Inheritance of Hope - Devotionals

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

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Living a Life that Bears Fruit - January 2010

This month's devotional is written by Aaron Hedges, who served as Inheritance of Hope's Managing Director from August 2008-December 2009. He continues to be integral to the ongoing success of this organization.

John 12:24 – “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Andrew and I grew up together, becoming friends in elementary school and continuing our friendship through middle and high school in soccer, classes, and church service. We went to different colleges, but we were only about thirty minutes apart, so we still saw each other occasionally. During college, Andrew was diagnosed with spinal cancer. The disease was terrible, and so were many of the treatments he went through, but Andrew had great faith and hope. Even as the disease progressed, Andrew grew and grew in the full fruit of God’s Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He seemed to miss no opportunity to use his story to encourage other people facing hardship. No doctor or fellow patient in any hospital was exempt from hearing and seeing God’s love and goodness when Andrew was there. I, like every single other person who knew Andrew, marveled at his commitment to God.

One day toward the end of our college careers, Andrew and I were both at home and sat together at a Sunday morning worship service. Our pastor was teaching about prayer, and at one point he set the theological discussion aside and got very personal, very practical. He said that if you want to pray dynamic, bold, powerful, life-and-world-changing prayers, you should pray that God would make you more like Jesus. I thought to myself that it was a strong point, not something to be taken lightly. Andrew leaned over and whispered to me, “I prayed that, and then I got cancer.”

In that instant, I was impressed, crushed, and scared. I knew that God’s will for His people is to reflect His image, and no one did it better than Jesus. I knew that I should pray to be more like Jesus. I knew that God had in fact answered Andrew’s prayer and made him more like Jesus, and I knew he could do that for me too. I knew . . . but I was afraid.

I did not pray that prayer on that day, or the next, or on many, many more that followed. I certainly prayed a lot, and I even prayed for God to grow me as a man in His image and for Him to build various Christ-like qualities into me, but I could never open myself to the huge, risky potential of simply being more like Jesus regardless of how it happened.

The fear of that prayer never left me; it seemed that God would never let me go too long without it coming back to my mind. When I got news that Andrew had died on October 22 this past year, it came rushing back, stronger than ever. Before I could deal with that, though, I had to mourn my friend’s passing. I spent a morning on the bank of the Hudson, and God was good to me. He reminded me of His presence and provision through the mountains with remaining touches of fall color, the steady flow of the powerful river, a particularly strong wind, inspired music, a loving Christian brother on the phone, and – most of all – Scripture. 1 Corinthians 15 was already amazing to me, but as I read it that morning it was richer than anything I could have imagined. It filled me like a feast; it stirred life inside of me. When I was done reading that chapter, I can honestly say that I was satisfied. It was good.

Not many days later, as I was gradually reading through the gospel of John, I read the verse quoted above, and I knew once again what I had to do. This time, though, I was going to go beyond knowing. John 13:17 – “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” God had given me confidence to act. Andrew had been an amazing man, yet he was only a single seed. His death was going to bear fruit, starting with me. Soon after, in the comforting presence of a faithful and loving friend, I prayed that God would make me more like Jesus, whatever that might look like. I opened myself for Him to do whatever He wants with me. The fear was still there, and so were many tears, but trust in God’s goodness was greater. “Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him” – Job 13:15.

Andrew was a good friend, a good man. He loved God. He loved Him enough to pray a radical prayer. He loved Him enough to live out God’s answer to that prayer to the fullest. His life was Christ-like. Even his death is Christ-like: it is not the end of his purpose. The seed of Andrew’s life was filled with Jesus. May it bear much fruit.

In loving memory; to God be the glory . . .

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God's Blessings - December 2009

This month's devotional is written by Angela Bailey, a runner for Team Inheritance of Hope who shares her unique and uplifting personal connection to the mission of Inheritance of Hope. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Angela!

Inheritance of Hope (IOH) is a charity very near and dear to my heart. Both my mother and father faced terminal illnesses during my childhood. My father passed away of leukemia when I was 10 years old, during which time my mother was battling aggressive breast cancer. I am overjoyed to say that my mother is now a 22 year breast cancer survivor. My parents were very purposeful in their actions and the way in which we lived our lives, especially after my father’s diagnosis when I was 5. God blessed our family, as we faced these incredible trials, in such an amazing way. I wish every parent and child could experience life the way that we did without having the heavy burden of terminal illness. It is miraculous how differently the world looks and the way in which you live your life every day, every moment when the constant in your life is the unknown of what tomorrow will bring. It truly changed me as a person and the course of my life in such a profound way that I cannot imagine my life today without these experiences. Through God’s grace so many blessings have come from the dark and trying times. As you might imagine, my mother and I have a very special relationship. We could not have done it without each other, and most importantly, we could not have done it without a relationship with God. His grace is truly amazing! It takes a very extraordinary, strong, and compassionate person to raise a young child through such difficult times, for this reason, my mother remains my hero!

