The Gift. . .

Peaceful Healing - Arrangement by Peder B. Helland

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I cannot begin to express the countless blessings God continues giving me over and over and over again as I praise Him for the “Gift” of my cancer! Yes, you read that correctly ~ the “Gift”! 

God has marvelously and wonderfully made His Will very transparent to me as I embrace each day I am blessed with, since initially being diagnosed with cancer in 2013, and now living with Stage IV breast cancer as diagnosed earlier this spring. 

If I were to be asked, “If you only had one book in the Bible to read, what would it be?” Without a doubt, it would be the Book of Psalms, which captures all the blessings God bestows on me daily. For it is within the Book of Psalms my life is sustained with His:

Purpose ~

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13

Path ~

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Peace ~

I will both lay down in peace and sleep; for thou Lord, only makes me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Perspective ~

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I….Nevertheless, I am continually with thee; thou has hold of me by my right hand. . .Gods is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:17, 23, 26, 28

Plans ~

The LORD will work out his plans for my life,  for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Psalm 138:8

Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:2, 3 

Power ~

The Lord is the strength of my life. Psalm 27:1

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life.  Psalm 119:50

Presence ~

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart. Psalm 34:18

God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 

How precious also are thy thoughts of me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139:18

   

Preservation  ~

This is my comfort in my sufferings, Your promises preserve my life. Psalm 119:50  

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in  from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:8

Promises ~

Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 43:5

Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not His benefits: who forgives all thy sins and healeth all my my diseases., who redeemed my life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies my mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5 

Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Psalm 89:33 

Provision ~

I am reminded, “How precious also are thy thoughts of me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139:17 

And so, I share His Gift with you ~

Grace

Inspiration

Faithfulness

Trust

For God does not send us trials 

to "impair" us but to "improve" us!

In return, I can truly claim ~ 

"In His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, 

but joy cometh in the morning." 

Psalm 30:5

Poolside. . .

Peaceful Moments - A Melody of Praise 

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It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon, with the sun descending its warm summer rays beyond a beautiful blue sky dotted with white powder puff clouds, when my sister telephoned to invite me to spend the afternoon with her poolside.  I couldn’t resist the invitation.  My bags were packed in no time and I was on my way to her place in the country for some much needed sisterly one-on-one time.  My sister and I are very close, although opportunities like this were rare, due to both our busy schedules at the time (hers more than mine)!  So, I was very much looking forward to spending some time together.

When I arrived, the Adirondack chairs were beckoning us to hurry up and grab a cool refreshing drink along the way, as we were about to spend the rest of the afternoon on the deck poolside. Aaaah…this felt like heaven to me!  A wonderful afternoon to relax, feeling the warmth of the sun as we delved into our sisterly conversations talking about everything and anything that was on our minds, while the crickets were singing in the background and the horses were grazing in the nearby paddock. 

My sister and I have been each other’s confidants throughout our lives.  We have been there for the good times as well as the bad times.  We have laughed until we cried, and cried until we laughed. We have been each other’s sounding board and always have been honest with one another but never judgmental towards one another.  Most importantly, our love is unconditional and we want nothing but the best for one another.  I have been truly blessed to have three beautiful people in my life that I am proud to call my siblings!

As I drove home later that day, I felt refreshed – mentally, physically and emotionally. The change of scenery was good!  Sometimes, when one is troubled by a situation it is difficult to know how to go about solving it. The answers seem unclear or, for that matter, don’t even seem to exist; but, when you have a chance to hear someone else’s viewpoint about the situation this can be very enlightening and encouraging.  The answers all of a sudden, but not always, become so obvious once you have had a chance to talk it over with someone you trust.

That afternoon reminded me of the Biblical story about a man, who was unable to walk, due to a medical condition he had had for 38 years.  However, every day he would sit by the pool of Bethesda (meaning “House of Mercy”) in the hopes someone might eventually come along and help him in the pool.  It was believed an angel from time-to-time would come down and stir up the waters in this pool and the first person to get into these waters after they had been stirred would, in fact, be healed from their illness or disease. Even though this lame man waited day after day, on the other hand, this never happened for him.  Then one day a stranger came along, who knew of this lame man’s situation, and asked, “Do you want to be healed?”  Now the lame man did not initially say “yes” but told the stranger no one ever offered to help him into the pool and someone always went into the pool first before he had a chance.  In response the stranger said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked" (John 5:1-9). Meanwhile, this stranger had moved along among the multitude of people and the healed man had no idea he had just met Jesus!

