevere…
I think it’s important to remember the benefit of having each other too…So…
Friends, how can I be praying for you?
inProgress 
Thanks Tam!
ROn
Tam,
One thing that has bother me for many years is that when my father passed away some 20 years ago my last words to him were harsh.
I don’t believe in life after death. I don’t pray.
My father was a very religious person. If there is a haven I am sure he is there. You could pray to him in heaven to forgive me for my last words to him.
Also next week I will be house sitting for a cousin again while she goes on vaction. I’ll be off line. It will be me and 6 cats together for a week. Pray for me. 🙂
Ed, I am sorry. I am so sorry. This breaks my heart friend.
If you believe your father is in Heaven right now then you need to know that all he is feeling for you is love…love unconditionally. My understanding of Heaven and being in Gods presence is that all things are perfect like He intended in the first place…that means no hatred or resentment in any heart there…including your fathers.
Ya know, I can’t pray to your father but I can pray to Our Father. So I am praying that you would allow Him to reveal Himself to you in a way that you never would have expected. That you would have a peace in your own heart of reconciliation with your dad. And my ultimate, very ultimate sincere prayer is that you will one day join your father in Heaven, where ALL THINGS are new!
I’ll miss ya next week!
Ron…Your welcome 😉
I understand what you are saying. I thank for any prayers on my behalf.
You bless me.
Us mere mortals can’t know what the future will bring.
Ed, think about Him next week, you have friends here on the West Coast that really care about you, we want you to see your Dad again, and be with us on into eternity. I know that when you think of your Dad it must bring an overwhelming sense of guilt and regret…that’s one of the things that will be taken from you when you come to know the Lord. I will be faithfully praying for you every day, and I too will miss you next week. I believe the Lord has something big for you soon, something that will remove all doubt of who He is and that He’s real, for you. Just take that step toward Him…
Tam, you know my prayer requests…love you and thank you for lifting them before the throne….still praying and believing in the miracle…
So good. I love your willingness to learn and your openness to hear others thoughts. Seriously…I need to be more like that!
Tam,
I would love for you to pray for me and my family…we are in the middle of an “unveiling” right now. God has shifted us from our place in ministry (we are both pastors) to a new adventure, and in the midst of it I found two lumps when I went to the “girl doctor”.
Your prayers are appreciated!
Melissa
I’ ve been thinking about you all week and wondering how you are feeling. You have such a great group of bloggers that leave great comments. What an encouraging thing.
My prayer is that I can avoid surgery by continuing to eat the right foods for my body, drink my green tea, sleeping, and through lots of time in God’s Word.
Melissa, I just got an email from a close friend who is pregnant that got some abnormal pap results. They took a biopsy of three different areas. So i’m praying for you and her tonight. Please keep us posted!
Amy, you KNOW I will definitely pray to that end! How have you been feeling? I get to see you next weekend! Are you singing at all?
Ed, your post touched my heart. I often have people ask me to pray for their loved ones that pass. I agree with Tam…she and I will both pray to God and Jesus on your behalf. I pray that you find the comfort you need to know that your father understands how complicated life can be…and even with the last words you had….he loved you. Know that your dad still loves you.
I pray that you take one second to think and ask yourself…what if there is life after death? If there is a heaven, how can I get there?
Ed, keep an open mind to a simple thing called faith in that Jesus loves you more than anyone ever could…even your dad. No matter how far away you feel you are from faith in God, all you do is ask Him to reveal Himself to you. It may not be in a big thunder bolt of lightning….He may not come down from heaven and tap you on the shoulder…..but He will start tapping on your heart. Just ask Him and start listening over the next few weeks….or days…..who knows His timing. All I ask…is that you’re open to it.