Treasures in Jars of Clay

 Over the past few months, many of you have commented on Rick and I's faith. You have wondered how we keep it up and where our energy comes from to deal with cancer, raise 4 kids, maintain a healthy marriage, and just live day to day. As I was reading Scripture today, my answer came and I wanted to share it with you all. It is found in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12;16-18
   It says, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you......Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.:
  The trials have come to our family. Some of them have felt like death and have challenged all of our being. But we have not been destroyed. Not only has God had mercy on Andrew's physical body, but He has also had mercy on our emotional, spiritual, and mental bodies. We have a hope that will not disappoint and that will continue to lead us day by day. I am more confident of these truths than I have ever been in my life.