Dan's day at Stanford on Wednesday started with a lab draw revealing fantastic liver function, electrolytes and bilirubin tests and finished with another round of chemotherapy. In between we saw the doctor and she has scheduled the CAT scan down south in 2 weeks with another appointment in Stanford in 3 weeks. Right now Dan is scheduled for chemo in 3 weeks, but we will need to see the results of the next scan to determine exactly what will be done. All in all Dan's energy level and ability to handle college and life is wonderful. We are soooooooooo happy! Thank you LORD!
Daniel 3 (verses 12-29) describes how we should stand up to and not bow down to the so called "gods" around us. It has been an encouragement to me to read the example of those 3 young men and their stand before the idolatry of their day - with absolute faith and trust in their LORD God, no matter what:
But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
Friday, October 26, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
long time no blog...
Hard to believe it has been 11 days since I have written to you. First of all I know you are waiting to know how Dan is and he is fine! No infection and the doctor has taken him off one of his meds because his cortisol level continues to be normal. Good news! This week on Wednesday he will have another chemotherapy treatment and Bob will be able to go with us to Stanford since it is his day off.
My days have been a mix of busy and quiet. It has been good for me to sit and be quiet and begin dealing with all the emotions of the past four months. What a blessing it is to have family and friends too that I can share my heart with.
Yesterday I had the privilege of sharing with the boys at juvenile hall for a “church service”. I have 1 hour with them. What difference can I make in their lives in ONE hour? I share my heart and the Word of God. What a joy it was to share with them about Dan and the circumstances of his life. These boys are not much younger than him. I know it hit home. Many of them gave their lives to the Lord. The witness of Dan’s life and faith made an eternal impact on these boys. I shared too from the Word and I told them of my daily need to hear from God through his Word to sustain me through these hard days. We talked about controlling what we can in our lives, our attitudes and actions, and often not our circumstances. We finished by going through the alphabet and calling out the attributes of God, an exercise that I have used many times these past four months to keep my mind on my Lord and who He is. Thank you Lord for the salvation of these young men! Join me in prayer for them as they begin walking in faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.
Paul, a man who had killed Christians before his encounter with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail (these facts did not go unnoticed by the boys):
Phil 1:2-6
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:3-11
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil. 3:7-14
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4: 4-13
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
May the Lord strengthen us today to honor and glorify Him in all ways.
My days have been a mix of busy and quiet. It has been good for me to sit and be quiet and begin dealing with all the emotions of the past four months. What a blessing it is to have family and friends too that I can share my heart with.
Yesterday I had the privilege of sharing with the boys at juvenile hall for a “church service”. I have 1 hour with them. What difference can I make in their lives in ONE hour? I share my heart and the Word of God. What a joy it was to share with them about Dan and the circumstances of his life. These boys are not much younger than him. I know it hit home. Many of them gave their lives to the Lord. The witness of Dan’s life and faith made an eternal impact on these boys. I shared too from the Word and I told them of my daily need to hear from God through his Word to sustain me through these hard days. We talked about controlling what we can in our lives, our attitudes and actions, and often not our circumstances. We finished by going through the alphabet and calling out the attributes of God, an exercise that I have used many times these past four months to keep my mind on my Lord and who He is. Thank you Lord for the salvation of these young men! Join me in prayer for them as they begin walking in faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.
Paul, a man who had killed Christians before his encounter with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail (these facts did not go unnoticed by the boys):
Phil 1:2-6
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:3-11
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil. 3:7-14
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4: 4-13
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
May the Lord strengthen us today to honor and glorify Him in all ways.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Happy Birthday Jessica
Today is Jessica's 22nd birthday and I am here in LA to celebrate with her and do a mini college trip with Matt and some of his friends. A fun trip. It has been awhile since I have written and life is somewhat settling into a routine again. I have officially resigned from the “hidden-hovering-mother” job, which basically means that since Dan has handled the last 2 chemotherapies without incidence and presumably without dangerous neutropenic levels, I do not need to be in LA “hovering”during that low WBC week. Dan had chemo #5 last Friday and the doctor has prescribed an additional treatment before taking another look with a CT scan.
The other night I read all of June and July’s blogs and several good things stood out to me, a few being: God’s faithfulness and presence through the rough seas; friends and family supporting us with much prayer and help; the character and attitudes of Dan and Ashley as we all lived through those difficult days.
