In This World You Will Have Trouble

Despite what the fairy-tales tell us about "Happily Ever After", life is wrought with trials and troubles, heart-break and hopelessness, especially when the dreaded word "Cancer" is brought into the situation.

Not until dear friends at church were hit with the "C" word for their 10 year old daughter, plagued with leukemia, had cancer hit close to home.  Sure there had been rumblings of cancer when Mom passed away 7-1/2 years ago, but nothing conclusive has been shown so a question mark lingered over our family history.  With the news of young Mackie's diagnosis and treatment, we were hit smack dab in the face with this ugly disease.  The first days were scary as Mackenzie's vitals were dire and infection seemed to be overtaking her young body, but something exciting started to happen within those first few weeks.  People of God began to pray and soon we began to see a shift in Mackie's health.  

As Mackie's fight began, unbeknown to the ladies of our church group, Abide, we began a study by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore:  Faithful, Abundant, True.  The lessons being taught each week blew us away. As Mackenzie's situation came more into the light, what we were being taught about God's "rest of Faith" and His ability to "go beyond our beyond" (Eph 3:20,21) were exactly what we needed as a group of praying women to uphold our dear friends and their daughter in the fight of her young life & their family.

Soon our congregation was watching God truly do "immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine" as Mackie was given the "R" word after her first chemotherapy treatment ~ Remission.  What a sweet word!  We have been witness to God blowing us away with progress reports that are dumbfounding the medical staff.  We are praising God for His abundant grace and power!

At the time I didn't realize that while learning about the "rest of faith" and watching Mackie's family in their display of tremendous faith in the midst of the storm, that my family would soon be facing the "C" word even closer to home.  Just last week, my precious Step-Mom, who joined our family only 3-1/2 short years ago when my Dad remarried at the age of 77, was diagnosed with cancer.  Now it's our turn to rest on The One who can do "immeasurably more" and find peace, hope and comfort in the face of this dreaded disease.  

This week, "Gigi" (as my oldest nephew calls my step-Mom), is undergoing tests to figure out what she's facing and from there Dad and Gelene need to figure out logistics of treatment and keeping Dad down in the USA since his 6-months as a "snow-bird" technically ends soon.  As much as my flesh wants to freak-out and worry about this situation, my spirit tells me that God is in control.  He holds Gelene in the palm of His hands and I know He can be trusted.  I've seen miracles before and I am bent, bound and determined to pray for one on my dear Step-Mom's behalf.  We just got her... I'm not giving her up without a fight!

Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  What sweet words of comfort!  My God is big enough to overcome this world and the sin, sickness and disease that comes with it!

Please pray for both Mackie, my little 10 year old friend and my Step-Mom Gelene as they both battle this dreaded disease!  There is strength and power when the people of God band together in prayer!