In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry.          Subscribe here.

*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

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Fourth in a series on journeying through life’s desert places.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. – Psalm 68:19

No one likes to walk through the desert. We may plead, or even beg God to escort us to the nearest exit. Still our path does not change. Psalm 68 reminds us of a life changing fact. He never deserts us in the desert. If He allows a wilderness journey, we can find Him out ahead of us, leading triumphantly, and generously providing everything we need.

In Psalm 68:19, we’re promised His provision can be found on a daily basis. He “daily bears our burdens.” If you’re fighting cancer, or in some crisis, the nature of your burdens probably changes daily. You know the list all too well: physical pain; financial stress; relational letdowns; negative thoughts. Some days these burdens stack together to form a load too heavy for us to bear … alone. Yet as we turn them over one by one to Him, He never fails to lighten our load. But He only lifts today’s load.

During my desert journeys, I felt overwhelmed when I carried the loads of future days. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). The Lord is your daily companion in the wilderness. Practice walking with Him every day, and today cast today’s burdens on Him. You’ll get better at it every day. No worries. Really, NO WORRIES!

You Are In His Grip,

Joe & Terri Fornear, Stronghold Ministry
-If you are fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray. We want to be “in your corner.”

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry.          Subscribe here.

*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

(Third in a series on journeying through desert places in our lives).

O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. -Psalm 68:7-9

The Lord reigns everywhere; deserts are no match for Him! Psalm 68 is David’s reminder that God was faithful to Israel in the wilderness, so He would be faithful to him, and us as well. In Part 1 of this mini-series, we dispelled the fear of going the wrong direction in the desert. Part 2 focused on God’s ability to march us victoriously; we are not overwhelmed in Him; we are stable and assured, even if our physical body or our circumstances are falling apart.

Another common desert fear:

• Will there be sufficient provisions, like water and food?

In other words, what if I don’t have enough resources to handle my wilderness journey? Desert travelers are often loaded down with worries. “What-if” questions tend to focus on resources.

1) Spiritual Resources – “What if I come to the end of my strength – will I be able to cope?”

2) Material Resources – “Will I/we/they have enough money?”

3) Relational “Resources” – “What will happen if my kids grow up without a mother/father?”

Psalm 68:9 reveals that God “confirms His inheritance when it was parched.” No matter how horrible our conditions, His inheritance, or resources will be sufficient. Don’t let pain, stress, or bad news cause you to panic. Simply rest in Him and trust Him for ALL resources you or your loved one(s) need. He is committed to take care of ANY concerns you have. Twice this passage stresses His “Presence” provides a “rain” or even “plentiful rain.” He provides. During my brutal cancer fight with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, there were several times I feared running out of strength, but my anxiety was  unnecessary. When I needed something, He was there. I’m not saying it was easy to cope; it was really hard. But His presence and inheritance made the journey so much more manageable. Many times, He even made my journey pleasant. Drink the rain.

(Second in a series on journeying through life’s desert places).

O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. -Psalm 68:7-9

The Lord reigns everywhere, including the desert! Psalm 68 is David’s remembrance that God provides riches for Israel even in the wilderness. Since God was faithful to Israel, He would be faithful to him and us as well!

In Part 1, we dispelled the fear of going the wrong direction in the desert. Especially when the stakes are so high, we want His guidance to be all the more certain. We can rest assured that He is leading. He promises to lead, so no fear (James 1:5-8).

Another common fear in the desert and God’s provision:

• Will the conditions totally overwhelm and overcome me?

In Psalm 68, God “marched through the wilderness.” This march is that of a Victorious King. Paul “saw” this too: “He always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Do you see it? Meditate on these verses. Keep in mind, Paul endured vast stretches of desert places, in the form of cruel persecutions and constant sufferings. He was whipped, beaten, betrayed, stoned and imprisoned. Like Paul, our bodies and emotions may be banged and bruised because of illness or trials. Yet he rose above all of his circumstances. His secret: “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We are spiritual beings who overcome through His supernatural strengthening of our spirits. “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Even if your body is weakening, let Him strengthen your inner person. Ask Him to open your eyes to the reality of His victory in the wilderness. God is our Stronghold.

