7 years of Thankfulness

August 30, 2012 is the seven year mark post-kidney transplant. Back in 2003 a total stranger came into my life as I underwent a bonemarrow transplant as a last resort to rid leukemia. Celeste Ryan gave me her precious and healthy bonemarrow on May 16, 2003. A year later we were able to connect over a phone conversation and we began to build a very unique and special relationship. In 2004 my kidneys began failing and I was put on kidney dialysis while anticipating a kidney transplant. Celeste made a phone call to my doctors and said she would be willing to give me one of her kidneys. It is a perfectly matched kidney as we share the same blood DNA through the bonemarrow transplant. So in August she flew here to Michigan from California and we met for the very first time. The rest of her family flew in a couple days later and on August 30, 2005 she selflessly gave me a second gift of life.

Thanking God today as I share in this celebration. Thank you for allowing me to wake up each morning to be a light and live fully for You. Thank you Celeste Ryan for your selfless gifts!! God is good!

"You're Beautiful." Part. 1

How often are you seized by God's goodness? Seized by nature? Seized by Godly provision?

 

During Paul's second missionary journey, he writes, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone LIFE and BREATH and EVERYTHING ELSE. (Acts 17:24-25) To put it simply we are needy, He is not. 

I'm currently writing this blog at my aunt and uncle's dining room table in Las Vegas on a hot Sunday afternoon. I sit here pondering what all has happened over the last week here on vacation. What has seized me?

Continuing in Acts 17 verses 26-27 says, From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boudaries of their lands. God did this so that they would SEEK him and perhaps REACH OUT for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."

These gifts point to a Giver.

Our God is good, he is creative, and he wants to share himself.

I love my beautiful mitten shaped state of Michigan. The beautiful lake front, the green pastures, colored trees in the fall, the misty foggy mornings, and the snowcovered trees in winter. But what I love about heading westward is the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets over the mountains that leave me speechless, the dry baren but open desert, and the coolness of the mountains. As we headed even more west into CA and onto Huntington Beach for the day I stood in awe of the vast ocean, the magnificent waves, the sea breeze that brings my senses into a paradise uknown to a country girl like me. I was seized by God's magnitude, creativity, and greatness over and over on this trip.

So sorry to have to cut this short, but family time is calling me! I would love to continue sharing my thoughts...which will happen in Part 2. Get Excited. Pictures will be shown.  

Waiting.

Waiting does not come easy to me. In all honesty I'm an instant gratification kinda girl, but I'm working on it.

During my health issues the motto my family and I stood by was, 'One Day at a Time.'
There were times I couldn't ride my horse unless my blood counts were high enough. Hospital visits that didn't take just an hour, but several. Waiting to find out the results of a test. Waiting for a cure. In that chapter of my life waiting was just part of the course and it seemed like that was all I was doing,and it became a part of my life even though I didn't want to welcome it. Thankful for God's grace.

As of lately I have been humbled with the amount of grace God has given me when I follow His leading. I have been reminded that God works in crazy great ways when I least expect it. I am being reminded that I need to WAIT on God and WAIT for Him to show me what He has coming next for me. Oh my word. Sooo hard!!!

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation —
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face! ”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

I love Psalm 27, I love the author's words/lyrics about trust and confidence in God. There are strong words describing the affirmation of God's strength. There are also vivid words on our enemy, Satan. The moment we void our eyes from God, Satan steps in. Satan has a way of planting a seed that God is not trustworthy. In return Satan celebrates when we choose us, rather than God.

We can take shelter in the Church, that is where David finds his rest, his shelter. In this shelter we have Hospitality, the restoration and safety. Celebration, of who God is and what he has done. He is anxious to forgive us and to welcome our confessions. Nourishment, having a Sabbath is so important. Here we can gather as a community and encourage one another. In this Psalm, we see David being drawn here to recieve these blessings.

In conclusion I want to focus on the bolded verses. Psalm 27:13-14. We are who we are because God has helped us this far. It fuels us for the future ahead. He is our LIGHT and our STRONGHOLD. In return we have to wait, to wait for His instructions.

Not an easy thing to do when there is the desire to just be there, to have a glimpse into the future. It is not easy when God has had be step away from something and change directions. I want to know why?! BUT, I have confidence. God has blessed me in so many ways through all the different chapters in my life. I'm excited and I WAIT in anticipation for what will happen next!

Blessings in waiting.

Marissa