Life Goes On

I am now a one handed typist who is very happy to be alive. I apologize for being offline for so long. My procrastination is a result of my last surgery  however I now have decided to focus on what I can do rather than my challenges and so I will start small by updating my blog.

The irony in this is that my last entry (February 2017) which was entitled "Stand Strong" was aimed at someone who I thought needed encouragement.  However, looking back it was not long after penning that blog it was I who needed the encouragement. Once again cancer returned with a vengeance and the only option that ended with me being alive was to have my left arm and part of my shoulder removed.  Upon my approval surgery went ahead. That was 6 months ago.

I now face life with one arm.  There are struggles:  phantom pain, relearning basic activities like getting dressed, regaining my balance, driving, drug side effects, and exhaustion.  But my joy in being alive outweighs any struggle that I have come across! God is good and has sustained me.  I pray every day that God give me the strength to get done what I need to get done and the wisdom to know what is really important. 

I have started telling my story to anyone who will listen and so have been speaking to church groups.  I have a compelling desire to tell everyone how much God loves each one of us and that our relationship with Him is such an important part of our existence. My life advice that I share with my audiences  is 'get closer to God'.  Three ways to do this are to pray, to read the Bible and to invite the Holy Spirit to live within us.  I think that a turning point in my journey was when I started asking God to fill me with the Holy Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These personal qualities describe true happiness to me. Peace with my life journey was what I really needed (honestly I probably needed some of everything). But peace allowed me to accept my life as it is.

My doctors marvel at how well I am doing and I tell them, "God is good".  I plan to continue to live my life and find things that I enjoy and that I can still do. :)  

I did have an interesting summer which was highlight by a road trip with my youngest son down to California where he is going to university.  There is nothing like driving 1000+ miles in a Honda Civic with no air conditioning in the summer heat to create an unforgettable experience.  I will probably always look back at this memory and smile.

My next big adventure will probably be getting my prosthetic arm and figuring out how to use it. :)

All is well! May God's blessing pour onto all of us. Amen. <3

Stand Strong

Good morning, I am up writing this at exactly 7 am on February 2, 2017 because I need to tell you how much  God loves you!!

He loves and cares for you, your family and friends.  Just as the Hubble telescope now has shown scientist that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the earth, God's love for us is infinite. The problem with our world is that we live in a world where the devil runs about creating as much destruction, pain and death as possible.  Cancer is certainly one of the devil's tools. No matter what we are going through there is nothing too big for God. 

If you are one of those people who the devil has attacked, take heart, you are not alone. There is no need to be embarrassed or ashamed or think that you have done anything wrong.  I also encourage everyone to ask for God's help.  He is here waiting for us to ask.  The devil simply seems to attack whoever he wants in order to destroy us and our families.

Even if death is the only answer, I can say ..."Though He slay me, I will trust in Him." Job 13:15

I would advise anyone to not play into the devil's hand.  For me personally if the devil wants me dead, I am going to fight.  The devil has not given me an easy time here on earth and so I am not going to make anything for him easy either. I pledge to do as much good as I can for as long as I can.

No matter what happens God has a plan for our salvation.  This plan that has been playing out for centuries.  The main element of this plan is that Christ, God's son, has come to this earth, lived a perfect life, died a painful humiliating death and has risen. 

"For God so love the world that He gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in Him will not parish but have have everlasting life." John 3:16

"He is not here, He has risen ..." Matt 28:6

"I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3

 Christ's is very alive and His role on earth was for each one of us! We here on earth have not been left alone ...

 "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  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: 26-27

God is coming back and for those of us that are left here ask God to send the Holy Spirit daily,  put on the armor of God and stand strong. 

 ^"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13

Stand strong!