Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • watch

    —

    Dana

    I went into the hospital last Tuesday hoping for a one night stay. Instead, I didn’t get out until Sunday afternoon, proving that even though I’m in need of healing, the Lord still wants me to learn to persevere. We did have a good report on the cancerous protein that had begun to rise in February. The March test showed that there is once again no traceable level. Since I have taken no chemo, the doctors don’t really have a firm explanation, but we praise God and remember we are in his Hands. Eventually, two million, one hundred ninety thousand stem cells were extracted from my bone marrow, enough for a future transplant if needed. (I hope those cells enjoy a long time of storage 🙂 )

    Christine was the kind nurse that spent about twenty-one hours with me in the process of collection. Her job is to watch the patient and a machine for three or four hour harvesting sessions. I’ve never met a more diligent nurse. She is a young lady with a daughter the age of our youngest child, Karlyn. She was kind, personable, and professional. She knew all about this incredible machine that took my blood and separated the different cells. I was so impressed with the way Christine did her job. She never fell asleep. Her job was to watch.

    Besides enjoying a ‘little’ basketball while cooped up, I also saw a war movie that made me remember my trials are quite trivial compared to the trials of many. In this movie there was a little boy who was also given the job of watching. When he saw the enemy come over the horizon, he made the call that prepared an army to fight. So often this past week I was reminded of Jesus’ assignment to each of us: “Watch.”

    Much could be written about each statement below. If it were just me saying it, I don’t know that I’d pay that much attention. But Jesus is the spokesman and His words in the Gospels and in Revelation must be heeded in our day and time. I’ll paraphrase a bit then give some Scriptures to read.

    1. Watch for false prophets and those who will deceive many. Remember you can tell the false prophet by his fruit.
    2. Watch for things to happen on earth that will cause much turmoil. But you do not need to be afraid.
    3. Watch to make sure you are doing what God has given you to do. Don’t be caught sleeping.
    4. Watch to make sure you are using the talents you have been given. Don’t bury yours.
    5. Watch that your love does not grow cold. The wickedness in the world will make this common.
    6. Watch a world become hostile to the Gospel. But trust the Holy Spirit to enable you to be a witness.
    7. Watch Jerusalem… a city that has often been a part of God’s plan.
    8. Watch that your hearts are not weighed down with worry and selfishness. Such people are not prepared.
    9. Watch for Me in need. When you serve the least of my brothers and sisters, you serve your Savior.
    10. Watch that you are not lukewarm. I would rather you be hot or cold.

    Matthew 24 and 25
    Mark 13
    Luke 21
    John 15
    Revelation 2, 3, and 4

    “What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!” Mark13:37

    Lord willing, I’ll fly out with a group to Namibia this coming Wednesday… so I won’t write for a while. Thanks for love and prayer.
    Dana

  • healing

    —

    Dana

    Methinks sometimes when I write something God says, “OK, now live it out.” (It is easier just to write it 🙂 ) So, I’m in the midst of persevering, hoping we can get enough stem cells for a future transplant (if needed). The normal procedure did not work this past week as we only got a tenth of what is required. So this next week we are trying an experimental drug discovered in AIDS research that tends to bring more stem cells out of the bone morrow into the blood stream. This means another weekend of shots, more tests, and a brief hospitalization Tuesday and Wednesday. Perseverance… 🙂

    So I thought I would change topics and write a little about healing… Five years ago, I firmly expected God to miraculously heal me of cancer. I know He really did, but I was kind of hoping for the type that bypasses all the suffering. It really is amazing to think of all the things that have been discovered in medicine. God deserves the glory for all these advancements and I praise Him for the progress made in my disease. From a purely scientific point of view, if I had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma twenty-five years ago, I would not have lived more than a year. Five years ago, there was no chemotherapy around that would knock back the cancer like the new chemo I received before Christmas. Even this experimental drug, which has only been in use about a year, is an incredible advancement that gives people with damaged bone marrow hope for harvesting stem cells. I am thankful for all these discoveries and I am certain that, if God permits, man will continue to find ways to combat cancer and other diseases. If He chooses another transplant as the path for me to go, I pray for grace.

