A wonderful answer to prayer

Many of you know that I went to Oasis of Hope in Mexico for treatment.  One of the times we were there, we met a lovely couple named Ross & Deedy Carrier.  Deedy was being treated for lung cancer (I believe stage 4).  She did the treatments, and also did some treatment here stateside as well.  Since we met them we have been praying for Deedy that the Lord would heal her of her cancer.  This past Thursday I received the following email:

Dear Mighty Prayer Warriors, 

Today I have received my 2nd day of treatment here @ OOH. It has been comforting to be back here under the loving care of the doctors and staff here. It is always good to see the wonderful people who work here and also to meet new patients and hear about their journeys. I am very blessed to have my sister, Sally, here with me and today my brother, Sam, and my sister, Debbie, joined us! So we are having a party in my room! After reviewing my blood work and Pet scan results the doctor here was pleased to tell me I am in remission and CANCER FREE! They are recommending me to continue my home treatment of supplements & medications with a follow up here at OOH only if necessary in 6 mths. He said most patients continue to improve with the home treatment and do not need the trips back here unless there is a fall back. 

I am so very thankful for the blessings God has given me! What an amazing and powerful God we serve! I pray my life may be a offering to him for His Glory! Thank you for your continued prayers. You are all a part of God's miracle in my life. 

We are rejoicing with her and this wonderful news!  We serve a great God who does hear & answer our prayer!!  He is the great physician!!!!  May all the glory & honor belong to HIM!!!

A Faith that God can use our weakness

On Sunday morning for the past few weeks our pastor has been teaching from Hebrews 11--the hall of faith chapter.  This past Sunday's message especially touched my heart.  He was speaking about the faith of the Judges:  Gideon, Barak, Samson & Jephthah.  The one that really spoke to me was Gideon--he had a faith that God could use him even despite his weakness.

You probably know the story, when Gideon was preparing for battle he and his men were having to fight against 135,000 men.  God told Gideon that he had too many men and was to tell all of the men who were afraid to return home.  22,000 men left and only 10,000 remained.  God once again told Gideon that he had too many men (knowing that if they won the victory that they would say it was of their own doing and not give God the glory).  God told Gideon to take his men down to the river and test them....see who put their faces into the water to drink vs. those who were cautious and knelt down to drink the water.  Those that put their faces into the water were to go home--that was 9,700 men.  Only 300 men remained! 300 vs. 135,000--not the best odds.

God then told Gideon that He would use those 300 men!  He did, they blew the trumpets, broke the pitchers and shined their torches and shouted "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon".  The enemy who didn't realize what was happening, fought amongst themselves and killed each other and the battle was won.  (that's a very short version of the story)

In thinking about this story there have been many times in my life where I have been fearful.  I've been fearful about my health, fearful about all the "what if's.  I then realized that throughout my cancer journey I've been a lot like Gideon.  I know that I have a battle to face, and I have been trying my best to do everything, in a sense, in my own power to try to kill the cancer in my body (surgery, chemo, radiation, supplements, diet, etc...).  Not that doing any of these things are wrong, but God showed me this past week that if I did the chemo and was healed, or if I changed my diet and was healed that I would probably not give God the full credit He deserves-I would say "the chemo worked".  He slowly has been "reducing my army"....getting me down to the point where if He chooses to heal my body from cancer that I will only give Him the glory and Him alone!  A true test of my faith.  A faith that God can, and will use me in all my weaknesses.  

"My grace is sufficient for you for my faith is made perfect in weakness"

ATT: Prayer Warriors

I'm sitting in the hospital getting my chemo and thought I would give you another update.  I had my scheduled follow up with my doctor on Wednesday and the appointment went well.  My cancer levels have gone up just a bit (he thinks it is due to them leveling off since they have dropped so much over the past few months).  He told me it was nothing to be concerned about but that we would continue to monitor the levels in case they do start to rise again.  I am scheduled for a CT scan on Monday (I normally have them every 3 months) so it is a perfect time for me to have another one to see what the cancer is doing now.  I'm asking all of my prayer warriors out there to pray that the Lord will bring complete healing in my body.  The Bible tells us that it takes only the faith of a mustard seed (but many times it is hard for me to have faith even that small).  My doctor has told me that there will always be "scar tissue" and/or tumors that are in my liver that will show up on a CT scan.  However, I serve the Great Physician who can, if He so chooses, to allow the CT scan to be free and clear of everything--tumors & scar tissue!! I'm asking all of you to continue to pray the Lord's will be done (but asking in faith that He will provide that miracle in my life).  My CT scan is scheduled for this coming Monday at 2:30pm.

No news is good news.....

I've been reminded yet once again to update my blog :)  There really hasn't been anything to post so I've figured "no news is good news".  I've had my chemo every other week--with labs at the hospital every week.  I have my normal follow up appointment with my doctor the middle of next week so we will see what he says.  My treatments have been going great with no side effects and I feel really good.

Last week Simon and I bought a Vitamix.  We have heard so many good things about them and everyone we know that has one LOVES it.  Well, I do too.  Since we purchased it I have had a smoothie every day!!  I've also made soup and sherbet too--all with healthy ingredients.  Some of the smoothies I've made look really gross (cause I add spinach, etc...) but they are very tasty!! :)  Easy to make & easy to clean.  I'm one happy girl!!

May you have a blessed weekend--remember to change your clocks on Sunday!!