Suffering and all that jazz

Here's what's keeping me up on this lovely evening: Suffering. Not that I'm personally suffering more than usual, but there are some ideas floating in my head that I think the Lord is trying to teach me about. For one thing, I'm praying for two very sick women with breast cancer. Honestly, both are about to die. But one is ready and waiting for heaven, and the other is still praying for a miracle. She's a believer, so is it her heart's desire because He put it there and is waiting for us to pray and believe she will be healed? Or is she struggling to trust Him with her children once she's gone? Afraid of this heaven we read about, which sounds so great but is eternal and, therefore, beyond our understanding? 

How do we pray for people who suffer when we don't get marching orders straight from Him? Isn't this faith that can move mountains big enough to expect and ask for things greater than our friends can hope for? Do we dishonor Him with safe prayers like those to "ease suffering"?

Jesus set the example with, "Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. We can't go wrong praying the way Jesus did! But Jesus was God and knew His mission was to die for our sins. Karen, the one who wants to live, has no idea what He wants. So, we pray for more faith for us and for her. We pray when she is too sick to do so herself, that angels will minister to her and lift her up. We pray for her broken heart to heal on earth, and that she will not feel ashamed or deserted, but will experience His true, unshakable love. And we pray in agreement with her to the only One who was given all authority on earth (Matthew 28:18) to completely remove all her cancer. That she will not die but live and proclaim what He has done (Ps 118:17). Then we close our prayer back in rightfully humble place, remembering that we are servants to the only one who is truly faithful. That His glorious and perfect will is done with both of these ladies.

Ephesians 3:19-21 "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

Here's a little housekeeping: I'm having some trouble with this blog, so for the past year or so people couldn't "join" it. I thought it was weird that people kept telling me they read it but there were no new followers. I'm not sure how or if that differs from subscribers, which I can't see at all but seems to send emails. So, if you haven't ever followed it, please do so because I think it's time to move off Blogger and that will be a way to make sure everyone gets the address change. Also, I've read a bit about what a pain that change is (and that I can lose access to this blog at any time, how sad!), so if you have tips or suggestions please send them my way!

My final update is that although I stated a few weeks ago that I was trying to write a fiction book about all this cancer, it's just not coming together as I hoped. I guess I got the message wrong from the Lord, so please please pray for me to hear what I am supposed to do. I have several thoughts but don't want to continue taking the wrong avenues. Over the past few years I have been blessed to verbally share my testimony on an average of every two months. But now I have none on the books and I'm not sure if that means it's time to change my focus or not. I do LOVE to share what the Lord has done though so please let me know of any opportunities!