My mom had a Christmas Cactus that was prolific when she was alive. After her death, my sister inherited it. And goodness, that plant has continued to thrive. She has given so many people a start from it. I have one and I have started at least five more from what I have. This cactus, with lots of love and care, has thrived and multiplied many times over the years.
However, I noticed that my plant was starting to look a little peaked and not as healthy as it was. My sister suggested that it was probably root bound and needed to be transplanted to a larger pot. She noted that I would need to take it out, gently shake off as much dirt as possible, and lightly trim the roots before repotting. I would need the proper drainage, so I needed sand in the bottom of the pot and cactus soil over that.
As I was in the process of trimming and repotting, I thought about how similar this was to the way the Lord works in our lives. Occasionally in our Christian walk we grow peaked. We are not thriving, growing, and multiplying.
Sometimes God needs to repot us by shaking up our environment, cleaning our roots, and depositing us in a place where we will thrive and grow. The process may be a little different for each of us, but the fact is God is a master gardener and knows exactly what we need to become the healthiest person we can be.
John 15:1-4: “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.” (GNT)
Recently, I experienced a full two days of not having internet access at my home. It was an interesting time to say the least. It is hard to realize how dependent we have become on technology, until we no longer have it! No internet meant no computer internet access, no Alexa, no television streaming, no telling my RoboVac Bradley to clean.
It is kind of sad that I have become so used to these amenities that I no longer appreciate them like I should. I take them for granted and when they disappear I am made acutely aware of how heavily I rely on my modern day conveniences. Luckily, I enjoy reading or doing crafts so while I was home I did that. But I did miss my internet access.
It would seem that while technology is great for us, in becoming dependent on it we have lost some very precious gifts. I only need to look around at an event or in a restaurant and I see people constantly looking at their phones. Research has shown that excessive screen time creates additional anxiety and depression, interferes with our social skills, and disturbs our sleep patterns–just for starters. For teens, cell phone usage becomes a minefield, especially if the teen is portrayed negatively by peers on Instagram, TikTok, and SnapChat. Suicide rates have rocketed and I believe some of that can be attributed to cell phone usage without being judicious about what you are reading.
In the past, societies built relationships with one another by spending time together, working alongside of each other, and having immediate and extended families in a somewhat close proximity. Today when I watch families together, many of them are sitting in the restaurant with their phones out. Instead of talking with one another across the table, they frequently text instead. I confess it is refreshing when I see a family who has their cell phones put away during a meal together (including Mom and Dad!).
So as Christians how does this impact the church? It is great being able to use technology to communicate with church members and visitors alike. There is no doubt that during the Covid epidemic, churches keeping in touch by using technology and streaming their services live, was a huge blessing. Unfortunately many churches never reached their pre-covid attendance when things started going back to normal (whatever normal is!). Luckily my church not only did that, but we also have been having a very healthy church growth spurt.
The fact that we are raising generations to depend on technology is kind of frightening. Many newer homes are built as “smart” homes, with locks that are voice activated, and lights that come on automatically when programmed. Even stoves and ovens can be programmed with cook times and temperatures now.
But this is the thing. God made us to be relational people. He created Adam in order to have a relationship with him and then created Eve so that Adam would have companionship. Mankind has been shown to be relational through the generations. Sometimes those relations have been good, and occasionally bad once sin entered the world, but the fact is they are important.
It amazes me for all the technology in the world, you still have to be connected to something that drives the technology in order to communicate via cell phone, computer, or tablet. There must be a power source.
It just reminds me that our power source is God. By his death, Jesus tore the veil of the temple and became our high priest. He made it possible for us to come into the presence of God through our worship, prayer, and praise. We can be connected to God by prayer, not by anything electronic, but by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
So when I am surrounded by people who are attached to the phones like it is another appendage, I am grateful that I have a relationship that is not dependent upon technology, but rather upon truly fostering one-on-one relationships, and most of all, a relationship with God.
