Each Monday, we have all been graced with an update from from Craig DeLisi about his unborn child Anastasha, who has been diagnosed with anencephaly, for which there is no cure or treatment. I hope you’ll join with me in keeping the DeLisis in your prayers.

One of the graces that I’ve enjoyed in the last two and a half months has been time spent teaching the children from God’s Word. I’ve asked the Lord to direct me to passages that will speak to their hearts, especially in regards to Anastasha.

A few nights ago we found ourselves in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of John. It’s a story that many of you know well. Probably the most well known healing in all of Scripture, the blind man.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 
”Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.   John 9:1-3

We discussed the fact that in Jesus’ time many people viewed illness as always directly correlated with sin or judgment from God. Jesus refuted this idea, instead stating that God intended this man’s life long illness, in this case blindness, to occur in order to display “the work of God” in his life.

We all know what happens next. Jesus spits on the ground (my little boys love the fact that Jesus spits!), makes mud, and rubs it on the man’s eyes. After the man washes, he instantly sees. The man then gives glory to God.

We talked about Anastasha. We talked about the fact that she will be blind too. We discussed the fact that her anencephaly is NOT an accident. God intended it that the work of God might be displayed in her and our lives. This may be by healing, but likely won’t be. Instead, God’s glory may be revealed in another way.

The account in John continues…

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 
”Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 
Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.  John 9: 35-38

I believe that the “work of God” that Jesus spoke about was not just the healing, but the fact that his healing lead to WORSHIP. In regards to Anastasha, we of course desire her healing. But even more so, we desire that the result of her life will be to produce greater worship of God in our lives and others.

“So, to our children, Ariana, Charis, Niyah, and Amalyah, since Anastash has anencephaly, who sinned? Anastasha … or her parents?”

Jesus has told us, “Neither Anastasha nor Mommy or Daddy sinned. But this happened so that the work of God will be revealed in her life (and ours).”

Exactly.

Craig and Tonya

Here’s the entire series of amazing stories:

• The Story of Anastasha – Part 1 (It will bless you!)
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 2
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 3
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 4
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 5
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 6
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 7
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 8
• The Amazing Story of Anastasha – Part 9
• The Blessing of Anastasha – Part 10 – Day of Life 200
• The Blessing of Anastasha – Part 11
• The Blessing of Anastasha – Part 12 – Day of Life 214
• The Blessing of Anastasha – Part 13 – Day of Life 221
• The Blessing of Anastasha – Part 14 – Day of Life 228
• The Blessing of Anastasha Kalil – Part 15 – Day of Life 235
• The Blessing of Anastasha Kalil – Part 16 – Day of Life 241
• The Blessing of Anastasha Kalil – Part 17 – Birth Day