Free-Range Christians, November 18
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By David Gira
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you (Galatians 5:1 MSG).
My children cannot stand the thought of chickens being cooped up in a small house or a mile-long building with a thousand other birds. My big-hearted kids want chickens to be free: free to scratch and peck where they like, free to sit on their eggs, and free to cock-a-doodle-doo all day long. When I buy eggs, they better have been laid by free-range chickens.
Many of us live our lives like cooped-up chickens. We get up early to get the worm. Yuck! We bury our face in the trough, consuming all we can before others do. We peck at others and ourselves, and fight for control. We live in fear. Proverbial chickens! We long to fly this coop. Maybe if we lay enough eggs or get big and juicy, we can get out of here. Yikes.
Paul preached a gospel of freedom in Christ. We are saved by faith in Jesus alone. We are free from sin and death, the demands of God’s law, and the pressure of working our tail feathers to the bone to be loved by God. We are free to be ourselves, to love and be loved, to dance and sing, and to be changed by the Holy Spirit.
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! (See Ephesians 1:7.)
Cancer may seem to have trapped you. Doctors, nurses, and loved ones may seem like prison guards. You can’t do any work, or maybe even play. Ironically, cancer may be the thing that causes you to finally break free and experience freedom in Christ.
My wife and I recently traveled to Hawaii to celebrate our 25th anniversary. The blue waters, so many shades of blue and crystal-clear, white sandy beaches, and coconut trees, were all overlooked by towering lush green mountains!
We also saw something we never expected to see, everywhere we went—feral (wild) chickens. Pretty little hens with their chicks hung out at the beach on the north shore. Handsome roosters strutted their stuff on the coastline in Kauai, crowing sunup to sundown. A brood of chickens scuttled outside the market where a rooster sat on the roof-top, watching and crowing. He seemed to be saying “Aloha!”
One resident explained how this Hawaiian chickening happened. Years earlier a powerful hurricane hit Hawaii. It destroyed, among many other things, chicken coops. As a result, the liberated chickens flew the coop. Ever since, they have been slowly taking over all the islands, and taking free-range to a whole new level.
Hurricane Cancer may have blown your coop to smithereens. The winds knocked down the building and the fences. The rain washed away life as you know it. But thank God, you survived the storm. And guess what? Now you are abundantly free! Aloha!
Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for enabling me to fly the coop! Thank You for Your liberating love. Even as I journey with cancer, help me believe in You and fully experience Your abundant freedom. Amen!
Your Turn: Today, two songs come to mind. First, listen to “I Am Free”, a high-energy song of praise by the Newsboys. Next, if you use Spotify, check out Space, by Mack Brock and Amanda Cook. It’s a slower, reflective song. Both are powerful and inspire worship.
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a seven-year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
