Pastor John Piper, a survivor of prostate cancer, exhorts us to keep our Christian perspective in dealing with cancer, in this post from his website 'Desiring God'. With the estimates hovering over 1.4 million new cancer diagnoses in the US alone (2009), odds are that you, or someone you know will have to deal with this disease. Being that it is God’s will for us right now, we shall heed Piper’s advice and be inspired by “Don’t Waste Your Cancer”. If it ever be His will for you, we pray you too, will be greatly encouraged by this, and comforted too. CHRIST IS THE CURE.
1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Numbers 23:23). “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects of treatment), but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). God’s design is clear from 2 Corinthians 1:9, “We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The aim of God in your cancer (among a thousand other good things) is to knock props out from under our hearts so that we rely utterly on him.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
We will all die, if Jesus postpones his return. Not to think about what it will be like to leave this life and meet God is folly. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning [a funeral] than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” How can you lay it to heart if you won’t think about it? Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Numbering your days means thinking about how few there are and that they will end. How will you get a heart of wisdom if you refuse to think about this? What a waste, if we do not think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
Satan’s and God’s designs in your cancer are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21).
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
It is not wrong to know about cancer. Ignorance is not a virtue. But the lure to know more and more and the lack of zeal to know God more and more is symptomatic of unbelief. Cancer is meant to waken us to the reality of God. It is meant to put feeling and force behind the command, “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). It is meant to waken us to the truth of Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” It is meant to make unshakable, indestructible oak trees out of us: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2). What a waste of cancer if we read day and night about cancer and not about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
Paul used this phrase in relation to those whose loved ones had died: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is a grief at death. Even for the believer who dies, there is temporary loss—loss of body, and loss of loved ones here, and loss of earthly ministry. But the grief is different—it is permeated with hope. “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Don’t waste your cancer grieving as those who don’t have this hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
Are your besetting sins as attractive as they were before you had cancer? If so you are wasting your cancer. Cancer is designed to destroy the appetite for sin. Pride, greed, lust, hatred, unforgiveness, impatience, laziness, procrastination—all these are the adversaries that cancer is meant to attack. Don’t just think of battling against cancer. Also think of battling with cancer. All these things are worse enemies than cancer. Don’t waste the power of cancer to crush these foes. Let the presence of eternity make the sins of time look as futile as they really are. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.
Christians are never anywhere by divine accident. There are reasons for why we wind up where we do. Consider what Jesus said about painful, unplanned circumstances: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12 -13). So it is with cancer. This will be an opportunity to bear witness. Christ is infinitely worthy. Here is a golden opportunity to show that he is worth more than life. Don’t waste it.
Remember you are not left alone. You will have the help you need. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
-Pastor John
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
"Renew me with Your Spirit"
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you some of the “experiences” I have been going through since my first completion of the 5-day in-patient stay. From what the doctors and nurses tell me, they have chosen a rather aggressive attack with the chemotherapy drugs. I believe I was very well prepared (with tons of prayer and abounding peace) and wonderful support at the hospital. Personally, it really went very well. The tougher part of the progression has been in the process at home, the follow-up visits, eating right, taking pills at the right time, etc. Although, this time around there is a world of distinction then my first go with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
I was given meds to help with the nausea and vomitting which is a big blessing. These pills did not exist 20 years ago and I am very grateful these are about the only pills I don't need to take right now. Yeah…I am very glad to be home with my family and see all their happy faces. There is nothing like family. I believe this is a lesson The Lord is allowing me to relearn.
I would like to share with you a few of my most prominent struggles that are consistent in which I could use your prayer assistance.
-Ever since they administered the Neulasta shot to help increase my WBC count (which is normal) my count went from 1200-92000..an enormous increase. The doctor is not troubled as this is part of the process. What I will share with you is, there is quite a bit of pain and discomfort I have been struggling with. I know it is temporary but I believe the last 4-5 days is just exhausting my mental, physical and spiritual strength.
