From the bad, comes good. We had received news that we were facing another battle with cancer. That had rocked us and indeed we took a minute or more to get our faith in check. My sister who was diagnosed had her mind fixed on praise. She decided that to complain was to remain, but to praise was to be raised. So for the last three weeks we have turned our house into a house of praise.
We have met with other family members to praise for an hour. No agenda other than a song that is on our heart and a verse or three. God's name is exalted and for sixty minutes we forget about ourselves and worship HIM.
I tell you the truth, it has certainly shifted my position from the woe is me and everything is undone mind set to a God is able mentality. Now let me just state that we are still walking through the trials, but the burden is not as heavy. Week by week we are casting our cares and leaving it behind. We are growing our faith by praising our Savior. We are reminded through the wonderful lyrics and by the word of life that God is indeed Faithful.
So, yes, we have done away with the thieves of faith and truth and instead our house is a house of Praise.
I invite you to do as the song writer say and raise up your own hallelujah in the presence of the enemy. Let your weapon be a melody. Sing, in your storm so that by praise you are raised. HALLELUJAH!
In fact, go ahead and enjoy the song that has been an anthem in our hearts and church. Raise a hallelujah by Bethel Music
Friday, November 15, 2019
On the day Rosie died
I was on vacation. I remember having all kinds of plans to get some of those unfinished things done - like updating this blog page with some of the thoughts that filter through my mind daily. It's funny how a thought will be just that without action to bring it to life. Never the less, it was a day in October that seemed promising. Just a couple days prior, Canada had celebrated Thanksgiving and though different, it was a good time. We talked, discovered some things we didn't know about family members and laughed over silliness and good food.
My sister was not feeling well and we all thought it was her indulgence from the rich foods she had eaten. Unfortunately, one day became the next and the next. On the Thursday morning, we took her to the hospital. She was vomiting with nothing left in her stomach, having had a full meal almost two days prior. It presented to me like it did when she had a blockage in the intestines. So I was already dressed and waiting for her to come to the decision I had made the night before - EMERGENCY.
We got there and of course waited with all the other people who were in varying stages of ill health. It always sobers me to realize how many people are sick all at once. They took test and scans and we waited. When the news came back both of us were in shock. This was not the answer we expected. Things just got bad real quick.
Cancer. They told us she had cancer and needed to see an oncologist right away.
I am not exactly sure what I felt. I don't know exactly how she felt either. Tears were immediate. Fear gripped my heart. Unbelief that this was truly the results was also apart of the first five minutes menagerie of emotions. Are you sure this for this patient? Could it be an error we asked? No. This was what we dealt with two years ago, No, she had cancer not has cancer. The doctor did not change his report. He confirmed it again. With a gentle pat to my shoulder he told us again and I felt sorry for him.
In that moment I felt his discomfort of having to be the bearer of such a negative life altering news. I took pity on him and whispered our thanks for his help as much as he could give. His expertise was maxed and he took us as far as he could go.
We went home and while we absorbed the news as a family I looked at my messages. Rosie, a class mate from high school had lost her battle with cancer. It's funny because I had not heard or spoken to her in years. No one had even mentioned her name in conversation. Yet, here was this news on the day that we faced a diagnosis of life and death. Rosie died.
I felt that deep within. She was in the hospital and was to begin chemotherapy the next day. However, she never made it that far. Her battle was over on this earth and she enters instead into the hereafter.
Why? How? All valid questions for Rosie and for my sister. I don't believe God gets mad at any of us for asking. David certainly wasn't afraid to ask and neither should we. So, yes, that was a bad day. However, we still hope and believe in the One who is still good no matter what we face. Even in the face of death, we can still choose life.
My sister was not feeling well and we all thought it was her indulgence from the rich foods she had eaten. Unfortunately, one day became the next and the next. On the Thursday morning, we took her to the hospital. She was vomiting with nothing left in her stomach, having had a full meal almost two days prior. It presented to me like it did when she had a blockage in the intestines. So I was already dressed and waiting for her to come to the decision I had made the night before - EMERGENCY.
We got there and of course waited with all the other people who were in varying stages of ill health. It always sobers me to realize how many people are sick all at once. They took test and scans and we waited. When the news came back both of us were in shock. This was not the answer we expected. Things just got bad real quick.
Cancer. They told us she had cancer and needed to see an oncologist right away.
I am not exactly sure what I felt. I don't know exactly how she felt either. Tears were immediate. Fear gripped my heart. Unbelief that this was truly the results was also apart of the first five minutes menagerie of emotions. Are you sure this for this patient? Could it be an error we asked? No. This was what we dealt with two years ago, No, she had cancer not has cancer. The doctor did not change his report. He confirmed it again. With a gentle pat to my shoulder he told us again and I felt sorry for him.
In that moment I felt his discomfort of having to be the bearer of such a negative life altering news. I took pity on him and whispered our thanks for his help as much as he could give. His expertise was maxed and he took us as far as he could go.
We went home and while we absorbed the news as a family I looked at my messages. Rosie, a class mate from high school had lost her battle with cancer. It's funny because I had not heard or spoken to her in years. No one had even mentioned her name in conversation. Yet, here was this news on the day that we faced a diagnosis of life and death. Rosie died.
I felt that deep within. She was in the hospital and was to begin chemotherapy the next day. However, she never made it that far. Her battle was over on this earth and she enters instead into the hereafter.
Why? How? All valid questions for Rosie and for my sister. I don't believe God gets mad at any of us for asking. David certainly wasn't afraid to ask and neither should we. So, yes, that was a bad day. However, we still hope and believe in the One who is still good no matter what we face. Even in the face of death, we can still choose life.
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