Hope Does Not Disappoint

What’s the difference between hope and faith? This is one of deep things of God that is an inexhaustible topic that will be completely revealed on the day when we stand before the Lord Jesus – face to face.

Faith operates in the present working and churning in the heart, wooing and convincing and is based on evidence that God exists. (Hebrews 11:6) Unlike wishful thinking true faith has as its object all that is of genuine worth, He who is the Creator and will live forever.  Completely different from positive mental energy, the one who believes on Jesus Christ prays to the living God who reigns on earth from heaven; hears all, sees all, knows all and will never die.

The prophet Elijah illustrates a great example of well placed faith. He asks the people who had fallen away from God, “How long will you falter between two opinions, follow Him.” The bulls had been prepared and the false prophets leaped, cried and cut themselves but their god didn’t rouse to start the fire; day and night but no answer. Elijah had the altar drenched in water and then called on the name of His God “"LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You [are] God in Israel and I [am] Your servant, and [that] I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You [are] the LORD God, and [that] You have turned their hearts back [to You] again. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that [was] in the trench. Now when all the people saw [it], they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He [is] God! The LORD, He [is] God!" That’s what the One, True God can do. That’s the heart of a righteous servant praying in earnest to His God every day of his life.  (1 Kings 18:21-39) 

Now what is hope? The Word of God declares, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

The Christian facing cancer can endure the tribulation because we do not have hope in this life but in the life to come. We do not look inward for peace, but upward to the place where Christ dwells. We have “hope in the glory of God” as we look forward to the day Jesus will come again and transform our lowly bodies into heavenly bodies. (Philippians 3:21) We do believe in miracles rejoicing in the greatest miracle in Christ rising from the dead. Though we make ourselves available to good medicine we don’t necessarily depend on it to extend our lives beyond the time appointed by God to “go home.” As the old hymn goes, “our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.

Hope does not disappoint us.

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

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Glow in the Dark

People joke that getting radiation will make you glow in the dark. Since I’m undergoing radiation treatment right now, the doctor says we’re “mopping up” enemy soldiers that weren’t destroyed when my lung was taken out this past May. My oncologist once called his role as that of the cavalry riding in on white horses (I suppose) after the infantry – the chemo has done the heavy lifting. Cancer is an intruder or invader multiplying at a rate much faster than normal cells attempting to take over the body and hasten the aging process. A stronger weapon is needed to kill the invader and chemotherapy presumes to have the tactical advantage in this fight. Now with radiation playing its part I hope to glow in the dark but not in a materialistic sense.

Though I am endlessly grateful to the doctors who have brought me this far and the tough medicine  they’ve used, I am a Christian and therefore know for certain I am still here for one reason only; because of Jesus Christ and His sustaining power.  No matter the outcome of treatment, any progress or good news points to Jesus the provider, giving men the intelligence to discover and develop cancer fighting agents from available earthly resources. As I’ve mentioned before statistics say I should be dead by now, so the Lord’s supernatural power to heal me from this disease, His way and in His timing has certainly been a testimony to me. I pray the medical community would see that fact as well and would want to know this God in whom I have placed all my trust.

The world is a dark place though, shrouded in foolish thinking and unholy behavior. The world thumbs its nose at God and suppresses the truth about Him, by attempting to stamp out evidence He exists. Hiding in the dark, running from the light of God wishing to escape judgment is the normal course of living in the world. That was my life before I came to Christ, before I was first confronted with my own mortality. I know it’s hard to see the One, True God because He has been confused with religion, lies and the doctrines of men. Likening the history of Scripture to fairy tales has sold short the authority of God’s Word. Yet Jesus Himself said, though a man be raised from the dead men will not be persuaded to trust Him. (Reference Luke 16:19)

In a manner of speaking God has raised me from the dead not once but twice. The first “resurrection” was when I trusted in Christ as my Lord and Savior.  The second is the magnificent work He’s done in my body to take me from Stage 4 cancer to the point of now being almost healed over a year later. It’s ever clear each day is to be lived fully for Him, and I pray I would be glowing in the dark so brightly that Jesus Christ couldn’t help but be seen as the glorious God that He is. I pray harder still that those facing the fact of cancer in their lives would “let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:4) When Jesus Christ is seen as our example of perfection, we know for certain the truth of His word: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12,13) Glow in the dark my friends. J

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

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American Cancer Society and the Links

When first diagnosed with cancer you have more questions than answers about how your life will change and how to live your life and still get treatment. Since I have thus far survived this battle (all thanks to Jesus Christ) I wanted to give the newly diagnosed the benefit of my experience with finding good resources. I have a list of links on my "Comfort in Christ Cancer Support" blog.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides many free benefits to cancer patients. Among these are the Look Good Feel Better program. It's a makeup and beauty tips program for women. I attended one of these after my hair fell out, which helped me ward off the urge to hide away. At the main LGFB site you'll get help finding events in every state as well as the Virtual Workshop. I also took advantage of the free wigs ACS offers. Wigs are donated and usually need to be washed before worn. You need to buy wig shampoo for this. The "wig closet" also offers breast prosthesis and bras, scarves, bandanas, plus a whole lot more. ACS offers the Road to Recovery Program, which offers transportation for patients to and from their cancer treatments and a Lodging Program; reduced or complimentary lodging for patients and a caregiver who travel for treatments.

Other links on the blog include finding grant money and financial aid for the uninsured or underinsured. So many people fall into this category and shouldn't worry about money at a time like this. Joni Eareckson Tada is a Christian woman who's been treated for breast cancer. Joni also was paralyzed by a diving accident at the age of 16. I posted a video link about Joni's attitude toward cancer. Take a look. I'll be posting more links to good resources. I have avoided any therapies or assistance that is rooted in eastern religion. The power of prayer to the One, True God of the Bible Jesus Christ, has proven time and again to be answered in magnificent ways. He has not forsaken me - just as He promised. (Hebrews 13:8) Fully trusting Jesus to provide all that's needed is now more important than ever. What a wonderful Savior.  

The Christian music links on the blog are some of my favorites and a few in particular such as "Praise You in This Storm" have really ministered to my heart through this trial. I pray the same for my brothers and sisters sharing this road with me.

The Sheep Picture

My husband thought it might be nice to explain the sheep picture I chose to head up my blog. I drew this picture about 16 years ago for a friend and if you look closely you might see the symbolism.

We are like sheep gone astray, in search of the Chief Shepherd Jesus (Psalm 119:76, 1 Peter 5:4). It is a narrow path we are on and we must cross over the bounds of our earthly life to find Jesus. There the sheep finds green pasture and the love, joy and peace that only Jesus can bring. You see the sheep isn't looking back but pressing on to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Why don't we see the Shepherd in the picture? "No one at any time has seen God" (John 1:18) and it would be wrong therefore to strike an image of Him. Jesus lives in the heart of the believer and we walk by faith, not by sight until the day dawns when we see Him face to face (2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 13:12). We can take comfort that the Chief Shepherd cares for us deeply and says to those that belong to Him, "they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28) 

So now you know the reason and the meaning behind this picture.

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