TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
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Most things of value take time, work, and patience. I had another lesson in this yesterday as I talked with and worked alongside Cathy. In fact, our encounter yesterday was a big GOD STOP for me!
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Each Wednesday evening for the dinner meal, someone in our church family cooks for whoever will come. Usually there are about 100 people who take advantage of it. Many of our people drive from quite a ways away. In order to come to Bible study, in the difficult traffic on Wednesday afternoons, it's wonderful to not have to be concerned about dinner. Steve and I prepared yesterday's dinner. I did the Sam's and Walmart shopping in the morning. By noon, I had two big roaster ovens going with "chili". The meal was to be Mexican "stack-up". I went home to grade papers for a few hours and returned around 3:30. A few minutes later, I looked up and there was Cathy. She had come to help me! I love my church family!
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What makes Cathy showing up to help prepare the meal different from anyone else? This was the first time she had done this. It's been 30 years since her truck accident. In and out of hospitals, surgeries, wheelchairs, major chronic pain... you name it, she's experienced it! This spring, she had a shunt put in her brain to relieve spinal fluid pressure. Yesterday, she went to her neuro-surgeon for him to adjust it and to have a check-up. Afterwards, she felt so good, that she headed my way. When she told me that she was there to help, I was surprised! Yet, she was serious! She chopped and washed fruit, helped set up tables, and cleaned up after me. What a blessing!
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I have seen such a transformation in Cathy's physical body over the last almost 3 years of knowing her. Yet, she has dealt with this for over 30 years! Some progress takes time. Some takes longer than others. Ask the tortoise and the hare! Ask the woman, in Luke 8, who had a bleeding problem for 12 years! Ask the man at the Sheep Gate, in John 5, who had been an invalid for 38 years!
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Whatever your challenge, transformation is possible! Spiritual? Physical? Cognitive? Relational? Emotional? Do not give up!!!! Cathy gave her heart to God many years ago. She has trusted, obeyed, and trusted some more. Be patient with God. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others. Just give your heart to God. Transformation is possible. I was a witness to one last night in Cathy!
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By the way, being patient with God, yourself, and others sounds a lot like the two greatest commands! They're transforming!
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