O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. -Psalm 68:7-9

Journeying through life’s deserts can be very frightening. Thankfully, the Lord reigns everywhere, including the desert! Psalm 68 is a proclamation that the Lord provides riches in the wilderness, where David found himself in literal and figurative dilemmas. He wrote to comfort himself and his readers: If God was faithful to Israel in the wilderness, He will be faithful to him too. And He will be faithful to us as well!

A common fear in the desert, and God’s provision:

• Will I become lost and disoriented in the desert?

When we are fighting cancer or in some major crisis, we travel high stakes roads. Our decisions seem to make the difference between life and death. So we cry out to God to lead us. We hope we’re making the right decisions. We hope He is guiding. Glory to God that even in the wilderness, He leads. God “goes forth before His people” through the wilderness (Psalm 68:7). In other words, He already is leading us though the harsh conditions! The Hebrew word at the end of verse 7 is “Selah,” which is an inspirational literary device. It means to pause, reflect, wonder and worship. So, Selah!

In the midst of trials, He promises to lead every step and grant us wisdom along the way. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1). Since He is leading, there is no reason to fear any destination! Do not doubt that He is leading you. Don’t let your emotions overrule His word. He is faithful, just trust that He is leading you and don’t fear the desert.

More about God’s desert provisions next time.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. -2 Corinthians 4:7-9

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry. Subscribe here.

*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.
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So I have a choice, to hold things against those who have hurt me, or let it go. Here are our motivations to forgive:

1) Imitate Christ in being forgiving.
We can look to Jesus Christ Himself. He set the tone for forgiveness for all time as He hung on the cross and said, “Forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:24). If He could forgive those who crucified Him on that humiliating cross, then we can forgive anyone, for anything.

2) Forgive because we’ve been forgiven.
If Jesus can forgive us, then we can forgive others.“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

3) Forgive because we’ve been forgiven so much more by God!
In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus told a long parable about a guy who was forgiven an outlandish amount of money ($6 billion in our money today), but did not extend that forgiveness to someone who owed him a tiny sum ($10,000). It’s humbling to think how overwhelmingly indebted we are to Christ for forgiving our multitude of sins. It is a small thing to follow Him in forgiving others.

4) We hurt ourselves when we don’t forgive.
Maybe a consequence of unforgiveness will inspire us to forgive. We hurt ourselves when we don’t forgive. Notice in this verse that it is not wrong to be angry, only allowing anger to linger. Let it go, Joe. Let it go. Don’t give the devil a foothold. “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 3:26-27).

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry.    Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.
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During my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, the Lord really used a devotional book, Streams in the Desert, to encourage me and to help me make sense of my sufferings. In one entry, there is a very inspirational quote from a pastor named Charles Spurgeon. The gist of the quote is that His resources are way more than enough to handle any need we have. It is a powerful illustration.

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry.    Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

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You know the saying, “That changed my life.”
Only once in my life was I ever able to say it, the day Jesus came into my heart to live.

Until Joe’s cancer.
That changed my life too… mainly in the area of battling thoughts.
I now have days I am assaulted with fears. I realize my life could change in a day with some unforeseen tragedy. I had thought my life was pretty much under control… but that was before.

I’m having to face God with the real “faith” I have, or don’t have. It has been humbling. But I can cast myself on His abundant grace while I am trying to set my feet on solid ground. His grace is my safe place right now.

I had thought my faith was about trusting Him to answer my prayers, hear my worries and help me be a “good” Christian. Now…
I’m hearing Him say He wants my friendship. He wants to tell me how He is thinking and feeling about stuff.

I think of what was said of Moses in Exodus 33:11, “The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Do I want that type of friendship? I realize it won’t be all about me.
It will mean more listening. It will be His voice I long for — His presence.

