Greetings,
I want to let you all know that I am feeling better and have kept my fever down for 24 hours! Mostly, I write this because my mother reads my blog, (my biggest fans her and Dad), and I know she will be happy when she reads I am feeling better. Mom, if you are reading this on Friday I want to let you know I tried to call this morning and no one was home! I love you!
During my journey home I have found that God amazes anew each day. Look at today's verse of the day to the right and you will see what I mean. If you are reading this on another day, go to Ephesians 2:8-9. Immediately follow my surgeries I was very down. I was frustrated in thinking that my pain would never go away and the left side of my head would never have any feeling. Guess what? I was right, at least up to today. My pain hasn't gone away and I don't have any feeling on the left side of my head. So, what is different about me? That's easy, amazing grace.
You've heard the old saying that "God may not give you everything you want bu He sure does give you everything you need". I know exactly what that means. I know that God may never relieve my pain or give me feeling back in my head. He might also decide to never let me win the lottery or to lose the ten pounds I so desperately need (want) to lose. I might never get those things but He does give me the grace to realize that as long as I concentrate on Him he will take care of me.
The great thing about that is that I don't deserve that type of love and attention. You might not want to hear this but you don't either. That is why it is called grace and mercy. We don't deserve anything we receive from God because we are sinners. Yet, thanks to Christ on the cross we have that grace and mercy everyday of our lives.
I don't know what you are going through today. I don't know what life is throwing your way. I do know this, God sent His son to die on a cross so that you and I might have a path back to the Father. And if God is willing to give up His son and that son is willing to die for me then I have a responsibility to live the best life I can. Pain may come and go and situations come up where you think you can't go on, but you can. I did, and you can too. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
I want to challenge you to look at the world with new eyes today. Look at the world through the eyes of God and find it in your heart to give grace and mercy to someone else. Until tomorrow!
Blessings,
Derek
Showing posts with label Derek Hutchison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Derek Hutchison. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Back to the Journey
Greetings,
It has been a while since I last posted. I had a very busy week last week providing pastoral care for a member of my congregation. She lost her husband due to a heart attack and the funeral was last week. Not to mention the cold, flu, whatever I have had this week. I feel as if I am on the mend. In any case I am back on my journey.
It's funny how things like illnesses pop up right in the middle of the busiest times. I know I felt that I did not have the time to be sick this week. I have a number of different projects on my plate and I really didn't want to be bothered with things like not spreading your germs to other people.
Many people tell me that is God's way of telling me to slow down. My remark back is that if God wanted to me slow down He wouldn't have given me all of these things to do! Although, I know that is faulty reasoning. I do believe that God wants us to rest from time to time. After my second surgery I had to visit the Mayo clininc in Arizona. I dreaded driving all that way just to have a neurologist tell me I had a cyst in my brain. I sure was wrong!
I ended up taking a sabbatical from work for three months and Christine and I drove to Phoenix AZ to check in at the Mayo clininc. Even though it was a very rough and tiring procedure I had to go through I look back at that time with great fondness. Why? Because I got to be with Christine, just Christine. The business of the work day and the hectic pace of a pastor and teacher's schedules were not there. For a week it was just her and I.
I think God God wants that from us as well. Our busy schedules and hectic lives seem to always overshadow our time with God. Many times we do not have the time to stop and pray or study. It seems that sometimes our relationship with God is like my cold, "I really don't have time for this right now!".
I have learned on my journey home that it's ok to stop and smell the flowers. To be honest there are times in my life when I am moving so quickly that I don't even notice that there are flowers to stop and smell. I hope I get better at that. Until then I have Christine to remind me.
I pray that you will find time in this busy week to stop and smell the flowers and give thanks to God for what you have! Until next time I hope your journey home is a good one!
Blessings,
Derek
It has been a while since I last posted. I had a very busy week last week providing pastoral care for a member of my congregation. She lost her husband due to a heart attack and the funeral was last week. Not to mention the cold, flu, whatever I have had this week. I feel as if I am on the mend. In any case I am back on my journey.
It's funny how things like illnesses pop up right in the middle of the busiest times. I know I felt that I did not have the time to be sick this week. I have a number of different projects on my plate and I really didn't want to be bothered with things like not spreading your germs to other people.
Many people tell me that is God's way of telling me to slow down. My remark back is that if God wanted to me slow down He wouldn't have given me all of these things to do! Although, I know that is faulty reasoning. I do believe that God wants us to rest from time to time. After my second surgery I had to visit the Mayo clininc in Arizona. I dreaded driving all that way just to have a neurologist tell me I had a cyst in my brain. I sure was wrong!
