I cannot say this any better than Matt Chandler does.
Please watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=absW29h8KGA
Monday, August 17, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
Being a Follower of Christ
I am so saddened by the disrespect I see and hear toward Christians (I prefer to say Followers of Christ) because of our ideology. These beliefs have been a part of Christianity since it's beginning. Although so many prefer not to remember, or would even deny it, our forefathers came to America in order to get away from the government establishing their religion.
Our government was created with Christian morals and values, which is why you should be able to safely walk our streets without fear of being murdered; you should be able to peacefully live in a neighborhood without fear of someone taking or destroying your property; and so forth and so on ……
Our laws were created following the Ten Commandments of the Christian Bible. Christianity follows the laws of the United States of America; the teachings of Christ do not go against the law.
Unfortunately, things have changed so dramatically. Our forefathers must have known what might come in the future.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
What this means to the people of the United States of America:
The government cannot tell religions what they can or cannot believe. This would be the government establishing a religion. (Remember, this amendment was made pertaining to the religions that were a part of the establishment of our country - not new religions that are coming into the already established laws of our government. These religions understood and follow the laws that make up our government.)
It means they cannot unilaterally make laws that prohibit people from following a belief that has always been a part of their religious ideology. The law says the government cannot take away the rights of a religion to exercise their beliefs. So - the government cannot force a religion to go along with things they do not believe in by creating new laws. This would be the government establishing a religious belief and prohibiting the free exercise of already held beliefs. (Again, just for clarification - all religions should obey the well established laws written at the formation of our country that pertain to all citizens.)
Our Amendment to the constitution does not say anything about freedom from religion. I don't understand where people get this idea - are our government classes in school no longer teaching what our constitution means? You don't have a right to not have Christians be a part of your society simply because you don't hold the same beliefs and you don't want to hear them.
Regardless of what some would generalize about all Christians, most of us do not shove our beliefs down your throat and expect you to follow them. You can read or listen to what our Bible says, you can be friends with Christians who will share their beliefs with you out of love or you can choose not to have anything to do with it. No one is trying to force you to become a Christian.
On the other hand - many of those who do not share the Christian faith are trying to force the Christian community to go along with or do things that require a rejection of their religious beliefs (there it is - our free exercise of); and they are trying to use the government to make laws to do their dirty work (congress shall make no law).
Don't try to force your beliefs onto others. Don't take Christian beliefs and try to change them into something else. What we believe has always been a part of Christianity and you don't have to be a part of that - it is your choice. That's what this Amendment is providing. You can follow whatever religion you want to follow - or none at all - and the government will stay out of it.
I am not going to go into specifics about what is happening in our world that inspired this post but I am absolutely certain there will be those who will immediately take umbrage and will most likely write nasty things in the comments - and they will say they are just exercising their freedom of speech. Please just note, I have not said anything nasty about anyone. I have not condemned anyone. I have not incited anger or hatred about anyone. I am not saying I am right and everyone else is wrong. I would just like to be able to follow Christ freely, without being labeled intolerant and hateful; without constantly reading how horrible I am simply because I believe differently than some others believe. I don't hate you and think you are horrible for your beliefs or lack thereof. I believe we are all of equal value in this world.
**Truthfully Christianity is very tolerant. It teaches to be very forgiving.
(Matt. 18:21-22) (Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.)
**to be patient and kind
(Gal. 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
**and to be honest and wholesome
(Phil. 4:6-8)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
**Jesus taught us to love and to heal and to be examples of kindness and truth in the world. Jesus was intolerant of hatred when He said "love your enemies"
(Luke 6: 27) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you"
Jesus was intolerant of ignorance when He taught the people truth
(Matt. 5). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&version=NKJV
Jesus was intolerant of prejudice when He gave the parable of the Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:30-37) Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed,he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
(Ephesians 4:31-32) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
**https://carm.org/christianity/devotions/christianity-intolerant
I do not judge - that is not my place. Please stop judging me. Even so, I will continue to love and care about everyone. May your lives be happy and very blessed!
Our government was created with Christian morals and values, which is why you should be able to safely walk our streets without fear of being murdered; you should be able to peacefully live in a neighborhood without fear of someone taking or destroying your property; and so forth and so on ……
Our laws were created following the Ten Commandments of the Christian Bible. Christianity follows the laws of the United States of America; the teachings of Christ do not go against the law.