Not one of us really knows the bumps on the road ahead, but we are so thankful for the tremendous progress made so far in destroying this insidious cancer in Dan’s body. All I do know for sure is that God is faithful and good and all-powerful, and He not only knows the road ahead, it is in His overall design for our lives.
And that is good enough for me.
In my Isaiah Bible study we have reached the glorious chapter 60. There is a day coming when Messiah will make everything right and His glory will be evident to all. Our LORD God has fulfilled His promises in the past over and over again and He will fulfill His promises for the future times. From prophesying the name of Cyrus 150 years (Isaiah 44 and 45) before he was even born and calling him to overthrow the Babylonians and set Israel free from their Babylonian captivity (which was also foretold ) to the future glory and salvation of all Israel, God’s Word is Truth. How could it be anything else because our LORD God Himself moved men to write its very words? God Himself chose the vehicle of prophecy to prove that He alone is God. (Isaiah 44) We should pay attention, read it and study it. (Isaiah 40) What audacity we humans have when we ignore the Word of the very One who holds our very being together and gives us the air we breathe. He has a glorious plan for each of us if we will but give our hearts to Him. The Word of God is our sure foundation and the means by which He reveals His character, His love, His righteousness and His purpose of redemption to all who will seek Him.
Isaiah 60
The other night I read all of June and July’s blogs and several good things stood out to me, a few being: God’s faithfulness and presence through the rough seas; friends and family supporting us with much prayer and help; the character and attitudes of Dan and Ashley as we all lived through those difficult days.
Not one of us really knows the bumps on the road ahead, but we are so thankful for the tremendous progress made so far in destroying this insidious cancer in Dan’s body. All I do know for sure is that God is faithful and good and all-powerful, and He not only knows the road ahead, it is in His overall design for our lives.
And that is good enough for me.
In my Isaiah Bible study we have reached the glorious chapter 60. There is a day coming when Messiah will make everything right and His glory will be evident to all. Our LORD God has fulfilled His promises in the past over and over again and He will fulfill His promises for the future times. From prophesying the name of Cyrus 150 years (Isaiah 44 and 45) before he was even born and calling him to overthrow the Babylonians and set Israel free from their Babylonian captivity (which was also foretold ) to the future glory and salvation of all Israel, God’s Word is Truth. How could it be anything else because our LORD God Himself moved men to write its very words? God Himself chose the vehicle of prophecy to prove that He alone is God. (Isaiah 44) We should pay attention, read it and study it. (Isaiah 40) What audacity we humans have when we ignore the Word of the very One who holds our very being together and gives us the air we breathe. He has a glorious plan for each of us if we will but give our hearts to Him. The Word of God is our sure foundation and the means by which He reveals His character, His love, His righteousness and His purpose of redemption to all who will seek Him.
Isaiah 60
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Oct 7 - Dan's blogthoughts
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Long time no blog - AKA great news!
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Life
So I don't know the last time I blogged... but here goes. I told you in my status I would write about the good news, and now it is coming.
As of tomorrow the 7th, I will have been on chemo for three months (minus a week where I had a break, which was nice) but I did start on 7/7/07. Nice, huh. Well, the good news (aside from me handling the last two treatments (3 & 4) very well) is I had a PET scan on the 27th of September. I last had a PET scan on July 28th, and my mom took the new scan home and compared it with the old one. Anyway, she called me, and was crying, saying she was looking at my scan... thanks, mom. My dad took the phone, told me it was good news, and my mom was just being emotional.
Basically, in the first scan, my liver was filled with tumors, forcing it all the way across my abdomen. The new scan showed my liver at about 3/4 of the way across my abdomen, which is normal. So they're shrinkin. :D ALSO, in the first scan, they were lighting up a lot, meaning they were metabolically more active than a sugar-loaded 6 year-old. Second scan: they look as active as an octogenarian couch potato. So that's hot. Praise the Lord, faithful like none other.
I didn't want to write until now, because yesterday was when I found out what is happening next. I got chemo again (round 5) and in three weeks, I will have round 6. After that, I will have a CT scan (which better shows size, as PET shows activity better) to check out the size of those little buggers, and see what to do from there. And with the fantastic combination of me tolerating the chemo well plus the chemo kicking those tumors bununus (buttockses in Hume Lake-ish), I think those tumors could be gone soon.
Thanks to all who have prayed at least once, thanks to all those who prayed daily, thanks to God the Almighty of the universe! I'll admit it's a lot easier to say that when things are going well. But it is more powerful to say it when things are poopy. You know? 'I feel like crap, but praise God anyway, because, quite frankly, He's God.' Wow.
