A Few Blessings from the Lord

We are so thankful for the many ways God has blessed us over the past week. Here are a few of them:

Meals provided by our church family.

Someone cleaned our house.

A young man in our church came over and spent time with David so I could run some errands. Last year this young man lost his father to brain cancer.

Visits by several friends and family members.

The continued prayers & messages of encouragement by so many friends around the world, from North Carolina to England to Senegal, to Australia.

David not having to go to the doctor on Wednesday. When I called and explained our situation to the surgeon he told me not to come in but just to continue with the wound VAC therapy here at home and call him if I needed him.

A visit by my sister and brother-in-law from Georgia.

Seeing Rich, Lydia and the grandchildren for the first time in several weeks. (Lydia is slowly on the mend from mono.)

David being out of bed for several hours on Saturday. Even though he could not get up on his own, my brother-in-law got David up and to the den to spend some time with our family. This was the first time David has gotten out of bed since we came home over two weeks ago.

David being awake and alert and enjoying all of our visitors this week. He was able to share with several of our friends and family that he has no fear of dying but a great expectation and excitement about seeing Jesus. He has quoted Romans 8:18 & 19 each time he has shared. I’ve shared these verses on the blog before, but I leave you with them again.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

We thank God for His daily care. His blessings are more numerous than we can possibly know.

David and Pam

Our Hope

Tomorrow will make one week since David was discharged from the hospital. We are so very thankful to be home together.

We are still getting settled into a schedule with home health care. We should have someone in to help every weekday; nursing, physical and occupational therapy. David’s dressing for his wound VAC gets changed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is currently bedridden but we are hopeful as he regains some strength and energy that he will be able to walk again. He no longer reads because of the difficulty in focusing and concentrating and because his eye sight has worsened. I know this has not been easy for him. He has always spent so much time reading the Bible and Christian authors. If you have ever been in our home you know the value we place on reading. The Lord has blessed us and grown us more by good authors than any other means apart from the Word itself.

I talked with David’s oncologist today. We both feel the most pressing need for David right now is to heal from his recent colon surgery and complications. Once we see some more healing of the wound and once David regains some energy and strength we will schedule a brain MRI and then a follow-up appointment to decide future treatment. He is no longer on blood thinners for stroke prevention nor on chemo for the brain tumors. Our trust is in the Lord.

Lingering suffering of someone you love is not easy to watch. I know we are not unique. There are many people all over the world in the same situation, some with hope like us, others with no hope. As hard as this is, I can’t imagine going through this without the One who gives us a sure hope.

David and I spend some time most mornings and evenings together with me reading from the Word or a devotional like Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening and then praying together. We have found great encouragement in reminding ourselves of God’s promises to us.

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:22-26

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” I Peter 1:3

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” Job 13:15

If you do not have this living hope, our prayer is that somehow God would use our journey to draw you to Himself.

David and Pam