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Heart to Heart
by Pat Chwialkowski
A couple of weeks ago our daughter Elisa e-mailed us to ask us to pray for her principal’s 9 year old niece who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Nine year old Emily was diagnosed with a thalamic pilocytic astrocytoma in January 2008. She has a slow-growing tumor in the thalamus of her brain. It is in the deep structure of the left side of her brain and cannot be removed surgically. She has begun a long treatment plan that begins with a year long chemotherapy cycle. Emily is a funny, social, happy girl. She continues to inspire and amaze the people around her with her vibrancy and humor. Minutes after the doctors told Emily she had a brain tumor she said she was going to name her tumor "Doloris". She then said, "Doloris has to go!" To read her story in full go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilyberry.
Around the same time that we received the news about Emily, we received some more tragic news that made us fall to our knees and begin to weep for the popular Christian artist, Steven Curtis Chapman and his entire family. Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday May 21st after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of their family’s Williamson County home. Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by Life Flight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The 5-year-old was one of three children Steven and his wife adopted from China. To read the full story and watch an amazing video about the popular song that Steven Curtis Chapman wrote titled “Cinderella” please see: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/musician_steven_curtis_chapman.html. Also, this month’s People Magazine has an article about the family and the accident.
I know both of these stories will touch you and make you cry as it did for me. In fact, it is not uncommon to start questioning things like, “Where are you God” and “Do You really care?”. If these questions don’t arise I would be very surprised. It is just a common reaction when good and beautiful people are struck with such horrific tragedies as these.
It is during these times when we MUST RELY ON GOD’S WORD. First of all, we must understand that we live in a fallen world. Sin is all around us, and because of sin there are consequences that all of us must face.
Second, in God’s Word it states that God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45) In other words, just as there are blessings in life, there will also be trials. Both the believer and the unbeliever will receive both. But the outcome is where the difference comes in.
With the believer, he knows that God will ultimately use the trial somehow and someway for the good. Romans 8:28 in the Message Bible says: That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives for those who love God is worked into something good. While with the unbeliever, many times just the opposite happens. The tragedy sometimes begins a domino affect, destroying people’s lives right along with it. Before you know it they are cussing at God and refusing to listen to anyone or anything when it comes to God.
I personally have never had to live through anything as tragic as what the Barry and Chapman families have been asked to live through. In fact, I shudder at the fact if I am ever asked to live through something as horrific as these things. However, what I have learned over the years by watching people who have lived through these kinds of heartbreaks, is that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Most of the time, the Christian falls more in love with Jesus and often testifies to the fact that the only way they got through the ordeal is by leaning on Christ. I am always amazed after hearing theses kinds of testimonies.
I don’t know what you are going through right now. For some of you the sun is shining brightly as everything is going great. But for others, you might be experiencing trial after trial, and you wonder if the rain will ever stop pouring down on you. Please know for those of you who are doing great, I rejoice for you. But for those of you who are hurting, please know I mourn for you. (Romans 12:15) I pray God can break through to your sadness and that you are able to feel His presence like you have never felt before. And then, when it’s all over, you will be standing firm and people will listen to you as you testify to the fact, that by the grace of God you made it through. Not by your power or by your strength, but simply because of Jesus. That is my prayer for you today and always.
Because of Jesus,
What great blessings there are for the person who is tempted
and still continues strong. Why? Because after he has proved
his faith, God will give him the reward of life forever.
God promised this to all people who love him.
James 1:12 (Easy-to-Read Version)
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Founder and Director of Key Ministries located in Lexington South Carolina. You can reach us at keyministries@yahoo.com. .
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