Never Forsaken

I Chronicles 28:20 "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage and do it; fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord."

The last few days have been days that I felt I have not been able to do what I said I would do, or even be where I said or wanted to be. Is this my fault not totally when one stops and considers all that has happened the last year 14 months. I know for me I am one that wants to jump right into the middle of something and go for it. Well, though I had two really good weeks I was not anticipating a low day. I have been so thrilled to be a part of services, being in church for almost three weeks straight on Sunday and Wednesday with one week adding two extra church days.

However, Life after Cancer has it limitations but we can not let it discourage us. I was going to share some out Mrs. Evans book this entry but I believe this is what I am to share for now.

As I read this verse in I Chronicles I was thinking, lately the Lord seems to direct me to the scriptures that speak of being strong and of good courage. This passage is no different in that it speaks of that, as well as, not fearing, that He will not fail me, He will not forsake me.  Recently our Pastor preached a sermon, and he said something that I had noticed in my life and even just yesterday felt. That is when you are going through something sometimes we feel the Lord is not with us. We wonder where he is, not because we are not trusting in him or because we do not think he will care for us. Rather because when one is going through something we will sometimes feel as though God is not there at that moment even though he is.

I like the saying I heard once, "The teacher is quietest during the test" That is exactly how it is when we are going through a trial, a rough time, a time of not knowing. God is with you, he will never forsake you, He wants you to be strong and of good courage. He is there, just quiet through the test.

I have to be careful not to start feeling forsaken, for the fact I am home alone a lot. Saturday and Sunday was no exception this past week, except that I was not doing well health wise. I have made it past one month and still have a month to go where I could really feel bad at times and yet I still have a long time where my energy could be really low. However I choose not to focus on what could be but go day by day. I over extended myself the last two weeks being so excited to even feel like going and doing that I physically was forced to stop. As I messaged a lady in my church this evening I realized I was starting to feel sorry for myself. As I mentioned earlier over the weekend I honestly felt people would start thinking I was not dependable. Which is not the case they know and to a point understand. The sweet part of the texting with this lady, she did not focus on what I said about not being dependable, but rather on the positive and encouraged me by saying she has been and will continue to pray for me.

Friend, what are you facing that at times you may start to wonder if God is there? What trial are you going through that you feel forsaken? Let me remind you that God will never forsake you, you have no need to fear, be strong and of good courage. So, life after cancer is rough, God carried you through it he will also carry when you need it afterwards as well.

As you go through ___________________ you add what it is.
1. God knows our tomorrows
2. God Loves you and watches over you
3. God will never leave you

As you go through ___________________ you add what it is.
1. Be strong and of good courage
2. Fear not
3. Put your trust 199% in the Lord

As you go through __________________ you add what it is.
1. Remember you are Blessed Beyond Measure
2. You Can Make Today Amazing through Prayer and Bible Reading
3. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

As I read the passage in I Chronicles I was reminded God is LOVE, God gives me courage and strength, God gives me peace not fear, God is always there even when I feel forsaken.

Now if you are not saved you may not understand this. You may say how can this be? It is really quite simple, see God gave his only begotten son for you and for me. He did this because he Loves the world! Not just the white, or the black, or the Jew or the Gentile, He loved us ALL!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Whosoever is YOU my friend. You simple need to trust in the Lord asking him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. That is all there is to it. You can not get to heaven by being good. You get to heaven by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ! If you want the peace that he will never forsake you, you can it. Would you say this prayer, keeping in mind the prayer does not save you, but having faith that Jesus will forgive you of all your wrong doing and come into your life.

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for dieing on the cross and raising up from the grave. Now dear Lord, I ask you to forgive me of my sins, I understand I am a sinner and can not get to heaven on my own, or by my works. Please dear Jesus come into my heart and take me heaven when it is my time to go. Thank you Jesus for saving me.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Friend if you prayed this prayer and meant it, I would love to be able to rejoice with you in your salvation...  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Blessed Beyond Measure
Make Today Amazing

Life after cancer

Good evening, well, I thought I would jump on here and just do a small update of life after cancer.

I have wanted to hit life running just like I was doing before cancer. You know though that does not happen. You have to work back into the old way of life. This past week I was so excited to go to church Sunday all day, then make Monday and Tuesday Conference at church, then Wednesday night church, and yes I did not stop there. On thursday I went up North with my husband to drop a car off, then Friday ran errands. You guessed it, things did not slow down. On Saturday we drove to Vermont for a dear friends wedding, church on Sunday and then yet again today, another wedding though closer to home. Yes, I am beat. So though there is a ton of things I could be doing, want to do, possible need to do, I am slowing down until Wednesday morning.

