Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I am so grateful for your prayers!
Welcome to Joni and Friends and God bless you for spending these few minutes with me as I thank you especially for remembering me in your intercessions. I’ve finished all my chemotherapy and, oh, my goodness, it has not been the easiest ride. But it’s been a good one and the doctors are very optimistic as we move forward. And I’ll tell you who has been the biggest blessing to me through this whole thing – my husband Ken. Emotionally – he’s never let it get him down. Supportive and caring – I tell you I couldn’t ask for a more kind and thoughtful husband by my side. Did he miss his fly fishing trips? Yes, he did, bless his heart, but Ken would tell you, “That’s okay… I’m where I need to be; by Joni’s side.” Wow!
I was recounting to my friend Judy how much I’ve appreciated the mature and even-headed way Ken has dealt with this battle against cancer. I said to her, “You know, the Holy Spirit has been so evident in Ken’s life, so remarkable… I really have to attribute that to the way his Bible study buddies have supported him over the months. Jan and Pete have really been there for Ken, and it shows… Ken is just a different man than what he was before this thing with cancer.”
Judy thought reflectively for a minute and said, “Joni, I don’t think Ken’s demeanor has had anything to do with Jan or Pete or any of his friends.” I gave her a funny look and then she added, “I attribute it directly to the way Ken has faithfully stuck to his reading through-the-Bible-in-a-year program. That it seems to me to be what has made the difference.” And you know what? Judy was right. It’s been great that his buddies have been praying for him and fellowshipping with him through my whole chemotherapy, but it takes more than close friends to transform your life (and that’s what I see in my husband; a transformation)… it takes the Spirit of the Living God applying his Word like a knife into every corner of our lives that needs change.
This year marks number six that Ken has read through the Bible in a year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re recognizing all sorts of obscure biblical names and places now. We’ve even had fun a few times challenging each other with Bible trivia and have even gotten most all the Jeopardy Bible questions right. Stuff like that is fun, but the real deal is seeing how suffering produces perseverance in my husband’s life, and perseverance has produced character, and character has led to hope, and hope definitely has not disappointed him. Yes, I thank the Lord that all this reading and study of God’s Word is what the Holy Spirit has used to prepare my husband to be my help-meet in this battle against cancer.
Friend, you know as well as I how significant and utterly unique the influence God’s Word has in our lives. It really is God’s change agent for our hearts, and I’d like to help you deepen your walk into God’s Word with this really nifty 12-page foldout, a study foldout I want to send you, it’s titled “Bible Overview” and there are themes, and facts and key verses at a glance. It has summaries of all the books in the Bible including who wrote it and why, where and when it was written, an outline of each book, and the verses that summarize that book’s important truths. I’m giving one to Ken for him to tuck into his Bible for handy reference, and I invite you to do the same. Just go online to my radio page at joniandfriends.org or write for your free copy of “Bible Overview” at Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. Yes, the Word of God is alive and active – as the book of Hebrews reminds us; and if you want God to be active in your life, Ken would tell you… just get into the Word; friend, get into the Word.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends