Category: My Thoughts

After learning I have cancer, the outpouring of words, prayers and support have been a healing balm to our souls. Bill and I are so grateful! We know we will not walk through this pathway alone.

This cancer is anal cell carcinoma, uncommon, I had never heard of it before. Stage 2 because it was also found in a nearby lymph node. No other cancer in my body, and believe me the docs tested everything.  I told my grandchildren that it is on my bottom, I have trouble sitting for a long time. One child said, “You will look funny if they have to take off one cheek.” We laughed, and I assured her that I don’t think that will happen. However, any surgery to take out the tumor would leave me with a colostomy.

We were anxious about the treatment choice. When the church elders prayed for us, one of our prayer requests was wisdom for the decisions. There are so many decisions to make. The standard protocol is 6 weeks of radiation five days a week, along with two rounds of chemo at the same time. Didn’t sound appealing to me, since I’ve heard about the damage chemo/radiation can do to your body. So we also chose to add holistic or naturopathic methods, meaning, taking Vitamin C intravenously, additional vitamins, and minerals, Poly MVA etc. This hopefully, will help me through and help reduce the effects of chemo/radiation. I can’t say I understand it all, but this combination seems right for me at this time. We both feel at peace about the treatment.

I got a “port” implanted into my chest through outpatient surgery. I’m learning many new words. A port is so they won’t have to stick me all the time. The drugs and vitamins can be administered through it.

Your prayer and concern have lifted our spirits immensely already  – and I haven’t even started treatment. You are an awesome circle of family and friends. I could ask for no better support as I go through this.

Prognosis is good to eradicate the nasty cancer cells. But percentage of success is not my concern. I am in God’s hands and He is the great Physician. We pray that the doctors will make correct choices and that I will do my best to complete the treatment. Life’s journey may be rocky for a little while, so pray for God to give me strength.

Thank you for your wonderful support. You are loved,

kathryn

 My life journey has taken a sharp turn. I have cancer. Bill and I found out about 10 days ago and waited to tell everyone until we shared with our college students.

Tentatively, on November 26^th I will begin six weeks of chemo and radiation. A tough treatment, but effective.

 I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you in person, but it seems I’ve had doctor visits every day, a dozen vials of blood drawn, and so many medical tests I feel like research took a giant leap.

 I have begun taking supplements that will help combat the disease and effects of the chemo/radiation including extra vitamins, nutrients, etc. I changed my diet, started eating my vegetables and doing all those good-for-you things I should have done years ago. 

 God is with me. I feel His sweet presence and know that He will help me through. I will never be alone. It is very sad to tell my loved ones the news, but I remain at peace and hope to pray, listen to Christian music, read the Bible, and be a witness through this.

 Please pray for Mr. Bill. He has gone to about every doctor appointment with me and been right by my side. He is learning to be a caretaker and is worried about what to feed me! Maybe he needs some cooking lessons!

 I also ask that you pray for me. Although we have changed plans, slowed down and put our Bible studies on hold,  I need pray for strength and stamina. Mostly pray that everything I do and say will glorify Him.

 Remember the verse, Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together  for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.”

 “All things” means everything is in God’s plan and done for His purpose. He is aware of even this difficult part of my life’s journey.

You are loved, Kathryn

For the past year, I’ve soloed. No, not in an airplane yet. But I’ve been siting at my computer plugging away alone. Sealed in a vacuum as tight as Grandma’s cupboard.  Yes, words have been planted, sentences come together, and whole chapters penned, but not much wound up in the public’s eye.

So I’ve decided to step out into the writer’s arena again and attend some local Christian writing groups. Good place to start. What a surprise, even if it shouldn’t have been. Maybe it takes being away from other writers a while to truly appreciate the value of like-minded recluses.

I had completely forgotten how encouraging it is to get together with other writers, whether newcomers or published gurus. I forgot about helping others in their writing. Wait, isn’t that something Jesus taught? The importance of traveling together on life’s journey?

Anyway, it was a thoroughly uplifting time and I recommend any writer to find some wordsmith souls and scratch each other’s back (or mind). It will inspire you much more than the other person.

So find some group near you. Believe me, it will be worth it.

www.ACFW.com

okcchr

http://www.shadetreecreations.com/

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 I love free kindle books, so recently I started reading Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. Am I the only one who has a hard time waiting?  I get anxious to hear from God. Day 9 is my favorite lesson in the book so far. “Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you that wait on the Lord.” Ps. 31:24. Here is a portion of Murray’s words [with minor changes]:

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding.” This is a discussion of two things, our heart and our mind. 

 “The mind gathers knowledge from God’s word, and prepares the food by which the heart with the inner life is to be nourished. But there is a terrible danger, of our leaning on our own understanding …

People imagine that if they are occupied with the truth, the spiritual life will…  be strengthened. But this is not the case. Understanding deals with conceptions and images of divine things, but it cannot reach the real life of the soul…It’s with the heart man believes, and comes in touch with God. It is in the heart God has given His Spirit, to be the presence and the power of God working in us. In all our religion it is the heart that must trust and love and worship and obey. My mind is utterly impotent in creating or maintaining the spiritual life within me. The heart must wait on God for Him to work it in me.

 It’s like our physical life.   My reason may tell me to eat and drink, and how the food nourishes me. But in the eating and feeding, I can do nothing: the body has its organs for that special purpose.

Just so, reason may tell me what God’s word says, but it can do nothing to the feeding of the soul on the bread of life – this the heart alone can do by its faith and trust in God… And so the Christian needs, when he has studied or heard God’s word, to cease from his thoughts, to put no trust in them, and to waken his heart to open itself before God, and seek the living fellowship with Him.

This is now the blessedness of waiting upon God… That I confess the impotence of all my thoughts and efforts, and … bow my heart before Him in holy silence, and trust Him to renew and strengthen His own work in me.”

 Yes. That’s what I’m waiting for. For Him to do His work! With my mind, I can study God’s word, feed food to my soul, but only in preparation to meeting Him.

Week 12 also helps, “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shalt exalt thee to inherit the land.” Ps 37:34 “It is true you don’t have the strength yet to keep all His ways. But keep carefully those for which you have received strength already.” That’s another whole lesson. God will never bless us if we are not trying to follow Him.

 Andrew Murray has it right – in preparation to meeting God, I can study the Bible and keep His ways.

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Mom rode with me on one of those long trips that take hours–when good conversation helps pass the time.  In the intimacy of my front car seat, Mom shared about the faith she learned from her mother.

“Your grandma taught WMU, women’s missionary groups, for years. She was passionate about spreading the good news of Christ.  I still have boxes full of her handwritten lessons and tons of articles and quotes she cut out about missions. When I was a child, I went with her to meetings and sat in a corner and listened.”

Mom continued. These stories about my deceased grandmother were new to me. 

“I remember a neighbor she kept inviting to the meetings. Finally the woman came one day just so mother would quit asking. But the lady was interested and kept coming back. Soon she came to church and brought her children, one of them my age.  Then her husband came and got involved. Last I heard, their family is still going to that little old church, still working there. All because Mother kept inviting her.”

Mom went on to tell how her own grandmother shared her faith, a dedicated woman who rode side saddle on a horse through the country side to collect money for a women’s dormitory at Oklahoma Baptist University, the local Christian college in Shawnee.

These ancestors of mine had faith, and as my mom shared, I realized that her sharing provided a connection to the strong Christian women in my past. Their stories encouraged my Christian walk through life.

From words shared in that long car ride, I now have more stories of faith to give my family. By passing down and transferring these bits of facts to my own children and grandchildren, I pass on the faith of generations behind me. 

Remember to share your faith with family. It can give encouragement that will continue forever.

The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes . . .  your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 2 Kings 10:30 (NIV)

By Kathryn Spurgeon. First published in a HHBC  pamphlet.