Hello Sister,

It is good to hear from you. My prayer is that God will sustain you through this time of trial and I know He will.

Your contributions and presence on this forum has been missed the last few days. My prayer is that God will greatly strengthen you and even carry you through this valley. Always remember- the Psalmist said- "though I walk through the valley... " that means that you will not always be in that valley. You are going THROUGH it. What is the worst thing that can happen to any of us in this life? The sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed.

God Bless and Prayers,

-Robert

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Robert Wurtz II

Robert,

The funny thing is that as I layed down for that first (terrifying in my mind) incision- the first thing that went through my mind was "and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." and what is the rest "I will not fear". God is teaching me so much about trusting Him. Even though I knew it all in my head- I am now having to experience it first hand.

I actually feel honored to go through these times as I see the hand of the Lord helping me and building me up in Him. All I can say is that He is so good to me, I know He will not give me more than I can handle and these are opportunities to grow in His likeness and to show His mighty power through a person who could do nothing of herself.

I have pretty much known all along in my spirit that it would be melanoma- but that I would not die. That yes, it is just another valley to be used to glorify Him as I rise up out of it.

Thanks so much for your kind words.

In Him, Chanin

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Chanin

Hi Chanin,

Will keep on praying for you, let us know when you go back in.

Also, loved your witnesing techniques, though that may not have been your intention :-)

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Mike Balog

At this point the Drs. want to go in and test the lymph nodes (whatever is closest to that spot) which would require them to remove them. :-( My husband's dear friend is against this and has recommneded that i go to a place called the Cole Center which is a holistic treatment center here in Cinci.

His wife had breast cancer in the mid 90's and is now cancer free- but they did not take any lymph nodes out. He says this can cause further health problems down the road (not draining properly and lowering the immune system.)

What is upsetting to me is that there is a blood test that can be done to test for cancer- yet the Dr's do not do this- they opt for surgery right away. We are looking into this Cole Center.

I am really praying for the Lord's leading in this situation. I am trusting that He will show us what He wants done. does anyone have any info or experience with this?

In Him, Chanin

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Chanin

this posting is not in the wrong section, although it may seem so...

When the risen Christ speaks to His churches in the book of Revelation He always reveals Himself in a way which is uniquely appropriate to the hearers. Each letter has a little discription of the writer. To Philadelphia He reveals Himself as the one who has the 'key of David'. Philadelphia is the church with a little strength, but which held on. His words are to 'him (or her) that heareth'. So to all who go through experiences where they feel they have 'a little strength' there is a word here for you.

He has the key of David. To understand that reference you need to read Isaiah 22 where you will discover that 'having the key of David' is actually a way of describing the Royal Treasurer. In Isaiah an unfaithful treasurer is sacked and a worthy replacement is given the 'key of the house of David'. The treasurer has all the king's wealth at his disposal, as well probably as the Royal Armoury. He can open the treasury and make its wealth available to whom he will. There is only one key; the whole of the treasury is under his personal control; no one else is consulted or their permission asked. He has the key... He openeth and no man shutteth, and closeth and no man openeth... No one can take this key, it is His by right.

Christ is heaven's treasurer. All power and authority has been given to Him and is at his personal disposal.

At times were are painfully conscious of our lacks, and we say 'I do not have... faith, patience, love, power... ' What does it matter what I don't have, if He has the key of David. All heaven's resources are open to us through the personal stewardship of the Son.

If all this sounds a little complicated, here is a simpler version... "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Phil 4:19

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Ron Bailey

Ron, I think I see what you are getting at, and it may be even confirming what i believe the Lord is trying to show me Himself.

I believe He is trying to get me to trust in Him totally and soley for my strength and for my hope, etc... not even one ounce of striving or mustering up any strength or courage in my own strength/flesh will helpme- or if it does help it is still not His will for it to be.

I had a dream last night about a girl i used to know who ran all the time. She was a terrific runner, I always wished I could run like that. In my dream she was running terribly (terrible form, awkward) She had lost her running form. Then she was very upset that her horse had died (she really did not have one in real life). She was so distraught about this. Her running had died along with the horse.

I see that a horse represents fleshly strength just as the running represented maybe striving (she ran to look good and keep her weight down).

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Chanin

I want to let everyone who has held me up in their prayers, that after removing a bigger area on my lower back, the tests have come back that this surrounding area is cancer-free! Praise the Lord!!!!!! I can't tell you what I have been through emotionally, spiritually and physically in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, after learning how deadly that melanoma can be, I had a major breakdown last Thursday caused by emotional stress that I am still feeling some effects from that. Honestly, I felt like I was a total wimp through out the whole thing- yet I prayed and sang and did what ever I could (and I know I had the prayers of others). I was so sorry that I was not a better witness for the Lord with my emotional strength- yet everyone around me heard and saw my devotion to my Lord. I took praise songs in my c.d. player into the surgery room, I prayed outloud while the Dr.s did surgery. In my weakness, the Lord was strong. In my wimpiness, He still got the glory. :)

There are some tests which I could still have done in my lymph nodes, but after researching this procedure and feeling peace from the Lord on this- I have opted to be content that it is all gone. There are too many "ifs" about this node biopsy that my husband and I do not feel comfortable with. Hence, there is a chance that the melanoma could spread through the blood- but the possibilty in this case would be rare. I am trusting the Lord on this one and will not undergo unnecessary procedures that might risk other things.

I thank you all for your prayers!!! I thank the Lord for His goodness. After I got the good news, I wanted so badly to repay Him with something, offer Him some sweet smelling sacrifice- but all I could do was give Him myself, again completely. I know that is not good enough- yet I know that He loves me enough to count it as sweet-smelling.

I do want to let you know also that last year, I had a dream that 3 different tidal waves came crashing down on me, one after the other. I knew to hold my breath and to swim to the top each time. With the third tidal wave, I did not reach the top. I was under water still- alive but under water. I said to myself "Am i dead?". In reality- with each tidal wave has come a huge trial, and with each tidal wave, I held my breath and in my own strength swam to the top to "breath on my own". With this last tidal wave, there was no way, in my own strength that i could make it to the top and live again like I did before, with my own breath. This time it took me down and I was completely engulfed in the water. He wanted to be my breath, He didn't want me to live by my own breathing, by my own strength. Though I thought I was dead to "self" before and not really living in my own strength anymore. Now I see that I still had some of "me" still hanging on. Some vanities, etc... If I live now, it is Him living in me. I feel like I, as I once was, exist no more. He is my breath, He is my life. My "self" is in his hands for Him to do what He pleases with. I honestly thought I meant that before all of this happened, but now I see that He knows our hearts better than we do. He knows what it takes to get us to die to "self". He also knows how much we can handle and will not allow more than this.

Whatever the enemy meant for me through all of this- praise God, the Lord means to do so much better!

Thanks again and blessings to you all!

In Him, Chanin

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Chanin

Praise God!

If it had been the Lord's time to take you home, knowing you were in a more blessed state than you could ever know here would've made it easier to deal with, but this place would sorely miss one of God's greatest tools in building us up.