Like a Roller Coaster

A new friend of mine recently lamented “cancer is like a roller coaster.” Yes, indeed.  We climb the heights during the first phases of treatment… going… going… uphill through aches, pains, baldness; willing to pay the price to get those tumors cut down to size. The PET and Cat scans show progress and we’re elated at the thought of conquering this beast. Maybe it’s all downhill from here? Perhaps more chemo is in order or whatever the doctor orders. Then a couple months later the scans show a new hot spot. Here we are climbing once again, asking Lord when will this be over.

To what can we liken this topsy-turvy ride? Who in the Scriptures endured the waves of emotions that accompany getting better only to later have the wind taken from our sails? The apostle Paul, once a God-hater as I used to be, became a God-lover and led a turbulent life for the cause of Christ. There were times of excellent progress and great news. Paul and his friend Silas were faithfully serving the Lord in Phillippi. As it happened along the way, they encountered a fortune telling woman possessed by an evil spirit. Paul cast the demon from her and her owners were livid since they lost their means of making a living. They conspired to have them beaten with rods and thrown in jail. Singing and praying to the Lord while the other prisoners listened, an earthquake shook the foundations and the shackles fell off. When the jailer was about to take his life Paul interceded. Paul, taking no thought for his own needs testified to the man he could be saved simply by believing on Jesus Christ. The rest is history.  (Acts 16)

Many other highs and lows made up the earthly journey of our brother Paul.  “Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-30)

Talk about a roller coaster ride! We need to keep going, keep pressing on like Paul did, as Jesus did. Paul wrote of his chief aim:  “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-114) Up or down my friends, let’s keep reaching heavenward toward our Lord and Savior. Amen? Amen!

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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Relieved and Refreshed

We have to be careful not to endorse any medication or therapies at the Comfort in Christ Cancer Support Group. It isn’t one size fits all and such information is best obtained from physicians and best shared privately after group meetings. My husband suggested I put together a post for the group on non therapeutic methods for getting relief from side effects and staying refreshed to keep fighting the good fight against cancer. For example, through my first 8 months of treatment I received one of the strongest combinations of chemo drugs because the cancer was Stage 4. Logically of course a killer needs a needs to be killed by something stronger and with that power comes the side effect known as neuropathy.

There are many forms of neuropathy but my experience included numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. The condition worsened to include swelling in the feet and ankles and burning sensations in the calves. Relief for me came in the form of ibuprofen and alternating between hot and cold treatment as well as massages from my husband. A few nights the burning in my calves was so bad it woke me from sleep. My husband put ice cold compresses on my legs so I could fall asleep. For just achiness I used a heating pad and of course kept my legs elevated.

It hurt when my hair fell out. I didn’t expect that. I prepared for baldness by getting a wig that I thought would work for me, but it still looked like a wig. The Cancer Treatment Center has a list of stylists in town who will groom wigs for free. I took advantage of that and it was a godsend. Not only did I get a decent new look but a great scalp massage. “Nioxin’ conditioner for thinning hair worked wonders during my bald months to make my head feel good.

To any woman facing cancer I would highly recommend the “Look Good – Feel Better” program in your town. (Look Good Feel Better web site) These events are run by local stylists who donate their time to teach women how to make the most of their features.  Cancer can make the face look pale, and give the eyes a sunken look as the facial hair including lashes and brows fall out. Each woman is given a make-up kit of donated product and learns how to apply eyebrows, blush, liner and lips to look colorfully natural. Being with others undergoing cancer is always a good thing. If you know Jesus bring along your smile to bless the ladies you meet. 

As a Christian I will not ascribe to or endorse any treatment that is blatantly anti-biblical. I’m going to name these practices to warn others against succumbing to new age methods of dealing with cancer being promoted at the medical centers. Searching ehow.com I find the following information on “Reiki” which purports its recipients can heal themselves by drawing the "universal life energy" from the practitioner's "laying of hands." What’s wrong with that? Simply put Reiki is nothing more than witchcraft. The God of the Bible is not a “universal life energy” but a personal God who personally died for you and wants a personal relationship with you. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)  “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Another popular practice these days is Transcendental Meditation. I found a definition for that on the answers.ask.com web site:  [Eastern] “Meditation is the act of clearing your mind of every day clutter and concentrating on one thing, whether it be the sound or rhythm of your breathing, the song of birds, or the sound of the ocean. Meditation is supposed to calm the spirit and help you to relax and focus on one thing.” When the Lord says to meditate He is NOT saying we should empty our minds. He does say we should meditate on His word and FILL our minds with thoughts of Him.  “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:11-14) Meditating on all God’s work gives us a lot to think about and takes our minds off cancer!

