“Our Times Are in His Hands” An Update on My Karen March 24, 2016

Job told his friends, “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

We went to our oncology appointment fully expecting to have chemotherapy today. God knows the way we are taking. It was no surprise to Him. But it was a surprise to us. Chemotherapy didn’t take place. Here is the first situation. The mass in her lung is stable. It hasn’t changed. We of course would love to have the mass either decrease further or disappear! But if that isn’t going to happen this time, then stable is good. Imagine! It has been over one year now since she was diagnosed with cancer. With the dreadfully heavy four rounds of chemotherapy and then the maintenance chemo, here we and Karen’s situation is stable. That is amazing.

Here is the second situation. A year ago Karen had a PET scan. This scan is designed to pinpoint any cancer cells anywhere. The mass in her lung “really lit up” on her PET scan according to her oncologist. It also detected an abnormality in her lower right quadrant. But there was no evidence of cancer in the abnormality. They assumed that this was just something unique to Karen. The CT scan detected the abnormality. It hasn’t changed sizes. But it has changed shapes. So the oncologist is ordering another PET scan for some time next week. We then go back to see him on April 8th.

So dear friends let me say thank you for your prayers. We truly appreciate your kind notes, cards, emails, private messaging, and letters. We never have sensed that we are in this alone. Our children and grandchildren have blessed our lives. Our friends have been incredibly kind to us. Our great God has been faithful and strong in really precious ways. Here are a few things I’ve been thinking about.

1. Ambassadors find living in a strange place to be unsettling at times. It makes the homeland even more precious as time goes on. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
2. This is some of the most difficult times I have ever faced. However compared to eternity I agree with Apostle Paul who wrote, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
3. God has promised to provide our needs. He does this in every way. Paul put it this way, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
4. Heaven is becoming far dearer the closer Karen and I come to finishing our work here on the earth. “In my Father’s House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).
5. Waiting is hard. But God really is helping us to learn to depend on Him as we wait. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).
6. Rather than asking “Why us?” we have really, really determined to ask, “What do you want us to do. How can we glorify you in this situation?” We take very seriously and joyously Paul’s admonition “Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
7. The things we are learning are too precious to be wasted on us alone. We are discovering how many people the Lord continues to bring to us who are also passing through the experience of cancer. It reminds me of “Blessed be God, even the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

For those who were members at Marilla and Binghamton when I pastored, you might remember that I always closed Sunday evening services with the statement, “Church family, as you get up tomorrow morning to begin a brand new work week, please remember that God loves you. Karen and I love you too.” Well I know that this post is going to both Marilla and Binghamton as well as far and near. But I want each of you to know that Karen and I so appreciate each of you. We know that the Lord loves you dearly. We love you too! I will let you know when the PET scan will be as soon as we find out. Please pray that insurance will authorize it. Thanks dear friends.