#50 HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MEDICAL UPDATE

A few thoughts from the week:

I have not kept up as well with my blog entries recently. This is a busy time of year with the holidays. As I mentioned in my last post, for the first time in a LONG time, my parents, my two brothers and I were together for Thanksgiving. My brother, Doug and his wife, Donna, missionaries in Kenya, arrived the Sunday before Thanksgiving. There were other extended family and friends who also joined in the day, making it a great time to get together as family.

This week I have been encouraged by a couple of songs, sung in church and otherwise just brought to my attention. Here’s one:

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

I had the privilege of hearing Doug preach this past Sunday, who reminded us that our enemy, Satan, is out to defeat us, but by knowing our enemy, how he works, thinks and attacks, we can have victory through Christ. That reminded me of another song and Scripture.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth - Isaiah 53 4-7

JESUS NEVER FAILS 

Words and Music by Gary Driskell

So many souls have tested Him
Throughout the course of time
So many still reach out to Him
With broken hearts and minds

And everyone of them will say
Without exception that they find
Jesus never fails

Even in the days of old
He brought His people through
Then He came to show His love
And He died for me and you

And then He rose again to prove
That every story had been true
Jesus never fails

Chorus
Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
You might as well get thee behind me Satan
You cannot prevail
Because Jesus never fails

Sometimes this world brings trouble
I find so hard to bear
I know I could not make it
Without Jesus being there
It’s so encouraging to know
However deep we’re in despair
That Jesus never fails

So what can I do to prove to you
Tell me, how can you deny?
No untold facts, no mysteries
It’s all so cut and dry
And on the witness stand of your life
I’ll be the first to testify
That Jesus never fails

Repeat Chorus

Doug also brought some great updates of things in Kenya and he brought “get-well” cards from some of the churches with whom I worked while a missionary in Kenya. It was wonderful reading the notes of encouragement. Then he surprised me with a gift and card from the Bible Baptist Church, Makongeni, Thika. I grew up in this church as a young missionary kid (MK) and continued there even as an adult missionary, working with some truly wonderful people. To say that gift and card meant a lot, would be quite an understatement. It brought lots of tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Thank you for all the kindness expressed through your actions and cards.


I will post pictures soon. For now, I am thoroughly enjoying the tea. Thank You.

medical update:

Today, I went back to Moffitt for a visit with my doctor and to get the report from Monday’s MRI. Here’s what He said:

The MRI looked good. There are still places that show changes, but he called them pseudo-progression, which is a false indication that the tumor could be growing, but is more likely, changes due to the radiation treatment. He also said there are more signs that it is not tumor growth because there are no blood vessels in the spots they are seeing, which would also indicate that it’s not tumor growth. He once again said he didn’t understand what was happening in my case because my cancer is not acting “normal”.

So, of course we celebrated with frozen yogurt.



PRAISES: 

Continued improvements in how I’ve been feeling.

God’s continued provision.

BECAUSE I CAN MOMENT:

Today, I walked in to see the doctor, something I’ve only done once before. Sure, it took a while. I kept telling everyone they could have a head start, if they needed it. 😊

Improved strength.

I received an encouraging call today concerning some continued treatment and a possible step forward in the device for my leg/foot.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.