It is the end of the year and I have sat down and evaluated how well I have done on meeting the goals I set at the beginning of the year. I confess, I have been sidelined a lot this year with multiple illnesses. But illness aside, I still struggle completing my goals. I wonder if most people are like me? So that got me to thinking. Why don’t we meet goals and how can we do a better job?
There are a multitude of articles published on why we don’t meet goals and how to achieve them. According to a research by the University of Stanton, 92% of people do not meet their New Year resolutions. I am going to try to do a brief summary of the ones that apply most to me–and maybe to you also.
We are setting the wrong goals. Not only do our goals need to line up with our values, but they also need to be goals that will enhance our lives when they are met. If the goals are not reflective of our values or our ability to achieve them, then we may set ourselves up for failure. Chris Porteous, CEO of Grey Smoke Media, has the following to say: “You’re picking the wrong type of goals if they are: Not in line with your life goals; Aren’t motivating or inspiring; Too big and overwhelming, Unrealistic”1
We need to identify why we are setting the goal and what will happen if we do not achieve it. If I am setting a goal to get healthy, that is an admirable goal. But in setting that goal it also helps to define what will happen if I meet it, and what will happen if I do not. An on-line article in Wanderlust Worker had this to say: “Things like love, family, country, freedom and security are compelling reasons. But you have to state just what those reasons mean to you if you don’t want to fail to achieve your goals. When you state what it means to you, and it’s deep-rooted enough into who you are, your determination won’t waver, and you’ll end up seeing things through.2 If you lose sight of why you have set your goal, it is easier to end up not completing it.
We need to identify the actions needed to accomplish the goal and define the necessary steps to achieve it. Identifying a goal is great, but it helps to break it down into pieces to see the steps needed to have a strong finish. Failure to focus on these steps often leads to frustration because it is more difficult to reach the goal than anticipated. Sometimes you will fail but remember to keep striving toward your goal. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
We make excuses as to why we do not accomplish our goals–it is not convenient, there is not enough time, we are too busy, The fact is for most individuals, life is busy. We need to evaluate what things are important and what things are expendable to help us meet our goals.
We have a fear of failure. For many individuals, a fear of failure holds them back from pursuing their goals. This is especially true for the perfectionist who thinks it must be done perfectly or not done at all. Any successful person can also tell you of their failures. If you learn to look at failure as a learning opportunity, it can be a positive outcome for your goal setting.
We do not anticipate the potential obstacles and the hard work. The soccer star Pelé said, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” Sometimes it takes all of our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual energy to put in the work to have a successful completion of our goal. If you know that going into the process, it helps immensely.
There are so many other things that can obstruct us from completing our goals; failure to set deadlines, listening to negative voices (ours and others), lack of focus, procrastination, and established bad habits. But the fact of the matter is, we need to have a desire to see our goal to completion for the right reasons in order to succeed.
The most important goal to me is my spiritual life. It is the one goal I always take seriously and each year I become more focused on my desire to serve God and grow in maturity of my faith. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“– Philippians 3:14.
So here is to a New Year and new opportunities to improve our lives by developing positive habits for the right reasons. So, make your spiritual, physical, and mental goals for the coming year. Even if you get side-tracked, you can always come back to them.
It has been a while since I have written in my blog. I could make excuses and say it is because I have been super busy, or traveling, or working. But the fact is I have been struggling just to keep my head above water. Have you ever been there?
This year has been filled with multiple health challenges for me and it is starting to take a toll on how I think, what I do, and what I don’t do. So many of my plans and goals for this year have taken a back seat to dealing with physical issues. Since the end of February, I have had ER visits, a hospitalization, CT scans, tests, a biopsy and multiple x-rays—all of it is more than I care to think about. Some of the things were serious bumps in the road, and others just little annoyances. I feel like my life has been consumed by them and I am just now starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, my blog has taken a back seat.
But the thing is, I have learned some valuable lessons along the way. The first one I knew–God is in control and he is good–but I had it reiterated over and over again. No matter how much we think we have it all together, life sometimes gives us curve balls, and the one constant is God. Putting your trust in God during scary diagnoses and unknown territory isn’t always easy—but it is always worth it.
