Again: Blessed With The Best

 "God always sends me the best" not only is my favorite quote (Sharon Forgie as she went through cancer treatments), but has become my reality over the past four plus years of my ALS journey from Michigan to Texas. Caring professionals and amateurs :) have been used of God to help me and our family as caretakers and supporters. The most recent are  Bristol, Shay, Alma, Jenna, Jill and Joyce. There are many unsung heroes and I thank God for the ones who have crossed my life in this last chapter.

"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth ...This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. ...for there is no want to them that fear him. ..they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing"

-Psalm 34

Blessings: Drinking From The Saucer

 I've never made a fortune,
and I'll never make one now.
But it really doesn't matter
'cause I'm happy anyhow.

As I go along my journey
I'm reaping better than I've sowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have a lot of riches,

And sometimes the going's tough
But with kin and friends to love me
I think I'm rich enough.

I thank God for the blessings

That His mercy has bestowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

He gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings for
I'm already blessed enough.

May we never be too busy
To help bear another's load.
Then we'll all be drinking from the saucer
When our cups have overflowed.

By John Paul Moore

First Date Surprise

 My roommate Paul Gabriel and I decided to go on a double date. I first spotted Vicki at a volleyball activity that we had at Seminole Baptist Temple. 

  Busloads of students from BBC (Baptist Bible College) would go to the parking lot at the church were they set up several nets for us to play volleyball. I was just learning to spike the volleyball and Vicki was across from me and had seen me hit the ball hard and asked me not to hit her. On the next serve someone set me up and I forgot. I hit her in the face with the volleyball and knocked her down. I turned to my roommate Paul and said "I want to take her out on a date." Needless to say that wasn't what she was thinking about me at the time.   

It was our intention to make a big impression since it was our first date. We had four coupons for free steak dinners at Sirloin Stockade. I asked Vicki and Paul asked one of her friends on a Sunday evening after church in September (12) 1976. I was glad she said yes. When we arrived at the restaurant, to our surprise, it was closed on Sundays! The big problem was that neither Paul nor I had any money. So we decided to go to the new Battlefield mall McDonald's and Vicki had to pay. We really had a great time for about 2 hours just talking about our lives and about the Bible. It was a memorable date.

She's been paying ever since :)

A Yellow Flag or Thanking God For His Purpose?

 When things in our life happen that seem unfair or "against the rules" as I interpret them, I am reminded that I am not the referee but rather a disciple with much to learn about the faithful, tender, loving kindness of God.

My hope and strength is found as I bless the Lord in the middle of trouble, acknowledging God’s role in our lives and dwell instead on the greatness of our God. In Psalm 103, David knew trouble. He faced the threat of enemies, the consequences of his own sin, and the challenges of sorrow. Yet he also recognized the healing power of praise. He list reasons to turn our attention to God, who gives us many benefits:

 

• He forgives us, 
• heals us, 
• redeems us, 
• crowns us with love and compassion, 
• satisfies our desires, and 
• renews us. 

Focusing on God’s greatness puts hope in our troubled hearts. 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

Psalm 103:1‭-‬5‭, ‬14‭-‬19 KJV

A POWER CHAIR!

 The Numotion power wheelchair was delivered last Wednesday. While it brings reality to not-so-distant increased struggles with everyday mobility, it comes as hope for this new normal. 

• Hope to continue to connect with friends and family.
• Hope to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. 

My beautiful wife

It allows to traverse walking trails in the park and interact in church with new friends and family. The elevator feature promises a quality of interaction that would not be possible without it. As daily needs have increased, blessings have continued to come in overwhelming ways. With the help of a loving wife and the support of family and friends, God has been good to me!

Team Gleason's passion to help those with ALS really has made a difference with me and my family and I am truly grateful. Besides all this, I am glad it raises up to be nearly as high as the tall kids that we live with and is fast enough to chase my grandkids around the house :)

-David C

Spring, TX

#teamgleason #nowhiteflags #als #lougherigsdisease #numotion #gonumotion #powerwheelchair #seatelevator #accessibility #mostblessedmanalive

ALS Team Texas

RELOCATION AND RENEWAL

We are in a new place and meeting new people. God continues to connect us with those whose dedication is to help and give hope for full life regardless of diagnosis or progression. Houston is a big city, yet God has once again blessed our lives with such caring people. 

