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

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

Rumors, Reactions and Refreshment

TRANSPARENCY. The word of the day. When I made the decision to let others in on my diagnosis, I know human nature well enough to expect a certain about of exaggeration and misunderstanding. It is a time such as this that I can identify with Mark Twain and his letter to the reporter who inquired about news of his demise when he said "the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated".

Although most reactions have been kind, encouraging and filled with offers of prayer, some have set  the whole process in fast forward past the tribulation and a hundred years into the millennium complete with mildewed gravestone and faded newspaper clipped obituary. 

My answer is simply this: God will keep me alive and well until He is finished with me. Although I feel somewhat an accelerated need to really live life to the fullest and lead our ministry through necessary changes, my prayer is still that God would lead one day at a time. 

I've had the privilege through phone calls and social media to be greatly encouraged by a host of friends and spiritual mentors. Along with the prayers being promised, some have provided thought provoking reminders of the fact that the journey is just as important as the destination. 

One such post that helped me keep this in perspective is from my friend Keith Bassham  (he can say more in a couple of paragraphs than I can in ten pages)

He wrote:

"When Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur Fellowship passed away, one of her coworkers said to the leaders that God had expressed confidence in her followers by taking her from them. In a similar way, God expressed confidence in Job when He called him to the attention of Satan. I have no death wish, and I’m not intentionally seeking a path of suffering, but if and when it does come, I hope to have faith to see it as something God purposes, if not for me, perhaps for others. And, I hope to have the faith to see it as something of a grace coming to me, an expression of God’s confidence in the work He has been doing in me these 50 years. Be convinced of my prayer and continued friendship. God speed on your journey. I will be following closely."

These special fountains of fresh spring waters and wonderful conversations are a life bonus and reflect the kindness of God in unexpected times on an uncertain path to a promised haven. God is good. 

This Journey Begins

JANUARY 3, 2019. The technology used for an  electromyography are not too ominous. They were very professional as Vicki and I came into Dr. London's clinic at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. The gown had the typical "draftiness" and

the background questions reminded me of the preciseness of an eyeglass doctor narrowing the "prescription" to the clarity of + or - that brings the correction into a correct focus. 
The well lit room was exceptional clean and fresh smelling. The clock has an odd quirk, the second hand only moved every five seconds... something I have never seen. 
The doctors were from Chicago and Wisconsin. The intern was from Florida.
 The test performed involved electric shock (possibly what the cow feels when he brushes against an electric fence) on leg muscles, hand and arm that included strange glitching noises. The needle part of the testing felt like a shot that is left in and twisted around. The test confirmed weakness in right arm.

It was not totally expected what the doctors said when they came back into the room. I already had a heartfelt peace for whatever they said. This verse comes to mind whenever I have come to a day that I anticipate may be a harder day than most "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24) Trust in God and whatever He has for our lives includes every day, including today. 
As the doctor confirmed the ALS diagnosis, I am reminded that we are to only live one day at a time. What God has for my life the next few years is certainly in His hands.. as it has always been! My family and many friends have spoken to God on my behalf for this day. It is good to know that He is fully aware and there are many others who are involved in God's work in and through my life. I am so blessed and God is good to me.
They set me up to return for therapy and follow-up. We stopped for BBQ and then Hot Chocolate on the way home. This journey is under way... 

Numbering Your Days

"Everything's not funny". That's what Dad used to say to Steve (my brother) and me - usually around the kitchen table as we always found something to laugh about. 

November 20, 2018. The neurologist looked me square in the face to clarify that this is NOT pinched nerves that is causing the weakness in your hand, "it is a disease". The weeks ahead included a return visit to assess the nerve connections in my legs and a neck/spine MRI (of which could be compared to cutting out the bottom of two Home Depot five gallon buckets, taping them together and somehow sliding your head and torso into it! #FUNSTUFF #NOTFORSISSIES #PUTMETOSLEEPPLEASE).

I'd like to write a book while I still can. I looked up statistics on this disease. Most live about three years from diagnosis. "1000 DAYS" comes to mind as my thoughts go immediately to David's words in the Psalms "teach me to number my days". To that day, my days are 22,624. 61 years, 11 months and 9 days. A good and full life indeed. 

My life verse is still Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in Thee". I just got a bookmark from Jamie (James' widow) with his fingerprint etched on it along with this verse. This year has been such a different chapter of our lives. 

Final confirmation is needed by a physician at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. On my followup to the MRI visit, the doc told me "not to read too much about it" and let the specialist explain more when I see him January 3. It is a little hard to do when you have so many questions that come to mind.

Word of the day: VISION

There is nothing like the passion of a God honoring, church strengthening, heart thumping vision. More than just some childhood dream or short-lived amusement park thrill ride, it is, according to Bill Hybels, "the fuel that leaders run on, the energy that creates action, the fire that ignites the passion of its followers". Jesus saw clearly the will of the Father in the "joy that was set before Him", Abraham looked for a city "whose builder and maker was God", Moses chose to "suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season", Nehemiah looked past the rubble of the walls and led a nation in a glorious rebuilding project, John, though exiled, was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and given the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ! And then there is Paul: his vision of preaching the Gospel to the gentiles of Rome took him as far as a person can go... to death... of which he said "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain".

A vision without a task is a dream;

A task without a vision is drudgery;

A vision with a task is the hope of the world!

Today is a good day to ask God for a vision of some task that you can do for Him that will require your complete reliance upon His enabling power to accomplish it well.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18