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All Sufficient Grace

1/29/2015

    2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." That was told to Paul by Jesus when he asked him three times to remove his 'thorn in the flesh.' It was probably some health concern, poor eyesight maybe, that inflicted Paul and he asked to be healed. Paul believed that he would be able to be a more effective messenger for Jesus if he wasn't afflicted. The answer that Jesus gave Paul probably wasn't what he was looking for, but it was sufficient. The answer from Jesus was that HE was enough.

    Throughout the years of my life I have wondered what it would be like to not have Marfan syndrome. I wouldn't have over five feet of scars across my chest and side. The dozen scars from where the chest tubes have been removed wouldn't exist.

The indescribable physical and emotional pain that I have experienced due to my procedures would have never happened. Maybe I could have played sports? I might have been a star athlete and be rolling in the money. What if? What if? What if?

The "What if's" in life could drive a person crazy!

    I have been drawn to this portion of Scripture for many years. In chapter 11 of 2 Corinthians, Paul goes through a whole list of the physical and emotional scars that he has experienced while preaching the Gospel. The list puts our trials to shame. Shipwrecks. Beaten with rods. Stoned. Whipped. Sleepless nights. This list is extensive and painful to even read. Despite all those things happening to him because of his dedication to Christ, he never gave up. He asked for deliverance, but Jesus said My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
    I don't look at the what if's anymore. I can't change the past. I have been created how God wants me to be and even during the tough times I know that God's grace is sufficient for me. Even in my weakness, my pain, his grace is enough and I am strong through Him.
    Don't dwell in the "What if's". Be content with who you are and where God has you. When God calls you to something big and you don't know how you can do it, remember it's not you but Him. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

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Custom Scars & Custom Cars

1/26/2015

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These are my parents, Lester and Kathy Henry, standing in front of their Custom 1948 Ford sedan. It's a beautiful car, customized exactly how my father wanted it to be. This car has significant body, engine, roof, paint, suspension, and interior customizations that my father desired. He started planning the restoration of this vehicle back in the mid 1990's when I was still in high school. My father's desire was for this car to be a custom reflection of its maker.

    I see my father's customizations of his 1948 Ford very similar to how God views each one of us. My father could have just restored this car to its original look from top to bottom, but that wasn't his hearts passion. Dad wanted it to be customized. He wanted it to be unique. One of a kind. I like to compare what my father has done with his Custom Car with how God sees each one of us and our customizations.
    I have Marfan syndrome and to the world my health condition isn't "normal." But whose the authority of what is normal? I have no doubt that each one of us has Custom Scars in our lives, so what is normal? .
    Psalm 139:13-16 says, " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (The Holy Bible : c1984, New International Version)
    God knew and saw us when we were inside of our mother's womb. That is where my genetic abnormality happened causing me to have Marfan syndrome. So if God knew me when I was safe inside of my mother's womb and He had a plan for me regardless of my Custom Scars, then God knows all about my customizations. My Custom Scars don't disgust Him or make me inferior to Him. I am just as special and valuable to Him as the most "normal" person that has ever walked this earth.
    Do I understand all the reasons why some things have happened in my life? No. Why did I have to be diagnosed at the age of 12 with Marfan's? Why did my mom die when I was 15? Why do two of my five children have Marfan's? You and I could ask those types of questions for the rest of our lives, or we can thank God for the life He has given us and know that He will use our Customs Scars for His glory if we will just allow Him.
    My dad's 1948 Ford is exactly how he wanted it to be built. I am exactly how my heavenly Father wanted me to be built. I would not trade my Custom Scars for one day of "normal" because I am exactly how the great I AM wants me to be.

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Let God Direct Your Heart

1/23/2015

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    I have been so encouraged this past week with the launching of the Custom Scars website and its complimenting Facebook page. Over 300 unique visitors have visited the Customs Scars website with over 800 total page views. Thinking back over the last four years, I have known the personal ministry that God has wanted me to venture down, but I have been so scared to take the first step. That these scars would limit me. But I have found freedom through obedience.
    As I was sharing with Amanda last night, my heart now feels free. It's almost as if God has been waiting on me to take those steps of faith that He guided me to start taking four years ago. I know that these are the steps that God desires of me and I am glad that the fear is gone. I have big dreams. Not dreams for me, but dreams for what God can do through me for others to meet Jesus. I hope that is your hearts passion as well! For you to be so used by God that people have no choice but to see Jesus through your life. That is what Custom Scars is ultimately about. It's not only the acceptance of one's Custom Scars, but also allowing God to use those scars to help bring hope to others. Everyone reading this can be a glimmer of hope to someone else. A smile, a kind word, a note can change the course of someone's day.
    When we allow God to direct our hearts and lives, He will always give us the strength to make it to the end. It's not always easy and for many of us it can even be painful, '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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I've got to ask, "Did you play basketball?"