-Additionally, the pain causes me quite a bit of insomnia. These are all common attributes of someone undergoing Chemo.
Please know that this is still a huge blessing considering all the other bad effects that could be happening to me. I know my Lord has been stepping in the gap for me to minimize so many issues. He is so loyal, yet, I complain about pain of 4-5 days Father, please forgive the weakness of my flesh and my mind and please renew me with Your Holy Spirit.
-I do suffer from what is known as "chemo brain"; a very nice way of saying 'horrible memory'. So, if we spoke, emailed or even texted and I forget, please excuse me in advance.
I am grateful to each and every one of you who have stepped out to show your love and support for our family. This only gives me great resolve to crush the cancer.
I am ready for round 2 starting July 6th.
May the Lord bless each and every one of you.
In His Strength,
Godsoldier
I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you some of the “experiences” I have been going through since my first completion of the 5-day in-patient stay. From what the doctors and nurses tell me, they have chosen a rather aggressive attack with the chemotherapy drugs. I believe I was very well prepared (with tons of prayer and abounding peace) and wonderful support at the hospital. Personally, it really went very well. The tougher part of the progression has been in the process at home, the follow-up visits, eating right, taking pills at the right time, etc. Although, this time around there is a world of distinction then my first go with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
I was given meds to help with the nausea and vomitting which is a big blessing. These pills did not exist 20 years ago and I am very grateful these are about the only pills I don't need to take right now. Yeah…I am very glad to be home with my family and see all their happy faces. There is nothing like family. I believe this is a lesson The Lord is allowing me to relearn.
I would like to share with you a few of my most prominent struggles that are consistent in which I could use your prayer assistance.
-Ever since they administered the Neulasta shot to help increase my WBC count (which is normal) my count went from 1200-92000..an enormous increase. The doctor is not troubled as this is part of the process. What I will share with you is, there is quite a bit of pain and discomfort I have been struggling with. I know it is temporary but I believe the last 4-5 days is just exhausting my mental, physical and spiritual strength.
-Additionally, the pain causes me quite a bit of insomnia. These are all common attributes of someone undergoing Chemo.
Please know that this is still a huge blessing considering all the other bad effects that could be happening to me. I know my Lord has been stepping in the gap for me to minimize so many issues. He is so loyal, yet, I complain about pain of 4-5 days Father, please forgive the weakness of my flesh and my mind and please renew me with Your Holy Spirit.
-I do suffer from what is known as "chemo brain"; a very nice way of saying 'horrible memory'. So, if we spoke, emailed or even texted and I forget, please excuse me in advance.
I am grateful to each and every one of you who have stepped out to show your love and support for our family. This only gives me great resolve to crush the cancer.
I am ready for round 2 starting July 6th.
May the Lord bless each and every one of you.
In His Strength,
Godsoldier
THE FIRES OF SORROW
Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name " Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." John 12:27-28
My attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may preserve the self GOD created me to be through every fire of sorrow. Our LORD received Himself in the fire of sorrow, He was saved not from the hour, but out of the hour.
We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to receive ourselves in its fires. If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life; it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be. Sin and sorrow and suffering are, and it is not for us to saythat God has made a mistake in allowing them.
Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness, but it does not always make a man better. Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self. You cannot receive your self in success, you lose your head; you cannot receive your self in monotony, you grumble. The way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be so is another matter, but that it is so is true in the Scriptures and in human experience.
You always know the man who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, you are certain you can go to him in trouble and find that he has ample leisure for you. If a man has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, he has no time for you. If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, GOD will make you nourishment for other people. -Oswald Chambers
My attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may preserve the self GOD created me to be through every fire of sorrow. Our LORD received Himself in the fire of sorrow, He was saved not from the hour, but out of the hour.
We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to receive ourselves in its fires. If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life; it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be. Sin and sorrow and suffering are, and it is not for us to saythat God has made a mistake in allowing them.
Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness, but it does not always make a man better. Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self. You cannot receive your self in success, you lose your head; you cannot receive your self in monotony, you grumble. The way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be so is another matter, but that it is so is true in the Scriptures and in human experience.
You always know the man who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, you are certain you can go to him in trouble and find that he has ample leisure for you. If a man has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, he has no time for you. If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, GOD will make you nourishment for other people. -Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A Balloon Cannot Rise Without Helium....
I think of what it must be like for Rick these days and I am so proud of how he embraces each one. This causes me to rise up on wings of eagles. It is so beautiful when GOD uses that of a tender and wearied man to strengthen and encourage love to do more. I find myself altered by this very hard thing, unable to go to or even visit for any length, a place of distress, but to rest in grace, for which I deserve not. Rick and I pray often for the LORD to continue to fill us with His peace. He is and has been faithful in His promise-"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS." Phil.4:6. You never know when something big and crazy is about to change your life in a major way for a time, maybe forever...but, it is comforting to know that GOD knows and if you're paying attention, He may even give you a sign. He did for us, with Rick and the cancer; He called on the phone to let me know---Well, actually, He had The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society call the house....asking for Rick Lange....no message, "..we'll call back.."......the morning of Rick's very first pre-diagnosis appointment back in March, however, Caller ID reveals all. You can imagine what was racing through my mind--we hadn't even been to Dr. Mahmmod's yet; so a little unsettled, I reached Rick at work and told him about the call. He assured me he had no idea. [They] continued to call for about 10 days straight asking for Rick, refusing to leave a message. Finally, the day came when [they] decided to ask for me..hmmm, OK, "..yes, this is she..?" .."What?..campaign for you?..uh, ya!" So, this is how GOD is. He knew. He gives us a little bit to chew on-- a little bit at a time. Some may call this coincidence; we say NO WAY! GOD has prepared us from Day One to accept and endure beyond what we could ever imagine and He continues to daily. His grace is more than sufficient! We continue to pray everyday to be under His mercy and grace.
Today is closing soon and we are grateful for answered prayers. NO MORE HICCUPS! YES!! Thank You, GOD!! And thank you, Kyra...thank you, Brady...thank you, Dad..thank you, Google.... thank you, IT'S OVER! Seriously! Those things were a nightmare! Poor Rick! But truthfully, he thanked the LORD for his hiccups yesterday. Of all the side effects and healing we are praying against and for, hiccups he can handle.
Today he is completely off all chemo drug and steroid, Dexamethasone--at least for this month. It was a more difficult day for him. His appetite has decreased some, he has developed heartburn (now taking Prevacid), pain in his shoulders and continued anxiety. He also seems to be suffering from lack of restful solid sleep. All of these which are side effects from the drugs or from coming off one or more of.
My hope is that you will join us in thanking GOD for all His goodness, the things known and unknown, in your life and in ours, for His love and His perfect plan in all things, and for His precious Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Lastly, and certainly not least, please join us in asking the LORD for His continued peace and strength, perseverance to endure, patience in suffering while we wait on Him.
Also, equally needed prayer for protection against any infection and noted side effects.
We ask that GOD prepare Rick physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally as we look toward Round 2 coming July 6th.
Boldly, we ask GOD for complete healing of the cancer in Rick's body.
Thank you again and again for your emails, cards, meals, calls, texts and many prayers. You have no idea what these simple, yet very special and generous gifts mean to Rick and to our family.
A Balloon can not rise without helium; thank you for being just that- TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!
Life & peace,
For He is worthy~
Dana
Today is closing soon and we are grateful for answered prayers. NO MORE HICCUPS! YES!! Thank You, GOD!! And thank you, Kyra...thank you, Brady...thank you, Dad..thank you, Google.... thank you, IT'S OVER! Seriously! Those things were a nightmare! Poor Rick! But truthfully, he thanked the LORD for his hiccups yesterday. Of all the side effects and healing we are praying against and for, hiccups he can handle.