There might be long bouts of silence, where He is just with me, with no entertainment, or big mission to accomplish. He might share with me His heart and His perspective on suffering… which makes me wait for His timing to rescue, because He has a bigger plan.

Prayer changes for me… It comes from His point of view, and I know He hears me because He is sharing His heart and I am asking the things that delight Him.

This has changed my life… I have a Friend I’m learning to know and love, because He has loved me first and has chosen me to be His friend.

John 15.13-16: “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
A ministry of Stronghold Ministry.    Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.
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In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray for you and support you.

Many trials are marathons, not sprints. Fighting cancer can be lengthy and extremely draining; it was for me. During the marathon journeys of Elijah the prophet, you might say he was “all over the map,” both physically and emotionally (1 Kings 17-19). He visited many places including Mt. Carmel, Jezreel, Beersheba, Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb) and somewhere in an Israeli desert. Emotionally, he “visited” many places as well. From supreme confidence, he moved to sheer panic; from exhilaration, he flopped at utter exhaustion; from incredible boldness, he slinked off to cowardly surrender. No wonder James said in his epistle that Elijah was just like us (James 5:17). The Greek word he used of us and Elijah is a compound word from “like” and “feelings.” In other words, Elijah rode the same emotional roller coaster that we ride today. Yet the Lord “followed” Elijah everywhere he went, to all of these physical and emotional places. At one point, Elijah received supernatural strength from the Lord for a long journey (1 Kings 18:46). God’s strengthening hand was so heavy upon him that he was able to outrun Ahab’s chariot over a distance of 25 miles during a torrential rainstorm! Later, after Elijah had exhausted his own strength running from Jezebel, the Lord gave him food that strengthened him for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness! So what is the point for us? James is simply encouraging us that God grants extraordinary answers to prayer. He wants to work great endurance and miraculous energy into our lives. So during the long grind of an up and down battle with cancer, we can continually ask for that supernatural infusion of His mighty strength. God’s strength will meet us at every place we find ourselves.

In His Grip,
Joe Fornear, Stronghold Ministry
Toll free – 877-230-7674

-Subscribe here to In His Grip, this weekly devotional newsletter list.

In His Grip is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

We’ve seen them in grocery stores and restaurants. Chaos is their partner, and tantrums their tool of choice. After observing their interactions for a moment, you suspect they aren’t simply having a bad day. They’re kids caught in a pattern of controlling their parents; some refer to this behavior as bratty. Clearly the parents are to blame for not developing the child’s character to wait, or to do without. Even when the child’s wishes are indulged, he still finds no satisfaction. The ability to wait  graciously is a character issue, and those who possess this quality have discovered the contentment of maturity.

During my battle with cancer, there were times I was in close touch with, one might say, my inner brat. I wanted immediate release from the hospital, so I mercilessly nagged my doctor. I was fed up with dealing with cancer, so I threw myself a pity party.  I expected God to join me, but He was a no show. As we discussed in last week’s, In His Grip, God’s ways are so different from our ways. Again, we tend to think joy comes from prompt removal of pain and hardship, while God knows that patiently persevering through discomfort produces real joy. This is why He makes us wait. This is why He does not fulfill every desire.  This is how He develops supernatural contentment. James describes the progression from trials to maturity, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So if God hasn’t answered your prayers yet, wait for Him patiently. His way of producing lasting joy is different than ours. By not giving us everything we want, He can give us everything we need.

In His Grip,
Joe Fornear, Stronghold Ministry
Toll free – 877-230-7674

-Subscribe here to In His Grip, this weekly devotional newsletter list.

In His Grip, is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

In His Grip, is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
Subscribe here.
*If you’re fighting cancer, please write and let us know how we can pray and support you.

