Hurry up...........and wait.
Yesterday I went for an appointment to set up the radiation therapy. The appointment was for 2:30. I saw the doctor at 4:30. Fortunately I didn't have to be anywhere else.
It is interesting that Peter said in the list of things to "add to your faith" that patience is one of them.
James put it like this: James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Patience has a big part in receiving from the Lord. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
It seems to me that a lot of things in the Bible are tied in with patience. Being patient does not mean we just set or stand idly by and do nothing. It is during those times of waiting that we continue to trust, believe, pray and stand fast in His word.
What is it that you are waiting on today?
There is a chorus that we used to sing, it went like this:
You can't hurry God,
You just have to wait.
You have to trust Him and give Him time,
No matter how long it takes.
He's a God that you can't hurry,
But He'll be there so don't you worry.
He may not come when you want Him,
But He's right on time.
I am sure I will have many opportunities to practice patience these next few months and as I do I am sure things will go a lot smoother.
Blessings,
Rick
This is the Journey of Pastor Rick Stratton's discovery of vocal cord cancer, treatment, recovery and on. My prayer for you today is that you will be blessed and victorious. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because, greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
But I don't want too.........
Today I go to the Cancer Center in Mt. Vernon, IL, and begin the preliminary work to begin radiation treatment.
I was hoping not to have to do this but the doctor felt it would be a good thing to have done. Perhaps this time won't be as severe as last time since this is preventative and the last time they were actually attacking a cancer tumor.
As I had stated in an earlier post all the pathology reports came back negative which indicated that they got all the cancer out with the surgery. The doctor said that cancer can, at times, get into nerves so that is the reason for radiation.
We have all had to do things we did not want to do because it was something that needed to be done.
How many times have you went to work but you didn't want to but at the end of the week, when you got your pay check, you were glad you did.
There are things in our spiritual walk that we need to do even when we don't feel like it. We need to pray, read the Bible, attend church, give to the work of the Lord.
I am sure there are times when we all didn't feel like doing these things but did them anyway and in the end were glad we did.
Even Jesus said there were things He must do: John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 4:3-4 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria.
When we don't feel like it that is the time when you and I must press on and do what we know to do.
2 Peter 1:4-10 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Notice the last part of these verses...FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS. What is it you don't want to do today but need to anyway?
Blessings,
Rick
Today I go to the Cancer Center in Mt. Vernon, IL, and begin the preliminary work to begin radiation treatment.
I was hoping not to have to do this but the doctor felt it would be a good thing to have done. Perhaps this time won't be as severe as last time since this is preventative and the last time they were actually attacking a cancer tumor.
As I had stated in an earlier post all the pathology reports came back negative which indicated that they got all the cancer out with the surgery. The doctor said that cancer can, at times, get into nerves so that is the reason for radiation.
We have all had to do things we did not want to do because it was something that needed to be done.
How many times have you went to work but you didn't want to but at the end of the week, when you got your pay check, you were glad you did.
There are things in our spiritual walk that we need to do even when we don't feel like it. We need to pray, read the Bible, attend church, give to the work of the Lord.
I am sure there are times when we all didn't feel like doing these things but did them anyway and in the end were glad we did.
Even Jesus said there were things He must do: John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 4:3-4 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria.
When we don't feel like it that is the time when you and I must press on and do what we know to do.
2 Peter 1:4-10 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Notice the last part of these verses...FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS. What is it you don't want to do today but need to anyway?
Blessings,
Rick
Monday, August 29, 2011
It was the only one we had and it was broken.....
After I got home from the hospital I had to be fed through a feeding tube in my neck. It was too short for me to be able to do it so Marcia did the honors.
The syringe they gave us at the hospital finally wore out and broke. We were in a dilemma because it was the last one we had.
The next day Marcia looked all over town to try and find one. She finally went to the farm store in town and found one for giving medicine to farm animals. The problem with it was the tip did not fit the feeding tube. We had to rig it so it would work. It did not work real well but at least we could get the food and medicine I needed down the tube. It was quite messy because it would leak.
The next day she went to the clinic and they had what we needed. We had to work with the make shift syringe for a couple days before getting a replacement.
One a side note...the syringes were good for just a short time. The rubber on the plunger would begin to stick and then be very difficult to push in.
A couple days later I went to get something out of the trunk of the car and there I found a large bag filled with the correct syringes. The nurse at the hospital had put them there when she loaded some other supplies in the car for us. We were unaware they were in there until I found them.
