Gifts from Above

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow" (James 1:17).

Living in a country like the United States, it can be easy for individuals to buy into the cultural mindset. One prevailing mindset, at least in my own observation, is that of being a "self-made" individual. We can easily be lulled into believing that we have what we have or we are where we are because we did it. Unfortunately, this eliminates the place of our gracious, benevolent and almighty Father who alone is the One who gives "every good and perfect gift."

But even reading that can have less impact than it should. Every good and perfect gift covers some major territory. When we truly stop to consider all that falls under that heading (of every good and perfect gift), we would have to carve out days to complete the list (and then we'd probably still miss about a few thousand items which should have made the list in the first place).

Lately I've had this verse in the forefront of my mind. The reason is two-fold. First, I've been keenly aware of all the Lord has done by His own hand for which man could not, and should not, ever seek to take credit. I'm daily amazed at what the Lord has accomplished in my life and my family. That goes for the last 7 months especially. He has brought Micah and I through major surgery. He has helped Micah and I recover in impressive time and ways (though we are still recovering day by day). The strength and peace He has given Sarah. The security, peace and comfort with which He has upheld Isaac and Ethan. There are too many things to even begin to scratch the surface. Even today, Sarah was sharing about Micah's latest numbers and I just stood in awe of what the Lord has done. His bilirubin level is at 1.8. All the other levels are going in the right direction. And today, for the first time, the doctors began to speak of a potential timetable for Micah's homecoming. Both doctors are waiting to get the level of anti-rejection medication at a good level and then he'll be discharged. When others have been confined to the hospital for many weeks with multiple complications, God in His wisdom, mercy and grace has spared us so much of that.

The second reason this verse has been so much on my mind is because the love and generosity of so many people. Daily we get a card. Today, there were three. Meals are brought every other day. Yard and house work is being done. Emails sent. Flowers delivered. People praying. The care of the doctors and nurses throughout our surgeries and hospital stays. The numerous ways so many have given and demonstrated love and care is amazing. And while I give thanks to the Lord for each and every one, I give thanks to Him knowing that even those gifts are because of Him. If it weren't for those individuals' love for the Lord Jesus Christ, I doubt seriously they would have loved us so abundantly. But because they love God, they have loved us more than we can sometimes comprehend. Yet we are so grateful and we say thank you.

The gifts from above, whether by the Lord alone or by the Lord through you, have been good and perfect. We appreciate you so very much. Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you. I pray the Lord uses me to minister to others as great as He has used you to minister to me and our entire family.

We continue to praise the Lord for all He is and has done. We realize the days ahead are still uncertain (as with all of us), but regardless of what comes, He is trustworthy and faithful. Today Sarah spoke to two separate families, both who have children who recently had a liver transplant. One was a living donor situation; the other received a cadaveric organ for transplant. The first child (living donor child) was back in surgery today. The second was readmitted to the hospital due to a fever and to have a liver biopsy. Sarah and I are aware that even if things are going well now, there are many potential speed bumps over the course of the next several weeks, months or years. Nevertheless, I mention these two situations to you for prayer. I'm not sure whether these two families have the wonderful family of faith as Sarah and I do. So I ask for you to pray for them. Pray for Sarah and I to be able to encourage and minister to them in the love and name of Jesus.

May God richly bless each of you as you seek and serve Him. I pray He continues to use you to bring the maximum amount of glory to Himself.