Anon, people have a purpose, would you agree? Emma and Heather are beautiful examples of living a happy life despite trials. That’s a purpose. Doctors live to heal others- that’s a purpose, too. Wouldn’t you want God to let the doctor fulfill his purpose? It wouldn’t be fair for God to supersede the doctor, now would it?

Does god love you more than sally down the street who is dying alone of cancer? What about that person who doesn’t have the support you have? It’s easy to love when you are loved. It’s easy to be grateful when you’re being handed money and support. But what about those who pray for support and healing and never get it?

What of it? Family and support and money are blessings and nobody is guaranteed specific blessings- if they were, it wouldn’t be a blessing! It would be an obligation. Again, would you want a God who only fulfills obligations? What obligations are you willing to give God in return?

It’s not easy to understand why some people are blessed with so much, and others seemingly nothing. I truly believe that even the lonely and broken hearted are blessed, despite what seems obvious. They may not be blessed with good health, or family, but they could be blessed with time to say goodbye or a severe case of a disease that will benefit others that come after them. That could be enough to lift their heads and have hope in what they don’t understand. It’s a choice.

I hope you find the answers you seek, Anon.

I do know where you can go for answers. I am confident that if you bring your doubts and questions to Him you will find not only what you think you are looking for but soo much you didn’t even know you wanted to know/experience.

What if… what if God is real, what if we are just bumbling human serving a very real God? What if there is soo much of what we talk about waiting for you? What if it is good beyond your imagination? Would you take a chance?

The Bible says that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. If you are questioning I would say God is tugging – He wants you for something – this I know.

He has amazing things planned for you – and peace from questions and doubts. I know you will never regret it. We can all tell you about our experiences and knowledge but you will have to find out for yourself.

What if this “GOD” we talk of & defend is real? What if…

what then anonymous?

If I live my life for Christ, in a way that I believe that he would find pleasing, and die to find out it was all a fable, what have I lost. If I have done good in the name of Christ, even though Christ isn’t, at least I have done good. If I have given up on Christ, not able or willing to live a life in faith, and die to find out it was real and I was wrong, I would be so woefully wrong, so lost for eternity.

I get plenty of joy in living my life for Christ, It is a wonderful and worthy life-style. I believe whole-heartedly in him, and hope and pray that I will be embraced with a “Well done good and faithful servant”. I believe that Heather is well on her way there, and Emma Grace is an incredible gift. If physicians saved her for the few years of joy that she provides, they saved her with God-given intellegence, talent and perseverance, whether they believe it or not. Emma and Heather’s stories have gone out into the world to bring the word of Christ to others, God bless their hearts!

This is such an interesting exchange between the “Christians” and those who do not yet know Christ. Our dear Heather is JUST FINE, as well as she ever needs to be, though we don’t yet know what God is doing about her physical health. She is very well indeed.

On the other hand, how can any of you shake your finger in the face of this oor girl “anonymous”? LOVE her, PRAY for her, ENCOURAGE her.

The thing I find so interesting is that many are willing to condemn the person who may truly be facing a genuine and lasting death. Please put your compassion in the right place!

And, no one can “make” you see a Christian world view. Likewise, no one can “make” you conclude anything about Christianity at all. We can only share our faith and answer your questions to the best of our ability. The vast majority of responses here did just that. How you accept, reject or process those responses is not something anyone can “make” you do.

I did (and do) sense deep pain in your posts, Anonymous. And Heather responded with grace and maturity to your painful words. I would encourage you to be as bold in your identity (ie. not posting anonymously) as you have been in your words to Heather. You would be able to enter into a personal dialogue with some of the folks here who would likely be happy to try to answer your honest questions in light of scripture. It’s perfectly okay to seek answers to the questions you have about Christianity (How else can one come to Jesus Christ if one does not actively seek Him to know who He is and what He has done?) However, if you’re going to ask deep and difficult questions *here*, please be considerate of the trial Heather is going through right now. If you do not wish (as you say) to try to cause her to doubt her faith but rather only want answers to your own faith issues, then I would encourage you to consider dialoguing privately with one of the folks who have posted a response to you here.

Yes, Heather needs support right now, just like Sally down the street. If you also need encouragement, support, prayer or answers, please be bold enough to ask and to provide a way for others to contact you in private. Give a few folks here a chance to reach out to you too. Be bold and see where it goes.
Blessings,
~Toni~

and then search -with your whole heart to find out what it is that so many of us have Hope in – there are many fabulous books about the validity of the Bible – and backing that Jesus is the Son of God. start with The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel – a former unbeliever – he was on a mission to prove his wife’s faith invalid…

Part of believing is trusting in what you can’t see, but when you do believe – you get to see what you believe. When ‘Christians’ make ugly comments – it just proves that we are all human and less than perfect – no Christian I know would ever hurt someone (physically or emotionally) on purpose – but back in the Garden of Edan – sin enterd our world – and we all make choices every day – some good and some bad – but it just proves how broken we are and the very reason we need Jesus. There is no earning our way to God – (The tower of babel was defeated because they didn’t obey God and scatter about the earth – thus the variations in the world’s languages) – you cannot build your own way to God or heaven- it is not a buffet of a little this a little – we cannot DO anything except believe that God has love for us so great that we can’t imagine it (and frankly I don’t want to trust in a God that is my equal – I prefer to have somenone greater than me in control because quite frankly – so far, I can’t seem to ‘get it all right’ – oh I am good at the image thing – keeping up with Jones’ – but I know that I am nothing with out my God)…

This week in our church service we started a series about breaking free – and in breaking free from the chains that hold us down – we have to admit that that we need God – we cannot pull up our bootstraps and make lasting changes to any behavior – oh we change for a while sometimes – but the real changes that bring peace and healing – come from knowing God – how do you know God? You read the Word he created – how does the Word take on meaning? You ask God to show you what He has planned for you? Does God want anyone to suffer? No – Does he hurt when we do? Yes – Why is there suffering here? -pysical, emotional, etc… on and on? Because this world is broken – but He has promised us a perfect life – where all of our bodies are healed – there is no tears or hurting – and we spend forever and eternity in perfect harmony with the One who created us…

I encourage you Annonymous – keep searching – What Heather has here are several fellow believers who have grown to love her thru her authenticity in her walk – not once has she ever claimed to have it all together – she shares her day to day with us and has been an outstanding witness to me personally of how to apply God’s word and Truth to day to day (real life ) living – it’s not makey-upy – just here I am – here is how I got thru today – and look how God loved on me today – It is a choice every day – to live with purpose or not – live with integrity or not – to give our day to God or not – …”but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 (I still get this wrong and forget to start my day giving myself to God – and those are the days that I can’t ‘do’ anything right – the days my kids get under my skin, the days that I’m grouchy and don’t even know why – but as soon as I recognize it/or God points it out – I take the opportunity to acknowledge in my heart that without Him – I am nothing – it is in our weakness that we make room for Him – He will never shove his way in – you have to want him there… When you admit you do – He’ll make you strong…

God is Good – All the time -
Check out our churche’s website – http://www.crossroadscolorado.com/ we are a missional church seeking those that are lost – and host hundreds of unbelievers every week who are checking out Christianity… none of us is perfect – but churches aren’t for perfect people – Jesus hung out with the sick because the healthy people don’t need anything…
We saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for He can even raise the dead. 2Corinthinas 1:9

Last but not least – I got this poem via email today – it very much sums up what it means to be a Christian – it’s not about us at all….

Christians
by Maya Angelou

“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.”

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’”
I’m whispering “I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.”

When I say… “I am a Christian” I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner Who received God’s good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as Pretty does… but beautiful is just plain beautiful!

Heather – you are just plain beautiful! Hugs to you my friend – AmandaB.

