tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post1977329356885598291..comments2024-03-28T20:57:55.651-07:00Comments on Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart: Your Dying Spouse 292 - The Caregiver And The Mustard SeedAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-36170201454525638802017-04-04T16:05:55.178-07:002017-04-04T16:05:55.178-07:00Great post! I hate it when people tell me I don...Great post! I hate it when people tell me I don't have enough faith, like it is something I can choose to turn on and off. If I didn't have faith, I would have quit a long time ago. I would not have been praying on m knees and crying buckets of tears for my kids, for my husband, for people who need Christ in this wretched world. I have the measure of faith that Christ gives me. God doesn't heal everyone the way we think he should. He has his plans and purposes and knows the hearts of all. I am a caregiver and have seen many died despite my prayers. And yes, we all are flawed and distracted like you said. Bless you my friend.Mary Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528465484642169618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-53436002739224085052017-04-04T14:17:00.542-07:002017-04-04T14:17:00.542-07:00What beautiful words of encouragement, Andrew! I&#...What beautiful words of encouragement, Andrew! I've always said that God had me in a happy-face state of grace during my caregiving journey!blestbutstresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02058280295906350992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-10574100700064363582017-04-04T13:52:01.515-07:002017-04-04T13:52:01.515-07:00Such a thoughtful post, Andrew. When we struggled ...Such a thoughtful post, Andrew. When we struggled with infertility, I was told I needed to have more faith and then we'd have a baby. This kind of thinking discounts the work God often wants to do in hearts. Sometimes it's in the not-giving of things that our faith becomes genuine. As we wrestle and struggle with God about things, He meets us and reveals more of Himself to us. Faith? Yes. We need it. Yes, mine is often smaller than a mustard seed. But, I firmly believe God is powerful enough to meet our needs (even those of a certain gunner in WW2) in the moment. Even when our faith is small.<br /><br />Well written, friend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-8077421363834810052017-04-03T23:03:22.464-07:002017-04-03T23:03:22.464-07:00Norma, you're absolutely right...in the main, ...Norma, you're absolutely right...in the main, people don't mean any harm, and they think they're helping.<br /><br />I really like the way you put this: "I think quiet faith may have the components of mustard seed faith."<br /><br />Thanks so much for being here!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-65787350103110861582017-04-03T22:53:36.045-07:002017-04-03T22:53:36.045-07:00People mean well, at least most of them do. Faith,...People mean well, at least most of them do. Faith, belief, trust are easy to talk about but have many levels to them, at least that is my experience. We can expound on subjects we know little about, and then we meet someone who says little but lives a life of incredible spiritual meat. I think quiet faith may have components of mustard seed faith.Meridian Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13415904614368419453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-7285792082113742622017-04-03T22:00:59.500-07:002017-04-03T22:00:59.500-07:00Tammy, thank you so much for this...and the funny ...Tammy, thank you so much for this...and the funny thing is that the worse things get the more clearly I see that God is good because He's equipping me to deal with a tomorrow that will out-agony today.<br /><br />He didn't send this, nor allow it beyond the definition of creating a world in which free will is vital. But He'll sure coach me through this game.<br /><br />Thanks so much for being here!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-18253901863134192012017-04-03T21:58:38.725-07:002017-04-03T21:58:38.725-07:00Jan, that's a good point, but perhaps there is...Jan, that's a good point, but perhaps there is the seed of faith in panic. Somewhere in the heart of the person who lifts the car, there's the mustard seed that says, "I have to do this...I CAN do this!" instead of simply going to pieces, or running for help.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-12017909158560200482017-04-03T21:54:25.730-07:002017-04-03T21:54:25.730-07:00Karen, you are and have been in our prayers. I kno...Karen, you are and have been in our prayers. I know how the restless nights are...I live them. And my wife understands the pain-induced hallucinations.<br /><br />I'm so glad that my words could help you; that's their highest purpose, to reach someone like you.<br /><br />Thank you so much for taking the time to write! We truly appreciate you.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-2019711965180119342017-04-03T21:50:54.044-07:002017-04-03T21:50:54.044-07:00Thank you so much, Michele. It's amazing how m...Thank you so much, Michele. It's amazing how many people think they are offering a kind of encouragement when they tell someone that 'ore faith could heal him!" It's dreadful.<br /><br />So glad you're here!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-25217604236446002662017-04-03T21:31:25.541-07:002017-04-03T21:31:25.541-07:00Bravo Andrew! Sometimes the greatest measure of fa...Bravo Andrew! Sometimes the greatest measure of faith is as your second reply states. We pray for healing and the symptoms worsen.<br />Do we still pray? Do we persevere in trusting God that the outcome will be to His glory?<br /><br />Those who have not walked your shoes are as blind as the Pharisees judging the blind man. "Who sinned, Lord? His mother? His father? He was born blind and that must have been someone's sin."<br />Faith is the belief that God is still good when the situation is anything but.<br />Thank you for saying this so clearly!!<br />-TammyTammysincerityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16959015797818229243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-53057291001815989062017-04-03T10:22:14.240-07:002017-04-03T10:22:14.240-07:00Actually, I've heard that incidents of people ...Actually, I've heard that incidents of people doing things like lift cars in emergencies were possible because of a surge of adrenaline. It was caused by panic, which is really the opposite of faith. I think faith actually fills us with the peace that surpasses our understanding in the midst of our trials.Janet Ann Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241122799531313614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-87075438073973932732017-04-03T06:31:32.680-07:002017-04-03T06:31:32.680-07:00Thank you so much for your insight on the mustard ...Thank you so much for your insight on the mustard seed passage! My husband with pancreatic cancer is on home hospice. I would pray for a night if sound sleep for him, and he would be restless all night. I'd prayer for his confusion to be lifted for a few hours and he'd have hallucinations and more confusion. I was feeling like a total failure in my prayers. Thanks be to God for your insight, for your teaching and for the clarity today. God bless you and strengthen you in your life and ministry. Thinking of you and your wife and dogs, and amazed at your supernatural, strength and perseverance and how it is a blessing to me and so many others. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12571884277971437828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-54185046801656791022017-04-03T04:36:21.784-07:002017-04-03T04:36:21.784-07:00Such good counsel here, and, honestly, I can't...Such good counsel here, and, honestly, I can't think of anything more cruel than allowing a caregiver ( or any loved one) to believe that their own lack of faith is standing in the way of a healing. Thanks for setting the record straight!Michele Morinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814119096056835884noreply@blogger.com