June 24, 2010
The Bend in the Road, by David Jeremiah- I related to David when he described his feelings and his turning to God as a source of healing. I also felt that God was speaking to me about making some changes in my life - to be brought back closer to God and to what He wants me to be doing during this time in my life.
God's Creative Power, by Charles Capps - this book was recommended by my brother, Bill. He had it with him at the hospital and read it to Diane & family during the surgery. It is a view of the Word of God in two areas; prayers of healing of the body and healing of financial problems.
Spiritual Law - God never does anything without saying it first. In Mark 12:22 " Jesus answering, said unto them, have faith in God." Jesus spoke the words He heard from His Father. They work for whoever will apply them. John 14:12 "He that believeth in Me and the works I do shall he do also and greater..."
The body of Christ must begin to live in the authority of the Word. For God's word is creative power. That creative power is produced by the heart, formed by the tongue and released out of the mouth in word form. God's word is medicine. "Attend to My words; they are life...and health (medicine) to all their flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22
Thank God I Had Cancer by King Neale - King, a good friend from Texas, called one night to encourage me in my bout with cancer and to share with me how God healed him through a series of events. I really enjoyed the call and then reading his book. I went to school with King. We went to the same church and played basketball together in Junior High.
The Shack by William P. Young - It is a work of fiction, but deals with tragedy and sadness and the timeless question "Where is God in a world filled with pain? It was very meaningful and showed me a different view of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
When Life is Hard by James MacDonald - Finding Hope in the midst of the storm. James MacDonald has suffered through cancer and found God's Word and His presence to be life changing. He has some lessons at the end of the book for the reader to work through, to help you apply God's Principles. My daughter, Linda, sent this book to me a few months ago and it has reallybeen a blessing.
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore - this book showed me that we all are to be servents of Christ, no matter our circumstances. We are to be available for service until the Lord calls us home and to try to take as many people to heaven as we can.
When the heart is right it opens the windows of heaven for God's blessing to flow. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." James 1: 16-17
I believe that this change in my life is a result of God pointing to a different direction in my life. This is my bend in the road like David Jeremiah pointed to during his bout with cancer. I truly believe that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we can think or comprehend when we agree with Him.
Mark 9:23 "Jesus said, If you can believe, all things are possible for him who believes."
Jesus, I believe that I am not here in the valley by mistake: I know that I am here to trust you to deliver me from this cancer, like David was delivered from the giant and like Daniel was delivered from the lion's den. I believe that if I can just touch the hem of Your garment, I will be healed. I believe if I can hear You say "your sins are forgiven, rise and be healed," I will be whole. I believe that God has the power to overcome all things as Paul says in Romans 8:31, "What can we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! I will continue to trust God and to follow where He leads me.
Next- Lessons and Encouragement from so many friends and family.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Hospital & Surgery
To summarize my surgery - My brother Bill, came from Texas to be with Diane and the girls for the surgery. He was a blessing - Amy commented that "he was a real anchor for us today, holding us together." Bill prayed with the family and read scriptures to them on God's provisions. The surgery went well, as Doctors tell you. I had some of my colon removed along with some lymph nodes and a mass in the upper part of the abdominal cavity.
I don't remember much of that day, but was told that every time a nurse came into my room to check on me, I told them that "God is Good and He is taking care of me." Before everyone left that evening, they all stood around my bed and we prayed and sang the song "Jesus Loves Me" with my brother Bill leading. A nurse told Diane later that night that she was out in the hall and heard us singing. She said that was her grandmother's favorite song, so we were being a testimony for God and didn't know it.
Our good friends, David & Susan Ray, were there that evening and Dave later told me he had never been to visit someone in the hospital after surgery to pray for them and to have the patient pray too. God is really good to us, all the time.
I am often reminded why I came to Florida and how the miracle happened. I am thankful for the change that happened in my life- I sold my business in Texas and was moved to Florida by the leading of God. I was called to Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater as associate pastor and felt God's hand on a ministry where many lives were changed. I thank God for the memories of the call and the confirmation of that call by Pastor Bill Anderson and of working with Single Adults and leading the Outreach Ministry - seeing many lives transformed by the power of Christ's love. This was a time of being close to the Lord and of knowing His hand on my life. I have many treasured memories and friendships of these times.