Unfortunately, things have changed so dramatically. Our forefathers must have known what might come in the future.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
What this means to the people of the United States of America:
The government cannot tell religions what they can or cannot believe. This would be the government establishing a religion. (Remember, this amendment was made pertaining to the religions that were a part of the establishment of our country - not new religions that are coming into the already established laws of our government. These religions understood and follow the laws that make up our government.)
It means they cannot unilaterally make laws that prohibit people from following a belief that has always been a part of their religious ideology. The law says the government cannot take away the rights of a religion to exercise their beliefs. So - the government cannot force a religion to go along with things they do not believe in by creating new laws. This would be the government establishing a religious belief and prohibiting the free exercise of already held beliefs. (Again, just for clarification - all religions should obey the well established laws written at the formation of our country that pertain to all citizens.)
Our Amendment to the constitution does not say anything about freedom from religion. I don't understand where people get this idea - are our government classes in school no longer teaching what our constitution means? You don't have a right to not have Christians be a part of your society simply because you don't hold the same beliefs and you don't want to hear them.
Regardless of what some would generalize about all Christians, most of us do not shove our beliefs down your throat and expect you to follow them. You can read or listen to what our Bible says, you can be friends with Christians who will share their beliefs with you out of love or you can choose not to have anything to do with it. No one is trying to force you to become a Christian.
On the other hand - many of those who do not share the Christian faith are trying to force the Christian community to go along with or do things that require a rejection of their religious beliefs (there it is - our free exercise of); and they are trying to use the government to make laws to do their dirty work (congress shall make no law).
Don't try to force your beliefs onto others. Don't take Christian beliefs and try to change them into something else. What we believe has always been a part of Christianity and you don't have to be a part of that - it is your choice. That's what this Amendment is providing. You can follow whatever religion you want to follow - or none at all - and the government will stay out of it.
I am not going to go into specifics about what is happening in our world that inspired this post but I am absolutely certain there will be those who will immediately take umbrage and will most likely write nasty things in the comments - and they will say they are just exercising their freedom of speech. Please just note, I have not said anything nasty about anyone. I have not condemned anyone. I have not incited anger or hatred about anyone. I am not saying I am right and everyone else is wrong. I would just like to be able to follow Christ freely, without being labeled intolerant and hateful; without constantly reading how horrible I am simply because I believe differently than some others believe. I don't hate you and think you are horrible for your beliefs or lack thereof. I believe we are all of equal value in this world.
**Truthfully Christianity is very tolerant. It teaches to be very forgiving.
(Matt. 18:21-22) (Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.)
**to be patient and kind
(Gal. 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
**and to be honest and wholesome
(Phil. 4:6-8)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
**Jesus taught us to love and to heal and to be examples of kindness and truth in the world. Jesus was intolerant of hatred when He said "love your enemies"
(Luke 6: 27) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you"
Jesus was intolerant of ignorance when He taught the people truth
(Matt. 5). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&version=NKJV
Jesus was intolerant of prejudice when He gave the parable of the Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:30-37) Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed,he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
(Ephesians 4:31-32) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
**https://carm.org/christianity/devotions/christianity-intolerant
I do not judge - that is not my place. Please stop judging me. Even so, I will continue to love and care about everyone. May your lives be happy and very blessed!
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
2013 - Already?
I had
a doctor's appointment with my oncologist about a week ago - it's been a
year since my last visit. He informed me he was, I believe he put it "for the first time in my practice"
going to discharge a patient (me) because there is no reason to have a
patient who no longer has cancer. He said as far as he is concerned the leukemia
is gone, the lung cancer is gone and I am healthy!
AWESOME GOD!!!
I have also reached another milestone following all of the years of cancer - I just got home from the surgeon's office and the port is now kaput! After almost 9 years of a hard, round bump sitting on my upper chest bone, I now have a bandage and dissolving stitches with nothing sticking out! How exciting (for me)!! =) No longer having to go in every 6-8 weeks to have a port flushed will be so nice!
AWESOME GOD!!!
I have also reached another milestone following all of the years of cancer - I just got home from the surgeon's office and the port is now kaput! After almost 9 years of a hard, round bump sitting on my upper chest bone, I now have a bandage and dissolving stitches with nothing sticking out! How exciting (for me)!! =) No longer having to go in every 6-8 weeks to have a port flushed will be so nice!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Cancer Update
My goodness - I had no idea it had been so long since I posted on this blog!
