Beth & grandsonIn my life, in yours, and in the lives of those we love.
We are a needy people, and without the cross of Christ to guide us through our wanton estate, all hope is lost. Period.
I just received one of the most sacred pleas for help I’ve ever read. My friend has emailed me from the confines of her hospital room, and she is afraid. She’s facing an immediate and necessary surgery this afternoon because of a cancerous tumor that has wrapped itself around the top of her spine. She’s been battling cancer for six years now; I’ve not known her beyond her cancer years. She landed in my lap when we landed here as her parsonage family.
The first Sunday we met, she had on her pink, and I remember her telling me to “sit down” on the couch outside the fellowship hall so that she could get to know me better. I immediately resonated with her “take charge, no nonsense” kind of personality. We’re a bit like-minded in that way.
Since that time, Beth has walked with me through ten Bible studies and been my friend despite my many foibles along the way. She is genuine, raw and real, and as authentic as they come. You never have to guess where you stand with Beth, and I like that. She lives out loud, and she lavishly loves the life that she lives.
And friends, she wants some more of this life to live.
Hers has not been an easy road. Some of her journey mirrors mine. Still and yet, her faith continually roots her … returns and restores her to the only God who perfectly loves her. I have quietly watched her walk her cancer. We’ve buried two of our Bible study friends in the five years we’ve been doing life together for similar reasons. It’s not an easy walk and one that I am sure is more difficult for her to step than me.
She lives with her disease. I don’t, at least not physically. But she has graciously given me a window into the life of her suffering, and I consider it a privilege to be a carrier of her pain. Thank God for the embrace of another’s pain. Without it, we become removed … cold and distant and separated from the call of Jesus Christ to be his body to the broken.
Beth is broken today. I bet that there are some of you who feel the same; if not you, then someone you love. Thus, our Father asks of us—those of us who are able bodied and spirit-filled willing—
What will you do with the pain?
I tell you what I did and will continue to do throughout the day and in the weeks to come. I bring it before the throne room of heaven and pray believing that my God is able to supply all of my needs … all of Beth’s needs … according to his riches in glory.
Not his leftovers. Not his cast-offs. Second-rate doesn’t fit with our King. There’s nothing random or haphazard about his approach to our lives. Rather our Father longs for his riches to be our portion. Riches from his storeroom of goodness that are ready and willing to explode upon the scenes of our lives simply because we believe that our God is eager to do so and because we are wise enough to ask.
Why sit on our “hopes” today? Why not speak them to the One who is able to deliver?
This is the day of need. Not tomorrow. Not next week, or even next year. Today is the only day we’ve been given. All other days will take care of themselves accordingly.
And today, my friend needs my prayers. I imagine that she would be blessed to receive a few of yours too. You don’t know her, but I do and that is enough to warrant our pause before the King. I know that your list is already a mile long. But if you wouldn’t mind, could you simply speak her name to Jesus today?
Beth. She whose name means “my God is my oath.” May the faith of her name be the faith of her heart this day. May it be yours also. If our God is anything (and I happen to think that He IS everything), he is the God of promise … of covenant … of oath.
Let’s take him at his Word in this moment.
As always,
I’m am so sorry for this path Beth is walking. I think these diseases are the worst part of our fallen state. I am sure she is grateful for your companionship. I will add my prayers to yours for guidance from the Great Physician to those whose hands will work His will, and that she would know Him as Comforter today as never before.
Praying for this sister of the heart and fellow sojourner. Praying that she would feel His comforting and healing touch through the prayers of many this day.
Blessings on you, too, as you hold her hand on the journey.
Hugs,
Melinda
Elaine, know that I will be praying for Beth. God is more than able to meet her needs – abundant and overflowing!
I will also pray for you as you minister to her during this time of trial for her. I know that you will be a comfort for her. God will use you in this situation!
Elaine, I will be praying for Beth. May she find the promise and oath of GOd, these two unshakable factors (see Heb. 6;19), to be the anchor under and the refuge around her. I am praying she finds her hiding place as she faces the unknown.
Please keep us updated.
i have my accountability group 2night and we’ll lift Beth up in our prayers…we’re the prayin’ mamas…and yes, we pray A LOT…knowing they all WILL be answered in HIS time and HIS will.
I pray his peace to rest on her heart…to remind her of all His Words and for her to rejoice over them in her heart as she struggles…when I am weak then HE is STRONG.
I lost one of my closest friends to pancreatic cancer when she was 30 and had a 2yo at home…
yes, we MUST, we WILL carry every burden, concern, OUR HEARTS to his throne…He will meet with us and tell us things we do not know.
\0/ PRAISE HIM in ALL Things!
I’m headed to Home Team Bible study and will add Beth to our prayers tonight.
Elaine, I would count it a blessing to pray for your darling Beth. Thank you for her story and for your love and kindness that is so strong. I’ll be praying for you as well.
Love you,
Susan
The gashes in our hearts come all too often in this life. I will pray tonight for Beth and those who sojourn this difficult path with her…family, friends, doctors and nurses.
Blessings,
Denise
Praying for Beth and for you today Elaine.
What a gift God gave you in her, what a gift she has in you.
Elaine, as you stand in the gap, interceding for Beth, your prayers are precious to the Lord. And, I’m sure Beth covets and appreciates your friendship, encouragement, and prayers.