The next thing I learned (and really have always known) is that support of family and friends is important. Although my son did tell me if he was going to be taking me to the ER all the time, I would need to move closer to him, he was willing to go the extra mile for me. My daughter sat with me while talking to the doctor about a potential negative diagnosis (luckily, while it is something rare, it is not life-threatening and didn’t involve chemo!). A good friend has taken me to Urgent Care more than once, and I am extremely grateful that God has put her in my life.
I also learned that I need to take better control of my health. Last year I was able to go off my diabetic medications which is a win, but this year I need to eat even healthier and exercise more! Sounds like a new year resolution, doesn’t it? But seriously, I think God expects us to use common sense and avail ourselves of the resources he gives us.
Like many people with chronic illness, it is easy to dwell on my problems, rather than my blessings. I have always known that if you think more about God and others, and less about yourself, your outlook changes for the better.
So, I think I am on the upswing here, and hopefully, you will see more frequent posts from me in the future. And they won’t involve all of my physical complaints, but instead will focus on how good the Lord is! He truly is, isn’t he?
The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9
Last night in our home team we shared about what it means to pray “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Wow. Did that ever generate some conversation. That is the thing I love about our home team; as a leader all I need to do is guide the conversation a little and they take it and go.
We discussed the great debt we owe God for sending Christ to shed his blood for us. We talked about the amazing grace that covers our sins. And we talked about forgiving others–not so easy to do when you have suffered abuse, lies, and deceit at the hands of others.
We talked about the amazing, freeing power that becomes ours when we are able to offer forgiveness to others, even if they don’t acknowledge the depth of wrong done to us. There is just something about those two words, “I forgive” or “forgive me” that have the power to change our lives.
After I came home from our study last night, I dwelled on our discussion and realized how much this group of Christians means to me. Being with them is like coming home. They come from all walks of life–different families, different personalities, different ways of life–but they all have Jesus in common. Some of them have learned lessons the hard way, some have walked roads that have been filled with heartache and sorrow, or some have been flat on their backs with nowhere to look but up–but we all have been touched profoundly by the love of God.
We all recognize we are sinners. We all recognize the wonderful gift of forgiveness. We all walk in God’s grace on a daily basis. We certainly are a far cry from perfect (although I think there may be one or two who are close!) .
Yep, I love these brothers and sisters who have shared their vulnerabilities, their joys, their challenges, and their lives with one another. I love that we get real with one another and can be honest and open without judgment. I love that we share our joys and our sorrows. I love that we are building relationships that will last an eternity.
What about you? Have you found your tribe? That group of people who know they are living under God’s grace and want others to have the same thing? If you haven’t I challenge you to find the Christians you can get real with–the ones who will love you even when you mess up (and you will). Find the Christians who have a hunger and thirst for the living God. Because I guarantee when you do, you will feel like you are home.
Today we celebrate America’s Independence Day with picnics, food, time with family, and fireworks. A multitude of people celebrate without recognizing the great sacrifices that were made in order to gain autonomy from Great Britain. We need to remember the lives that were given, the homes that were burned, and the families that were forever changed when America made her bid for independence.
While I love July 4th, today I want to talk about my own personal Independence Day. It is a day I still remember vividly even though it was many years ago. I came from a good home, but not a home where we learned about Jesus and made faith a foundation. My life changed when a neighbor volunteered to send me to church camp. I had absolutely no idea what church camp was, nor did I understand why I was chosen…
I have been sick with pneumonia for four weeks now and am finally on the tail end of it. One of the things that I have missed while ill, are my opportunities to volunteer. I volunteer to help the children’s minister at church every Wednesday. I also teach my home team on Thursday evening. I have missed doing that. While I was pondering my feelings about volunteering, I realized that I feel better when I help others.
Did you know that there is a term out there called “helper’s high?” If it is on Google, it must be true. Right? But seriously, my point is that it is scientifically proven that when we volunteer our time and serve others there are multiple benefits. Not only do we help where we are serving, but in the same way as expressing gratitude, volunteering is proven to improve your life. Here are a few of the benefits.