IOH would have been a great resource for our family, which is why I am so passionate about helping IOH grow and be there for others in need. Now that I am a mother of two young children, I cannot imagine facing the possibility of terminal illness. However, I know that God is good and God will get us through anything that is a part of the great plan God has for each of our lives. The reality is none of us knows what tomorrow will bring and how our life course may change at any moment. God’s promise to us is eternal life, but He does not guarantee anything about the course of our lives on this earth. Some have the burden and the blessing, every single day, of facing the reality that tomorrow may not come on this earth. That is exactly what it is, a hard burden to carry and a great blessing to be intentional and purposeful with our time. IOH’s amazing mission fulfills a significant need for children and families battling terminal illness.

My passion for seeing Inheritance of Hope grow and touch more lives extends beyond my personal experiences and connections. I met Kristen, co-founder of IOH, over four years ago through our mutual friend Jill Thompson (thank you Jill!) and she, and her family, have held a special place in my heart ever since. God has such an amazing way of weaving people and purpose in our lives at just the right time – His time!

Interestingly, this summer, I had decided to train for my second marathon at the end of 2009 or early in 2010. After considering many different events, I decided on the Disney Marathon (January 10, 2010). Shortly after making that decision, I got a phone call from Jill. She wanted to share highlights of her recent visit to see Kristen. God was weaving away in my life. The conversation with Jill had a profound influence on me and I knew that I needed to do something for Kristen and IOH. A few days earlier I received an e-mail from IOH announcing a marathon fundraiser to take place at the end of October 2009. I was convinced that God wanted me to run that marathon for IOH. This would have moved my marathon date up by over two months. For those of you that have never trained for a long running event, your last two months of training are probably the most important part of training. God helped me to take a deep breath and recognize the insanity of what I was considering and the impact it would have had on me and my family. So, I decided I needed to continue with the Disney marathon. I was extremely disappointed, and prayed for God to show me His plan, as I had felt a strong call to do something to support IOH. God quickly answered my prayers, as a few days later; I found out that Inheritance of Hope was also participating in the 2010 Disney Marathon. The additional answer to my prayers came in finding that IOH is doing a family retreat at Disney during this same time and that the runners will have dinner with the families! As we all know, God works in remarkable ways and has amazing timing!

My hope is that you will find a special place in your heart for IOH as they continue to provide love and support to young children and their parents as they battle with terminal illness.

God Bless!

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Perseverance - November 2009

This month's devotional is written by Inheritance of Hope co-founder, Deric Milligan. Last month, he and nine others ran the Marine Corps Marathon for Team Inheritance of Hope.

Let us also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Romans 5:3-5

When I first considered running a marathon, the task seemed impossible. How in the world could I run, or even walk, 26.2 miles? In June, I started running (and walking) distances of less than two miles. By July, I went into previously uncharted territory when I ran 6 miles. It was not easy, but it was certainly a good feeling when I was done.

After that, there were a series of runs longer than I had ever done before. I was amazed how my body seemed to know how far my previous long run was, and how it balked when I tried to push into new ground. Time and again it was the same, whether it was mile 6 or mile 20.

I was even more amazed and encouraged at the way my body (and mind) responded to the pain by becoming stronger. On October 25^th, I completed 26.2 miles, my first marathon, in Washington, D.C. Not only did I complete the race, but it was much easier than I had anticipated. In fact, in many ways, it was easier than my first 6 mile run back in July. The suffering had indeed brought perseverance.

As I ran, I thought about the way our trials in life can seem insurmountable - just like the marathon seemed to me back in June. In fact, life is really a marathon. As God promises, suffering brings perseverance, perseverance brings character, and character brings hope. God’s grace provides a path to overcome the obstacles that we think we cannot conquer. That was true in my marathon training, and it’s true in our lives.

I’ve heard a modern-day parable in which two factory workers both make meager salaries and do the same, mundane task day after day. The only difference between the two is the fact that one of them knows he will earn one million dollars in his second year of work. Consequently, he goes to work whistling a happy tune and blissfully tackles his work every day while his coworker drags himself out of bed and suffers through every minute. Their circumstances are identical, but one has hope in the future and the other has none.

For those who trust in God’s plan, suffering can lead to a hope beyond our present circumstances in the marathon of life. What a comfort to know God promises a hope that does not disappoint.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40: 31

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Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant: My Struggle with Obedience - Oct. 2009

Earlier this month, I found myself being immersed in the baptismal pool of my home church in Fishkill, NY. It is not somewhere I expected to be, and it was certainly not a place I wanted to be. I committed my life to Jesus almost 20 years ago, and I have both strived and struggled during that time to grow in my faith and in my relationship with Him. So to be standing in our baptismal pool was awkward and uncomfortable. I was not there because I was attending a Baptist church and adult baptism is what Baptists do, and I was not there because my doctors tell me I am dying and I felt the need to check off all my spiritual boxes. So why did I do it? Because I was trying to be obedient.