I had a 6 month checkup this past month (Sept.) - three weeks ago Monday, I believe it was. My oncologist said he did not see anything that concerned him and I can go another 6 months before being checked again - blood work and all! =)
Apparently I am still in complete remission with the Leukemia and, as far as I know, the lung cancer is still gone. God is so good to me and I know it is because He loves me but I am still amazed by it all!! I only hope and pray that I am living this life He has given me for His glory and not my own!
My prayers are always with those who are fighting cancer and may they also trust in our Father God to care for them and know that you win either way!
I had a 6 month checkup this past month (Sept.) - three weeks ago Monday, I believe it was. My oncologist said he did not see anything that concerned him and I can go another 6 months before being checked again - blood work and all! =)
Apparently I am still in complete remission with the Leukemia and, as far as I know, the lung cancer is still gone. God is so good to me and I know it is because He loves me but I am still amazed by it all!! I only hope and pray that I am living this life He has given me for His glory and not my own!
My prayers are always with those who are fighting cancer and may they also trust in our Father God to care for them and know that you win either way!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
My prayer for you all is a most Blessed Christmas!
I love Christmas - not the hassles of shopping and wrapping and cleaning, but the wonder of why we celebrate at this time of year at all - the birth of our precious Lord Jesus Christ!
There is nothing greater than the love of our Father God in sending His Son to live and die for us. I am so thankful and humble that He would even consider me worthy of such a gift.
I pray that all might accept God's free gift this Christmas season and celebrate with true Peace and Goodwill.
There is nothing greater than the love of our Father God in sending His Son to live and die for us. I am so thankful and humble that He would even consider me worthy of such a gift.
I pray that all might accept God's free gift this Christmas season and celebrate with true Peace and Goodwill.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Cancer Update
Update: November 21, 2009
I returned to school at the beginning of this school year, excited to be back and ready for a new start. It has been wonderful blessing!
I had a CT scan the middle of October and the lung cancer is still gone. For those of you who have never read of God's grace in my life, this was stage 4 lung cancer having already spread to my lymph system. And, as all of my doctors have proclaimed, it is a true miracle that this cancer disappeared, not just in remission but completely gone. (If you are interested you can read the complete story below).
I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven, that He died for me and believes I am worthy to stay here on earth and proclaim His righteousness and live my life for His glory. My only prayer is that I would do all that is His will for giving me more time in this earthly life.
I returned to school at the beginning of this school year, excited to be back and ready for a new start. It has been wonderful blessing!
I had a CT scan the middle of October and the lung cancer is still gone. For those of you who have never read of God's grace in my life, this was stage 4 lung cancer having already spread to my lymph system. And, as all of my doctors have proclaimed, it is a true miracle that this cancer disappeared, not just in remission but completely gone. (If you are interested you can read the complete story below).
I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven, that He died for me and believes I am worthy to stay here on earth and proclaim His righteousness and live my life for His glory. My only prayer is that I would do all that is His will for giving me more time in this earthly life.
Manhattan Declaration
I am so excited about what has been taking place. God will be praised and our country blessed.
http://www.demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers
This is just a taste of what you will find when you read the entire declaration.
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
Drafted on October 20, 2009
Released on November 20, 2009
Preamble
Christians are heirs of a 2,000-year tradition of proclaiming God's word, seeking justice in our societies, resisting tyranny, and reaching out with compassion to the poor, oppressed and suffering.
While fully acknowledging the imperfections and shortcomings of Christian institutions and communities in all ages, we claim the heritage of those Christians who defended innocent life by rescuing discarded babies from trash heaps in Roman cities and publicly denouncing the Empire's sanctioning of infanticide. We remember with reverence those believers who sacrificed their lives by remaining in Roman cities to tend the sick and dying during the plagues, and who died bravely in the coliseums rather than deny their Lord.
After the barbarian tribes overran Europe, Christian monasteries preserved not only the Bible but also the literature and art of Western culture. It was Christians who combated the evil of slavery: Papal edicts in the 16th and 17th centuries decried the practice of slavery and first excommunicated anyone involved in the slave trade; evangelical Christians in England, led by John Wesley and William Wilberforce, put an end to the slave trade in that country. Christians under Wilberforce's leadership also formed hundreds of societies for helping the poor, the imprisoned, and child laborers chained to machines.
