I remember in 1999, my doctors told me that in just a few
years down the road I would have to be in the wheelchair for the rest of my life,
requiring support for day-to-day basic activities.
Here am I today, shouting and screaming praises to God.
I remember in 2013, the surgeon told me that my medical history
presented a constellation of risks for doing the surgery that was the only medical
option left for me to have a chance at living a quality life again. He
determined that I could bleed to death on the operating table.
Here am I today, shouting and screaming praises to God.
I remember a few years ago, I laid on the black leather sofa
in my sitting room and I thought of Saturday, October 1st, 2016. My
physical realities then indicated that it would be nothing short of a miracle
to still be here in the land of the living on this special day of my life.
Here am I today, heaping praises on God.
I remember when the label of affliction screamed louder than
a gigantic billboard along a highway. It was God Who delivered me for its
shame.
Here am I today, dancing and giving thanks to God.
I remember when living was difficult and the future looked
bleak, it was God who delivered me from death. He brought me through the valley
of the shadow of death.
He restored me. He sustained me. He secured me.
I will remember. I will remember the wonderful works of His
hands.
I will stop and give Him praise.
Why?
Because He is a faithful God.
For the past few weeks, I wondered, I pondered; what can I render
to God for His amazing grace that
He caused to abound to me from the day I was
conceived until this day.
What can I offer to Him for His unending love?
How can I thank Him ever thank Him enough for all He has
done for me?
What shall I say to the Lord for steadfast faithfulness to
me?
All I have to say is, “Thank You, God.”
So here am I to sing thanks and praises to God.
But if the more than 600,000 strands of hair on my scalp are
made of tongues, they simply cannot be enough to recount all the many acts of wonder
God has performed in my life for the past 50 years since I made my entrance
into the world.
Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788) must have been in the same
position as I am right now when he composed the hymn below:
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of His grace!
This hymn succinctly expresses the depth of my gratitude
and my earnest desire to let God know just how much I am grateful for who He
has been to me. The triumphs of His amazing grace in my life is a book worth
writing. I could write volumes on the triumphs of the grace and mercy of God
manifested in my life.
During the next few days leading to my 50th
birthday on October 1st, what I desire to do is to employ a thousand
tongues to join me to spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of His
name. Join me to heap praise on God.
I
will stop, take time and lavish extravagant praise on God, for great is God’s
faithfulness and amazing grace to me.
I
invite you who know my story to join me; let’s raise together a thousand tongues
to sing the praises of my great Redeemer.
