Tag Archives: Psalm 103:1

More blessed now than before

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1

Eleven months after being diagnosed with Leukemia, I find that I am more blessed, even still with a life-threatening disease than perhaps when I was healthier. “How can that be?” you ask.

Have you ever noticed that when the sun comes out on a cloudy day you can see more clearly than before? Have you caught yourself realizing the rare value of loving and being loved unconditionally? Even where bubbly joy may escape you, have you found instead a lasting and contented joy that circumstances can’t shake? If in the presence of adversity you dig deeper to find a heart that has been conditioned to give thanks in all situations, then you have found a treasure. There is always reason to give thanks for the one who trusts our merciful and faithful God. A thankful heart, an attitude of gratitude, is one of the keys to enduring and thriving in the midst of struggles! Along the difficult journey, sometimes surrounded by despair and worry, a thankful heart discovers unspeakable hope and a ‘fully persuaded’ faith that is a firm and secure anchor for your soul. In fact, it is not a new discovery but one which has sustained you all along your path. Only now, it lifts you to greater heights. Its light shines brighter to reveal that your path of trial does not go on forever. If you find these things, you have found immense treasure.

All good news and no bad? Are there no struggles and heartaches? Ones that sometimes wear you down? Oh for sure there are; and certainly more to come. But where there are those, there are blessings all the more. Especially the blessings of faith, hope, and love. These are blessings that are always available to us. In the face of adversity, we always make a choice; perhaps not a conscious one, but a choice none the less: we choose to surrender either to our circumstances and to the impotence of own attempts to overcome them, or to the real power God offers to be victors. Whether your struggles are large or small, whether you have carried them for a short time or much of your life, TODAY is the day you can choose to respond with faith, with hope, with love. Cultivate a thankful heart that learns to rise above the circumstances and rest in the presence of God’s love for you. Be more blessed now than before.

Discharged / Perspective

Barring any unforseen complications, I am scheduled to be discharged from the hospital Saturday. According to my doctor I am making excellent progress, even better than hoped. This is a good reference point since my body is very sore and weak from the transplant. Isn’t that often the case…when we look at our lives from an external perspective we often are much better off than we may think!

Maintaining a proper perspective has been a life lesson that has guided me well in life and business. I often need help from God’s Word and friends to maintain it. Perspective keeps us from over-reacting, from dwelling too much on pain and suffering, and from anxiety. Perspective brings peace where there is chaos. It brings hope in seemingly hopeless situations. It teaches us to never give up on love and to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our heart. Perspective gives us courage to take another step and stay the course in stormy seas. It brings light to a dark world.

Four and a half months after my diagnosis of Leukemia, God’s perspective allows me to actually thank Him for the disease that brought me closer to Him, closer to my wife, and that has taught me things (I am still learning!) that I could not have learned elsewhere.

We are quite humbled by the literally hundreds and hundreds of people from all over the world who continue to pray for Marcia and me, for my 19 year old donor, and for my hospital care teams. These prayers have released God’s power for healing in our lives, and have opened the door to a number of friendships, some for a season, and others for longer. We are eternally grateful for all of you who who have prayed, who have visited and stayed in touch to encourage us, and who have used this situation to Go Light Your World.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Psalm 103:1