This is a case of "having what you need but not knowing it". Think of the time and energy it took to try and find what we needed only to get one that did not work that well but we settled for it thinking that was the best we could do.
I wonder how many today settle for something that just barely gets them by. We had exactly what we needed...it was in our possession...it had been given to us...but we didn't know it.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
We were struggling along with a make shift syringe not because we didn't have the correct kind but because we didn't know we had the correct kind.
What is it that you are struggling along with today? God has the correct thing you need. He has made it available for you.
I think of all the promises in the Bible that are ours. They have been given to us but if we don't know it we will just struggle along.
I want to invite you today to open up the Bible and see for yourself. He is a Great God who has given us great and mighty and precious promises that are ours. They can all be obtained through faith in Him.
As the father told the elder son in the story of the prodigal son...Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Blessings,
Rick
After I got home from the hospital I had to be fed through a feeding tube in my neck. It was too short for me to be able to do it so Marcia did the honors.
The syringe they gave us at the hospital finally wore out and broke. We were in a dilemma because it was the last one we had.
The next day Marcia looked all over town to try and find one. She finally went to the farm store in town and found one for giving medicine to farm animals. The problem with it was the tip did not fit the feeding tube. We had to rig it so it would work. It did not work real well but at least we could get the food and medicine I needed down the tube. It was quite messy because it would leak.
The next day she went to the clinic and they had what we needed. We had to work with the make shift syringe for a couple days before getting a replacement.
One a side note...the syringes were good for just a short time. The rubber on the plunger would begin to stick and then be very difficult to push in.
A couple days later I went to get something out of the trunk of the car and there I found a large bag filled with the correct syringes. The nurse at the hospital had put them there when she loaded some other supplies in the car for us. We were unaware they were in there until I found them.
This is a case of "having what you need but not knowing it". Think of the time and energy it took to try and find what we needed only to get one that did not work that well but we settled for it thinking that was the best we could do.
I wonder how many today settle for something that just barely gets them by. We had exactly what we needed...it was in our possession...it had been given to us...but we didn't know it.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
We were struggling along with a make shift syringe not because we didn't have the correct kind but because we didn't know we had the correct kind.
What is it that you are struggling along with today? God has the correct thing you need. He has made it available for you.
I think of all the promises in the Bible that are ours. They have been given to us but if we don't know it we will just struggle along.
I want to invite you today to open up the Bible and see for yourself. He is a Great God who has given us great and mighty and precious promises that are ours. They can all be obtained through faith in Him.
As the father told the elder son in the story of the prodigal son...Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Blessings,
Rick
Friday, August 26, 2011
That tastes good....
I was told that after surgery I would probably lose my sense of taste and smell. I do think I have lost most if not all of my sense of smell but thankfully I have not lost all of my sense of taste.
Marcia made some potato soup the other night and I could taste it very well. I am thankful for that.
David said in the Bible:Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
If I did have to lose my taste I would much rather lose my taste of food then my taste of the things of God.
Ps 119:103103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I wonder how many today have lost their taste to the Word of God? Most of the time our appetite is related to our taste. If we can't taste it we lose our appetite for it.
I am praying today that as you read this that your taste and appetite for God will be renewed. That there will be a renewed hunger and desire to read God's word.
David went on to say:Ps 119:104-105 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
His word will help light the way when we hit dark areas in this life. With it we can always have direction.
I am thankful that I have retained the ability to taste even though I was told it would probably be lost.
Let me ask you....have you read His word lately....how did it taste?
Blessings,
Rick
I was told that after surgery I would probably lose my sense of taste and smell. I do think I have lost most if not all of my sense of smell but thankfully I have not lost all of my sense of taste.
Marcia made some potato soup the other night and I could taste it very well. I am thankful for that.
David said in the Bible:Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
If I did have to lose my taste I would much rather lose my taste of food then my taste of the things of God.
Ps 119:103103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I wonder how many today have lost their taste to the Word of God? Most of the time our appetite is related to our taste. If we can't taste it we lose our appetite for it.
I am praying today that as you read this that your taste and appetite for God will be renewed. That there will be a renewed hunger and desire to read God's word.
David went on to say:Ps 119:104-105 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
His word will help light the way when we hit dark areas in this life. With it we can always have direction.
I am thankful that I have retained the ability to taste even though I was told it would probably be lost.
Let me ask you....have you read His word lately....how did it taste?
