keepin' on

click, click, click, click... Pull one steel sphere away from the group and let it drop. When the ball swings back into the set, it causes another ball to swing out from the opposite side. It's called Newton's Cradle. Like most people, I am amused by this device. I'll come back to that momentarily.

.

Worship artist Don Moen told the audience that he used to keep prayer requests in the front of his Bible. He said that as he kept bringing this same list of petitions before the Lord, he wondered if God didn't get just a little bit tired of the repetition.

.

When he said that, I thought of Charity. Because of her cancer, she has been the subject of many prayers, and my intention is to continue to hold her up to God's throne until He answers our supplications.

.

Don told the audience that God does not get tired of hearing the prayers of His beloved children, and I think he's right. I felt a lump forming in my throat as that assurance settled warmly in my heart.

.

It is the constant and repetitive nature of Newton's Cradle that I take pleasure in. How much more would the Lord delight in His children who daily rely upon Him and faithfully express their desire for the good of one Indiana sister?

.

(A prayer)

Gracious Lord, today would you please give Charity the strength and faith she needs as she struggles with medical (and now financial) concerns? Be her shelter in this storm. Let her sleep soundly tonight, and as she rises up tomorrow morning may Your praise be on her lips.

.

.See also Charity's blog and LL Barkat's recent update.

Image by: ivgota20dllrbill

for a friend

We heard Don Piper (not John Piper) tell his story on the radio about how after a car accident, when he was already in heaven, people prayed and the life came back into his body. (Your comments are always welcome, but I do not intend to debate the veracity of his experience.) I turned to my wife and announced, "If I got to go to heaven and you prayed me back, I'd be awful mad." I know the day must come, and look forward to what awaits the other side of the transition.

.

While the neighbors are away, we are taking care of their fish. Well one of those little guys got roughed-up by the filtration system and Mrs. Craver found him alive, but doing an abnormal back-float in the tank. His fins were shredded, and he couldn't swim properly. We told the kids that the frayed fins would probably cause an earlier-than-expected expiration date.

.

Life is fragile. Every minute, we're losing sand from the top of our hourglass, and we cannot know exactly when it will run out. My friend Charity was given a painful reminder that the sand is running out, but I am praying that the Lord glorifies Himself through healing her body and extending her days.

.

But again, what concerns me most about my own personal journey is not the destination, and I know this to be true for Charity as well. By God's grace through faith in Christ, the empty hourglass will yield more joy and hope than we can even comprehend.

.

Charity is entering into a fight against cancer. The battle is a tough one and, among other things, it may cause this fragile flower to lose her petals and maybe she will begin wearing a cap. But in the hearts of her friends she remains as lovely as ever.

.

Dear sister, if you feel like your fins are frayed, and get tired, afraid or discouraged, know that we will be here to pray you back.

.

Original painting by Charity Singleton, used with permission.