On eagles wings

It’s been a long time since I posted, too long. I know that I should have posted much sooner but circumstances just did not allow me, and there were days when I wrote a posting in my mind and just could not put it on paper.

Some weeks have passed, good days and difficult days, especially in the last couple of days I have spent a good amount of time in bed, feeling very nauseated, tired and feeling the results of the Chemo treatments. It leaves me caring little about this world and what goes on around me, it appears that the discomfort of the body takes the cares of this life away. Yet I have to say that the Lord has been so good to me, sending people on my path that give me courage but above all God’s Word, the Bible, gives me courage when doubts enter into my life.

This morning I was so blessed by reading Isaiah 40 where it speaks about comfort for Gods people, but also how fleeting this life is when the human race is compared to grass. It flourishes today but tomorrow it withers just like beautiful flowers that wither. It speaks about God’s greatness how that He measures the oceans in the hollow of His hands and weighs the mountains. Nations are as a drop in a bucket and God stretches out the heavens like a curtain, these are just a few examples that Isaiah writes about God’s greatness. At the closing of the chapter he writes these encouraging words, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Waiting on the Lord with expectation that gives courage because I know that I can rely on Him, no matter what. Even in times of bodily difficulty and when I lose hope and courage it is these texts and others that give me hope in Christ. The future that is laid away for those who love the Lord Jesus is mirrored in this verse. It gives me hope and courage to go on.

I came upon a beautiful little story from a man who came to D. L. Moody and said he was worried because he didn’t feel saved. Moody asked, “Was Noah safe in the ark?” “Certainly he was,” the man replied. “Well, what made him safe, his feeling or the ark?” The inquirer got the point. “How foolish I’ve been!” he said. “It is not my feeling; it is Christ who saves!” - D.J.D

The last months have been very busy for us with doctor visits, moving to our new home, family and many other things. We were also blessed with a week away to Southern California where God opened doors of amazing Grace. Our visit had a special purpose which I will share with you the next time.

In the mean time medical appointments keep stacking up, it being the result of the clinical study that I am involved in. I pray that God will bless the means for me and countless others that are dealing with incurable kidney cancer. I do need to mention a funny event that took place due to my medical treatments.

Several weeks ago I needed to have a Muga Scan, this is a scan that measures the condition of the heart. Chemo treatments apparently can be damaging to the heart. This scan is administered with a nuclear medicine that is injected prior to the scan and making a patient nuclear active to some degree. By request a special letter is provided that the patient has undergone this procedure in the event you cross the USA border or airport scanner. It was 2 days after my scan that we crossed over the border, with the letter, into the USA where I set of all the bells and whistles and was promptly stopped, sent inside for questioning and tested why I was radioactive. After the necessary test and questions for Henrietta and myself, and even our vehicle was tested and eventually cleared, we carried on our journey. It’s comical to experience how that a medical test can upset such a big apple cart. I have to say they do have very fine tuned scanners that read right through your car.

Lately I am also noticing that I am slowing down in actions, thinking and doing things. It is a result of Chemo treatment or so called Chemo brain. After reading about it, it makes more sense, however, it can still be frustrating at times when I want to do, say or think and it’s just not coming to me or very slow.

One more thing I like to share. In May of this year we made a trip to my native Holland to visit family and friends. It also coincided with a performance of choirs and singing. We managed to attend this event in a cathedral in Goes, The Netherlands. This cathedral in itself was awesome to see, construction of this church started in the 12th century with an amazing history and acoustics. This event was televised and it finally was posted last week. If you have 30 minutes and you like singing as we do, you may want to watch it. They even put us in the picture several times. To us it was a blessed time; I hope it will be the same for you.

From now on I will try to post more often and on a more regular basis as it was before. I find it good for myself and to reflect on the blessings that God sends us each day. Please don’t take life for granted, not only is it fragile, it is the gift of God, so use it well. Thank you for your prayers. God be with you.
John