Today he is completely off all chemo drug and steroid, Dexamethasone--at least for this month. It was a more difficult day for him. His appetite has decreased some, he has developed heartburn (now taking Prevacid), pain in his shoulders and continued anxiety. He also seems to be suffering from lack of restful solid sleep. All of these which are side effects from the drugs or from coming off one or more of.
My hope is that you will join us in thanking GOD for all His goodness, the things known and unknown, in your life and in ours, for His love and His perfect plan in all things, and for His precious Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Lastly, and certainly not least, please join us in asking the LORD for His continued peace and strength, perseverance to endure, patience in suffering while we wait on Him.
Also, equally needed prayer for protection against any infection and noted side effects.
We ask that GOD prepare Rick physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally as we look toward Round 2 coming July 6th.
Boldly, we ask GOD for complete healing of the cancer in Rick's body.
Thank you again and again for your emails, cards, meals, calls, texts and many prayers. You have no idea what these simple, yet very special and generous gifts mean to Rick and to our family.
A Balloon can not rise without helium; thank you for being just that- TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!
Life & peace,
For He is worthy~
Dana
Monday, June 21, 2010
"They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course." Joel 2:7
Hi Dana & Rick-
Danny and I ran in the "World Famous Mud Run" at Camp Pendleton in San Diego- it's this 10K obstacle course that our wonderful US Marines train on. We've done it before and it's a lot of "fun"?
Danny decided a couple weeks ago, he wanted to dedicate the run to you, Rick. He decided to pray "for you" while running and tackling all the BIG hill climbs, river crossings, mud pits and walls- 5,500 people ran that morning in San Diego- we decided we would take off and run to the head of the start line... excuse me, Danny decided that. ha- I was SO nervous realizing just how many people would be charging me when we took off. We prayed!!!! Right there... for protection. Danny is in MUCH better shape than I- he really pushed himself, especially during one difficult mud hill- up up up... he ran the entire race and ran it hard.... thinking of you, Rick- he came in 40th place out of 5,500 people! I did complete the race.... that's about it! haaaaa- blah..... the end of the 10K is this 30 foot mud pit that requires you to bear crawl.... face in mud- my knees are torn-up "ouch" I thought of you, Rick during that.. and I didn't stop =) just want to share that with you. We thought of you and the fight you're in- asking God to heal you- save you and continue to ease that anxiety, fill you with His amazing peace and give you strength to complete this fight you face- You guys must join us someday in the Mud Run-
always.....always in our prayers.
Danny and Heidi
Danny and I ran in the "World Famous Mud Run" at Camp Pendleton in San Diego- it's this 10K obstacle course that our wonderful US Marines train on. We've done it before and it's a lot of "fun"?
Danny decided a couple weeks ago, he wanted to dedicate the run to you, Rick. He decided to pray "for you" while running and tackling all the BIG hill climbs, river crossings, mud pits and walls- 5,500 people ran that morning in San Diego- we decided we would take off and run to the head of the start line... excuse me, Danny decided that. ha- I was SO nervous realizing just how many people would be charging me when we took off. We prayed!!!! Right there... for protection. Danny is in MUCH better shape than I- he really pushed himself, especially during one difficult mud hill- up up up... he ran the entire race and ran it hard.... thinking of you, Rick- he came in 40th place out of 5,500 people! I did complete the race.... that's about it! haaaaa- blah..... the end of the 10K is this 30 foot mud pit that requires you to bear crawl.... face in mud- my knees are torn-up "ouch" I thought of you, Rick during that.. and I didn't stop =) just want to share that with you. We thought of you and the fight you're in- asking God to heal you- save you and continue to ease that anxiety, fill you with His amazing peace and give you strength to complete this fight you face- You guys must join us someday in the Mud Run-
always.....always in our prayers.
Danny and Heidi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
