Introduction to this Blog

So What is This “Our Journey” All About?

As of the time I am writing this (May 2010) it has been four years since I was first diagnosed with a very rare, hard to treat, most likely terminal cancer. Over these past four years my family and I have battled the disease as intensely as we can with surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. It has been a tough few years for each of us but we have unshakable faith in God and He has provided us the strength, courage, and blessings to fight on.

For quite a while my family had encouraged me to journal about my cancer, describing how I felt, what I thought, what the experience is like, etc. But I never really felt comfortable talking about myself (deep down I am really a very private type of person) so I resisted their request and, well, put it off. It has been a while since anyone has mentioned it but journaling of some type has always been in the back of my mind.

Since before I was first diagnosed in April 2006 I had begun building my relationship with God and, thankfully, by the time I was diagnosed I had already accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It is this relationship and acceptance that has sustained me. Through all of this I believed that God has given us this challenge for a reason and that reason is to provide an example to others on how God is guiding us through this journey, provided for us in so many ways in our time of need, and how he continues to bless us as we continue our battle.

I recently decided to take my family’s advice and journal, sort of. I don’t really consider this to be a journal as much as a collection of thoughts and information that is important to me with respect to my spiritual journey woven into our experiences during our journey with cancer as it unfolds before us. It is written first and foremost for my family. I find it easier to write about how I feel rather than talk about how I feel (although recently I have consciously tried to begin to “open up” to them) and I hope that this collection provides some insight to them about me.

But I don’t want it to stop there. If indeed God is asking that we provide the example of the power of God’s love and grace through our journey then I would hope that this collection be shared with anyone who would like to take the time to look it over, consider what it contains, and perhaps pick up a nugget or two of information or inspiration that will bring them closer to God. Again, this is what God has asked us to do and, if as a result, just one person who reads this Blog takes one step closer to God than we have been successful in doing the work that God has asked us to do.

This collection is a work in progress. I don’t believe I will ever really finish it until God tells me it is finished. As long as I can I will continue to contribute to it, praying that it yields fruit.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this Blog. I hope that you find it interesting and, if so, please let someone else know about it (I would like to "touch" as many people as I can). If you have a question or would like to discuss anything please feel free to either leave a comment or, if you prefer, you may contact me directly at EndureAndShine@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

Paul

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.