Journal Entry-May 2, 2010
"Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing...The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty...Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day will bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time...Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next...Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him." Oswald Chambers-My Utmost For His Highest
I really needed these words this week and I hope they are a blessing to you, as well. Uncertainty is one thing that I fear, even before my cancer diagnosis. But now, even more, I need to be watching and waiting to see how God is going to move in my life and not miss any opportunities He gives me to serve Him.
I'd like to ask you to pray for the family of Pam, a friend from my oncology rehabilitation class last summer. She lost her 16 month battle with breast cancer this past week. We were diagnosed the same month last year. She was always smiling, with her bandana on her head! Her hair wasn't growing back as fast as it should've and she was desperately hoping for some! The last time I saw her, I gave her a little bottle of shampoo and a tube of mascara as she waited for hair! She said in her comment on my blog in August that she had been encouraged from the verses many of you shared with me. Thank you all as you continue to lift me up, so I can share this encouragement with others.
"We're uncertain of the next step, but certain of God."
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
There and back again!
Journal Entry-April 28, 2010
Anna and I had a wonderful time in Williamsburg! I had never been and really enjoyed seeing what our country was like during the time of the Revolution. Not so far removed from the feelings of patriotism and freedom we feel today!
I am having to bandage my arm due to swelling from the lymphedema. I was out of my normal routine while travelling last week and had some fluid building up. I should have my new compression sleeves soon.
I have a routine M.R.I. on May 3 and will receive the results the next Tuesday. I'll update then. Thank you so much for praying!
Anna and I had a wonderful time in Williamsburg! I had never been and really enjoyed seeing what our country was like during the time of the Revolution. Not so far removed from the feelings of patriotism and freedom we feel today!
I am having to bandage my arm due to swelling from the lymphedema. I was out of my normal routine while travelling last week and had some fluid building up. I should have my new compression sleeves soon.
I have a routine M.R.I. on May 3 and will receive the results the next Tuesday. I'll update then. Thank you so much for praying!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Williamsburg Bound!
Journal Entry-April 16, 2010
Next Tuesday-Friday I will be going with Anna's sixth grade class to Williamsburg! I am busy and tired, but excited! I would appreciate your prayers for my health and strength as I pack for myself and Anna. Also, pray for Joey and Joe as they "bachelor" it! I'm just so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to go and enjoy this "once in a lifetime" chance with Anna and her friends! With Anna and Josie and Avari all in one room, I don't know how much sleep Mrs. Rollins and I will get! But it will be great fun!
Next Tuesday-Friday I will be going with Anna's sixth grade class to Williamsburg! I am busy and tired, but excited! I would appreciate your prayers for my health and strength as I pack for myself and Anna. Also, pray for Joey and Joe as they "bachelor" it! I'm just so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to go and enjoy this "once in a lifetime" chance with Anna and her friends! With Anna and Josie and Avari all in one room, I don't know how much sleep Mrs. Rollins and I will get! But it will be great fun!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Good News!
Journal Entry-Monday, April 5, 2010
My lab results came in and they showed no malignancies! They'll just continue to monitor them every six months on mammograms. I'm still pretty nauseated, so I would appreciate your prayers for that as I return to work tomorrow!
Thanks for your faithful prayers!
My lab results came in and they showed no malignancies! They'll just continue to monitor them every six months on mammograms. I'm still pretty nauseated, so I would appreciate your prayers for that as I return to work tomorrow!
Thanks for your faithful prayers!
Friday, April 2, 2010
"He always lives"
Journal Entry-April 2, 2010
"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He(Christ) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7: 23-25
Thanks to Jean Ann for this verse! Always living and always interceding!
My surgery went well and I am at home. I've had a little nausea and moderate but controllable pain. I have 4 stitches that will have to be removed next Thursday. My path reports did not come in today, so it will be Monday before I know anything. Hopefully all the tissue samples will only show atypical cells. If so, they will just monitor them on mammograms every 6 months. Thanks for your continued prayers and assistance in practical ways!
"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He(Christ) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7: 23-25
Thanks to Jean Ann for this verse! Always living and always interceding!
