This was written in honor of a cancer survivor who believes that despite his cancer, life is good. If you are a cancer survivor, you can truly relate to what it says.
Life is Good
How can you say that life is good when you have cancer? What’s good about it? You have a disease that threatens your life. You often have pain, discomfort. Your abilities and the control you have over your life keep shrinking, while your schedule of medical visits, tumor markers, and fears keep growing. Your future appears bleaker, your days shorter. There’s just a lot going wrong, it seems. It’s frankly, overwhelming. And a lot of people say some of the most insensitive, unhelpful, hurtful things. But you still say that life is good? How can that be? What is it that you see that still convinces you of life’s goodness, joy, wonder, beauty? You’ve been through the wringer. Your life has changed and it can never go back to what it once was. But that is your answer. It can’t go back and you don’t want it to. In spite of and because of your cancer it can’t go back. That’s your answer! You have learned in spite of your cancer that God is stronger than the cancer is, that you are stronger than the cancer too. You have learned because of your cancer that the fragility of life makes life that much more special, precious, worth living fully. You have learned to love more deeply, forgive more quickly, laugh more freely, risk more boldly. You have learned, it seems, to search more seriously for God’s face and in your search, you see God’s face in so many more places than you ever had before. You really do see life as good, because life is meant to be good and when you found that truth you decided to begin to live it, to be fully alive, to be free.
Copyright © 2009 by Michael Gingerich. All rights reserved.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
"He took our infirmities and bore our diseases." Matthew 8:17b
I just have to share this devotion with you that I received today. Please take a few minutes to read this and really take in what it says. We serve a big God and whatever we are facing today, He already knows about it. He is not caught off guard. We must choose to release our cares and let Him carry our burdens. I know it's hard to release that control, but what better place to be, letting go and letting God take care of things. What a relief we find when we do that!
Here's the devotion: We are created in God’s image. God knows us intimately and perfectly. God wants us to find relief and release for our disease and pain. Because God understands us so fully, God is the one to whom we need to connect to know how we can best find help. God’s business is about offering us healing, hope and new life. God does not want us to suffer and neither does God want us to live in despair. We need to know and believe deeply within our souls that God’s purposes are only for our everyday and eternal best.
In love you have made me. In love you exist to save me from myself, from my fears and from my distress. I will live confidently today because of this deep love for me, dear God. Amen.
Living with hope,
Molly
Here's the devotion: We are created in God’s image. God knows us intimately and perfectly. God wants us to find relief and release for our disease and pain. Because God understands us so fully, God is the one to whom we need to connect to know how we can best find help. God’s business is about offering us healing, hope and new life. God does not want us to suffer and neither does God want us to live in despair. We need to know and believe deeply within our souls that God’s purposes are only for our everyday and eternal best.
In love you have made me. In love you exist to save me from myself, from my fears and from my distress. I will live confidently today because of this deep love for me, dear God. Amen.
Living with hope,
Molly
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A challenge to change your thinking about life
"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will exult in the God of my salvation." - Habakkuk 3:18
To place our deepest hope in the One who knows the depth of eternity is to set ourselves on the strongest foundation of all. God wants only the best for us to have life and to have it abundantly. God offers the abundance to us and invites us to delight in it. How will you delight in this day God has given to you? How will you accept the love that lifts you above the everyday turmoil of this world? How will you react to challenges in a more healthy way? How will you find sacred meaning in even the most routine of tasks? When we think purposefully about these things each day and strive to do them - we will be amazed at the peace we will begin to achieve.
Lord, help me to rethink the way I approach each day. Help me to look at challenges and frustrations in a more positive way. Help me to react to them in a manner that lifts me higher, not pulls me down. I look for your guidance to set me on this better way. Amen.
To place our deepest hope in the One who knows the depth of eternity is to set ourselves on the strongest foundation of all. God wants only the best for us to have life and to have it abundantly. God offers the abundance to us and invites us to delight in it. How will you delight in this day God has given to you? How will you accept the love that lifts you above the everyday turmoil of this world? How will you react to challenges in a more healthy way? How will you find sacred meaning in even the most routine of tasks? When we think purposefully about these things each day and strive to do them - we will be amazed at the peace we will begin to achieve.
