Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess. 5:16-18

Monday, April 4, 2011

a new prayer for a new day

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand. (NASB)

The above scripture was sent to me by a dear friend today to comfort me after the difficult news I heard earlier. The PET I had Friday showed "increased activity" in both lungs and the lymph nodes near my sternum. In layman's terms, the cancer has spread to my lungs. The worst part was having to tell my oldest who has already lost a loved one to this dreaded disease. My dear friend was praying for me as I delivered the news.

"Do not fear!" I am choosing to move forward in trust, not fear. Though I may grieve for my husband and children and the life I had hoped for, I will trust that the plan the Lord has for me and them is infinitely better than anything I could have planned.

"For I am with you" God is with me ALWAYS. He understands my sorrow and grieves with me, but he also tells me to take joy in my suffering and this I will do. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is joy and this I pray will be poured down upon my household and all who enter it.

"Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God"  I must admit, I tend toward the anxious, but several of my friends have never failed to remind me that I do not worship a God of fear and anxiety. This is the path He has chosen for me and my focus needs to be on Him, not the storms around me. I pray for faith that I will be able to do this and that my hope will remain strong.

"I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand"  I so desperately need His strength and help right now. I am already physically and emotionally tired and this journey has only just begun. I am grateful for His people who are already pouring out their love and strength to me and I pray that I will use them to help me and my family on the road ahead.

I have a biopsy scheduled for Wednesday and depending on the results, should start a new chemotherapy called Xeloda on Friday. It is a pill that I will take twice a day for two weeks at a time with a break every third week. It's all good though. God is good and His people are good and His plans are good and this life is good and I am determined to remain grateful. All I ask of any of you who may happen upon this little blog is that you pray for joy in my spirit, heart, and home.

On a lighter note, here is the picture my husband's next wife is going to have to look at above her mantle. I know, I know...you all wish you were as artistic. Maybe in your next life you will be blessed with my talent :)


Much love...

9 comments:

  1. I have been anxiously awaiting your news/this post. I am continuing to pray feverently for you, your family and peace on your spirit. Your faith is always so encouraging to me.

    In Him, who is always faithful,
    Deanna

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have no words other than I love you dear friend. You faith encourages me everyday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cristina, I have no words... But I am confident that God will redeem this situation just as he has in the past. You have spoken so often of the good you have seen arise because of your trials; I am sure I can't begin to imagine the things he will show us in time to come. Thank you for letting God use you and being such an example of being his vessel.

    Eph. 3: 14-21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole familya in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

    Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, she had better LOVE it or I'm coming to take it and hang it on my wall! Geez, you are very talented! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cristina, I'm so sorry to hear that your cancer has spread. Not the news you wanted, I know. I hope that each moment of each day arrives exactly as you need it to. It amazes me that the love, hope and faith you exude is a gift for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Christina,

    I know I'm new to your circle of friends, the battle of Beauty and the Beast bringing us together at the hair table (grin), but I want you to know you're in my heart as is your oldest who reminds me so much of my own that I consider them kindred spirits.

    And on a lighter note: Your bird looks like a bird. That's all the matters. I painted a bird once that my kids thought was a dog. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  7. My prayers are going up for you too, Cristina. May God hear and answer our cries for you for peace, courage, healing...

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are truely an inspiration Cristina. Your faith, spirit and trust is a testimony to following the word of God. A year ago you planted a seed in me that has flourished in His light. Thank you my sweet, dear friend. I love you!
    P.S. I have been staring at your painting for about oh, 10 minutes trying to find the words...Oh Cristina, is all that came to mind! LMAO!

    ReplyDelete
  9. May God give you what you need each second of each day...

    Love,
    Bunny - your favorite neighbor :)

    ReplyDelete