But it was an unexpected conversation with a sister in Christ that gave me that A-HA moment today. We were talking about the fact that each of us has given up sugar for Lent!! How about that?! She mentioned, through a "strand" of conversation that she workouts out every morning at 5AM!! Wow! Wish I had the discipline (there's that word again) to do THAT! She said she gets up in the morning, heads to the gym, listens to a sermon while she workouts and then goes home to start her day. Of course I wanted to know who she listens to since I do the same thing and she told me Matt Chandler.
Because I am a woman, I'd ask here, if I might digress a moment. Notice, above, I said "through a "strand" of conversation"? Men might find this special "gift" that we have quite annoying but I happen to think it's exactly what makes us so special. We can have a particular topic we want to speak with someone about but we can't do that very often without adding a little background information first. Men, are you smiling? Yes, we tell the WHOLE story, detail by detail! "Can't you just get to the point?" :-) I think that's why I have such a heart for women. We just have a way with each other. Add Jesus and we can do wonderful things. Since I'm a knitter/crocheter I can compare a skein of variegated yarn to a woman. We aren't all one color or two or three. We are many colors blended together with each color having it's own part in the whole but one gradually giving way to the next. Yes, we are complicated but I truly believe that we are just the way God created us to be.
Digression over......
I've never heard of Matt Chandler. So, as I do when this is the case, I took to the internet to see what he was all about. My friend assured me he was absolutely fantastic so I was anxious to learn about him and listen to him speak. When I put his name in the search engine an article came up with this title "Brain cancer tests a young pastor's faith..." Oh boy, not a sad story. After what I had read and since this article was dated January 31, 2010, I thought "is he even still alive today?" It said his cancer was considered incurable and fatal. For those that don't know Matt Chandler, he is a 37 year old man, married with three young children. He is the pastor of The Village Church in Texas. The article spoke of his faith and this is what he said,
"Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter."
He is trying to suffer WELL? He is GRATEFUL that God has counted him WORTHY to endure such a trial!!?? WORTHY? REALLY. Now THAT changes my perspective! He didn't ask "why" or "how long". He is enduring with grace and patience! Isn't that beautiful?
One of the scriptures that he rested in was Romans 8:28:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"
Three sentences..... you just never know how God is going to speak to you or who or what he might send to speak for him. He is always full of surprises. But what I do know is that is all the more reason for me to be sensitive to his voice and cognizant of his leading. Because if I'm not....well let's just say, I'm learning what I would be missing!
Today was a GREAT day! I'm really sorry it's winding down.......but I couldn't have asked for a more uplifting day!
Hope you had a God day!
XOXO
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