Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Results are in . . .

We met with my Oncologist today. The results are in and show what appears to be a return of the cancer on the head of the pancreas. The prior CT scan showed a ‘fullness’ in this same area, but since it was not a PET scan we could not do a direct comparison. The liver mets noted on previous scans have also grown some. This explains most of the pain I have been experiencing lately. There are some other details less important, but this is the main info we were looking for. The plan is now to have an upper GI scope to make sure there are no ulcers which could be contributing to/causing any of the pain, followed by radiation which will be formed/directed to fit the affected area of the pancreas. He also suggested some other chemo drugs I could take following the radiation.

Point #1:
This is not what we were wanting to hear. This is not what we, like so many of you, were praying for. What did the Angels of the Lord (almost) always preface their appearing with, “Fear not, for the Lord thy God is with thee”. The word fear is mentioned in the King James Version 400 times, New King James 367 and the NIV 260 times. Not all are used in the same context, but you get the picture. Fear is a part of our human nature and God knowing this about us tells us to “fear not”. And why does He say that we do not have to fear? For “I AM is with you”.
When I was a kid, if my dad was with me fear was usually not a problem, “cause no body could beat up my dad”. Do any of you remember thinking like that? Then you get older and your world expands, as does your understanding of that world, and the question of who can beat up who fades. Then life throws some real fear – not imagined fear - at you and you run to your heavenly Father “cause nobody can beat up your daddy” and God says, “Fear not, I Am with you”. Amen.

Point #2:
I posed this question to Robin: “Why do we even pray if what you have been requesting for over a year does not happen?” Now that could be answered in many different ways and I know the answer I would give to others with that same question. But here is what I believe the Lord revealed to me soon after thinking that thought/question:
If you pray for a healing in your body and do not receive that healing, do you stop praying? Of course not! Which is more important, a physical healing or having a living relationship with your Heavenly Father? Prayer is (primarily) about fellowship with God. If your spouse does not give you something you requested do they cease being your spouse? Do you stop talking to them or is the marriage covenant dissolved? Of course not! Therefore, my (and your) relationship with God is of paramount importance. To know God and to be known by Him is the key. Because of what Christ did at the Cross, those who believe now have access to God. Prior to this (in the Old Testament - which means Old 'Covenant'), one had to go to a priest and offer a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Not anymore. I have a new 'covenant' with Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Because of Jesus, I now have access to the Throne room of the King. That is why I continue to pray. The healing is just lagniappe.

Point#3:
Many times our prayers have been or are going to be answered in ways which me may or may not understand. God has a purpose and a plan for my life as well as yours. Whether I am healed on not is something that does matter to me - and I know it matters to God. Jesus never made anyone sick, but He did walk by people everyday on the streets who were sick and yet were not healed. I have always wondered why He didn't heal them? He did not refuse to heal them, so what part did they play in not being healed?
Did they not know Who He was?
Did they know but refuse to believe that a healing was possible for them?
Did they know and believe but just failed to ask out of fear for what others might think?
Did they even know they could ask?
Or, what about this one, "What if I ask and a healing does not happen for me?"
The list of questions could go on and on . . .

I still wonder, "Lord, what part (if any) am I to play in my own healing? Am I, like so many of those You passed by on the streets, missing something?" Is there some detail I have overlooked?
The woman with the 'issue of blood' was sick for over a decade and had spent all that she had on doctors. Now you know she had asked for help from God over and over again but did not receive a healing - until Jesus came to town. . . .

Luke 8:43-48
43 And a woman was there who had been subject to
bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.
44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of
his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all
denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding
and pressing against you."
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that
power has gone out from me."
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed,
came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of
all the people, she told why she had touched him and
how she had been instantly healed.
48 Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

My Jesus is coming to town folks, don't know just exactly when, but He is coming...

