So my favorite (and only) sister-in law posted on my fb the other day...one of her and my favorite sayings is "Choose Life!" It's always been kinda cutesie and yes somewhat inspirational, but when actually faced with a disease that can lead to death.....the saying takes on a whole new meaning.
But if I'm being honest, the thought that I might die has never even made it into my thought library. Not only do I choose to not entertain it, but I know what the Book of Life says in Psalm 91:15-16 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation." I've heard many stories of people in my same situation that did not make it past the 5 year mark. In Jesus name that is not me; it's seriously not even an option.
So now we look at this, "Choose Life" from a different perspective. It's not just choosing to live or die for me. For some people it is though, whether it's cancer, depression, drugs, alcohol, you name it. My life has been touched by all of the above either directly or indirectly. And I have been at that spot before where it was a choice between life and death, but that's a whole different post. But if you are at that point you need to understand something that took me a long time really grasp onto....let's look at John 10:10 (in the Amplified version) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). See Jesus came that we may have LIFE! Not depression, addiction, sickness or disease. And not only did he come so that we could have LIFE, but have it IN ABUNDANCE. Abundance here means lacking nothing, to the full, till it overflows.
So now, I have life, but how do I have it more abundantly? I'll tell you how...... YOU CHOOSE IT BY FAITH! Every morning I wake up and my flesh tries to tell me that I am tired, that I don't feel well, that I am sick. And the enemy gets into my mind telling me that I have every reason to lay in bed for the next 3.5 months. And to not to worry about missing church, not making it to work, missing random late night swimming trips with my kids. But the second I let the Holy Spirit take over and I activate my faith and get up I realize how true the statement "THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!" really is! You see, FAITH not only BELIEVES and SPEAKS, FAITH ACTS! I can believe that my body is healed since that is what my Life Manual says, "But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received." Isaiah 53:5 GNT. I can even say that I am healed and that the side effects of these treatments will not touch me (or in this case write about it) BUT UNTIL I GET OFF MY BUTT AND ACT ON THAT BELIEF AND CONFESSION, MY FAITH IS DEAD! For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26 (NKJV)
I choose to not listen my body. I choose a more abundant life. I choose to get up and praise God and get fed with the Word at church. I choose to get up and go help people achieve their goals of home ownership at work. I choose to get out of bed and go swimming with my family at 9:30p.m. just for fun. To listen to my kids laughter and live in the Joy of the Lord. I choose a life that is lacking nothing, a life of fullness, I choose life overflowing! Cancer or no cancer, I not only choose life, I choose life more abundantly!
But if I'm being honest, the thought that I might die has never even made it into my thought library. Not only do I choose to not entertain it, but I know what the Book of Life says in Psalm 91:15-16 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation." I've heard many stories of people in my same situation that did not make it past the 5 year mark. In Jesus name that is not me; it's seriously not even an option.
So now we look at this, "Choose Life" from a different perspective. It's not just choosing to live or die for me. For some people it is though, whether it's cancer, depression, drugs, alcohol, you name it. My life has been touched by all of the above either directly or indirectly. And I have been at that spot before where it was a choice between life and death, but that's a whole different post. But if you are at that point you need to understand something that took me a long time really grasp onto....let's look at John 10:10 (in the Amplified version) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). See Jesus came that we may have LIFE! Not depression, addiction, sickness or disease. And not only did he come so that we could have LIFE, but have it IN ABUNDANCE. Abundance here means lacking nothing, to the full, till it overflows.
So now, I have life, but how do I have it more abundantly? I'll tell you how...... YOU CHOOSE IT BY FAITH! Every morning I wake up and my flesh tries to tell me that I am tired, that I don't feel well, that I am sick. And the enemy gets into my mind telling me that I have every reason to lay in bed for the next 3.5 months. And to not to worry about missing church, not making it to work, missing random late night swimming trips with my kids. But the second I let the Holy Spirit take over and I activate my faith and get up I realize how true the statement "THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!" really is! You see, FAITH not only BELIEVES and SPEAKS, FAITH ACTS! I can believe that my body is healed since that is what my Life Manual says, "But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received." Isaiah 53:5 GNT. I can even say that I am healed and that the side effects of these treatments will not touch me (or in this case write about it) BUT UNTIL I GET OFF MY BUTT AND ACT ON THAT BELIEF AND CONFESSION, MY FAITH IS DEAD! For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26 (NKJV)
I choose to not listen my body. I choose a more abundant life. I choose to get up and praise God and get fed with the Word at church. I choose to get up and go help people achieve their goals of home ownership at work. I choose to get out of bed and go swimming with my family at 9:30p.m. just for fun. To listen to my kids laughter and live in the Joy of the Lord. I choose a life that is lacking nothing, a life of fullness, I choose life overflowing! Cancer or no cancer, I not only choose life, I choose life more abundantly!
So what do you choose??
Beautiful! You are an inspiration! I have so much to say....maybe we can get together some time soon.
ReplyDeleteAnytime girl! Let me know!
DeleteAnytime girl! Let me know!
DeleteYour such a strong beautiful woman, I have always been so proud to call you my friend, love your positive attitude.
ReplyDeleteNicole my heart and prayers are with you and your family! My beautiful cousin Angela went through a similar situation at the age of 31! She just saw her Oncologist and is cancer free 8 years later!! You keep your beautiful smile and you plan your future! God doesn't work in mysterious ways, he works in amazing ways! Much love to all of you and we will all be praying for your healing and health!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog yesterday! Such encouragement and LOVE how you give the Bible verses because I am highlighting everything in my own Bible as I read along. This post was especially touching to me. I don't have an illness or an addiction, but I have three children and sometimes this mommy gets tired! To tired to play another game, to tired to joke around with my husband, to tired to live life! This helped me realize what I am doing is allowing the enemy to win whether it be something as simple as when I want to just relax an hour on the couch with a movie on instead of being 100% active in the lives of my loved ones. All my rambling may make no sense to anyone else, but to me it is perfectly clear. We serve an amazing God, thanks for the uplifting:)
ReplyDelete