In Europe, Christians challenged the divine claims of kings and successfully fought to establish the rule of law and balance of governmental powers, which made modern democracy possible. And in America, Christian women stood at the vanguard of the suffrage movement. The great civil rights crusades of the 1950s and 60s were led by Christians claiming the Scriptures and asserting the glory of the image of God in every human being regardless of race, religion, age or class.
This same devotion to human dignity has led Christians in the last decade to work to end the dehumanizing scourge of human trafficking and sexual slavery, bring compassionate care to AIDS sufferers in Africa, and assist in a myriad of other human rights causes - from providing clean water in developing nations to providing homes for tens of thousands of children orphaned by war, disease and gender discrimination.
Like those who have gone before us in the faith, Christians today are called to proclaim the Gospel of costly grace, to protect the intrinsic dignity of the human person and to stand for the common good. In being true to its own calling, the call to discipleship, the church through service to others can make a profound contribution to the public good.
Declaration
We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities. We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image. We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we here address as we, with St. Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.
Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.
We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right - and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation - to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.
http://www.demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers
This is just a taste of what you will find when you read the entire declaration.
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
Drafted on October 20, 2009
Released on November 20, 2009
Preamble
Christians are heirs of a 2,000-year tradition of proclaiming God's word, seeking justice in our societies, resisting tyranny, and reaching out with compassion to the poor, oppressed and suffering.
While fully acknowledging the imperfections and shortcomings of Christian institutions and communities in all ages, we claim the heritage of those Christians who defended innocent life by rescuing discarded babies from trash heaps in Roman cities and publicly denouncing the Empire's sanctioning of infanticide. We remember with reverence those believers who sacrificed their lives by remaining in Roman cities to tend the sick and dying during the plagues, and who died bravely in the coliseums rather than deny their Lord.
After the barbarian tribes overran Europe, Christian monasteries preserved not only the Bible but also the literature and art of Western culture. It was Christians who combated the evil of slavery: Papal edicts in the 16th and 17th centuries decried the practice of slavery and first excommunicated anyone involved in the slave trade; evangelical Christians in England, led by John Wesley and William Wilberforce, put an end to the slave trade in that country. Christians under Wilberforce's leadership also formed hundreds of societies for helping the poor, the imprisoned, and child laborers chained to machines.
In Europe, Christians challenged the divine claims of kings and successfully fought to establish the rule of law and balance of governmental powers, which made modern democracy possible. And in America, Christian women stood at the vanguard of the suffrage movement. The great civil rights crusades of the 1950s and 60s were led by Christians claiming the Scriptures and asserting the glory of the image of God in every human being regardless of race, religion, age or class.
This same devotion to human dignity has led Christians in the last decade to work to end the dehumanizing scourge of human trafficking and sexual slavery, bring compassionate care to AIDS sufferers in Africa, and assist in a myriad of other human rights causes - from providing clean water in developing nations to providing homes for tens of thousands of children orphaned by war, disease and gender discrimination.
Like those who have gone before us in the faith, Christians today are called to proclaim the Gospel of costly grace, to protect the intrinsic dignity of the human person and to stand for the common good. In being true to its own calling, the call to discipleship, the church through service to others can make a profound contribution to the public good.
Declaration
We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities. We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image. We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we here address as we, with St. Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.
Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.
We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right - and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation - to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.
Friday, July 31, 2009
My Life is in You, Lord
I never actually sat down to write the story of my love relationship with my Savior before a great friend asked me if I would. I had thought about doing just that many times but my life seemed to always be stuck in high gear. The moment I finally wrote most of this seemed to be the right time to share the greatness of our God in my life. I was on my way to the hospital once more and God would be with me through it all.
I was a single mother for several years, raised two children, attended college, and worked part time at the college. I graduated with a BA in Art Education K-12 and a BA in Studio Art: Illustration and began my teaching career. I struggled with so much in my life, as we all do. I thought I was a Christian; I grew up going to church and I still attended church but something was always missing. Then I met a wonderful Christian friend who asked me to go to his church - a Berean Bible Church - and I accepted Christ as my Savior in the year 2000. Everything changed!
I remarried in 2003 and life was good.