1/20/2015

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    Today I had a lighter office workload so I headed out to visit a few people. One was a former church attendee who now lives 70 miles north in Erie with his daughter and son-in-law. He (Dave) lives with them because he has Multiple Sclerosis and is not able to walk. I try to visit him every 4-5 months just to see how he is doing.
    As we were talking I asked him about his recent procedure to have three stents put in. Dave told me that all went fine, but that his health concerns are nothing compared to mine. I reassured him that his are just as important and that I was glad that he has more strength.
    After my hour visit I said my goodbye and headed for lunch at Golden Corral. When I walked in the door the obvious was spoken, "Boy, are you tall!" I smile and said, "Yes, I am." Then that question that I imagine so many Marfan patients get, "Did you play basketball?" I again smile and told him that I was never able to play because of a heart condition, but that I was the tallest water boy in the league! (For real, no joke, I was the water boy, and I was the tallest)
    After I found my seat, my waitress kept on calling me sweetie so I made sure she received a nice tip! But while I was eating, a husband and wife sat down across the room for lunch and the husband reached over and took his wife's hand and they prayed over their lunch. I thought that was great and after I had finished my meal, I went over and told them how I appreciated them praying over the food they were about to eat.
    It turns out that he was a pastor from the Jamestown, NY area. We had some nice conversation and he posed a question to me. It wasn't if I played basketball, but he asked me, "Is Jesus the Lord of you life?" To that I responded, "Yes sir, He is."
    That's the question that matters. Would have I liked to play basketball? Yes, by all means. But the more important question we need to be asking each other is if our hearts and lives are right with Christ.
    I then visited two more people locally in a nursing home and ended up talking to someone I had never met before for 20 minutes about faith, people we both knew, and just joking around. I also had one woman who worked there jump when I came around the corner because I was so tall. . .I frightened her. She jumped and again stated the obvious, "Boy, he's tall."
    It can be a crazy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so happy that God has me right where I am supposed to be and that Jesus is the Lord of my life.

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The ticking doesn't stop

1/19/2015

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Last night I couldn't sleep well. I just kept thinking about everything that needed to get done. My sermon, my article for our local paper, preparation for our church membership class, church elections, Amanda and Michaela both not feeling well and even this new ministry of Custom Scars.

While laying in bed with a racing mind, I was reminded to stop and slow down. A ticking sound made me stop. In 2010 when i had an artificial aortic valve grafted in, due to the thinness of my chest, I hear it ticking all day every day. An average heart beats between 38-42 million times a year and hear most of mine. I can't get away from it. I tell the kids that as long as they still hear daddy ticking that things are going fine.

So last night as I could sleep, my mind racing, I continually hear TICK, TICK, TICK. Sometimes beat is skipped here and their, but the TICKING never stops. I thought about the blessings of the medical field and the technology to be able to save people's lives. I thanked God for my ticks (not the one's on deer) and prayed that my mind would settle so I could fall asleep.

You may count sheep to fall asleep, but last night after I thanked God I counted my TICKS.

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First Time for everything

1/16/2015

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Today I am starting my journey down the blog-o-sphere. This website and my Custom Scars Facebook page were created out of a desire to inform and encourage you. Living with a genetic condition and having two children with this condition makes our life a little more complicated. But you have difficulties in your life too. I want my story to help encourage you and for you to come to the full realization that God did not make a mistake when He made you. Weather you or a loved one is struggling with a physical, emotional, or spiritual condition I want to encourage you to trust God and know that He never makes mistakes.

I will be addressing many topics through this blog, so feel free to comment and participate with any of the blog threads that may develop.

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All Sufficient Grace

Custom Scars & Custom Cars

Let God Direct Your Heart

I've got to ask, "Did you play basketball?"

The ticking doesn't stop

First Time for everything

Steve Henry

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