Random Thoughts and Praises

Does Minnesota ever get really hot?

90's or 100's Fahrenheit?

This lemonade looks very refreshing today

for it felt almost

"hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk"!

 It's going to be hotter tomorrow.

So thankful for air conditioning.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

I spent the day quietly.  Extra time in the Word this morning.  A couple of phone calls to friends who I haven't talked to for awhile.  Getting things put back in order.  All our company has gone home.  Though we loved having each and every one of them here, we admit to being just a little tired.  (For the last 6 weekends in a row we have had overnight company staying with us. The last two weeks we have had company. And the 4 weekends before the last 6, in which we had overnight company, were filled with graduation events.) Yesterday after church we all took very long naps.  A few days ago, I thought that this upcoming week would still be a little busy, because I would be attending one Bridal Shower, and co-hosting a Baby Shower at church for about 60-70 people the next night!  But, in just a few days time, both events have been wiped off of my schedule.  This morning, I spent quite a bit of time planning out my week, so that I could get everything done and, especially, not forget anything.  About 11:30 a.m., I got a phone call and found out that, due to scheduling conflicts, the Baby Shower which my friend and I were going to be hosting on behalf of our church was going to be postponed until the end of the summer.  I sat down, took out my notebook and looked at my schedule for today and this week, and found myself checking things off, saying, "Don't have to do that...don't have to do that...don't have to do that..."

Remember last week when I re-posted the article about not worrying or fretting because, in my past experience, God has always canceled something whenever I felt overwhelmed or He thought it was going to be "too much"?

Well, He did it again!

I guess He thought I needed a break.
(or...maybe He has other work for me to do?)

Today, though....I went outside...
sat on the deck in the shade...

and read a book.

It is the first time all summer

that I have done that!!
It was wonderful.

Gratefulness

Tonight, friends came by to borrow our chairs

and a table for their youngest daughter's wedding,

a small family affair,

which will take place on Saturday.

We heard again how God has marvelously brought

their daughter and her husband-to-be together, 

how wonderfully matched they are

and what a blessing it has been for

the whole family

and all the little ways God has been doing

"abundantly above" all they could

ask or think. We have been praying for a few years

for God to bring around her "special one," in His time.

We are reminded of the

perfectness of God's timing, and

how He continues to show His

love to His children in very special ways.

The girl's mom assured me, as she left, of her

continued prayers for "others."

(near and dear to us...)

Seeing God answer prayers so beautifully,

rejoices the hearts of those who've been praying,

and gives hope to those who are

still waiting for their "special one".

We know that God's timing is perfect,

and we are so grateful for the ways He's shown His

love and for all He has given.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 Ephesians 3:20-21

Hope you're all having a great start to your week, and realizing in a special way God's amazing grace and love for you!

Joni Eareckson Tada

Lying in bed, reading Joni Eareckson's autobiography, I knew God was changing me.  I was 19, and though I was a new Christian, I needed to know that God loved me and was Sovereign, was in control, and to fully surrender new areas of my life to Him. 

Joni's life and testimony, after suffering a spinal cord injury in a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in 1967, have impacted perhaps millions around the world, as she's travelled and spoken, written articles and books, ministered through radio, and even drawn beautiful artwork with her mouth.  God's done miraculous things through her since her accident.  Her ministry, Joni and Friends, does physical, emotional, and spiritual good while informing, educating and giving.  And she has a unique ministry to all those who've had a physical health issue to battle in their life.

This week a special announcement from Joni and Friends came out.  Joni is fighting a new battle--a new health issue.  She has breast cancer.  Having battled cancer myself, I know that the words "you have cancer" pull the rug out from under you, and there's immediately the thought that this might take your life, and it won't be pretty.  But, also, having had cancer, (go to the link to read my cancer testimony) I know that God's grace is able to reach you there. In fact, as she puts it, she is ready to accept from the Hand of God--even His left hand--whatever He gives.  That was the perspective that I had, too, that God wasn't just taking a nap, and let this bad thing slip through somehow when He wasn't paying attention!  No, He is still in control, friend, if you are going through a devastating situation right now.  We won't know, until we get to heaven, what all of His purposes were in it, but we can know, that His grace is sufficient for this and every situation.  The Almighty, Sovereign God of the Universe loves us and knows the number of every hair on our heads.

