[Membersandfriends] Thursday, December 02, 2004

Wed Dec 1 22:01:47 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Thursday, December 02, 2004

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Nurture a Child

Nurture the spiritual life of a child -- send them a subscription to POCKETS, a devotional magazine for children, ages 6-12.  http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?item_id=12897&ep_id=246
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RENEWED FAITH
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Hebrews 11:1-6 (NRSV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

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Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
-- Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
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THE doctor's words rang in my ears, "You have lymph-gland cancer again."  It was hard for me to believe that after 10 years, I was faced with this disease again.  He went on to tell me about my treatment plan: I would need to take chemotherapy for six months.  Six months!  I didn't want to take treatments for even one month!

Then I thought about Job.  He suffered, but he still held on to his faith in God.  Even when things looked bad for him, when his friends turned against him and his wife wanted him to give up, curse God, and die, Job never lost his faith in God.

I had to believe and trust in God for my healing.  During the following six months, I meditated on God's word, reminding myself of the words of Isaiah 53:5, "With his stripes we are healed."

I made it through all my treatments, and today I am cancer free.  I have renewed faith in God.  Once again I was able to face this challenge because God strengthened me and helped me to walk in faith.

Prayer:   God, thank you for strengthening us in our weakness.  Help us to trust you in every situation.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Every trial can deepen our faith in God.

-- Margaret Watlington (North Carolina, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those with a recurrence of cancer

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RELATED READING ...

Using scripture and biblical images, new Upper Room Book WALKING THROUGH THE WATERS offers gentle spiritual guidance to families and friends living with cancer.  Drawing from her husband's battle with lymphoma, author Nancy Regensburger writes a deeply personal book.  She shows that being attentive to one's spiritual life in the midst of illness can bring comfort and healing.  In 15 reflections, Regensburger tells what was meaningful for her and guides readers in ways to sense God's presence during times of uncertainty.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=39826

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.