Welcome to "Hope Does Not Disappoint"


There are two key reasons I have finally decided to join the world of blogging:

First, my cancer has become active and there is a loving congregation and many family & friends who want to keep track of what is taking place. This provides a way for me to update them as often and with as much detail as they desire.

Second, the Lord often links Scripture with circumstances in life for a much more potent 1 - 2 punch. I have already found that to be true and I hope to share some of those lessons for those who are interested.

So almost every entry in this blog will have two parts to it: Body (what's happening physically with the treatments) and Spirit (what God is sharing as I open His Word).

Thanks for visiting. I hope some of the "Points Along The Road" in my journey are helpful and encouraging to you.

Dave



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Making The Most Of Our Time

Body: I continue with the new diet and regimen...almost a week into it. It has presented some special challenges for Andrea as she has much extra preparation of foods. But, as is normally the case, she does it all with love and graciousness.

I met with my doctor last Friday and we discussed the limited options that chemo offers. I indicated that I was ready for a change in direction. He suggested that we meet this week to finally discuss treatment options. That meeting will take place this afternoon. I'm hoping that I'll not only understand the various support services that Yale can offer but how I am to proceed with evaluations of my condition and proactive treatments for pain management.

The pain in my bones is becoming more regular. I often take a pain pill for a portion of the day. However, I continue to wait on the Lord and am so grateful for so many who pray in faith asking God for His miracle. I truly am blessed. My schedule is pretty open since I really can't commit to much of anything at present. I'm resting a lot and eating a lot!

Spirit: Romans 13:5-14 "Making The Most Of Our Time"
The urgency of living well and enjoying each moment is not lost on a person in a life and death struggle with cancer. Often a special phrase comes along to emphasize the point. In a Puritan Prayer, I read, "May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as if my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day."

Great sentiment! How do I do that? There are many different statements of it, but Romans 13 has to be one of the most concise and simply stated yet thorough. Let our only outstanding debt be to love others -- a debt which is never finished because of the enormity of Jesus' love for us. Paul even states that love fulfills the Law fully...because everything in the Law is either about loving God or truly loving others. Love only does what blesses and benefits. Finally, he summarizes it nicely in vs 14: clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus and not the desires of the flesh. Pretty simple and straight forward. Pretty thorough and accurate. An incredibly high standard by which to live.

That's how you are prepared for your last day on earth, for the trumpet to sound, for God to call us home!

How do I love better today? How do I look more like Jesus this day? Where does His love come out, spontaneously or planned? What a special privilege the day holds and in its unscripted way, I write the play. Let's title it, "Dave's Best Day!" and then compare it to tomorrow's version of "Dave's Best Day!" Love for God and others being the key measure.

"Lord, I am weak and distracted by a number of things. No excuse! May today's version of 'Dave's Best Day!' bring joy to Your heart and a smile to my lips...and some wonderful surprises to people along the way."
Posted by Dave McIntyre at 8:33 AM

4 comments:

  1. Elvia Chalmers/Dickerson-SummielJanuary 19, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Have not been on the computer lately, just read your last 2 updates and am grateful for the Spirit of the Lord that directs your writing and your daily walk with Him. Bill and i continue to pray your strength in the Lord.

    One of my favorite passages when life disappoints is: Habakukk 3: 17-19, There are still some issues that make no sense to me, but my faith is that God does know and when I can't "trace God's hand I need to trust God's heart". I pray through this walk of faith that you will be able to trust God's heart. We love you and we continue to believe that God does all but fail.

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  2. Connie SmileyJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    What good encouragement to make this my best day, too. Thank you. You and your family are in my prayers.
    "I will... transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. Hosea 2:15 (NLT)

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  3. A.R.January 24, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    When I said, "my foot is slipping,"
    your love, O LORD, supported me.
    When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought joy to my soul.
    Psalm 94:18-19

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    Thinking of you as this month of January comes to a close. Praying that next month, the month of Love with Valentine's Day, your wonderful wife's birthday and lots of good chocolate (!) will wrap you in a cocoon of warmth and most of all God's love and comfort as you give each day to Him. Sending much love to you and your family from an old friend.

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