Please pray for Joni and her husband, Ken.  Joni is undergoing tests this week, and will be having surgery Monday, June 28.  There will be updates which you can access through her site, at the link above. Continue after the surgery to pray for her recovery, as well, and treatments, and that it will not have spread.

Perhaps we wouldn't even know the name of Joni Eareckson Tada if she had not had that accident 43 years ago.  What new thing God is doing through Joni's life, only He knows, but I know it will be good.  

How To Endure Trials: Manage It (No, Victorious in Christ) Monday

The Trials of Life 
Today is the 8th Anniversary of the day I had surgery to remove a football-size, cancerous tumor from my body, which was threatening my life. I had ovarian cancer (click on the link to read my testimony).  In the subsequent weeks following successful surgery, I received three rounds of chemotherapy, and then 24 weekly treatments of a lower dose of chemo, while participating in a voluntary scientific trial.  Following that time, I have had tests and checkups which have continued to declare me to be "cancer-free".  I am grateful to God today for life and health.
For me, this anniversary, and time of year, transports me back and I relive so many events from the past and I remember the feelings associated with that experience. For me, this is an emotional time.


Friendship 
Especially so, this year, on this anniversary, for we have just found out that our dear friend, who has battled breast cancer for 15 years, learned this week that her cancer has spread to all of her organs, and even broken a vertebrae in her back.  She is in intense pain.  I am deeply moved by my friend's situation, and concerned for them.  Our prayers go up to God for her and her family, and our thoughts are continually with them.  Yet, we give praise to God, for we don't want to withhold any of the praise and thanks that is due to the Lord, for another year of health in my life.


This morning, during my quiet time, feeling it might be helpful to listen to some solid Biblical teaching from an old familiar friend, I listened to the first sermon by John MacArthur, "Trouble to Triumph", in a series called "Benefiting From Life's Trials", a study from the book of James. (You, too, can listen free of charge to all of the sermons in the archives of John MacArthur's preaching.  You can also choose to download them onto your MP3 player, if you want, or read the transcripts. It's all free!  I enjoy hearing his voice and how he says what he says, so I like to listen through my computer.)


How Can a Christian Endure Trials?  
Quoting from the end of the sermon:
"How can a Christian practically endure trials? What is the practicality of trials? That's what James wants to hit.  It's not enough to say, 'I must persevere.' Tell me how! How do I persevere?
These are the pragmatic aspects to a persevering faith--several things are required:

• A Joyous Attitude, vs. 2:  "Count it all joy."
• An Understanding Mind, vs. 3: "Knowing this."
• A Submissive Will, vs. 4: "Let patience have her perfect work."  Let it do what it's gonna do.  Accepting it from the Lord, getting under it and learning what He wants you to learn.
• A Believing Heart:  Don't have wavering faith, vs. 6, but ask in true faith; vs. 8, don't be double-minded. A believing heart that never wavers in faith.
• Then in verses 9-11, A Humble Spirit, that is willing to accept anything.

The way to go through trials victoriously is with a joyous attitude, an understanding mind--perceiving the reality of the trial and the purpose in it; a submissive will--accepting it from the Lord, getting under it and learning what He wants you to learn; a believing heart--that never wavers in faith; and a humble spirit, that is willing to accept anything.



That's how you handle your trials."
(My goal was to strengthen myself in the Word and be encouraged; maybe it will do the same for you.  To listen to the rest of the series, click "trials".  You may also enjoy John MacArthur's series:  "7 Steps to Spiritual Stability" or other resources at www.gty.org)

"Thou shalt find thy hopes were just,

Jesus is my hope and trust."

Trials strengthen faith and trust, for the believer.  As I get older, I can look back and say, the Lord has been with me in the past through every trial, small and great, and He will be with me through whatever trials I'm going through now, or may have to go through in the future.  He is faithful. Rejoice with me and be glad. Trust in the Lord, for He is good.

