This article blessed me in so many ways when I read it:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35086396/ns/health-cancer/

“Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter.

Since all this began on Thanksgiving morning, Chandler says he has asked “why me?” just once, in a moment of weakness.

He is praying that God will heal him. He wants to grow old, to walk his two daughters down the aisle and see his son become a better athlete than he ever was.

Whatever happens, he says, is God’s will, and God has his reasons. For Chandler, that does not mean waiting for his fate. It means fighting for his life.”

What a demonstration of maintaining faith in the midst of suffering.

Matt, you and your family are in our prayers.

Hi folks – long time no blog, right?

Well, I’m getting back to spending some time on this blog – people are reading the passages and finding comfort in God’s Word here, so I’ll be posting more encouraging scriptures over the coming weeks.

In the mean time, I’d like to share some of Pastor John Burke’s new series from the last few services, “A Life Worth Living”:

Message from 01/04/2009: “A Life of Character”

Message from 01/11/2009: “A Life of Meaning”

The message John shared yesterday at Gateway Church was really worth a listen.

If you have hurts in your past due to family issues (who doesn’t) you’ll want to listen to this message titled, “Nobody Stands Alone: A New Kind of Family” (click below to listen to the streaming audio):

If you want to listen to more of the recent messages from the pastors at Gateway, just go to www.GatewayChurch.com.

John Burke is our lead pastor at Gateway Community Church. John doesn’t know it, but he’s part of the reason why I started attending church again.

I’m really thankful for God leading us to Gateway Church, and also I’m thankful that God is equipping people like John so they are able to make someone like me feel at home at church, even though I’ve always struggled with feeling comfortable in a traditional church setting.

I know God is working through people like John to help people like me come out of their isolation and back into active involvement in the church. I’m just glad there are pastors and other people in the ministry like that who are really trying to reach people where they are. It hurts to be alone, and as the following message explains, God doesn’t want us to fly solo.

So, here’s the message from the service today… it’s Part 1 of a new series called “Nobody Stands Alone”:

Want more? Head on over to www.GatewayChurch.com.

Oh, one more thing – Pastor Burke has a new book coming out soon called Soul Revolution (about living in the presence and awareness of God). It’s available at Amazon.com if you want to check it out.

“1 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.
Tell the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him; sing praises to him.
Tell about all his miracles.
3 Be glad that you are his;
let those who seek the Lord be happy.
4 Depend on the Lord and his strength;
always go to him for help.
5 Remember the miracles he has done;
remember his wonders and his decisions.
6 You are descendants of his servant Abraham,
the children of Jacob, his chosen people.
7 He is the Lord our God.
His laws are for all the world.
8 He will keep his agreement forever;
He will keep his promises always.”

- Psalm 105, Verses 1-8 (New Century Version, quotes, italics, and bold mine)

Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? Maybe you feel like that today… I know there have been times when I have felt that way.

However, we need to remember that God always keeps His promises. He will never forsake you nor leave you, as we are told in Deuteronomy 31:6 -

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV, bold mine)

Isn’t that an awesome promise? I know it makes me feel that I’m loved, to know that I have a Father in heaven who will never leave me, and a Saviour who petitions my cause at the throne of my Father in Heaven.

So, depend on the Lord and His strength, and always go to Him for help… you won’t have to go very far.

Say what you will about Tony Robbins… I love this encouraging story about Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” start in the movie business. :)

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