A New Look For A New Chapter!

After not posting a blog in a few months, I felt "College Conservative Confessions" needed to be rebooted, so it has evolved into "Logan's Life Lessons". Since my last blog, one chapter of my life has closed. I am 100% healed! So as I begin this journey to college, I want to share with you the lessons I've learned over the past 3 years & the lessons I will learn in the upcoming stages of my life!

​By God’s grace, He has given each of us gifts and talents that are to be used to grow and glorify His kingdom. When someone hears the word “gifts” they automatically ponder upon something that is exciting- perhaps a Christmas present or the latest piece of technology. Much like the gifts we give each other, God provides us with talents that offer us, and the people who surround us, with happiness.

​In my opinion, as we grow as Christians, God adds to the talents that He has already blessed us with. Much like coal must be subjected to heat and pressure to turn into a diamond, God must subject us to trials and turn them into triumphs to provide us with the gift of resilience. Webster’s Dictionary defines resilience as “the ability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress.” Three years ago, my life changed. Little did I know God was about to give me the gift of resilience.

​At the end of my high school career, I was diagnosed with Pilonidal Disease. I was even told I would not be able to walk across the stage to accept my high honors diploma. This was devastating to me, I had worked so hard for thirteen years, and now that dream was gone. It was on that day that I made a decision. Much like Job, I was going to use whatever trail that came my way to inspire the people around me. I knew people were watching how I handled this situation. I wanted them to know that if I can overcome this then, with God’s unchanging hand, they will come out triumphal too. Victory #1 was when I walked across the stage to accept my diploma. Three years have passed, I have had 15 "procedures", overcome MRSA, defeated PTSD, and my wound has been painfully packed over 1,000 times. As you are reading this, I am achieving Victory #2 (returning to college).

More than anything, I want people to hear my story and know that God has never left my side- and if He hasn’t left me, He won’t leave them! In Romans 5:3-4, God writes “… We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” That is how God is using my gift of resilience! He turned my trial into a triumph, and by doing so, God is providing others with hope!

So I invite you to take this journey with me... A journey that is guaranteed to provide smiles, tears, and many, many laughs!

-Logan

Confession #10- Praise You For The Storm

Confession #10- "Lord, I Praise You For The Storm"...

Long time, no blog. The past few weeks this Conservative has been ultra busy with the election & having more surgeries... To update you- I have had a few rough weeks. On November 13, I'll be having my 12th surgery :/ It was even more disheartening when I found out that my country decided to have 4 more years of big spending, big government, & big broken promises (but that will the the subject of my next post)...

For now, I have a question for you- if you had the opportunity, would you ever go back in time to change something? Maybe a family member that has cancer could have gone to the doctor a little sooner? Maybe you would have avoided that wreck, if you were just a little bit earlier? Maybe you have strayed so far away from God, you'd change taking that first step on the wrong path? I think it's safe to say we've all asked ourselves "Well, if I had that to do over, what would I do differently? What would I change?". What got me thinking about that question was when I was spending my alone time with God. I kind of thought, "Gosh, if I could have just gone back and done something differently... Maybe I'd be better by now?" Then I thought, "Well, if I could go back, would I?"

At first I thought that was a dumb question... DUH, I'd go back!!! But then I started pondering about looking at this from God's point of view- the "big picture". From day one, I've wanted to get to the point of being able to say "Lord, I praise You for the storm", AND actually mean it! I started recalling every nurse I've come in contact with... most of them have just become part of our extended family! Over the past dozen surgeries, I've developed new role models. Not wealthy actors or politicians- but hard working doctors & nurse practitioners that glow with compassion. For 2.5 years, I've been able to see who I can depend upon. I have been able to see who would stand by my side & who would slowly drift away from my life. Without this "storm", I wouldn't have been able to meet a community of Facebook & Twitter friends that have gone above & beyond to illustrate their support of me! But most of all, through this torture, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 has come to life for me- "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Before this valley I had a Savior, but because of this I have gained a Lord that I can fully depend upon!

Do I wish my wound wouldn't hurt? DUH!
Do I wish my 12th surgery would be my last? Yep.
Do I wish it would go away? YES!!!
Do I wish I could move on with my life? Yeah.
Do I wish this would have never happened? NOPE!
Why? Because I am not who I used to be... When going through trials, we can get better or we can get bitter, but the decision is ours! However, as for me, "Lord, I praise You for the storm!"

"Sometimes the littlest thing in life changes something forever, and there will be times when you wish you can go back to how things used to be but you just can't because you have changed so much." -Anonymous

Sincerely,
College Conservative

Confession #9- Healing

Confession #9- "Healing"...