I was baptized as an infant. However, when I embraced my salvation as a 17-year-old girl, excited by a future dedicated to God, I felt a leading to being baptized again, as a believer. Of course, being baptized is not something that is easy for someone who prefers to stay out of the limelight, and I quickly convinced myself that because I had been baptized as a baby, I was covered. I am not expressing any theological opinion here on covenant verses believer’s baptism. I am simply sharing that, in my case, I continued to feel a nagging that God wished me to be baptized as a believer.

God has struggled with me mightily over the years in many areas of my life. However, one of the greatest struggles has been with my obedience, or my lack thereof. While I adore my Heavenly Father, and would never directly say “no” to Him, I have become the queen of rationalizing and explaining to God why my plan is better than His. This was certainly true in regard to my being baptized, as well as many other circumstances over the past two decades.

One significant event came after my terminal diagnosis. It was then that Deric and I both felt led to start Inheritance of Hope. However, it seemed as though we were barely keeping our heads above water. How could we possibly begin a ministry to serve others?

I rationalized and explained to God that I simply did not have the strength. I had forgotten Philippians 4:13, a verse I am quick to quote to my children but was unwilling to follow myself. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I had forgotten that He would supply the strength, energy, and resources for work that He was calling me to do. However, He does not tell us it will be easy.

After two long years during which my resistance to God’s leading held strong, we finally answered the call and began Inheritance of Hope. Do you know what I learned almost immediately? God was not leading us to start this ministry because He needed our help. He does not need our help! He was leading us to start this ministry because He wanted to bless US. And He has. Our blessings have far exceeded anyone else this ministry has served. I delayed, or even missed out completely on a huge chunk of my blessing. Why? Because I was disobedient!

I have recently found myself motivated to become more obedient. More than anything, even divine healing, I want to hear God say, “well done, good and faithful servant!” This will require my obedience, something I have not always shown in the past. Also, I believe there are blessings on the other side of our obedience. God so wants to bless us, but so often our disobedience makes the blessing impossible. I have seen this as a parent when I had special plans for our children, which were spoiled when their disobedience forced us to cancel the blessing.

I have a long way to go, but my baptism was a first, tiny step towards trying to be obedient. I encourage you to make a step towards obedience as well, whatever that might mean, and I have no doubt that the result will be indescribable blessings.

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The Power of Prayer - September 2009

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

I recently received discouraging scan results. The cancerous tumors that had been growing in my chest had converged together, creating a softball-sized mass. More discouraging still was the news that the tumor was surrounding important vessels to both the heart and the lungs, as well as the esophagus. Despite the existence of many smaller tumors, the doctors felt this tumor had to be addressed urgently, and I therefore began my first experience with radiation. I had ten “fractions,” or doses, of radiation treatment over ten consecutive days. I had been warned that the radiation was a high dose and may cause a sore throat and a cough, but by the end of the ten days I found I felt just a little tired. No problem! Unfortunately, I was not at all prepared for the symptoms that hit me like a Mack Truck a few days after finishing the treatment. The pain in my chest felt as though I had had surgery, only without the scar. I was unable to eat much due to the pain from swallowing, and breathing was also difficult. I struggled with the pain and various other symptoms for only a week or so, but it felt like so much longer.

When I am in great pain, I struggle the most, but not for the reasons one might think. I can handle the pain, not because I am strong, for I certainly am not, but because I serve a loving, gracious, and powerful God who shares His strength and His comfort with me. He gets me through the pain. But the effects of this pain on me and my family are astounding. As I prepare for the possibility that God may call me home early, I want nothing more than for my children to remember me loving them always and unconditionally. Never have I felt truly angry with them. In fact, they have been my hope and my joy and my strength as I have fought this cancer. But when I am in pain my patience is drastically reduced, and I am quick to snap at my children and my husband. I hate that. I hate that so much. I also find that when I am in pain I experience a darkness that I do not experience when I am well. I feel vulnerable to attack by forces that wish to separate me from my God. I know spiritual warfare is a topic that makes many people uncomfortable, but I have experienced darkness during my struggles that cannot be explained any other way. I have also experienced a lifting of that darkness through prayer - my own prayers and the prayers of my faithful prayer warriors. The heavens have been stormed on my behalf more than once, and these prayers have lifted me from darkness to the peace that passes understanding. I share this with you because I want you also to experience that peace instead of that darkness. I want to encourage you to pray through your pain and to encourage others to pray for you as well. There is even a prayer forum here at Inheritance of Hope where you can request prayer or pray for others. There is great power in prayer! God wants us to use that power, and we will be so greatly blessed when we do.

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