Our Journey - "Endure and Let Your Light Shine": Medical Update

July 18, 2010

Medical Update – Dealing with Not So Good News

This past week I had an MRI of my brain and a follow-up visit with my neurologist in order to check the progress of my brain healing since surgery as well as to determine whether or not there are any signs of new tumors developing in my brain. The good news… the brain appears to be healing pretty well. The bad news… there is an indication that a new tumor might be developing. The neurologist says it is still too early to tell and we will do another MRI in September to see what is going on.

This is not the type of news we like to get. It is so much easier to hear good news. It is so much easier to thank God when we receive really good news. How in the heck do you thank Him for not so good news? Should we say, “Thank You Lord for warning me about another brain tumor?” That just doesn’t sound right. I guess that God does not expect to be thanked for bad news. After all, God does not make bad things happen to us so thanking Him would be mindless and horribly misplaced. But as I write this I believe that He does expect us to turn to Him for comfort and help. It is a time to reaffirm our knowledge that God is in control and, by putting our trust in God, we can free ourselves of bearing the burden of the bad news by ourselves.

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.

From the beginning of our journey the Lord has commanded me to endure and let my light shine as an example for others to follow. I will continue to do this to the best of my ability. Does it frighten me to think that I may have another brain tumor? Of course it does. But I trust God and will follow Him wherever He leads.

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.’

I will continue to pray that our merciful God will give me more time to finish the work He has given me of profiting His kingdom.

Matthew 26:39 -- ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’

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.

Romans 8:28 -- We know that all things work together for good* for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

.

1 comment:

cuzzin pattyJuly 20, 2010 at 10:42 PM
Praying and thanking God for your strength and courage through these challenges.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

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.