Another thing I remembered in a pondering moment... I remember being frustrated (kinda) that I didn't have a cool testimony. Nothing like, 'I was on the streets addicted to crack' or 'I turned to God when I was about to kill myself'. More like, 'I was born on a Tuesday and in church on Sunday'. Woohoo. But now, God has decided to let me have a testimony more interesting than I've had before. I had a strange form of a rare cancer, random crap happened to my body all the time, and yet, the peace of Christ saturated my soul through it all. He was there through it all, as He had been when I was a healthy, boring-testimonied person. How bout that, huh? God is awesome. Amen.
Long time no blog - AKA great news!
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Life
So I don't know the last time I blogged... but here goes. I told you in my status I would write about the good news, and now it is coming.
As of tomorrow the 7th, I will have been on chemo for three months (minus a week where I had a break, which was nice) but I did start on 7/7/07. Nice, huh. Well, the good news (aside from me handling the last two treatments (3 & 4) very well) is I had a PET scan on the 27th of September. I last had a PET scan on July 28th, and my mom took the new scan home and compared it with the old one. Anyway, she called me, and was crying, saying she was looking at my scan... thanks, mom. My dad took the phone, told me it was good news, and my mom was just being emotional.
Basically, in the first scan, my liver was filled with tumors, forcing it all the way across my abdomen. The new scan showed my liver at about 3/4 of the way across my abdomen, which is normal. So they're shrinkin. :D ALSO, in the first scan, they were lighting up a lot, meaning they were metabolically more active than a sugar-loaded 6 year-old. Second scan: they look as active as an octogenarian couch potato. So that's hot. Praise the Lord, faithful like none other.
I didn't want to write until now, because yesterday was when I found out what is happening next. I got chemo again (round 5) and in three weeks, I will have round 6. After that, I will have a CT scan (which better shows size, as PET shows activity better) to check out the size of those little buggers, and see what to do from there. And with the fantastic combination of me tolerating the chemo well plus the chemo kicking those tumors bununus (buttockses in Hume Lake-ish), I think those tumors could be gone soon.
Thanks to all who have prayed at least once, thanks to all those who prayed daily, thanks to God the Almighty of the universe! I'll admit it's a lot easier to say that when things are going well. But it is more powerful to say it when things are poopy. You know? 'I feel like crap, but praise God anyway, because, quite frankly, He's God.' Wow.
Another thing I remembered in a pondering moment... I remember being frustrated (kinda) that I didn't have a cool testimony. Nothing like, 'I was on the streets addicted to crack' or 'I turned to God when I was about to kill myself'. More like, 'I was born on a Tuesday and in church on Sunday'. Woohoo. But now, God has decided to let me have a testimony more interesting than I've had before. I had a strange form of a rare cancer, random crap happened to my body all the time, and yet, the peace of Christ saturated my soul through it all. He was there through it all, as He had been when I was a healthy, boring-testimonied person. How bout that, huh? God is awesome. Amen.
Monday, October 1, 2007
October 1
Today Bob and I celebrate 24 years of marriage. Thank you Lord for the many blessings you have given us, especially Jessica, Daniel and Matthew. Thank you Bob, aka Mr. Wonderful, for your steadfast love and dedication to me and to our children.
I feel as though I am finally able to take a deep breath and relax. So many of my friends have said to me in the last 3 months, “don’t forget to breathe”! I thought that I was, but today I can say there is an element of relaxation with that breath. We are by no means done walking down this road, but I think it is fair to say a bend in the road has occurred.
How do I tell all you wonderful people how much I appreciate your prayers and encouragement? I have come to know the power of the Body of believers in a very personal way. It is humbling to know that so many are praying for Dan and for our family. Thank you so very much.
As King David rejoiced in the Lord, so do we:
Psalm 21:1-7
O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
You welcomed him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
I feel as though I am finally able to take a deep breath and relax. So many of my friends have said to me in the last 3 months, “don’t forget to breathe”! I thought that I was, but today I can say there is an element of relaxation with that breath. We are by no means done walking down this road, but I think it is fair to say a bend in the road has occurred.
How do I tell all you wonderful people how much I appreciate your prayers and encouragement? I have come to know the power of the Body of believers in a very personal way. It is humbling to know that so many are praying for Dan and for our family. Thank you so very much.
As King David rejoiced in the Lord, so do we:
Psalm 21:1-7
O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
You welcomed him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
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