Hi Chanin
This verse came to mind...

'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days... (Rev 2:10 NASB)

The point here is that wordly wisdom often takes refuge in phrases like; cheer up, it may not happen. God's encouragement is never vague or random. To this church He had predicted trial, but, and this is the point...

He knew that fear of the future could do more damage than the future itself.

Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. (1Co 10:13 GNB) Every trial he leads us into has its fixed duration. There's an old hymn referring to the Smyrna church above which has a line which says

..if God hath set their number ten, they ne'er shall be eleven.

What can you pray? I don't think you can pray 'Lord, don't let it be...' but you can pray 'Lord, whatever this is, we can handle it'.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. (Isa 12:2-4 KJV)

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Ron Bailey

Hi fellow brothers and sisters(don't know how many we have of those? :)

I am bringing this back up because tomorow morning at 10:30am I am to have my procedure done. I am really praying that I will be filled with His presence - and His peace (so I don't run out of the office :) No, really, I believe that if I am filled with His presence, that I will be ok. I am trusting the Lord to walk through this with His hand upon me.

I would so appreciate if you might pray for this for me as well. The prayers of a righteous man avail much (comes to mind here).

Thanks so much for your caring thoughts and remarks and prayers.

Satisfied in Him alone, Chanin

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Chanin

Fear not only believe.

Will be praying for you Chanin.
You are in good hands.

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Mike Balog

Chanin
I received this in the post today, and thought of you...

The Lord appeared to Abraham and said
"I am El Shaddai", God All Sufficient.
Down into the depths of this, Thy Name,
My God I sink and dwell in calm delight.
Thou art enough, however long the day;
Thou are enough, however long the night.
Thou art my God, the inexhaustible One;
Thou can'st create for me whate'er I lack.
Having Thyself, I have a sure supply.
Thy mighty hand hath strewn the backward track
With miracles of love and tender care for me, Thy trusting one,
My God, I dare once more to fling myself upon Thy breast,
And find in Thee a perfect peace and rest.

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Ron Bailey

I shared this verse with someone else but I thought it might encourage you as well. 2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

Yes, Chanin the battle is His and He will be with you today.

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Ed Pugh

Oh, wow- is all I can say. I can't say that it wasn't terrible- for me it was. But the worst part is hearing "this looks like melanoma, but it could also be a pigment 'whatever'" (didn't catch the whole name).

I came home and grieved for a while but i am doing better. I am going to try not to think too much about it until I get the test results. The real problem I have is knowing what other procedures have to be done IF the test come back as cancerous. I barely made it through this procedure without totally losing it.

I am praying that if it is the Lord's will that He might take this cup from me- but then again, It is His will- not mine.

Thank you all for your prayers. I can't imagine what i would have been like without them. Probably would have chickened out or fainted all together (which I almost did anyway). They want to try to get me to take a sedative before they do these things- but i didn't. I want it to be the Lord who is my only sedative. He is my rock.

The Lord has seen fit to give me something really positive at this time to help keep my mind off of all of this- Nancy DeMoss's new book called "Holiness" just came out and I bought a copy last night. Yeah!!!!! I've been waiting for it!

Blessings to you all and may the Lord be more real to you each day that passes!!!!

In His perfect love, Chanin

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Chanin

Dear sister Chanin,

Just wanted to encouarge you. First things first. Will continue to pray and in the mean time in this 'unknown' time of awaiting may the Lord grant you His peace.

No need to go into all the details because we know nothing yet, but my mom is still going through her treatment and is doing very well.
After brain surgery, there is/was two other areas and they were diagnosed as melanoma. One is gone and the other will require a bit more treatment.

Also my mother-in-law has breast cancer and is also doing very well.

So what am I trying to say?
Have no fear.
Regardless of what may or may not happen I know that in both these cases it was the prayers of the saints that affected the outcome, without a doubt. Your prayers Chanin as well as others here for which I will always be greatful.

Knowing this, that you have our prayers to butress you in this time and into whatever the future may hold, may they help to ease your mind and calm your soul.

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Mike Balog

Hi Chanin
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
(1Sa 7:12 KJV)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(Heb 13:5-6 KJV)

Be sure you 'boldly say it'... there is a time for praying and sometimes just a time for saying...

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Ron Bailey

Just wanted to update:

The Dr. called this morning and said that the lesion removed was positive for melanoma. The good thing is that it did not go as deep as some he has seen. He got the whole thing out.

Now , I must go to a specialist to do some test with radioactive dye and test some lymph nodes to see if it has spread at all. By God's grace I hope that will be all clear- then nothing will have to be removed.

You should have seen me in the surgery room while waiting for the dr. and nurse last week. When i get panicky, I have to pace- or walk around. So I paced back and forth and sang "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!" I am sure they thought I was a mental case. :-) But it helped! I will be doing the same thing when I go back in for more tests. Please pray with me that God's presence will be with me and fill the rooms I am in so that I might be a light to those I am with (Dr's and nurses included). May He get all the glory!

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement!

In the palm of His hand, Chanin

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Chanin