the Little Duck Wife

I just couldn't sleep. So I went downstairs and made my cup of coffee looking at the time of 4:30am very annoyingly . I sat down at my computer after swallowing 10 pills in two gulps, finding a notification from Lindsay. I open her text with a blog link to Mary Kate's story about her family suffering with Lyme disease. She's married into the Duck family. It's hard for anyone to come out and talk about Lyme, but it's on another level of hard for someone in the spot light. Her story is raw but there's something so special about it. Despite all of the pain and heartache, Jesus is the center. He's her stability, her reward. I've read many; I mean MANY lyme blogs and there's never been one that's led me to comment, much less write a post around it. I feel a connection to Mary Kate. She's my sister in Christ. One day, in heaven, I think I will know her. I'm not sure what we will know about our lives here on earth, but I do know the Bible eludes to the fact we will recognize each other. My heart breaks for her, but not only does it break; it rejoices.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
​2 Corinthians 4:7-12

I just posted about this verse, and it was also about the hardships of someone else. Mary Kate, my heart rejoices because as our hearts break, our lives are being poured out as an offering to others. It's not about ourselves. It's about Jesus and sharing His love for this dying world. Paul said it best, "hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me (Philippians 2:16-18)."

I rejoice with you friend. 

Keep on reading 2 Corinthians 4, down to 16-18:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Paul can relate to our hardships from sin and satan. The more we share Jesus the harder we get hit. This battle is real, but it's worth it. What's 70-100 years (if we're lucky) compared to an eternity with God where pain is no more, tears are no more, suffering no more. 

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

As Mary Kate said, "We’ve always prayed God would be glorified in our lives, and sometimes He answers prayers in ways we wouldn’t have chosen."

I've prayed for God to use me as a broken vessel for His glory. I've prayed for God to break my heart for others. I think God has a sense of humor, and I find myself laughing with Him often. Who would have known that my heart would LITERALLY be broken.... Like broken.... like pace maker broken. HAHA! I know you guys probably aren't laughing, but I am. Truly. I would do anything, go anywhere for you; at least I'd like to think I would. If it takes a broken heart for you to come to know the love of Jesus, then that's what I'd do. Like I said, "What's 70-100 years compared to eternity." We are all heading somewhere after those years. 10s of 1,000's of years.

As Buzz lightyear would say, "To infinity and beyond!" 

My heart urges you. My broken heart pleads with you... read your Bible. Don't take your pastor's word for it, or your sister, or friend. Read it straight from the mouth of God.

He does speak to you.

He does.

I've sat in church services where only 1/2 a verse was shared in a 45 minute time period!

Read your Bible.

Listen.

If you don't understand it, keep reading. You will.

​The Holy Spirit will reveal the more you read, the more you believe, the more you trust.

Same chapter, now scooch on up to 2 Corinthians 4:1

We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God.

We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Mary Kate you are in the center of God's will. Let your heart break and continue to let your light shine before men.