See, though life does not slow down for me. I will need to pick and choose. Would I have not done any of these things the past nine days, probably not because these were important things but I would have rested a little more or said no to a few things that could have waited.  The only thing different now from a month ago is I am no longer on treatments, however I still have healing, recovering, staying healthy, watching blood counts etc. I have to change some things and be smart in what I do.

Being idle is not in my blood. Sitting around doing absolutely nothing, is not part of my make up. So, I just need to be careful and schedule. I am sharing this because there maybe one out there who thinks I have gone through this journey and I am afraid of doing this or that. Friend as you go through life there are things we can say, No to. There are things that we may need to say, I would love to be a part but I have already over extended myself, or this is a day I have scheduled to do very little. I will admit this is a hard thing for me but if we depend on the Lord and let him guide us and pray about each thing we want, would like or need to do, He will guide you in making the right decisions.

The things is we depended on the Lord through the journey and just because you have made it through does not mean we no longer seek his face. God is a God of love, support, wisdom, strength not just in the valley but on the mountian top as well. We must continue to serve, and do what our Heavenly Father has for us.

So as you/I go into the next phase of the journey remember His Eye Is On The Sparrow and I know He watches Me!

Life does continue after the trial/journey it just has to be at a different pace. Do not stop living, do not stop serving just learn your limits. I will be sharing a few things from Mrs. Marlene Evans boook titled Life After Cancer in the near future. So be looking for another blog post titled Life after Cancer.

Blessed Beyond Measure
Make Today Amazing

Doing Well

Hello on this beautiful Saturday afternoon!

Today has been a busy day with my youngest son, Jason. He and I and together (he doing more than me) cleaned up the house. Doing some much needed cleaning that had been ignored or barely touched in the last six to nine months. It feels good to be able to go and do things again and be exhausted in just a few hours. I'm still adjusting though because I still have a day here and there where the energy level isn't 100% but God through his grace has and is giving me more and more energy for each day.

To back up a little bit earlier in the month, I had my last treatment and that same week I went to our Ladies Retreat which was amazing! I'm so thankful I was able to go and enjoy the relaxation, the fun, the fellowship, the time with church family and with one of our missionary wives who was in town at the time. Since then I've been a little under the weather, as I told my hubby, I believe the brick wall that hit me was 13 months of sickness that I hadn't had during chemo, surgery and radiation. Planning to be in my place tomorrow at church and do what needs to be done. Below are a few pictures from the Ladies Retreat I mentioned.

 Several of the ladies enjoying games, and the lake we looked out across from the cabin. Dunn's camp is a beautiful place!

As the last couple of weeks have passed I've thought a lot on certain days, what had happened that date just a year ago and you know, I've found that though we didn't and in some ways don't know why things happened the way they did, whether it was a year ago, two years ago or yesterday, God is still the same. He still loves me no matter what. He took care of me before I had cancer, while I had cancer and so far since being deemed cancer free. Of course I know he will continue to care for me. See, the Lord cares for the Sparrow, if he eats, where he fly's, where he sleeps, he even sees and knows when the sparrow falls. Since God cares that much for the sparrow I know he cares even more me! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me!

So as I continue my journey, yes this journey continues even after being told I'm cancer free. See, there are still appointments, and an out patient surgery. There are still things that most be watched and things I must be careful of BUT I have a God in heaven who's brought me this far and he'll see me through the rest of this journey caused by cancer.

If you have a journey that you are going through, don't worry and fret about it. Turn it over to the Lord, he watches over you just as he does the Sparrow. The greatest thing you can do, in your journey, is stay close to God! Read your Bible, Pray, be in church as much as you can, go out soul winning and telling others about Christ. Share the gospel with your nurses, doctors, co-workers etc. Don't let your journey get you down.

Bill and I are doing great! We serve a might King that still reigns on high. So as you go through your day, do as we do, look for something to "Make Today Amazing!" 

Blessed Beyond Measure

Make Today Amazing

Cancer Free 5/23/18

Cancer Free giving God the glory!

Proverbs 8:32-35 "Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise,  and refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that hearth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

You are probably wondering what do these verses have to do with being cancer free. Well, I'm going to share several things and I think you'll see how it all ties together.

See back on May 9, 2017 when I heard, "you have stage 3 possibly stage 4 breast cancer I was devasted. I didn't really ask why, I was more in shock than anything. I could only think of my husband, children, grandchildren, future daughter in laws and my son in law as well as my dear parents. What was I to tell them? How was I going to get my youngest through his Senior yr? Just thousands of thoughts.

Well, we knew the key was to stay close to God and he would carry us through our journey. As I went through each stage of me having cancer, I had different verses, songs, sayings that I would strongly lean on.

This passage wasn't one of them, but today as I was reading it really spoke to me.