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/research/our-faculty/labs/appel-lab/

Many are simply unheralded and unknown yet working to give quality to life's difficult circumstances. Lou Gehrig gave his "Luckiest man alive speech" on July 4, 1939, and his overwhelmingly grateful tenor impresses me to proclaim that I feel I am the most blessed man alive!

Psalm 103:1-14

Bless the LORD, O my soul:

And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;

Who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;

So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment

For all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses,

His acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide:

Neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins;

Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth,

So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children,

So the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.

Thank each of you for your prayers and concern.

Blest With The Best!

One great thing forty years in ministering to people has exposed me to is the many, MANY health care professionals that help people deal with sickness and disease on a daily basis. I have been blessed beyond measure to walk with many through those storm tossed waters. 

A good attitude and a good sense of humor goes a long way on both sides of the equation.

One evening in September nearly eight years ago, I got a call to come to the ER at Genesys where a dear, sweet Lady in our congregation was at death’s door. They whisk us out of the room as their amazing team literally saved her life that night. Over the next week, I met people who worked in many disciplines, including palliative care (which I had to google), cancer doctors, surgeons, and many that I do not even know what they were doing other than obviously helping her.

Over the next three years, she was up and down in her strength as she went through chemo, rehab centers, possible food poison and one of her doctors was even arrested for Medicare fraud. Finally, stage 5 cancer took over meaning no more chemo and hospice was set up.

As she was in the hospital for the last time on that cold February day, she said something to Vicki and I that she had said over and over throughout her ordeal –

“They always send the BEST people to help me”.

Just 14 days later, she went home to be with the Lord, but her words, laughter and attitude have made such a lasting impression on my life.

As I have begun my journey facing many health uncertainties, I have already been blessed with the BEST that God has brought into my life because of this disease. I had my three month checkup and evaluation this week at University of Michigan ALS clinic and I took a few pictures to share and  I want to thank God for them! I was even able to share my faith with the nurse that drained seventeen vials of my blood that it would really be great if they found the key to the mystery of this illness from my Texas blood!

As they seemed encouraged by my continued physical strength, I too feel a renewed sense of vigor, not only for today, but for new opportunities to celebrate my life and faith in Christ in the months and years to come… as each day we are given grace and “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began…” (Titus 1:2)

It is overwhelming to me that so many people send notes to tell me they are praying for me continually. We must constantly be aware of the love and care of people around us.I have truly seen God work in my life this year in ways that I can only say “God is good to me”, and when you put your trust in Him, He can do things in and through your life in a purposeful way that when this life is through, He even has something better in store for us that will trust Him!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADS!

Father's Day makes me thankful for all the men in my life who have "fathered" me.

My dad, "Dub" Chittenden, was a trim carpenter, a soul-winnin' deacon, Sunday School teacher and a genuine Christian. He loved my mom and "us kids". I observed through many difficult situations his principles based on "what is right" which I always knew he had determined from prayer and God's Word. Even through the cancer that took his life, he was the "same" man who even witnessed to his brother from his death bed. He was only 42 when he died and I was 16. His example has always been "larger than life" and I have tried to follow his footsteps. Sometimes it seems as though I can hear his loving voice and hear his laughter. I am looking forward to the day when we will enjoy each other's company once again.

My grandfather, O. B. Scott, was a Santa Fe Roadmaster. His gruff exterior and tenth grade education was hard for some to handle, but I observed his love for Jesus Christ, his "do what's right" attitude and still remember getting to sit in his Sunday School class as he taught the Word of God and would weep over some great truth he had discovered.

My "new" dad, Chuck Muse, has been in my life longer than either my father or grandfather. He has picked right up where they left off. I always felt he had the "harder" job of dealing with "adult" you-can-tell-a-Texan-but-you-can't-tell-em-much children. He has been loving, kind, generous and supportive for which I am very thankful. But most of all, I am thankful for him taking care of and loving my mom. He has been a great father and I thank God for him.

These men have had a tremendous influence on my life and I hope someday my children will be able to carry on the godly legacy that I have been so blessed with. Happy Father's Day, Dads!