Have a great Tuesday. George

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

"My Lord God, I have no
idea where I am going, I do
not see the road ahead of me, I cannot
know for certain where it
will end... Nor do I really know
myself, and the fact that I think
I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually
doing so. But I believe that the
desire to please you does in
fact please you, and I hope
I have that desire in all
that I am doing... and I know that if
I do this you will lead me by
the right road, though I
may know nothing
about it. Therefore, I will
trust you always, though
I may seem to be lost and in the
shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever
with me, and you will never leave
me to face my perils alone."

Anonymous said...

first of all, point #2 is EXCELLENT: "That is why I continue to pray. The healing is just lagniappe." Hold on to that, George.

I am NOT MOVED by this report, nor should any other intercessor praying for you!! We trust and BELIEVE the Promise that the Lord has given to you and your family. We can NOT doubt simply because His timing is not ours. We have asked continually, and His answer has been "YES, BUT NOT YET". I MUST BELIEVE that His plan is bigger than what we think, and that HE will sustain you until that day when you walk in that promise.
For every person reading this and praying for George, I say this:

DO NOT GROW WEARY IN PRAYER, DO NOT BE SWAYED BY THIS REPORT...BUT STAND EVEN MORE FIRM. THE HEAT HAS BEEN TURNED UP A BIT, ONLY TO COMPLETE THE FIRING PROCESS OF THIS VESSEL THAT THE LORD HAS CHOSEN TO USE. HE AND HIS FAMILY NEED US TO HOLD UP HIS ARMS DURING THIS TIME, NOT TO GIVE UP HOPE AND ALLOW UNBELIEF AND DOUBT TO SWAY US!

George, it is natural for you to have these questions, and I pray that in your time with the Lord, He gives you comfort, grace, peace, and hope in your time of questioning. But, your questions should not be ours (being those of us who are praying). I pray that intercessors would have eyes to see and not allow the enemy to cloud that vision with doubt and unbelief.
NOW IS THE TIME TO STAND FIRM, NOT FALTER!

believing for you ~ your sista!

Anonymous said...

George & Robin
Our prayers are with you guys. I remember Sister Eileen telling Paul and I one day that
"Everything Is In His Hands". The hard part was believing that statement. But in time we seen that it was all in His hands and we soon felt the peace of our Heavenly Father. My heart goes out to you all. All I can say to the four of you is stand and believe that your GOd is bigger than anything you will ever face. What He has brought you through He is faithful to complete it to the very end. We love you all and if you have any needs please let us know. Love you all Paul and Gayle

Anonymous said...

George, my brother and friend, I am so proud of you. Your deepening and cherished faith is growing sooooo very strong and is shining for all to see. Your maturity in Christ is like a great tree planted by streams of living water that is providing shade to many and fruit that comes from the Father. Be encouraged, my beloved friend, for your heart's desire to know and "be known" by the Lord is a reality this day and every day as you have proven yourself, by His grace, to be faithful in ALL circumstances. He is well pleased with your heart, with your attitude, with your willingness to embrace your cross in this season. For it too, WILL pass. I love you with an everlasting love.
Russell

Anonymous said...

George,
As I read what Russ wrote to you about your being like a tree planted by the water I was reminded of something I want to share with you now.
Once, when I was counseling with a friend going through a very bad time, God gave me a vision for her. It was this - She (being already a mature, committed Christian) was a tree planted by the water. I saw her clearly, standing tall by the side of a lovely stream. But she was swaying in the wind. Being blown about by her very real, hard to handle, circumstance.
While I was watching the top of the tree, the fullness of its branches, the Lord directed me to look at its trunk.That's when I noticed all of the guide wires attatched to the tree and then buried in the ground. The wires formed a circle and held the tree firmly in place. The Lord told me that each of the guide wires in that circle was a Christian friend, praying and supporting the person in need until the storm passed.
George, your circle of guide wires has already been set in place by Our Lord, and I am honored to be one.
Love as always to you and yours,
Margie

Anonymous said...