Today, as I battled Day 4 of a migraine, I talked and prayed with a dear sister in Christ on the phone who also battles headaches. During our conversation, we pondered those who live with chronic pain and disease. Beth’s story really gives a face to today’s conversation.
Thank you for sharing her with us.
From one Beth to another…Lifting up prayers for her to our heavenly Father!
May she feel His comfort, strength, and healing power upon her.
Blessings…
Beth E.
“This is a day of need.
In my life, in yours, and in the lives of those we love.”
My friend…you have no idea. Just over 5 hours ago test results were given to my Dad. He has cancer. Operations are around the corner. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
This is a day of need. As I pray for my Dad, I will pray for Beth. Through your post God has gently showed me that I am not alone.
Looking to Him,
Joy
Somehow, I knew while writing it, someone else would need it. Let’s all add Joy’s father and her family to our prayers.
Our God is our Oath.
peace~elaine
For Beth.
For Joy’s Dad.
I am going to my Daddy and asking Him to do this thing. Because this is the stuff that only He can handle. …by nothing but by prayer…
I am praying for Beth. She is a survivor and a lover of our Christ. She loves her family. She needs her family and they need her. May she feel his comfort and healing power this day!
Father, You promised to be our help and shield for those who trust in Your Name. I claim this promise for Beth and Joy’s father and all their loved ones today. You who made these 2 individuals, formed them so lovingly is able to do more than we can ever imagine. You are able to heal. I ask You for your healing touch on both these bodies today, for there is nothing that You cannot do. Show your glory. In the mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
I prayed.
Melanie@Bella~Mella
I am praying for Beth, Joy’s father and ALL who are dealing with this horrible disease.
May the Lord give you strength as well Elaine as you stand with your friend and may all of the family members of these precious people receive comfort, strength and wisdom from our LORD during these times of supporting their loved ones.
God bless you.
Elaine-I have added Beth to my prayer list. Msy she find God’s healing and comfort but most of all His peace. We serve and love a limitless God-all things ARE possible!!
I have also added Joy’s dad…
In His Graces~Pamela
We are called to be “gap” standers… I will pray for Beth…..so many in need in our world today…..it could overwhelm…. but GOD is never overwhelmed…….. HE only asks us to pray……. What a power we have……. We can speak words and God moves………Awesome
Dear Lord, you know and love Beth better than any human ever could. Please show that love to her in a special way now in her broken time. Remind her of how You were broken for her, and give her joy in the life that You purchased for her eternal enjoyment. May Your love provide comfort beyond understanding right now when things are too difficult to humanly bear. And may the love of sisters near and far, many of whom she’d never met, be a joyous reminder of Your immeasurable love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wondering about your friend.
I just found out today….praying for her and her family.
Praise God that Beth has friends like you that she can call and say ‘I’m afraid’ and have you come to her aide!!!
Lifting her up in prayer, right now!!!
I’m taking time to pray for Beth. Thank you for this opportunity.
My favorite definition of faith is “taking God at His Word.” I’ll join you in doing that today.
Absolutely praying for Beth. Thank you, dear Elaine, for the words of encouragement for all of us.
Father, I come before Your throne room of Heaven and bow my face before YOU bringing a dear one to you. I lift up Beth as she lays in her hospital bed. Lord, I pray for Your will to be done in her life. I pray in thanks for allowing Elaine to share Beth's story with her trusted blog friend. I lift up myself to You and ask that You take away my whinging and replace it with Your joy & grace. I love YOU with all I have and praise YOU for all that you do and continue to do in my life. I lay all my sorrows, despair, pain and all the negativity, at Your feet Father. In Jesus' name, amen.
wifeforthejourney:
Thanks to all of you who have joined us in praying for Beth and her family. I am sure that her story could be told by many of your own friends and family. Beth is all that elaine has described and more.
Though there are always questions for us to wrestle with when we suffering comes close to home, I am encouraged today by the faith of the Body of Christ.
May we all walk in His grace!
~ Billy
I am honored to pray for this sweet friend of yours, Elaine. God love her…..and you for holding her up during this fight.
He is so mighty…and He can do whatever it takes to make her whole.
God is good to share his wonderful children with us. Friends are an incredible gift from Him.
Friends are such a comfort at times like the ones your friends are going through. I pray that God will minister to them and hold them up the way He has been holding us up the past few weeks as Don’s mom has been ill.
(By the way, she was out of the hospital only 2 days this week before having to be readmitted last night. I’m just praying that God will make things as easy as possible for her during this process of renal failure and the subsequent problems with congestive heart failure…)
Oh, my friend. Your Beth is in my prayers. As well as sweet Joy’s father. How blessed Beth is to have a friend like you to walk through this journey with her…and it sounds like she just blesses you too.
Praying…
This is such a terrible disease. Oh the physical part of it is horrible, make no mistake. But as bad as that is the mental and emotional upheaval that it causes. It likes to deplete us of the good things our Father has given us so abundently…hope, peace, comfort. I pray that she will continue to be able to feel the outpouring of those gifts and that those who love her will feel them as well. blessings, marlene
I will stop and pray for Beth now, Elaine.
In Christ,
Amy:)