Summing it up, the power of prayer to the God of the Bible is the best way to overcome the affects cancer has on our lives. Personally I attribute all the amazing things the Lord has done to sustain my life through my prayers and the prayers of God’s people. Jesus is who is able to “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…(Ephesians 3:20). Is Jesus Christ sufficient for all things we need both now and forever? I believe He is.

 For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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The Finish Line

The Apostle Paul states…. “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:11-13) Paul had it rough yet he was content. When he speaks of being abased he was not kidding. He was beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked just to name a few trials he suffered for the sake of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 11:25-28)  

Everyone’s road is different. Some suffering is brought about while actively sharing God’s Word and some is simply from living in this broken world.  I have learned that God uses even cancer to challenge me to grow and share His Word with a lost and dying world.  A few days ago I found out the results of the recent PET scan which showed two new cancerous nodes. Not again! I was almost there – nearly done with treatment at least for awhile. Grrrrr! I also learned that the genetic test that could have resulted in a new, more convenient drug was not a match.  So I begin IV chemo again this Monday. All this news was delivered in the usual detached fashion I’ve become accustomed to, but as I’ve said before I will not give anyone an excuse not to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of cancer in my life.

Suffering in this life is to be expected. We cannot get to Heaven unless we first die on earth. All we’ve endured is nothing compared to the incomprehensible agony Christ Himself experienced.  Jesus was beaten by men, took the weight of sin on His shoulders and on top of that He was separated from the Father while He hung there on that cross for you and me. I reflect on this passage from Hebrews 12:3-4 – “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” 

Can we take solace in remembrance that no matter what hardship we suffered Jesus endured so much more for our sake? The book of Hebrews also states the following about how the Lord understands our trials: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4: 14:15) Yes he understands what I’m going through! It was not His will for me to be in this spot facing down big bad cancer. The reality of disease is evidence of a world broken by sin and that is what He died for.

So… now what? The ever present fact that life is short makes spending one’s days pleasing the Lord all the more imperative. As my husband likes to point out “no one is promised tomorrow.” Whether in plenty or in want; whether afflicted or healed, the motivation is contentment and the goal is Jesus Christ. He’s there at the finish line waiting for us and when we see Him face to face we can confidently say of disease – not ever again!

As the chorus to the old hymn goes…“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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All Things for Good

(I decided to re-post this one with a new title because it's a tribute to all the people whose lives intersect during a crisis and how the Lord works it all to the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28) 

 ‘Where are you from?’ ‘What are you in for?’ So go the conversations that can start up by folks cooling their heels at one of the cancer centers in town. All of us have different reasons for being there and yet share a common detour in our lives. So here we sit, waiting to have various tumors irradiated or simply annihilated by way of a chemo treatment. Gowns on, determined to keep our spirits up we wait for the next dosing delivered through various means of conveyance.  

Coffee, tea and other light snacks are offered to take the edge off the experience. Being escorted to our treatment rooms is a pleasant walk with quite kindly people; knowledgeable in their areas of expertise.  Once in the room all the numbers have to line up before “it’s a go,” whether its exact placement on the radiation table or the right reports on blood levels compatible with receiving chemo. It all has to be perfect, at least as perfect as can be this side of eternity. We wouldn’t want to have the body even a millimeter out of alignment with the radiation beam. That would be useless not to mention potentially catastrophic. We lie on our tables or sit in our chairs, putting another mark on the wall as it were, counting off the number of times we’ve been there. Those of you who’ve had these treatments know this familiar terrain.  

I’ve been told and I suppose rightly so that only those dealing with cancer can adequately understand and have compassion on others in the same boat. That’s what originally prompted me to seek out the Lord’s will and wisdom in starting this new cancer support group at Calvary Tucson. The scriptures command us to “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) When burdened, the typical response may be to run and hide, but hopefully instead afflicted saints will choose to share their trials, as the Lord reveals to them what it is He would have them learn. Christians bearing cancer possess eternal hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and are blessed beyond measure knowing though our earthly tents are wearing out one day we will meet the Lord face to face, and what a day that will be! I like this passage from Hebrews 10:23-25:  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

A few men of God come to mind who gladly shared their burdens with one another. One example is Jonathan who surely shouldered David’s anguish over being exiled from the kingdom and hunted by Jonathan’s father Saul. Here is the prelude to Saul’s attempted murder of David: “Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted greatly in David. So Jonathan told David, saying, "My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you."  Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.” (1 Samuel 19:1-4)

Jonathan put himself in harm’s way more than once for David’s sake. Because of his great love, the King in the line from whom our Messiah would be born was saved. It’s often been said we don’t know how far reaching may be the affects of our faithfulness to God through our love for our neighbors. Remember the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:31-33) May we follow the example of Jonathan and of Jesus Himself to first love God, and then to show that love by bearing one another’s burdens no matter what afflictions may befall us.  (For me, one intersection has been this waiting room at UMC.)

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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