Breakfast of Champions

There is hope for us because Jesus is all we need. These words capture our lives with the Lord.

Each morning that greets me is full of hope

Not because I am successful at what I am doing.

Or because the people near me appreciate me,

Or because the circumstances are easy.

But because God is, and He is my Father.

To look at the morning any other way

is to believe a lie.

To live in hope is to live in the truth;

To live in the truth is to bring Him glory;

To bring God glory in my daily living

is the highest form of worship.

(p. 221, How People Change, Paul Tripp & Time Lane)

March Madness

Remember: 3 Years Ago Today

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years,

to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart,

whether or not you would keep his commands" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

It’s been three years since the first of four surgeries occurred to replace both of my ankles in March 2008. Many of you chartered the journey with me as the surgeries were scheduled 12 weeks apart. Crutches were part of my recovery and walking routine for over a year. During that time, I only wore one shoe as one of the two ankles were “under construction.” I still remember how odd it felt to finally put both shoes on my feet a little over a year after the surgeries began.

I am so grateful for all God has accomplished in my life through these surgeries. He’s used it to chip off pride, depend on Him, live for His kingdom, not mine, and in some small way He’s given me the opportunity to understand more of the sufferings of my Savior, Jesus Christ. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Along the way there have been numerous times to show and share the love of Christ through the gospel with doctors, nurses, medical staff, those who are physically suffering, and others He sovereignly brings across my path. I would not have had these opportunities if my ankles were not replaced.

The Lord’s blessed me with meeting new people like Christian musician, Virginia Hill, and a professor, Dr. Greg Harris, at The Master’s Seminary who’s also suffered physical affliction. I have yet to meet Dr. Harris in person. We have corresponded by e-mail and I have been spiritually encouraged and challenged by reading his books including The Cup and the Glory.

Many of you who read this post have, are, or will suffer physically. For the believer in Christ -- we can expect to suffer in this life -- maybe not physically, but emotionally through a broken relationship, a wayward child, an unexpected loss, and the list goes on. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29). It’s my prayer that we see Jesus’ suffering and the fellowship we have with Him in the midst our own sufferings. We too can see how Jesus responded in suffering and His desire to please His Heavenly Father. We are to do the same. "Although he was a son (Jesus), he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9).

A full recovery from the surgeries in 2008 has been made. I can now walk without crutches, usually free of pain, and enjoy swimming, biking including spin class, and am grateful, very grateful to God for His goodness in my life! Each day we have is a gift from the Lord to glorify Him.

“Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).