Blessings,
Rick
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Today I spoke a few words. My voice does not sound pretty and when I do talk it hurts my throat. I am sure that my throat will finally get used to it.
We have all heard the saying that you really don't miss something until you don't have it. How many times has the electricity gone out and we go over and turn on the switch anyway or the water is shut off and we turn the faucet on out of habit.
Well, I guess the same goes with my voice. Communication is so important and we take for granted at times even the fact we can speak.
How important is your voice. It is very important. Yet we can speak without saying a word. Yes we can write down what we want to say or we can learn sign language or some other form of communicating.
Yet everyday we speak without uttering a word. We speak with our actions. Do people know we are Christians by our actions. We all have heard this, "Actions speak louder then words". How true that is.
What are your actions saying today?
Paul put it like this:2 Thess 3:7-9 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
Phil 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul said to Timothy...1 Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
So we can speak without saying a word out of our mouth. Be an example. Jesus said: Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. NLT
What did you just say to those around you?
Blessings,
Rick
We have all heard the saying that you really don't miss something until you don't have it. How many times has the electricity gone out and we go over and turn on the switch anyway or the water is shut off and we turn the faucet on out of habit.
Well, I guess the same goes with my voice. Communication is so important and we take for granted at times even the fact we can speak.
How important is your voice. It is very important. Yet we can speak without saying a word. Yes we can write down what we want to say or we can learn sign language or some other form of communicating.
Yet everyday we speak without uttering a word. We speak with our actions. Do people know we are Christians by our actions. We all have heard this, "Actions speak louder then words". How true that is.
What are your actions saying today?
Paul put it like this:2 Thess 3:7-9 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
Phil 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul said to Timothy...1 Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
So we can speak without saying a word out of our mouth. Be an example. Jesus said: Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. NLT
What did you just say to those around you?
Blessings,
Rick
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Yesterday, August 23, I went back to the doctor for my surgery followup. The staples were removed, the feeding tube was removed, the voice prosthesis was installed and the reports from the pathologist came back negative. Not a bad visit at all.
I am going to have to have another round of radiation treatment. I am really not thrilled about that but the doctor felt that it would be a good thing to do so I will begin that in a couple of weeks.
Now begins the process of learning how to talk with the prosthesis. I know my voice is not going to sound anything like it did before. I am sure that it is going to take some getting used to by me and, perhaps, everyone else.
There may be those when they hear it for the first time who may want to chuckle or laugh or cringe or some other reaction. That will be fine with me. I cringed myself the first time I heard it. I am sure it will get better the more I talk. As with anything, the first time you do something in public there is apprehension but that will just have to be pushed beyond.
I guess it would be kind of like sharing your faith in Jesus the first time. You don't know what kind of reaction or response you are going to get but you know you are doing the right thing by sharing what Jesus has done in your life.
So today I start talking. It may not sound pretty and may at first be difficult to understand. It may even hurt my throat some, but I am determined to do this.
Are you determined to do what you need to do to follow Christ. There is an old song that goes like this.
I am determined, I've made up my mind
I'll serve the Lord
I'm leaving the pleasures of this world behind
I'll serve the Lord
I'll follow wherever He leads me
I'll pasture wherever He feeds me
I am determined, I've made up my mind
I'll serve the Lord.
Blessings,
Rick
I am going to have to have another round of radiation treatment. I am really not thrilled about that but the doctor felt that it would be a good thing to do so I will begin that in a couple of weeks.
Now begins the process of learning how to talk with the prosthesis. I know my voice is not going to sound anything like it did before. I am sure that it is going to take some getting used to by me and, perhaps, everyone else.
There may be those when they hear it for the first time who may want to chuckle or laugh or cringe or some other reaction. That will be fine with me. I cringed myself the first time I heard it. I am sure it will get better the more I talk. As with anything, the first time you do something in public there is apprehension but that will just have to be pushed beyond.
I guess it would be kind of like sharing your faith in Jesus the first time. You don't know what kind of reaction or response you are going to get but you know you are doing the right thing by sharing what Jesus has done in your life.
So today I start talking. It may not sound pretty and may at first be difficult to understand. It may even hurt my throat some, but I am determined to do this.
Are you determined to do what you need to do to follow Christ. There is an old song that goes like this.
I am determined, I've made up my mind
I'll serve the Lord
I'm leaving the pleasures of this world behind
I'll serve the Lord
I'll follow wherever He leads me
I'll pasture wherever He feeds me
I am determined, I've made up my mind
I'll serve the Lord.