As I have blogged before, when I am in the shower I have my alone time with God. My shower is in the middle of my wound care so, to be honest, I'm usually venting & complaining to God... "This is stupid!", "God you could take this away, but you don't... WHY?!", "Sometimes I just get so frustrated, because God you could remove the thorn from my side", "Why God... Why???" Those are all things that I have said to God at some point or another. I, often times, forget how big God is... We accept the cards we are given as "the new normal", not remembering that the man who gave us those cards, can change them! I have always thought that, when God chooses to heal me, it would be fast & that He would show off... I'm excited to share that story with you all!!!


Last Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, was a day like every other "doctor visit day". My grandma took off work, we went to get her hair cut, come back home & I got ready to go to the doctor... I was 9 days post-operation from my last surgery. My doctor walks in & asks if I know of any major changes, to which I reply "No, sir... Just the usual." He puts on his gloves... Spreads me apart... & goes, "Oh... My... Gosh..." Now you have to understand- that has never been a good sign, so I go," great, what is it now... Am I worse? Have you found a monster? What's happened?" My doctor doesn't respond... He only asks the nurse if she's got a picture for documentation. This isn't normal, my doctor, much like myself, is NEVER speechless... He looks at me, almost like he had seen the hand of God, & begins to cry. This is also shocking to me, so I wasn't sure how to respond... Almost all of the color had disappeared from his face, when finally he said "This is nothing but a miracle!" I was still confused, so he shared that my wound had shrunk over 5 centimeters in 1 week (I consider shrinking 0.5 CM in a week a good report)! He then looks at me, with tears filling his eyes, & says "I've never seen anything like this! It's a remarkable miraculous intervention! I'll see you in a week, you should be very close to being completely better by then. You can resume jogging again!"


"OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR." When I was outside cleaning my grandma's car glasses, that was written on the mirror. How often do we actually pay attention to that? We don't. Why? Because we accept it as "the new normal". We might think a car would be kinda far off, but then, all of a sudden, it might be right by our side. Why? Because "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR." We might look & the car is off in the distance, but before we know it, it be right beside us. I think that's how God is... We accept hard times as "the new normal", and we learn to cope with it. Sometimes, I think that's what God wants us to do... Just when we think healing is so far off in the distance... that's when He shows up in a BIG MIRACULOUS way, then we have NO doubt but to KNOW that it was grace that carried us through.


Are you going through a tough time? Have you accepted it as "the new normal"? Are you just looking in the mirror waiting for God to show up & show out? Does God's promises look far off in the distance? Don't give up! God is always right on time! Before you know it, what you've been praying for will be right by your side! "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR!"


PS- I appreciate each prayer & encouraging word you all have passed along! I ask that you continue to pray! I am almost through this... Almost!

Sincerely-
College Conservative

Confession #8- What If The Healing Never Comes?

Confession #8- "What If The Healing Never Comes..."

Yesterday I found out that today (October 2, 2012), I will be going down for my 7th surgery... & I wasn't going to blog until afterwards until I heard a song on KLove called "Even If" by Kutless... It poses the question "What if the healing NEVER comes?" What if what you're hoping for doesn't arrive? What if God says "No"?... If that happens, then what??? What are we left with? What is can you to hold on to?

They sing:
"Lord we know your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are"

Even if the healing never comes... We can rest assured God loves us!

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Even if the healing never comes... We can rest assured that God is by our side!

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Even if the healing never comes... We can rest assured God is looking out for what is best for us!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

"Even if the healing doesn't come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn't come"

Your prayers are much appreciated today! I am so thankful for your support!!!

Confession #7- Life is Like a Card Game...

Confession #7- "Life is Like a Card Game..."

It's very important to me to have alone time with God. A set time of the day to have a conversation with my physician, counselor, & friend. For me, that time is when I am in the shower. I crank up K-Love radio station, with no other distractions, just me & the Lord.

So the other day, I was talking to God & the thought for this post just hit me, & God has been molding it for about 2 weeks! "Life is like a card game!" I've tried to ask God to reveal to me how a card game could show us how life works... & this is what we come up with...

The Dealer: Once everyone is seated the dealer starts shuffling the deck. Back & forth, from one hand to the other, making sure the deck is ready to be dealt. The dealer has all control over the game. They decided when to begin the game, when to start sliding players their cards, & how the game is conducted. This isn't fact, but I think the dealer doubles as a cheerleader... They want people to win- to improve the player's quality of life. God, our Heavenly Father, is the same way. He is in control of how you get your cards, when you get 'em, and how many you get at one time. God also doubles as our cheerleader. He wants us to win! He wants us to win the prize so badly He gave his Son for us!!!

