The Journey Continues:Quick Update March 2014

Good news, Richard doesn't have to go back to the Doctor for two weeks!!  He is still having lots of cramping,  quite a bit of congestion and fatigue.  He also has lost four more pounds because the sores are still bad in his mouth.  They may put him on a different drug for the graft vs host at the next visit.

Richard is getting really tired of feeling bad but he did say it would be worth it if that silver lining comes true. That silver lining is that acute graft vs host that he is experiencing is the kind that normally will help get rid of tumors and normally you don't see the cancer come back.

Thanks again for all the prayers and keep them coming!!

Psalm 54:1-2

New King James Version (NKJV)

54 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.

The Journey Continues:Update Feb. 2014

Just when I think that we are in the clear and do not need to update, something happens.  I guess that is the nature of the graft vs host beast.  Just when I think that Richard might be slipping into normal, it rears it's ugly head and sends him back into that dark abyss.  Part of his problem, and I do tell him this, is that he wants it to be gone so bad he can't see what is happening.  It is blamed on normal stuff but in reality the majority of the time it is graft vs host.

It has been a long time since we have had to make weekly treks south to Oklahoma City but next week will be the fourth week in a row.  Two weeks ago it was pneumonia, sinus, mouth sores, RSV and graft vs host problems.  Last week it was check-up and a cat scan.  The graft vs host was not any better, the congestion was still there but not quite as bad and the cat scan showed two spots on his neck.  This week the congestion is better but the graft vs host had not changed.  They have put him back on anti-rejection medicine, antibiotic, a liquid steroid to help with the mouth sores, and another medicine to help with his immune system.  They also did a skin biopsy to make sure that the fight is all graft vs host.  He was told that he has chronic graft vs host and acute graft vs host.

The Doctor did tell us that there could be a silver lining.  He said that the acute graft vs host rash looks like the kind that normally will get rid of tumors and that the cancers usually don't return when a person is afflicted with this.  The key word here is normal.  You guys all know that my Richard is not normal.  My prayer though is that the Doctor is right.

I do try to get my husband to listen to me when I think he has graft vs host.  Normally he doesn't listen, sometimes to the point where it has almost been to late.  Thinking about this and how he reacts made me think about sin in my life.  How many times do I sin and as I am slipping into that dark abyss it just seems normal.  I blame other things and other people but it is just sin. That is the nature of that beast called sin.  There is a silver lining though.  It is Jesus!  He is the medicine that I need.  He woos and calls me until I realize that I am in the grips of sin. He than pulls me up out of that deep, dark abyss and back into His light.

What about you?  Are you in the light?

John 14:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Are you listening?

                                                

The other day a good friend and I were talking and the subject came up about the art of listening.  It does seem that some people do not listen. They only want to talk.  They want to tell their story but they don't seem to listen in return.  This made me think about how well that I listen.  I decided that I really don't listen very well.  Many times my mind is wandering to other things and sometimes I look up to see the talker looking at me with a weird look.  I know that I am probably supposed to respond with something but since I don't know what was said I don't know what to say.  A conversation should be give and take, not one sided, but if one is not listening the right response will probably not come out of the mouth.

In thinking about the give and take of a conversation I also realize that many times my conversations with God are one sided.  Many times I am telling God what I need and what I want to happen but than I am not being still to listen to His response.  I wonder how many times God is speaking to me but I don't respond because I haven't heard what was being said?  I have to learn to be still and listen!

Are you listening?

Proverbs 23:19

New International Version (NIV)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:

Psalm 46:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

This one might be for you---

Today I had a phrase pop into my head and than after I mulled it over for a while I felt that I needed to share it.  I felt that it needed to be read by someone, so this might be for you.

God is working mightily in your life even if you don't feel, see, hear or smell it.

You need to know that no matter what God is working mightily and His works are wonderful.  He cares for you and He is in control!   God has only your best interest in His works.

Psalm 66:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

Job 37:14

New King James Version (NKJV)

14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

The Lost Necklace

I have a necklace that my husband gave me about ten years ago for Christmas.  I was very surprised and of course I loved the necklace.   The necklace has a gold chain and a heart with diamonds that lit up my heart the first time I saw it.  It was the perfect gift!