1. Volunteering helps lessen negative emotions. According to Meal Train, an organization that provides a template for providing meals for those in need, “Helping others can counteract the impacts of stress, anger, and anxiety. It can also boost your self-confidence and decrease feelings of loneliness. You may not think of these experiences as opportunities to fight mental illness, but a helper’s high functions that way.” Basically, acts of kindness lower stress levels. Lowering stress levels is healthy for your heart, your blood pressure, and your immunity.
2. Volunteering helps us increase our longevity. Now I do not volunteer just to live longer. But seriously, statistics show that older adults who volunteer have a 24 percent less risk of early death. According to the National Christian Foundation in an article on 5 Reasons Volunteering Is Good for You, it says “Recent research shows that those who volunteer get a longevity boost akin to the effects of adding multiple rounds of fruits and veggies to your diet every day and older adults who volunteer are at 24% less risk of early death.” (However, this does not mean you can give up eating fruits and veggies!) Adults over 55 who volunteer experience less cognitive decline leading to dementia also.
3. Volunteering helps us stave off depression. According to Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic. “Studies have indicated that volunteering is great for your mental health. It has been shown to decrease stress levels, depression, anxiety and boost your overall health and satisfaction with life.” It helps your brain release serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins—all of which increase your overall sense of well-being. By focusing on helping others, you are also helping yourself.
4. Helping others changes our perspective on life. It allows seeing life from a broader perspective. Frequently when volunteering we encounter individuals who remind us that the world is much bigger than our narrow community. Volunteering to serve in short-term mission trips, sorting or handing out food from food pantries, visiting individuals in nursing homes, participating in work days in inner cities, etc. all give us a glimpse of life from someone else’s viewpoint. It stretches our comfort zones and helps us realize that we need to be aware of issues in the world around us.
5. Volunteering provides you with a sense of purpose. As Christians, we have an obligation to help others, but sometimes we lose our way a little. Hebrews 13:16 says, “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.” By helping others, we share the love of Christ. We see throughout the Bible that God cares for the poor, the widows, the downcast, and the ill. If we take our love for Christ seriously, we develop a sense of purpose for our lives—and not only is that sharing God’s love—it is also putting feet to the commands he has given us to love others.
There are so many additional benefits to volunteering–finding new friends, learning new skills, networking for jobs, reducing loneliness and more.
It is no wonder I missed volunteering while I was sick. I missed the interaction with others. I missed feeling like I was helping someone. I missed building those endorphins. As a retired person, I realize I have more opportunities to volunteer than I did when I worked full-time and raised a family, but no matter where you are in life, volunteering is one of the best things you can do for yourself and others.
Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Proverbs 11:25 “Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Acts 20:35 “In everything I have shown you that, by working hard, we must help the weak. In this way we remember the Lord Jesus’ words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.”
Galatians 6:9 “Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.”
Acts 20:35 “In everything I have shown you that, by working hard, we must help the weak. In this way we remember the Lord Jesus’ words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Today is Memorial Day. For many families it is just a weekend to mark the start of summer–a time for fun, picnics, parades, and more. While many of us celebrate with family and friends, families of those who have lost their lives in service to our country are still grieving and missing the ones they loved.
One of the sons of my long-time friends was stationed in Afghanistan several years ago. He loved being a Marine and he was Special Ops, not a position to be taken lightly! While in the middle of a mission his truck hit an IED. He was the lone survivor. His friends lost their lives that day, and he has been haunted by the survivor’s guilt and memories ever since. A severe concussion, sensitivity to light, balance issues, PTSD; all of it combined to render him unable to do his job any longer. With a medical discharge, he is permanently disabled, but you would never know it if you just sat down and had a conversation.
But he would tell you that today is not about him. It is about the men who were serving with him who paid the ultimate price for helping provide freedom from tyranny.
My brother-in-law, who was a medic in Vietnam (he was nicknamed “Doc”), would also tell you that today is about the many whose lives were lost during that conflict.
