The Power of Prayer

It's been a very full weekend.  We put out all of our Christmas decorations yesterday.  Although it felt weird to put it all up before Thanksgiving, it was a fabulous distraction.  I told Jeremy he had to get up in the attic and get down "Christmas" now, while he has no valid excuse for not doing it.  :) Who knows how he will feel in a week or two.  The kids loved watching the tree go up, and helping with unloading boxes.

We cannot express enough our gratitude for the complete outpouring of love and prayers.  We've just come home from an evening with our church family group who spent the greater part of our meeting praying for Jeremy.  Then we came home to eat a dinner lovingly prepared for us by one of our family group members.
Every day, we learn of more people - many whom we have never met - praying for Jeremy and our family.  I believe there are hundreds!  We are not only praying for a miracle... we are expecting it and thanking God for it.  In fact, Jeremy points out that we've already witnessed a miracle.  His kidney stone brought us to this awareness.  If it hadn't been for the stone and CT scan to follow up, we'd be continuing on just as he has for the last 15 years.  Doing nothing and knowing nothing about this rare cancer growing, and eventually spreading through his body. We already see how God is changing us, and making good out of what the enemy meant for harm.  This trial is sickening.  It is difficult, sad, frightening and exhausting.  But, without it, we would not be able to experience first hand, God's peace, comfort, strength, power, sovereignty and grace.

Our current challenge is anxiety.  Jeremy has moments where even though he knows the truths to get him through, his body reacts to the stress and unknowns of this whole situation.  I have always struggled with being an anxious person, so I am very aware of what he's going through and it breaks my heart.  I fret when I think ahead and ponder the unknowns.  When I worry about statistics and what other scary surprises may be ahead.  But I remind myself every moment, that we are commanded to think on things that are true, lovely and praiseworthy  (Philippians 4:8).  That we should not worry or fret, but instead let petitions and praises shape our worries into prayer, letting God know our concern (Philippians 4:6).  We are choosing to take this trial a day at a time and try very hard not to think ahead.  We lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus and let him carry us through.  Jeremy and I are a shining example of the power of prayer. I am so thankful for my family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who are interceding on our behalf.  When we don't have the words, or the strength, we have assurance that there are many who are praying us through this.

Tomorrow, we pray for no surprises.  We expect to leave the appointment encouraged, and more prepared to fight this cancer to it's permanent death!