What Faith Can Do

My theme song for 2009. Thanks to all who responded to my request in January to join my "mustard seed" faith group who would pray for me & my family's behalf as I faced cancer.

Matthew 17:20 - He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Philippians 1:19-20 - for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.




What Faith Can Do Lyrics

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

2009 Christmas Greeting

I decided to post our Christmas greeting on the blog because it's impossible to thank all of the people who have carried us through this difficult year.

Cancer touched our family personally and has made for a long year. First, my diagnosis of breast cancer in February, then Rob's Dad passed away just days after learning he had cancer in August. We grieve Bob's absence in our lives, but we are thankful he is in heaven where there is no more suffering.

We have learned to treasure each day as a gift. Birthdays and anniversaries had deeper meaning to us this year.

In June, we celebrated our granddaughter's first birthday with lots of laughter watching her eat her birthday cake by the handfuls.

Rob & I celebrated 18 years of marriage in July. We learned it's true about looking more like your spouse the longer you're together. Rob reminded me on my birthday that "bald was the new blond."

We had the privilege of caring for our granddaughter, Sydney the weekend of Derek & Ali's 2nd wedding anniversary. We understand the meaning of grandchildren; our moments with Sydney are definitely GRAND.

I managed to pull one over on Rob with a surprise party for his BIG 4-0!!! He wore my blonde wig at the party and found out that blondes really do have more fun.

November, Derek's birthday wish came true, the Yankees won the World Series. Erin turned 14 the day before Thanksgiving and is anxious to put her driver's permit to use.

My motto this year has been, "Life is hard, but God is good." Yes, it's been difficult, but God has given us SO MUCH to celebrate and be thankful for. Your love, encouragement and prayers have carried us through. Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude. THANK YOU!

We pray you will experience PEACE not as the world gives. (John 14:27)Your HEALTH will be restored and your wounds healed. (Jeremiah 30:17) You will have HOPE because the Lord's compassions are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:21-23)You will have FAITH as small as a mustard seed that can move mountains. (Matthew 17:20) You will have COURAGE because the Lord is with you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)You will grasp how wide, how long, how deep the LOVE of Jesus is for you. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Merry Christmas!



Emmanuel by Laura Story, C.F. Alexander. A new, favorite Christmas song for me this year. Lyrics below:

Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger bed:

Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

Chorus:
Emmanuel
The promise kept
Its longing of my heart for God in flesh
Through this child, all earth is blessed
Emmanuel

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

Bridge:
Our answered prayer
Our faith’s reward
Redemption’s near
Redemption’s here

Alt Chorus:
Emmanuel
We will rejoice
We will worship you, our Savior and our Lord
We will join creation’s voice
Emmanuel

The Fight for Hope Over Despair

This is a powerful picture and message of the fight for hope over despair in the battle against cancer. I could completely identify with it. Have your kleenex handy.

Permission to Weep

In recent days it's been difficult for me to keep on, keeping on. I've been very "weepy." I've cried tears of grief, tears of joy, tears of weariness and tears of gratitude - all wrapped up in one peculiar package.

I find comfort from God's Word about weeping from an excerpt I read recently from 'Beside Still Waters,' written by C.H. Spurgeon. In John 11, it speaks of Lazarus' death, but Jesus was going to raise him. (John 11:11) Lazarus' resurrection was at hand, yet Jesus wept. (John 11:35) Jesus knew that Lazarus' death was for God's glory. He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:4) Still, He wept.

Have you ever thought it wrong to weep at a loss. I have. It is not wrong. It if were, Jesus would not have wept under similar circumstances. Tears, have free admission into the realm of holiness because "Jesus wept."

Friends, we may weep because "Jesus wept." He wept with the full knowledge of Lazarus' happiness, with full knowledge of his resurrection, with firm assurance that God was glorified through this death. We may not condemn what Christ allows. If we can weep, thank God. If we can weep and know that we are in His presence, then our weeping is not sinful. Let tears roll in floods. This is good instruction.

May the Holy Spirit teach us. May the Lord write it on every weeper's heart. We may weep because "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)

Even though today, I weep because this "sickness" called breast cancer is taking it's toll on me. Yet I also weep tears of joy because He's healing me and carrying me every step of the way. I weep with weariness and gratitude tied together with awe of the immense love, care and encouragement He continues to pour out upon me through so many people. I may weep, because "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)

The More I Seek

Over the course of this year, in my distress, I have turned to the the Lord. He has been so incredibly near to me. The more I seek Him, the more I find Him, the more I find Him, the more I love Him.

