Reflection

I came across something this morning from Mart De Haan which spoke to my heart.

"My guess is that many of us have seen the same thing. Looking back, our Father in heaven has given us enough daily provisions to show his faithfulness, enough dramatic answers to our prayers to show his ability to respond– and enough “silence” to test our trust.
We’re probably also learning together that God cannot be intimidated or manipulated. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of our anger or overcome by our tears. And maybe even more importantly, he is never as silent as we may think. Even when when we are tempted to think that he must have a heart of stone… he is saying, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).
And when we wonder, “what’s the use”, the one who died for us, urges us always to pray– and not to faint (Luke 18:1).
I’m thinking that our Father may be more honored by our willingness to wait on him, than by our momentary delight with his answers…"

Mike is doing well this morning, with the exception of being a little jittery from the steroids they gave him yesterday during his chemo treatment. He seems to have a little more trouble resting the first night after treatment, and that was certainly true for him trying to fall asleep last night, as well as staying asleep this morning. We are praying this coming weekend will go smoothly, as it was his 2nd treatment last fall, that he had trouble with his heart on the 3rd to 4th day.

Treatment II - 2008

Mike's second appointment and treatment since the beginning of this year went well. The doctor told us Mike's blood counts were good today, as was his bilirubin count. His weight was staying consistent and the side effects were staying at a minimum, which is what the doctor is looking for. We won't be doing another CT Scan to measure the tumor for another month or two. We will just continue hitting this tumor as hard as we can for now. He will go back to the doctor's office tomorrow to get his Neulasta injection to help keep his blood counts up.

Our prayer is that Mike will remain healthy. We pray for God's hedge of protection around him and our family. We also pray there will be no further side effects from the chemotherapy treatments than what Mike is already experiencing, or from the Neulasta injections, which can cause deep bone pain. We need these chemo drugs to shrink the tumor, and he needs the Neulasta injections to keep him healthy enough to continue receiving these treatments. We also need his stents working properly to keep his liver counts as normal as possible. And as with any other lengthy illness, we some times grow weary, and feel the burden, some days more than others. Please pray we will experience God's peace, and rest, knowing He is in control.

"I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand and say to you, "Do not fear, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13