Day Forty-Three: Just the Two of Us



Jazz's Heart

    God loves the world. How do I know this? Well, besides the fact that God's word boldy states:  "God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in HIm will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16),"  God  also lets me know on a personal level. Not only through the amazing relationship I developed with my best friend, Miss Jazz Tangent, but in little things that sustain me and give me Hope everyday.   

     Last spring when Jazz got hurt, the professionals had thrown in the towel. Her hoof was gone and her injury so severe it had compromised the coronary band; the place where the hoof grows from. As we proceeded through the most difficult days of preventing infection and wrapping and wrapping and rewrapping her injury, a team of veternarians and farriers had tried to prepare me for the inevitable. "No hoof, no horse." There was no hoof growing back. Jazz had gotten worse and quit walking on her foot, a sign the vet had told me that it might be time to make decisions about Jazz's future.

    Sometimes it is a good thing I live out in the country, because the conversation I had with God that day in the barn could be heard over long distances I am sure. I cried out to him, "Why had you given me this precious gift only to take it away?" I had been praying and had solicted every praying warrior I knew to pray with me that Jazz would be alright. "At least let her be able to walk and graze and live out her senior years pain free," I begged. But it had been four months and still no hoof growth was evident and her leg continued to swell. She had also been chewing off the bandages and reopening the wounds. It was very discouraging. 

     "God," I cried out, "I know that you love Jazz as much, even more than I do.  I am believing that you will heal her but I have to admit I am having a hard time holding on to that hope. Please let me know you are still here." 

      I walked over to Jazz's stall where she was laying down resting, no longer willing to get up and walk on her sore leg.  The longer she laid down without walking the more risk she was at of other complications. "I need a sign that she is going to be alright," I prayed. I laid my head on the rails and started to cry. Jazz stood up and hobbled to the gate to greet me. She pressed her head into my shoulder and I leaned my forehead up against hers. We stood there silently for several minutes. I knew in that moment that she was going to be alright. There were a lot of ups and downs in her recovery after that. But I never lost the Hope that God had given me in that embrace. I told the farrier there will be hoof. He again tried to tell me that he had conferred with two other farriers and they were not so optimistic. When things looked bad, I remembered that moment when Jazz got up and came to me. The vet seemed to concur with the farrier but I continued to assure both of them that she was going to suprise them, "Afterall I said, Jazz has a whole team of prayer warriers covering her with prayer and God loves Jazz more than I do."


Riding Jazz

        God has blessed me so much with Jazz's beauty, her power, and her friendship. God has blessed me with His willingness to walk with me through times of great diress. To show me that He is with me and to not let me walk through this world alone. It took almost nine months to see any signs of it but today, Jazz does have hoof growth. She is going to live, she is going to have a solid hoof, and I am still believing I will be riding her again someday.

       Some folks don't believe you should ask for signs from God but I know that God is not afriad to show me he is there when I ask Him to. We sometimes have this special exchange, when my spirit cries out and His Spirit embraces mine. God didn't just throw us out into the world and leave us shouting back "Best of Luck, kiddos" as he left. God loves the world. God loves us. God loves his creation. God loves Jazz.       

STUDY GUIDE
Follow along in JOHN: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore pages 203-208
Read John 3:16-21
 Answer the questions in your study guide.
 Share a brief highlight or two from your thoughts and answers in a comment posted to the group. (Read guidelines and cautions posted August 1, 2010 before you post).
 Read the comments of others and share your thoughts and encouragement with them by replying to their comments. Identify which post you are responding to by addressing them and their subject or pasting a brief portion of their reply at the start of your post.

PRAY WITH ME:
Lord, thank you for this beautiful planet; for the great beauty that surrounds us. For senses to embrace the beauty in a field of flowers, the flight of a butterfly, the majesty of the hills and trees and mountains, and for the creatures that share the planet with us. Thank you for the animals that enjoy being with humans; our pets are precious to us and give us such joy and companionship. Thank  you for teaching us about your unconditional love for us through our bonds with them. In Jesus name, Amen.