In December of 2004 dreaded news came to us - I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer. The cancer had spread to a lymph node in my neck as well as the nodes between my two lungs. My doctor was great, very "up", and we jumped right in to my chemo and radiation treatments. I put it all in God's hands, our creator and healer, and He gave me a peace that was indescribable.
The treatments were rough but never more than I could handle. Following treatment, with a tumor still on my lung, the doctor put me on a trial chemo oral pill, the last resort for lung cancer patients . This pill is actually only meant to extend a lung cancer patient's life for awhile longer. I took this pill from July of 2005 until February of 2006, at which time I became ill and was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia. I was rushed to a larger city, two and a half hours away, to a specialist in blood cancers, and immediately put through an induction chemo for leukemia. Again, God was with me through it all, as well as my daughter, who by then was married with children of her own, who came daily to spend time with me.
My leukemia went into remission with the first round of chemo. While there, the doctor had another CT Scan given to re-stage my lung cancer - it was gone! He questioned me about it and I said the last scan I had showed the tumor was still about 1/2 ". He said there was nothing there and he was skeptical. I told him with God all things are possible.
I came home and continued with the follow up chemo treatments through the summer. After the third treatment, each of which lowered my white counts to 0 or as close to it as possible, something began happening in my left lung. I was first put on antibiotics. These did not help. After x-rays and tests, I was sent to a lung specialist who said it might be pneumonia. He proceeded to put me on steroids and told me to come back in a week and we would see how things were. I kept feeling terrible. My oncologist had another CT scan done to see just what was going on and there they saw something growing in my left lung. After being treated with antibiotics, then steroids, for three weeks, they finally sent me in to have a second scan with a biopsy to see just what it was. It turned out to be a very deadly fungus called Mucormycosis. It is a very aggressive fungus. According to all that I read, this fungus has an 80% mortality rate in patients not treated within the first two weeks. Not only that, steroids are the worst thing you can possibly do with a fungus. Again, God was with me through it all and I was treated with Amphotericin B for 21 days straight each in the hospital - approximately 8 hours through an IV - then put on another trial oral medicine called Pozaconozole, which took care of the last of the fungus and allowed me to return to teaching when school started the end of August.
I was free of lung cancer, the fungus and in remission for the Leukemia for two years.
My counts started dropping over the summer of 2008. I had another bone marrow biopsy in July. It did not show anything but my counts continued to drop. In September I had another biopsy and that time it did show the Leukemia coming back. I headed back to the city and my Father, my Comforter and my Savior was with me, just as He always has been. I left it all in His hands and in His will and I felt safe and happy in His arms.
Our God is awesome, isn't He?
Update
I completed the induction round of chemo once again and, once again, it went into remission. My doctor then began tests for a bone marrow transplant. I wasn't too sure about it all but knew he thought it would be the wisest choice. Unfortunately, my only brother was not a match and sibling matches are always the best. I had to give a great deal of thought to what direction I then wanted to take.
My youngest grandson was only 10 months old when I was in the hospital all of October 2008. A bone marrow transplant takes up to about a year of your life. I would have had to stay in the hospital for about 3 months or more, without visitors, during the transplant process; then another 3 months or so with few visitors while they wait to see if my body would accept or reject the bone marrow, and finally, stay home for 6 months or so to avoid bacteria and virus that could be deadly. This would have all begun once they found a donor that would match up as close as possible. All of this without any guarantees that I would live through it or if I did live that it would completely eliminate the possibility that the Leukemia would come back.
I finally decided against the transplant. It just did not seem to be where God wanted me. I wanted my grandson to know me, at least a little. There is also always the chance that the Leukemia may never come back after having all of the chemo again ("with God all things are possible"). I chose to come home, complete four rounds of consolidation chemo and move on with my life.
July, 2009 - Update
I taught the last quarter of school (March 30 - May 26) after completing my last round of consolidation chemo in February. I saw my Leukemia doctor the 20th of this month and it is still in remission. I plan to return to my teaching position next month for a new year and I continue to leave it all in God's hands - to guide my life for His glory whatever direction it takes.
We do have an awesome God!
I was a single mother for several years, raised two children, attended college, and worked part time at the college. I graduated with a BA in Art Education K-12 and a BA in Studio Art: Illustration and began my teaching career. I struggled with so much in my life, as we all do. I thought I was a Christian; I grew up going to church and I still attended church but something was always missing. Then I met a wonderful Christian friend who asked me to go to his church - a Berean Bible Church - and I accepted Christ as my Savior in the year 2000. Everything changed!