I ended up taking a sabbatical from work for three months and Christine and I drove to Phoenix AZ to check in at the Mayo clininc. Even though it was a very rough and tiring procedure I had to go through I look back at that time with great fondness. Why? Because I got to be with Christine, just Christine. The business of the work day and the hectic pace of a pastor and teacher's schedules were not there. For a week it was just her and I.
I think God God wants that from us as well. Our busy schedules and hectic lives seem to always overshadow our time with God. Many times we do not have the time to stop and pray or study. It seems that sometimes our relationship with God is like my cold, "I really don't have time for this right now!".
I have learned on my journey home that it's ok to stop and smell the flowers. To be honest there are times in my life when I am moving so quickly that I don't even notice that there are flowers to stop and smell. I hope I get better at that. Until then I have Christine to remind me.
I pray that you will find time in this busy week to stop and smell the flowers and give thanks to God for what you have! Until next time I hope your journey home is a good one!
Blessings,
Derek
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Fellowship
Greetings,
I love The Lord of the Rings. I particularly enjoy The Fellowship of the Ring which is the first in the trilogy. I am sure that you have seen the movies or read the Tolkien books. The Fellowship of the Ring finds nine individuals, 4 hobbits, two men, a dwarf, an elf, and a wizard setting off on a journey to destroy the one ring of Saron in the fires of Mount Doom. I am sure that if you know the story you are saying to yourself, "Yes! The Fellowship!". If you haven't seen the movies or read the book you are saying, "What?". Let me make it easy for all of us. I love the idea that nine individuals set forth on a common journey with a common cause.
On my journey home I find a number of people on my path. My journey towards the cross of Christ is not barren of other people. My journey finds me, sometims, walking along with others. Each of us using our different gifts and talents to achieve a common goal, the sharing of the gospel. It is good to know that their are others on the path with me. It is comforting to know that I don't walk this road alone. Knowing that there is a fellowship of the body of Christ comforts me. Just as the indivudals of the fellowship of the ring find themselves in perilous circumstances we, as Christians, find ourselves striving to overcome evil and sin in our world.
I wish I could report to you that the path that leads me on my journey home was an easy one. I cannot tell you that. However, I can tell you that we don't walk the path alone. We have any number of brothers and sisters to walk with us. And, definitely, we have our savior with us every step of the way.
I encourage you to step back from your journey home for a moment and take time to recognze the many ways that God has aided you in your journey. Looking back at my journey from my first brain surgery til today I am amazed at the blessings I received. From God's holy hand to family and friends who walked with me I have found mercy and grace in the fellowship.
I pray that today that you might see God at work in your life. Look for Him on your journey home. I suspect He is all over, He walks behind you to encourage you, above you to watch over you, beside you to befriend you, and in front of you to show you the way! Peace be with you and I will see you on my journey home!
Blessings,
Derek
I love The Lord of the Rings. I particularly enjoy The Fellowship of the Ring which is the first in the trilogy. I am sure that you have seen the movies or read the Tolkien books. The Fellowship of the Ring finds nine individuals, 4 hobbits, two men, a dwarf, an elf, and a wizard setting off on a journey to destroy the one ring of Saron in the fires of Mount Doom. I am sure that if you know the story you are saying to yourself, "Yes! The Fellowship!". If you haven't seen the movies or read the book you are saying, "What?". Let me make it easy for all of us. I love the idea that nine individuals set forth on a common journey with a common cause.
On my journey home I find a number of people on my path. My journey towards the cross of Christ is not barren of other people. My journey finds me, sometims, walking along with others. Each of us using our different gifts and talents to achieve a common goal, the sharing of the gospel. It is good to know that their are others on the path with me. It is comforting to know that I don't walk this road alone. Knowing that there is a fellowship of the body of Christ comforts me. Just as the indivudals of the fellowship of the ring find themselves in perilous circumstances we, as Christians, find ourselves striving to overcome evil and sin in our world.
I wish I could report to you that the path that leads me on my journey home was an easy one. I cannot tell you that. However, I can tell you that we don't walk the path alone. We have any number of brothers and sisters to walk with us. And, definitely, we have our savior with us every step of the way.
I encourage you to step back from your journey home for a moment and take time to recognze the many ways that God has aided you in your journey. Looking back at my journey from my first brain surgery til today I am amazed at the blessings I received. From God's holy hand to family and friends who walked with me I have found mercy and grace in the fellowship.
I pray that today that you might see God at work in your life. Look for Him on your journey home. I suspect He is all over, He walks behind you to encourage you, above you to watch over you, beside you to befriend you, and in front of you to show you the way! Peace be with you and I will see you on my journey home!
