Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. . .
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly . . . Not that I speak in
regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be
content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and
in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me. Phil 4:6-13
On January 30, 2014, I had my first CT scan since starting
the clinical trial in December. Besides feeling somewhat tired and dealing with
my continuous cough, I anxiously awaited the report. Friday morning my doctor
called me with the results: “It is a very controversial CT scan! There is
significant shrinkage in all the old liver and lung lesions but” . . . and then
the words that I did not want to hear—“there are many new lesions in your lungs
which put you out of the clinical trial.” The protocol says that IF there is any new
growth . . . My head was swimming as I tried to concentrate on everything else
she was saying. She felt the CT scan was too soon and she was going to the
board . . . “Don’t come back until you hear from me!”
On the drive home I forced my brain to stay in the positive—God
has worked SO many miracles in my behalf! A place to stay, travel expenses
covered and wonderful friends and family to take me back and forth to Winston
Salem. The Bible story of the Children of Israel kept coming to my mind with
their murmuring and complaining every time they hit a rough spot even though
God had worked so many miracles for their nation. “Oh Lord,” my heart cried
out, “Please help me to TRUST even though I don’t understand!”
I am SO human but I believe God “put my tears
into His bottle” (Ps 56:8) that I cried at night into my pillow as I begged Him
for the strength to trust and stay positive. . .
The Bible teaches,
Is
anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the
prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he
has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah
was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not
rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And
he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:14-18
On November 21, 2013, when I was first diagnosed, my church
anointed me according to this promise—I believe there are three kinds of
healing: Spiritual, emotion and physical. The healings that I have experience
since that day has been phenomenal. On Saturday, February 1, 2014, after my
negative CT results, my pastor again suggested that my church anoint me. It was
a special experience and really helped me totally put my life in God’s hands.
Tuesday morning I got the call of the miracle I had SO prayed for.
My doctor had gone to the board, and they agreed to rewrite their government protocol
so that I could continue the clinical trial! What can I say?
I am a mere, insignificant human being, but yet God, the Creator
of the Universe, intervened in my behalf—
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the
heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is
nothing too hard for You. Jeremiah 32:17
Again
I am reminded of the words of Jesus—
“Therefore
I say to you, do not worry about your life . . .” for even “the very hairs of
your (MY) head are numbered!” Matthew 6:25 &10:30
