Jehovah-Rapha

While Pads was recovering from waking at 2 for two ours (he was reading the book by Roger Carswell, 'Why Me?'), we were having family worship in Exodus 15. I dont think I really dealt all that well with the passage, so, missing church to sit with Pads, went looking for a good exposition, in particular, about the name of God that is used in that passage, Jehovah-Rapha - 'The LORD that heals you'. I checked Calvin and Matthew Henry, but they dont pick up on it in my sources. Something like 'got questions' shows more detail... www.gotquestions.org/Jehovah-Rapha.html

Blessed are the dead

This post was prompted by the news of a dear friend's dear mother passing away to be with her Lord. But death is in the news quite a lot, with COVID counts and Remembrance Day recently. It is held before our eyes as the ultimate disaster for a person, without a very clear understanding of why. The phrase 'blessed are the dead' seems absurd if not harsh and morbid. The opposite is true. Let M'Cheyne explain...

The world say, Blessed are the living; but God says, Blessed are the dead. The world judge of things by sense—as they outwardly appear to men; God judges of things by what they really are in themselves—He looks at things in their real colour and magnitude. The world says, “Better is a living dog than a dead lion.” The world look upon some of their families, coming out like a fresh blooming flower in the morning,—their cheeks covered with the bloom of health, their step bounding with the elasticity of youth,—riches and luxuries at their command,—long, bright summer days before them. The world says, “There is a happy soul.” God takes us into the darkened room, where some child of God lately dwelt. He points to the pale face where death sits enthroned, the cheek wasted by long disease, the eye glazed in death, the stiff hands clasped over the bosom, the friends standing weeping around, and He whispers in our ears, “Blessed are the dead.” Ah, dear friends, think a moment!—whether does God or you know best? Who will be found to be in the right at last? Alas, what a vain show you are walking in! Disquieted in vain. “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” Even God’s children sometimes say, “Blessed are the living.” It is a happy thing to live in the favour of God,—to have peace with God,—to frequent the throne of grace,—to burn the perpetual incense of praise,—to meditate on his word,—to hear the preached gospel,—to serve God; even to wrestle, and run, and fight in his service, is sweet. Still God says, “Blessed are the dead.” If it be happy to have his smile here, how much happier to have it without a cloud yonder! If it be sweet to be the growing corn of the Lord here, how much better to be gathered into his barn! If it be sweet to have an anchor within the veil, how much better ourselves to be there, where no gloom can come! In “thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Even Jesus felt this,—God attests it. “Blessed are the dead.”

Watch this video for a recent message about getting this blessedness... 

What M'Cheyne had to say is worth reading in full. It can be located in page 455 of a book you can get for free following this link or see pages below...  

Our good hope

With the COVID-19 lockdown, the church has produced weekly Sunday School video lessons on YouTube. This week's was a technical tussle for Mark and Hannah but the result was worth it. Ally features this week drawing upon the account of Joseph to show how the best things can come from the worst. She took the opportunity to refer to our own situation with Padi's illness. Do take a look!

From the archive 20130516

This photo was taken by me 6 years ago and automatically saved in the cloud-based google photos. Today it was resurrected in a mobile phone notification. If you use social media for a while, it will occasionally throw up a picture from your past as a marketing tactic. I suppose they're thinking that most of the time people take photos of happy things and like to be reminded of them. However, even though I take a lot of photos, I'm sure I'm not alone finding these reminders can have varied impacts. Pads is on the way to a hot-tub rubbing his neck, the all too familiar pain site. He was pretty wrecked by this time and the palliative pain meds, while massive, were not quite as effective as we had hoped. 

21

I am writing this as I use some time on A5 ward. I've been diagnosed with a cyst in my voice box so that needs taking out. I saw the GP about it in the summer when I mysteriously lost my voice. The xray revealed nothing sinister. Eventually the ENT referral came through and, last Thursday, the consultant ordered an urgent operation. A special camera on a thin pipe was fed into my nose. It did cause some amount of discomfort and gagging but it was a far cry from what Padi went through with his NG tube struggles.

Last Wednesday he would have been 21. It was very touching to chat with one of his classmates at Glantaf's Christmas concert the previous night. See an example of what the concert was like at https://youtu.be/gqXNxx8gYdw

I had planned to be away writing up all la's week, but decided to submit the thesis to get it in before the year end (and avoid paying another tuition fee installment). It feels great to be free of that burden although I still have to pass a viva in the new year (no date yet).

Moli was home and both Ally and myself had taken annual leave so we had a relaxed day, walking dogs and a visit to the grave. There beneath some soil lies a broken boy, but we can fall in with thinking of him as sleeping, as per the New Testament (eg. Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 15:18  of those 'which are fallen asleep in Christ'). Christ's resurrection power is soon going to transform Pads' mortal body, to be like His own glorious body.

As other kids grow up, it is arresting to wonder what Pads would be like as a man - wonderful really, given how bright, warm and quirky he was. However, with the speed of life, it will not be long before we find out in person. If you read this but do not share our aspiration, seek God who promises, in Jeremiah 29:13, 'And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart' .