January 8, 2010
During Joe’s chemo treatments, I remember asking nurses, “Has this chemo worked for others?”  They would answer, “Take it a day at a time.”  Or, “Just enjoy every day you’re together.”  And, “We are all dying.” Somehow at the time, those words weren’t very comforting. How do I focus each day when my life is filled with sickness and fear of losing him? Living with his pain, and thinking of him as dying rattled my world. I often felt guilty thinking of myself, after all, I wasn’t the one who was “suffering.”

Jesus is so cool. He allowed me to ask the hard questions. He let me struggle with those true, but pat answers. He allowed me to hurt and be myself without having to pretend to be okay. Actually, He was waiting for me to see my helplessness, because He is “the God of the valleys.” This valley was surrounded by mountains of cancer which seemed immovable. They cast shadows; shadows of death; shadows that seemed like prison walls… no way out. They told me there was less than a 6% chance of getting out. In Hosea 14:5, Jesus Christ is likened to a lily that springs up in dark valleys. “The Lily of the Valley” springs up wherever He pleases.

Jesus was to me a beautiful flower. He was tall, strong and bright white. How did He get there? He was there in that place all along. He whispered in my ear as if He had a secret. This Lily is in you! This Lily is My Son, who is the way out of the valley. He sprung up in you long ago when you first believed. Look to Him, He is the Mystery that brings Life in helpless places. I looked to Him, learned to behold Him and hope started rising in my spirit. How this works I can’t really say, but I know that the Lily, JESUS, pulls me through and triumphs over the valley. This Lily is still IN ME TODAY… seven years later. Now I “BEHOLD” Him as I walk through new valleys. In the midst of your valleys, behold, the beauty of the Lord.

Stronghold Ministry

The other day, I received a question so common, I want to talk about it here. From our website’s contact form at www.mystronghold.org/Contact.html: “How can u deal with the depression that this illness causes?” I assume this was in reference to my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, which the questioner was battling as well. Yet  depression is common with any cancer.

So based on watching other patients and dealing with my own depression during my cancer fight, here is my advice:

1) Give yourself a break.
Many cancer patients, myself included, beat themselves up for feeling down, which only makes them feel worse. But my goodness,  cancer causes such high stress levels. When we consider all the elements of battling cancer, we find a perfect storm for depression. There are chain reaction struggles that actually cycle. First the pain; then pain pills; then constipation from the pain pills; then enemas for the constipation; then hemorrhoids from the enemas; then pain from the roids; then back to square one. And chemo is an emotional depth charge – the vomiting; hair falling out; losing too much weight; looking at the ashen, emaciated face in the mirror. No wonder we get depressed!  It is natural to feel very sad. If you don’t feel sad when battling cancer, I would say that is a sign of emotional unhealthiness.

2) Find an anti-depressant that works for you.
In general, I am not real big on anti-depressant drugs. But since I was  taking drugs that suppressed and depressed my entire being to treat the cancer, I decided not to hesitate in taking something chemical to counter this side effect. The drug which worked best for me was ativan, also called lorazepam. Keep searching with your doctor until you find one that works well for you. Not all oncologists routinely probes for cancer related depression. So especially if you are coping well on the outside with your depression, you will probably need to ask for a prescription.

3) Turn to the Lord and open up all your feelings to Him.
I have noticed when reading the patriarch, Job, and the authors of the Psalms, including King David,  that they often had symptoms of what we might call clinical depression – sleeplessness; constant tears; wanting to die; total hopelessness. They didn’t bury how they felt, they let it out, and faced the emotions squarely with God. He loves to show Himself in the midst of our pain and struggles. Your tendency might be to turn or drift away from Him in this turmoil, but actively turn towards Him instead, even if you feel angry. He can handle your negative emotions, and He already knows your thoughts anyway. Be sure to ask Him for a response, and then listen – He speaks in many different ways.

