Down the Home Stretch

December 22, 2010

Down the Home Stretch

I have been in the hospital now about a week and a half. I must say that I feel a whole lot better than I did last week. The staff here at the hospital is fantastic. I have been well cared for.

We got some bad, but totally expected, news yesterday. The cancer is progressing quite rapidly in my abdomen and liver and, as anticipated there is really nothing we can do about it other than turn it over to God, which of coarse we have done. We have shifted our focus from cure/prevention to quality of life. We will bring hospice in to help with my care. I'm not yet sure what that means other than helping me stay as comfortable as possible with the time I have left which, according to the doctor, is around 4 to 5 months. HEY.... I have an expiration date! "Good for use until Spring 2011". If things get bad enough I will go into a nursing home.

The Bible is loaded with encouraging and uplifting versus. I find great comfort in them.

Psalm 18 -- The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 31 -- In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.

Psalm 91 -- For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Joshua 1:9 -- 'I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’

Dear and merciful Lord. Thank You for guiding us along our journey and please continue to lead us toward profiting Your kingdom.

1 comment:

AnonymousDecember 22, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Paul,
Thank you for providing words which ease our sadness about your diagnosis. Thank you for showing me how to put my worries into God's hands and for showing me how easy it is to trust Him. He's there for all of us, isn't He?
Brother, you have changed my life and I will be forever grateful.
Love,
Sis
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Endure and Let Your Light Shine

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:36 -- For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Proverbs 13:9 -- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Matthew 5:14-16 -- let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 -- ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Great Commission

After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection He returned in the flesh one last time to His apostles and instructed them in the Great Commission. These are Christ’s last words of instruction to us, as recorded by Matthew, before his final ascension to the spirit world.

Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’*

Padre Pio

The Way to Heaven
What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other? Put away any excessive worrying which results from the trials by which the good God has desired to test you; and if this is not possible, resign yourself to the Divine will.

Make Yourself at Home
It is just as well to make yourself at home with the sufferings that Jesus is pleased to send you as you must always live with them. In this way, when you are least expecting to be liberated from them, Jesus, who cannot bear to keep you long in affliction, will come and relieve you and comfort you, giving you new courage.