Blessings,
Derek
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Death Makes Us Live
Greetings,
I apologize for the absent post yesterday. I was tending to a pastoral duty and could not find time to get to my writing. It's interesting to see how my calling as a pastor has revealed to me many interesting revelations on my journey home. Yesterday, I was called to the hospital bedside of a member of my church. The family had gathered and was awaiting the sad outcome of life... their loved one's death.
Dealing with death is never easy. Whether it be sudden or whether it works it way out through an illness. However, the one blessing that I have realized on my journey is this...death is what makes us live! As my first brain surgery came closer I was faced with the stark reality that I might not make it through the procedure. I can remember my neurosurgeon advising me about all the things that could, possibly, go wrong. I distinctly remember her saying that death was not the worse thing that could happen. There was a chance that if certain parts of the brain were damaged that I could be "locked in". Simply put it meant that I would be able to see, hear, and comprehend my surroundings but Iwould not be able to move or speak. I was afraid of that one the most.
I can't say that I ever feared dying. I didn't want my family to go through that but, if it was to happen, I was ready. I often tell people tha I would die for my faith but I would much rather stay here on earth and live for Jesus. I knew after my surgeries that life would be rough and it has been. However, I thank God each day that He decided to keep me here with my family and my church. I know that I had been given a second chance, and a third chance, and a fourth chance. Each time I got up from operating table I knew that I had received a blessing. I wanted to live and I knew that this thing inside my head was getting in the way of that!
Living with the realization that there was something that was growing in my head that could potentially end my life is somewhat scary. But, the unknown is often scary. Just because I have a cyst in my brain doesn't make my life different from yours. Each one of us face the realization that death could come at any minute. Although, to come to terms with our mortality gives us great peace of what is given to us after this life. Exciting as it is to dream of the day that I stand before God in heaven I am thankful that more time has been given to me. The knowledge that death faces us every day makes us live!
I know that someday God will call me home. Scripture tells us that "it is appointed for all men to die once and then the judgement". I am ok with that! However, until that point God has given me work to do. I encourage each of us to truly look at death not as something to fear but something to motivate us. God has given each of us gifts and talents to use for His glory. He also given each of us a certain time frame to use them. Be motivated to live...to live for Jesus! Death makes us live!
Until tomorrow may this day be filled with blessings for you and your families. Live for today because tomorrw is not promised!
Blessings,
Derek
I apologize for the absent post yesterday. I was tending to a pastoral duty and could not find time to get to my writing. It's interesting to see how my calling as a pastor has revealed to me many interesting revelations on my journey home. Yesterday, I was called to the hospital bedside of a member of my church. The family had gathered and was awaiting the sad outcome of life... their loved one's death.
Dealing with death is never easy. Whether it be sudden or whether it works it way out through an illness. However, the one blessing that I have realized on my journey is this...death is what makes us live! As my first brain surgery came closer I was faced with the stark reality that I might not make it through the procedure. I can remember my neurosurgeon advising me about all the things that could, possibly, go wrong. I distinctly remember her saying that death was not the worse thing that could happen. There was a chance that if certain parts of the brain were damaged that I could be "locked in". Simply put it meant that I would be able to see, hear, and comprehend my surroundings but Iwould not be able to move or speak. I was afraid of that one the most.
I can't say that I ever feared dying. I didn't want my family to go through that but, if it was to happen, I was ready. I often tell people tha I would die for my faith but I would much rather stay here on earth and live for Jesus. I knew after my surgeries that life would be rough and it has been. However, I thank God each day that He decided to keep me here with my family and my church. I know that I had been given a second chance, and a third chance, and a fourth chance. Each time I got up from operating table I knew that I had received a blessing. I wanted to live and I knew that this thing inside my head was getting in the way of that!
Living with the realization that there was something that was growing in my head that could potentially end my life is somewhat scary. But, the unknown is often scary. Just because I have a cyst in my brain doesn't make my life different from yours. Each one of us face the realization that death could come at any minute. Although, to come to terms with our mortality gives us great peace of what is given to us after this life. Exciting as it is to dream of the day that I stand before God in heaven I am thankful that more time has been given to me. The knowledge that death faces us every day makes us live!
I know that someday God will call me home. Scripture tells us that "it is appointed for all men to die once and then the judgement". I am ok with that! However, until that point God has given me work to do. I encourage each of us to truly look at death not as something to fear but something to motivate us. God has given each of us gifts and talents to use for His glory. He also given each of us a certain time frame to use them. Be motivated to live...to live for Jesus! Death makes us live!
Until tomorrow may this day be filled with blessings for you and your families. Live for today because tomorrw is not promised!
Blessings,
Derek
Friday, October 16, 2009
Healing
Greetings,
As you might notice I have changed a few things on this page. I have added a counter so that I can track who is following me on my journey. I have added a picture of me and Christine under my family. I hope to share pictures of my family each day. I have also added a description of this page under the title My Journey Home.
