When we last spoke I was telling you about those first days after learning I may have cancer. I was describing a person struggling against doubt, fear and anxiety. I left off at Wednesday, May 4, with Romans 8:28 sticking in my craw. Do all things really work for good? That's a very good question and as the week went on I continued to ponder it. Would I ever be as sure of that scripture in the future, as I was in the past? HMMM.
I've done a lot of thinking these past two weeks and asked a truckload of questions.
I have had many people pray for me during this time. Hands have been laid on me. As people of faith we are supposed to do those things. They are in the Bible. So we say we believe in, rely on, and need prayer. But how does prayer work? I mean, either thought or spoken, prayers are just words, aren't they? Can our minds and vocal cords really play a part in healing illnesses and overcoming other disasters? How can healing be hidden in words? We can't really extract cures from syllables, consonants and vowels, can we?
My primary doctor arranged an appointment for me with a surgeon the next Tuesday, May 10. I thought I would wait to tell my wife about my situation until after then. No need to worry her if I don't have cancer. But I couldn't wait. The news was heavy on my mind and getting heavier every moment. So Wednesday evening, when my wife and I were watching TV, I informed her of my situation at about 10 o'clock. As usual she was a rock, came over to sit next to me on the couch, wrapped her arms around me and prayed. Funny how the burden began to lift at that very moment. Is there power in prayer?
On Saturday, we went to a Sunday-School hot dog cook out at the Pastor's house. Had a good time and ate way too much. I thought I was doing a good job of hiding my thoughts from everyone, but at church the next day I was called out on the issue (what's wrong with you?) by my Sunday-School class and had to fess up. They immediately all joined in prayer for me. Funny how more of the burden lifted right then and there. Is there power in prayer?
This has been a confusing and up and down time. For after the class prayed I was better for sure, but still weighed down. So although I love to sing praises and hymns, I stood silent in church later that morning. The words just would not come. There was no zeal for the Lord in my heart as I stood, listening to everyone else vocalize.
It was Mother's Day so we ate with the kids and grandkids. The chicken fried steak at Chili's is excellent. The kids took it well, I thought, and came over for the rest of the afternoon. Paul left to return to college about 8 o'clock that evening. I thought I heard a tinge of worry in his voice as he said goodbye for the week. Grace and I had a good time watching a little TV sitting on the couch together. She will always be my little girl. Paul is about 6 feet tall and weighs over 250 and will always be my little boy.
Went to the surgeon on Tuesday. He felt around on my chest for a moment or two and then said, "Well you do have a lump, a mass of something and yes it could be cancer. But I have seen this in many men your age (I quess I am getting old) and it could be just a fiberous mass as well as it could be cancer. We won't do any tests at this time. I will schedule you for surgery May 31, take it out and deal with the results at that time. If its cancer will treat you further. If not then we will watch you for a while and make sure cancer doesn't develop later." That was it. Very anti-climatic really. So we wait some more. Oh yeah, Paul left seven messages on his mother's phone that morning anticipating the results of my visit.
I feel good about the situation at the moment. Still, I don't have a final answer. So, where are faith, hope and love at times like these? Do all things really work for good to those who love the Lord? And if it works, how does prayer work?
More later. David
I've done a lot of thinking these past two weeks and asked a truckload of questions.
I have had many people pray for me during this time. Hands have been laid on me. As people of faith we are supposed to do those things. They are in the Bible. So we say we believe in, rely on, and need prayer. But how does prayer work? I mean, either thought or spoken, prayers are just words, aren't they? Can our minds and vocal cords really play a part in healing illnesses and overcoming other disasters? How can healing be hidden in words? We can't really extract cures from syllables, consonants and vowels, can we?
My primary doctor arranged an appointment for me with a surgeon the next Tuesday, May 10. I thought I would wait to tell my wife about my situation until after then. No need to worry her if I don't have cancer. But I couldn't wait. The news was heavy on my mind and getting heavier every moment. So Wednesday evening, when my wife and I were watching TV, I informed her of my situation at about 10 o'clock. As usual she was a rock, came over to sit next to me on the couch, wrapped her arms around me and prayed. Funny how the burden began to lift at that very moment. Is there power in prayer?
On Saturday, we went to a Sunday-School hot dog cook out at the Pastor's house. Had a good time and ate way too much. I thought I was doing a good job of hiding my thoughts from everyone, but at church the next day I was called out on the issue (what's wrong with you?) by my Sunday-School class and had to fess up. They immediately all joined in prayer for me. Funny how more of the burden lifted right then and there. Is there power in prayer?
This has been a confusing and up and down time. For after the class prayed I was better for sure, but still weighed down. So although I love to sing praises and hymns, I stood silent in church later that morning. The words just would not come. There was no zeal for the Lord in my heart as I stood, listening to everyone else vocalize.
It was Mother's Day so we ate with the kids and grandkids. The chicken fried steak at Chili's is excellent. The kids took it well, I thought, and came over for the rest of the afternoon. Paul left to return to college about 8 o'clock that evening. I thought I heard a tinge of worry in his voice as he said goodbye for the week. Grace and I had a good time watching a little TV sitting on the couch together. She will always be my little girl. Paul is about 6 feet tall and weighs over 250 and will always be my little boy.
Went to the surgeon on Tuesday. He felt around on my chest for a moment or two and then said, "Well you do have a lump, a mass of something and yes it could be cancer. But I have seen this in many men your age (I quess I am getting old) and it could be just a fiberous mass as well as it could be cancer. We won't do any tests at this time. I will schedule you for surgery May 31, take it out and deal with the results at that time. If its cancer will treat you further. If not then we will watch you for a while and make sure cancer doesn't develop later." That was it. Very anti-climatic really. So we wait some more. Oh yeah, Paul left seven messages on his mother's phone that morning anticipating the results of my visit.
I feel good about the situation at the moment. Still, I don't have a final answer. So, where are faith, hope and love at times like these? Do all things really work for good to those who love the Lord? And if it works, how does prayer work?
More later. David
we keep praying in LORDs presence with fasting and pray for 3 days from India, Iam sure LORD is doing a Great Miracle in His name, He wants to keep you as a Great Testimony for HIS Glory in this Earth.... Kota
ReplyDeleteI will keep you in my prayers David. One of the things that we know for sure is that God has a plan for each of us. We don't always know or understand the plan, but we put our trust, and our faith in him. Greg Hurst
ReplyDelete