I am trying to learn from this valley in my life - it is an opportunity of change and renewal. It is my opportunity to trust God and to draw close to Him and to learn everything He wants to teach me through this experience. I am trusting God to change me and bring me close again, heal not only the physical but the spiritual and put me back in active duty. Great is Our God!
I don't remember much of that day, but was told that every time a nurse came into my room to check on me, I told them that "God is Good and He is taking care of me." Before everyone left that evening, they all stood around my bed and we prayed and sang the song "Jesus Loves Me" with my brother Bill leading. A nurse told Diane later that night that she was out in the hall and heard us singing. She said that was her grandmother's favorite song, so we were being a testimony for God and didn't know it.
Our good friends, David & Susan Ray, were there that evening and Dave later told me he had never been to visit someone in the hospital after surgery to pray for them and to have the patient pray too. God is really good to us, all the time.
I am often reminded why I came to Florida and how the miracle happened. I am thankful for the change that happened in my life- I sold my business in Texas and was moved to Florida by the leading of God. I was called to Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater as associate pastor and felt God's hand on a ministry where many lives were changed. I thank God for the memories of the call and the confirmation of that call by Pastor Bill Anderson and of working with Single Adults and leading the Outreach Ministry - seeing many lives transformed by the power of Christ's love. This was a time of being close to the Lord and of knowing His hand on my life. I have many treasured memories and friendships of these times.
I am trying to learn from this valley in my life - it is an opportunity of change and renewal. It is my opportunity to trust God and to draw close to Him and to learn everything He wants to teach me through this experience. I am trusting God to change me and bring me close again, heal not only the physical but the spiritual and put me back in active duty. Great is Our God!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
God's Word to Me in the Valley -2 "Wake Up Call "
The wake up call. January 14, 2008, after a regular checkup -- I woke up from a colonoscopy and the doctor was there with a monitor showing pictures of colon cancer. My first thought was there must be some mistake. I do not feel sick. But as I looked at the pictures of my colon on the monitor, I could see the cancer growing inside. Can I thank God for this?
The first answer that came was in a song that went through my thoughts, “Through it All” the third verse. This song kept going through my mind over and over during that day and I knew that God had given this song for this time in my life.
I thank God for the mountains,
And, I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through;
For if I’d never had a problem
I wouldn’t know that God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His word.
I thanked God for this song, hidden in my memory, that He used that day.
I later questioned God, as David did, when I received word that I had cancer.
I was not as close to the Lord as I had been in the past.
And my first thought was my sin had caused this problem.
In my daily Bible reading on 1-24-08 I read the following:
Psalm 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? Forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
v2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
v3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
v4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
v5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
v6 I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.
Satan was exalted over me and he was winning. I was praying for God to forgive my sins.
I felt that Satan had brought me down and he wanted to finish me off. I felt captured by my sins and that Satan had set my mind on the things of the world and this was separating me from God. I knew that I must repent of all my known sin and place myself on the altar before God.
God revealed to me that He had not brought me this far to leave me-like in the song. He showed me He loves me more than I can ever love Him, with an everlasting love. I knew that if God wanted to get all my attention, He did a great job. Most of all I felt assured that God was not finished with me yet. I accepted the fact that God had already forgiven my sins when He redeemed me at Calvary.
The rush of testing and doctors appointments ended up in a scheduled surgery on February 1, 2008. The Dr removed about 14" of my colon and 8 lymph nodes. Also tumors were found in my liver, but not removed. These will be treated with chemo. I am thankful for the many family and friends who came to my aid with prayer support. That is when God gave us the Scripture- 2 Corinthians 1:9-11. God also gave me the verses- Psalm 4:3-5- where He says to trust in Him. This is what we are doing.
As I have learned through these two years, God is Faithful. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Please pray with us as I am looking for some new options for treatment. Thank you again for standing with us.
