Faith

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Comment by A.J. Ali on April 2, 2009 at 8:05pm

Prayer Request:

This email was from our friend Galen:

Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday we met with the surgeon who will operate on Delia next week to remove the part of her right lung which has been destroyed by a cancerous tumor. He is an accomplished expert and researcher in the treatment of lung cancer and he took quite a bit of time with us to explain how Delia, who has never smoked, could get a disease which usually strikes smokers. He thinks that the cause is most likely linked to breathing various carcinogens during our years of living overseas. Delia replied that she has fond memories and dear friends in each place we have lived, and she would not want to change any of it.

Our doctor explained that lung cancer is a deadly disease but that he is hopeful that we have discovered the tumor at an early enough stage that she will, by God’s grace, be able to completely recover. If the cancer was indeed contracted in Asia or Africa, it may be a strain which responds better to treatment than do the cancers normally seen in North America. But it will likely be a long, difficult and painful fight. We are pleased that our doctor is a believer and that he has promised to pray with us before beginning surgery.

One of the complications is that there appears to be an unusual amount of blood feeding the tumor. This means that there is a risk of excessive bleeding during the surgery. For this reason, Delia will enter the hospital two days before surgery so that an intervening radiologist can cauterize the blood vessels leading to the tumor.

Here is Delia’s schedule:

Friday, April 3: Pulmonary function tests (outpatient)
Tuesday, April 7- 8am: Admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for blood vessel cauterization
Wednesday, April 8 Recover from blood vessel cauterization
Thursday, April 9 Operation to remove part of right lung, 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. EDT
Easter weekend Recover in hospital for 3-5 days
Next 4-6 weeks Recover at home
Next 3-6 months Chemotherapy (based on results of the surgery)
Next 5 years Closely monitor to detect any possible return of the cancer

Tomorrow Delia will also be meeting with the staff of the Domestic Violence Center where she has been offered a position as night Shelter Manager. This would be an opportunity for Delia to use her gifts and experience to serve women in crisis. However, she and they need wisdom to discern whether this will be a realistic possibility once Delia recovers from the surgery.

Our doctor has given us some specific prayer points which we share with you:

1. That Delia will be strengthened physically, emotionally and spiritually in the coming days as she prepares for surgery
2. That the tumor may prove to be smaller than expected
3. That the cancer will not have spread to the lymph nodes
4. That Delia will not lose too much blood during and after surgery
5. That she will be protected from infection while in the hospital
6. That God will guide the surgeon’s hands as he works
7. That all cancerous cells will be removed during the surgery
8. That laboratory analysis will provide clear guidance concerning needed follow up procedures including what kind of chemotherapy or radiation, if any
9. That Delia will be protected from blood clots and pneumonia during the recovery period
10. That she may quickly regain her strength and that the pain will be manageable.
11. That Galen, Delia and Fidel will be able to support Delia through this difficult time.

In other family news, we are also waiting for Joaquin’s enrollment at Howard High School to be finalized. Please pray for us and the school as we develop an appropriate educational plan for him. Fidel starts a new job next Monday at the Giant supermarket near our home. Galen is continuing to support the Dutabarane HIV/AIDS team in Burundi by phone and email, and is also having discussions with World Relief and the National Association of Evangelicals about future ministry assignments.

Thanks so much for your love and support. We’ll keep you informed about the results of your prayers!

Shalom,

Galen for the family

Comment by A.J. Ali on March 22, 2009 at 7:49am

Those times when you feel like you are all alone, with uncertainly filling your mind and despair filling your heart, know that God is there in that room with you. He's waiting for you to reach out, to cry out, to ask for Him to wrap his arms around you. And He will. You are not alone. There is hope. God loves you! Sometimes He works "solo," and sometimes He works through your friends -- or even strangers. Reach out to Him, and reach out to us. We'll be there for you, praying with you, walking the walk with you. We've been in your shoes. We know your pain. There is hope. You can make it. Peace and Love to you.

Comment by Dale on March 16, 2009 at 8:33am

Thanks foe sharing that special Psalm verse, Tina. Having it engraved on your bracelet keeps that affirmation right there in front of you. I'm affirming it right now, for me and for you!

