Abundantly Pardoned

Today a very dear sister-in-Christ reminded me of a very important fact: God takes care of His own. I am His child because I know His Son lives, and I love His Son with everything that is in me. I love the Father, Son and Spirit. God becomes angry when anyone mistreats His children, and no matter how bad the situation may get, He loves me and will care for me. He is my Rock, my Fortress, my Defender. Hallelujah!!!

I’ve been concerned lately, because I seem to have lapsed somewhat into Martha mode, out of the total Mary mode I’ve been. We cannot allow busyness to distract us from Jesus. We cannot allow anything to interfere with private prayer time. We cannot allow anything to yank us or drag us from the feet of our Lord Jesus. Luke 10:38-42 tells of how Martha was busy with preparations while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, intent on listening to His every word. Martha complained. Jesus told her that Mary had chosen the one thing that was needed—in other words, time with Him. A relationship with Him. Everything else pales in comparison, even our work for Him. Nothing should keep us from Jesus.

In 1969, the year I had my malignant brain tumor, the medical field was quite barbaric compared to present day 2008. I’m quite certain that if state-of-the-art CT scanners like the one at New Horizons Medical Center had been around at that point in time, my brain tumor would have been immediately found. As it was, I was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia at the end of that October, and the brain tumor wasn’t found until the beginning of December. I had been allowed to go home only for Thanksgiving. During the time I was in the hospital I received nine spinal taps to relieve pressure in my head. One of the taps left me partially paralyzed on my left side. One test involved running an I.V. line of contrast into my neck so that it would go into my brain preparatory to taking x-rays. No anesthesia was given until after the I.V. line had been run. When I later regained consciousness in my hospital room, I was still crying. Another test involved drilling a hole into my skull (I was awake, but the area was numbed) so that they could pump air into my head and flip me through the room while taking x-rays. That test was more frightening than the other, though not as painful. I, at last, received my brain tumor surgery on December 5^{th, after they accidentally saw the edge of the tumor on an x-ray. The tumor was “huge,” and the medical name for it was a “Grade II Astrocytoma of the left cerebellar hemisphere.” I required multiple blood transfusions during the surgery, and during my hospital recovery period I screamed in pain each time the nurses rolled me from one side onto the other. The surgery left me seeing two of everything, and I was still partially paralyzed on my left side. My neurosurgeon sent me home in time for Christmas, and I worked with Play dough and a rubber ball to regain the use of my left hand. I walked with the use of a walker until I could walk without falling over, and I removed my eye patch several times a day to do my eye exercises in order to train them to see normally again. No chemotherapy. No radiation. I had to drop out of school for a year while I recovered. I don’t think the neurosurgeon expected me to recover. You know that old saying that goes something like, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? So true! So true! About fifteen years later I paid a surprise visit to my neurosurgeon, and he called me “a miracle.” Many, many people were praying for me throughout the whole ordeal, and my mother put her life on hold while she took care of me. I’m so thankful to God for the miracle He wrought in my life! I was 15-years-old in 1969, and now I’m 54. No residuals from the brain tumor (no seizures or headaches or anything!).}

^{So many strides have been made in the medical field over the years, and donations to the American Cancer Society continue to help in the fight against cancer. Cancer is a terrible monster that steals our friends and family members and co-workers. It attacks all ages and directly and indirectly affects all lives. Please join the battle in the fight against the terrible monster called “cancer.” More soldiers are needed.}

“All things are yours; …and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:21b,23 KJV)

Think upon the above verse in these difficult times when our nation’s economy is below the pit and we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves. All things are ours’—no, not physical things—spiritual things. Things eternal! Things that lift our hearts and spirits while we are visiting this planet. And besides all things being ours’, we belong to Jesus who belongs to God. Hallelujah! Who needs gifts for Christmas when we have all things through Christ?

“The King has left His throne and is sleeping in a manger tonight.” (from a Casting Crowns Christmas song)

“Immanuel” (from the Bible) means “God with us.”

Christmas is so special. It’s when God came to earth to save us from our sins. He humbled Himself and became a human. Everything else pales in comparison. From cradle to cross. What a journey! Hallelujah! We praise You, Lord!

Hezekiah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 29:2 NIV) His father, Ahaz, did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. It is by Bible study that we find out the ways to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and what not to do. This world we live in likes to say, “Oh, this is right” and “That is right” and “Oh, don’t worry about it—you only live once.” We need to answer, “Hey, YOU only live once, but I want to live forever, so I’m obeying the Lord!”

“Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.” (Ecc. 10:18)

It is so important that we spend time in Bible study, meditation, and prayer each day. Allow the above verse to be your verse of the day or week, thinking upon it and taking it to heart, only think upon the above verse in spiritual terms, not actual physical ones. Think upon what will happen to your walk with the Lord if you allow laziness and negligent hands to bypass prayer and Bible study and meditation. What spiritual roof will cave in? What spiritual house will leak? Oh, we cannot be spiritually lazy if we are to be a strong Christian with a full relationship with the Lord.

“You delivered me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm 56:13

This month I have 2 very important anniversaries to celebrate. December the 5th is the 40-year anniversary of my malignant brain tumor surgery. No chemo. No radiation. The tumor was removed, and I was basically sent home to die. “You delivered me from death,” oh, Lord! December 29th is the 4-year anniversary of my true salvation. “You delivered me from death,” oh, Lord! Delivered from physical death and spiritual death, “to walk before God in the light of life.” Thank You, dear Lord, for Your grace, Your mercy, Your love, and Your patience! I truly love You!

“Obey My voice, and I will be your God.” (Jeremiah 7:23b KJV)

Obedience to our Lord God Almighty is so important. When the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge (or a swift spiritual kick if we ignore the nudge), then we need to pay attention and ask God, “Am I hearing You right, dear Lord? Is this what You’re telling me to do: _____________?” The Holy Spirit won’t steer us wrong, and when we’re obedient, God will be our God.