This year I've been set aside to focus on my health and many days have felt useless. Yet, I've discovered the richness of my salvation in Jesus, the joy of His constant, unconditional love in a deeper more profound way than ever before.

Too often I have judged myself based on how I look, behave and feel. I've felt unworthy of love much of my life. If I liked what I saw in the mirror or if things in my life were going smoothly or my "performance" seemed "adequate" I found it easier to believe I was loved and accepted.

As I've rested in the presence of the Lord for several months, I've come to realize that He loves me as I am, not for what I "do" or look like. He desires me to stop judging myself and "fixing" myself, so that I will be accepted or loved by people. He wants me to redirect my thoughts to see myself clothed in His righteousness, radiant in His perfect love. Not by ANYTHING I can do, but by His incomparable richness of grace, love and mercy - all free gifts from Him.

He is teaching me to release my idol of approval of man for the Lord's affirmation that is not dependent upon achievement or outward appearance. He is reminding me to be at peace with the way He has created me. My ultimate purpose on this earth is to love and worship Him. It seems too simple, yet so complex. From the overflow of my love and devotion to Him I can love others more freely without fear of rejection.

While my body continues to heal from the scars of cancer and emotional wounds, I am to be still, rest in His presence, cease striving, relax. That is so counter cultural, our society defines our "value" if we're busy, striving, doing more to prove our worth.

Lord, thank you for drawing near to me as I've drawn nearer to You. Your love is so deep, it's more that I can understand. I melt in your peace. It's overwhelming.


Deuteronomy 4:29-31 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you...

Grieved

The apostle Paul wrote, "Though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials" (I Peter 1:6). Not only do we have various trials, they also grieve and depress us. It happens to the best of God's servants. I know several people who love the Lord, and the Lord loves them. They are precious to Him. They are humble, gentle, and gracious people, but they have come into deep trouble or some heavy cloud rests upon them. It is especially to these individuals that I write.

Dear troubled friends, you may have grief or sorrow that is not known to anybody. You od not want to reveal it. You would not whisper it to the dearest confidant that you have on earth. You keep it to yourself. Perhaps this is the reason that it becomes so bitter. Communicating to some Christian friend might be a real help. There is relief in shedding tears when you are in great anguish. If you can have a good cry, you can get over the trouble more readily.

Yet sometimes you cannot find expression for grief and the pent-up flame becomes more fierce. If you have a grief that you cannot tell to any human being, let me affectionately invite you to look to Jesus. Tell the Lord all about your sorrow, and ask Him to give you help in your time of need. Whatever it is, tell it to Him. As surely as Jesus lives, He will hear and answer, and you will go your way in peace.

I do not know the details of your situation. "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy" (Proverbs 14:10. There are depths and there are heights where we must be by ourselves. Do not be surprised if, as far as human beings are concerned, you sometimes have to sail alone. BUT if Christ is in the vessel, you cannot be in better company. You're NOT ALONE.

Excerpt from 'Beside Still Waters' by C.H. Spurgeon, Edited by Roy H. Clark

I Peter 1:6-7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

My Father

My dear friends, remember that you have a Father in heaven. When all is gone and spent, you can still say, "My Father." Your relatives may be gone, but your Father lives. Friends may leave, just as the birds fly south for the winter, but you are not alone because the Father is with you. Cling to this blessed promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) In every moment of distress, anxiety and perplexity, you have a Father on whose wisdom, truth, and power you can rely.

If your children have needs, they go to you. If they have questions, they ask you. If they are ill-treated, they appeal to you. If a thorn is in their finger, they run to you for relief. Little or great, your children's sorrows are your concern. This makes their life easier, and it should make our lives easier if we acted as God's children. Imitate Jesus. In your Gethsemane, pray as He did, "O My Father" (Matthew 26:42). This is a better defense than shield or sword. Jesus' resource was to approach the Father with prevailing prayer.

There are times when, moved by the Holy Spirit, we pray with a power of faith that can never fail at the mercy seat. Without this impulse, we must not push our will. There are many occasions when, if we had all the faith to move mountains, we would choose wisely if only by saying, "Your will be done." (Matthew 26:42)

Prayer is always an open door. There is no predicament in which you cannot pray. If, like Jonah, you are at the bottom of the ocean and the weeds are wrapped around your head, you may still pray. If you are between the jaws of the lion, you may still pray. Prayer is a weapon that can be used in every position and every conflict. Do not look to the arm of flesh (II Chronicles 32:8), but look to the Lord your God.

