Why Should I Trust the Bible?

Not long ago I heard someone say that “religion” or faith is what you need in THAT moment of time. In other words, not something you BUILD up...it just happens to be there when you need it. I cringed at these words. I honestly believe that had I waited until I NEEDED faith, to learn about it, to use it, to put it into action, I would be dead. Yes, that’s a strong statement, but I know in my heart that would be be the case.

Let me back track a bit for those of you who don’t know me or the journey I’ve been on the last few years. In July of 2006 I was told I had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. I was also told, because of a crooked chromosome in my DNA, that I would need a stem cell transplant to save my life. I underwent a transplant on December 5 of 2006. My immune system is still growing, much like a baby’s immune system does. My close friends have graciously learned that if they even FEEL as if they are getting sick, they will stay clear of me, because of my immune system still being compromised. It’s a small price to pay for health.

Again, if faith is what you NEED in that moment in time, if I would have just then, in THAT moment when I heard I had cancer, started to learn about faith, I would have crumbled. Did I have some shock in hearing the word cancer? Sure. That is what makes us all human. But, had I allowed those feelings to hang around, for fear to rear its full, ugly head, I wouldn’t have made it through.

One scripture has continued to go through my mind recently during the night when I wake. John 10:10; “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy…” When I woke up the first morning this scripture started coming to mind, I went to my bible and looked it up. You see, that is just the first part of John 10:10. The rest of the scripture says, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the fullest.” I wish there were an exclamation mark behind the word “fullest.” It’s such a big word and I’m not sure we realize it. Satan TAKES life, Jesus GIVES life. Satan brings bad. Jesus brings good.

Why do I trust God’s word? I trust God’s word because I am limited by my own out look, view or perspective. It was God’s word and God’s word alone that got me through. My faith has only grown because of the Word. The more I leaned into the Word, the more confident I was about who God is…who He WAS, who He will be again.

Romans 15:4 says it all: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Do you want some hope? Who doesn’t? We all do, especially now, when so much of the world seems to be in turmoil. In all honesty, the only HOPE we have is in that of Jesus Christ.

Why trust the bible? Why trust God? Why believe in Jesus Christ? Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

According to that scripture, there are only two options:
1. Trust the Lord
2. Lean on yourself

Which one do you choose? The options are polar opposites. There is no middle ground. Either you trust Him or you don’t.

Those close to me know I've said this many times, even before cancer; you must start TRUSTING God now…with the little things, because when the bigger things come, you’ll be prepared, seasoned, and ready. By trusting AND believing, we have nothing to lose if we’re wrong. But not trusting and not believing…and being wrong, means you have everything to lose.

The next part of Proverbs 3 says, “in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” He fulfilled that scripture in my life. He took a crooked chromosome, a crooked chromosome in my DNA that was trying to kill me with AML…and made it straight! My last bone marrow biopsy in June continue to show a STRAIGHT chromosome and my next biopsy in December, marking 3 years since the transplant, WILL also show a straight chromosome! Glory to God! If He can handle a crooked chromosome, what can’t He handle? There is NOTHING He can’t handle for you, for us, if we only trust Him, His Word and His promises!

Believe it, receive it and STAND on it!

The Power of One

I recently heard the song, "The Power of One" by Bomshel. Thanks, ChelleBelle! I started thinking about so many things. All too often people think they can't make an impact on the world. If you believe that you are sadly MISTAKEN! Each of us has our own "little" slice we can change. It just takes ONE person doing ONE action to ONE life.

The sad thing is people get caught up in the "it won't really make a difference" line and just make a decision to do nothing. My donor, Sandra, made a decision to save my life by donating her bone marrow to me. There is NO GREATER gift than to give the gift of life to someone. Had she not done that, I wouldn't be here. If I weren't here, I wouldn't have been able to minister to so many others who have walked this dreadful road we call "cancer." I'm not saying these people couldn't have done it without me. Sure they could have! What I am saying is all too often folks give up pretty easily unless they see HOPE in someone else. I've been there. I've felt that hopelessness.

Even though I WANT you to sign up on the marrow registry, it doesn't even take something THAT big to change your little slice of the world. Just step out. Get out of the boat even if the waves are crashing around. We can't do things like this on our own. In all honesty, I'm NOTHING on my own. I've lived "on my own" and I don't ever want to do that again.

It's the power of ONE that makes me strong, even when I feel weak. When I feel blind to what God wants me to do next, He'll always shine a light on me, on the path He wants me to take, when I'm not sure. I want the power of ONE, the power of Christ, to shine forth in all I do. I've learned I won't make it on my own ability. It's SO liberating to know HE does NOT need my help in any of the situations that come my way. But, He wants me. He wants ME to be a part of His world. Being a part of HIS world means stepping out into THIS world and choosing to change a life.

Help an elderly lady to her car with her groceries when it's 106 degrees. Pay the toll fee for the car behind you. Better yet, pay for the families meal in line next to you at McDonald's. See the reaction on their face. I guarantee it, you will be the subject of every conversation they'll have that day. YOU! Just you. How cool would that be?

The Power of One! We all matter in this big world. YOU matter!

Where is your Sanctuary?

Where is it that you feel closest to God and protected by His presence? The word Sanctuary means "a place of protection." As strange as it sounds, I felt secure in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of St. Luke's hospital. Everyone had to scrub in and sign their life away before they were alllowed to enter. I knew the nurses wouldn't let anyone through the doors if they were sniffling, coughing or had a fever. I could actually rest and relax and not worry about getting sicker than I already was.

We should feel the same way when we are resting in Him. God's word tells us to "Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10

Do you have a hard time being still? Are you constantly needing to be doing something or always on the go? Do you feel uncomfortable just "being" and not "doing?" If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then it's time to sllllooooooooooooooow down!

How can we do that? There was a time when I would literally go into my closet, turn the light off, and press play on my CD player (before Ipods) and listen to a great worship or praise song...and I would "just be" alone with God. It didn't have to be for an hour, or even a half hour...sometimes it was just for 10 minutes. Do you have TEN extra minutes? Then just BE STILL and REST in Him! He's waiting...