April 30

Today is my birthday. The second birthday I've celebrated since I was diagnosed with cancer. Birthdays seem so much more special now - now that the prospect of not having any more became a reality two years ago. Thanks to my amazing family, our crazy COF staff, and my sweet friends, I had a great birthday week! There were fresh flowers, shared meals, giant cookies, sweet cards, Facebook messages, surprise gifts, beautiful (?) singing, time with family, lots of laughter, and, of course, ice cream!  Thank you to all of you who made me feel so special today! And thank you to my creator who saw fit to let me live to see another birthday! 


"Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all..." Ecclesiastes 11:8 

Open Eyes

I have always loved the story of the prophet Elisha found in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Mainly because I think it would be so cool to open my eyes and suddenly see what’s really going on in the spiritual realm around me. Wouldn’t that be amazing? The servant’s cry here, his nervous spirit when he sees the enemy army surrounding the city, sounds so much like me much of the time.

“Oh no!!!! What do I do???” I am looking at whatever physical circumstances are going on in my life and I start to freak out. I panic, or I go into the “I can fix it” mode, or I get angry or hurt or scared. Suddenly my life is a whirlwind of activity and emotion, everything spirals down to chaos.

Eventually, I turn to God and normally say something like, “Where were you? Why did you let this happen? Don’t you see what’s happening here? Don’t you care?”

This story is such a beautiful picture to me of God’s constant care. He is watching over Israel’s enemies. He knows everything they are doing, every evil plan they form against His people, and He makes sure that His people have what they need to succeed and survive. I had never really thought of this before. I know that God watches over me and protects me and provides for me. But to know that his care for me goes so far as to include constant surveillance of my enemies is amazing! God is watching, listening, moving, and working on my behalf constantly!

The story confirms the truth that God is omniscient. The word “omniscient” means “total knowledge.” Nothing can be hidden from God. He knows everything about everyone. He hears every conversation, and he reads every thought. God knows everything instinctively, instantly, perpetually, completely, infallibly, and eternally. He possesses total knowledge.

That’s kind of a scary thought. He knows all about us. He knows our thoughts, and he monitors our attitudes and actions. We are constantly under surveillance.  But when we see it from the other side – the fact that he knows everything means that I am completely safe with him – it changes the whole landscape of my life!  I don’t have to worry – God knows what’s going on. I don’t have to be afraid – God has it under control. He isn’t surprised by anything, not by circumstances, not by people, not even by me. 

Can you imagine the servant, when God opens his eyes to the spiritual truth all around him, he must have been totally overwhelmed. I can imagine what he thought – “Are you kidding me?? This is the true situation??  Oh my God (literally!) we are so OK! There is nothing the enemy can do against us! God is here! He is in control!"

One thing that is interesting to me is that Elisha did not pray that God would come and protect him, or that he would send his angels to surround the city. He didn’t have to. They were already there!  The miracle was not the presence of the angel guards; that was a constant reality. The miracle was that the servant saw them.  

Psalm 68:17 says, “The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands.”

It doesn’t tell us in this story how many angels and chariots were surrounding the city of Dothan, but can you imagine if there were thousands upon thousands? How small and insignificant the enemy army must have appeared when the servant’s eyes were opened to see them!

Everything changed in that moment - His whole perspective, his emotions, his attitude, his thinking, and his belief system. His fear changed to courage. Chaos changed to peace. Certain defeat was turned into personal strength.

It all came as a result of the awareness of God’s presence, and it resulted in victory!

God, please help me to see the reality of your presence today.  Help me to feel the security of your constant surveillance.  Help me to trust you again today. 

I Remember...

This time last year I was wondering if the fear ever went away. I wondered if every PET scan and every lab test and every doctor's appointment would continue to bring up feelings of uncertainty. I wondered if there would ever come a day when I didn't think about cancer. 


Well, last week I had PET scan #4, lab work, and a visit with the oncologist. Much to my surprise, I was not worried about the PET scan at all! I was not nervous waiting for the results. I didn't rehearse in my mind what I would do if the lab tests came back abnormal. In fact, when I walked into the doctor's office my heart was full of peace and confidence! I was so thankful to feel strong and well, and to be coming to his office as a healthy person and not someone who was signing in for treatment! 


The doctor immediately came into the exam room, handed me my PET scan results and said, "Normal!" I think he was as excited as Mark and I were! He did a complete physical exam and declared me good to go for three more months! We stopped by the chemo infusion room to say hello to all the nurses who became like family to us. There were lots of hugs and smiles all around!


As I left the doctor's office, Chris Tomlin's song, "I Lift My Hands" began to play in my mind again. The song has been in my heart ever since we first sang it at Community of Faith. But this day, the words were especially real for me:


I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge You are my strength
As I pour out my heart these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever


God has been so incredibly faithful to me all my life, but I have seen it so clearly since that day in May 2009 when I first heard the words, "You have cancer." And this day, I remember.. You are faithful, God, forever! 


