The eyes are brighter today! Some relief from the deep bone aches! Flu combined with chemo is a bad, very bad, extremely very bad mixture!
The True Vine by Andrew Murray has been a wonderful encouragement to me (Richard) over the years. I recently re-read the meditation on THE BRANCH and found great encouragement in being reminded that I am a branch in Christ, The True Vine!
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away --John 15:2 (NKJV)
Here we have one of the chief words of the parable--branch. A vine needs branches: without branches it can do nothing, can bear no fruit. As important as it is to know about the Vine, and the Husbandman, it is to realize what the branch is. Before we listen to what Christ has to say about it, let us first of all take in what a branch is, and what it teaches us of our life in Christ. A branch is simply a bit of wood, brought forth by the vine for the one purpose of serving it in bearing its fruit. It is of the very same nature as the vine, and has one life and one spirit with it. Just think a moment of the lessons this suggests.
There is the lesson of entire consecration. The branch has but one object for which it exists, one purpose to which it is entirely given up. That is, to bear the fruit the vine wishes to bring forth. And so the believer has but one reason for his being a branch--but one reason for his existence on earth --that the heavenly Vine may through him bring forth His fruit. Happy the soul that knows this, that has consented to it, and that says, I have been redeemed and I live for one thing--as exclusively as the natural branch exists only to bring forth fruit, I too; as exclusively as the heavenly Vine exists to bring forth fruit, I too. As I have been planted by God into Christ, I have wholly given myself to bear the fruit the Vine desires to bring forth.
There is the lesson of perfect conformity. The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect--the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one. And so the believer needs to know that he is partaker of the divine nature, and has the very nature and spirit of Christ in him, and that his one calling is to yield himself to a perfect conformity to Christ. The branch is a perfect likeness of the vine; the only difference is, the one is great and strong, and the source of strength, the other little and feeble, ever needing and receiving strength. Even so the believer is, and is to be, the perfect likeness of Christ.
There is the lesson of absolute dependence. The vine has its stores of life and sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches are and have nothing but what the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to, and it is his highest blessedness to enter upon, a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon Christ. Day and night, every moment, Christ is to work in him all he needs.
And then the lesson of undoubting confidence. The branch has no cure; the vine provides all; it has but to yield itself and receive. It is the sight of this truth that leads to the blessed rest of faith, the true secret of growth and strength: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
What a life would come to us if we only consented to be branches! Dear child of God, learn the lesson. You have but one thing to do: Only be a branch--nothing more, nothing less! Just be a branch; Christ will be the Vine that gives all. And the Husbandman, the mighty God, who made the Vine what it is, will as surely make the branch what it ought to be.
Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, reveal to me the heavenly mystery of the branch, in its living union with the Vine, in its claim on all its fullness. And let Thy all-sufficiency, holding and filling Thy branches, lead me to the rest of faith that knows that Thou works all.
The True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16, by Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
We Love our Church Family
We love Cheyenne Berean! We are so thankful for the abundance of support! People from our church family clean the house, prepare meals, carry extra ministry loads, call, write, etc and they pray. Here is one such recent ePrayer! What away to start a Lord's Day!
“I know that with his help you will be up to the work and exertion of healing.
I've prayed for endurance, determination and strength to match the demands that winning this battle places upon you and Richard and the rest of us that care for you. My thoughts are on a woman that grabbed his hem so fiercely that the grace received was a real show stopper. She must have been determined! What do you think went through his mind when he turned to find her? No matter our view of the encounter, we can appreciate how much she wanted to be well.
There are grandchildren present and am sure that there are grandchildren yet to come that will be blessed by your willingness to keep reaching for the days ahead during these days present when effort is so total and you've spent so much to be well for them.
Thank God that there are treatments he has enabled to help you and protect your future. With each treatment I remind myself that you are that much closer to completing the course of healing by meeting the demands of a tough, but defeatable opponent. It makes your suffering easier to accept, knowing what you are leaving behind. The days yet to come, distilled through this process must surely be more precious, more sweet, more fully lived.
Know that you are loved and valued. We are fighting with you. There are so many of us, someone is always fighting with you. You are never far out of thought, out of our hearts, out of our prayers.”
“I know that with his help you will be up to the work and exertion of healing.
I've prayed for endurance, determination and strength to match the demands that winning this battle places upon you and Richard and the rest of us that care for you. My thoughts are on a woman that grabbed his hem so fiercely that the grace received was a real show stopper. She must have been determined! What do you think went through his mind when he turned to find her? No matter our view of the encounter, we can appreciate how much she wanted to be well.
There are grandchildren present and am sure that there are grandchildren yet to come that will be blessed by your willingness to keep reaching for the days ahead during these days present when effort is so total and you've spent so much to be well for them.