4) Talk to people who understand and ask for support.
Find a support group, phone partner or a crisis counselor or call us at Stronghold Ministry (Call toll free – 877-230-7674). Depression can make us feel so isolated and alone, but you will be surprised how effectively others can help lighten your load. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. If someone really encouraged you, don’t hesitate to ask for a repeat connection. If you think someone’s presence would help you, risk letting them know, even if they haven’t had cancer. “Could you come sit with me and talk? I would really enjoy hanging out with you during this time.” Or, ask someone to read to you. Don’t sit and pout that someone you need hasn’t come on their own. ASK FOR HELP.

5) Make sense of your struggle.
To help make sense of your sufferings and get an eternal perspective on their purpose, I strongly recommend a book called, “Streams in the Desert”. This book helped me see God’s higher purposes in our suffering. He is not a masochist in the sky, delighting in our suffering; nor is He ignoring our plight. He is  good – all of the time. This book has helped me and many others, so pick up a copy. You can get it on Amazon, or on our website – click here.

Play along a moment and imagine you’re selected to be “God For A Day.” You’ll be granted absolute power for 24 hours. What will you do? Would you order up a luxury item or two (million) for yourself, friends and family? During their day, I think most people would eventually perform what they consider the ultimate act of good will – to remove suffering from the earth. No more poverty, disease, or bad guys. So why doesn’t God act in such a manner? He has the capabilities!

Some would argue He doesn’t actually have the ability to make such changes. Yet how could the One who called this complex universe into existence with just His Word be powerless to make comparatively lesser changes? Other people believe God is not good or compassionate after all. They reason, “If I were God, I would have done something about this mess long ago. What is He waiting for?”

In time, He will clean it all up, but for now there are more important matters than gifts and pleasures.  To God, we are like children, really small children with a bent towards self-centeredness. To Him, we are like the kid laying on the floor in the store kicking and wailing because he can’t have the candy or the toy. Now a wise parent knows that indulging such a child’s whims would render him very bratty. Our “grown-up” understanding about our real needs can be as deficient as the toddler who throws his tantrums.

While I am a big fan of God’s gifts,  suffering can have a high benefit in our lives. Denying a kid candy protects his health. Strict rationing of toys helps him realize he can be happy without them. God knows He risks our misunderstanding. We don’t tend to appreciate His discipline. Nor do we instinctively rejoice when He allows us to be mistreated or really sick. Yet an intense bout with adversity can open our eyes to life’s ultimate realities and help us shed our preoccupation with small things. I often connect with cancer patients about how God gained our undivided attention after our diagnoses. In the Bible a man named Job had the right attitude in the midst of his agonizing personal tragedy and illness:

“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You” (Job 4:25).

Ultimately, Job overcame his trials not because of God’s gifts, which had all been stripped away, but by God’s presence. He never goes away. Job realized God was worth loving all the time, regardless of his circumstances. We can have the very best any time, any place, any where – all because we can have Him, our Stronghold.

As for me, I’ll pass on being God for a day. There’s enough problems in the world.

Lord, help us trust your management of our lives. Teach us how to fight and when to rest. Most of all teach us to embrace the fact that You are God and empower us to trust You and Your goodness, even when we are hurting.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB(c).

In the midst of battle, we might think of surrender in terms of a white flag, quitting . . . defeat. Yet, when facing a major trial, there is no greater step we can take than surrender. Not surrender to the trial or disease, but yielding to our Creator and His direction. Think for a second, how could we possibly navigate our battles better than Him? He is the ultimate general and a powerful commander and His soldiers tend to fail when they strike out on their own. While staring down his Goliath, David knew winning the match was greater than his abilities, but not God’s:

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).

It is the Lord who orchestrates our fight. He leads us and shows us our role step by step. Surrender is not passive, it is not even active – it is proactive. Our highest priority is to stay in close contact with Him, listening and responding. And don’t worry about making the connection, He always finds a way to lead us and gives us peace and strength along the way. Relax in Him and lean on Him. He is fighting for you and with you.

During the early days of my encounter with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, I resisted surrendering to the Lord. I didn’t want to have cancer and stubbornly tried to cling to my old routines. I was not a good patient and the strategy backfired – my health declined faster. My surrender to the Lord took the form of listening better to the doctors and yes, to my wife. Once I surrendered, I was much more peaceful, and so were those who were desperately trying to help me!

