In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

The diverse worlds of pro football, religion and cancer treatment have come together in a compelling story that might encourage you. A quarterback named Tim Tebow, who is considered by some to be an overachiever at the professional level, has stunned the football universe by piling up a string of last minute wins, leaving many to wonder if he is “God’s quarterback.” Tebow has been outspoken about his faith in Christ, and during games he often drops to one knee to offer up a prayer of thanks, even while his teammates are jumping and celebrating around him.

This kneel and pray gesture has been given a name – “Tebowing.” Tebow has approved what might be the official definition of Tebowing: “To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.” A viral movement to capture photos of people “Tebowing” in various locations has now been launched. Of course it may be easier to give thanks when things are going your way.

Enter 12-year-old Joey Norris, a cancer survivor currently undergoing treatment. He posted a picture of himself in the kneeling position while hooked up to his chemo machine. He called it “Tebowing while chemoing.” You have to love Joey’s fight… and faith.

Several times during my battle with Stage IV melanoma, I felt the sting and blessing of praying alone. Oh there were many caring friends and family surrounding me. Yet they too were crashing against the maddening ceiling of man’s limitations. I also felt the odd benefit of crying out to God, who is often the last resort. At times too weak to kneel, my silent prayers crossed paths with His touch. I was lifted up by an invisible hand.

He shows up for those who cry out to Him. He doesn’t guarantee that we’ll win every game, but He lets us know He is watching. He is truly engaged, and is surely rooting for us. He gives us the poise, grace and peace to endure adversity. Little Joey Norris reminds us that we are all famous to God.

Lord, bless all of Your followers everywhere, in every situation; and bless our fellow warriors in their fight against cancer.

It’s just a fact of life – people say careless things. From infancy people have been saying careless things to you. One of your parents probably serenaded you with the lullaby, “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” Have you ever considered the lyrics of that song? It’s about placing a baby in a cradle at the top of a tree. The wind rocks the cradle causing the tree limb to break. The baby in this sweet song is not rescued, however, but falls unceremoniously to the ground! Sweet dreams, little one. It’s a good thing babies can’t understand us!

Some of you are right in the middle of a cancer battle. You’re expecting understanding and sympathy, but well-meaning people keep saying careless things. Please understand – this is common – you are not being singled out for this torture! So today I offer a few thoughts on coping with the insensitivity of others.

1) Focus on people’s intentions, not their words.
People generally mean well. They might want you to laugh when you really need to cry, but they’re sincerely meaning to take away your pain. Can you cut them some slack and realize they just hate to see you hurting?

2) Remember your own insensitivities.
I’ve been guilty of every misguided attempt to encourage the hurting, including being overly positive, bad timing, being trite, and the old fallback, “I don’t know what to say so I won’t say anything.” It’s inconsistent for me to be too hard on others when I’ve made the exact same blunders!

3) Focus on the Lord not people.
Psalm 62:2 says, “He only is my rock.” Some people may never, ever let you down, but they represent an exception and are certainly not the rule. Only God is totally dependable. We may feel like He has left or forsaken us, but He never, ever does (Hebrews 13:5).

Lord, grant us the grace to extend grace to others when they don’t understand what we are going through.

This week we asked our patients and caretakers to share their reasons for giving thanks.

Linda McKee-Cervantes, caregiver & Manuel Cervantes, cancer patient:
I am so thankful for my husband’s life and am so proud to be his caregiver. I praise God for each day we remain together on this earth. We will never surrender to this cancer and I believe Almighty God is graciously giving us more time to share His Divine love with others.

Jodi Hightower, Breast Cancer Stage IV patient:
I am thankful for the opportunity that having cancer has given me to reconnect with family, friends, and high school classmates. I’ve been able to share the gospel message through my CaringBridge blog.

Darlene Lindgard:
I am thankful to the Lord that I am still in remission, but much more importantly, I am thankful that the Lord still holds me in His grip. I love You, Lord, more and more each day.

The Tommy Lane Lowry Family, Waco, Texas:
We are thankful for the courageous battle of Tommy Lowry against lung cancer and the beautiful smile on his face as he was met by our Savior. That smile and the knowledge that He really is waiting for us has sustained this family.

Peggy Hadricky – Uterine Stage II:
There is too much to give thanks for. I thank our God that I found your website when I cried out, and you reached out your heart and hand to me. The devotional Streams in the Desert is a constant companion to me. I am thankful that God has increased my days. His promise that I would see His goodness in the land of the living is all around. For this I know the life I am living is for His Glory – I now know my purpose. And when He takes me home I have His peace that He knows me. I am living a thankful life through His grace and mercy one day at a time.

Bobby Martin, Stage IV metastatic melanoma:
I am thankful for the opportunity of a deeper walk… for family that prays… friends that support… the assurance that God’s word is true… the certainty of His promises… knowing His presence… the continued favor He gives me with men… and my new friend Joe Fornear. Praise be to God. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Lord, there are always so many reasons to be grateful! Help us to count our blessings – always.