Blessings,
Rick
Monday, August 22, 2011
Ah......church!!
Yesterday, August 21, I was able to go to church after missing the last three Sundays. What a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful seeing my church family and worshiping the Lord together.
There are many today that do not attend church. Sunday has just become another day off for activities. I have never been apposed to a day off, especially when you can spend it with your family but to forsake attending church is not a good idea.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Forsake is a pretty powerful word. It means:to renounce or turn away from entirely.
There are those who have done exactly that for some reason or other. They have been hurt, disillusioned or some other reason. None of which are legit enough to forsake attending church.
Forsaking is not the same as missing because of a legitimate reason. I missed because of major surgery but am returning when able. There are many today who are unable to attend church because of a legit reason. They want to be there but are unable to attend because of extenuating circumstances.
Perhaps today you have began to forsake or neglect attending church. I want to encourage you to rethink your reasons. I think the church is much like Noah's Ark. There may have been a lot of things on the ark that stunk but it was still the best thing floating.
Be encouraged to attend church this week and worship the Lord with friends and family.
Tomorrow I head back to the doctor. Hopefully the feeding tube can be removed and I can begin the next phase of learning how to talk with a prosthesis. Your prayers are more then appreciated...they are desired and needed.
Blessings,
Rick
Yesterday, August 21, I was able to go to church after missing the last three Sundays. What a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful seeing my church family and worshiping the Lord together.
There are many today that do not attend church. Sunday has just become another day off for activities. I have never been apposed to a day off, especially when you can spend it with your family but to forsake attending church is not a good idea.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Forsake is a pretty powerful word. It means:to renounce or turn away from entirely.
There are those who have done exactly that for some reason or other. They have been hurt, disillusioned or some other reason. None of which are legit enough to forsake attending church.
Forsaking is not the same as missing because of a legitimate reason. I missed because of major surgery but am returning when able. There are many today who are unable to attend church because of a legit reason. They want to be there but are unable to attend because of extenuating circumstances.
Perhaps today you have began to forsake or neglect attending church. I want to encourage you to rethink your reasons. I think the church is much like Noah's Ark. There may have been a lot of things on the ark that stunk but it was still the best thing floating.
Be encouraged to attend church this week and worship the Lord with friends and family.
Tomorrow I head back to the doctor. Hopefully the feeding tube can be removed and I can begin the next phase of learning how to talk with a prosthesis. Your prayers are more then appreciated...they are desired and needed.
Blessings,
Rick
Friday, August 19, 2011
Overwhelmed.....
Yesterday afternoon I was setting in our back room and all of this began to hit me. Seven weeks of radiation...told there was no more cancer...voice getting no better...continued pain...re-diagnosis with cancer returning...two surgeries...voice box removed...unable to talk...thirty-two staples in my neck...hole in my neck...feeding tube...huge medical bills.
I can understand why David cried out this prayer:Ps 61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
It is no sin to be overwhelmed by what you may be going through. I think the sin would be to dwell there and give up. My address is not, "101 Valley of Despair" but it is, "Ps 27:1...the Lord is the strength of my life".
Whatever is overwhelming you right now is not bigger then Jesus. When you begin to feel everything closing in on you...run to Jesus.
I think of that old song, I GO TO THE ROCK.
I go to the Rock, I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock, I go to the Rock
I know, I know He's able
Where do I go
When there's no body else to turn to
Who do I talk to
When no one wants to listen
Who do I lean on
When there's no foundation stable
I go to the Rock I know He's able
I go to the Rock
CHORUS
I go to the Rock of my Salvation
I go to the Stone that the builders rejected
I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me
When the earth all around me is sinking sand
On Christ, the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend,
I go to the Rock
Where do I hide
When the storms of life are threatening
Where do I run to
When the winds of sorrow blow
Is there a refuge (a refuge) in the time of tribulation
Cause I go to the Rock
I know (I know) He's able.
CHORUS
When the earth all around is a-sinking sand
On Christ, the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend,
When the earth all around is sinking sand
On Christ the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend
I go to the Rock
I go to the.. I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock. I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock
Blessings,
Rick
Yesterday afternoon I was setting in our back room and all of this began to hit me. Seven weeks of radiation...told there was no more cancer...voice getting no better...continued pain...re-diagnosis with cancer returning...two surgeries...voice box removed...unable to talk...thirty-two staples in my neck...hole in my neck...feeding tube...huge medical bills.