So I'm going to take a few thoughts of this passage and share my thoughts with you:

Vr 32 "....Blessed are they that keep my ways."
I personally believe that because we kept faithful, we didn't give up, we continued to love the Lord, serve him and do as he tells in His word: that is why I'm now Cancer free.
It would have been easy to say nope, I'm sick, I have to many appointments and to much to worry about to not keep His ways. I continued piano lessons until I had to stop. Which I hope to pick back up really soon. Every church service I could be in I was there, even some I probably should have been home.

Vr 33 "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not."
As you sit in church take and heed the instruction your pastor gives. As you sit in ladies meetings take heed to the instruction the speaker gives. Don't refuse it, be wise and use it.

Vr. 35 "For whoso findeth me findeth life..." if you are saved you have the life that is mentioned here. If you aren't this is something God wants you to have life in Him.
John 3:16 " For For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Wow! Everlasting life! You not only find life in Christ but you receive everlasting life. Understanding that your a sinner, that God loves you so much he gave his son for you and he wants you to have eternal life. Salvation is plus nothing an minus nothing it's simply trusting in Christ not your good works. Friend if you are reading this back in May of 1988, I settled it, nailed it down that I was saved and going to heaven. Today, June 8, 2018 you can do the same!

I am Blessed Beyond Measure all because i trusted, I kept in the way, and God in return cured me of a very aggressive cancer. I'll to the best of my ability continue to do as I've been doing.

Blessed Beyond Measure
Make Today Amazing
Cancer Free 5/23/18

One Year Later

Good morning friends,
Well, we just recently passed our one year mark. A brief recap for those who may just be happening upon my blog.
May 9, 2017 I went to the doctors because I thought there maybe a problem.
May 12, I had a biopsy done confirming I had breast cancer.
June 26, Started first round of chemo at Dana Farber.
Oct. 24, Ended Chemo.
Nov. 13, Had Surgery which was very successful.
Nov. 17, Received a phone call from Boston which was to tell me I was cancer free!
Dec. 19, started continuation of Hercepton and  Prejeta treatment.
Jan 8, 2018 Started and ended Taxol chemo. Went into anaphylactic shock was hospitalized for two days.
Jan. 22, started a third chemo. Praise the Lord all went well with that.
March 14, ended my chemo!
March 21, I met with the radiologist for my radiation treatment.
April 4, Radiation began for five weeks.
May 2, Radiation ended.
June 4, my last Hercepton Perjeta treatment .

As I look back over these dates some more exciting than others I see how much I'm loved by our Lord! He's seen me through every second, every minute , every hour, every day and never forsaked me.

I Peter 5:7 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."

The moments of your day and the needs of your heart are in His hands!!  I gave my life to God many years ago to be used for him.

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

What a great verse for today and not just today but every day. We're to die daily to self and part of that is giving our hearts to Him. Dieing daily in the valley an on the mountain top. I learned over the past year that dieing to self in the valley is a lot harder. I'm sure there are ladies maybe men reading this that would and do know this, but when you actually are in the fire and at points don't know what's next it can an is more of test to die daily to self. If you are asking how do you, do this? First if you're not saved you need to accept Christ as your Saviour.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "
You simply trust in the Lord,  stay in Gods word and pray fervently.

In the valley, God is there.
On the Mountain side, God is there.
On the Mountain top, God is there.
God is always there, even when it seems he's not.

In the valley, God is love.
On the mountain, God is love.
God is forever loving me, He's there even when it seems he's not.

So, in the valley, on the mountain you can count on God through it all!

Blessed Beyond Measure
Make Today Amazing

Taken just a few days ago. A yr after my first biopsy.

A little bit of everything....

Good evening, as I share things in different places I tend to forget one or two places I want to share so the following screen shots/pictures are things I've shared over the past 7 days or so.

As you read through these it's thoughts the Lord gave me and I shared with you an others.

My journey is still going but praise the Lord, I'm prayerfully through the roughest part. 

Blessed Beyond Measure

Make 

Rejoice in the Lord

I've not posted my daily scripture the past few days but trust me, each day brings new thoughts new verses and encouragement that only the Bible and God can give. Today as I was thinking about no radiation needed, no chemo needed, no doctor's needed for almost two weeks I couldn't help but think about Mrs. Marlene Evans favorite verse (or one of them) "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."  Philippines 4:4

It's not been easy to rejoice through everything but I rejoice in that the Lord brought me and my family through this journey.  So many have no hope, they see no need to depend on anything or anyone other than science and medicine. Praise the Lord though through Christ we have hope, we have a reason to rejoice. 

Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say rejoice

Rejoice

rejoice 

And again I say rejoice!!!! 

These photos are from the past year. All the way to basically no hair. 

Blessed Beyond Measure

Make Today Amazing