Thankful Thursday: Seeing Beauty is in How You Look At Things

I love optical illusions. I love the way the mind works to cause you to see things that aren't there.  I also love seeing things that are there, but I couldn't see them before.  I love looking at a picture and suddenly seeing something completely different than was there a minute ago!  Are you one who sees the "old hag" or the "beautiful young woman" in the picture?  I see the "hag" (what does that say about me?). but sometimes I can see the "beautiful young woman" more quickly when I focus in on one small part of the picture, or if I move just a little and look at the picture from a different angle.

Seeing Beauty on the Detours of Life
This morning, I was looking at a picture of the "Christian road" that I've been walking down lately.  I've stared and stared at this "picture", and particularly at the bumpiness of the road--it's like a Minnesota county road during road construction!  Potholes and bumps, seemingly constant signs to watch for flagmen ahead and curving and veering, where once you had a straight road, and barricades where you'd really like to go:  the short way to your destination.  Oh, no, I have to take another detour? And this road seems so full of potholes!  And it's taking me completely away from where I want to go! Why is it taking me so long to get anywhere?  Sometimes, the little detours get my nose bent out of shape more than being stopped altogether.

I have stood and stared so long at this "picture", and all I have seen is the same "hag" every time.  It just seems that I must be doing something wrong, when I'm seemingly taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.  Yes, I am moving forward. Yes, I can see fruit in my life. But some days it has felt like it was such hard work just to keep from going backwards and make any forward movement at all.  That doesn't sound very victorious. Or efficient. Sometimes I've thought, "Maybe I'm on the wrong road, or there's a better way to go.  Should it really be this bumpy?"  Maybe I've missed signs that told me not to go on this road, like the time I ended up stuck in the deepest mud and snow of my life (and no I don't have 4WD), in the middle of a construction zone, and the Very Perturbed and Condescending Workmen who helped me get unstuck wanted to know why I hadn't seen the SIGNS! (and obeyed them) So, today, as I stared at the "picture" once again, the Lord took ahold of my shoulders very gently and moved me ever so slightly to the right... and... there was the "beautiful young woman".  I was stunned.  Thank you, Lord.  Sometimes all you need is a different perspective.

Changing Your "Frame" of Mind
So, go and read Charles Spurgeon's morning devotional for today, April 29, 2010, which I heard read aloud on my local Christian radio station (WCTSradio.com) which I listen to online, and see if your "picture" looks any different. Here is the ending. Make sure to read it all, though.

"Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path, because you were weak and timid. He tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, but now that you are stronger in the spiritual life, you must enter upon the riper and rougher experience of God's full-grown children. We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ. The day of evil reveals to us the value of our glorious hope."

It's Thankful Thursday.  Thank you, Lord, for taking me beyond the smooth, unclouded path, and that I may enter upon the "rougher experience of God's full-grown children". Help me see the beauty in the bumps, relax and enjoy the ride during the detours, and always remember that the destination isn't everything.

To read other thankful posts and participate, visit Lynn (Thanks, Lynn, for hosting in April!) at her blog, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.  Next week and all of May, Laurie, at Women Taking A Stand, will be hosting, so come on back and join in a chorus of thanksgiving!

Faith of a Child

Evening Hymn

 I hear no voice, I feel no touch,

I see no glory bright;

But yet I know that God is near,

In darkness as in light.

He watches ever by my side,

And hears my whispered prayer;

The Father for His little child

Both night and day doth care.

--Anonymous

Thankful Thursday: Daily Blessings

The Daily Blessing for which I'm most thankful is...Prayer, hands down! (No pun intended!) How could I live without prayer? Communication with my Heavenly Father is one of the greatest blessings in my life. He is wise, He comforts me, He hears me any time of day or night. He is there and knows my cares and shares my pain. He has the power to change...me. And cares for everything that concerns me.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

What a Friend We have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials or temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge--

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Joseph Scriven, 1819-1886

Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918

  

Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

1Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

It's Thankful Thursday today and Iris at Grace Alone is hosting this month. (Thank you, Iris!) We're sharing on Daily Blessings for which we're thankful! Please visit her site to participate and read other thankful posts!

