She is Faithful

Along with a group of married couples at our church, Daniel and I have been reading The Resolution for Men and The Resolution for Women. If you haven't heard of or read these books, I highly recommend them. Well, I highly recommend the one for women...I haven't read the one for men, but Daniel says it's really good! :)

Anyway, one of the resolutions is entitled Faithfully His: A resolution to be devoted to Christ and defined by His Word. Within the chapter there is a section devoted to "Faith vs. Faithfulness." We often think that the two are synonyms, but as Priscilla Shirer points out, there is much more to faithfulness than just belief. As James says in chapter 1, verses 22-25, we must be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." One who is faithful puts his/her faith into action.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you may remember this post from December 2010. (if not, go ahead and read it now and then come back here) As long as I've known her, my sweet friend, J.M., has been a woman of faithfulness. She was before she was diagnosed with cancer, she was when she was diagnosed with cancer, and she has continued to be the past year and 8 months since she was diagnosed with cancer. Her desire is for our Faithful Father to receive all of the honor and glory through her life...no matter what that means she must go through! I feel as though Priscilla Shirer was writing about J when she penned these words...

"Faithfulness is born when the outward expressions of your beliefs are lived out over time. Often through difficulty. For difficulty is where faithfulness is honed and brought to life. You'd never classify someone as being faithful unless you'd seen her stand firm during a course of action and decision where it would have been much simpler to throw in the towel. The more consistently a person does this, the more honored she is for her steadfastness and perseverance."

J is still fighting the fight against cancer. J is still joyful. She recognizes that God's ways and timing are perfect and different from hers. She also recognizes that it may take her willingness to fight this awful disease for His glory to spread even further than it would have had she never been diagnosed with it.

While we were in New Orleans in June for the Southern Baptist Convention, I attended the Annual Minister's Wives Luncheon. At this luncheon we were given an awesome goody bag full of books, magazines, and other printed materials. Several weeks after we returned home (think mid-July), I picked up one of the magazines. More Living Magazine is a new publication which targets the Baby Boomer generation (46-64 year olds). I had no clue what type of magazine it was at the time, or I probably would not have sat down to read it. :) But, that was all part of God's plan. You see, on the inside of the front cover, I saw a picture of a middle-aged woman and a short article beside it. I typically would have kept on turning the pages to get to the "meat" of the magazine, but I stopped and read the words. She told about a ministry in her church called Peace*Love*Quilt which began in 2009 when a group of ladies got together and made a quilt for a woman in their church who was diagnosed with cancer. Since then, they've made and distributed over 200 quilts. Soon after reading this, I got online and looked up the blog connected with this ministry. I just knew I needed to find out how to get one for J!

I emailed Sarah, the woman who writes the blog, and told her all about J. She wrote back and said they'd be happy to make her a quilt, but unfortunately she was leaving for vacation the next day and would be gone for a week. She said they normally complete the quilts within a week, but it would take longer this time since she'd be gone. I told her that wasn't a problem. I didn't have a specific date in mind as to when to give J the quilt, so we agreed that she'd just mail the quilt to me when it was complete. So, I may not have had a specific date in mind, but God did! 

Look what showed up at my house yesterday...

I was so excited to get it, but I wasn't sure when I should give it to J. I knew I didn't want to wait too long, obviously, but I did kind of want it to be a special time. So, I put the quilt in our guest room and went to bed. This morning I jumped on facebook for a second, and guess what it said in my top right corner? 

TODAY was J's birthday! 

Y'all, I am horrible at remembering birthdays. If you're not my immediate family member or I haven't known you for many years, I probably don't remember off-hand when your birthday is. Thank goodness Facebook does, though, right?!

After seeing that today was her birthday, I knew when I should give her the quilt! I texted her and we decided that the kids and I (Daniel's out of town or he would've been right there with us!) would take it by tonight. After she opened the gift bag and saw what it was, I was able to share the whole story with her. Not only her, but her mother and sister who were there visiting! We all sat in awe of God and his absolute perfect timing! And in true J fashion, she shared with us how God continues to speak to her about His using this cancer for His glory. I really wish you all could meet this woman face to face because I know she would challenge and encourage you as much as she's done for me and all those who know her.

I am thankful that J is faithful. I am thankful that our God is faithful. And I am thankful that we can cling to His Word, knowing without a doubt that He will accomplish His purpose and plan!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
     giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
    shall break forth into singing,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:8-12