Our Journey, Your Journey

I am excited to announce that my manuscript is nearing completion and I am looking into self publishing options. Doug's oncologist offered many invaluable suggestions, and I am just waiting for him to complete his reading of it before I proceeed. The story had been expanded and the format changed significantly, but it is still an organizational tool for cancer patients and their caregivers. The doctor and our social worker both believe that it will be quite an assest for their patients and a help for the medical staff. This has been God's plan from the beginning and I am humbled that He used me for such an endeavor. He has confirmed His plan many times by bringing people into my life that could aid in one aspect or another. I am anxious to see the completed work and know that those who follow us with their own cancer journey may receive a little assistance. I am praying that God will continue to direct me in the way it should go; and that He will receive all the praise and the glory. It was written to point people to the source of Doug's hope and to lift up God's Name. christi

GPS

Is it ok that I think of God much like a GPS unit?? You see, He knows where I've been, He knows where I'm going, what lies ahead, and He knows that sometimes I won't like His directions and I'll take my own route. When that proves to be disasterous, He gently talks me back to the original path and sets me on my way again. There is my destination, Heaven, and there are many via points along the way. HOME on this GPS is prayer. That communication with Him whenever and wherever that keeps me connected with Him. He knows what is up ahead for me, and He directs others on their paths so that at just the right time we come up to each other. In recent weeks I have been SO amazed by the people that He has caused my path to intersect with. How incredible that He puts me on route to meet someone else that I didn't even know would be an important part of my life. How I see His direction when the unexpected route turns out to be one of tremendous blessing. How wonderful that He sends me to places I would have never ventured to on my own. He has some very special stops along the way towards my final destination!! and this journey is such an adventure.
I have my list for today, for the week. I think I know where I'm going and what I should do. In reality I could program my life's GPS the same every morning. "YOU decide." I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, I'll do what you want me to do.

So self sufficient

Friends;
I've been thinking recently that Christians, of all people, should realize how weak and fragile we truly are. We have come face to face with our depravity, our need of a Savior; and we have pleaded for mercy at the foot of the cross. Having left our former life behind we struggle constantly against our own flesh, and in our own strength we lose the battle. We fully intend to give ourselves over to lives of service but in reality, kingdom works gets scarcely any of our time and attention. We are well aware of the fact that we won't draw another breath without God's mercy. In ourselves we truly are helpless creatures. That fact should be permanently imprinted on our hearts and in our minds. Why then, when someone offers us any type of help do we suddenly become so self sufficient? We can view offers of physical labor as an insult; implying that we are somehow not strong enough to do it on our own. An offer of food is turned down because we can get by without it.If someone offers to spend time with us we feel we might be an inconvenience, and financial gifts seem the most difficult to accept with grace and thankfulness. It is much easier to be the giver. God tells us to be cheerful givers; and I know there is room for improvement in that area as well.In fact I'd like to challenge my readers to get close enough to understand what it is they truly need. Walk in someone else's shoes for a little while. Don't just say if you need something, call. What exactly does that mean?? I believe that if we look and we pray God will make plain the way to provide help.

But, today I'm wondering about being cheerful recipients. Do we sometimes quench the work of the Spirit when we become too self sufficient to gracefully accept another's assistance? Do we miss an opportunity to be blessed or allow another to be blessed because of our pride?? I truly believe that every day we have an opportunity to be a cheerful giver in some form; but there are also those times when we find ourselves in unusual circumstances that we must acknowledge that we really are not as self sufficient as we would like. In those times we must learn to be cheerful recipients as God enables and calls some of His children to bear our burdens. We have opportunites to show the world what God's family is all about as we give, and as we receive.

Gravity

Friends;
As I was walking this morning it occurred to me that God might have created gravity for infants and children. As light as they are, can you imagine babies being blown about by the wind, lost forever if there were no gravity and an absentminded parent were to forget to hold them constantly or tie them down. Children have a way of skipping about, and they run from one activity to another. They have such joy and exuberance as they explore all that God has created in nature and take such delight in the discovery of the smallest thing. Can't you picture them becoming lost as they flit about so excited they forget where they came from? Adults on the other hand have no need of gravity to keep our feet on the pavement. The aches and pains of aging, the bad memories, and the worries and concerns of this life in a fallen world weigh us down so often. Sometimes it's a wonder we are still able to walk upright it seems from the heavy burdens we so unnecessarily strap to our backs. What a shame that we have lost our childish innocence. What a shame that we cannot come to God with a childlike faith which allows us to trust Him in all things. What a shame that we have become so accustomed to this marvelous creation that we no longer delight in the miracle that it is. What a shame that when He told us "Be anxious about nothing" God already knew that we would be. Today I have purposed that gravity will keep my feet on the ground, but the cares of this world will not hold my heart. My heart and soul will soar, and I will actively pursue that childlike passion for life; that carefree attitude that enjoys the moment with complete abandon. Today I will take mental pictures and capture the moments that make up a life. Today I will give thanks for the little things and trust God to take care of the big ones. Today I will live with zest, and Lord willing tomorrow, I will do it again :-)

