Friday, May 25, 2012

If God Is For Us

OK, I admit it - anger took over my life for a while recently. You only need to read my previous devotions to understand my attitude. Several of the daily devotions I read online had addressed my anger—I refused to accept their advice.

Test results that fell through the cracks and a five-hour bone scan followed by a diagnosis I didn’t want to hear overwhelmed me.
“God, haven’t I had enough?”

Then while a doctor in full surgical garb inserted a PICC line into my right brachial artery, I heard myself boldly witnessing to God’s grace in my life. “I wouldn’t go back to the morning before my accident, not even to walk.”

Later an RN began infusing the first of 21 doses of antibiotics. She remembered me from my first visit in that clinic a year before and as we talked, God filled my emptiness with His grace. He healed my broken heart with His love. He lifted me out of the miry clay and set my feet on solid ground.

The focus of my anger changed. Doctors and nurses, technicians and friends, were not the evil one. God refreshed my soul and strengthened me for the battles to come. And there will be more battles, but He is on my side.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:18, 31).

In Christ Alone,
Berta

To read previous devotions by Berta go to http://snapshots-bertad.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

One morning several years ago, my friend Tonya came to my home to get me up. Everything was going well until she reached for my rings. My anniversary band was there but my emerald ring wasn’t.  Panic! It wasn’t that the ring was costly but it was sentimental, a gift from my husband.

We looked everywhere: the floor, the shower, my bed. Tonya put me back in bed and partially disassembled my wheelchair to search for my ring. Nothing.
“Oh God, where is my ring?” I cried.

I can’t explain it, but I said, “Tonya, check the left pocket of the pants I wore yesterday.” There it was!
A few months later, my husband and I came in from a birthday celebration. As he prepared to put me in bed, he took my rings off then reached for my earrings. One was missing. Once again, we searched the bedroom and after putting me in bed, he searched my wheelchair. Nothing. I began to pray and fell asleep.

Tonya arrived the next morning and I asked her to keep her eyes open for the missing earring. Once up in my wheelchair, Tonya positioned me and I looked down. There, caught on my cup holder, was my earring.
Was praying for my lost jewelry appropriate? It wouldn’t get me into heaven. It wasn’t even a physical need. But Tonya witnessed my faith and God’s faithfulness. Soon she and her son began attending our church.

Father, I thank you for the many opportunities you give me to share my faith and your faithfulness to others. Amen
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

*I wrote this devotion and three days later, we discovered a caregiver had stolen all my jewelry.
In Christ Alone,
Berta