I can understand why David cried out this prayer:Ps 61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
It is no sin to be overwhelmed by what you may be going through. I think the sin would be to dwell there and give up. My address is not, "101 Valley of Despair" but it is, "Ps 27:1...the Lord is the strength of my life".
Whatever is overwhelming you right now is not bigger then Jesus. When you begin to feel everything closing in on you...run to Jesus.
I think of that old song, I GO TO THE ROCK.
I go to the Rock, I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock, I go to the Rock
I know, I know He's able
Where do I go
When there's no body else to turn to
Who do I talk to
When no one wants to listen
Who do I lean on
When there's no foundation stable
I go to the Rock I know He's able
I go to the Rock
CHORUS
I go to the Rock of my Salvation
I go to the Stone that the builders rejected
I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me
When the earth all around me is sinking sand
On Christ, the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend,
I go to the Rock
Where do I hide
When the storms of life are threatening
Where do I run to
When the winds of sorrow blow
Is there a refuge (a refuge) in the time of tribulation
Cause I go to the Rock
I know (I know) He's able.
CHORUS
When the earth all around is a-sinking sand
On Christ, the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend,
When the earth all around is sinking sand
On Christ the solid rock I stand
When I need a shelter, When I need a friend
I go to the Rock
I go to the.. I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock. I go to the Rock
I go to the Rock
Blessings,
Rick
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Ouch that hurts!!!!
On July 27, I was at St. John's in Springfield, IL. I was getting ready to have surgery so the doctor could get a biopsy from my vocal cords. This is an out patient surgery. Of course, I was completely sedated for this procedure. When the doctor got me out and started they could not get the scope down my wind pipe. They said that it was almost completely closed and that my vocal cords were like stone.
This meant that they had to do an emergency tracheotomy on me. To do this they had to wake me back up. I could feel them cutting on my neck and going through the layers of skin and flesh to get to my wind pipe.
I can remember laying there moaning and groaning feeling the pain. I could here them talking to me. I guess they can't do that procedure while a person is totally out. They did use local anesthesia on me.
When I got back to my room I was thinking about the times that Jesus has to prune us, shape us and mold us to make us what He wants us to be. He has never done that to me while I was sleeping.
The doctor told me that he didn't even know how I was able to breath. He said once they got the procedure done I began to breath with great ease.
Perhaps today you are having a difficult time breathing spiritually and Jesus needs to do some work on you. It may hurt but when it is done it will be like a breath of fresh air.
What is it that Jesus needs to prune away from your life or you need to lay aside. Whatever it is, it will be worth having done or doing, even though it may hurt some.
Don't allow a little pain of change to keep you from becoming all He has for you.
Yes, it did hurt that day, but I am alive and breathing well now. It may hurt some at the altar of prayer but when you are done you will be alive in Him.
Blessings,
Rick
On July 27, I was at St. John's in Springfield, IL. I was getting ready to have surgery so the doctor could get a biopsy from my vocal cords. This is an out patient surgery. Of course, I was completely sedated for this procedure. When the doctor got me out and started they could not get the scope down my wind pipe. They said that it was almost completely closed and that my vocal cords were like stone.
This meant that they had to do an emergency tracheotomy on me. To do this they had to wake me back up. I could feel them cutting on my neck and going through the layers of skin and flesh to get to my wind pipe.
I can remember laying there moaning and groaning feeling the pain. I could here them talking to me. I guess they can't do that procedure while a person is totally out. They did use local anesthesia on me.
When I got back to my room I was thinking about the times that Jesus has to prune us, shape us and mold us to make us what He wants us to be. He has never done that to me while I was sleeping.
The doctor told me that he didn't even know how I was able to breath. He said once they got the procedure done I began to breath with great ease.
Perhaps today you are having a difficult time breathing spiritually and Jesus needs to do some work on you. It may hurt but when it is done it will be like a breath of fresh air.
What is it that Jesus needs to prune away from your life or you need to lay aside. Whatever it is, it will be worth having done or doing, even though it may hurt some.
Don't allow a little pain of change to keep you from becoming all He has for you.
Yes, it did hurt that day, but I am alive and breathing well now. It may hurt some at the altar of prayer but when you are done you will be alive in Him.
