Perfect

I was amazed, overwhelmed, and humbled by the outpouring of encouraging e-mails from so many Words for the Day subscribers yesterday. Initially I started trying to answer them all, but soon realized that there were far too many and I simply didn’t have enough time. Please know that even though I may not have personally responded to your letter, I do appreciate every last one of them and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time.

I also want you to know that while it is true that the type of skin cancer that I have is malignant and the treatment for it is highly uncomfortable including my surgery today, the good news is that it’s not aggressive and the chances of it metastasizing and taking me out are extremely remote. I am told that it is entirely treatable and like a ship that has had its barnacles removed I expect to sail away unscathed, good as new and full steam ahead in the next couple of weeks.

For those who have asked, my book, Miracle on Luckie Street, is currently at the printer and will be shipped to me November 12th and then promptly shipped to those of you that have preordered it. If you have not ordered it you may do so at: WWW.Miracleonluckiestreet.com

Recently I have been reviewing the cover and the final printer’s proofs and taking care of last minute details. The creative designer that I have been using to typeset the book has been incessantly nagging me to read the book one last time before final signoff and printing. It has been proofed seven times by professional people and in addition I have personally proofed it five, and I have been valiantly resisting, but in my weakened condition he finally wore me down. In order to avoid delays and keep it on the printer’s schedule I had to read it in just two days; (480 pages long).

I got up EARLY, (even for me), and tackled it and accomplished my task over the weekend reading it straight through in just two days. I’m glad he convinced me to read it again, not just because of the few inconsequential typos I found, but because for the first time I enjoyed sitting down and reading the book cover to cover uninterrupted without having to make undo edits to it. When finished I was astounded at what God has done in my life. Reading it all in one sitting like that nearly overwhelmed me and I now know where my tremendous faith comes from.

One of my friends told me that he could not get over my remarkable faith and how I just seemed to take my cancer in stride as though it was merely an “afterthought and an inconvenience”. I replied that I have absolute faith in God. The Bible states that eons ago I was appointed a time to be born and a time to die. Those appointments were set by God and I cannot change them, nor do I want to. You see God’s plan for me and for you is absolutely perfect. The dictionary describes perfect as being without fault, complete and whole, excellent or ideal, especially suitable, utter or absolute, and exact. Perfect cannot be improved upon. My death will ultimately come at the absolute perfect time according to God’s plan and although I might not know all of the details of the plan I have unqualified faith in God and thus don’t dread that fateful day.

We all were created to serve God’s purpose and not our own. I believe my purpose is to use the mighty miracles that God performed in my life to serve as an inspiration to others. I am convinced that if I could call on the name of the Lord and overcome the adversity and live through what I have lived through, anyone can. In the end God heaped blessings on me by the basket full, but trust me I weathered some intense storms along the way. Although I lament the fact that I will be leaving family and friends when I go toe up, I have even better blessings to look forward to when I get to heaven. Thus I don’t dread it or dwell on it.

Does that make sense?

Today I don’t know if you are in the middle of a raging storm or enjoying God’s blessings, but be thankful to God for both. The same loving God who thought of you eons ago and decided to create you and number the hairs on your head wants you to first accomplish His purpose for you here on earth, and then be with Him forever. He has a perfect plan and purpose for your life. And along the way to your achieving that purpose He will never desert you right up through the time that you too will walk through the valley of the shadow of death towards heaven.

Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.