Getting You Up to Speed

Tuesday, we saw the Orthopedist regarding Nathan's back. He looked over the x-ray, examined Nathan, and pronounced that our son will not likely grow much more (due to something he noticed in his exam, but I didn't catch what that was) so the spinal curvature is not a serious concern. Still he recommended annual x-rays until Nate's growth cycle is complete. I think Nathan was pleased by the result.

Nathan drove us to Caguas. This 1 1/2 hour trip was his longest to date. He did well and learned a few things along the way. We arrived at the doctor's office at about 7:45 am. Here in PR you don't get a time-based appointment, only a day. Being a new patient, he was required to be on hand by 1:00 pm. Due to our early arrival, we had slot 18 out of 60+ patients to be seen that day. The waiting room was large and comfortable (Nathan thought it was cold). We settled down for a few hours of "boredom" (remember I asked for that). I had a book in my hand to keep me occupied, as did Nathan. Mine was Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges. This is a tremendous book that highlights our need to trust our sovereign God even when He sends adversity our way. Perhaps I'll jot a review later on, but it has been an incredible read filled with lots of preaching material. I marked the book and jotted notes all over the place and still managed to read 140 pages until Nathan's turn came up at 2:30 pm.

On our way home, we stopped to see Richard, a friend we met during our time in Salinas. We had a good visit in which I was able to share some thoughts from the book of Ruth concerning the providencial control of God over "everyday" circumstances. It's so easy for us not to notice the hand of God when life seems to chug along on Normal. Yet in each of the details of Ruth, God's hand placed the right people in the right places as He pieced together an unlikely series of links in the geneology of Jesus Christ! God works in the same quiet way in our own lives. No obvious miracles may be employed, but the plan of God unfolds without fail. We may fail, but His plan does not. Still, most of us complain and fret away our years as if we were in control, and all the while God is saying, "Trust me. I will see you safely through the storms of life. Cast your anxious care on me. I will work out the details while you rest in my love and wisdom." Richard found comfort in those thoughts since he has been struggling with many stressful issues.

Today, I was able to visit with Julia. Her amputation is very near the hip. She is still feeling a lot of pain, but it is subsiding. Her joyful spirit is still heavily taxed, but I was able to bring a bit of laughter to her. I shared the opening verses of James 1 concerning the believer's reaction to trials. The Word tells us to rejoice, not in the content of the trial, but in the fact that there is Divine purpose in the trial. God is in the trial accomplishing His perfect plan. Our duty is to cooperate with Him so that the trial may result in blessing. Julia's recovery is going very well. Tomorrow they plan to have her work on sitting. You don't think about the difficulty of something so basic until you don't have a left leg to rest on. So far, no sign of infection has been noted. Praise the Lord!

We are also working on acquiring the technology to record the messages in church so that those who are not able to be present can still benefit from the teaching of the Word. If you have any good information on recording equipment, whether CD or digital, I would appreciate your input. Thank you for your prayers. God is powerful, He is good, He is wise, and He is in control. Selah! (Pause, meditate, and worship Him.)