God's purpose and plan

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, you are with me

A Place of Healing; wrestling with the Mysteries of suffering, Pain and God's
Sovereignty. The latest book by Joni  Eareckson Tada.

I had never read any of Joni Tada's books but had heard her story and been moved by it. 

Being personally in a season of discomfort, not pain, just common or garden itching. But, an itching so severe that I've been removing skin, making myself bleed, and still needing to scratch.  I have come to understand Job scratching himself with pot shards. 

I have prayed earnestly for healing, and have been prayed for by others. Though there was a change, it was not instantly healed. Part of the whole story is I have struggled with the LORD's NO answer. I knew it was not that it was an unheard prayer.

In the midst of feeling sorry for myself, for whatever I tried to to tell myself that was the bottom line, the Lord brought to my attention this book by Joni Tada.  Evey page has challenged me personally.  Not because I have suffered anything so deeply difficult, but because it has opened my eyes in a new way to the LORD's working and purpose in our lives - not to give us a life of comfort and ease, free of all trouble, but a life shaped for his purpose and glory.

I thank the LORD that Joni Tada wrote this book and then he drew it to my attention.  I needed to hear/read the message of the LORD through Joni Tada.

This below is not the main message of the book, but is a snapshot to me of how the LORD's purposes can be accomplished as we allow him entrance to work his plan for us into our lives.

A reported story from Jack Reimer, a syndicated columnist.  He was writing about violinist Yitzhak Perlman.  He stated that Perlman had Polio as a child and walks with crutches and braces on both his legs.

When he plays on stage, instead of being seated when the curtain lifts he chooses to walk across the stage, and when he reaches his chair he sits, places his crutches on the floor, removes the braces from his legs.  Then he bends down and picks up his violin and nods to the conductor to indicate he is ready.

In 1995 during a concert, a string on Perlman's violin suddenly snapped.  Everyone in attendance heard it and wondered how he would handle it.  Perlman closed his eyes, and after a moment of reflection, signaled the conductor to begin again.

Though anyone who knows music understands that it's impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings, Perlman was undaunted.  Apparently you could see this superb artist actually recomposing the piece in his head as the concert proceeded, and inventing new fingering positions to coax never before heard music from his three-string violin.

Those who were there say that, after the applause died down, he smiled, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said in a soft reverent tone,

"You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."