I want you to meet my friend, Stacey. Stacey and her family are members of Community of Faith. Stacey and her husband, David, have two young sons. Stacey is a first grade teacher. And Stacey has breast cancer. Stacey was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. She will finish chemotherapy on Thursday, just like me! She still has a long road ahead of her including radiation therapy and more surgery. Through all of her treatment Stacey has continued to teach in the classroom, and to work on her Master's degree! Mark and I had the privilege of seeing her two boys baptized a couple of weeks ago. As you pray for me, please pray also for Stacey and her family. Pray that God would heal Stacey of cancer. Ask Him to give her strength for each new day and perseverance through all the stages of treatment. Thank you!
Update on Bruce: To those of you who have been praying for Bruce, thank you! I saw him on Sunday. He has completed two rounds of chemotherapy. He has five more months of treatments to go! I was encouraged by his positive outlook as I spoke with him last weekend. He is a fighter! I know he appreciates your prayers. Please pray that the chemotherapy will destroy the metastases in his liver and lungs. Thank you!
Funny story: Almost two years ago I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid gland. One of the results of that diagnosis is that I gained about 12 pounds over that time frame. Hypothyroidism made it really difficult to shed the pounds. One of my prayers had been that God would help me to get back to my normal weight. Well, over the last six weeks I've lost about eight pounds, most of it during the first three days of a liquid diet during all my medical testing. Today I commented to Mark about how skinny I am now and he said, "Remember, you were praying about losing the weight. You way over-prayed!" This is why I married him. He always makes me laugh!
"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:2-3
"A happy heart is like a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15
Jack's Hope: Please check out a new blog, Jack's Hope, written from the perspective of a spouse of someone with cancer. Jack's wife is a sweet friend of mine from high school. I think you will be encouraged reading it. Just click on the link to the right.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI love your spirit and the way you let others see the way the Lord loves you. I also love the verses you included today!
Jack has an incredible blog. I immediately stopped after reading his passages and thanked the Lord and will be praying for Jack and his family also. I said to the Lord that my heart is so hurt and overwhelmed by all these people He keeps bringing into my life to pray for. I spent the last three months praying for a little one who just passed away on July 4th at 23 days and this little one's family (and I am still in prayer for the family), and am so impressed by the great need to pray for one another and lift one another up. I asked the Lord to break my heart over what breaks His, and I am not sure I can remember the last time I didn't shed daily tears for someone.
Here is the passage I have for you today:
2 Corinthians 1:4-6
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.
God is good in all things and all times. Thank you for letting us see that through your cancer walk and for letting us see others.
Laura,
ReplyDeletePlease pass along my contact info to Stacey if she wants to talk to someone who has walked down the path she is on. Thank you for sharing Jack's blog with others. I am so blessed that he is my husband! Counting down the days with you!
Love,
Debbie
I watched the Q & A with Mark on FB and it was a hoot!
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing Stacey and the update on Bruce.
Many hugs, smiles and thumbs up!
Libby
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate you sharing my "story" with all of your prayer warriors. If they want to see more... they can visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/staceygaecke.
I am so thankful for you. Your blog always ministers to me and speaks to my spirit in such a wonderful way. Thank you for your beauty and godly wisdom. I am praying for you.
Love,
Stacey