Eight Ways to Not Waste the Blood Clots on My Lungs, Part 2

5.    My disappointment in this deteriorating body is soaked with hope. While in the emergency room I looked Vicki in the eyes and quietly said, “I might not be around tomorrow.” Because of Christ, we both know I’ll be around Tomorrow. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.—2 Corinthians 5:8

6.    The grip of material possessions is further loosened. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.—Philippians 3:8

7.    Praying “if the Lord wills” is renewed and enlarged. Lying in the hospital, too sedated to be able to work from my laptop cogently, I thought of unfinished projects. If they were never to get finished, our Father knows best. You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”—James 4:14–15

8.    Worship God for the ordinary marvel that blood is. It flows. It coagulates. Its Designer tells it when to do which. It is a profoundly amazing substance, because its Designer is an incomparably amazing Designer whose Son forfeited his blood for sinners like me. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.—Hebrews 13:20–21