The Lord continues to minister to us thru the Psalms:
Ps 73:23-26 Nevertheless I am continually with You; you hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (NKJ)
At times we forget. At times we slip down the muddy slopes of desires other than the Lord. He remains faithful and is always able to bring us back to firm footing and right thinking.
Joyce made it thru the first three days after chemo without any nausea. She's very fatigued but in pretty good spirits. Continual thanks to all who are praying and holding us up thru these days.
Held by Him!
Pat
Monday, April 16, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Friday, 4-13-07
Ps 66:19-20
19 But certainly God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!
(NKJ)
The Lord has been ministering to me thru the Psalms the last couple of days. It's wonderful how He soothes the irritated heart!
Joyce had 4 hours of chemo today and did very well. She ate good when we got home and is having a calm evening. Noelle came down from LA to spend the weekend with us - she's always such a big help.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend!
In His Arm's,
Pat
19 But certainly God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!
(NKJ)
The Lord has been ministering to me thru the Psalms the last couple of days. It's wonderful how He soothes the irritated heart!
Joyce had 4 hours of chemo today and did very well. She ate good when we got home and is having a calm evening. Noelle came down from LA to spend the weekend with us - she's always such a big help.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend!
In His Arm's,
Pat
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Thurs. 4-12-07
Today's "Daily Bread" was encouraging after a very down few days. The prayer at the end of the devotion based on Psalm 6 was, "Dear Lord, I know You hear me, and that You are powerful and wise. Help me to wait patiently and to trust You for Your good and perfect answers to the needs of those I love. Amen."
I read that towards the end of the day today and really needed it. Joyce's pain seems to be back under control and so it was a calmer day for her. I took her to get her blood work for chemo tomorrow and a bone survey her oncologist had ordered. Afterwards I took her to Cost Plus World Market and lunch at the Olive Garden.
Tomorrow it all starts up again. Assuming her blood levels are OK she'll be having chemo from noon to about 3pm.
Here's a good few verses to wrap up the day:
Ps 63:6-8
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You; your right hand upholds me. (NKJ)
In His Arm's! Pat
I read that towards the end of the day today and really needed it. Joyce's pain seems to be back under control and so it was a calmer day for her. I took her to get her blood work for chemo tomorrow and a bone survey her oncologist had ordered. Afterwards I took her to Cost Plus World Market and lunch at the Olive Garden.
Tomorrow it all starts up again. Assuming her blood levels are OK she'll be having chemo from noon to about 3pm.
Here's a good few verses to wrap up the day:
Ps 63:6-8
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You; your right hand upholds me. (NKJ)
In His Arm's! Pat
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wed. April 11, 07
Hi Folks! Sorry about the gap in posts to my blog. Been in a bit of a communication meltdown this past week.
Easter Sunday was wonderful at church but none of my family were able to make it.
Joyce has also begun hurting more again and so has my spirit. Several times this past week I tried to think of encouraging, positive things to write and was just empty, blank, and honestly dealing with an, "I don't care" attitude.
Joyce's palliative care nurse was by this morning and helped us understand the proper use of her pain meds, which we basically were not using with the most efficiency. I think that helped some and Joyce felt encouraged. This disease can be a frightening, paralyzing monster at times and it's been gnawing on both of us. New or recurring pain renews fears of worsening quality of life. For me, fearing her slowly deteriorating and then losing her battle is, at times, just overwhelming - and such it has been this week.
So that's about it for now. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. In the Lord, the Lord alone is everything we need.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Easter Sunday was wonderful at church but none of my family were able to make it.
Joyce has also begun hurting more again and so has my spirit. Several times this past week I tried to think of encouraging, positive things to write and was just empty, blank, and honestly dealing with an, "I don't care" attitude.
Joyce's palliative care nurse was by this morning and helped us understand the proper use of her pain meds, which we basically were not using with the most efficiency. I think that helped some and Joyce felt encouraged. This disease can be a frightening, paralyzing monster at times and it's been gnawing on both of us. New or recurring pain renews fears of worsening quality of life. For me, fearing her slowly deteriorating and then losing her battle is, at times, just overwhelming - and such it has been this week.
So that's about it for now. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. In the Lord, the Lord alone is everything we need.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Friday, April 6, 2007
Fri. 4-6-07
It's Good Friday today! A day the traditional church acknowledges as the day Jesus was crucified for our sin's. There's been along standing dispute among bible scholars as to exactly when the crucifixion really took place. Theories vary from Wed. to Thursday to Friday based on how the Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem way back then, what is meant by 3 days and 3 nites between the Lord's death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. Did Jesus mean 3 24 hour days or portions of 3 days.....
