God's Amazing Goodness

My dear friend Lisa Foto recently suffered a devastating brain aneurysm. Her journey has been an amazing testimony of faith and healing. Here are her own words:

On March 20th, I suffered a very severe brain aneurysm. On a scale of 1-10, the doctors said it was a 10. I was working out at the gym and the Anterior Communicating artery in my brain ruptured during my workout and I had a massive brain bleed. I fell unconscious and had to be transported to the hospital via ambulance. I stopped breathing three times and the doctors call me “The Miracle Lady” because they did not expect me to survive. I was in a coma for 5 weeks and in ICU at Mission Hospital for 52 days. Because of how bad the bleed was, they expected that I would have severe deficits on the left side of my body and I appear to have none. The biggest side effect so far is the back of my head is now bald and the hair is not growing in yet. I guess all things in perspective, I am happy to be living and I may have to be bald. Over the last couple of months I have had a brain coil procedure to encase the aneurysm, a craniectomy, a shunt inserted in my brain and then my skull placed back so I don’t have to wear a helmet. It took 18 angiograms, vasospasm treatments, etc. to ensure that I didn’t have any strokes on top of what I had already experienced. Only 40% of people who have aneurysms survive and if they survive, most have severe deficits like paralysis, speech loss, forget how to walk, etc. I have just lost strength due to being bed ridden for so long. That is expected to fully return with time and exercise. Hallelujah!

I am alive today because many of you prayed for me to live. I feel God has given me a very tangible gift on how precious life is and how powerful He is. God heard our prayers and the sense of gratitude I have to everyone and to Him can not be measured in words. The outpouring of love and kindness that has been shown to me and my family is indescribable. Our small group supported my husband John and my family in a way that cannot be measured. They were there everyday from day one, bringing meals, praying with John and my kids and parents supporting him as he plead with the Lord not to take me yet. Saddleback Church overtook Mission Hospitals ICU waiting room. I overheard my neurosurgeon telling one of the other doctors that “This lady knows everybody.” I would have to say that I do know a lot of people but many of your friends and small groups have prayed for me and I don’t know them. I am so grateful for that as well. God has shown me that he is the true healer and that he loves me more than I have ever experienced before. God also showed me His family working in perfect unison on my behalf and for that, I am truly grateful.
Love,
Lisa
May each of you know God's powerful love in your lives. As Pastor Rick said last night, this life is a dress rehearsal for the next part of our lives.

Clothed in Christ

Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite authors wrote, "Being a believer means being clothed in Christ. Paul says: "Every one of you that has been baptised has been clothed in Christ" (Galatians 3:26) and "Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14). This being "clothed in Christ" is much more than wearing a cloak that covers our misery. It refers to a total transformation that allows us to say with Paul: "I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me" (Galatians 2:20). Thus, we are the living Christ in the world. Jesus, who is God-made-flesh, continues to reveal himself in our own flesh. Indeed, true salvation is becoming Christ." Henri Nouwen, from Bread for the Journey

As we prepare to face each day, in addition to washing our face, brushing our teeth, and picking our outfit for the day, let's not forget to put on our most important garment -- the nature of Christ Himself. Then we will indeed be the "Body of Christ" to those wee meet, touch, and encounter through our day.