Coffee Break Update

Dear All,
I wanted to take a minute to update you as to why I have not been sending out the Coffee Break devotional. As you will remember, the last one was a request for prayer. In some way I did something to my back-- not sure what or how. But as a result I have been in excruciating pain. I wound up having to go to the Emergency Room. I was sent to get an MRI which showed that I had a bulging disc which was pressing on the nerve root. I have been laying on the couch, unable to sit, stand, walk or crawl... even with pain medicine.
Because of the holidays I was unable to see a specialist and have something done.  I am scheduled for surgery in the morning (Tuesday). The surgeon tells me that my recovery time will be about 6 weeks.  I am letting you know that I will not be sending out the devotional until my recovery is behind me.  Thank you all so much for your understanding, patience and prayers.

I know that the Lord is my Healer. I would have preferred He had taken care of this problem miraculously... I know He can and I know He already has at the cross. I believed Him to do so. My will was not to have to go through surgery.  But He spoke to my heart and let me know that my will and His will are not always the same. I don't belong to myself, I belong to Him. He bought me with His own blood. My life and my body is His to do with it whatever He chooses.  He is a Sovereign God whose ways are not my ways and thoughts are not my thoughts. "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

He has taught me much during this time. It is in my weakness that His strength is perfected.  In my weaknesses He gets the glory. He keeps reminding me that when I am tried I shall come forth as pure gold. I trust Him no matter what-- whether He answers in the way that I desire or in another way; whether He takes me in a direction I would desire not to go and out of my comfort zone or unto a familiar path. If there is one thing that I know about my Lord, it's that He is faithful. If I go through the fire, through the flood, through the storm, through the valley, through surgery, through the dark of night, He will faithfully stay by my side.

I truly believe He has ordered my step in this direction and I have seen Him miraculously open some doors that were shut. Do I understand it all?  No!  But I don't have to understand it all in order to trust Him.
I will be back sending out the devotional as soon as I am able.  Thank you in advance for your prayers!
Love and blessings, Lorraine