HOW TO PLEASE THE LORD GOD... PROVERBS 16: 7, HEBREWS 11: 6

      When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh      
  even his enemies to be at peace with him."  
                                                          Proverbs 16: 7

      "But without faith it is impossible to please him, for
he  that cometh  to God, must  believe that  he is , and
must believe that He is  a rewarder  of them that  dili-
gently seek him.              Hebrews 11: 6                                                                                                

    The passages referenced above are two of many such  
incidents where pleasing the Lord is brought to our atten-
tion in God's Word. The second, from Hebrews is critical:
How do we please Him? We live our lives by faith in God
and His Word. You and I must refrain from bringing atten- 
tion to the depth of our own faith in him, and to fail to give 
faith in God  it's due.  This may be an injustice to persons 
wirh  whom we  might have  influence.  Our faith is not  in
faith, but in God, and  it's depth is  not as important  as is
it's existence.   

      How does one come to faith?  Scripture informs us: 
  "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing  by the Word of
God."  (Romans 10: 17)  I  am  convinced, for what  it's
worth; everything  we have, receive or by which we are
blessed, is a gift from our Lord.  If we had to qualify for 
blessings, they would be few or non-existent. With that
we approach the subject of this post...    
     
    Some three  weeks  ago, struggling with an inguinal 
hernia, I made an appointment with a general surgeon.
After  listening  to  my heart through a stethoscope, he 
cut  the exam short and  referred me to  a  cardiologist  
who diagnosed stenosis (narrowing) of the aortic valve.
The valve  required  surgery to  replace  it  with bovine
tissue.  This  was critical,  and  I was  directed  to ano-
ther  cardiologist and other tests showed me to be in a
precarious  state  and  surgery  was  performed by the 
"best" cardiovascular surgeon in the area, post-haste.

     Now,  this  was  a new  experience  for me, having
never  experienced  a  medical procedure, outside  of
stitches  from  accidents.  There was  an echo cardio-
gram, another EKG  and  a catheter in my heart.  The
heart, overall, clear of  plaque  or obstructions except 
for this one valve.  The success rate of this surgery is
at ninety-eight percent, but  my inexperience  with the
whole process gave me pause.  My daughter-in-law, a
Registered Nurse, walked my wife and me through the
process and friends  from over  the  years have  been 
awesome in their support, prayers and encouragement.
I trust you have  such  friends  and  family  on which to
rely.  Having  been a music leader in churches for over
50 years, there has been an outpouring of support from
our current and  former  church  fellowships  as well as
former pastors, family, and friends in ministry.

    Every medical professional with  whom we  have spo-
ken have seemed shocked with my failure to take advan-
tage, previously, of the fine medical establishment in our
great land.  I have no medical  history, take  no  perscrip- 
tion  drugs, although  we  have  had  primary  physicians.
The critical part  for me is  the confidence given one who
has such a  background, to  face this surgery without any
panic.  So  far, my  Lord  has  given to my  Wife and  me
everything  we need  to face  each turn of  events and to
look forward to His working in our lives for the future.

     No  one can know for certain, the outcome of  events,
but we know we are in  his  capable hands and whatever
the result of  this, we will be in Christ.  Judith and I have
been married  for fifty-three  years and  He has  been, at 
every turn  in  life, dependable.  Jesus Christ  is my Sav-
ior and Lord, knows the direction and destination of each
of life's twists and turns, and is quite capable of taking us
through this.  God bless you and give you faith in his Son.
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
too may experience this salvation, in him.  (See Romans
10: 8-10, and 13.)   


                                                            donporter,sr   

Post Script:  It has now been several months since the surgery and
though retired, I have returned to music ministry, and returned to 
work as a bench jeweler, part-time.  I feel well and do not have any
apparent adverse complications from the surgery. God has blessed...  
                                             10.08.16