POOCH???!!!

Good Morning!

They say a good ol’ Southern boy can get along with a good wife and a faithful dog even in bad times. Last week was one of those “bad times for this ol’ Southern boy. First, my TV went on the fritz. Then a trailer I pay for went missing. And then Miss N got sick. Just a bad week … at least I still had my dog, right, pooch? Pooch?!!!

Just kidding. The dogs are okay - just happy to have Miss N home. And she did come home last night about 5:30 or 6:00. She is doing pretty good – tired from the ordeal – which is to be expected. I am sure she will rebound quickly.

James 1:2-4 (English Standard Version)
Testing of Your Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Footnotes:
a. James 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verses 16, 19

As some of you know, I write some of the Good Mornings the day before. Sunday, around noon, I wrote the Good Morning for Monday. We were facing a test and perhaps surgery. And Norma was still saddled with that gastric tube that was so uncomfortable. Sunday afternoon the surgeon said he was going to clamp the gastric tube off to see what happened – answered prayer?

Monday, when Miss Norma had tolerated not having her stomach pumped for 12+ hours, the doctors decided the test was not needed – and removed the gastric tube – and gave her food for the first time since last Tuesday. Was this more answered prayer?

Yesterday she was much better – almost back to normal. And around three o’clock, Norma called me at work to say she was being released. Do I believe that your prayers were answered before they were even spoken? You betcha!

We all go through trials in life – with the overriding purpose of us learning to trust God for our every day needs. And knowing that God cares allows us to have confidence even in the middle of a mess. Several thoughts come to mind for me: first, God is good and loves me – you, too. Second, God has surrounded me and Norma with good friends who pray for us continuously – and, in times of trouble, even more diligently. Third, in the middle of the mess, God gives us encouragement in our memories of Scripture, hymns, and past experiences to give us peace.

Of course, I am glad the Miss Norma part of the mess is over – and the other stuff will resolve in time. A special thank you to each one of you for each prayer thought you gave for us this past week.

So life is good because God is good – all the time.

Agape’



Mr. Jim