Thanksgiving is just a few days around the corner and since I'm the only one awake at my house, I thought now would be a good time to post a Thanksgiving blog. Mind you, I may decide to write another one next week, but just in case!
I have so much to be thankful for this year. Most recently, we received the results of Jeff's latest CT scan and we're very happy to hear that the cancer is shrinking. The two masses in his lungs are down by 40 to 50 percent. There were several nodgules that they were looking at...and those have either disappeared, or diminished to the point that they are no longer of concern. Jeff's strength has returned and though he is not at 100%, he is feeling very well. We are thankful for this report because it reminds us that God is healing him. This is something we've believed all along but it is nice to have it confirmed from time to time.
I am thankful for my family. For my children who have endured this storm like troopers. It hasn't been easy for them to see their daddy struggle like this, but they have been great. I'm thankful that God has blessed each of them with different skill sets and talents. I pray that I am able to encourage them and set them up for the success that I believe God has in store for them.
I am thankful for my in-laws...and by the way, I hate to call them that. They are Jeff's family, but they took me in 24+ years ago and have treated me like one of them ever since. I love them and am delighted that we will get to spend a few days with them after Christmas.
I am thankful for my mother and my brothers and sisters and their families. They have been so supportive through this whole struggle and I have leaned on them greatly. It's one thing to love your family...it's another thing to enjoy spending time with them. I have to say that when we are together...whether it's the whole gang or just a couple of us, we truly enjoy each other.
I am so very, very, very thankful for my husband. He is the love of my life and everyday I am reminded of what a treasure he is. He always looks out for and protects his family. He takes care of us. He treats me like a princess. He prays for me and blesses me. He leads me. He loves me...unconditionally. I could go on and on but I could never express how truly grateful I am that God brought us together. He is my answered prayer.
I am thankful for my church. Some churches would have asked a sickly pastor to step down so they could find someone who could care for them. Our didn't. They just stepped in and loved us. They have prayed for us and many have become armor bearers in the midst of this. God has blessed us with fine folks who truly love people. Because of their faithfulness, our ministry has been able to continue without missing a beat.
I am thankful for this community. They have risen to the occassion and supported us like we never dreamed possible. They have prayed for us. Worn bracelets for us. Given financial gifts to help with medical expenses. Given of their time, talents and resources. I believe this is the greatest place on Earth!
I am thankful for friends around the world. Friends who have prayed for us and blessed us in so many ways. Friends who, think about us even when there is really nothing going on. Just because I don't post for a few weeks doesn't mean that we don't still need prayer. In fact the opposite is more true. Many times I don't post because we are so busy that I don't have time. So please keep on praying!
I am thankful for my photography business. Folks who know me, know that I LOVE the photography part...not so much on the business part. But God is teaching me and allowing me to do what I love. And I am staying busy. Thank you Jesus for every client!
When I look at my list of things I am thankful for, I don't see things...I see people. I'm gonna skip Black Friday this year...think I'll spend it with those that I am thankful for instead. Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Our Journey Post #33
It's funny how God orders our steps sometimes. We think our direction is this way...when He says, Nope, it's that way. Kinda like a divine GPS that is never wrong. A couple of years ago, I picked up a TomTom on a Black Friday and soon found a really funny "George W" voice for it. I love having George W. guide me on trips, because he would say things like "bear left...but I don't know what kinda bear it is...a brown bear or a grizzly bear." Problem was, many times George would not take the route I wanted so I would force him to recalcuate the route. Faithfully, he would do it - whether it was the best way or not. I've grown so accustomed to being able to demand that the route be recalculated that when God ordered my steps in a way that I didn't want to go, I once again demanded...RECALCULATE!!! Guess what...God (unlike George) doesn't take orders from me!
When life began to take a turn that I didn't like, I screamed, "Recalculate!" When it appeared that no one was listening, I tried to force a plan change by making a turn in the opposite direction. But God, in His infinte wisdom has my every step planned out...even the ones that will take me down a difficult road. It is usually during the "wrong turns" that I learn the most and I decide that trusting Him isn't so bad afterall.
Recently, I questioned why we have to go this way. Why does it have to be cancer? And why does it have to be a cancer that is life threatening? There is one thing I have to say though...even when I don't understand the way He is taking me, I know that He will not lead me wrong and He will walk every step of the way with me. Not only that, but He goes before me and comes behind me!
Last Wednesday, Jeff was rescanned to see how his body is responding to chemo. This is the first scan that I haven't had scan-xiety over. I can't explain it but I know God is in control of the outcome of that scan. We have prayed. We believe that the scan will show healing. We are trusting God for a miracle. But we understand who orders every step we take.
Many of you have said that I need to change the way I talk about Jeff's healing and begin speaking of it as if we already have proof. I understand that. I do believe he is healed. However, I also believe that God intends for us to walk EVERY step of this route He has planned for us. He doesn't intend for us to walk it alone but every step is important. Please don't think our faith is failing when we don't claim the unseen in every post. We believe with all our hearts that he is going to be healed or possibly has already been healed. But we cannot discount the people that He has allowed our paths to cross...people that we have been able to minister to, all because Jeff has cancer. What if we had been able to order God to recalculate from the beginning? We never would've walked a single cancer step. That would've been great for us...but what about the people who we've been able to minister to? See, God ordered our steps to meet theirs...at just the right time.
The things we go through in life...hardships, heartache, triumphs, victory and trials. The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord...even when those steps go through rough places.
Friday, we will see the oncologist again and Jeff will have another chemo treatment. He will give us the results of the scan and we will continue walking. Our steps are already ordered. Only God knows what the direction is that we will go...we will trust Him. We appreciate your prayers and so many of you who walk this journey with us.
When life began to take a turn that I didn't like, I screamed, "Recalculate!" When it appeared that no one was listening, I tried to force a plan change by making a turn in the opposite direction. But God, in His infinte wisdom has my every step planned out...even the ones that will take me down a difficult road. It is usually during the "wrong turns" that I learn the most and I decide that trusting Him isn't so bad afterall.
Recently, I questioned why we have to go this way. Why does it have to be cancer? And why does it have to be a cancer that is life threatening? There is one thing I have to say though...even when I don't understand the way He is taking me, I know that He will not lead me wrong and He will walk every step of the way with me. Not only that, but He goes before me and comes behind me!
Last Wednesday, Jeff was rescanned to see how his body is responding to chemo. This is the first scan that I haven't had scan-xiety over. I can't explain it but I know God is in control of the outcome of that scan. We have prayed. We believe that the scan will show healing. We are trusting God for a miracle. But we understand who orders every step we take.
Many of you have said that I need to change the way I talk about Jeff's healing and begin speaking of it as if we already have proof. I understand that. I do believe he is healed. However, I also believe that God intends for us to walk EVERY step of this route He has planned for us. He doesn't intend for us to walk it alone but every step is important. Please don't think our faith is failing when we don't claim the unseen in every post. We believe with all our hearts that he is going to be healed or possibly has already been healed. But we cannot discount the people that He has allowed our paths to cross...people that we have been able to minister to, all because Jeff has cancer. What if we had been able to order God to recalculate from the beginning? We never would've walked a single cancer step. That would've been great for us...but what about the people who we've been able to minister to? See, God ordered our steps to meet theirs...at just the right time.
The things we go through in life...hardships, heartache, triumphs, victory and trials. The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord...even when those steps go through rough places.
Friday, we will see the oncologist again and Jeff will have another chemo treatment. He will give us the results of the scan and we will continue walking. Our steps are already ordered. Only God knows what the direction is that we will go...we will trust Him. We appreciate your prayers and so many of you who walk this journey with us.
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