Testimony One

I want to personally thank the church for praying - for really going before the Lord, petitioning for my life and healing, for taking care of my family while I was in the hospital and for your outpouring of love for us.

Back in September, I took a 2 week personal retreat to Michigan at my in laws for a chance to prepare my heart for the coming season. I knew I had a serious disease and was gearing up for a season of trial and suffering - I didn't know what it would look like, but I did research some of the treatment plans and  it included chemo and high doses of steroids.  I took along a book called: Be Still My Soul by Nancy Guthrie, that dealt with God's purposes and provision in suffering.  I had 2 weeks of enjoying solidtude, praying, meditating, reading scripture and gaining strength from the Lord.

When asking the Lord for a "word" for this season, here are three of the stand out portions of scripture I felt he gave me:

1.  2 Cor. 12:9-10 - My Grace is Sufficient for You.  I will be strong in your weakness.

2.  In the Psalms - the themes over and over again of God being my refuge, strength, high tower, rescuer and covering me under the shadow of his wings.

3.  Isaiah 43:1-3 - where God tells me to "fear not" the waters won't overtake me and neither will the fire consume me.

Now, standing on the other side of this crisis, I can say that God is faithful to his word!  His grace has been sufficient and he is strong in my weakness - he has been my refuge and I felt hidden under the shadow of his wings during the entire ordeal - I wasn't overtaken or consumed - I don't really feel the full effects of what happened to me and he rescued me from death!

When I read through the words of the hymn How Firm a Foundation - that's my theme song... God's word proved a firm foundation for my faith during this trial.  God used His Word to prepare my before hand, sustain me during the worst circumstances and now is using His Word to comfort my during recovery.

Someone asked me what God was saying to me "while I was sleeping."  I only remember one thing really...  At one point, I remember thanking, "Lord, I'm just sleeping and not praying, or fighting or crying out, I'm just resting, laying here. I think I should be doing something."  And I felt the Lord reminding me of a few things:

1. The church was praying for me and "doing battle" on my behalf.
2.  Jesus himself intercedes for me - that's what he does.
3. That I just needed to go on resting in what Jesus was doing for me --- isn't that the gospel?

And where our hope lies?  In Jesus who loves us and lives to intercede.