I remarried in 2003 and life was good.
In December of 2004 dreaded news came to us - I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer. The cancer had spread to a lymph node in my neck as well as the nodes between my two lungs. My doctor was great, very "up", and we jumped right in to my chemo and radiation treatments. I put it all in God's hands, our creator and healer, and He gave me a peace that was indescribable.
The treatments were rough but never more than I could handle. Following treatment, with a tumor still on my lung, the doctor put me on a trial chemo oral pill, the last resort for lung cancer patients . This pill is actually only meant to extend a lung cancer patient's life for awhile longer. I took this pill from July of 2005 until February of 2006, at which time I became ill and was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia. I was rushed to a larger city, two and a half hours away, to a specialist in blood cancers, and immediately put through an induction chemo for leukemia. Again, God was with me through it all, as well as my daughter, who by then was married with children of her own, who came daily to spend time with me.
My leukemia went into remission with the first round of chemo. While there, the doctor had another CT Scan given to re-stage my lung cancer - it was gone! He questioned me about it and I said the last scan I had showed the tumor was still about 1/2 ". He said there was nothing there and he was skeptical. I told him with God all things are possible.
I came home and continued with the follow up chemo treatments through the summer. After the third treatment, each of which lowered my white counts to 0 or as close to it as possible, something began happening in my left lung. I was first put on antibiotics. These did not help. After x-rays and tests, I was sent to a lung specialist who said it might be pneumonia. He proceeded to put me on steroids and told me to come back in a week and we would see how things were. I kept feeling terrible. My oncologist had another CT scan done to see just what was going on and there they saw something growing in my left lung. After being treated with antibiotics, then steroids, for three weeks, they finally sent me in to have a second scan with a biopsy to see just what it was. It turned out to be a very deadly fungus called Mucormycosis. It is a very aggressive fungus. According to all that I read, this fungus has an 80% mortality rate in patients not treated within the first two weeks. Not only that, steroids are the worst thing you can possibly do with a fungus. Again, God was with me through it all and I was treated with Amphotericin B for 21 days straight each in the hospital - approximately 8 hours through an IV - then put on another trial oral medicine called Pozaconozole, which took care of the last of the fungus and allowed me to return to teaching when school started the end of August.
I was free of lung cancer, the fungus and in remission for the Leukemia for two years.
My counts started dropping over the summer of 2008. I had another bone marrow biopsy in July. It did not show anything but my counts continued to drop. In September I had another biopsy and that time it did show the Leukemia coming back. I headed back to the city and my Father, my Comforter and my Savior was with me, just as He always has been. I left it all in His hands and in His will and I felt safe and happy in His arms.
Our God is awesome, isn't He?
Update
I completed the induction round of chemo once again and, once again, it went into remission. My doctor then began tests for a bone marrow transplant. I wasn't too sure about it all but knew he thought it would be the wisest choice. Unfortunately, my only brother was not a match and sibling matches are always the best. I had to give a great deal of thought to what direction I then wanted to take.
My youngest grandson was only 10 months old when I was in the hospital all of October 2008. A bone marrow transplant takes up to about a year of your life. I would have had to stay in the hospital for about 3 months or more, without visitors, during the transplant process; then another 3 months or so with few visitors while they wait to see if my body would accept or reject the bone marrow, and finally, stay home for 6 months or so to avoid bacteria and virus that could be deadly. This would have all begun once they found a donor that would match up as close as possible. All of this without any guarantees that I would live through it or if I did live that it would completely eliminate the possibility that the Leukemia would come back.
I finally decided against the transplant. It just did not seem to be where God wanted me. I wanted my grandson to know me, at least a little. There is also always the chance that the Leukemia may never come back after having all of the chemo again ("with God all things are possible"). I chose to come home, complete four rounds of consolidation chemo and move on with my life.
July, 2009 - Update
I taught the last quarter of school (March 30 - May 26) after completing my last round of consolidation chemo in February. I saw my Leukemia doctor the 20th of this month and it is still in remission. I plan to return to my teaching position next month for a new year and I continue to leave it all in God's hands - to guide my life for His glory whatever direction it takes.
We do have an awesome God!
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