I Needed the Quiet

By Alice Mortenson

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside

Into the shadows where we could confide,

Away from the bustle where all the day long

I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet though at first I rebelled,

But gently, so gently my cross He upheld,

And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,

Though weakened in body, my spirit took wings…

To heights never heard of when active and gay,

He loved me so greatly, He drew me away.

I needed the quiet, no prison my bed,

But a beautiful valley of blessings instead –

A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.

* * * * *

I cannot call affliction sweet;

And yet' twas good to bear;

Affliction brought me to your feet,

And I found comfort there.

‐‐ James Montgomery

Last week, I listened to a broadcast of Joni and Friends, in which she read this poem and quote. They resonated in my heart. I've experienced God drawing me aside. Perhaps you have, too. Perhaps you're in a time now when affliction is bringing you to Him for comfort, or when you are being "drawn aside" by trials, suffering, physical infirmities.  These times in my life stand out, like mountain peaks, as times when God's Hand was upon me, not only drawing me aside, but drawing me closer to Him.


Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376
www.joniandfriends.org

A special thank you to Joni and Friends, who offered these in a free download.  I hope you will be blessed, as I was, by the thoughts expressed.  The link is below, for you to hear the broadcast, also, if you'd like. 
Listen to the broadcast:
"I Needed the Quiet" by Alice Mortenson - Joni and Friends Radio

Thankful Thursday: Spiritual Spinach

It's Thankful Thursday and I had so many options to post on, I had a hard time deciding!  I truly feel blessed.  First, my wonderful Godly father-in-law is staying with us again for a week, and when he makes a visit, it's as though God says to me, "Here is a special gift for you--to let you know I love you."

Related to, and because of, his visit what I am especially thankful for today is Christian radio!  My father-in-law is accustomed to listening to a particular Christian radio station, and certain programs, during the day.  He is anything but demanding, which is why it took me until Thursday to realize this and receive the blessing from it.  I tried to find this station on the radio, but we can't pick it up. Our old computer was too slow to listen to a program without a lot of frustration, so I haven't been listening to Christian radio as much, since our boombox broke.  But I realized today that we've recently bought a new computer and so we tried it and what a blessing!  We listened to Biblical preaching, teaching, exhortation and encouragement!  We heard commentaries and discussions about the latest world news from a Christian informed worldview, which gave me much needed direction for my prayers.  Most of all, I was strengthened spiritually! The programs today were like spiritual spinach for me!  I feel encouraged, fed, prepared, and strengthened to meet my enemies.  We are responsible for what we eat, both physically and spiritually.  We can be so preoccupied with whether our physical food is healthy, but what about the spiritual food we're feeding ourselves?

This week I invited my wonderful Godly father-in-law into my home, and because of him, throughout the day today I ate a nourishing and healthy diet of spiritual food, and ran in the fresh air of God's truth, being exercised, inhaling deeply and cleansing my soul.  I have knowledge and the memory of how good that feels and am encouraged to continue in this healthy spiritual lifestyle.  And I am so thankful for the blessing of Christian radio.

Thank  you, Lynn, for hosting Thankful Thursday this month!

Please visit Lynn's blog to read about her "stinky" day (pun intended), to participate and to hear from other thankful hearts!

At the Well: Contentment In Christ Alone

Today At the Well (click and scroll down to participate) we're talking about contentment--In Christ Alone.  In Philippians 4:11 Paul makes the amazing statement that he has "learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content."  Whether in want or in abundance, he was content.  I think the key word here is "learned."  I am not Paul, and I have not learned, but I am learning, to be content in whatever state I am.  Paul didn't say that he was always, from the beginning, content.  He said he had learned to be so.  The way that we learn something is by starting out "not able/not knowing" and "practicing, while being taught." Then, after time, we arrive at a higher level of knowledge, understanding and skill. The method of ascertaining what level we have attained is often testing.

