No, I don't know the results of my scans yet. Tomorrow 9 AM.
But I realized that, on (NFL!) Sunday, I neglected to share something with you. And, although I'm a bit hesitant to share it with you today - because today is a day when our nation remembers a terribly, terribly difficult tragedy and this could, at first, seem a little out of place - I've decided to share it with you because...well...I guess because it is September 11. And perhaps there's not a better day than this to make this known to you all.
Last fall, as Laura's day-to-day life was getting harder and harder, I believe God was directing me to write a bible study. Although I still don't fully understand why He would ask such a thing, out of obedience I did it. And I began to take all that came from the many, many conversations Laura and I had about God - His promises, who we are in Him, the things we loved about Him, the things that we didn't understand about Him, our fears, frustrations, joys... - and used that to write the materials for my Tuesday morning bible study.
So all throughout that semester, we spent each week pouring ourselves into studying 40 statements of promise that God makes to us. Statements that we need to know at any time. But especially when our circumstances are anything but easy. Statements like: Even now, I love you; I know what it feels like; I'm worth it; I am enough; I am good. And we studied 10 people in the Bible who walked through some amazingly difficult circumstances and we imagined what it would have been like for them to trust God in the midst.
Just like we were watching Laura trust God as she walked.
Honestly. With real emotions, real questions, real frustrations.
Yet with real faith, real joy, and with real hope.
Determined hope, as Laura would put it.
This study isn't a study on on cancer.
It's not a study of Laura life and it's certainly not a study on Kristie's life.
It's a study on better understanding a God who is worth trusting even when everything in our circumstances might tempt us to believe otherwise.
So perhaps that's why today, September 11th, is a good day to let you know that - after encouragement and prodding from a handful of people (and after making some very necessary edits to clean up the million and five typos and confusing questions) - I've finished up a second edition of this study and am now making it available to anyone who would like to have a copy.
Whether you knew Laura well and want to understand better the God in whom she believed, or whether you are in your own tough place and are asking God some pretty stinkin' hard questions yourself, I hope that the words that you read and study in it will be an encouragement to you, as it has been an encouragement to me.
If you'd like to purchase a copy of The View Beyond the Hill, you can order one on-line for $12.96 plus shipping. All net proceeds will benefit the Ana Duo Charitable Fund in honor of Laura. If you are unfamiliar with the purpose of Ana Duo, please visit www.anaduo.org to learn more.
To order a bible study, visit: http://www.lulu.com/shop/kristie-rush/the-view-beyond-the-hill-2012/paperback/product-20379960.html
Thanks...
K.
Full Disclosure: This is a study geared for women!
You are so inspiring. I love your honesty and transparency. I've thought about you many times this year (even though it's been a LONG time since I've seen you), and I pray for you regularly when I pray for John and kids. Thank you for sharing.
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