Keeping It All About Him

One of the young ladies that I work with recently lost her dad to cancer, after a two year battle against the disease. After his passing, her family gathered together things that he had written as he worked through the challenges to his health, his family, his faith and his relationship with God, and made copies that they bound under the title, “Ramblings: One man’s thoughts on cancer, healing and the goodness of God,” by Mark Mayer.

I was privileged to be offered a copy which I have been reading over the past few days. His writings offer an interesting insight into his doubts and fears as well as the journey of his relationship with his Heavenly Father. What he wrote was refreshingly transparent, as he struggled with his own failures and frustrations as a pastor.

I have not read all of it yet, but I wanted to share one thing that he wrote about that made a big impression on me.

One of the things Mark did was to set about seeking divine healing. To that end he attended a healing conference in Miami.

While there he was touched by the “intense and uplifting worship” that he experienced. He wrote that while he was there he felt God impress a truth upon him in the form of a question. He stated that it was as if God was talking inside of his head asking, “Mark, you want the gift of healing, but do you want the giver of healing?” He further explained that he felt that God was telling him that he needed to seek His face more than he sought after his healing.

So it got me thinking about all the times we mortals make it all about us--what God should do for us--instead of making it all about Him. Far too often we approach God in our need, rather than as an expression of our love.

I am reminded about how the truest worship is all about Him, and how the best we can offer God in return for all that He has already done for us, is to love Him and give Him our praise and our worship.

But that’s exactly what He wants most from us--for us to come into His presence through our love, praise and worship of Him, just to be there, not to ask for anything.

In seeking Him with all our hearts, we will find that which we really need the very most.


“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (NKJ)

Still in the Palm of His Hand

As an update to the previous post on my granddaughter, I thought you should know that after observing her in the hospital for a couple of days, it was decided that the symptoms that she was exhibiting were not of enough concern to make it necessary to do any kind of emergency surgery. As a result she was released from the hospital and allowed to return home where she will await the originally scheduled surgery on June 25th -- still in the palm of His hand.

In the Palm of His Hand

Our grand-daughter, Elania, is in a fight for her very life.

She was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor when she was only two years old. After surgery, chemo-therapy, radiation, and a second surgery, she remained cancer free up until she was seven, at which time they found another tumor had developed.

Once again she had to have surgery, but this time it was even more invasive than before, as they had to go through her cerebellum in order to remove the main tumor. The decision was made to treat a couple of other areas of concern with chemotherapy. The surgery left her with some challenges in her efforts to recover and unfortunately, despite more than a year of chemotherapy (some of it very aggressive), test results showed that one of the areas of concern had grown.

The decision was made to do surgery again and a date was set. Unfortunately, before the surgery could take place Elania started displaying symptoms which led her dad to take her to the emergency room at a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, last night. From there they felt the need to airlift her to the hospital in Atlanta where the surgery was originally scheduled.

At the time that I am writing this, I don’t know any other information as to how she is doing, and that fact is very frustrating, but at the same time I have a deep inner peace that can only come from God.

I believe it comes from the personal relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father and the trust that I put in Him. I know that He knows the end from the beginning and while things happen that I don’t understand, it just isn’t always necessary for me to figure it all out. I just need to hang onto the knowledge that no matter what happens, God will bring good out of it as I trust in Him. And in that trust is the peace that passes understanding.

I choose to believe that God is good, all the time, and that He is for me rather than against me. That is why I can come to Him like a child comes to his father, and give him any concerns that I have, knowing He is well able to take care of them all.

The devil, on the other hand is a liar and will do everything that he can to deceive us so that we won’t trust God.

So this morning, with the alarming reports of last night still fresh in my mind, the Lord prepared me for this time of not knowing.

He spoke to me.

It wasn’t like an audible voice. No flashes of lightning or claps of thunder. It was just a quiet reminder of something that I already knew in my heart.

These words came gently up from the inside of me.

“The devil may blow and he may bluster, but the LORD says, 'I’ve got this one in the palm of My hand.'”

(Interestingly, “bluster” is not a word that I would typically use, so I decided to look up the definition in Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary where I found that it carries these meanings: to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats, or to blow in stormy noisy gusts, or to be windy and boisterous. Sounds to me like he is just a bunch of hot air!)

Our prayer is and always will be that Elania be made healed and whole, however God chooses to do that, and our comfort is in knowing he holds her in the palm of His hand.

Sometimes Just a Little More Noticeable

Have you ever thought about how everything around us is in a constant state of change? Of course, that’s obvious!

But have you noticed how there are certain defining moments in time that abruptly bring into focus just how much things have changed? Yes, there are certain points in time when how much has changed is just a little more noticeable!

Last night was such a moment. Last night our nation elected the first African-American to the Presidency of the United States. An amazing change by itself. But possibly even more noticeable, Americans elected a man who has promised to take our nation in a much different direction.

When the results of the election were announced, some were overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation for the promise of change. Others were gravely disheartened by the prospect of the change that this election decision would bring.

Some were uncertain about the change, some feared the change, and some really didn’t care what this new President-elect would bring. They were just glad that all the political advertising that was interrupting their television watching had come to an end!

Some knew it was going to be for the best. Others knew it was going to be for the worst. But regardless of where you stand on the issues, I think that you know that we are in for some changes--some “noticeable” changes. Still one thing hasn’t changed. And that is our deep need for true healing in our nation.

There is too much that divides us in our country. There is an abundance of dishonesty, and lack of integrity, and yes, wickedness. How sad that so many in our country have turned their back on God and failed to honor Him. How frightening to think that we have not held our Creator in reverential fear!

The Bible reminds us of God’s promise:

“. . . if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJ)

It is time to stand up for what is right and against that which is wrong. We truly do live in the best country in the world, but we need to pray that it remains that! So, I’m asking you to pray for our nation. Please pray!

I would also encourage you to pray for our new President (and all of our leaders) that God Himself would touch his heart, and guide his decisions, trusting that what the Bible teaches us is true:

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 (NKJ)

May God bless you and God bless America!