I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly. -Jesus in John 10:10

Nothing tests our knowledge of God like a major life crisis. Fortunately, nothing has the potential to improve our knowledge of Him like a major crisis. A little desperation goes a long way.

We can know God on several different levels. The following categories of knowing Him can help us identify new areas for growth.

• Savior - If we don’t know Him as Savior, we don’t know Him at all. Our relationship with Him must begin with acknowledgement of the sin that has separated us from Him. When we trust in Jesus Christ to cleanse us from our sin and guilt, we become “saved” from our sin. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). So the key to knowing Him as Savior is faith. More here.
• Lord - This means we closely follow Him as our leader. We want to know and do what He asks. Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I ask?” The key to knowing Him as Lord is faithfulness. Keep in mind in moments of indecision – He always has our greatest benefit in view.

• Master - Serving Him is crucial to knowing Him. We follow Christ’s example in using our God-given gifts and talents to be a blessing to others. The key to knowing Him as Master is maintaining a servant attitude to God and people.
• Life - Knowing Him as Life means we are drawing power and resources from Him. It means His peace and joy become ours as we lean on Him. Paul had so developed his reliance on the Lord during fiery trials that he could say, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in Me” (Galatians 2:20). The key to knowing Him as Life is dependence. And Jesus said He wants to give us an “abundant” life, which means a fulfilled life.

Paul said knowing Him better was the most rewarding goal of his life. He considered all other pursuits to be like cow manure (Philippians 3). What do you think?

Lord, reveal Your sheer beauty and awesome power to us; we want to know You better!

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved [or enlarged] me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

A friend who is battling cancer sent me a this devotional which I’d like to expand on here today.

Why did David seem so desperate for God throughout the Psalms? Let’s face it; it was because he was so often in distress. He had many enemies and many struggles in his family. In fact, David wrote Psalm 4 when he was running from one of his enemies – his own son, Absalom.

There is a wonderful upside, however, to this distress that God allowed in David’s life. He was “enlarged.” This Hebrew word was used of expanding borders and territories. The Lord makes us bigger in our character and in our ability to endure. We are purified from the petty pursuits of this world. We are also able to handle more of His blessings, and in turn, give out more as well!

Our faith is just like a muscle. If we want to enlarge our muscles, we place them under the distress of additional weight. The fibers of the muscles tear and often hurt for a time, but they also grow larger and stronger! In the same way, the faith that connects us with Him is able to be strengthened by distress. We can hold on to Him during the toughest times.

Does it seem like the weight of your health battle is too much for you to bear? Try not to get discouraged. With His help you will stand up under it and grow stronger as a result! You will be a blessing even as you hurt.

Lord, we don’t like distress, but we see how You use it to strengthen our connection to You, and to increase our blessings and ability to bless others.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Carefree living may seem a distant fantasy in your life right now, yet these verses make no exceptions for troubling thoughts and feelings. Keep in mind that during biblical times people experienced every type of life crisis as well. And because of modern medicine and technology, we surely have a more comfortable existence today. The bottom line is being in turmoil in the face of crisis is not inevitable!

On some intellectual level, we may acknowledge the Lord’s ability to handle our troubles, yet we suppose that our particular situation is somehow an exception. Can the Lord really handle all of the struggles of advanced-stage cancers? Well, sure He can! Does agonizing over each step of our journeys accomplish anything? Definitely not!

Where we see extenuating reasons to fret, God sees opportunities to reveal Himself strong on our behalf. With His supernatural grace and help we can be free from anxiety and full of thanksgiving. He never intended us to handle life without His help.

So shift the burden of coping with your struggles onto Him. The issue is not “Is the Lord strong enough to handle my situation?” but, “Am I trusting enough to let Him take over?” These verses encourage us to bring “everything” to Him because “nothing” is too hard for Him to handle in us or for us – including cancer. Entrust everything – your finances, future, children and pain level to Him. We have an exceptional God who is Master of “all things,” so cast down each and every troubling exception that comes to mind.

The Lord doesn’t promise pain-free living. He does promise encouragement and comfort so that pain and struggles are manageable. So be thankful to Him – for He truly cares. He promises to carry us through anything! No exceptions!

Lord, we can’t handle our troubles on our own, so please grant us grace to cast our anxiety into Your capable hands.

To whom then will you liken Me that I would be his equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. - Isaiah 40:25-26

When Isaiah recorded these words of God, he knew the stars were numerous and beautiful. Little did he know the true scale of the vastness of the heavens. Astronomers tell us there are 200 billion stars residing in just one of the smaller galaxies, the Milky Way. The universe holds a mere 3,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! That’s three thousand million billion stars, each of which God has assigned a name. I suppose remembering so many names is easy compared to creating them in the first place. (Oh and all of those movie stars – He created them too).

