These last two weeks have just flown by in a good way! If I were a good blogger, I would have posted a story each day to share very specifically how God has been answering our prayers, as it truly has been daily that we have been blessed! Another very specific way has been answering our prayers is by putting individuals in our path who have also struggled with esophageal cancer and are survivors today! Yes, I still owe you a separate blog on that one as it's been so awesome! And, God continues to reveal His glory through this trial.
So, I am officially to the half way mark of treatment! 3 weeks of radiation and 3 treatments of chemo down and 3 more weeks of each to go - bringing our finish line to the day before Thanksgiving. By God's grace and the Holy Spirit's strength, I haven't felt as impacted by side effects as much as they had prepared me to be. It's ALL GOD! Being at the mid-point, they keep telling me this is when things will start to add up and become much tougher of a battle. I continue to take each day as a blessing from the Lord and just revel in the strength with which He has given me, fully understanding that it may get much harder or it may not. We have certainly become more comfortable in uncertainty.
One of my good friends sent me this a few weeks back after he was reading his daily devotional and I felt I couldn't say it much better. So rejoice in the fact that we will suffer, whether great or small and all relative to the one going through the suffering, but find peace knowing there is only good to come of it, whether mine our yours or someone else close to you.
"Be prepared to suffer for Me, in My Name. All suffering has meaning in My kingdom. Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me. Bearing your circumstances bravely--even thanking Me for them--is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden-toned bells of joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles.
When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and that I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run from pain or hide from problems. Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My purposes. Thus, your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to Me. Joy emerges from the ashes of adversity through your trust and thankfulness."
Romans 5:3-5 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
You'll continue to see our prayer requests at the bottom of the blog and we can't thank you enough for ALL your prayers. There is not doubt God is listening, answering clearly and frequently, and working His perfect plan. We are definitely feeling and experiencing God's blessings and continued to be amazed at how he is using those of you here on earth to love us in a way we never knew was possible. Thank You so very much!
Trust in Him
God Bless!
Jason