I still think about cancer every day, but I consider that a good thing. Cancer occupies much of my daily prayer time as I intercede for so many friends and loved ones who are fighting this disease. But I am so happy to report that the fear and uncertainty are no longer a regular part of my daily life. I lift my hands to believe again... 

Just a Reminder...

Yes, it is STILL Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! So, just in case you have forgotten, here are the risk factors for colorectal cancer:

• Age - the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age, although more and more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
• A family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer - however only 10-20% of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer have a family history of the disease!
• Inherited conditions such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Lynch Syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Alcohol use
• Diet high in fat and red meat

Screening for colorectal cancer is so important because by the time symptoms of colorectal cancer appear, the cancer is usually in an advanced stage. So, even though you may feel healthy, don't neglect to get screened!

If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor right away!

• A change of bowel habits
• Blood in the stool - either bright red of very dark
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Stools that are narrower than normal
• Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Don't wait until it's too late! Get screened!

For Jaydee

The other day I went back to read some of my old blog posts and the comments I received. Once again, I found myself crying, overwhelmed by the deep love and encouragement that was expressed to me over all the months of my cancer treatment.  I am so grateful to each one who took the time to check on me, to pray for me, and to offer words of hope to me. I know that I would have never survived without you! 


A few months ago I met a new friend through my blog.  Jaydee contacted me after she was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. She is following in my footsteps a few months behind me in her journey. We have become friends, and I am honored to be one who can encourage and support her as she fights this common enemy. Tomorrow morning Jaydee will begin the first of eight IV chemotherapy treatments. She will be receiving all the same drugs that I received, and will most likely experience many of the same side effects that I experienced. It is my prayer that her treatment will have the same results as well - No evidence of disease!! 


Will you please join me in praying Jaydee through these next few months of treatment? Please pray for courage, strength, endurance, and peace. Please pray for minimal side effects. Please pray for no complications from treatment. Please pray for her husband and children as they continue to walk this path alongside her. And, or course, please pray for the complete destruction of any remaining cancer cells in her body. 


If you would like to encourage Jaydee, like you did me, you can visit her CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaydeebegg

Jaydee, today at Community of Faith we sang a new song by Chris Tomlin (written by Louie Giglio, Matt Maher, and Chris Tomlin) from his new album, "And If Our God is For Us".  As I sang, I prayed for you. I hope these lyrics help bring peace and hope to you. 

I Lift My Hands

 by Chris Tomlin

Be still, there is a healer

His love is deeper than the sea

His mercy, it is unfailing

His arms are a fortress for the weak

Let faith arise, Let faith arise

Open my eyes, Open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart, these things I remember

You are faithful, God forever

Be still, there is a river

That flows from Calvary's tree

A fountain for the thirsty

Pure grace that washes over me

So let faith arise, Let faith arise

Open my eyes, Open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart, these things I remember

You are faithful, God 

You are faithful, God, forever

I am praying for you, and I know my sweet friends are praying for you too. Let His grace wash over you. He is faithful!

The Truth About Colorectal Cancer

This information comes from the Colorectal Cancer Coalition:

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States.

Colorectal cancer affects men and women equally.

Every 3.7 minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies from colorectal cancer.

The vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection.

Every 5 seconds someone who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not.

The survival rate of individuals who have colorectal cancer is 91 percent when detected in the early stages. 

Of the 51,370 people expected to die of colorectal cancers in 2011, early detection could save more than half.

Only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have their cancers detected at an early stage.

Regular colorectal cancer screening has been ranked as one of the most cost effective screening interventions available, with the potential to save 40,000 lives a year.

If the majority of people in the United States age 50 or older were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate from this disease could plummet by up to 70 percent.

Greater awareness of this cancer and the means to prevent it could save the lives of tens of thousands of people in the United States each year.

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable in most cases.

Get screened!

Thank you Governor Perry!

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Organizations across the country work to raise awareness of the need for prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer, encouraging screening, and advocating for research funds, and legislation related to research and screening.


Having a close personal relationship with colorectal cancer, I have felt a strong desire to help make sure that other people don't have to go through this experience. I want to get the news out there that colorectal cancer is preventable and it's treatable; and that early detection is the key to long-term survival.


With that in mind, I decided to contact our local and state officials and ask them to proclaim March 2011 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in the state of Texas and in the city of Houston. I contacted Governor Rick Perry and Mayor Annise Parker, as well as local Harris County officials. I didn't really expect anything to come of it, but I thought I would do my part to try to raise awareness in my community.


Imagine my surprise last week when I checked the mailbox and found a large envelope from the Governor's office! Governor Perry responded to my request and on February 14th he officially proclaimed March 2011 to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the great state of Texas! I was so excited to see the results of my advocacy and proud to know that I had a part in making it happen! 


Then two days later I received a phone call from the office of the Mayor of Houston. Mayor Parker received my request and officially proclaimed March 2011 to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in the city of Houston! Wow! Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and our city officials recognize the importance of raising awareness about prevention and screening for colorectal cancer! 

Thank you, Governor Perry! Thank you, Mayor Parker! 

Please join me in getting the word out! 

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, beatable!

Get screened!