Folks, I’m just going to shoot straight with you this Saturday morning. I only have a short amount of time to write this, so I’m just going to type it, post it, and not worry about the aesthetics.
Like the title of this post says, our life is like a dad gum reality show in the making. I don’t know who would sponsor it, and I don’t know who would watch it, but there’s more that happens to us in any given week than ever takes place on a TV reality show. The DRAMA! The TRAGEDY! The COMEDY!
The only problem is that what happens in our family, should it be made into a reality TV program, would be considered made-up, fake, or overblown just to get ratings. In other words, no one would believe it.
You may be reading this with a little smirk, thinking to yourself, “Yeah, right. It couldn’t be THAT bad, Anthony. Everybody’s got their issues.” Maybe, but consider what has happened in just the last couple of weeks.
- After 14 months out of work (except for the occasional insurance commission), I finally got through all the red tape of getting my CDL (Commercial Drivers License) back in order to drive a school bus – that story is a book to itself. THEN, I only worked 2 days before Spring Break came – without pay.
- Friday, the last day of Spring Break, I had a heart attack which required 4 days in the hospital and 2 stents. Now I can’t drive a school bus until I’m cleared by a cardiologist.
- Our insurance through the Marketplace changed, so NONE of our doctors were covered – we had to find new ones. The only problem is that hardly any doctors or hospitals in our area take the new insurance! SOOOO, I’m having to wait 2 weeks to see a cardiologist.
- The day before yesterday, in the morning, on the first day I was at home from the hospital, my mother (who stays with us) wouldn’t wake up. We had to call an ambulance. I had to take a nitro pill. She went to the hospital and didn’t wake up until 8 p.m.! We still don’t know why!
- While at the hospital, I got a little too winded, so my wife said she would push me in a wheelchair. On the way to the van she flipped her knee scooter – the one she was riding because she had a broken bone in her foot and a fractured tibia from dropping my mother’s wheelchair arm on her foot – and fell in the hospital parking lot, doing more damage to her leg…now she’s in a full-blown cast.
- Oh, she also broke her toe in the hospital where I was being treated. She closed the reclining chair she was sleeping on and it closed on her toe.
- When my wife and I got the wheel chair out of the van, she pushed me (imagine how that looked) into the hospital where my mom was (they moved her from the ER to a room). As she was pushing me in, she looked down as we were going through the automatic doors. They opened outward, not inward, so she ran me right into them!
We’ve had little income, more bills than money to pay them, multiple injuries and illnesses, sermons to preach, people to visit, jobs that have been lost, arguments that have escalated, death that nearly happened, and people wondering what in the world we did to deserve all that’s been happening to us for the last 25 years.
YET… God is good, all the time.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; – 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 KJV
People look at us with wonder and ask, “How do you do it?” All I can say is that “He giveth grace.”
I don’t know why we have so much happen to us. I don’t know why it’s been so hard the last year and a half, especially. It could be that Satan is trying to attack us and defeat us. It could be that the Lord is testing us.
Either way, I will not yield ground to the Enemy by giving up. I will not surrender my faith by doubting God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. I will not give up. I’ll keep getting up. I’ll keep pressing on.
I’m still not sure what I’m going to be preaching on tomorrow morning, but I can promise you one thing: The devil won’t like it.
God bless you all, and have a great weekend!
Go to church somewhere this Sunday.
Tell the networks we are ready to talk.
The Recovering Legalist 
You are correct, no one would believe all of that!
Oh my goodness, Anthony! Lifting you up in prayer, asking the Lord to wrap you in His peace, comfort, and strength, and to open some doors for you, to light the path before you.
“I’m still not sure what I’m going to be preaching on tomorrow morning, but I can promise you one thing: The devil won’t like it.”
I just loved this. I also have no idea what tomorrow may bring or what I may be doing, but I too promise the devil won’t like it. That’s an awesome recipe for life. 🙂
I believe you, Anthony, because so much of my life has been crazy like that. I am writing a memoir and I’ve come to the realization that I need to leave some things out, because most people probably won’t believe any of it if I include everything.
As hard as some of it was, God has brought something GOOD out of all the bad. And today, at the age of almost 66, my life is the best, by far, that it has ever been. Is this peaceful, blessed time just a calm before yet another storm? Only the Lord knows. But either way, come what may, I know God’s got me.
And when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. I believe our brother Job said that. 😊
Amen!
I just want to add that I am praying for you, your wife, and your mother, too.
I appreciate it. But may God richly bless you!
I’ll be praying even harder for you and your family. I was wondering about the bus gig. I hope they allow you to return when you see your cardiologist.
What an awful run. I don’t know what to say but as i read I offered up a prayer for you and your family xxx
Much appreciated 🙂 However, it could be worse, right? I’m not quite at the place Job was in.
lol No, no your not. Doesn’t make it easier for you but your humour and your faith (not necessarily in that order) are going to see you a very long way. x
Honestly, if nothing else, God allows us to go through the furnace so we can see that Jesus is there with us, that we are not forgotten or alone. It might be tough at times, very tough, and weeping may endure through the night, but joy comes in the morning! As long as I can keep a smile, the Devil loses! He’s a loser anyway, but it’s fun reminding him.
Amen to that!
I don’t think the Lord God ‘tests us’, pre se. He knows what you will do, just as He knew what Job would do and did. I think this is to show YOU what He can do thru you, as you stand whichich gives Him All the Glory and will give you a starting point of memory to help you thru the next trial. (we know it will come:) The fight is our God’s, Stand and watch. Love in Christ. And Prayers for all.
Man oh mam Anthony, this is an all out offensive attack on you. I kno that in my life in times of trials and testing and tempting it is usually right before some major breakthrough.
Anthony and Valerie anf family please know that I will be praying for you and your whole family. It is sooo hard when we get knocked down and run over and humilated, flipped upside down, shaken, ticked off and… BUT I must say I love the attitude your taking
” I will not yield ground to the Enemy by giving up. I will not surrender my faith by doubting God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. I will not give up. I’ll keep getting up. I’ll keep pressing on”
That too me is a modern day Eph. 6 statement… Pressed down, beat up but still standing. Man, your in my prayers. Its war time…
Oh My, If that were the forward in a book. I’d read it. Is it OK to laugh and pray and repeat cycle? Seriously A B, how do you want us to pray? I have to start by pure confession “I’m sorry Lord for laughing…” hurting for you brother…and I mean that. Yesterday I spoke and laid a rose on mums (wife’s mother) casket. I think God uses a whole lot of things to strip away lifes varnish from our very souls. Keep Hanging onto Jesus, even humorously.
Please pray for income between these times of unemployment (due to illness and stuff) and employment. That’s a biggie. Other than that, pray that I’ll keep a sense of humor and a strong faith so that Jesus will be glorified through how I endure with grace.
I shall. We (my prayer and fishing partner and mentor) will be praying any additional items God lays on our hearts as well (I sent him your link).
😦 Praying!!
Good grief, Anthony! You’ve had more than your fair share. I didn’t know. I will add you to my daily prayer list. May the love of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
I certainly appreciate it 🙂
May the Lord turn your mourning into dancing. May He cause His face to shine upon you and grant you His peace.