Dale

Comment by Tina Miller on March 16, 2009 at 7:53am

When I was first diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in Jan 2006, a pastor gave me a scripture to hold onto. It is Psalm 118:17- I shall live and not die and will proclaim the works of the Lord! In 2007, we were blessed to go to Israel and my husband had the Psalm in Hebrew engraved on a bracelet for me. The Lord instructed us to wear His Word on our wrist and on our forehead (Lev 6). So I do and I am NED and PROCLAIMING HIS WORKS!!! AMEN.

Comment by Jean on March 14, 2009 at 5:53am

In the morning, I light a candle, get my God Box (a box full of prayer requests) and my notebooks and readings. I start with God. It helps remind me that my day is turned over to God. When I get flustered or tired, I return to prayer and say 'help me be useful". I don't have a perfect walk, but I am walking. What do you do?

Comment by Dale on December 29, 2008 at 6:42pm

I facilitate a support group for prostate cancer survivors and frequebtly counsel men newly diagnosed. Almost every man in our group will affirm the importance of faith and prayer in their survival. During my radiation treatments after a recurrence, I found great hope and comfort in "singing" Psalm 103, especially "...He forgives all my iniquities; He heals all my diseases..." Yes, He really does!

Comment by Jane Ali on October 14, 2008 at 9:13am

How to Overcome Discouragement
by Rick Warren



Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10 (GWT)

*** *** *** ***

Discouragement is curable. Whenever I get discouraged, I head straight to Nehemiah. This great leader of ancient Israel understood there were four reasons for discouragement.

First, you get fatigued. You simply get tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10. We’re human beings and we wear out. You cannot burn the candle at both ends. So if you’re discouraged, it may be you don’t have to change anything. You just need a vacation! Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to bed.

Second, you get frustrated. Nehemiah says there was rubble all around, so much that it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. Do you have rubble in your life? Have you noticed that anytime you start doing something new, the trash starts piling up?

If you don’t clean it out periodically, it’s going to stop your progress. You can’t avoid it, so you need to learn to recognize it and dispose of it quickly so you don’t lose focus on your original intention.

What is the rubble in your life? I think rubble is the trivial things that waste your time and energy and prevent you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.

Third, you think you’ve failed. Nehemiah’s people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They were thinking, “We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall.”

But you know what I do when I don’t reach a goal on time? I just set a new goal. I don’t give up. Everybody fails. Everybody does dumb things. So the issue is not that you failed – it’s how you respond to your failure.

Do you give in to self-pity? Do you start blaming other people? Do you start complaining that it’s impossible? Or, do you refocus on God’s intentions and start moving again?

Finally, when you give in to fear, you get discouraged. Nehemiah 4 suggests the people most affected by fear are those who hang around negative people. If you’re going to control the negative thoughts in your life, you’ve got to get away from negative people as much as you can.

Maybe you’re discouraged because of fear. You’re dealing with fears like, “I can’t handle this. It’s too much responsibility.” Maybe it’s the fear that you don’t deserve it. It’s the fear of criticism. Fear will destroy your life if you let it. But you can choose to resist the discouragement. Say, “God help me get my eyes off the problem – off the circumstance – and keep my eyes on you.”



© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Comment by A.J. Ali on October 12, 2008 at 6:29pm

Did you know that God's love for you knows no boundaries? There's nothing He won't do for you as you seek to draw nearer to Him. That's the key -- to seek His love and provision and HE WILL PROVIDE every time. He will never let you down. He'll meet your needs. In fact, we know that because He loved us so much that He allowed his son Jesus to go through a very painful death -- to become our saviour -- so that we might have life. The happy ending is that Jesus rose again, defeating death in accordance with God's plan so that we might have life and that God's promises would be fulfilled. Have faith. He will never leave you nor forsake you. What might seem painful at times is only temporary. God's love and faithfulness is everlasting. Seek Him and his love and you will find Him.

Comment by Pam Doran on October 12, 2008 at 11:22am

Hey all! This isn't truly a comment about faith, but rather a LONG comment about a miracle. Please check out my blog post, taken from my personal blog website, and let me know whtat you think.

Comment by Jane Ali on October 8, 2008 at 10:22pm

Pamela,
I will be praying for you and sinus infection that it heals before the 14th and will pray for your treatment.

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