Lord, help me to rethink the way I approach each day. Help me to look at challenges and frustrations in a more positive way. Help me to react to them in a manner that lifts me higher, not pulls me down. I look for your guidance to set me on this better way. Amen.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Share your blessings with others that they may be encouraged.
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. " - Matthew 5:15
It is essential that we share the blessings we have been given. It is in sharing that we receive far more than we give. In this dark and difficult world, it is far too easy to see only the disappointments and frustrations around us. But that only makes our vision darker and of course, that's exactly what the enemy wants us to focus on. When we allow the light that does pierce the darkness to shine from us and through us, we change not only our own outlook, but also begin to influence the understandings of those around us. There are untold blessings in our midst. Take a few minutes today to write down your blessings. There is always something we can be thankful for. Remember the things that the Lord has done in the past for you. Remember His faithfulness. We can illuminate them and allow them to illuminate us to see the greater hope that God provides.
Lord, you put a light within me which warms and helps me every day. Even when I travel through this valley of illness, I realize I can help to shine that light all around me. As you bless me, help me to be a blessing to others in return. Amen.
It is essential that we share the blessings we have been given. It is in sharing that we receive far more than we give. In this dark and difficult world, it is far too easy to see only the disappointments and frustrations around us. But that only makes our vision darker and of course, that's exactly what the enemy wants us to focus on. When we allow the light that does pierce the darkness to shine from us and through us, we change not only our own outlook, but also begin to influence the understandings of those around us. There are untold blessings in our midst. Take a few minutes today to write down your blessings. There is always something we can be thankful for. Remember the things that the Lord has done in the past for you. Remember His faithfulness. We can illuminate them and allow them to illuminate us to see the greater hope that God provides.
Lord, you put a light within me which warms and helps me every day. Even when I travel through this valley of illness, I realize I can help to shine that light all around me. As you bless me, help me to be a blessing to others in return. Amen.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
While waiting, sometimes I get impatient. How about you?
"It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." - Isaiah 25:9
Most of us are not good at waiting. In fact, we probably all struggle with being impatient. I know that just when I think I've conquered impatience, it will rear it's ugly head again. We set our own timetables and are disappointed when things don’t go just as we’d like. Often, many of us blame God when life doesn’t unfold as we want. But in doing so, we forget something so utterly important …our timetables are not God’s. Our life and times are in His hands. We forget it is God who knows best, who offers what we need when we need it and whose timetable is the perfect one for us. Even when we don’t always understand God’s mysterious ways, we can be reassured that they are the ways to seek and to find.
My impatience gets in the way of my best interests too many times, Lord. I know I need to actively wait on you, and when I do, my needs will be wonderfully met. Amen.
Blessings,
Molly
Most of us are not good at waiting. In fact, we probably all struggle with being impatient. I know that just when I think I've conquered impatience, it will rear it's ugly head again. We set our own timetables and are disappointed when things don’t go just as we’d like. Often, many of us blame God when life doesn’t unfold as we want. But in doing so, we forget something so utterly important …our timetables are not God’s. Our life and times are in His hands. We forget it is God who knows best, who offers what we need when we need it and whose timetable is the perfect one for us. Even when we don’t always understand God’s mysterious ways, we can be reassured that they are the ways to seek and to find.
My impatience gets in the way of my best interests too many times, Lord. I know I need to actively wait on you, and when I do, my needs will be wonderfully met. Amen.
Blessings,
Molly
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A site recommendation for those dealing with cancer
Early on when I was first diagnosed with cancer, a cancer survivor gave a friend of mine a book for me to read. It is written by Greg Anderson. It has truly been a blessing. It's called "Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do". This man has been a 20+ years lung cancer survivor! He has an amazing testimony! Greg and his wife have created a website to offer encouragement to cancer patients. It's http://www.cancerrecovery.org/ . Please take a minute to peruse through this site, glean what you can from it, and be sure to get a copy of the book. It's well worth the money and time to read it. He really helps you gain perspective in dealing with cancer.
