Thursday, September 27, 2007

There's a song Annie used to sing in her Sunday School class:
"My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!
The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the skies are His handiwork too-
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do--FOR YOU!"

So I was singing this to Annie yesterday, and she smiled when I said "For YOU!" She is such a sweetie pie. Anyway, in thinking about Annie's illness, and all the stuff that's happened in the last 8 months, I think God has been trying to train my mind to be more eternally-focused, and less preoccupied with the here and now. I have had to try to trust Him whether or not I understand or agree with what's happening--as if I could change any of it! The comfort here is that one way (here on earth) or another (in heaven), Annie will be healed. This situation is particularly difficult because of her youth, but, in fact, ALL of our bodies get old and die. And when we know Jesus, we know when we get to heaven we'll get a new body.

Sometime last year Annie asked me how Jesus could be in heaven AND in her heart at the same time. Hmm. I explained that Jesus is at the right hand of God according to the Bible, and it's God's Holy Spirit who lives in us and helps us when we trust God to save us from our sin. That's why the Spirit is also called the "Comforter."

Jean

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sage wisdom, my dear friend, sage wisdom. (

And of course, I am selfishly looking forward to my own glorified body.)

Love,
Terri W

Anonymous said...

Ooops on the misplaced (...........it is not a frown.
Me

Anonymous said...

Sooooo true, Jean. But we will KEEP praying His healing for Annie is HERE and SOON. :) We are blessed as He tells us to let our REQUESTS (not demands) be made known to Him so we can rest in the assurance we are to keep praying!

Sue Powell

Jean Sullivan said...

Thank you Sue! And really, God IS healing her every day. Every day she does something new--EVERY day. So I guess I should encourage you all more--people who don't live with Annie--that God really is answering your prayers. I'll do that next post!!

Jean

uncle jeff said...

Psa 8:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.


Psa 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.


Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;


Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?


Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.


Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:


Psa 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;


Psa 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.


Psa 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Lord-
Thank You for loving us perfectly;
Thank You for loving us completely;
Thank You for loving us always;
Thank You, Lord, for loving us enough for today, tomorrow, and every day and in every way.

Gretchen said...

Your perspective is such a blessing to me, Jean. Annie sure does have the right family. Hugs.

xxxooogretchen

Anonymous said...

I just love you, Jean.

Anonymous said...

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. ...

So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows. Psalm 61:1-5, 8

Anonymous said...

Yah what Gretchen said. :) Annie sure has the right family! Jean, I am sure you have your moments of real struggle... otherwise you would not be NORMAL! But even my friend Karen in Fort Lauderdale... who has never met you but follows Annie's progress and prays... comments often on your positive attitude and sense of humor even when you have good REASON to whine! :) I am thrilled that Annie is clearly showing she knows and understands... and LOVES... her Mommie even if she can't express it in words! God IS healing her in amazing ways, and we have EVERY reason to believe He will continue! Through this, Annie has touched so many lives even in her few years! She is a sweetie!!! :)

Sue Powell

Anonymous said...

Good Morning, Sullivans!

Hope today is a real blessing for all!

Thanks again, Jean, for sharing your heart and being an example of what it means to completely trust God.

Praying God will continue to heal Annie and teach all of us more about Himself.

Love,
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Jean Sullivan said...

Thanks for the kind words, but I do have many moments of frustration and despair. My sister, Rebecca, was lucky enough to be on the other end of the phone yesterday during one of my rants. I know your prayers get me through each day.

Love you all,

Jean

Anonymous said...

Oh Jean, and here we thought you were perfect. :) Please... don't EVER feel "guilty" about your moments of frustration and venting! Yeeks woman! You have cause. :) Glad you have a sister you can rant to. I have a friend I can whine with too and that REALLY helps! You have a LOT to cope with and you are very entitled to become a complete basket case once in a while! :)

Sue Powell

Anonymous said...

Oh and PS... it is perfectly okay for you to vent to US here also when you need to! You think the rest of us go through our days without ever losing our cool? :)

Sue Powell

Anonymous said...

May your heart be freed to crumble
and peace take o'er despair
may resolve replace frustration
and may you see Him everywhere.

May His comfort come
in the darkest night
when you've thrown up your hands
and given up the fight.

May you know in that moment
when you feel that you're done
we're fighting with you
and cheering you on.

Though we cannot stand
in the shoes you must wear
nor carry this cross
He has asked you to bear
We will do the only thing
we can do every day
and that is to love you
and fervently pray.

For He is the rock
the only one
who loves us so much
that He sent His son
and when you struggle
and cry out in pain
He'll patiently hold you
and cradle you again.

In your most violent frustration
may you surrender the reigns to Him,
He who can steer and control the most ferocious beast.

May He replace your despair
with the peace that comes
from knowing
He is near.

Amen.



-T