Giving Thanks
Vintage Dilbert
March 23, 200
The year was 1994, and my wife was terminally ill with cancer. She needed a last-hope operation. No, the operation would not save her life, but possibly extend it. The operation was dangerous, cutting off blood supply to part of the liver, killing part of the liver and the cancer that lived there.
Before I took my sweet love to the hospital, I fasted and prayed. I prayed not for her to get well, but for God’s will to be done and to give me the strength to do what I must.
The operation was a success, however, my wife did not wake up as she should have. A day passed, then two… And five days later she still had not awakened. Add to this that she required dialysis on a daily basis because of organ shutdown. I had prayed before I took her to the hospital and received a positive answer that my wife would be okay. But okay in what sense?
The doctor told me on Friday that my wife could not survive over the weekend the way she was. He told me he was going to start a medication that works in only five percent of the cases. Wow, a one in twenty shot! So the odds were 95 percent against her…
This was my test of faith. Would I believe facts or have faith? I choose faith. In fact, I stayed home the next day, Saturday to do homework, pay bills and rest.
Sunday, when I woke up, I KNEW my wife was okay. I was so certain that I bought a dozen roses and a congratulations card (not a get well card) and went to the hospital. I entered her room and, sitting on the side of the bed, confused but alive, was my wife.
I laughed, I cried, then I got down on my knees and gave Thanks… Yes, as simple as it sounds, I gave thanks to God for keeping His promise.
What did I learn from that episode? Hope, prayer and faith are the cornerstones of our life if we just trust in ourselves and turn the large problems over to a higher power.
Author - B.J. Cassady
Morning Story and Dilbert 
Oh wow, just the story you need to hear when you feel down and out. Happy Sunday!
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It makes you realize that you need to count the blessings that you have.
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Beautiful! God bless you both!
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What a living example of faith. Thanks for sharing it.
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@What did I learn from that episode? Hope, prayer and faith are the cornerstones of our life if we just trust in ourselves and turn the large problems over to a higher power…
>This sentiment is the confirmation for me that I needed this morning..I’m standing on faith at this time in my life over a couple things..Not letting any grass grow under my feet in the process, yet, in prayer/discernment and riding it out. There was a time in my life when such a process of “going through it”; could have me feeling blue. Things are different now and so is my thought process..and how I function. Glad , as usual, that I stopped by your page before preparing for church. Stay UPlifted, blessed & keep doing what only you can do the way you do it..It is appreciated!
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This story made me feel very sad for people whose loved ones are prayed for with loving intensity and do not recover or revive or improve. I read it twice and did pick up that the author expressed humility by praying only for the strength to handle a challenge with grace, whatever the challenge turned out to be. That is also how Jesus prayed in the garden before his crucifixion: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” I am happy to read that this man’s prayer was “answered” in the sense that it proved to be God’s will that the wife recovered for a time, but the idea that a person would go home and be about his business during what might prove to be his wife’s final hours because of God’s promise didn’t feel right for me.
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I second this. These situations are the toughest, especially when a person’s loved ones do pass away. To give an example, my father passed away just a month before I finished grad school in 2011; four months after my dad’s passing, the bishop of my church passed. This “double whammy,” for lack of a better expression, was hard for me to handle even as a believer (probably because this was the first and second time, respectively, that I’ve lost people close to me); that’s what makes these kinds of prayers (i.e. for understanding and grace in life-or-death situations) the toughest IMHO (i.e. when there’s a high probability of the outcome differing from what you pray for). That said, I find God’s still able to console, comfort, and help one move forward regardless…
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Well said.
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Thankfulness coupled with forgiveness is the key to piece of mind, and the joy of life.
By this we recognized from where our blessings come.
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Thanks for being my example of faith this morning.
Jyune🙏
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And therein lies the power of relinquishment; stating our hearts desire, and then leaving the result with Him.
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You post awesome heartfelt stories. I love them.
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True, but the answers are not always what we expect or want
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Wow. This was written so precisely with such impact. I’m sure there’s much more to be said about the emotions that went along with the experience, but it’s a great reminder that God is constant throughout our emotional ups and downs… What a powerful reminder.
Thanks for sharing!
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Inspiring article…
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Another wonderful story. This is exactly my problem right now. I’m fighting between faith and facts. It is very hard!:-(
But I will get there. God bless
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Very, very touching.
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Thank You for your testimony of Faith!!!
bart
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I think when we pray the promises directly out of the Bible, and use the authority we have in His name, we will find that our prayers can be more powerful than we imagine in our wildest dreams. Of course, we should always pray for His will as His will is perfect and somehow He has everybody’s best interest in mind. Also His ways are so far above our ways that an attitude of humility and gratitude in every circumstance is essential. In fact, circumstances are something we must keep in proper perspective as our peace should not be dependent on our circumstance but on our steadfast focus on the author and perfecter of our faith!!
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“I think when we pray the promises directly out of the Bible, and use the authority we have in His name…”.I agree with you Michelle .Isaiah 43:26 says : “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”
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“Would I believe facts or have faith? I choose faith”…….“….. with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
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God is awesomely magnanimous. Congratulations to you sir and your wife. Its quite encouraging for people like us who belief and rely so much in God and prayers. PLEASE read a similar testimony @….http://justmikemon.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/keep-your-head-up-god-is-still-god/
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“The doctor told me on Friday that my wife could not survive over the weekend the way she was” …. I have stopped bothering myself about what man says about me and all that concerns me, and rather, focus more on what my God says…“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you call on me on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Glory to God !
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Amazing scripture you have shared!!!! Thank you for taking the time to put this comment together!!!
Take Care and God Bless 🙂 Kenny T
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You are welcome my brother. All glory to God. God bless you and your family real good 🙂
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Reblogged this on Welcome to Michael Monday's blog and commented:
“The doctor told me on Friday that my wife could not survive over the weekend the way she was” (morningstoryanddilbert.wordpress.com)…. I have stopped bothering myself about what man says about me and all that concerns me, and rather, focus more on what my God says…“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you call on me on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Glory to God ! 🙂
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Reblogged this on WELCOME TO OJAJUNI FESTUS' LAB and commented:
IT’S INDEED GOOD TO GIVE THANKS
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