God's Love Never Fails
This was an "antsy" time. . . nearing the end, but anxious to be done. It's kind of like sitting in traffic when you really want to get to where you're going, but can't do anything to move forward. I guess this is what we call patience. We've been learning this lesson. I find more often now that I can relax and let things go by without getting worked up and anxious that I can't be a part of it or that I can't change it. Not always, just more often than before! I'm still growing after all! . . .
February 15, 2011
Tonight we’re gearing up for round three of chemo treatment. I was thinking earlier today that it must be hard for Dennis to go tomorrow knowing that he is going to feel lousy for the next 3-4 days. At dinner he shared that he wasn’t looking forward to going tomorrow for that very reason. This is the “hump” week - we’re halfway done, but still have two more to go. Although this has been much easier on Dennis than the six weeks of radiation because he’s had a break in between, it is none-the-less still trying.
We did discover this past weekend that Dennis is beginning to loose some of his hair. Other than that, he has not had any other new symptoms or any symptoms worse than he’s already had.
Dennis met with the surgeon last week. The surgeon was pleased with the way Dennis has responded to treatment. Surgery has been scheduled for April 4th. And because Dennis has responded so well to treatment so far, he is scheduled for only two chemo treatments after surgery. This was good news.
Lots of messages of hope have come our way in recent days. The other day In Charles Swindoll’s book “The Mystery of God’s Will”, I read three promises of hope that come from Lamentations 3:22-23. First, the Lord’s lovingkindnesses (mercies) never fail. Second, the Lord’s compassions never fail. And third, the Lord’s faithfulness never diminishes. He also wrote that God doesn’t forget our circumstances. He knows exactly where we are.
These thoughts go along with my new favorite worship song “Your Love Never Fails” by Jesus Culture. I love these words to the song:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails
And then the bridge repeats the phrase:
You make all things work together for my good
A reminder to me of my life verse - Romans 8:28. No matter the reason for the hard times in our lives, I’ve come to believe that God will work things out for our good and His glory. “Our good” doesn’t’ necessarily mean easy, wealth, health, etc., but what’s good for us spiritually - what is going to draw us into a closer relationship with our heavenly Father.
In Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”, Dennis and I read a devotion several nights ago that went along with this idea:
“Sorrow removes a great deal of a person's shallowness, but it does not always make that person better. Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. And you cannot receive yourself through the monotony of your daily life, because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away. If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.”
So we carry on, with hope and faith in God’s unfailing love, seeking to “find and receive ourselves” in Christ through “the fires sorrow”, desiring to bring Him glory in all things.
Please pray for Dennis:
*to have strength and energy to endure this next treatment cycle
*to maintain his positive attitude
*for the side effects not to increase and no new ones to affect him
*for the chemo to continue its work on eliminating the cancer
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in this journey.
Carolyn
February 15, 2011
Tonight we’re gearing up for round three of chemo treatment. I was thinking earlier today that it must be hard for Dennis to go tomorrow knowing that he is going to feel lousy for the next 3-4 days. At dinner he shared that he wasn’t looking forward to going tomorrow for that very reason. This is the “hump” week - we’re halfway done, but still have two more to go. Although this has been much easier on Dennis than the six weeks of radiation because he’s had a break in between, it is none-the-less still trying.
We did discover this past weekend that Dennis is beginning to loose some of his hair. Other than that, he has not had any other new symptoms or any symptoms worse than he’s already had.
Dennis met with the surgeon last week. The surgeon was pleased with the way Dennis has responded to treatment. Surgery has been scheduled for April 4th. And because Dennis has responded so well to treatment so far, he is scheduled for only two chemo treatments after surgery. This was good news.
Lots of messages of hope have come our way in recent days. The other day In Charles Swindoll’s book “The Mystery of God’s Will”, I read three promises of hope that come from Lamentations 3:22-23. First, the Lord’s lovingkindnesses (mercies) never fail. Second, the Lord’s compassions never fail. And third, the Lord’s faithfulness never diminishes. He also wrote that God doesn’t forget our circumstances. He knows exactly where we are.
These thoughts go along with my new favorite worship song “Your Love Never Fails” by Jesus Culture. I love these words to the song:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails
And then the bridge repeats the phrase:
You make all things work together for my good
A reminder to me of my life verse - Romans 8:28. No matter the reason for the hard times in our lives, I’ve come to believe that God will work things out for our good and His glory. “Our good” doesn’t’ necessarily mean easy, wealth, health, etc., but what’s good for us spiritually - what is going to draw us into a closer relationship with our heavenly Father.
In Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”, Dennis and I read a devotion several nights ago that went along with this idea:
“Sorrow removes a great deal of a person's shallowness, but it does not always make that person better. Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. And you cannot receive yourself through the monotony of your daily life, because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away. If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.”
So we carry on, with hope and faith in God’s unfailing love, seeking to “find and receive ourselves” in Christ through “the fires sorrow”, desiring to bring Him glory in all things.
Please pray for Dennis:
*to have strength and energy to endure this next treatment cycle
*to maintain his positive attitude
*for the side effects not to increase and no new ones to affect him
*for the chemo to continue its work on eliminating the cancer
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in this journey.
Carolyn
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