2010 CHALLENGE 17: PRAISING GOD IN THE STORM...

Just when I thought I was doing better at giving God the praise, no matter what the circumstances, I raised my fist in the storms of last week. Challenge 16 was about "praying differently"... about praying for others and not for ourselves. I'm not sure why, but that about did me in last week. Maybe it's because I'm already up to my eyeballs in people. Whatever the reason, last week I was most certain that I was drowning AND IT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING!!! Yet, as my husband often says, "FAITH AND FEELINGS DO NOT ALWAYS GO HAND IN HAND."

• I prayed for Roger Collins after the family posted on Facebook that he had a heart attack while running. Our friend, Roger, did not stay around on this planet! Steve and I have been so sad for his family! God answered our prayers with a resounding, "NO!"



• I prayed for our daughter, Jessica, and she got worse last week. As the storms set over South Jersey, her high intracranial hypertension caused so much pain in her body that she became close to comatose. I drove around South Jersey during the storms. I saw the gorgeous fall leaves out of my rain soaked windows and I raised my voice to God, crying, "Why? If you can make all these millions of individual leaves into this gorgeous canopy of color... WHY will you not take our daughter's pain?" He answered with a "No! Wait!" Jessica's extreme pain stayed the same until sometime Friday afternoon when the storms lifted. Friday night I took her out for a drive in her mustang. It was the first time in two years that she has ridden in it. We talked. She smiled. Yesterday, she came in and sat on my bed and we talked for a long time. Precious memories! Thank You, LORD! That's it for now! Her pain has returned and she's back in bed!
• I've prayed for Grace! Grace is another one of thousands who have the same chronic pain problems as our Jessica. This time, she's been in the hospital since October 13th. On October 21st, after yet another surgery to repair a spinal fluid leakage, Grace's mother posted on FB that the doctor "expects that she will feel much better later today when her spinal fluid level stabilizes." This is 10 days later and Grace is still in the hospital. God? Why?

• I've prayed and prayed for our son, Caleb... his new little family... so thankful their move is partially complete... still no employement.... God we pray for your provisions for them...
  
• The stories abound of pain and suffering and loss... many prayed and Stacia still lost her twins... Doc and Cathy still struggle with a myriad of health problems... we begged God to keep daddy of four, Scott McEndree here, but He chose not to... you get the picture...

The bottom line is that we may not ever understand. At least, we won't understand until we get to heaven. Yet, we MUST believe that our Father has the most perfect perspective and that He knows best. We can rest assured that He is looking out for our best interests.
Our job, no matter how hard, is to PRAISE HIM IN THE STORM!!!
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TRIBUTE TO ROGER COLLINS FROM STEVE SIKES:
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It was August, 1971, York College, York, Nebraska, that my first memory of "freshman" Roger Collins took hold. I was a club president looking over the new "crop" of young men on campus, trying to make the wisest of decisions possible on whom to invite into our group. Some clubs were looking for athletes, some for personalities, etc. I distinctly remember looking for men with a Christ-like character and Roger Collins topping our list.
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After joining our club, Roger became my pledge for a week and for the next 39 years Roger called me pledge-master and reminded me how easy I had been on him. We'd chuckle and then go on to other conversation. I learned pretty quickly I had a lot to learn from Roger. From 1971 till his death last night, Roger consistently emanated humility, genuine transparency and concern for others. Over the years, Roger became one of my rocks in the faith -- so accountable, so stable and unwavering in his faith and so at peace within himself.
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After leaving York College as students, Roger and I crossed paths again at Harding University and then later at York College as fellow teachers. I was so proud of Roger when he married Debbie and so proud of them both as they proved again and again how Christian parents are to bring up their children in the Lord -- faithful to the end. Roger was a runner (spiritually and physically) and over the years his children followed in his steps. This morning I read (again) a passage of scripture that has reminded me of Roger for several decades:
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1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
.Thanks, Roger, for continually running in such a way as to win! I love you and thank God for you and already miss you terribly.
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Till we meet again, my brother and friend.
Steve Sikes
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The York College home page talks about Roger's life: http://www.york.edu/news/2010/1025_collins.asp


Facebook Page Link: PRAY FOR ROGER COLLINS
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GIGATTAATTGIG: Remembering to focus on what God has done and is doing:

• Praising You for answering our prayers for Chip!
• Praising You for Rich's new hands working!
• Praising You that so many were blessed with You living in and working through Roger Collins.
• Praising You, Father, in the storms...