Yes, we honor our veterans. And Veterans Day is a wonderful opportunity to do that. But today, we stand and salute the ones who lost their lives during WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. May God bless the families who are haunted with the memories of a child, a husband, a wife, a brother or a sister who did not come home.
Memorial Day – a day to honor those who have given their lives for our freedom. We remember and honor them today.
I was privileged to attend my oldest granddaughter’s high school graduation this past week. There were so many things I would love to tell her about the times to come, but some of them she will just need to learn on her own. That is how wisdom is gained. However, I decided to write a letter here with the top ten things I want her to know about life.
To My Dear Granddaughter,
I have watched as you have grown from an imaginative and spunky little girl, into a kind, thoughtful, and beautiful young woman. You make people feel good just by being around you. I love that about you. Your life is just beginning and you will have many opportunities to choose the path you will follow. Choose wisely.
When I look back to my time in college and afterwards, there are many things that I wish I had known. I think sometimes I just had to learn the hard way, but I hope that you are wise enough to listen to the lessons others can give you. So here are some things I think may be helpful on your life journey.
Always keep God first. There will be many times in your life that you will be tempted to forget all about God. There will also be times that you look at organized religions and are disappointed at the disparities your see. Instead look at the life of Christ. See his actions and listen to his words. Because they will give you a life worth living. Jesus cared about truth and justice. He cared about the poor and disenfranchised. His ministry broke racial (the Samaritan woman) and gender boundaries (Mary Magdalene was one of the disciples that traveled with their group). Love God. Love your neighbor.
Establish boundaries in your life and learn to graciously say no. Decide what and who is important to you. But even those you love sometimes need boundaries. I recommend the book by Lysa Terkeurst, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing theBest of Who You Are. Sometimes it is hard to set boundaries and say no, but for your peace of mind there will be times it is necessary in your life.
Always keep a sense of humor. Be able to laugh at yourself. Laugh with others (not at them) and remember that joy is a gift from God. It is well-known that laughter really is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Choose your friends wisely. I still have good friends that I made in college. It is important when you are choosing the people you are hanging out with, that you are sure they are the kind of people you need in your life. Good friends build you up, they don’t tear you down. Good friends are encouraging, they are not negative all the time. Good friends can tell you the truth in a loving and kind way. Good friends don’t gossip and backstab. Good friends share your laughter, you tears, your joys and your sorrows. Choose wisely.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. I always tended to let the “what ifs” discourage me from trying something new. Yet, I found that it is sometimes better to try and fail, than to not try at all. And when you try and soar, it is all worth it.
Choose a vision statement. Think about what you want out of life. Write it down. Figure out what you need to get there. Then go for it. Through different stages of your life, that vision may change, but always keep a vision of where you want to go written down where you will see it frequently.
Don’t let failure define you. Everybody fails at something. I could make a whole list of people who have failed at something– people like Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein. Every time you fail, look at it as an opportunity to learn.
Become a well-rounded person. Read books. Watch documentaries. Learn a foreign language. Take piano lessons or cooking lessons or Taekwondo or a painting class (you get the picture). Learning new skills is good for the soul.
Develop the art of listening. Listening to someone’s story gives you great insight into their personality. Sometimes even the person who drives you crazy has a story that leads you to greater understanding of why they are the way they are. Everyone wants and needs someone to listen to them. (Granted there are some people who you really want to turn the stop button on.) But listening will help you become a better friend, mentor, and teacher for others.
Love yourself. Second to loving God, I think the most important thing I can tell you is to LOVE YOURSELF. It is so easy in this media saturated world to make comparisons. You are unique and there is only one you. We can always stretch and grow, but learn to love yourself the way you love others. Stop the negative self-talk and instead give yourself some positive self-talk: I am kind. I am a good friend. I am empathetic.You are worthy of being loved.
There are so many things learned in life. Some of them are painful, like a first heartbreak. But some of them are wonderful opportunities that enhance your life. Just remember that you are surrounded by people who love you and care about you. When life gets overwhelming sometimes, just pick up the phone and talk (I know you prefer texting). I promise, I will listen.
