A Journey from Surviving to Thriving

Our daughter recently asked: “Dad, do you realize how many miracles God has done for you from 2016 until now?” Obviously there’s a backstory to that question.  She knew that I was diagnosed with the physically incurable disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in 2011, and at that time the medical community gave a prognosis for longevity of three to five years after diagnosis.  By that standard I should have Iived only to 2016.  We had been discussing what a miracle might look like having my lungs completely restored by God, when she wisely observed the fact that there have already been many “miracles” given to us by God since 2016 until now (mid 2023) — phenomenal blessings that I would not have enjoyed had the medical prognosis been correct. That got me thinking — and REMEMBERING! Now the fact that one can be rejuvenated and encouraged by recalling good things of the past is probably not a new insight to anyone.  But I still have the sense that exploring this practice a

One of my sons recently asked me,  “Dad you never seem to get uptight over all the issues you are facing — personally or in the world around us today.  Why is that”? I had to think for a moment.  Eventually I think I said something like, “I think the answer to that question might have something to do with the one word that has been on my heart recently — “RESTED”.  And that might be because we have numerous prayer partners praying that your mom and I would experience a genuine “restedness” in Jesus as we struggle though our present medical journey.  I suspect God is answering those requests and is enabling me to experience my soul being at rest in the Lord.  With that I simply don’t worry or focus on the challenges of our present journey or on any other critical issue surrounding all of us today. Admittedly, this happens better on some days than others!  From the perspective of a committed follower of Jesus today, there could be much to “worry” about in the world around us, including o