Excerpt from 'Beside Still Waters' C.H. Spurgeon, Edited by Roy H. Clarke.

Lord, Have Mercy

When pain goes through you again until the tears unwillingly fall from your eyes, pray this prayer, "Lord, have mercy on me."

Psalm 41:3-4 says, The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. I said, "O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me..."

I have found when medicine fails, or when sleep is chased away, or when pain becomes unbearable, it is good to appeal directly to God. Say, "Lord, I am Your child. Did You not say, 'As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him?" (Psalm 103:13) Therefore, "Lord, have mercy on me."

When hurting with pain of any sort, you may find quiet resignation, holy patience and childlike submission will enable you to pray this simple prayer, "Lord, have mercy on me." This often brings better relief than anything that the most skilled physician can prescribe. You are permitted and encouraged to look up into Your Heavenly Father's face and say, "Lord, have mercy on me."

Paraphrased from an excerpt titled, 'Be Merciful' from the book titled, 'Beside Still Waters' by C.H. Spurgeon, Edited by Roy H. Clarke.

Nothing but the Blood

I love the rendition of this old hymn, "Nothing but the Blood, by Jadon Lavik. Listen to the profound truth in these lyrics.

Identified with Christ

This week I had a "risk reduction" surgery on November 5th at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. It included a left mastectomy and a right mastectomy revision. It was recommended that I have more margin removed around my former tumor to reduce the risks of recurrence and my left breast removed to reduce the risk of cancer in that breast. Given my various stats, I am high risk for recurrence. It was highly recommended that I take this next course of action.

Yesterday morning, while I was waiting for doctors to come into evaluate me and determine if I could be released from the hospital a scripture reference came to my mind. I asked Rob, what scripture reference is this?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me."

Rob said, "I believe it's Galatians 2:20 or II Corinthians 5:17."

My next thought was the position I laid during surgery. During a mastectomy surgery your arms are spread horizontally on the operating table like Jesus' were on the cross. This struck me as a new identifier with Christ, my Savior and Lord.

This morning, I looked up Galatians 2:20 in my Bible. Sure enough, that was the scripture reference that was brought to my mind yesterday morning. Today I'm reflecting on what it means to be "crucified with Christ."

Below is an excerpt from a Matthew Henry commentary that gives an excellent description of the mysterious life of a believer in Jesus:

[1.] He is crucified, and yet he lives; the old man is crucified (Rom 6:6), but the new man is living; he is dead to the world, and dead to the law, and yet alive to God and Christ; sin is mortified, and grace quickened.

[2.] He lives, and yet not he. This is strange: I live, and yet not I; he lives in the exercise of grace; he has the comforts and the triumphs of grace; and yet that grace is not from himself, but from another. Believers see themselves living in a state of dependence.

[3.] He is crucified with Christ, and yet Christ lives in him; this results from his mystical union with Christ, by means of which he is interested in the death of Christ, so as by virtue of that to die unto sin; and yet interested in the life of Christ, so as by virtue of that to live unto God.

[4.] He lives in the flesh, and yet lives by faith; to outward appearance he lives as other people do, his natural life is supported as others are; yet he has a higher and nobler principle that supports and actuates him, that of faith in Christ, and especially as eyeing the wonders of his love in giving himself for him. Hence it is that, though he lives in the flesh, yet he does not live after the flesh. Note, those who have true faith live by that faith; and the great thing which faith fastens upon is Christ's loving us and giving himself for us. The great evidence of Christ's loving us is his giving himself for us; and this is that which we are chiefly concerned to mix faith with, in order to our living to him.


Father, thank you for this identifier with you - being crucified with Christ, so that I may live in you and for you. Through you alone, I live and have eternal hope. You are the soul of my soul. I live for you, Lord Jesus. This life I live by faith in the Son of God, believing in Christ as the sacrifice for my sin. Thank you for your sacrificial love. The One who gave himself up for me, that I may be saved from the bitter pains of eternal death. I praise you for this intimate, myterious union with Christ that I might know you more fully, Lord, the power of Your resurrection and the fellowship of Your sufferings. Lord, I live for You, the One who redeemed me by Your Son's precious blood. In Jesus' name, AMEN.