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July 2017 - Seasons of Preparation – Devotion by Dorothy Callies
What
amazes me? God seems to have the answers for everything. I woke up before 3
a.m. and I thought, now what? Nothing seems to be improving! Holy Spirit urged
me to look through the journal that I wrote since starting during the week of
May 22, 2016. Watch God at work! Write the miracle! Don’t forget miracle!
Looking through the journal that I had written, amazed me. Day to day, it felt
like a plateau, like everything is like a “flat land” and “no lightning rod
miracle” that I would like to see.
When
I reviewed from last May and June journal, I saw the dates written on June 9th,
the nurses stopped using the machine that lift Tony from the wheelchair to bed
and back the same. Tony started sits up on bed and nurses started guiding Tony
from bed to wheelchair. June 30th, he walked with walker ten
feet. On July 1st, David and
Ruby visited Tony and he walked to the sofa holding Ruby’s arm. July 7th,
Tony walked 70 feet more.
Then
during the week of July 10th Tony had some set back. I wondered why
until I read about the book on one of the chapters on “Your assignment will
require seasons of preparation” that was written by famous Evangelist. The Evangelist introduced about Moses being 80
years of age was due to the first 40 years and second 40 years that had prepared
him to lead the people at the right time. Jesus spent 30 years preparing for His
ministry (Luke 3:23). The Apostle Paul required preparation (Acts 23:6; Phil.
3:4-6).
Then
the Evangelist listed “The 11 Seasons of Preparation for your assignment.” I
will use only reference verses since they take up a lot of spaces if I type
them. But I want you to notice the 11 seasons of . . . That was what impressed
me along with the verses.
1.
Seasons of Affliction – 2 Tim. 1:8; Psalm 119:71.
2.
Seasons of Chastening – Heb. 12:6,11.
3.
Seasons of Contention – 2 Tim. 2:23-24.
4.
Seasons of Credibility – 2 Tim. 4:5.
5.
Seasons of Disappointment – 2 Tim. 4:10.
6.
Seasons of Injustice – 2 Tim. 4:14.
7.
Seasons of Isolation – 2 Tim. 4:16.
8.
Seasons of Persecution – 2 Tim. 3:11-12.
9.
Seasons of Solitude – 2 Tim. 1:4.
10.
Seasons of Suffering – 2 Tim. 2:12.
11.
Seasons of Warfare – 2 Tim. 2:3-4.
The
Evangelist quoted, “As I review the first half century of my life, I can
distinguish the seasons. In each season,
I felt ignorant and unaware of the purpose of that specific season. I wondered,
“How could God get any glory out of this situation?” Today, I see His Divine
Design.” He then explained how the story of “The Karate Kid,” contains some
powerful lessons and asked if we ever see this movie. I have several times.
But
I never knew its valuable lessons of “The Karate Kid” until I saw “11 seasons
of preparation for your assignment.” The Kid wanted to learn the art of
fighting in a crash course. The old
mentor waited. Instead he had him to paint the fence and to wash, wax and
polish the car. The kid was disheartened, discouraged, disillusioned and very
disappointed. His thoughts were, “How will this help me in my future? How will
this help me achieve my desire to be a great fighter?”
But
the old mentor was secretly preparing each motion of his hands to develop the
movements of a fighter. The kid did not
discern it until much later.
Then
the Evangelist made it clear, “Your heavenly Father knows what He is doing with
your life.” ‘But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall
come forth as gold,’ (Job 23:10). And “Some season you may not understand His
workings.” (Job 23:8-9).
The
Evangelist encouraged us: “Embrace the present season God has scheduled in your
life.” “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,”
(Heb. 12:12). “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me,” (Psalm 138:8).
When
Tony and I read it this morning of July 17, 2017, we were encouraged to
remember once again that God has a plan.
Moses was 80 years old when he led his people through the Red Sea and they
saw the miracle of God, was the wall of divided waters. It is something I don’t
forget, the wall of water . . . is really a miracle.
Dorothy: The movie, “the Karate
Kid” who would ever thought that there was a valuable lesson to learn from
this. It is like a modern day parable
that Jesus might use to help us understand our Heavenly Father is like “an old
mentor” who secretly knows what He is doing with Tony and me.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank
You for being our mentors, how awesome to know that You really know what we are
doing with our lives. We love you and thank You for Prayer marathon that our
friends are praying for us. And that Tony is seeing their names being added. And
each time I printed out the list of names and share with Tony in short prayer
time as he lay his hands over the names, he is remembering that they are praying
for him. Thank You heavenly Father for giving Tony an encouragement and love
from them. It is awesome to know that You plan this prayer of unity. We give you the praise and glory in Jesus’
name we pray. Amen.
God
bless you,
Dorothy
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