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Is our true vision 20/20 in 2020?

  • Writer: Debbie Cowles
    Debbie Cowles
  • Jun 12, 2020
  • 3 min read

In 2019, I kept thinking of 2020 as something to do with vision. When you have an eye exam, 20/20 is defined as perfect vision.


None of us could have envisioned what 2020 would hold.


With everything stripped away, how is your vision? We have lost social contact in person, family visits, going to church services, going anywhere...sporting events, movies, dinner, lunch, vacations, travel. Even driving for awhile. With all of this stripped away, are we able to see more clearly? Can we see with eternal vision?


One thing I have seen during this time is gifts from so many people. Here is a card where a dear prayer partner sent us a visual illustration of a prayer chain she has praying for me, people I have never, ever met. I cried. A blind evangelist is praying for me because he "sees" the importance and power of prayer! He knows that "faith... is the evidence of things we cannot see". (Hebrews 11:1)

The Bible is rich on "sight" or vision concepts.


How timely is this one??!!

"So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18


"The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7


"God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11


Update:

Chemo last time was delayed by a week because my neutrophils, the “soldiers” in my white blood cells which fight infection, had tanked. After five days of hormone shots in the belly (by Steve), the neutrophil and white blood cell levels shot through the roof to way higher than normal, which the doctor said was okay. The response was phenomenal. So chemotherapy was finally on Thursday the 4th of June until 9pm, which was exhausting. As per usual, the first week or two is really rough. For a while, many foods taste terrible and even water tastes strange. The body aches are significant, especially in my feet. A few days ago, I couldn't imagine doing this two more times. But I'm abundantly grateful that I still have no nausea. Chemo is scheduled for Thursday 25 June and then again Thursday 16 July, which would be my final one if there are no more delays.

Please pray that:

--chemo does not need to be delayed again.

--the chemo kills every single cancer cell (and does as little damage to everything else as possible).

--God will be glorified through all that I say and do in this entire process.

--people would "see" Jesus through us and be drawn to Him


I need this reminder at this time:

You [God] saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16


Thank you dear friends for caring, for carrying us through your compassion, gifts, cards, acts of service, love, and prayers.


We are on strict government health service “shielding”/lockdown/isolation instructions until at least August due to my active chemotherapy. Open our eyes, Jesus! May we see what You are doing and what You want to do through us, but especially that we see Your heart, Your character.


PS. Celebrating Steve's 56th :) Plus a lemon polenta cake with lemon curd, both of which we made together. His favourite.


 
 
 

3 Comments


debstime64
Aug 22, 2020

Hi Steve and Debbie. I just read your most recent newsletter and rejoice with you in God's faithfulness!! Also, what an amazing surprise to be coordinating a wedding recently and seeing the name "Jonathan Cowles" on the groomsmen list. I wondered if he could possibly be your son, and yes indeed he was. I'm sure it was weird when I walked up to him and asked if his parents were missionaries in the U.K. and if he had an aunt and uncle in Virginia. The wedding was for our pastor's daughter, Sarah, who married Jared, whom I believe was one of Jonathan's roommates. It was a wonderful wedding and I was abundantly blessed to be around such godly young people…


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Alexander Cardona-Martinez
Jun 12, 2020

Imogen on her last day today of her old job x x


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Alexander Cardona-Martinez
Jun 12, 2020

Deb, you are in our prayers, and we pray that;

🙏🏽 chemo does not need to be delayed again.

🙏🏽the chemo kills every single cancer cell (and does as little damage to everything else as possible).

🙏🏽God will be glorified through all that I say and do in this entire process.

🙏🏽people would "see" Jesus through us and be drawn to Him


Imogen starts her new job this Monday so I also pray that her new job goes well and she enjoys her new challenge x


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