Christmastime is a test for me.  At Christmas, I experience the deep feeling of "longing": I "long" to be more organized. I "long" for happier times past or future.  I "long" for a house more beautifully decorated. I "long" for a skinnier body more physically fit when we're going to take our Christmas picture.  I "long" to see all my loved ones saved as I write my yearly Christmas letter to extended family.  I "long" to truly celebrate the Lord's birth as I "should" (whatever that means). I "long" for all my relationships to be warm, loving and fulfilling, at a time when busyness, expectations, too much eating and too little sleep make us peevish and fretful, like toddlers needing a nap. The world continually tells me "this is the happiest time of the year"! Why do I feel I am in a perpetual state of angst.

Is this discontentment?  Perhaps. Some of these longings, however, will never be fully satisfied until I reach heaven, for they are longings for perfection and holiness. I am discontent with sin and imperfection, in myself and the world.  The discontent with sin in myself: covetousness, bitterness, hatred and an out-of-control tongue, which sin causes chaos in my surroundings and strife in my relationships, should cause repentance, and change. My longings and discontentment, then, may decrease, too, if I do, in fact, learn to be more organized, so that Christmas becomes more Worshipful and less Will-I-Ever-Finish. (Not looking to that perfect world that only exists in my imagination, magical movies, and Christmas illustrations on glossy greeting cards, where families laugh and sing while decorating a gigantic Christmas tree--the house spotless and mom carrying a tray of dazzling decorated cookies, dressed in heels; later cozying up in an overstuffed easy chair by a warmly lit fireplace, the mantle festooned with greenery and flickering candlelight, sipping hot cocoa while she reads lovely stories to happy little children sitting on her lap.)  The world only feeds discontent.

Yesterday, before the prayer time in our church, a young man quoted Philippians 4:6--"Be careful (anxious, worried, fretting) for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. (It goes on to say, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.") I was cut to the quick. The hopeless state of my heart was revealed, as the Scriptures cut straight through to the deepest level. I realized my sin of fear, worry, discontent, and bitterness, all in one fell swoop. I recognized my lack of faith. There were areas of my heart exposed in which I had given up hope that God would answer my deepest longings. I didn't believe that God would do what was best for me and for those I loved. I was bitter and angry at God. I sat in my chair confessing my sin before the Lord, under a dreadful blanket of unthankfulness.

Is there something you're longing for, but God seems not to answer, or the answer seems to be, "No?"  The temptation is to give up hope. But that is really lack of faith, like saying, "If God gives me everything I want, when I want it, then I will trust Him, praise Him, believe in Him."  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." When we have the thing we hoped for, we no longer need faith.

If our longings are for "things," then looking to Jesus, and and setting our thoughts and affections on eternal things will give us a clearer vision. Everything we can see and touch is going to burn. If our longings are for things we cannot see, they may be a picture of the true spiritual world which we are really longing for: the love in our relationship with God, our Father; the perfection of holy living; the peace of righteousness. These longings should turn us to Him. In any case, the answer to our discontent and longing is Christ. Christ alone can satisfy our deepest longings. As I live in this world of imperfection, I am learning contentment by turning my longings into prayers, my complaints and bitterness into confession, my sighs and whys into supplication. "No good thing doth He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Does God do anything ill?  God is good.  God is loving. James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." During prayer time, as I listened to a prayer request for a woman once healed of breast cancer, who now has months to live because of brain cancer, the thought of my own cancer-free status hit me in the face and I was stunned by the image in my mind of my clenched fist in God's face over His delay and even possible "No" to my longings.  When had I stopped waking with thanks on my lips for life?  When had I forgotten that "His lovingkindness is better than life?" It's so easy to lose perspective. After confessing my sin to the Lord, I asked for restoration of my soul, and His power to change me.

