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Update After Requesting Your Prayers
Last week, so many problems crashed in upon me: the loss of my medical insurance when my job terminates at November's end (and the huge cost of premiums for the so-called affordable assurance); the fear that my long term disability benefits might end too soon; and facing two painful medical procedures within 24 hours of each other.
Last Wednesday, we went to the tax preparer's office to finish our extended filng, one day before our deadline expired. On the drive there, my wife and I listened to a radio preacher who stated, with good Scripture to support his assertions, that it takes more faith to let God work out our problems, while the human urge to "help God" (which, in my opinion, is where Adam and Eve failed; and we also know that Abraham also attempted to help God) is, actually, a failure of faith; although many clodhopping Christians seem to think there is something noble about it. I was just recovering from a massive infection, and felt like I was halt dead. I was too exhausted to do other than trust God.
At the tax office, we found that we will be receiving the largest refund we have ever earned, in the twenty-seven years of our marriage.
The first medical procedure, which had been very painful when I experienced it four or five years ago, was entirely pain-free.
The second medical procedure, which I have to endure once every four to six weeks, and which has always been excruciating, was totally painless and, in fact, I cannot remember it . . . due to the anti-anxiety pill that had been prescribed for my visit.
Also, during those three days, my spouse found insurance we can really afford. I found out that my long term disability will continue, provided the proper paperwork is filed by my physician once each year, through 2025 (I could take full retirement in 2023). And, when I inquired about having tax withheld from the benefit, I was informed that since I had paid my premiums through payroll, with after tax dollars, I could not be taxed on it again.
I give the praise to God's glory for all of these developments.
Since I had requested prayers, I wanted to share the results.
And no one should suggest to me that these are just coincidences. They are, in fact, interventions.
I should like to add a paraphrase from the words of Sinclair Ferguson who, in my mind, is the greatest contemporary theologican of the Reformed Faith (which is often called, in the popular interpretation, Calvinist). He suggested that, in the midst of the greatest crisis imaginable, the Christian should retain a poise of equanimity and calm reliance upon faith---because the Christian knows, by Scriptures, that she or he is, and has been, loved by the Creator of the Cosnos since before the foundation of that Cosmos; and that, despite what might afflict the body in this world, the soul is in the infinitrly efficient, loving, and gentle care of Christ and cannot, from that shelter, be removed.
Starward
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