I call this page a spiritual journey of healing and wholeness of Derek Hutchison. What is "healing and wholeness" really mean. We throw those terms around the body of Christ with an assumption that we all know what we are taking about. I'm not sure we do. I believe that what God considers to be healing and wholeness might be different than what we think it is. I know it is for me.
After my surgeries I prayed mightily for a healing from God. I prayed that He would dissolve my cyst and remove my headaches. I knew that He was a God who listened and, therefore, knew what kind of healing I wanted. He just wasn't ready to heal me in THAT way! In fact, God didn't take any of my suggestions on the whole healing process. Scripture says that "God's ways are not our ways", I found that to be, oh so, true.
I was convinced that the only definition of healing that I wanted dealt with a cyst and some pain. God, on the other hand, saw a greater healing for me. Instead of healing of my body He chose a healing of my spirit. My surgeries had taken me to a place where God and I weren't exactly on speaking terms. God wanted that changed and so He changed it.
On my journey home I have found that our request of healing and wholeness do not always match God's idea of them. What I have ound is that heaing can from many things, a person, a touch, a word. And sometimes being healed means dying. Not just an physical death but a spiritual one as well. God knew that the circumstances of life had brought to a spirital low and God knew that to be healed physically meant Ihad to be healed spiritually. He knew that the renewing of health was inextricably tied to the renewal of my spirit. And so he waited. He waited for me to get to a place where I could talk to Him again. He waited for me to approach Him and seek spiritual renewal. He knew me better than I knew myself and He knows you that way to. He wants us to be healed, some physical, some spiritual, some financially. God desires a healing for His creation.
So, am I totally physically healed? No! Am I totally spiritually healed? Not even close. But I'm getting closer. That's why it's a journey. God might show you many different paths for you to achieve healing but the end result is the same..healing and wholeness. I know God wants me to be healed some day. If it's healing from brain surgery that's wonderful..if not, that's alright as well. I would rather have a helping of spiritual healing than physical healing. Will it happen, I hope so! Until then, I walk the road of my journey and you walk yours. Perhaps we will meet one day on the same road, the road that leads to healing and wholeness through Christ Jesus. Until then, may the Lord bless you!
Blessings,
Derek
As you might notice I have changed a few things on this page. I have added a counter so that I can track who is following me on my journey. I have added a picture of me and Christine under my family. I hope to share pictures of my family each day. I have also added a description of this page under the title My Journey Home.
I call this page a spiritual journey of healing and wholeness of Derek Hutchison. What is "healing and wholeness" really mean. We throw those terms around the body of Christ with an assumption that we all know what we are taking about. I'm not sure we do. I believe that what God considers to be healing and wholeness might be different than what we think it is. I know it is for me.
After my surgeries I prayed mightily for a healing from God. I prayed that He would dissolve my cyst and remove my headaches. I knew that He was a God who listened and, therefore, knew what kind of healing I wanted. He just wasn't ready to heal me in THAT way! In fact, God didn't take any of my suggestions on the whole healing process. Scripture says that "God's ways are not our ways", I found that to be, oh so, true.
I was convinced that the only definition of healing that I wanted dealt with a cyst and some pain. God, on the other hand, saw a greater healing for me. Instead of healing of my body He chose a healing of my spirit. My surgeries had taken me to a place where God and I weren't exactly on speaking terms. God wanted that changed and so He changed it.
On my journey home I have found that our request of healing and wholeness do not always match God's idea of them. What I have ound is that heaing can from many things, a person, a touch, a word. And sometimes being healed means dying. Not just an physical death but a spiritual one as well. God knew that the circumstances of life had brought to a spirital low and God knew that to be healed physically meant Ihad to be healed spiritually. He knew that the renewing of health was inextricably tied to the renewal of my spirit. And so he waited. He waited for me to get to a place where I could talk to Him again. He waited for me to approach Him and seek spiritual renewal. He knew me better than I knew myself and He knows you that way to. He wants us to be healed, some physical, some spiritual, some financially. God desires a healing for His creation.
So, am I totally physically healed? No! Am I totally spiritually healed? Not even close. But I'm getting closer. That's why it's a journey. God might show you many different paths for you to achieve healing but the end result is the same..healing and wholeness. I know God wants me to be healed some day. If it's healing from brain surgery that's wonderful..if not, that's alright as well. I would rather have a helping of spiritual healing than physical healing. Will it happen, I hope so! Until then, I walk the road of my journey and you walk yours. Perhaps we will meet one day on the same road, the road that leads to healing and wholeness through Christ Jesus. Until then, may the Lord bless you!
Blessings,
Derek
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