Blessings,
Molly
Blessings,
Molly
Thursday, October 1, 2009
An update and praise
From my heart -
God has been so amazingly good to us through this trial. I can't tell you how much we have all grown in our walk with him. Our faith is strengthened and we are so glad He held us up through all of this. I cannot recall anything in my life that has ever brought me to the bottom where I truly had to give up total control. THIS experience has been it for me. I'm hoping that through these updates you are encouraged to seek Him more. Don't wait until you have to have a "big one" happen before you give up and let Him be all He wants to be for all of us. A friend once said to me "I'd rather be prayed up and full of the Word before the storm, then to have the storm hit and be empty." This is so true!
The chest xray shows that everything is stable and this is what my doctor wants to see. He is so pleased with this news and how I am doing. He said I'm doing great and our prayers are being answered. I have to admit that when the report read "stable", I was a tad bit disappointed, just briefly though. It was because I was looking for some great adjectives like I got last time. I mean the words "significant improvement" like I read last time are pretty hard to beat. LOL! So, stable it is and what a wonderful, encouraging word that is. Praise be to God!!
I have to share with you what happened with my veins this afternoon. Nurses have trouble finding a good vein when they do my blood work, so I'm always asking for prayer whenever I have to have that done. My nurse, Judy, knows I have lots of folks praying when I come in for my calcium iv. She's a believer in prayer. Anyhow, I sat in the sun for about 10 minutes to soak in some vitamin d before I went inside the office. I went and sat down in my usual chair. She got her "stuff" together for my iv. I was talking to a friend I've made there so I'd get my mind off of what Judy was doing. Usually it takes her a few minutes, the vein might blow or she'll have to dig, but this time when I turned to look, THE NEEDLE WAS IN and I DID NOT FEEL it at all! It was a good vein, in fact today, she she said I had FOUR good veins she could've used in my hand. Folks, that just doesn't happen with me. So, the power of prayer and the warm sunshine is what she contributes to her easy job today. She said to thank you all for praying for my veins and for her too. :-)
I am thankful for each of you and for the prayers you pray for our family. God is answering them! I'm going to be okay and I am a survivor! God is good all the time!!
Living with hope,
Molly
God has been so amazingly good to us through this trial. I can't tell you how much we have all grown in our walk with him. Our faith is strengthened and we are so glad He held us up through all of this. I cannot recall anything in my life that has ever brought me to the bottom where I truly had to give up total control. THIS experience has been it for me. I'm hoping that through these updates you are encouraged to seek Him more. Don't wait until you have to have a "big one" happen before you give up and let Him be all He wants to be for all of us. A friend once said to me "I'd rather be prayed up and full of the Word before the storm, then to have the storm hit and be empty." This is so true!
The chest xray shows that everything is stable and this is what my doctor wants to see. He is so pleased with this news and how I am doing. He said I'm doing great and our prayers are being answered. I have to admit that when the report read "stable", I was a tad bit disappointed, just briefly though. It was because I was looking for some great adjectives like I got last time. I mean the words "significant improvement" like I read last time are pretty hard to beat. LOL! So, stable it is and what a wonderful, encouraging word that is. Praise be to God!!
I have to share with you what happened with my veins this afternoon. Nurses have trouble finding a good vein when they do my blood work, so I'm always asking for prayer whenever I have to have that done. My nurse, Judy, knows I have lots of folks praying when I come in for my calcium iv. She's a believer in prayer. Anyhow, I sat in the sun for about 10 minutes to soak in some vitamin d before I went inside the office. I went and sat down in my usual chair. She got her "stuff" together for my iv. I was talking to a friend I've made there so I'd get my mind off of what Judy was doing. Usually it takes her a few minutes, the vein might blow or she'll have to dig, but this time when I turned to look, THE NEEDLE WAS IN and I DID NOT FEEL it at all! It was a good vein, in fact today, she she said I had FOUR good veins she could've used in my hand. Folks, that just doesn't happen with me. So, the power of prayer and the warm sunshine is what she contributes to her easy job today. She said to thank you all for praying for my veins and for her too. :-)
I am thankful for each of you and for the prayers you pray for our family. God is answering them! I'm going to be okay and I am a survivor! God is good all the time!!
Living with hope,
Molly
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