Firmly Anchored

I hope you had a nice Easter weekend.  I had some sweet talks with the Lord over those 4 days of rest.  I'm so grateful for all He's done for me - and for His goodness and faithfulness.  I thought back over all the years I've had cancer.  I'm not in "remission" because I still have a cancerous tumor that's inoperable, but in a sense.....I'm healed.  That may sound strange, but I couldn't have made it all these years (12 years in June) without His healing touch.  I'm so grateful.  To go from the 8 1/2 pound tumor I had in the beginning to the small one I still have - it's amazing!

I've started a new medication to help with some of the cancer impact on my body.  It's gotten me thinking a lot about cancer.  I came across the following list and wanted to share it.  It is attributed to Phyllis Ten Elshof and/or Sarah Hupp in their books on courageous cancer stories.

What cancer cannot do - cancer is so limited:

-  It cannot cripple Love.

-  It cannot shatter Hope.

-  It cannot dissolve Faith.

-  It cannot destroy Peace.

-  It cannot kill Friendship.

-  It cannot suppress Memories.

-  It cannot silence Courage.

-  It cannot invade the Soul.

-  It cannot steal Eternal Life.

-  It cannot conquer the Spirit.

Cancer is awful - and, yes, it can be strong.  But as we walk through it with the Lord, it's power is limited in the important things.  Our faith, hope, love, peace, soul, and courage is firmly anchored in the Lord's hands.  It's our place of security!

"In Him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, 'we are His offspring.' "  Acts 17:28

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."  Isaiah 43:2 NASB

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:13-14

The Lord has been my Rock on my cancer journey.  He has held my hand and comforted me in hard moments.  He is so good and true and trustworthy!  I love Him.

God is in the Fog

I love living near the ocean, with mountains in the background.  One thing that's very special is how often the sky and ocean changes.  It can be a brilliant, beautiful, sunny day - and then, out of nowhere, a heavy fog may roll in.  It's always such a surprise.  

I've realized that the same thing happens in life sometimes.  Life can be wonderful - everything calm and carefree.  Then, out of nowhere, trouble rolls in like that heavy fog.  Sickness, financial troubles, relationship conflicts, and all manner of suffering.  It, too, is usually such a surprise.

I've experienced that "fog" over and over in recent years.  Lots of surprises.  But, thankfully, God is right there in the fog.  He is always aware of that fog - and He loves me and cares for me in the midst of it.  He is good and faithful in the midst of whatever fog rolls in.  He doesn't abandon me.  I couldn't make it without Him.  I honestly don't know how people make it on their own.

So many times I've thought of all that Job went through, and yet His faith and trust in God never wavered.  I pray that God will help me always follow his example.

"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38, 39

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."  Habakkuk 3:17-19

"I have set the Lord always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:8

I'm so grateful that the light of God's presence shines brightly in the thickest fog.  He is so good!

God is With Me Whatever I Face

Through the years I've written poems. I'm not a great poet - they're more expressions of my heart.....and my love for God, Floyd, and others. While going through some things lately, I came across one that I wrote when Floyd was in the hospital and I was going through cancer treatment - about 18 months along on that journey...

"I wonder as I wander

On this unexpected way.

I wonder what is still ahead,

And what will fill my day.

I never planned to come this way -

This path is so unknown.

The twists and turns go on and on,

They're not what I thought God had shown.

Our "golden years" were just ahead,

And we planned to slow the pace.

Instead a whole new course we're on,

And we're in a much different race.

I wonder what is still ahead -

I wonder what the end will be.

I wonder what God has in store -

I wonder what He has for ME.

I've not been one to wander,

As the years have all gone by.

There's always been a plan He's shown,

And I've never questioned why.

I've followed each path where He's led,

All over the wide world.

And looked to Him to fulfill what He'd said,

When I was a young girl.

I even felt at that young age

That someday I'd live here;

But I would have never dreamed

That this journey would be so severe.

I wonder as I wander what is still ahead.

Then I hear, as I listen to His sweet voice,

To keep trusting and holding His hand

As He shows day by day His choice."

I've always been aware that there are hard things along with good things as we walk through life. The key is calling on the Lord for the grace we need to persevere and respond in the right way. The last eleven years of my life has been a severe testing of this value. And God has been faithful! Abundantly faithful! He has helped me with each hard thing that has come my way - small things, and massively huge things. I never lacked for His help.

The key thing is our heart's response - not the circumstances we're facing. When my heart struggles, I turn to the Lord for more and more grace. He always provides that and never leaves me!

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

I join my voice with Paul's in saying that God is with me whatever I face - and He's never failed me!