Next is my Hospital Experience :(
The first answer that came was in a song that went through my thoughts, “Through it All” the third verse. This song kept going through my mind over and over during that day and I knew that God had given this song for this time in my life.
I thank God for the mountains,
And, I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through;
For if I’d never had a problem
I wouldn’t know that God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His word.
I thanked God for this song, hidden in my memory, that He used that day.
I later questioned God, as David did, when I received word that I had cancer.
I was not as close to the Lord as I had been in the past.
And my first thought was my sin had caused this problem.
In my daily Bible reading on 1-24-08 I read the following:
Psalm 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? Forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
v2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
v3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
v4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
v5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
v6 I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.
Satan was exalted over me and he was winning. I was praying for God to forgive my sins.
I felt that Satan had brought me down and he wanted to finish me off. I felt captured by my sins and that Satan had set my mind on the things of the world and this was separating me from God. I knew that I must repent of all my known sin and place myself on the altar before God.
God revealed to me that He had not brought me this far to leave me-like in the song. He showed me He loves me more than I can ever love Him, with an everlasting love. I knew that if God wanted to get all my attention, He did a great job. Most of all I felt assured that God was not finished with me yet. I accepted the fact that God had already forgiven my sins when He redeemed me at Calvary.
The rush of testing and doctors appointments ended up in a scheduled surgery on February 1, 2008. The Dr removed about 14" of my colon and 8 lymph nodes. Also tumors were found in my liver, but not removed. These will be treated with chemo. I am thankful for the many family and friends who came to my aid with prayer support. That is when God gave us the Scripture- 2 Corinthians 1:9-11. God also gave me the verses- Psalm 4:3-5- where He says to trust in Him. This is what we are doing.
As I have learned through these two years, God is Faithful. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Please pray with us as I am looking for some new options for treatment. Thank you again for standing with us.
Next is my Hospital Experience :(
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
GOD'S WORD TO ME IN THE VALLEY
What really matters in my living life is not how much I have left, but how am I going to use the time I have? "It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment." God has made us know that one day we will give an account of what we have done in our lives. The earthly tent is temporary for we have an eternal tent in heaven. Our earthly body is being changed into a heavenly body that is eternal. God has made us for this purpose and has given us His spirit as our guarantee of what is to come.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13.... "If any man builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) using gold silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work."
Today, my desire is to please God, whether alive on the earth or in heaven. This song sums it up --"I'm yours Lord, everything I am, everything I'm not; I'm yours Lord, try me now and see if I can be completely Yours." Yes, I can say thank you Lord for the colon cancer and the times you brought me through. David faced a giant problem named Goliath and he said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37
My faith is in the hands of the Lord, He will deliver me from this giant in my life as I remember the times He has already delivered me from Satan's grip.
During the last 2 years, 2 Corinthians 1: 9-11 has been my lifeline to God's heart. "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
This is the reason I have begun a blog...... to take you on a journey with me and to ask you for your prayers. God has promised to bless us as we trust Him-- no matter the outcome of our circumstances. He will bring joy and hope to our lives as we draw near to Him- daily.
I will share my wake up call with you next...
Gerald James
March 16, 2010
1 Corinthians 3:12-13.... "If any man builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) using gold silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work."
Today, my desire is to please God, whether alive on the earth or in heaven. This song sums it up --"I'm yours Lord, everything I am, everything I'm not; I'm yours Lord, try me now and see if I can be completely Yours." Yes, I can say thank you Lord for the colon cancer and the times you brought me through. David faced a giant problem named Goliath and he said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37
My faith is in the hands of the Lord, He will deliver me from this giant in my life as I remember the times He has already delivered me from Satan's grip.
During the last 2 years, 2 Corinthians 1: 9-11 has been my lifeline to God's heart. "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
This is the reason I have begun a blog...... to take you on a journey with me and to ask you for your prayers. God has promised to bless us as we trust Him-- no matter the outcome of our circumstances. He will bring joy and hope to our lives as we draw near to Him- daily.
I will share my wake up call with you next...
Gerald James
March 16, 2010
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