The Reaction: The way in which you handle the cards you are dealt can determine wether you win or lose. You can be dealt what looks like a losing hand, & turn it into one that defies the odds & wins! God never promised us that we would get all good cards. He didn't promise us that we would like all the cards we were handed. But he did promise us, that if we depend on him, regardless of our "odds", He would stick by our side! Kinda like in a game of cards, in life, if you get a bad hand you don't blame the dealer... You make a choice. You can either quit & give up your chance of winning... or you can play the hand the best of your ability... When God deals you, what looks like a losing hand, what do you do? Are we supposed to become frustrated with the dealer? No! We make the best of what we have. In cards, like in life, there is no re-do! You have that one shot to win!

The Prize: You can either wave the white flag & give up, or you can play the cards you have, & choose to turn a losing hand into one that will win you the prize! When you win a game of cards, what do you get? A few "chips"? In life the prize is much different! Life is like a game of cards... but in life, the stakes are MUCH higher!

Winning: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." -Revelations 21:4-7

Losing: "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” -Revelation 14:11

It all comes down to this- no matter what cards you are dealt, what matters is THE CHOICE! The choice to give up before you miss out on a blessing. The choice of thinking the dealer hates you, just because you got a few bad cards. The choice to accept the prize of Heaven...

So what are you doing with the cards God dealt you? Are you mad at the dealer? Are you giving up your chance to win?... Or are you playing to the best of your ability?

Sincerely,
College Conservative

Confession #6- Little Did I Know...

Confession #6- "Little Did I Know... that was just the first battle of the war."


As some of you have noticed, I have not been active for a while, & this is because I have had to have surgery again :/ but while I've taken a break from blogging, I have gathered tons of topics that I hope will inspire you!

Today, I wanted you to know my full story... cover-to-cover... This is not easy for me, I don't like to talk about things that cause me heart-ache... But through this I hope you can find hope for a better tomorrow.

Childhood: I don't remember too much about my childhood, besides the normal things (learning to whistle, swimming in my neighbors' pool, etc.) My parents got divorced when I was pretty young, & I became the son of a single mom, who continues to work too hard!

Teen Years: I was the kid in high school that was involved in EVERY club... & was President of most! I worked hard for 4 years, wanting to get the scholarship that every student would be proud of. I applied to a dozen different schools & got accepted to each... (I know what you're thinking... I'm going to need arm surgery from patting myself on the back so much- but this is where the story changes)... I went to sleep one night after my typical stress-filled day at school... When I woke up, I was covered in blood. My first thought was that I had been stabbed (I know, looking back, it doesn't make too much sense to me either LOL). I FREAKED OUT!

Adulthood: After that night, I quickly became an adult! I went to school that day thinking eventually the bleeding would stop, but it didn't. I went to the hospital & was told I'd be back to my old self "in a matter of 3 or so days". Then, after my first surgery, I learned that they had underestimated my problem by a rather wide margin & there was no possible way for me to walk across the stage of my graduation. Right then & there I had a choice... I could either be devastated or determined. I chose to be determined! By the middle of May, I walked across the stage & defeated the battle!

Now: Little did I know, that was just the first battle of the war..."3 or so days" has turned into almost 3 years... "Staying up all night cramming for a test" has turned into "staying up all night praying the pain goes away"... "Getting ready to hang out with friends" has turned into "getting ready for wound care"... But after of all this, "I can do this on my own" has turned into "I can do this... with God by my side!"

I guess what I want you to take way from this blog post is that we are each on a journey. Some days- that journey is easy... Other days--- not so much... But no matter what, every day holds the possibility of a miracle. I have learned to look at it like this: "Ok... My wound hasn't healed today... This just means I am a day closer to the date that I get my miracle." We all have battles- some big- some small... but, you know, you never hear a weak army say "I wish we wouldn't have went to war", instead they say "how can we become stronger"- it's all about how you fight in battle! How are you fighting? Do you need some improvement? That's ok! It's never too late to change course, unless you are already waving the white flag!

Confession #5- As I Travel...

Confession #5- "As I Travel..."
As I travel to the hospital to have surgery- I am reminded of how blessed I am. I am reading Joel Osteen's book "Every Day A Friday", I have learned that I shouldn't say "I have to have surgery"... Instead I say "I get to have surgery!" Through this I have learned the absolute power of prayer & I am humbled by the support I have gotten through this blog, Twitter (@lfoshie), Facebook, etc. I have not yet figured all the reasons I am going trough this- To help myself? To help someone else?? Both??? Either way I want to give God the praise. I know I will be healed. It may be today... It may be in another 2.5 years... Either way it will happen. My pastor always says when you ask God for something, give Him the praise, & expect it to happen. If you are in a drought region- pray, set out buckets, & then praise God that He will fill those buckets with rain. I've prayed & prayed... Now I expect it to happen. My God is faithful, always!

Thanks for your prayers!
College Conservative