Blessings,
Rick
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The other day a friend asked me when I thought things would be back to normal. That is a legitimate question. I have thought that myself.
As I thought about that question I came to the conclusion that what was normal for me before all this will no longer be normal for me after I recover.
I am headed for a NEW normal.
I think that is how it is no matter what we deal with. The thing we deal with will cause us to change. It will cause us to change the way we think, act, etc., and in my case the way I talk.
There will be things that I will not be able to do. One thing is water activities. I do like to jump in a pool every now and then but that is something I won't miss. Even shaving will be a little different.
So now I am moving toward a new normal. I think of the disciples after they were called by Jesus. What they thought to be normal in their life would no longer be normal.
Once we accept Christ in our lives we take on a new normal. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
That sounds like a new normal to me. Life happenings will always cause us to make changes. Very little actually ever remains the same. As students go back to school this year there are changes from last year. We have to learn to move forward amidst the changes and allow God by His Spirit to mold us and shape us as we become what He wants us to be.
So I guess we could say that we will never be just normal. That doesn't mean that there is something wrong with us it just means that as each days brings what it does, we are going to have to remain flexible so that Christ can make any adjustments in us that need to be made so that we may do as Paul said, "run with patience the race that is set before us".
Blessings,
Rick
As I thought about that question I came to the conclusion that what was normal for me before all this will no longer be normal for me after I recover.
I am headed for a NEW normal.
I think that is how it is no matter what we deal with. The thing we deal with will cause us to change. It will cause us to change the way we think, act, etc., and in my case the way I talk.
There will be things that I will not be able to do. One thing is water activities. I do like to jump in a pool every now and then but that is something I won't miss. Even shaving will be a little different.
So now I am moving toward a new normal. I think of the disciples after they were called by Jesus. What they thought to be normal in their life would no longer be normal.
Once we accept Christ in our lives we take on a new normal. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
That sounds like a new normal to me. Life happenings will always cause us to make changes. Very little actually ever remains the same. As students go back to school this year there are changes from last year. We have to learn to move forward amidst the changes and allow God by His Spirit to mold us and shape us as we become what He wants us to be.
So I guess we could say that we will never be just normal. That doesn't mean that there is something wrong with us it just means that as each days brings what it does, we are going to have to remain flexible so that Christ can make any adjustments in us that need to be made so that we may do as Paul said, "run with patience the race that is set before us".
Blessings,
Rick
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I looked up the word journey. Here is one of the definitions I found. JOURNEY: usually suggests that one travels a long distance and often that the traveling may be dangerous or difficult.
We are all on a journey of some sort. Some have more twists and turns then others but none the less we are all on a journey.
The journey I am on has had some real bumps in the road these last few years. From diagnosis of cancer on my vocal cords followed by seven weeks of radiation with the report that the cancer was gone.
My voice never did clear up and seemed to keep getting worse. I went back to the doctor five months later only to find that the cancer had returned. Now I was facing a bigger bump in the road. I was going to have to have my voice box removed. For a preacher that is really not great news but none the less it had to be done.
So the journey continues with some new twists and challenges. Am I up to them? In myself probably not but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
My challenge and bump is learning to talk again with a voice prosthesis. What is yours? Each of us, no matter what we face, have to face it. It would do no good for me to give up. That is what the enemy of our soul wants us to do.
I am reminded of what God told Moses in the wilderness...Go Forward!
Be encouraged today that no matter what you are facing, He already knew you would be facing it and and has given the equipment to be victorious.
Blessings,
Rick
We are all on a journey of some sort. Some have more twists and turns then others but none the less we are all on a journey.
The journey I am on has had some real bumps in the road these last few years. From diagnosis of cancer on my vocal cords followed by seven weeks of radiation with the report that the cancer was gone.
My voice never did clear up and seemed to keep getting worse. I went back to the doctor five months later only to find that the cancer had returned. Now I was facing a bigger bump in the road. I was going to have to have my voice box removed. For a preacher that is really not great news but none the less it had to be done.
So the journey continues with some new twists and challenges. Am I up to them? In myself probably not but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
My challenge and bump is learning to talk again with a voice prosthesis. What is yours? Each of us, no matter what we face, have to face it. It would do no good for me to give up. That is what the enemy of our soul wants us to do.
I am reminded of what God told Moses in the wilderness...Go Forward!
Be encouraged today that no matter what you are facing, He already knew you would be facing it and and has given the equipment to be victorious.
Blessings,
Rick
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