Today is Day Eight, post transplant, and they are giving me blood platelets for the fourth time. Usually once is enough, but apparently I'm SPECIAL. Ha! (And all you losers out there doubted me when I said I was da Bomb!) Anyway, I feel fine- almost normal- even. But here we are. They have a protocol to follow if this doesn't "take" but for now it's sit and wait. But even so, the Doctor still expects to discharge me next week sometime, because he says I'm "doing great!" And I am, actually. I've experienced very few of the dreaded side effects of the process so far, and I am going to attribute that to the prayers of the saints. So thank you everyone who is praying for me. Please don't stop!
I know God heals. Sometimes through his hand, sometimes through doctors (how He has chosen to move in my case), and sometimes through calling us home to heaven where there is no more sickness and no more pain. I have a Texas A&M buddy who is preparing for that ultimate healing method as I write this. He is dying of pancreatic cancer and it has spread to his brain and spine, giving him months to live, unless God intervenes. I sat down a few minutes ago with my journal and wrote, "Lord, I'm grieving my buddy Jim!" Before I could finish writing out the sentence, God spoke to my heart John 11:25:
"I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
This is what my buddy Jim Goldsmith posted today:
"[my wife] and I have had long discussions about this possibility over the past few years, and we are leaning on Christ and our family and friends. God is good!! Even when times seem dark. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." His plan reigns supreme, and my job is to learn what that plan is, follow Him, and declare his glory to the world, regardless of how much time I have left.
"Now for the fun part. We are not fans of traditional funerals and have long contemplated a party to celebrate life and love with friends and family...
...
"Love to you all, and Praise to the Father from whom ALL blessings flow."
So instead of hiding in his room, depressed, he's planning a going away party!
Sometimes God chooses to heal through His own power. As an example, God removed a big tumor from my buddy Phil Patterson's abdomen the night before his surgery. The surgical team got ready to cut him open, had one last look through the CT Scanner, and it was gone! Did someone screw up? Did they even have the right guy? "It was HERE yesterday!!!" The doctors were mystified. But it was God. They sent him home.
Other times God chooses NOT to heal, and these times can cause us incredible angst. (Did I not have enough faith?) Ultimately it's HIS decision, not ours. The "I am the Resurrection and the Life" passage I quoted above? It was from just such a scene. Where God didn't heal.
A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. This was the same Mary who massaged the Lord's feet with aromatic oils and then wiped them with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick."
When Jesus got the message, he said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son."
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days...
Notice the attempted manipulation in the sister's message? "Lazarus, the one you LOVE so very much, is sick." They were pointing out his close ties to the family. He and his disciples were often guests in their home. Lazarus wasn't some random guy. He and Jesus were TIGHT. The sisters pointed that out in an attempt to get to the head of the Healing Line. But instead, Jesus waited two more days, to make sure Lazarus was dead before he arrived. Once he did get there, the sisters were most put out! "Lord, if you had BEEN here, my brother would not have died."
You see, they were expecting a healing. They were full of faith! They had been watching Jesus heal people for years! Random strangers got healed- people with no emotional ties to Jesus. These were His groupies! I mean, if he chose to heal strangers, why WOULDN'T He heal their brother? Why not indeed!
Because he had bigger fish to fry. Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead to bring glory to God. But to do so, Lazarus had to die first. Sometimes God gets glory through our healing. Other times through our sickness and dying. And it's His choice, not ours. Our job is to serve Him, no matter where that takes us and how hard the journey. I am reminded of Paul who has been arrested by the Romans and is on trial before Governor Festus and King Agrippa. Acts 26 gives us an account of the trial. Paul has just finished his closing arguments:
At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long-- I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
I find it interesting that Paul focused on THEIR salvation, rather than the injustice of his situation. Why? Because he was on a mission. To represent Jesus Christ as His Ambassador to the court of Felix. He didn't even ask to be released! No, it was "Short time or long-- I pray God that not only you, but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
Paul was on a mission. Actually, it's the same holy mission my buddy Jim Goldsmith is on. It's to glorify God, regardless of the circumstances. It's my mission too! Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13,
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is like to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
And so my friends, pray for me. And pray for my buddy Jim Goldsmith. That God WOULD completely heal him. And that we each would complete our mission of bringing glory to God and rightfully say along with Paul,
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
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