God is able!

This morning in church it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I have serious doubts about whether Toby's next back surgery is going to work and not have complications as he did in the fall.  So many stopped us this morning asking how he was since his recent five day hospital stay and to tell us that they are praying over his back surgery.  One friend said something to the effect, "We're praying in faith."  I'm glad she is, because I have doubts.

Our pastor preached on Joseph, and the trials he went through.  Through it all, Joseph walked and lived as if he were 100% convinced of God's presence.    If you read about it in Genesis, you'll see that it repeats over and over that God was with him, and He caused everything in Joseph's hand to prosper.  Even when Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, rose to second in command, and then later thrown into prison on false charges when Potipher's wife tried to tempt him to sleeping with her.  He did the right thing and fled temptation and was still thrown into prison, but God was with Joseph.  God was fulling His plan and His purposes.  Joseph later tells his brothers as he reveals his identity to them, "...do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:5&7).

At the end of the service we sang a familiar song called "God is Able" by Hillsong.
As I sang the words to the song, the Holy Spirit convicted me that I am NOT believing that God is able to keep those rods in place; I'm not asking Him in faith to make this back surgery a success.  I know as the "Mom", I have to expect the worst, but hope for the best - to prepare myself.  We have had so many things go wrong through the years. Mental preparation is okay, I believe, but it also causes me to be more cynical and in the end have less faith.  I have come to expect the worst.

A few years ago, God brought to life the verses in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."  He convicted me that I need to stop doubting, but pray in faith that He is going to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine in our lives.  He has - if I take the time to look back and see what He's done in our family - how far He has brought Toby.  He has done immeasurably more - His power IS at work within us.

Tears ran down my face as the words to the song convicted my heart that "God is able."
Here are some of the lyrics:

"God is Able, He will never fail...He is almighty God.
Greater than all we seek, greater than all we ask - He has done great things!
Lifted up, He defeated the grave, raised to life, our God is able.  
In his name we overcome, for the Lord, our God is able.  

God is with us, God is on our side.  He will make a way.
Far above all we know, far above all we hope, He has done great things.."
God is for us - He has open arms, He will never fail us, He will never fail us."

He defeated the grave -- that alone is enough to know that He is able.  He will be with us through it all - and He will continue to do great things through us.

In ending - I have to share this photo.  After church on Sundays, I often make brunch - today it was yummy whole-wheat pancakes.  As I was making them, I thought - Toby can eat this - he should be able to eat a pancake or at least some of it.  He's been chewing much better lately - and he LOVES syrup.  So, Toby ate several bites of pancakes - ate what everyone else was eating at the table.  He didn't gag too much, he chewed - and 6 years ago when he had a G/J feeding tube (a tube that went into his small intestine), and he was hooked up to a feeding pump 20 hours a day, I never expected or imagined I would see this day, but we did.  God is able!  He is able!

He is eating pancakes!!!