October Newsletter 2020
Newsletter October 2020
Robert Lindenberger
3325 3rd Avenue
Mims, Florida 32754
321-368-7184
I know this is the October newsletter, but
I like to recap my September and tell you how God has answered prayer. My everyday life had fallen into a routine
sot of life. You know, same thing at the
same time and over and over again. Some
mornings I woke up depressed and had to work hard to get myself going, and I
didn't want to go out in public. I
really felt that old age is working on me, and I was losing my mind. I even put a prayer request in the church for
Bob to remember things better. I was
approved and paid for hearing aids and was waiting in the mail to hear that
they came in. While all this was on my
mind and heart, I began to worry and think a lot.
I remember back: Marian and I had just purchased a minivan, almost brand new, for us, it was new. We went out to eat and was returning home, and a deer decided to cross the road just when we got to her. WHAM! The deer did a complete flip and landed on the side of the road. Not dead but kicking her back legs, and she began to deliver a young one. Marian yelled at me, YOU HIT A DEER, AND SHE'S PREGNANT AND DELIVERING. O BOB, HOW COULD YOU? GO HELP HER. Instantly, various emotions filled my mind – thankful we weren't hurt, sad about the deer, anger about my new van, and anger at her for thinking more about the deer than my van.
Yes, we had a cell phone, and Marion calmed down enough to call 911 and tell them to tell police officers that we hit a deer and where we were. I got out of the van and stood behind that poor deer and was watching her give birth. The anger subsided, and worries that in how are we going to pay for this? How do I get the deer taken care of? How would I get to and from work while my van was getting fixed? What will this do to my insurance? Question after question for my mind and worry followed in response.
In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul encourages us not to worry: "do not be anxious about anything {even deer thereon in front of your van}, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Paul says to exchange the worry in our lives with thankfulness and to do this by telling God about our concerns and then leaving them in His capable hands. And following my van crash, I have several requests that I needed God to handle.
As we live in an uncertain world, where events often are outside our
control, will find ourselves worrying.
But instead of letting that worry overtaken, we can try meditating on
the following verses to help us give our anxious thoughts over to God.
Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on
the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be forsaken.
Matthew 11:28 "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
It was a brochure
from the hearing aid company, and in large letters, it said, Did YOU KNOW? UNTREATED HEARING LOSS CAN LEAD TO
DEPRESSION, ISOLATION, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE.
All I could say was, "Thank you, Jesus." The Holy Spirit said,
"answer the phone." I turned around, and the phone was ringing. I answered it, and a lady said, "your
hearing aids are here? Can you see the Dr. on Wednesday at 8:30 AM?" And I
nearly yelled, "I'll be there." Well, I got my hearing aids, and it seems
like I'm getting my mind back too. I was
able to hear the TV and prayed with a group who was prying for our great USA
for seven hours and hear every word, Saturday and Sunday.
After all that
prayer, the next day, I went on Facebook and read this from Dr. James Watkins:
I was challenged
in my morning devotional to examine my own life as I read by the following
statement:
"Jesus has now many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but
few bearers of His cross. He has many who desire His consolation, few His
tribulation; many who are willing to share His table, few His fasting. All are
willing to rejoice with Him; few will endure anything for Him. Many follow
Jesus into the breaking of bread, but few drink of the cup whereof He drank.
Many glory in His miracles, few in the shame of His cross."
- From Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ
I have so very far to go to even begin to be able to say
with the Apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ!"
When trouble
comes, and it will don't allow worry to take over. Look unto Jesus, who is author and finisher
of our faith, and He will guide you through. And makes me yell, GOD IS GOOD ALL
THE TIME; ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!
AMEN?
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