I find this story fascinating because even though the lame man did not know who the stranger was he had faith in what the stranger asked him to do.  We do not know if it was the gentleness in Jesus’ voice, the compassion in His eyes, or the gentleness of His temperament, that convinced this lame man to respond so eagerly, but he obviously Listened, Obeyed and Valued and Exalted this “Stranger” who just healed him! This truly is a sign of genuine LOVE when someone has that kind of impact on another person’s life and cares enough to want to help!  Only Jesus can be that special Someone in our lives!

I believe there is an important lesson from this Biblical story about problem-solving and facing challenges in our lives.  For 38 years, this man tried relying on his own means to get well, but all attempts failed.  How often have we tried doing the same thing?  When dealing with a problem, we naturally try solving it on our own, but when all our attempts have failed we become discouraged and despondent.  Then, when we eventually do decide to turn to God, perhaps we tell Him what we think we need to fix our problem rather than realizing what we really need is to let go of the problem and turn it over to Him. If, however, I see each "challenge" in my life as a lesson in problem-solving and endurance, as well as believe in the reassurance of Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, ans the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” then truly I can also proclaim “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Sweet Contentment

He heals the brokenhearted

Brings much comfort to the soul,

He gives such sweet contentment

When life’s trials take their toll.

 ~ Bonita ~ 

The Recitals. . .

Will - Arrangement by Chad Lawson

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This past week, with much thankfulness, I was blessed with the opportunity to be given another avenue for a new round of radiation treatment, specifically, for the metastatic bone cancer, which continues progresses in my lower back; in the hopes of providing much anticipated relief from the excruciating pain I have been living with these past few weeks.

One of the crucial requirements for the success of the treatment, during this process, however, is to not only lie perfectly “still” but be perfectly “aligned” for the radiation beams to hit the targeted area so that I not only receive better quality of life but potentially slow down the progression of the cancer in that immediate area. Although this form if radiation therapy will never provide a “cure”; we count our many blessings, and are grateful for the addition of this radiation therapy treatment that it is now effective in providing a well respite of chronic pain!

And so, subsequently, as I was meditating on Psalm 86, I could not help but reflect on the following recitations in which God has enlightened me with this past week as I earnestly seek and meditate God’s teachings in my life, particularly while reading the first 13 verses of this beautiful Psalm, allowing me to “Realign”, “Restore” and “Reciprocate” His enduring compassion and faithfulness in my life.

Charles H. Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers” in England during the 19th Century, commented, “This (prayer) deserves to be distinguished from the rest and known as ‘the prayer of David…,’It savours of David. The man of sincerity, of ardor, of trials, of faults, and of great heart, pleads, sobs, and trusts through all the verses of this psalm.”

RECITAL of REALIGNMENT:  Why I should pray?
1. Lord, I turn to You – because I need you; (v 1)
“Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and needy.”

2. Lord, I come to You – because I need you; (v 3)
“Be merciful unto me, O Lord; for I cry unto thee daily.”

3. Lord, I depend on You – because I need you. (v 11)
“Teach me thy way, O Lord; so that I will walk in thy truth; and unite my heart to TRUST thy name.”

RECITAL of RESTORATION:  To Whom should I pray?
1. God, You alone, keep me safe; (v 2)
“Preserve my soul; O thou my God, save thy servant who trusts in thee.”

2. Lord, You alone, are almighty; (v 10)
“For thou are great and does wondrous works; thou art God alone.”

3. Lord, You alone, have delivered my heart and soul from the depths of despair. (v 13)
“For great is thy mercy toward me; thou has delivered my soul from the lowest.” 

RECITAL of RECIPROCATION:  How should I pray?
1. God, oh how I “Treasure” Your wisdom in my life completely; (v 2)
“Preserve my soul; O thou my God, save thy servant who trusts in thee.”

2. God, oh how I “Rejoice” in what You are doing in my life; (v 4)
“Rejoice the soul of thy servant; for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”

3. God, oh how I “Uplift” You through my tears of trials for You are always by my side; (v 5)
“For thou Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all those who call upon thee.” 

4. God, oh how I “Seek” Your plans and purpose in my life, for You are my Sovereign, who I worship; (v 9)
“All nations, whom thou have made, shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.”

5. God, oh how I “Thank” You for Your ever-ending compassion; (v 12)
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”

Lord, my God, my TRUST and FAITH
are with you and you alone
til the end of time, forever and always!

Climbing with Faith, Courage & Trust. . .