Get tough in your battles and surrender to the Lord. It’s the best strategy.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB(c).

Sometimes people ask if my life has really changed after being healed from what doctors believed was a terminal case of Stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer. They wonder if experiencing such a miracle rendered me a deeper and more focused person. Well in some ways . . . wait… what was the question again? To be certain, I learned some powerful lessons about Who He is and how He works, but they must be reapplied daily. Five years on, my life is very much back to normal, all too normal, complete with all those pesky distractions and irritations we all face. So I must find new mercies and grace every morning. He created all of us to live our lives with Him as companions.  Like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, He wants us close, and He pursues us when we hide from Him. He is the Best Friend one could ask for. And whether circumstances are pleasing or irritating, He is always good and worthy of our heart’s adoration and the object of our greatest affections.

What He did for us yesterday always leaves a mark, but He is a God of the present – a living God. So cling to the lessons of old and make new memories with Him as He performs in us anew – everyday. What is He doing in you . . . right now?

Psalm 105:3-5 - Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth.

Lord, we ask for a dependent heart, a thankful heart and a great desire to make You the object of our highest affections, more than money, people or even comfort.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB(c).

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Did you know there is an entire book of the Bible in which the name of God cannot be located? That’s right, God is never mentioned even once in the book of Esther. Why would such a book be included in the Bible? I believe He is trying to tell us that His work is often behind the scenes, even during apparently devastating setbacks. Do you see the hand of God in the setbacks of your life? I admit, sometimes it is very hard for me to “locate” Him when I am in pain. Honestly sometimes I have a hard time finding Him when I am simply inconvenienced, like with a flat tire. Esther’s story was difficult from the beginning. She was orphaned and then made part of the Medo-Persian king’s harem by force. Her Jewish nationality was about to be made public which for her meant certain death, since the Jews of her time were being systematically slaughtered. On the surface, God seemed absent, but was He? Esther’s guardian Mordecai told her, “Perhaps you have been raised up for such a time as this.” Mordecai was right. God used her connection to the King to save not only her skin, but the entire Jewish race. When God wants to show Himself and display His glory, He often begins in the midst of a crisis.

For millions of people the crisis through which God wants to reveals Himself is cancer. On the surface, being diagnosed may seem to be the mother of all setbacks. How can a loving, compassionate God be part of a cancer story? Though He may seem absent in our pain, He is always working behind the scenes toward a higher purpose. I have come to view my own encounter with cancer as having a higher purpose.  I think God raised me up, or rather laid me low, to help others understand who He is in the midst of their major life crisis. Cancer can be such a wake-up call. It makes us pause to consider all the questions we may have been taking for granted.

God certainly used cancer to get my attention. In September of 2002, I discovered a lump under my arm. I was misdiagnosed for a time and the cancer, which was Stage IV (stage four) metastatic melanoma, almost killed me. Despite several surgeries and chemo, the cancer still spread to 13 different sites, including my lung, kidney, stomach and pancreas. My doctor gave me just days to live and told the nurses to keep me comfortable. At the last minute, the Lord miraculously turned it all around and I have been cancer free for over five years. I learned many lessons along the way which I feel compelled to share. I resigned after 18 years of pastoring to work full time with a new ministry to those living with cancer and other life crises. I named the ministry Stronghold Ministry because during my crisis the Lord comforted me that though I was losing my grip, He had a strong hold on me. I have witnessed many people in crisis feel guilty that they feel so weak. I did. In this blog I will be writing about this and other lessons I gleaned from the experience. So stop in again soon. For more on what the Lord did for me, go to my website of the new ministry at www.mystronghold.org. 

Psalm 59:17 – O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.

 Lord, I ask that You would show us our setbacks in a whole new light, Your light.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

I would like for this blog to be a two way street. So please feel free to leave a comment if you feel so led.