Spring Ministry Newsletter: When God Asks A Peculiar Question

https://mailchi.mp/atkh/atkh-when-god-asks-a-peculiar-question?e=4c78abbd6f

Click Link Above for Photo of Bryson with his Nephew Isaiah

Dear Friend of All the King’s Horses Ministry,

This winter has been an exceedingly long season of seclusion for Bryson and me. As most of you know, my surgeon called my 9/12/18 four hour shoulder surgery “massive.” He re-attached my bicep, broke bones to make room for the transplantation of tendons from a cadaver (sometimes referred to a “Tommy John” procedure). As I write this, I am nearly seven months into a 12 month recovery, working hard to regain full function.  

As most of you also know, Bryson had gone blind in his left eye in 2015, and his right eye has been under attack with the same insidious disease that blinded him. Unfortunately, the corneal transplant that restored his vision in his left eye began to fail this past year, and the eye began degenerating toward blindness once again. Bryson’s 1/19/19 surgery to save the sight in this left eye has been nothing less than miraculous.  We are still praising God for amazing results, and are now getting ready for surgery on his right eye next month (waiting for a date in May) to protect it from further degeneration. Most of you also know that Bryson has had several falls during this season, and is now recovering from two torn tendons in his wrist. 

I have a deep respect for stress, in terms of what it can do to decimate one’s body and mind. During this long winter season, I reached levels of fatigue reminiscent of the condition which threatened my life several years ago when I was taken from my home on a stretcher. Yet as this winter draws to a close I have absolute reverence for God who reminds me, again and again, that He controls all. It is His style to work from our weaknesses, and He does so far more powerfully than we could ever do from our puny strength even on our strongest day on earth. 

Irrespective of how hard (or blessed) your winter may have been, we do not have to languish in the past feeling sorry for ourselves. As we all emerge toward spring, the Lord instructs us through the Prophet Isaiah not to look backward, but to move forward. He reminds us that He is preparing new things for us. He is  building a roadway for us to get there, and will refresh us with springs of water as we go. But notice a very peculiar question that God asks, right in the midst of this encouraging exhortation to move forward. 

“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

Why in the world would God ask, “Will you not be aware of it?” Isn’t it reasonable to assume that if something is “springing forth” we would see it clearly? Well, the truth is, without the eyes of faith, God could build us an eight lane freeway and we’d miss it by a country mile. And even when we believe God and follow His path, He doesn’t show us a “Google Map” of the entire journey, does He? He merely shows us the next step, and then the next, as we keep our eyes on Him, and depend upon Him fully. 

As I emerge from this winter and peer ahead, I am more passionate than ever regarding the unique calling that All the King’s Horses Ministry has received from the Lord to shed the light of Jesus Christ to many in this dark world. All the King’s Horses Ministry will continue to point unbelievers to Jesus for salvation. We will continue to encourage believers to persevere in hope, relying upon Jesus Christ more and more, and upon ourselves less and less as we journey through this difficult world. Indeed, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), but we must always remember that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). 

I am grateful to all of you who are partnering with All the King’s Ministry, as we continue to lift up Jesus Christ for all to behold. Those of you who have elected to become regular monthly partners are such an amazing blessing! We remain “in the red” from Bryson’s recent surgery, which is largely uncovered by insurance. The same lack of insurance will be true of the surgery he is facing in May. 

Nonetheless, I intend to press ahead in this Ministry the Lord has entrusted to me, both in ministering to my own struggling son, and to the countless others touched through our various ministries of public speaking, writing, counseling, discipling, and revealing Jesus Christ for who He really is to as many as we can in this dark world.  

Your brother in the battle for Christ, 

Barry Milazzo 

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24