A Real Curve Ball

Body: Many of you know that today I had a PET scan and an appointment with my doctor to review progress and lay out "next steps" in my treatment. The nice, neat plans went out the window as the doctor was very surprised to see that my cancer has actually grown significantly since the last PET scan.

That wasn't the news we were hoping for and we talked with the doctor about many options...many of which are just now being considered by my doctor. The bottom line is that this is disappointing news and keeps me focused on the things that will not change and that cancer cannot touch.

I will be heading into the hospital on Wednesday for four days of chemo and the doctor has warned me that it won't be a lot of fun. I hesitate to mention anything else at this point because after this chemo, he will give me another PET scan before any final decisions are made as to future directions.

Spirit: Yesterday and again this morning I read the following Puritan Prayer from The Valley Of Vision. It was a great blessing then...and is even more precious now. If you decide to read it, read slowly and thoughtfully. There is a lot here for me and I hope for you.

The All-Good

MY GOD

Thou hast helped me to see,

that whatever good be in honor and rejoicing,

how good is He who gives them, and can withdraw them;

that blessedness does not lie so much

in receiving good from and in Thee, but

in holding forth Thy glory and virtue;

that it is an amazing thing

to see Deity in a creature, speaking, acting, filling, shining through it;

that nothing is good but Thee,

that I am near good when I am near Thee,

that to be like Thee is a glorious thing:

This is my magnet, my attraction.

Thou art all my good in times of peace,

my only support in days of trouble,

my one sufficiency when life shall end.

Help me to see how good Thy will is in all,

and even when it crosses mine

teach me to be pleased with it.

Grant me to feel Thee in fire, and food and every providence,

and to see that Thy many gifts and creatures

are but Thy hands and fingers taking hold of me.

Thou bottomless fountain of all good,

I give myself to Thee out of love,

for all I have or own is Thine,

my goods, family, church, self,

to do with as Thou wilt,

to honor Thyself by me, and by all mine.

If it be consistent with Thy eternal counsels,

the purpose of Thy grace,

and the great ends of Thy glory,

then bestow upon me the blessings of Thy comforts;

If not, let me resign myself to Thy wiser determinations.

Now doesn't that just give us some really good food for thought? It's still a curve ball to me, but I'm in good hands. Thanks for praying.