I do not have any idea how anyone can see a sunrise or witness the birth of a child or so many different things that we see every day and not believe that there is a GOD.

At least if you choose to be a negative influence…try to keep it to yourself and be greatful that there are people out there praying for you. One day you will see the light.

I read somewhere that atheists wouldn’t even exist if they didn’t really believe that there was something there to question or argue.

Heather, there are many people out there that will not understand and your ability to continue to show HIS light through your own life and that of Emma is outstanding.

Keep the faith. He is holding you in the palm of his hand.

CB

I’ve gone through some tough stuff (nothing like what you’re going through), and now years later I always say that I’d never want to go through it again, and neither would I wish it on my worst enemy, but I am thankful for the experience because it brought me closer to Him. D

PS..As far as that little gal you have, that’s another thing I believe.
When God was looking down, he knew exactly what mommmy and daddy he was going to bless with that child who needed extra and especial care!!
I have been reading and lsitening to David Ring just lately who has cerebral palsey and something that he said really touched my heart…He says about his Lord…”God never says “Oops!”..Now what wouuld anon think about THAT!!

**Lots of Hugs**

Deborah

The Heart

“Tomorrow morning,” the surgeon began,
“I’ll open up your heart…”

“You’ll find Jesus there,” the boy interrupted

The surgeon looked up, annoyed “I’ll
cut your heart open,” he continued,
to see how much damage has been done …”

“But when you open up my heart, you’ll
find Jesus in there,” said the boy.

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat
quietly. “When I see how much damage has been done, I’ll
sew your heart and chest back up, and I’ll plan what to
do next.”

“But you’ll find Jesus in my heart. The
Bible says He lives there. The
hymns all say He lives there. You’ll
find Him in my heart.”

The surgeon had, had enough. “I’ll tell
you what I’ll find in your heart.
I’ll find damaged muscle, low blood
supply, and weakened vessels.
And I’ll find out if I can make you well.”

“You’ll find Jesus there too. He lives there ”

The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office,
recording his notes from the surgery, “…damaged aorta, damaged
pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.
No hope for transplant, no hope for cure.
Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, ”
here he paused, “death within one year.”

He stopped the recorder, but there was
more to be said. “Why?” he asked aloud.
“Why did You do this? You’ve put
him here; You’ve put him in this pain; and
You’ve cursed him to an early death. Why?”

The Lord answered and said, “The boy, My
lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a
part of My flock , and will forever be.
Here, in My flock, he will feel no
pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine.
His parents will one day join him here,
and they will know peace, and
My flock will continue to grow.”

The surgeon’s tears were hot, but his
anger was hotter. “You created that
boy, and You created that heart. He’ll
be dead in months. Why?”

The Lord answered, “The boy, My lamb,
shall return to My flock, for He has Done his duty: I did not
put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to
retrieve another lost lamb.” YOU!

The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat
beside the boy’s bed; the boy’s
parents sat across from him. The boy awoke
and whispered , “Did you cut open my heart?”

“Yes,” said the surgeon.

“What did you find?” asked the boy.

“I found Jesus there,” said the surgeon

Author Unknown

Anyonymous… I honestly do not think you meant anything harmful to anyone with your responses. Honestly, you ask the unanswered questions by so many throughout the world. These are questions we do not know… and perhaps never will. I sit here tonight and read with a joyful heart in knowing that Christ “suffered”… experienced a short life we will never comprehend… and yet in the absolute end… He rose and lives again for eternity with God “our” Father in Heaven… the One and Only God that loves you and I the same! Continue to… Ask and it shall be given… Seek and you shall find… Knock and the door will be open… All you need is to have the Faith of a mustard seed to open the flood gates of Jesus in your life. Many will perish for the lack of knowledge… His Word is what feeds a mans soul…

Heather… thinking and praying for you always…

Have a beautifully blessed week…

**Lots of Love and Hugs**

Deborah
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/heavenlycreations