I hope the way I am handling the dissappointing news from the doctor will help to encourage someone. I know that I am not in pain and some of you may be. I really wish I could tell you how to get rid of the pain without taking the medicine. I can tell you that I believe in God and I believe that He can take your pain away. Will He? If you've never asked Him, you may never know, but even if you continue in pain, I believe that God will give you some kind of strong endurance to survive. Expect and believe that better days are comming. I am not always right about everything that I think I know, but sometimes, the alternative to faith does not work. What then can we do??????
(For about a year and a half now, I have preached only about once per month, so if what follows seems to be a little "preachy" maybe you will bear with me and allow me to say these things.)
I was wrong when 10 years ago the blood collecting agency in Lake Charles, LA tried to tell me that I had hepatitis-c. I decided that there was nothing wrong with me. I was wrong.
I was wrong when Dr. Sims, here in Cleveland, sent me to Dr. Buchner to see if the hepatitis-c was active. I told the nurse that she would see, when the results were in, that it was inactive and I was alright. I was wrong.
I was wrong when after 28 weeks of treatment for hepatitis-c, the virus had not cleared. I just believed, and said, that the virus was gone. I was wrong.
Now, I am saying that God has touched my body and I am going to be alright. Even if I should die with hepatitis-c, I am not going to die because of hepatitis-c.
No doubt, somebody will say, “You are wrong again.”
My reply to that comes from The Bible.
1 Corinthians 10:30 (TLB) If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why let someone spoil everything just because he thinks I am wrong?
As Job says in Job 19:4 (TLB) And if indeed I was wrong , you have yet to prove it.
Now I ask you? What do you think I should do? Lay down and give up, or roll over and play dead? That may be an alternative, but it's not for me.
Listen to Jeremiah 8:4-5 (TLB) … When a person falls, he jumps up again; when he is on the wrong road and discovers his mistake, he goes back to the fork where he made the wrong turn….
Proverbs 29:25 (KJV) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Psalms 118:8 (KJV) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Let me remind you (Hebrews, Chapter 11) of Abel, who offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice - Enoch who was translated that he should not see death - Noah, who being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house - Abraham, who when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went - and Sara who received strength to conceive seed.
And what happened to them? Hebrews 11:13 (KJV) These all died in faith , not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Conclusion: Job 13:15 (KJV ) Though (God) slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
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Janis and me! Janis is my lovely wife of 37 years. We have four wonderful children ranging in ages from 27 to 44. One in Colorado, two in Louisiana and one in Tennessee.
About Me
- L A Brannen
- Cleveland, Tennessee, United States
- I am a retired, ordained bishop with the Church of God (Cleveland, TN). Although I am a Church of God minister, I am serving as an associate pastor at the Assembly of God Church here in Cleveland. (Retirement has it's benefits.) The name of the church is Grace Assembly - a church that I used to pastor. I was an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God for fifteen years. I retired from the pastoral ministry in 2006 but I don't think anyone can ever retire from the ministry. Maybe one can slow down, but cannot stop completely, as long as he/she is still alive and able to perform. My wife, Janis, is still active, full-time in the teaching profession. She has taught over 33 years in the public school system and she looks forward to the day of retirement. She not only has taught school but has filled the role of 'pastor's wife' for 24 years, and has served as a minister's wife for our thirteen other years together. Other than God, Janis has been my security throughout our married life. I am a blessed man.
6 comments:
Hey, I left a comment about this blog on your myspace! Love, Jennifer
Great preaching, Brother! I mean, this is what I call a "living testimony". I believe with you that God is taking care of you and that you will ultimately reeive healing and eventually a new body.
Uncle Lowell,
You keep preaching brother it doesn't get any better than that. It does sound a little preachy, but that is what this world needs. They need men and women who are not afraid to tell it like it is according to God's word. You keep doing your thing and let God do his!
TJ Oakley
Your post/sermon reminds me of something I read by John C. Jernigan (former G.O., years ago). He said, "With Job, I will say, 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.' and with the Psalmist, 'Bless the Lord, O My Soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgiveth all mine iniquities and healeth all my diseases!'" We don't always understand how to hold these two truths together. They seem contradictory. But we know God, who holds it all together. And He is trustworthy!!
I love tuning in for your sermons. It is so great to read the truth being preached even in the great abyss of the wide world web. You have such a wonderful heart. I would say that you are a man who is after God's own heart. I know He takes great pride in you, His child, the apple of His eye. Thank you for the exhortation today! I love you!
I love you Lowell Brannen.
You have such a good heart.
Your writing is so true. So dead on th mark. It reminded me of our daddy in the nursing home when he had to talk with a slur after his stroke. He told me, "Don't be a smart elec (how do ya spell that anyways??) like I was. I thought I knew more than the doctors. I thought I didn't have to take my medicine." He told me how he was learning new things at his age. He talked about feeling depressed and worthless. He got even more real.
He apologized to me for "making me wear dresses all the time" and asked me if I would forgive him! Imagine....me forgiving him!
You are on an adventure, a great chariot ride with God. I heard an awesome sermon one time about how we can sit back and let God do the driving. :)
Sometimes I have noticed over the past few years that being WRONG has been the most RIGHT thing I've done!
I know these are "rambling" comments but thanks for provoking the thoughts.
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