    But I know God heals in other ways. Some doctors and nurses will tell you there are things they have seen that defy any medical explanation. Taylor told us some funny stories about healing from his recent trip. People sometimes say, “Yea, all those stories of miracles always happen in some third world country where there is no proof. Why doesn’t God just heal everyone in Northside Hospital? Then I’ll believe.” I imagine God has His reasons for what He does and where He does it. Even Jesus addressed such skepticism in the prideful people of His hometown as He prepared to share truth they did not want to hear. “Surely, you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” (See Luke 4:23-30)

    One of Taylor’s friends, who went on a different outreach, shared God’s display of power as they visited a local church. In that church there was a lady that had been blessed with the gift of healing. When Zeke saw this, he said, “Man, I wish God would use me this way!” The lady told him to come over and she would pray for him. Zeke related the story: “She prayed for me a long time and when she finished I was stoked! But then she told me I needed to put this gift into practice and she pointed to Chris!” Chris was one of the leaders on the outreach and everyone knew he had a disability. Chris had been born with a condition where one leg was three to four inches shorter than the other. Taylor said Chris had a very noticeable limp and that he could not run or do physical activities the way most people could. “You want me to heal Chris?” Zeke asked reluctantly. Well, Zeke walked over to Chris and asked if he could pray for him. He did not lay a hand on him, but while he prayed Chris yelled, “What are you doing?” Chris described what felt like three separate tugs on his leg and his shorter leg grew about three inches. Taylor said this was one of the testimonies shared in front of two hundred people after all the students came back together in Hawaii at the end of the outreaches. As Zeke told the story, everyone turned around and looked at Chris. He just waved and said, “It’s true!”

    Isn’t that cool? I asked Taylor, “What if someone denied that such a thing happened?” “I’d just give ’em Zeke’s phone number and let him tell the story.” Taylor said it was not uncommon for God to heal people out in the country-side of Cambodia. “We didn’t see much healing in town, but God often healed people in the hill country.” He told us about a guy who had been bedridden for two years. After much prayer, a missionary named Garth told him to get up. The guy not only got up and walked, but he started jumping. The funniest story Taylor told took place the previous year when a team went to pray for the sick in the country. “This girl on the outreach prayed for a man with a withered arm. Right there in front of everyone, the arm grew and became normal. The girl that prayed was so shocked, she fainted!” The “faith of a mustard seed…”

    Many of you have heard, perhaps, that a generous family gave me a ticket to go to Africa this spring. I want to go without this catheter in my neck and with more than a mustard seed of faith! Our team will serve many orphans in Namibia whose parents have died of AIDS. How Africa needs healing! How the children need comfort for their hearts and food for their bellies! How the missionaries need encouragement and support from the Body of Christ! May our awesome God do far more than we can ask or imagine!

    “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

  • persevere

    —

    Dana

    Susan looked at me on Sunday and whispered, “That message was for you.” We’ve probably all had a spouse or loved one tell us to perk up because God is telling us something, but it is a bit strange when the lesson is coming from your own child. As Taylor shared about his trip, I realized that God had taught our son some valuable truths in Cambodia. Everyone enjoyed hearing about the orphans the missionaries served and the Buddhists that were interested in hearing about Jesus. But Taylor said the main thing God kept showing him was that he had to persevere.

    “I was so sick four days that I could not even get out of bed. All I could do was read my Bible and I kept running across these verses that told me to persevere. I also saw that we should rejoice in hard times. I can’t explain I it, but I had peace even though I felt horrible.”

    Right now, I’m in the middle of shots that are to bring stem cells from my bone marrow into my blood stream. This drug makes my bones ache and the days ahead don’t look any better. Monday they will begin to check my blood to see if enough stem cells are present. When the count is good they will insert a double-line catheter into an artery in my neck and begin collection. Basically my blood goes out one line into a machine that captures the stem cells then the blood is sent back into my body through the other line. Five years ago it took three days to get enough stem cells for a transplant. I guess we’ll see what happens this week.

    I’ve read all the Scriptures Taylor shared on Sunday. I’ve often written and talked about perseverance and the peace of God. Taylor has heard me teach many of these things over the past few years. But I realized Sunday that his message was not just a repeat of things he had been taught. He spoke with a type of certainty because he had embraced God’s Word and God had shown him that what He says is true. We know that what God says is true, but there are times we must embrace His Word and say, “OK Lord, this is for me. I accept it.” This past week I talked to many people who are suffering. Some trials are so intense I don’t see how they go on. But I know there is a peace that surpasses anything the world can understand. This peace can guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I pray God will give us the grace to persevere and I pray His joy will be our strength.