The sheer volume of stars boggles the brain, but their beauty is equally astounding. We are just beginning to capture images of what God has fashioned in the far corners of the universe. We call cloud formations of clouds of gas, dust and stars – nebulae. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to view these images of nebulae, allowing “the greatness of His might and the strength of His power” to sink in.

Is it any wonder that in hard times, God asks us to look away from our earthly dilemmas and look up to Him and His stellar handiwork? Still, how does this help if we’re sick and laying flat on our backs?

In May of 2003, when I was battling Stage IV metastatic melanoma, I remember lying in a hospital bed, shaken by doubts and fears which had broad-sided me in the wee hours of the night. As the Lord began redirecting my focus, He reminded me of the complexity and vastness of His creation, and how amazingly awesome He is. Out of nothing, He designed and launched this entire cosmos. Yet Psalm 139:17-18 tell us He thinks of you and me constantly AND with great fondness. Romans 8:28 says He works ALL things to the good for those who love Him.

So what is there to fear? The Star Maker loves us!

Lord, give us just a glimpse of your true nature and we will be lifted out of our troubles.

The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit, who can bear it? - Proverbs 18:14

When you’re reeling from sickness, hope is essential. This verse states we can indeed endure sickness. A greater issue is not our physical condition, but our emotional and spiritual state. There are Stage IV cancer patients who are happier than wildly successful celebrities. Circumstances don’t have to dictate our sense of well-being. In fact, I spoke just this morning with a Stage IV patient, Itai Mhuriro, who made this amazing statement, “This cancer is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has caused me to live each day the way it’s supposed to be lived!”

So how do we maintain hope when our body is being torn down by disease? How do we avoid despair? During my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, I had moments, even days of slipping into despair. So I learned from my mistakes and from God-ordained breakthroughs. If I had to boil down the lessons to one core truth, it is this:

 We must believe that through God’s power we can handle anything
the disease throws at us.

Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). The burden is not on my ability or your ability to cope, but on Christ’s. Let Him hold you up.

Lord, let Your strength and love fill us with hope right now.

And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”- Matthew 14:29-31

Is it possible to always keep your head above water, even when you’re fighting cancer? Is it possible to be free of fear’s tentacles? Just as Peter literally walked on water, this passage implies we can rise above the storms of our lives. But how?

Peter’s experience is a parable of walking with Jesus through the storms of our lives. Peter was walking well, rising above the situation… as long as He focused on Jesus. He was buoyed by His Master’s confidence and serenity. As soon as he focused on the storm, he began slipping down into the deep. So the key is focus – not on our capabilities, problems or human prognoses, but on Jesus’ powers and abilities.

Fears leverage lies about God. So we should face them head on. Let them surface so we can smack them down. One by one they’ll lose their grip as every angle of their deceptions are held up to the light of God’s love and power. Romans 8:35 & 37 encourages us, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Go ahead and add cancer to Paul’s list. Through Christ’s love, we can overwhelmingly conquer cancer as well.

Now, admittedly, there were several times during my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma that I sunk well below the surface of the water. Thank God I discovered Peter’s backup plan as I was learning to walk above my circumstances. Whenever I began slipping down into despair, I called out to Him, and His outstretched hand took hold of mine and lifted me back up. Walk on!

Lord, teach us to keep our eyes fixed on you and not our problems; we know You’ll catch us when we slip.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The beauty of God’s comfort is that it is transferable! Stronghold Ministry thrives on spreading the comfort we received during our cancer battle. As a non-profit organization, Stronghold relies on donations to operate. So in this edition of In His Grip, we are asking for a favor from you. Our financial supporters are encouraged when they see how the Lord has used us to encourage people fighting cancer. If you are a cancer patient or a caretaker, and have been touched by Stronghold Ministry, we would love to know how.

We are putting together a montage of short comments and pictures from the people we’ve served. We also want to encourage those who do not know us yet to contact Stronghold Ministry for support. But we need your permission to include your comments or image.

Here is how to help us spread His comfort:

1) Send us a brief note describing the impact Stronghold has had in your life.

One or two sentences is the perfect length. Simply share how Stronghold has lifted you. In today’s world, testimonials of third parties are often used to motivate people to participation and action. If you have already sent us comments, you could help by granting us permission to use portions of anything you’ve already sent. Just send us an email granting your permission.

2) Send us your picture of you and your family.

To add a more personal touch, we prefer to include your image with your comments. Could you send us recent pictures, or pictures from before you were diagnosed? If your pictures are not digital, please mail to: Stronghold Ministry PO Box 38478 Dallas, TX  75238. We’re sorry; we will not be able to mail them back, so please send a copy. Perhaps a tech-savvy friend could scan and email them for you.

Send your comments and pictures via email to: jfor@mystronghold.org. Thank you so much! We could really use your help.