41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]
Friends, the outcome of the surgery was not what we were hoping and praying for. One of the lymph nodes in the center of my chest showed cancer despite the negative PET scan. The doc estimated this as a 5% possibility before surgery. Having found this, they stopped the surgery and I will be treated for this cancer by radiation and chemotherapy. Given the very unlikely odds of everything that has happened this week, I am more convinced than ever that this is a custom-made trial authored by my Father in heaven. I believe this with all my heart - there are people who will be touched, reached, and yes, saved because of this trial, provided I submit, honor and praise the Lord no matter what.
I know He can heal me with a thought, and yet I know that is not always His plan. I submit to His will for my life, as does Renee, while we pray for healing and mercy. And really - what do I have to be bitter about? There are hospitals throughout the world built for children with cancer. Child or adult, we all need to understand that God will redeem ALL of the suffering of His people, as He said He would - His plan is an eternal plan, not a plan of years on this fallen earth. If I may modify the great hymn, "When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun - it won't matter whether we lived 30, 50, 70, or 100 years on earth. We might not even remember.
You won't be surprised to hear that I am very anxious to get out of here....my CLL docs will decide when they are satisfied with the progress of my pneumonia and hopefully let me go in a day or two. Please pray for us in this regard as well as for special closeness to God, comfort, peace, and blessed assurance. Thank you all.....Dan and Renee
Dear brother, Shawn and I are lifting you in prayer even now. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do. You are loved!
ReplyDeleteDan, we are all so sorry to hear of these developments, and so inspired by your attitude as you face these difficult challenges. Thinking of you and your family very much at this time.
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this news. Not at all what any of wanted to hear.
A week ago today, my father died. (We will have the service this weekend.) He was dancing on the deck at Emerald Isle just 10 days before a community-associated MRSA caused pneumonia had him in the hospital. He beat the infection, but the bacteria had eaten away much of his lung tissue. The doctors told us three times within a week, that "this was it." But he returned to the healthcare unit in the senior community to which my parents moved last year. He felt well enough over Labor Day weekend to come down (in a wheelchair) twice,to have dinner in one of the regular dining rooms with my daughter and me. He told me then, "God saved me, on all those days everyone thought I would die, so I could do one more thing. I need to figure it out now, so I can do it."
Two nights before he died he said to me, on the phone, "It's OK, Kathy. I did what I was supposed to do."
I don't know what he did or when or how he found out what to do. But, he did know.
I only tell this story as an example of what you said in your post: there is a plan, we're just not always able to see it.
My dad spoke often in the last days, of Philippians 4:7 (albeit out of contest) and about the peace he felt.
While all my thoughts go to a full and complete recovery for you, I hope you will continue,no matter what is happening, to have peace.
Kathy
Dan, my family and I will pray for you and for your family. Keep your spirits high.
ReplyDeletePablo
Dan & Renee, know this...that the Lord does not bring these things or allow these things for our destruction because, as His redeemed children, we are not destined for or subject to His wrath. He uses these things to draw us closer to Him...our hearts to His heart. We can never be close enough to Him. When we respond to Him in this way, He promises to work all of these things for our good...for those who love Him and are "the called", according to His purpose. There is peace in the midst of the storm...He is our peace. Ann and I are praying for you. We are standing with you. Tom
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteIt’s a challenge however I know you can do this. Having this health problem isn't fun. You're going to face some difficult times, but I know you can do this. You're strong. I will pray to god and the spiritual masters/the hierarchy to help you heal yourself. God the merciful father has given you every power to heal yourself and I know you will. Many have. I don’t think cancer is a disease. Please read the below article and the book if you can, it should give you inner strength on how to get over this health problem.
http://www.ener-chi.com/cancerarticle.htm
I will be sending you light and love. I will also request my hundreds of light worker friends to send you healing energies. It has helped many like you. You do not know me. Please know that we are connected as one human is to another. Trust me you will be healed soon.
Divine Light and Love
A light worker