I just want to shout!!!!

I had a CT scan done today to see how things are progressing with my treatment.   The doctor just called with the results. He said everything looks VERY GOOD! He said the tumor has shrunk from 2 inches to a 1/2 inch! Praise God!!!!!  I do need ya'll to pray about one thing though.  The radiologist doesn't have anything to compare with so I'm to get a copy of the previous MRI to them next week.  From the radiologist report, there are areas that look like metastatis, but my doctor talked to the radiologist and they agreed that because I'm doing so well, that more than likely (notice emphasis) it is where healing is taking place or scar tissue.  My doctor told me not to worry because he said it is hard to distinguish this in the lung especially if you don't have anything to compare it to. The radiologist agreed with him that if it has metastasized, we would be seeing symptoms of that and we're not.  Remember all this started with back pain and I have NO pain in my body!!  Praise God!!

So, please continue to pray that when the radiologist sees the previous MRI and compares this to the CT next week, that he will confirm that this is healing tissue, not metastatis.  I'll let you know as soon as I know.

As we wrap up the year, it's been an extraordinary year to say the least.  God has been so good to us and has never left us to walk this path alone.  I've never felt his presence like I have this year.  The peace that passes all understanding has been a gift He has given to us, one I can't quite explain, but know it has been so precious.  The lessons we've learned, the prayers we've seen answered, the love we've experienced, the grace He has given to sustain us have been a gift.  I know people think I'm crazy when I say that this cancer diagnosis has been a gift, but when you really think about it, it is.  I've learned to rely on the Father in a way I have never known before.  I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world.  We're in the palm of His hand, right where He wants us to be.

For each prayer you've prayed for us, for the phone calls, the emails, the cards, and other expressions of love and concern, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  This year will not be forgotten.  It's all written down on paper. Who knows, one day it might be a book.  My prayer is that He receives all the glory for the great things He has done.  My spirit just shouts on the inside with excitement about all He has done and will do in the future!  "I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all the Lord has done for us,"… Isaiah 63:7a,b

May the New Year be one where we all find ourselves seeking His face more each day, drawing closer to Him, and learning to walk closer with Him! May it be filled with love, joy, peace, and good health for each of us! Thanks for sharing the journey with us!

Living with hope,
 
Molly

Answer me when I call, O God of my right! ~ Psalm 4:1a

In so many of our lives today, when we phone others we get busy signals. Or we quickly get put on hold. Or our calls are screened. Or we must navigate through a dozen messages in order to reach who we need. Or we have to leave a message that never gets returned. It's especially frustrating when we are seeking answers that directly impact on our health and lives. In our desperation and anxiety we want to reach the ones who can help us without complication or delay. But with God it is not complicated. With God there is no delay. Because God is already at work even before we ask or know what to ask. God is the One whose line is always open, who never screens us and who is never too busy to hear.

I remember that you are always listening, even when I am not calling to you. Your ear is already waiting for my voice. Your hands are already creating a solution for me. Thank you for always being ready for me, O God. Amen.

This was my devotion for today.   I think it is a pretty powerful one.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power." ~ Ephesians 6:10

Trust. Confidence. Resolve. Hope. A positive vision. These things are of God. They give us strength. They empower us. They supply us with the courage to face the uncertain future before us. We need each of these things to help us react to all that lies ahead with a healthy attitude and with grace. The gifts we need for healing, like these, all come from the One who is an endless source of support and sustenance for us. We do not have to travel on this road alone, left to our own limited knowledge and skills. But we can certainly rely on God to supply us with every gift necessary to find exactly what we need.

I can't do this alone, O Lord. I need your power to help me find my way. Don't let me try to find healing without you. Remind me of my own limitations and of your infinite care and love. Amen.

We are all significant in God's eyes

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? " - Matthew 6:26

One of the things I've learned through my walk with cancer is that we are all signficant in God’s eyes.  I knew I was important before the diagnosis, but after the diagnosis, I really knew, if that makes sense.     Up until that time, I never saw myself as being a real vital part of this big world we live in.   I knew the Lord loved me, but after the diagnosis, the Lord showed me truly how much He loves me through the body of Christ.  I remember days going by when all I could do was cry.   I've never cried such big tears and there was nothing I could do to stop them.  They just kept coming.   A friend told me tears bring healing and I could certainly use some healing.    He truly holds each of us in the palm of His hand.

Realizing that I am valued  in God’s kingdom is one of the most vital gifts we can give ourselves. Knowing how much God wants us to believe we are created in a divine image can change our outlooks in many positive ways no matter what we are facing.  When we comprehend how much God loves us and wants to help us, our lives are renewed and transformed. We are changed for the better when we believe inherently that God cares for us deeply and that God’s only will is for us to have only the best of life and love.

My value in your eyes is ultimately impossible for me to understand, dear Lord. The love you have for me is far more deep and strong than I can ever know. But as I grow more aware, I thank you for the way it gives me hope and new life. Amen.

God is bigger than our problems

VERSE:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   -- Ephesians 3:20-21

THOUGHT:

What grand "Kingdom dreams" do you have for God's glory? What incredible ideas can you imagine requesting that God would bring to fruition? What are your expectations of heaven with God? Now that you have stretched mind, challenged your imagination, and loaded up your expectations, are you ready for some down to earth truth straight from the Marvel of heaven? God is able to do far more than any of that. His power is at work in us to do his glorious will and accomplish his eternal purposes. So let's not set our sights too low and expect too little. Live for his glory and expect to see it at work in your life.

PRAYER:

O LORD, God of heavens and earth, my Abba Father and loving Shepherd, please stir my thoughts by your Spirit to dream bigger dreams and have higher hopes than my earthbound and selfish brain can imagine. Give me a sense of wonder and expectation as I live for your glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

“Whatever you ask in prayer with faith, you will receive.” -  Matthew 21:22

If we want something to work for us the first and most essential step is to believe it will work. If we believe that establishing a connection with God through prayer can give us strength, guidance and vision, it surely will. As we put our trust in the power of God to show us a better way, we will surely find a better way to face the challenges that confront us. Connecting with the power of eternity that God gives us helps us profoundly to see answers we could never see on our own. Believing that God has only the best in mind for us will encourage and energize us beyond imagination. Putting our trust in a divine authority will enable us to discover renewed hope for each new day.

In confidence I reach out to you, Lord, to show me the direction you want me to go. I know you want only the best for my life. I look to you in faith today to help me understand what all that means for me. Amen.

A Spirit of Joy

I believe having a spirit of joy is essential for every one of us, not just those walking through trials.   Our attitude about life affects every area of our lives and the people around us.   Having a joyful spirit can be infectious.   Remember the Lord told us to "Consider it pure joy, my dear brothers, for when you face trials of many kinds, for the testing of your faith, will develop perserverance."   James 1:2

Take a minute to ponder on this devotion.

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them ever sing for joy;" - Psalm 5:11a

Possessing a spirit of joy is essential on this journey with cancer. Joy is an amazing gift from God. Joy is a spirit of trust, confidence and calm that helps us transcend all the challenges we face. Joy grants us serenity in spite of the turmoil within and around us. Joy infuses us with a sense of well-being even as we face the most difficult problems. Joy is a refuge in times of trouble. Joy is a balm that soothes our souls no matter what threatens our lives. Joy enables us to rise above our physical circumstances to experience hope and peace. That is a gift in which we truly can rejoice.

O Lord, I need this joy in my life today. I cannot be knocked down and pushed around and survive without the refuge you give. I’m looking to you today to help me find your joy alive in everything I do. Amen.