Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

• Luke 17:20-21

In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
    “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
    yet one-third will be left in it.
This third I will put into the fire;
    I will refine them like silver
    and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
    and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

• Zechariah 13:8-9

The second night of our stay with our son and his family, I had a dream.  My wife and I were in Africa.  I have no idea how we got there.  We were strangers in a strange land.  We held each other, providing comfort for this sudden change in our situation.  Then a smiling family approached, and said, “Come, you are among friends.  God is living among us.” (I wonder if the family that we met in the dream is someone who reads this blog. If they were, you have a beautiful family.)

I woke up.  I had been concerned over our son’s condition, but God has this.  God is the great healer, and he dwells among us.  The kingdom of God is at hand, although we may not see it.

Then, this past Monday, our son had his first treatment, used for PTSD patients.  He was able to function for a few days with no nervous ticks.  They hope to have him take one treatment per week for a few months.  It is hoped that the treatments can even cure the disorder completely, but the minimum is to keep things regulated enough to remain in control, as opposed to having seizures.

But the true healing is in God.  God can heal our son.  As for why this happened, there will be time to ask that question.  God is preparing our son for something special.  God is preparing His people for great things.  Being refined with fire, like silver and gold, is not pleasant at times, but then, there is that shining, smiling face who says, “Come, you are among friends.  God is living among us.”

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.