SUFFERING IS A TOOL IN GOD'S HANDS

As I write this, my dearest friend (Neysa) is in the hospital with a problem that could be serious. As of this moment, I don't know.

We have been friends since 1971 when our Pastor asked me to take her under my wing - and in effect, disciple her. We met at a small restaurant with a Rooster on the sign that said "The Copper Kettle" Never could figure out why the Rooster was there - unless he was what was going into the Copper Kettle!

We bonded instantly and have been committed friends ever since.

God is so amazingly good! Just after this call from our son, I spoke to Neysa's daughter and am waiting for another call that will allow me to run up to the hospital to see her. Meanwhile, I am listening to tapes from the "Together for the Gospel" Seminar. Wouldn't you know that the Lord would lead me to one by Matt Chandler, a pastor of the Village Church who spoke on suffering.

He is well qualified to speak on the subject as he is just recovering (we sincerely Pray) from an Angioplastic Cancer Tumor in the brain. He has no idea whether he will recover or whether he will join the Lord soon. But he has determined to use whatever time he has left to glorify the Lord by urging people to prepare for suffering.

He is followed by Pastor T. J. Mahaney, the founder of Sovereign God Ministries, who gives several ideas on ways and books to help those who are ministering to those who are suffering. It's interesting because this has been the subject of many of Neysa and my conversations lately. One point that he makes quite clearly is that this is a message for the whole church! Not just those people who are chronically or terminally ill. I recommend that you take some time out to listen to many of these tapes. You can get to them through M4G.com.

I loved them all! And have the highest regard for all the speakers. These are Godly men who have great wisdom and different backrounds. They are not all primarilly Reformed so don't be afraid of listening to them. Wisdom comes from many sources.

I love you all, and hopefully this will be a blessing in your lives.