Learning contentment is a lifelong process. At every stage of life, we experience "longings" and must exercise faith. When I was a child, I longed to be older, more grown up.  When I was older, I longed for someone to love me. Then I longed to be married. Would God ever answer? When I was married, I longed for children. I thought I would never have any.  We waited 7 years before our first child was born. Then my second pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Would I ever be able to have any more children?  We began thinking about adoption. But it didn't look like we would qualify. Then we were able to conceive again. Later, my husband decided we should not have any more children. I longed with all my heart for more. Then when my children were grown, I longed for them to traverse the path into adulthood without falling. Now, I long for them to find the right Godly marriage partners. We never arrive, because change is a part of life, and life here on earth is temporary.  What we experience here on earth is just a picture of spiritual truths.  It points us to Christ.  I am sure that later, should my children marry, as I'm longing, I will long for grandchildren. Then I will long to see my children and grandchildren more. Then I will long for my grandchildren to be saved and walking with the Lord. And on it goes.

At every stage of life, we must exercise faith. We must learn, through taking all our longings to Him, and saturating our hearts and minds with the Word, that "Christ is my all in all," and that He is enough.  In Christ alone, I have my hope. In Christ I trust. In Christ I rest contented.

My Cancer Testimony

To those of you who came to this blog in order to read my cancer testimony in a previous post, I apologize, because that was just a snippet of the whole testimony of what God did in our lives! I really want you to know all that God did for us at that time, because He deserves so much praise and glory and I never want to forget what He's done for me!! So bear with me as I post the complete testimony that we shared with friends and family via our Christmas Letter in 2002 (it is long, for which I apologize):
Dear Friends and Family.

"O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining;
it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining til He appeared
and the world felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the lonely world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices; O night divine,
o night when Christ was born.
O night, o night, o night divine."Praise the Lord, praise the Lord with me!
 Praise Him all ye creatures.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Merry Christmas!

Though this is a group letter, we write it to each one of you personally, and we thank the Lord for each one of you this Christmas, and pray for you as we send our greetings.  We thoroughly enjoy getting your letters, cards, and pictures, as well.  Thank you to all who have sent them.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens.

Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”
Psalm 68:19-20

We want to give testimony of the Lord’s goodness in our lives this past year. It was a year like no other before. There are a few of you who don’t know what the Lord has done for us, and those of you who do, we want you to praise the Lord with us once more as we reflect on His goodness.

On May 21, 2002, I (Wendy) went in to the doctor for relatively minor symptoms and by the end of the day was facing the diagnosis that I had two tumors, one very large, one smaller, appearing to be cancerous, yes, and appearing to have spread, and by those factors, appearing to have not been caught early, but to have progressed to some degree.

Within three days, I was operated on and there now was only one tumor, it had not spread, and it was able to be completely removed. Further, when the tests came back, I was told that indeed the cancer, which was ovarian, had been caught early, a very rare event for ovarian cancer, and I was informed that I had a 90% chance of cancer not recurring.

I believe with all my heart that God gave me cancer, and I praise Him for it, which may sound strange. But I am so thankful.

Here are four reasons why I am grateful God gave me cancer: 1) We saw God’s hand on our lives in a powerful way causing us to trust Him more; 2) We experienced the love of friends and family through tangible and sacrificial acts of service causing us to love God more; 3) We experienced the power of prayer causing our faith to grow; and, 4) We saw the intervention of the Lord on our behalf in numerous ways causing us to thank Him.
We would like to share eight of these interventions that occurred in just a few days.