I was very dismayed several months ago when I opened up the necklace box to get my necklace only to find that the necklace was not in the box.  My necklace was gone.  I looked everywhere but could not find it. It apparently was lost.  I felt terrible but life went on.  Every once in a while I would glance at that empty box and fill the loss.  It would renew my resolve to find my necklace.

I finally, after many months of search decided that it was no use and that my necklace was lost forever.  This past Friday night my daughter was getting ready for her winter ball and decided that she needed gold jewelry around her neck.  I went to my room and started going through my jewelry box when something shiny caught my eye.  It was my necklace!!  It was found and it was found in a place that I had already looked for it.  (no my daughter did not get to wear it)   Just like that my world changed, my necklace had been lost but was now found!!  I was thrilled!

Just like that your world can change!  My Savior came to find the lost.  You can be found, even if you are hiding where you think that no one will ever find you, you can be found!  Jesus came just for you and for me! He will light your heart!  He is the perfect gift that you have been waiting for.  He might even find you in a place that He has already looked. Will you be found?  How about today?

Make this the best Christmas ever, let Jesus find you!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

John 3:16-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The Silly Things that I Sometimes Do

The other day I did something really silly.  I know that  I am allergic to honey.  I know that if I eat honey I am going to itch and possible get a rash.  I just love honey so much I could not contain myself.  I decided that maybe just this one time I would not itch.

I poured just a little bit of honey on my plate and dipped my sopapilla into it.  Oh my it tasted so good I dipped it one more time, than just once more.  It was not long before I was regretting my silly decision to eat that honey.  I was itching and my lips felt very heavy and tight.  I knew better but I thought just this one time won't hurt.

As I reflected on my silly act I thought this it was just like sin. Sin is just like honey.  It taste so good!  It won't hurt just one time!  Nothing will happen just this one time but it does.  There are always regrets after sin.  There is always some itching and discomfort as you realize that sin does affect you.  Sin does hurt and it is silly to think that there will not be consequences.

I have to turn that sin over to my Lord.  I have to have His help so that I am not dipping into sin, just one more time.  The Holy Spirit woos and convicts me and keeps me itching and feeling heavy until I give that sin up again.  He will forgive and take away the itching.

What about you?  Do you keep dipping into the honey?

Psalm 103:11-12

New King James Version (NKJV)

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

The Strangest Thing

Yesterday the strangest thing happened.  I was driving east on Randolph which is a street in the town where I live. It is a two lane road with grass on either side of the road.  I noticed that the cars in front of me were slowing down and coming to a stop.  I couldn't figure out what was going on until I saw the strangest thing. There was a car heading west but it was not in the west bound lane.  This car was on the grass on the south side of the road.  The person driving this car looked like a wild man and was driving at a very fast speed.  

I was shocked as the car sped by me on the side of the road, still on the wrong side of the road.  I knew that if it came back onto the road that someone would be hurt.  I was in a line of about ten cars that just sat there for several minutes and we were probably all wondering what to do.  I looked in my rear view mirror and could see the dust flying as the car was still going the wrong way.

I could see in the mirror that a red pickup had pulled off the road.  I am not sure if that car clipped him or if he just pulled off to call the police.  I was reaching to pick up my phone when I saw flashing lights and heard sirens.  I wondered what on earth was wrong with that person.  Was he drunk or high on drugs?  How on earth did he get headed down the side of the road, on the wrong side of the road?

It made me realize that sometimes I get headed down the side of the road, on the wrong side of the road. It's not because I am drunk or high.  It's not because I am a wild person. (Well not too often)

It is because I have gotten off course.  I have forgotten which direction I should be headed.  

It is not sirens and flashing lights that direct me back to the right side of this road.  It is the prick of a still small voice telling me that I am headed the wrong way. It keeps me from getting hurt.  It reminds of the way, the truth and the light and of what Christ has done for me.  Did you know that Christ did the strangest thing? He left the comfort of heaven to be born a baby in a stable and to die on the cross.  He died and rose again for me and for you! 

If you are headed down the wrong side on the road, He is waiting with all the right directions!

Luke 2:10-12

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher ofour faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.