A message from Ronald P. Hutchcraft

The Amazing Reason Why You Are Where You Are

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It's hard to find any "good news" in the bad news of being diagnosed with cancer. But Ellen did, and she told me about it after a recent seminar I led in her area. I'm really excited about how God is using our A Life That Matters training events to help everyday believers help people they know be in heaven with them. Ellen told me she'd read my book about that when it came out, but she didn't really look for or see many opportunities to tell people the good news about Jesus...until she got cancer. Suddenly she was in the middle of many people who in her words were "facing their own mortality; people whose future was suddenly uncertain because of that chilling word - cancer. Now, because of what she was going through and they were going through, her cancer strangely qualified her to share the Christ who died and rose again to get us ready for eternity. Ellen said, "I went back and re-read your book so I'd know what to do." God has used Ellen in a powerful way. She said, "Ron, I've led so many cancer patients to Jesus - people from many different religions and people with no faith at all!"

It turned out there was an eternal reason - a life-saving reason that Ellen found for being a cancer patient. What she was going through uniquely qualified her to help some people around her be in heaven with her. That's the reason you are where you are. Jesus assigns us to places and situations to be, as Paul said, "...ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20). If you have eyes to see, your personal situation right now is loaded with opportunities to bring up the difference that a relationship with Jesus makes.

You may feel like surely there's someone who could do a better job of representing Jesus. You'd better take that up with Him. You're His chosen representative, planted in the place you work, the place you live, the school you go to, the activity you're involved in. And people listen to people who are walking the same trail they are. Moms listen to moms, truckers listen to truckers, salesmen listen to salesmen, farmers listen to farmers, engineers to engineers, athletes to athletes, dads listen to dads, and students listen to students. You get it. You are uniquely qualified to reach people like you. You may, in fact, be their best chance to find Jesus, or maybe their only chance.

The prayer of Colossians 4:3-4, our word for today from the Word of God, becomes a very significant prayer for you. The verse that follows, Colossians 4:5, says: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders" - that's people who are outside of Jesus - "make the most of every opportunity." Don't miss chances to be their spiritual rescuer, to bring up Jesus. Now, here's the prayer that paves the way for the rescue: "Pray...that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." It's a 3-open prayer, "Lord, open a door." A door is a natural opportunity to bring up your relationship with Christ. Then, "Lord, open their heart." Get them ready to hear about You, Lord. And then, "Lord, open my mouth." Give me the courage, the words, the approach to use to present You clearly. Open a door, open their heart, and open my mouth.

See, there's an eternal reason why you are where you are occupationally, geographically, situationally, parentally, physically, emotionally, maybe even medically. You've been given a stretch of spiritual beach where Jesus has assigned you as the lifeguard, and you can be sure there are spiritually drowning people there within your reach. There's a meaning in the situation you're in...forever meaning, life-saving meaning. You're there to rescue. Don't let them down. Don't let Jesus down.
© (c) Ronald P. Hutchcraft
Distributed by Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, In

Friends;
I am working on the cancer journal that God laid on my heart almost a year ago now. I have checked into having it published which is a tedious and time consuming proposition, or self publishing which is a faster but obviously more expensive route to go. The idea has been met with enthusiasm by patients and professionals and I believe God wants me to finish it; but I covet your prayers for clear direction on how to continue. Thank you in advance, and may God be glorified. christi

" A Bend in the Road......"

A BEND IN THE ROAD...

When we feel we have nothing left to give,

And we are sure that the song has ended,

When our day seems over and the shadows fall

And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength

To valiantly keep on trying?

Where can we find the hand that will dry

The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God,

And dropping all pretense and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint

And gain strength with Him at our side.

And together we stand at life's crossroads

And view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision,

And He tells us it's only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,

And the pause in the song is a rest,

And the part that's unsung and unfinished

Is the sweetest and richest and best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger ...

Let go and let God share your load.

Your work is not finished or ended ...

You've just come to a bend in the road...

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