Hey,
I must be honest. I was disappointed at the report. I wanted so much that this report would be the report that we are all believing for. But once again, your faith encouraged me to not give up, which I won't, and to continue to stand in faith, which I will.
Then a parable came to mind, Luke 18:1-8. You can read it but I'll paraphrase it. There was an unjust Judge who didn't fear God or respect man and there was a widow who "kept coming to him" saying Give Me Legal Protection from my opponet. For awhile he was unwilling yet because the widow kept bothering him he gave her the legal protection becasue he was afraid he'd get hit in the eye! Look it up that's what it means. The Lord then said, Hear what the unrighteous Judge said; v.7-now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? v8-I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
I know when the Lord looks down on you George, he find faith on the earth. By the way, count me in: I'll be a Guide Wire. Together we will see this through to VICTORY!
We love you Bunches and your precious family,
Eileen

Anonymous said...

Lamentations 2:22-26, 55-58

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are New every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul.
"Therefore I HOPE in Him!"
The Lord is GOOD to those who WAIT for Him. To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should HOPE and WAIT quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.
You have heard my voice;
"Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help."
You drew near on the day I called on You.
And said, "Do NOT FEAR!"
O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;
You have redeemed my life.

We will continue to STAND George....
We will continue to PRAISE Him who is Worthy of our PRAISE...
We will NOT BE MOVED by the reports but BELIEVE the final REPORT of OUR LORD...our daddy, your Father, your friend.
We will CONTINUE to TRUST in His word to HEAL and not DELAY!

He WILL give you PEACE during this time...follow it!!!!
Do not follow any other VOICE...GO the way of PEACE (He will show you what to do)
Do not TRY to figure out why, Do not ask wether or not you are Doing the right or wrong thing!
Your LIFE is IN HIS hands, You have been faithful, hear HIS VOICE to you TODAY to lead you to the PATH of HIS PEACE!!! NO more questioning!!!

Psalm 24:8-10 "The Lord STRONG and MIGHTY In Battle"

Praising Him knowing the "Hidden treasure is yet to come."

Sonja

Anonymous said...

George:
Our God has His eyes upon you. Fear not. Here are notes I journaled about our church service on January 7, 2007. As I remember it Sister Eileen gave a strong word from the Lord as did Robin. My faith is firm in praying for your healing. Our God is completely trustworthy and faithful! Victory is sure! May God’s own words comfort and strengthen you.

1/7/07 Sunday
Church was very good. Sister Eileen lead worship and it was very good. She read Isa 57:13-19 to the congregation and expounded on is as a word from the Lord.

Isa 57:13-19 When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain." And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me— the breath of man that I have created. I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

[Sister Eileen also said things about how the crooked ways will be made smooth. I don’t remember the rest and hope they write if for us at church]

Soon after that still during worship Robin went up to the microphone and gave a word from the Lord. It too came across very strongly as the Spirit of God was all over Robin. A paraphrase of what she said is:

God says that we need to trust Him. He wants to do the things we desire even more than we want Him to do them. God has given us words and wants to perform them but we need to trust Him. That is our part in the equation. It is important that we trust Him.

Pastor Don then gave a message from the Lord and also confirmed that the two previous words were right on target. I don’t remember the specifics of what he said.

Anonymous said...

George and Robin...
We love ya'll...our hearts are knit with yours...we continue to stand with you...no matter how things look in the natural...there are "facts" and there is "Truth"...We are standing with you on the Solid Rock of Truth...our cornerstone...Jesus...
We love you all...
Cathy
"O,Lord Jesus...make us like the friends of the paralyzed man...who didn't give up because the way "looked" blocked...but they were tenacious...they were radical...ripping off roofs to get their friend to Jesus...Make us friends like that,Jesus...give us faith like that...give us eyes to see past the natural...and do whatever it takes...fasting,praying round the clock...whatever You tell us to do...to get our brother,our friend,George into the healing Presence of Jesus..."
"O,give thanks to the Lord,for HE IS GOOD...His mercy endures forever"

Carole Turner said...

Love you George. We are praying for you.