For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations, Psalm 100

I am sorry for the lack of writing on the blog this week. It has been a busy week at work and evenings are mostly occupied with family, reading and quiet time.

Again, the Lord has blessed us abundantly in many ways this week and particularly in one instance. I made a promise that I would not write about it on this blog so I can’t break the promise but would be willing to tell you about it in person. It is amazing how that the Lord is opening doors, not because we deserve it but that His name would be glorified.

I did not get an appointment this week with the Oncologist at the cancer clinic in Abbotsford. However, I do have an appointment on May 3 and also with the kidney specialist the same day.

As for myself, I can feel that my breathing is becoming more difficult at times.  I hope and pray that treatments will start soon. I still feel good, have a good appetite and sleep well.

Today, I just have little desire to write on the blog. Many other things are on my mind. I will write again soon. Thank you for your prayers and all other tokens of love.

John

In these and like cases, what will you do without casting the anchor of your hope? WILLIAM HOOK (1600-1677)

The Voyage to Heaven

We shall not go to heaven sailing along with sails swelling to the breeze, like sea birds with their fair white wings, but we shall proceed full often with sails rent to ribbons, with masts creaking, and the ship’s pumps at work both by night and day. C. H. SPURGEON

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

As we drove home from the doctor’s office we said to each other, this just does not seem real. It is like a dream from which we have not awoken yet. God is an amazing God who is upholding us in remarkable ways. I can’t explain it or comprehend it; only God can give us this inner peace that we walk in day after day, a peace which surpasses all understanding.

Yesterdays test and PET scan results were no surprise to us because I already felt that inside my body things were changing.

Doctor James Bond told us that the cancer is Renal Cell Carcinoma at stage 4, an aggressive cancer that spreads quickly.

The PET scan revealed that the left kidney has a large tumor, the left lung has a larger tumor and the right lung has multiple cancer spots, the adrenal gland is also affected by cancer. I can now feel the effects of the cancer on the lung itself because at times I have difficulty breathing or catching my breath. He also told me that operating on the lungs is not an option because there are too many places where the cancer has taken hold.

Next week we hope to see an Oncologist to determine the best way to treat the cancer.  Dr. Bond felt the options would be a combination of Chemo/Radiation prior to doing surgery.  If  kidney surgery was done before chemo/radiation they would have to wait at least four weeks before starting Chemo/Radiation.  We also will visit the kidney specialist again on May 3, to get his opinion on what the best options are for the kidney.

As we continue our journey we are amazed at the amount of people that are praying for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your prayers, cards, calls and emails. I pray that God will bless you too as we go through this trying time.

John

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

The Robin

Last Thursday I received my PET scan and I hope to get the detailed results on April 21. In the meantime we wait, trusting in the Lord. Many blessings are coming our way in different ways. God continues to open doors for us to speak to people and also sends people our way to bless us. I also want to thank those who have left such encouraging messages on this blog.

Yesterday morning Henrietta and I were very blessed when we started our day with reading our devotion together. We found it so touching, so fitting for us, I want to share it with you and hope that you will be blessed by it too.

Thank you for your prayers, God is upholding us in remarkable ways.
John

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26: 3

One evening a young man being interviewed on television was asked for his definition of happiness. He paused a moment, then answered, “I would define happiness as having inner peace.”

Today many people are seeking a peace of heart and mind. God’s Word assures us that there is a STATE of perfect peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.” We can have perfect peace in the midst of life’s turmoil. It gives no place to worry. It does not come from human effort or circumstances. It is a state of continual, unbroken peace. “You will guard him and keep him in perfect  peace and constant peace  (Isa. 26:3).

It is a supernatural peace with its source in God Himself “THOU will keep.” It is available to us in the person of Jesus Christ. The promise of it is certain, “thou WILT keep.”

The SECRET of peace is “...a mind stayed on thee.”  In this verse, the word for “mind” includes the thoughts and imaginations of the mind. Fear and distress can fill our minds, causing anxiety and worry as a result of our imaginings. Satan often attacks the mind, for he knows a distressed mind can cause a distraught life.

The STEADFASTNESS of this peace comes from trusting Him.  “Because he trusteth in THEE.”  The trusting is our part, the keeping is His.

We may receive distressing news. Trouble may befall us. Our lives may be completely shaken.  God’s promise of perfect peace is for us in the midst of these difficulties. God enables us to remain calm during such experiences.

Two artists each painted a picture illustrating rest. The first artist painted a scene showing a still lake of water among the far-off mountains. The second artist drew a thundering waterfall with a slender branch of a tree bending over the foam. At the fork of the branch, almost wet with spray from the waterfall, sat a robin on its nest. This was the real picture of rest in the midst of storm and turbulence.

“Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust, my loving God in thee; unwavering faith that never doubts.  Thou chooses best for me.”

Taken from (Be still and Know – Millie Stamm)

Carry your troubled heart to Jesus

Today we visited our family doctor and received unexpected medical results from the recent lung biopsy test. It was not what we had hoped for, however our Christian doctor said that in the eyes of the medical field there really is no hope to be healed from the cancer you have, however by God all things are possible.

The diagnoses of the biopsy is that it is indeed kidney cancer that has spread to the left lung. It is also a very aggressive and a fast growing cancer that has progressed to stage 3-4 with 4 being the worse. When we heard these words is was not really a surprise, never the less it is again a step we have to process.

God continues to bless us, as I opened my email account tonight my daily devotion from Grace Gems had arrived. I want to share it with you and pray that it will also give you hope as it did for me.
Even if you are not sick with cancer or some other disease, we are all sick with sin and Jesus is the ONLY one who can  take away our sins as it says in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Please join us in prayer as we pray for a miracle from God to heal me.
God be with you all.
John

Carry your troubled heart to Jesus

(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")
"I am troubled!" Psalm 38:6

This is very often the case with the believer, he is seldom long without something to trouble him. He has

so much sin within him,
so many foes without him, and
such unexpected and difficult things in his path                                                                                that he is often agitated and distressed.

Where he looked for comfort--he finds sorrow;
where he expected help--he finds hindrance;
where he promised himself pleasure--he experiences pain.

He is wearied--
weary of himself,
weary of sin,
weary of the world,
weary of the carnal state of the church.

But what a mercy it is for the troubled Christian, that his Lord has experienced trouble as well as himself; so that He can sympathize with him. Jesus once said, "Now My soul is deeply troubled!" He has a fellow-feeling with us in all our troubles, and will first sanctify them, and then safely bring us out of them.

Beloved, are you troubled today?
Carry your troubled heart to Jesus, pour it out before Him. He can calm it, soothe it, and give it cheering repose. Take it to Jesus--to sanctify it for you.

Patience is a virtue...

 Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

1. Rejoice in hope, and yes I can rejoice in hope, my hope is in Jesus Christ
2. Be patient in tribulation, this is where I run stuck at times because I would like to have the results from my tests.  I have to pray that God will give me patience.
3. Be constant in prayer, I feel guilty sometimes when work takes over and duty of work calls and prayer takes second place. However, there are days like today when the sun shines and I check crops in farmers fields and I wander alone with God. I treasure those times.

 I finally have an appointment to receive my PET scan on April 13, a few days later than planned. On April 21, I have an appointment with Dr. James Bond to receive all the results from the lung biopsy, the lung capacity test and the PET scan. It is going to be a day where I will basically receive all the test results that have been compiled over the last month.

I hope and pray that surgery is still possible but will not find out until April 21. I have to say that being diagnosed with cancer also brings with it countless blessings.
We pray that God will bless and use it abundantly.
Please continue to pray for us, again we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, cards and well wishes from many different places.
John

Waiting.....................

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

I am often encouraged by the things that are taking place, however waiting is not my strongest point. Even waiting for a business appointment that is late can be a challenge for me. Waiting for results is testing my patience and all I can do is ask God to apply the above Bible text in my life. Waiting upon the Lord !

As I am waiting, people are asking me, have you heard anything already, any results? So far the answer is, no nothing yet. It has been a week since I had my lung biopsy and the results should be coming in any day now.
I am also still waiting for the PET scan, that could happen anyday, at least before April 11, that is when a possible surgery will take place, again depending on the outcome of the PET scan.

The things that I am encouraged by is this. Not a day goes by that I come in contact with someone I know, in the store, through work, business contacts, on the phone or otherwise. They ask me how things are going, time and again I tell them a little about myself and a lot about God.

As you read this blog I feel compelled to ask you a few questions. I suggest you not answer me but bring these questions to God next time you are praying.

• If your life would be taken from you today, where are you going to spend Eternity?
• Have you repented of your sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?

As I write this song comes to mind. If you know of God's Grace in your life you can say AMEN to this song.
If you have not experienced God's Grace and forgiveness of sin than read this song carefully. Jesus is waiting for you.           

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
(John Newton)

On Monday I hope to go for a lung capacity test. Once I receive more news I will write more.
In the meantime, have a blessed Sunday, where ever you may worship I pray that you will be blessed.
If you had not planned to worship tomorrow I earnestly suggest you do, you have nothing to loose and everthing to gain.
Thank you for your prayers and care.
May God bless you richly.

John

PS. Recently we had new family pictures taken. I want to share with you those who are very close to my heart.



                         Our children.Top left to right, Tamara, Sophia, Stephanie. Bottom left to right, Jeremy, Henrietta, John, Jeff.



Here you see the result after our children got married