Our Purpose in Life whether facing Cancer or an Ocean View

This latest find in the attic is huge...30x40" pastel of the ocean. What do I do with this? I think it is one of my best, but who will buy such a large picture? I had little time to worry about it. Off to church where the sermon was about Job.

The Bible could have substituted my name for Job, and lately, it feels as though that would not have been too far off the mark. I love what our pastor said about Job. Job is an example of struggling well with adversity. I have always felt that is true. Job was certainly not happy with what was happening to him, he felt betrayed by his wife, and his friends, and abandoned by God.

However, and this is huge, (bigger than my painting), he never lost faith. He clung to God, despite the utter despair and hopelessness he saw before him. He railed against the injustice of what he was facing, and begged God to give him a chance to plead his case and change his circumstances...but he never recanted his allegiance to God.

Yes.

That is exactly where I am. I hate the struggles I am facing. Cancer is just one of many. But, God is real. If I deny God, then I really have lost the war. I don't understand why I must endure all that I must endure, but I trust that God does.

Maybe most people facing a dreadful surgery like a mastectomy want the comfort of people around them, but I crave quiet solitude, preferably in nature. The surgery is this Friday, unless God works a miracle. Nonetheless, a very dear friend was graduating, and we were invited to his senior piano recital. I squelched the need for aloneness, and we went.


I was glad I did. For an hour, I was enveloped in the beautiful sounds of a young virtuoso, who was as transported by his music as I am by my art. I could sense in him the same abandonment and delight I feel in how God has gifted him. It did my soul good to listen. It reminded me of our purpose in life in all that we do: Glorify God.

When I saw him afterwards, he asked if I had gotten any ideas for paintings. I told him I had. In fact, the week before, I had done a painting for him as a graduation gift. I had given it to his mom, but I assumed by his comment, he had not yet received it. Portraits are not really my forte, but it sort of looks like him...and it looks a lot like his piano....

Besides, the verse on the little painting will always be true, for him and for me. No matter what struggles we face in life, we can choose to still make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Our purpose in life in all that we do, whether it be facing cancer, painting oceans, or playing piano is to glorify God. If we can do that no matter what circumstances we face, I bet God is pleased.

My brother was baptized in the name of Jesus yesterday. For thirty years I have prayed every day that all my loved ones will come to the Lord. As the worries of cancer threatened to melt me, I saw the picture my sister posted of my brother kneeling at the altar. How blessed I am. How gracious my God is who tarries that all might know His glory.

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1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

2 Corinthians 12:9 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 148:1-14 

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. ...