    “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:4

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

    “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

  • homecoming

    —

    Dana

    I feel a bit strange thinking, “Wow, I’ll bet that’s how God feels”, but perhaps God occasionally likes us to get a glimpse of what He feels. Parents admit they couldn’t really understand a certain type of love until children came along. Such love has been pounding in our hearts as we’ve waited for Taylor to come home from Cambodia. For Susan to get up at 4:50 before any alarm sounds on a Saturday morning and be dressed and out the door in just a few minutes means something special is taking place. As we stood in that familiar spot in the Atlanta airport waiting for Taylor to appear, I couldn’t help but think of our Heavenly Father.

    On more than one occasion, He praised Jesus so that others could hear. Once, the clouds opened and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. Jesus had just been baptized and God knew an intense battle was about to begin. The Spirit led the Son into the wilderness where the devil sought to ruin Him. How often did Jesus remember the voice of the Father in that lonely place? As the enemy attacked, Jesus simply quoted His Father’s written word and Satan was defeated. We know God’s Word is true: “Resist the devil and he will flee.” Another time God spoke to those who wanted to honor others along with Jesus. Regarding Peter’s suggestion to build three shelters, Luke tells us: “He did not know what he was saying.” On such an occasion, God spoke out: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”

    As we saw Taylor’s head, Susan headed straight toward him and hugged him like only a mother can. We were so happy and thankful and proud. Now I know there is a huge difference between Taylor and Jesus, but this emotion I felt made me wonder what God felt when Jesus finished His mission. If God ever cried tears of joy you know He cried then. “He did it! My Son finished and now He’s coming home! How I love my Son!”

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” And God so loved His Son that He trusted Him to complete the incredible task of saving us. The Son did not let the Father down. What Susan and I felt at Taylor’s homecoming was just a taste of what the Father felt when Jesus came home. Now God says, “This One that pleases me so and did everything I asked is your Way home. Come to Him everyone! He is your salvation… and He will be your joy. Jesus is my beloved Son… listen to Him!”

    “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3

  • bad news

    —

    Dana

    The result of last week’s tests brought a little bad news as we recently met with the doctor. The protein count that reveals multiple myeloma has started to rise again. We’re still going to try to collect stem cells this month then decide the best path to follow. We trust God will give us wisdom and, as usual, we appreciate your prayers.

    Bad news is not so bad if we can remember the good things God has told us. Peter thought he was getting bad news from Jesus after the resurrection as his death was foretold: “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” I wonder how many times Peter thought about these words as he encountered various dangers. Shortly after Pentecost, he and John were arrested for healing a lame man and preaching the gospel. I wonder if Peter reasoned: “This can’t be the end… Jesus said I would be old when I died.” Whatever he thought, all noticed the great courage of these unschooled men who had been with Jesus.

    Some time later, Peter found himself in a worse circumstance. Herod had just put to death John’s brother, James, and since this execution pleased the Jews, Peter was seized and imprisoned. As he sat in chains, waiting for a public trial, Peter probably thought: “Well, I guess this is it. I thought I would be older, but Jesus told me I wouldn’t be able to stretch out my hands… and I sure don’t want to go to this trial.” But as he slept, guarded by sixteen soldiers, the church earnestly prayed and God did something that surprised everyone (see Acts 12). Can you imagine Peter telling the story? “I tell you, I was doomed! But then this bright light came and an angel told me to get my clothes on. My chains fell off and the gates opened as I followed that angel right out of prison. I thought I was dreaming… until I found myself standing in the middle of the street. Then when I knocked at Mary’s house, Rhoda wouldn’t even open the door! Everyone was convinced she had seen a ghost. That was quite a night!” I’m sure Peter laughed every time he talked about it.

    It is not recorded in Scripture, but we know Peter did die. It happened just like Jesus said it would. Tradition says he requested to be crucified upside down. That sounds like something Peter would suggest. I’ll bet he had peace at the end. The Holy Spirit probably whispered encouraging words to him. Or perhaps He just reminded him of things the Master had already said: “Fear not, little flock, the Father has chosen to give you a Kingdom. You’re going to have trouble in this world, but take heart, I have overcome the world! I am with you… even to the end. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. We’re going to be together soon, and wait until you see what I’ve prepared!” The Holy Spirit still works this way… and bad news is not so bad.

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