“So When is the Cyber Knife Surgery?”
An update on my Karen for June 24, 2016

A dear missionary friend from Italy recently wrote and asked me what I’ve heard about the “OBLITERATION?” This is the term that the radiation oncologist used to describe his goal for Karen’s mass. As you know this has become my favorite word! As to the answer for her question, all I can say is “That is a very good question!”

Karen and I truly appreciate our friends and family who faithfully pray for us and are eagerly awaiting word from the oncology department at University Hospital. We all are getting a little on the anxious or eager side when it comes to patiently waiting for her surgery to scheduled.

We saw her regular oncologist on Wednesday and spoke with him about her last chemotherapy treatment which resulted in her being very sick for quite a long time. Typically we can expect that she will start to not feel well on about the third day after the infusion. This sickness will last three or four days. But the last time, the sickness came with more intensity and lasted a couple of weeks. With this in mind, since the cancerous mass is less intense, the oncologist cut a little of the dosage of the chemotherapy. We are praying that this might result in less of the chemo side effects.

I wrote this update update yesterday. As I was writing the skies over Elyria just really opened up and the rainfall was heavy for a moment. My Bible was open to Psalm 147 as this will be the text for the message I am preaching on Sunday evening at First Baptist Church of Elyria. I will be in different verses Sunday evening, but I couldn’t help but notice Psalm 147:7-8. “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth…”

It is not just something that I am supposed to say. I truly mean it when I post that our great God is absolutely awesome and worthy of our trust, worship, and praise. He Who counts the stars and calls them all by name (147:4); Who controls the weather patterns (147:8); Who sovereignly controls the affairs of earth (147:15) is the same sovereign God Who heals our broken hearts (147:3).

I cannot get over the amazement of on one hand God being infinite in understanding and great in power and on the other hand being so interested and caring that He heals the broken hearts of lowly individuals like you and me. It is wonderful to belong to Him. It is beyond words to describe the blessing of being part of His family.

There are times that I do not understand what my Father is doing at the moment. There are times that I would not have chosen this situation if I could have the choice. There are things that are hard to explain. But this I know. Our God is worthy of our trust and worship. “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalm 147:1).

So thank you again for your prayers and friendship. Thank you so much for traveling along this journey with us. As soon as we hear from the scheduler, we will let you know.