PURPOSE: to intend or plan; the intent to get something done.
PREPARE: to put things or oneself in readiness; to provide or arrange.
TESTIMONY: a declaration of truth or fact; a witness.
My walk started long ago; it was the road I chose that was lengthy, regardless the choice was mine. It’s not what I did or didn’t do, this is about what happened along the way.
My purpose is to be a Prophet of truth, testifying about what God has done for me, not a Prophet of vision; “For no one knows what’s on the morrow.” James 4:4
To tell the truth about the journey and give Testimony to events that led up to finding my purpose. The very thing that would save my life. If you can’t handle or don’t want to know the truth, “Don’t ask me.”
We all have a purpose; our job is to find out what that purpose is and it all starts with a first step. The one that was designed to prepare us for what is to come. “I knew thee before I formed you in the belly.” Jeremiah 1:5
“Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail,” and “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” But by having Faith: something believed in unseen or proven is what we need to change things around, no matter how great or dire the situation.
In January of 2008 my father passed. In February and March my mother had devastating strokes. In April I was laid off work called back only to be laid off again in May; also in May I was diagnosed with 3rd Stage Breast Cancer, and after all that I had 30 days of Health Insurance.
Was I prepared? NO! But I knew Christ and He knew me. One Sunday a pastor preached on James 1:2; “Blessed is the man who preservers under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
With Cancer that sermon sounded like it was scripted just for me. This wasn’t a little bump in the road and it would take time for things to improve. The peaceful season was over the cancer was real and the layoffs were worldwide. Instead of waddling in self-pity and allowing panic to set in. I chose to Praise God for all the life I had before this, and what was left of it.
I am no stronger or exempt from the rest of us; “it is was it is.” But since I knew Christ and His love for us was engraved in my heart, no matter how bad or good I had been, I believed it since childhood. I believed it because it’s what my mother said, so as far as I am concerned it is “The bottom line.”
I witnessed my mother enjoying a Christ led life. She had planted the knowledge and the Spirit of the Lord in my heart, so that I would know I have a choice. This would prove to be my saving grace and one of the most important decisions, and test of my faith and life. So insecurities were not an option. My attitude, towards cancer would determine if I live or die.
I relied on what she and the church taught me to get here. I used my knowledge of Christ believed in his teachings, and turned to face this disease. Thinking about my mother, I accepted what I thought was my fate as I prepared to do all I could, with what I had. “I know I am going to live I have plenty of Faith,” is what I told myself.
2008 is also the year Wall Street crashed. I had been in the work force almost 45 years before it took most of my savings. Fortunately, I am the type that takes an umbrella in case it rains. Some would say I saved money in cans, then I buried them. I told you all I believed in; “Be Ye Prepared!”
“Chance favors the prepared mind.”
When life throws us these unsuspected cruelties we need all the Faith we can muster. The courage to possess a quality to become brave coupled with enthusiasm; causing us to be eager, full of zeal and intent on reaching our goals.
During this time the whole of the World seems to be crying; “Why me Lord?” I wanted to but I am a follower of Christ only. I learned my lessons early, on the “Life and Times of Jesus Christ” while forced as a child to attend church. I am not complaining, that knowledge I gained as a child helped save my life. I learned there are over 800 promises in the bible one text said there are over 3500. I am not here to debate, however many the number, just know that these promises are for the tragedies beyond any worldly cares;
“But He said. “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27
God’s promises are not exclusive anyone can access them. It’s how, that prove to be the problem. With knowledge we can and must prepare ourselves to receive them; they call for Faith and some preparations on our behalf. We can start by taking care of how we hear and obey the Word of God. Romans 10:17 tells us; “Faith comes by hearing.”
The 1st thing I had to hear was to be quite, coupled with calm, clean and humble. So I can listen to God. Communication and meditation are necessary; I joined a Bible Believing Church with a preacher who was qualified to teach the word, so I could understand what God is saying.
Knowing the Words and Promises of Christ in the days of our worst nightmares is a comfort. But if we don’t, then we are not prepared and all can be lost because of a lack of education, concerning the Ways and Words of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
“Be Ye Prepared,” is required of those that hear the word preached, that they may listen with diligence, preparation and prayer, is what I was told. Then I was supposed to reference what I had heard with the Bible, to be sure I was receiving the truth. The next thing I had to do was meditate on the words, sharing with others and retaining what I had learned in my heart. This way the experience could be useful in my life at any given point. All that preparation left me thinking “THE LIFE I SAVE MAY BE MY OWN.”
I learned by reading the Bible, listening to the preacher, and paying attention to how it pertained to my life. Now I am not claiming I was conscious of that notion all the time. But if I did something and got negative results twice, the third time I did something different. “I CHANGED IN ORDER FOR THINGS TO CHANGE.“
“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own self.” James 1:22
When I started to listen to what I was hearing in the word, I was better prepared for whatever this old world had in mind to upset my apple cart. Like that test in 2008.
After I realized most of our life is a test, I was blessed to be alive, just so I could tell you that, and maybe help others understand how to access God’s promises;
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Thank you Lord for what you have done and for what you will do. In Jesus name we pray.
norvielcherry.com, norviep2@att.net or Facebook norvie.cherry@facebook.com
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Norvie L. Cherry 