Thank God that there are treatments he has enabled to help you and protect your future. With each treatment I remind myself that you are that much closer to completing the course of healing by meeting the demands of a tough, but defeatable opponent. It makes your suffering easier to accept, knowing what you are leaving behind. The days yet to come, distilled through this process must surely be more precious, more sweet, more fully lived.
Know that you are loved and valued. We are fighting with you. There are so many of us, someone is always fighting with you. You are never far out of thought, out of our hearts, out of our prayers.”
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Tough First Night
Expecting the side effects to be more manageable with the new set of chemo drugs, Toni has had her "toughest" first night after chemo. We thought of the Psalmist.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call! For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. Ps 102:1-7, ESV
Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call! For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. Ps 102:1-7, ESV
Friday, March 28, 2008
5/8's Done!
The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. Ps 33:13-15, ESV
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
God saw Toni as she went for her fifth treatment (of eight chemo infusions). He knew her apprehension of moving to a new set of chemo drugs and side effects. He saw her throughout the day as she was infused through the morning and throughout the afternoon until four. He saw her try to keep sleepy eyes open as the Benadryl she was given as part of the treatment took hold.
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
The Lord saw as her friend Nancy and daughters Rachel and Cristine sat with her through the treatment. He saw six grandchildren playing throughout the day enjoying life, because Nana continues to enjoy and celebrate life! He will see her tomorrow when she goes as usual for the 24 hour follow up shot.
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
We are anticipating experiencing a sabbatical this May-July. Part of this marvelous gift of time and provision will be a cruise from Montreal to Boston. God “foresaw,” but He will also “see” us as we enjoy this provision … this special time to “rest, reflect and renew.” Our Lord has seen the grace and generosity of the Cheyenne Berean community!
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
God saw Toni as she went for her fifth treatment (of eight chemo infusions). He knew her apprehension of moving to a new set of chemo drugs and side effects. He saw her throughout the day as she was infused through the morning and throughout the afternoon until four. He saw her try to keep sleepy eyes open as the Benadryl she was given as part of the treatment took hold.
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
The Lord saw as her friend Nancy and daughters Rachel and Cristine sat with her through the treatment. He saw six grandchildren playing throughout the day enjoying life, because Nana continues to enjoy and celebrate life! He will see her tomorrow when she goes as usual for the 24 hour follow up shot.
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
We are anticipating experiencing a sabbatical this May-July. Part of this marvelous gift of time and provision will be a cruise from Montreal to Boston. God “foresaw,” but He will also “see” us as we enjoy this provision … this special time to “rest, reflect and renew.” Our Lord has seen the grace and generosity of the Cheyenne Berean community!
It is a joy to have God speak such words to our hearts!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Our Littler Friends are Praying
We got this recently and wanted to share it with you! We have received many over the months to gladden our hearts! Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” ESV
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Fourth Chemo
Infusion #4 is done!
Not quite as bad as #3, but not as “kind” as #1 and #2.
Two hours last Friday night the side effects, “the worst!”
Next four infusions are with different chemicals and are suppose to be “gentler.”
Toni, when she remembers, makes jokes about her “chemo-nesia” … the chemo causes some “humorous mental misfires” … words easily get transposed; for example “Pass the grapes” can become “Pass the drapes.”
Good friends have asked how we are doing and what we have learned. Having learned that “first impressions” are less creditable, there is contentment in being faithful now and “processing” later. But if the question is not about specific “lessons” but is more broadly about “what are you thinking” than that is easier. It is the sameness and differentness!
The boat is different, the lake is different and the storm is different but the voice that beacons us from the boat sounds the same, the eyes we look into are the same and the hand that lifts us as we sink is the same. The walk back to the boat is still just as humbling! (Matthew 14:28-33)
Not quite as bad as #3, but not as “kind” as #1 and #2.
Two hours last Friday night the side effects, “the worst!”
Next four infusions are with different chemicals and are suppose to be “gentler.”
Toni, when she remembers, makes jokes about her “chemo-nesia” … the chemo causes some “humorous mental misfires” … words easily get transposed; for example “Pass the grapes” can become “Pass the drapes.”
Good friends have asked how we are doing and what we have learned. Having learned that “first impressions” are less creditable, there is contentment in being faithful now and “processing” later. But if the question is not about specific “lessons” but is more broadly about “what are you thinking” than that is easier. It is the sameness and differentness!
The boat is different, the lake is different and the storm is different but the voice that beacons us from the boat sounds the same, the eyes we look into are the same and the hand that lifts us as we sink is the same. The walk back to the boat is still just as humbling! (Matthew 14:28-33)
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