He Giveth Me More Grace - Arrangement by Greg Howlett
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As I accept and adapt to the continuing progression of my Stage IV breast cancer, the final stage, I remain ever-focused on God’s plan and purpose in my life, regardless how steep the mountain is I maybe climbing. For I am Comforted, Uplifted, Renewed, Encouraged as well as Dependent on His promises that I am "CURED" from all my ailments, when I read, "And they that know thy name will put their TRUST in thee; for thou, Lord, has not forsaken them that seek thee" (Psalm 9:10). For though, "my body is dying, my spirit is renewed each day. For my light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for me a far more exceeding glory that outweighs anything I may suffer now" (II Corinthians 4:16-17).
   
However, we must, first, persevere and keep “climbing” our mountain(s) to enjoy the spectacular, over-whelming, breath-taking panoramic view that awaits us. Meanwhile, God waits for us to reach that peak, while encouraging us to keep climbing, never looking back, but always looking forward as we cling to His everlasting love and promises! I cannot help but think of the following beautiful poem, entitled “May You Climb ‘Til Your Dream Comes True” written by Helen Steiner Rice, which I have read over and over so many times throughout my life ~

"Often your tasks will be many,
And more than you think you can do,
Often the road will be rugged
And the hills insurmountable, too.

But, always remember, the hills ahead
Are never as steep as they may seem,
And with FAITH in your heart start upward
and climb ’til you reach your dream,
For nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve.

If you have the COURAGE to try it
And you have the FAITH to believe,
For FAITH is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill.

And many defeats turn to TRIUMPH
If you TRUST in God’s WISDOM and WILL.
For FAITH is a mover of mountains,
There’s nothing that God cannot do,
So, start today with FAITH in your heart
and “Climb, ‘Til Your Dreams Come True!”

For “True Faith is seeing the Invisible, believing the Incredible and receiving the Impossible!” (Author Unknown)

“If you do not stand FIRM in FAITH, you shall be unable to stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9).

May God bless you all as you continue climbing your mountains, ’til your dreams come true’! 

For it is He, who waits at the top of the mountain for me,
Oh, what Glorious Day that will be!

Dancing With Jesus. . .

Peaceful Moments ~ A compilation
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“I am telling you, it is just wrong! I do not understand why your faith is as strong as it is, when your God is allowing you to suffer like this!” as I sit, quietly, listening to a dear lady, who has not, yet, experienced the joy of “our” Lord in her life. I wonder, “How would you reply?”

Even though I accepted Jesus into my life at the tender age of 10, and have received many blessings throughout my life from HIM, I will be the first to confess, I most certainly have stumbled, tripped, fallen, veered, and occasionally got lost for a while along the road of life, BUT my FAITH has NEVER wavered for I know He has always stood beside me, just waiting for me to grab His hand! 

I once read, ”Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. There may be times, you might trust God too little, BUT you can never trust Him too much!” (Anonymous). St. Augustine also reminds us “Beware of despairing about yourself; as you are commanded to put your “trust” in God and not yourself.”

And so, as I know my days, possibly months, or maybe(?) a year or 2, draw nearer to an end on this earth, I ask myself….

“When is the time to trust?
Is it when all is calm, when waves the victor’s palm,
And life is one glad psalm of joy and praise?
“Nay, but the time to trust is when the waves are high,
When storm clouds fill the sky, and prayer is one long cry,
‘O, help and save.”

“When is the time to trust? Is it when friends are true,
Is it when comforts woo, and in all we say and do,
We meet but praise?
“Nay, but the time to trust is when we stand alone,
And summer birds have flown, and every prop is gone,
All else but God!

“When is the time to trust? Is it some future day
When you have tried your way, and learned to trust and pray,
By bitter woe?
“Nay, but the time to trust is in this moment’s need.
Poor broken, bruised reed. Poor trouble soul, make speed
To trust thy God!

“When is it time to trust? Is it when hopes beat high,
The sunshine guilds the sky, and joy and ecstasy
Fill all the heart?
“Nay, but the time to trust is when joy is fled,
When sorrow bows the head, and all is cold and dead,
All else but God.”
~ Author Unknown ~

As well, I ask myself, “How can I possibly “talk the walk,” if I don’t “walk the talk”; yes, even while living with a terminal illness, or whatever obstacle life throws in my way?”

And so, my answer to this dear, dear lady, and for you, who maybe reading this today, it is because I have put my FAITH and TRUST in HIM. . .

Dancing with Jesus
Through life’s story seas,
My steps in His steps,
I follow His lead.

Dancing with Jesus
My life in His hands,
I’ll trust Him forever
For He understands,
I am His and He is mine!

(I wrote this prayer based on Psalm 63:7-8, “I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches, Because Thou has been my help; therefore, in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.)

When we keep our steps in His,
We will never mistep!
~ Bonita ~