You have had a piece of my heart since the first time I held you in my arms. I wish only the best for you as you journey through this thing we call life. I love you, Nana
Yesterday was an emotionally challenging day for me. As I woke up anxiety surrounded me. My heart beat faster, my thoughts raced, and even though I kept telling myself, “God has you in his hands” my anxiety level soared.
Then I got on Facebook. And guess what? God even uses Facebook posts to send me reassurance that he loves me and cares about my challenges. First, I read some scripture someone posted about God’s presence. Then a friend of mine posted a skit. The skit was about the very issue I was facing and even more amazing, one of the key players, Mrs. Linda, shared my name.
Then one of my friends posted a podcast where her husband was the keynote speaker for a fundraising event at a hospital. He related his journey and how God put him in the path of people who were just what he needed. He shared how God was with him every step of the way.
After hearing his story, I bowed my head and prayed, as tears rolled down my cheeks. I asked God to reassure me that no matter what the outcome of this visit, I would use it to glorify him and share his blessings with others. I surrendered my heart (which I seem to find myself needing to do on a frequent basis) and my health to God during that conversation. I had a sense of peace and knew that God’s presence was surrounding me. My anxious heart was beating normally and my thoughts focused more on God, who knows my every need and loves me with a great depth of love. God got my attention and reassured me that all my cares could be cast on him.
My daughter picked me up and as we drove to the doctor’s office, I sensed God’s presence with me even as we discussed the possible scenarios that may be before me. As I talked with her, I replayed in my mind the months that had led up to this day, including the hospitalization that resulted in a CT scan of the abdomen, which surprisingly showed a spot on the left lower lobe in my lung. This was followed by a regular CT scan a couple of weeks later, and then a wait of a month just in case it was an infection that needed to clear up. Then another CT scan with contrast followed. Then came the recommended PET scan. The PET scan came back with some red highlights.
By this time, a lot of options had been discussed and my doctor felt strongly that I needed a biopsy done. As he discussed the one-inch mass with irregular borders, I followed along in my mind. I knew he was convinced it was the dreaded word–CANCER. By this time it was a primary concern for me also. Because of the location, my only option was to have needle biopsy. The radiologist, too, felt we were dealing with possible cancer. Lung cancer. I never smoked. How could this be happening?
As the day of the biopsy came, my sister (who is a nurse) accompanied me to the hospital. I survived the procedure despite my rising anxiety levels, and then the waiting began. In the scheme of things, five days is not long. But when you are waiting for what could be life-changing news, it seems like forever.
As my daughter and I waited for the doctor to enter the room, I actually felt much calmer than I thought I would be. It helped that my 3-month-old grandson was with us and we watched as he cooed and smiled. The doctor greeted us and then sat down at his desk. He pulled up my files and reassured me that he just wanted to make sure he wasn’t missing anything as he reviewed the results.
Then I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “It’s not cancer.” I could have danced around the desk and hugged him, but I managed to restrain myself. Even though I had given it to God and asked him to use me no matter what, I really was relieved that the “what” wasn’t cancer.
The doctor told me that he had been certain it was cancer and he was relieved to tell me it wasn’t. What I do have is treatable and in actuality, I had the same thing in 2015 (only then I was very sick with it). So I am extremely grateful that I have been down this road before and know how we need to proceed.
But I got to thinking about this. Would I still have praised God if it had been cancer? Would I still have had peace and put it all in his hands. I like to think I would. God is good (and he would have remained good even if it was cancer). He answered a lot of prayers that have been going up on my behalf. He led me on a journey that deepened my trust in him and made me treasure life even more.
I know there are some of you reading this who did not get the good news that it wasn’t cancer. You may be on a journey that is difficult and long. But in the midst of it all, God is there. He knows your burdens and trusting in him makes all the difference in the world. As my friend, Don Sigler, said when he had cancer, “I am in a win/win situation. I win if I overcome cancer, and I win if I die, because I will be with the Lord.” His win was to be with the Lord and cancer free forever.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” I pray that I will always know the joy of the Lord, even if it is in difficult circumstances because I am in a win/win situation.
Ordinary People Extraordinary God 