My surgery went well and I am at home. I've had a little nausea and moderate but controllable pain. I have 4 stitches that will have to be removed next Thursday. My path reports did not come in today, so it will be Monday before I know anything. Hopefully all the tissue samples will only show atypical cells. If so, they will just monitor them on mammograms every 6 months. Thanks for your continued prayers and assistance in practical ways!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Taking the Next Step
Journal Entry-March 7, 2010
"But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;...we live...as having nothing, yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:4-6, 10b
"It takes Almighty grace to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator-the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen, the next step in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiasm, and no spectator. It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that step, than it does to preach the Gospel. Every Christian has to partake of what was the essence of the Incarnation, he must bring the thing down into flesh and blood actualities and work it out through the fingertips. We flag when there is no vision, no uplift, but just the common round, the trivial task. The thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you." Take from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.
"But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;...we live...as having nothing, yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:4-6, 10b
"It takes Almighty grace to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator-the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen, the next step in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiasm, and no spectator. It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that step, than it does to preach the Gospel. Every Christian has to partake of what was the essence of the Incarnation, he must bring the thing down into flesh and blood actualities and work it out through the fingertips. We flag when there is no vision, no uplift, but just the common round, the trivial task. The thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you." Take from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Constant Care
Journal Entry-March 5, 2010
"Yesterday God helped me. Today he'll do the same. How long will this continue? Forever, praise His name!...God cannot afford to fail us. If He fails, then everything in this universe falls to pieces. God must be true to Himself and true to His Word. God cannot lie. His promises are sure and steadfast. If God once failed to care for one of His children, He would lose far more than we would. His very character is at stake! He has promised to care for us, and if He doesn't keep His promise, then He has ceased to be God. You can be sure that this will never happen!"
Taken from The Bumps are What you Climb On by Warren Wiersbe
I'm so thankful for God's constant care for me and all of His children! As I went with Anna today to Fine Arts at Hampton Park, I thought about last year when we were there and how far the Lord has brought me. Even with the "bumps" of the past two months, I am so blessed to be here and be healthy!
I will have an excisional biopsy (outpatient) on March 31 to remove the rest of the atypical cells and get "clear margins". I have now been 6 weeks without going to the cancer center! It is the longest I have gone without having to go there for something! I have not been sick since I finished the antibiotic and stopped the Herceptin. I am not having the back pain either. I am certain it was Herceptin related because I am doing so much better now that I'm off of it. I'm still short of breath and have to stop to take deep breaths during conversations, singing, or walking on inclines. One of my specific prayer requests would be for the Lord to completely restore my heart function over the next few months. I would also ask for prayer for Dr. Rippon to be able to see and remove anything that could possibly become cancerous during my biopsy on the 31st.
Thanks to all of you who have sent cards and spoken to me at church and told me that you are still faithful prayer warriors for me. I can feel the power of those prayers and it spurs me on to pray for others that are battling cancer.
We are in His "constant care"!
"Yesterday God helped me. Today he'll do the same. How long will this continue? Forever, praise His name!...God cannot afford to fail us. If He fails, then everything in this universe falls to pieces. God must be true to Himself and true to His Word. God cannot lie. His promises are sure and steadfast. If God once failed to care for one of His children, He would lose far more than we would. His very character is at stake! He has promised to care for us, and if He doesn't keep His promise, then He has ceased to be God. You can be sure that this will never happen!"
Taken from The Bumps are What you Climb On by Warren Wiersbe
I'm so thankful for God's constant care for me and all of His children! As I went with Anna today to Fine Arts at Hampton Park, I thought about last year when we were there and how far the Lord has brought me. Even with the "bumps" of the past two months, I am so blessed to be here and be healthy!
I will have an excisional biopsy (outpatient) on March 31 to remove the rest of the atypical cells and get "clear margins". I have now been 6 weeks without going to the cancer center! It is the longest I have gone without having to go there for something! I have not been sick since I finished the antibiotic and stopped the Herceptin. I am not having the back pain either. I am certain it was Herceptin related because I am doing so much better now that I'm off of it. I'm still short of breath and have to stop to take deep breaths during conversations, singing, or walking on inclines. One of my specific prayer requests would be for the Lord to completely restore my heart function over the next few months. I would also ask for prayer for Dr. Rippon to be able to see and remove anything that could possibly become cancerous during my biopsy on the 31st.
Thanks to all of you who have sent cards and spoken to me at church and told me that you are still faithful prayer warriors for me. I can feel the power of those prayers and it spurs me on to pray for others that are battling cancer.
We are in His "constant care"!
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