God’s Intervention #1
God brought me into the doctor by giving me one simple symptom that caused the nurse-line nurse to say “get in there today and if you can’t see your own doctor, go to the emergency room”. I would not have gone otherwise.
God’s Intervention #2
As I sat speaking to my doctor, I had a written, detailed summary of my symptoms over the past week, which I read to him (I never do that) and as he was diagnosing me with (possibly) something completely different than what I actually had, an urgency came over me to pray, “God, don’t let him let me leave today without knowing what is wrong with me.” Since I had not the slightest fear of anything seriously wrong with me, I believe this was the Holy Spirit’s prompting. God answered that prayer as my Christian doctor paused and said, “I think I’d like you to have a CT scan, just to make sure there isn’t anything else going on, since there‘s really nothing over there on the left side except your ovary…” That decision saved my life, I believe. 75% of ovarian cancer is not caught early, and 75-80% of those patients die.
God’s Intervention #3
Though my doctor advised me to try to get in for the CT scan within 2-3 days at least, God arranged for us to get in that very day, and for Jerry (my husband) to go with me.
God’s Intervention #4
We had to wait for a while following the scan, and thought they must have forgotten us, not suspecting anything at all, and were about to leave the hospital, but just as we were leaving, God intervened and sent someone to ask us to stay and wait for our doctor’s phone call. (Ok, that 20-minute wait for the phone call was anything but pleasant, but praise God for His peace in time of panic.)
God’s Intervention #5
The next day, only day 2, we were able to meet with our doctor again, see the CT scan ourselves, which already showed only one tumor to our untrained eyes, and more importantly, we were able to schedule a consultation with the surgeon! God was moving things along quickly.
God’s Intervention #6
“Would you like to have surgery in two days if we can fit you in?” our surgeon asked. Yes! Praise God, yes!
God’s Intervention #7
Aside from the first night, prior to the beginning of prayer for us by hundreds of people through the activation of two prayer chains, (when I didn’t sleep letting my mind go off planning for things that would never occur, and experiencing emotions I didn’t need to)...aside from that first night, I experienced a calm and peace that was out of this world, literally. Through God’s gift of cancer, I experienced God’s presence in a way like never before. We experienced the love of God through sisters and brothers in Christ praying for us and seeing answers to those prayers and being able to share those answers with our doctors and nurses who have been amazed. We experienced the joy of all the giving of dozens of people who cared for us through meals, cards, rides, and many other sacrificial acts of love. (Thank you!) We experienced trusting God in a new way, going deeper in our relationship with Him, finding out a little more realistically what it means that He is in control. Praise God that we know that He is not only sovereign, but that He can be trusted because He is all-wise and loves us perfectly and completely.
God’s Intervention #8
What happened to that other tumor that the radiologist saw? Was he mistaken? He would not have conveyed to a patient that she had cancer and it had spread without certainty of what he saw! But within 3 days, maybe sooner, there was no second tumor to be found, no other cancer to be found, though they searched diligently. I believe God intervened. Thank you, God. This might be a good time to testify that God is good, but He would’ve still been good if I had suffered painfully and died. Before we knew the prognosis, I wasn’t looking forward to the painful part, but God gave me peace about the dying part, and I felt a thrill at the possibility of being in heaven with Jesus, perhaps soon. (Any fear I have experienced has centered on leaving my children behind before I felt my “work” was through.)

Speaking of our children, they are doing great. Life goes on, amazingly, and they are still involved in piano exams, schoolwork and art lessons. Dane just finished his first two PSEO classes,  (Remember, this was written in December, 2002) independent study via internet, and enjoyed the challenge. He did well. He also obtained his driver’s permit prior to his 17th birthday. He is our resident computer expert, is working on starting up a used-book-selling business, loves to read, and loves to play hockey on our lake with his friends. Kelsey, now 13, enjoys baking, knitting, stamping cards, anything connected with animals, (she’s trying to train our dog Mocha), giving gifts, doing things for others and especially reading. One or both of them accompanied me to chemo weekly for the last six months.

We agreed to be part of a test group who would be given additional weekly chemo treatments for six months--lower doses of only one drug, with minimal side effects. The purpose is to see if these additional chemo treatments reduce the recurrence of cancer in patients whose ovarian cancer is caught early. I will be done Jan. 13, and then be followed up every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 3 additional years.
Everything's The Same...
Everything Is Different
Everything else is pretty much the same--but everything is different. Isn’t that just the way it was 2000 years ago, when Jesus was born. Everyone went about their same lives, but everything was different, forever.

Praise God for His plan to save us from our sins, and His willingness to send His Son, Jesus, into this world to die a painful death on a cross in punishment for our sins.  Praise Jesus for being willing to come and for living a sinless life and for being obedient to the Father in every detail,

even unto death.

That takes on new meaning this year. Praise God for accepting that payment for our sins, past, present and future and by bringing Jesus back to life.
We serve a risen Savior.
Is He not worth all our love, all our honor, all our praise and adoration and all our lives in service to Him?
Have a blessed Christmas holiday
and a wonderful New Year.