The Silversmith

In January 2008, my sister-in-law, Cindy, sent me this email forward. She & I had absolutely no idea that 1 year later, we both would hear the diagnosis, "cancer." She with thyroid cancer & me, breast cancer. I was re-reading this & thought about all the ways God watches, cares, protects & refines me. All the ways He's blessing me that I take for granted. How He pays attention to all the "behind the scenes" & intimate details of my life.

"Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner & purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study & they wondered what it meant about the character & nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver & get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a Silversmith & made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the Silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire & let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that , "yes," he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her & answered, Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you & will keep watching until He sees His image in you!"

Yes, my Lord is doing whatever it takes to make me look like the daughter I'm supposed to be! The one He's created. The one He's so proud of! Sitting by the hot fire, refining every detail of my life! No, I had no idea when I first read this email exactly how hot the fire could get- but, I trust THE Silversmith! I trust He's watching every second & paying close attention until He sees His own merciful reflection in my life!

Blessings!

Praising in the "Yes!" & "No."

God has been so merciful to us, AGAIN! The bone scan shows, "no evidence of metastatic disease," which means the cancer hasn't spread & there are no tumors in my bones! My family & I thank Him from the bottom of our hearts! We don't accept His mercy lightly & know this is a precious gift from Him!

As I've written from the beginning of this journey, Mike & I commited our lives to Jesus Christ many years ago, & when we did, they became His- not ours. Our Father can use us any way He chooses for His glory & we submit to His will. So, even if the news had been different today, the cry of praise would be the same! I know & love many people with cancer. We don't all receive the same news at the same time, but we still serve a merciful, loving God! Today, He is using a "YES!" over my cancer to bring Him praise, so we praise!

This week we've heard a "YES!" & at the same time some others have heard "No." This has been & is an incredibly difficult week in our country! The murders of 13 soldiers & civilians & wounding of 30 more at Fort Hood is unspeakable! We still trust Him to bring good out of what a man wanted for evil! We praise Him for being a God of love & not hate! For true followers of Almighty God, this brutal act on other human beings is heart wrenching! There will be rewards for the hearts that hold on to God through such wickedness of man!

So, for all our days of "Yes's" & "No's" we proclaim, "Praise!" For the days we hear, "cancer" & the days we hear, "clear", we sing, "Praise!" For the days- all the days- we choose "Praise!" Then, "when we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we first begun!"

Blessings!

CT Scan

The CT Scan results are just in & showing no tumors! God continues in His merciful answers toward Mike & me! The love, support & prayers for us mean more than you can ever, ever know!

Blessings!

1st Post-Treatment Scan

Please pray that God is wide awake early in the morning for my first 2 post-treatment body scans! :) These tests can determine if any remaining cancer cells are forming tumors in my bones, abdomen, chest or liver. Pray, no tumors! Then, I'll meet with the Oncologist Tuesday for full lab work, port flush & results of the scan. So, pray, people! God is so, so, so faithful! He's been with my family & me every step of the way, so there's NO doubt - at all- that He is still at work for us. He's still loving, molding, shaping, honing, carrying & saving us! Wow! Pray that we're faithful in return!

Blessings!

2nd Anniversary!

Congratulations to Tyrel & Taylor on this 2nd wedding anniversary! You're the greatest couple & we pray God's blessings on you every day! Love you!

Punkin' Punkin' Punkin'

Here are a couple of pictures Randi posted on her blog of HaHa & Sweets (Mike & me) with Cason & Braden at their first pumpkin carving with their daddy.

Cason named him, "Punkin' Punkin' Punkin'" & loved blowing out the candle as soon as any of us could light it for him. Braden just loved being there!

(Randi took this picture of me with my post-chemo hair! I thought I'd post it since many, many friends don't recognize me at all!) I really do look so different, but funny how hair - long, short, or any color- doesn't make the "worry" list these days!

Time with these little guys, however, is high priority!

Blessings!

Virginia Beach 10K!

Taylor,
This post is for you, my dear! Running your first 10k as I write is amazing & we're proud of you! You can do it! You've trained & prepared & you're ready!

All of us who know you, know your heart & will is what will get you through! Your hubby is cheering (I can hear him from here!!!) He's just as proud as can be of your determination to do this!

Not all 10k's are created equal in matters of the heart & mind. You, sweet daughter, get it done every day! Sure, we're proud of the run, but way more than that, proud of who you are & how you're living!

Go the distance & finish strong!

Blessings!
-Mom