I think sometimes God purposely leaves things a little vague that our worship be not based on a particular day or place but on the person of God. He wants relationship with us all year round!
That relationship can only come thru faith in Jesus' redeeming and forgiving work on that cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. I pray each of you who read this would have that relationship with the One True God. Confess and turn from your sin and recieve His cleansing forgiveness and a new relationship that will last forever!
On the home front, Joyce finished up her radiation treatments this past Tuesday and has been getting along pretty well with just her cane - hasn't used the walker for several days now. Her chemo resumes next Friday so we're looking to have a medically free next few days!
We're also hoping she will be able to come to church this Sunday along with both our kids and their families. Have a very blessed and joyfilled Resurrection day/week/month/year/life! :-)
In His Arm's,
Pat
I think sometimes God purposely leaves things a little vague that our worship be not based on a particular day or place but on the person of God. He wants relationship with us all year round!
That relationship can only come thru faith in Jesus' redeeming and forgiving work on that cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. I pray each of you who read this would have that relationship with the One True God. Confess and turn from your sin and recieve His cleansing forgiveness and a new relationship that will last forever!
On the home front, Joyce finished up her radiation treatments this past Tuesday and has been getting along pretty well with just her cane - hasn't used the walker for several days now. Her chemo resumes next Friday so we're looking to have a medically free next few days!
We're also hoping she will be able to come to church this Sunday along with both our kids and their families. Have a very blessed and joyfilled Resurrection day/week/month/year/life! :-)
In His Arm's,
Pat
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Wed. 4-4-07
Today's Bible Reading: Ruth 1-4; Luke 8:1-25
In "Our Daily Bread" devotional this past Monday there was a story about how a bunch of Christian women got together to care for a women who was suffering from ALS and eventually succumbed to the disease. The title was "How God Shows His Love" and the last part of it really ministered to me:
The love of God was visibly demonstrated in Jesus when He was here on Earth. In stooping to wash the feet of His disciples, He mirrored the submissive step He took when He left heaven and became a man. He healed the sick and endured bitter hatred as His reward. He died like a criminal on a Roman cross. His endurance and these acts of kindness reflect God’s love, for Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body—He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven. So, if God's love is to be embodied today, it must be done through Christians. Is it being done through you?
More like the Master I would live and grow,
My life helps paint my neighbor’s picture of God (...and my spouse and my kids and my relatives and my brothers and sisters at church, etc.)
In "Our Daily Bread" devotional this past Monday there was a story about how a bunch of Christian women got together to care for a women who was suffering from ALS and eventually succumbed to the disease. The title was "How God Shows His Love" and the last part of it really ministered to me:
The love of God was visibly demonstrated in Jesus when He was here on Earth. In stooping to wash the feet of His disciples, He mirrored the submissive step He took when He left heaven and became a man. He healed the sick and endured bitter hatred as His reward. He died like a criminal on a Roman cross. His endurance and these acts of kindness reflect God’s love, for Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body—He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven. So, if God's love is to be embodied today, it must be done through Christians. Is it being done through you?
More like the Master I would live and grow,
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be. —Gabriel
My life helps paint my neighbor’s picture of God (...and my spouse and my kids and my relatives and my brothers and sisters at church, etc.)
I know I need to show others around me God's love - don't we all? Perhaps today, instead of bickering and complaining we can all seek to show those around us how good and loving our God is.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Monday, April 2, 2007
Mon. 4-2-07
Our reading thru the Bible in a year should have us thru Judges 18 and Luke 7.
It's been an up and down week - seems like there's been a lot of those! Joyce and I have pretty well absorbed the mixed results of her testings we recieved last Wednesday. Her upper right leg still hurts from the surgery but she is almost exclusively using her cane instead of the walker and has been taking a few steps the last couple of days on her own with no help! She finishes up radiation on the leg tomorrow and then we have 10 days before she starts chemo again.
Easter week is also upon us. May you all rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus - in His victory over sin and death that has given life eternal to all who put their trust in Him.
In His Arm's,
Pat
It's been an up and down week - seems like there's been a lot of those! Joyce and I have pretty well absorbed the mixed results of her testings we recieved last Wednesday. Her upper right leg still hurts from the surgery but she is almost exclusively using her cane instead of the walker and has been taking a few steps the last couple of days on her own with no help! She finishes up radiation on the leg tomorrow and then we have 10 days before she starts chemo again.
Easter week is also upon us. May you all rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus - in His victory over sin and death that has given life eternal to all who put their trust in Him.
In His Arm's,
Pat
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