Redeemed!

I can't stop thinking about the idea of redemption. God has redeemed us from sin. I knew that, but the idea of redemption is much more than that. He redeems our lives fully each instance piece by piece. He brings good out of bad. He redeems our hurts, our struggles, our sin, our past, our present, our future. He redeems all of it when we let Him have all of us! It is so amazing and freeing to me.We deal with sickness and disease because we live in a fallen world. So Christians and non-Christians face similar challenges because of the world we live in. The difference between the two is that Christians have the promises that God will use each struggle and hurt for good. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." He will redeem what sin has ruined. He will take the sickness and death and turn it into glory and salvation! We were bought with the blood the most costly redemption of all, but God has deemed us worth it! WOW! Are we living like we are? 1 Peter 1:18-21 "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." I can't get over this idea because I keep seeing how God is redeeming different situations in our family. He has not rescued us from these present trials but because our faith is in Him we have hope that He will use them and He has. The doctors were intially worried about Addie's arms, legs, and heart. God touched her heart immediately and we were able to encourage a friend whose baby had a heart murmur. We were able to encourage and share as a testimony how God is still in the business of healing! He touched that baby too. He redeemed that issue for His glory in the best way! Her arms while the left is still not fully functioning it is not stuck in place or deformed as we thought after the first ultrasound because at the second ultrasound she waved at me! He was working there too! While she will need therapy we know that He touched her and loosened those fingers and joints! God used this to allow us to encourage another family member who had a baby whose arm was injured during delivery. We saw His redeeming power once again! And now we had prayed and prayed for her clubbed feet to be healed upon birth, but when they weren't we continued to trust that His ways are not our ways. Once again we have seen how He is redeeming the casting and surgery. Another friend is having to go through casting for their child, for a different reason but casting the same, and we are able to connect on a level of understanding with them that would not be possible had God healed her like we asked. God is redeeming each situation and is letting us see His redeeming power! The best part is that He isn't done! We are seeing how He has used each stage He has let us go through whether the immediate healing of her heart, the beginning of healing on her arms and hands, or through the doctor's method of casting on her legs. He is not just healing our Addie's body but He is healing others bodies and souls through her struggles. What a blessing that while we face struggles in this world because we are His they are not wasted. As we turn these struggles to Him, He redeems us and others because of them! How awesome to choose to trust in His ways and His time and then Him to bless us and allow us to see a portion of how He is using them. Isaiah 43:1-3a
"But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" He created us and formed us, He wants good for us, does not leave us alone to walk through the trials of this world! So as we head into surgery we face yet another trial, but we trust. The temptation to fear the worst case scenario has been playing heavily on me this week as I realize how close surgery is 1-2 weeks. Yet these scriptures in Isaiah are a great reminder to me of His love and redemption. He has already paid the price, so I will not fear.  He has summoned me by name and I am His! So is Addie! So are you if you desire to be! He already paid the price for each of us. Now it is just sitting there a free gift waiting to be accepted by accepting the need for a Savior in your life and admitting that Jesus as the Son of God is that Savior! Turn to Him and He will redeem you! He will redeem all of you! The price He paid is too high to let it be wasted! I am choosing yet again to give all that I am. I will live with abandon! He is too good and too faithful not to! And not just in this life but the next also! Romans 6:23" For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord." I may not have chosen the struggles we are facing, but I am so thankful for the way I am seeing more and more of Jesus in my day to day as we go through them. The peace we have been walking in is so strong that I know we are not actually walking through this but being carried in the loving arms of our Father! It is such a blessing to not face this alone, but in the arms of God and being held up there by the prayers of our friends and families! There is power in prayer and even more power in the blood of Christ! We are relying and depending on both of those and they have not failed!