God's Sovereignty: He Can Be Trusted

Since I first mentioned my cancer diagnosis in February many have reached out to me with kind expressions of hope and encouragement. I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (left kidney) stage 4, which had spread to my left lung and liver. I shared that news here in Embrace Trials, Hold Joy, God is Near You.

Today, I can provide an update. On Wednesday I had a CT scan. This morning my oncologist called with the results. She said, 

"The scan looks great. Everything is stable. No new spots. Nothing is bigger and nothing is smaller. Should continue with the same therapy, maybe increase the dosage every 3rd or 4th day. All in all a good result."

For this my wife and family are grateful. While my cancer is incurable we are happy that my life expectancy is being extended. My quality of life, the chemotherapy side effects, has also much improved over time. In fact up until the weather recently turned I was able to get in a few rounds of golf. I hope to hit the slopes this winter as well.

In October I was found to have developed a skin cancer on my left hand. A minor surgery was performed to remove it. The good news is that they got it all, and had not spread. 

While my cancer is incurable, the chemotherapy has thus far reduced the size of the tumor and slowed its inevitable spread. Two previous CT scans showed the tumor had been reduced in size by approximately 50%. My wife Liz and I thank God for His loving kindness toward us as we walk this path He has entrusted to us.

Incidentally, in April I suffered a mild stroke and contracted bi-lateral Bells Palsy. All that right on the heels of the cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy issues. It was a vortex of issues one on top of another. I began to feel like Wylie E. Coyote waiting for the next anvil to drop.

I was born again in April 1979. From that day to this I knew that when I leave this corruptible body I would be in Heaven. The only thing I did not know was how I was going to get there. It appears, unless the Lord supernaturally heals my body, that question has been answered. 

Through all of this the Lord has given me many opportunities to tell of His goodness and witness to lost folks I otherwise never would have met. I want you all to know that when you face adversity, when life takes a turn that you had not anticipated God is in the midst. He is working out His perfect plan for your life and you do not need to be afraid of it. You can trust Him and find joy in trials. I am being prepared and perfected to enter into His presence.  It is our glorification we are all being prepared for and we need not fear it. 

Thanks again for your expressions of concern, encouragement and kindness.

Kind regards,

LM

Embrace Trials, Hold Joy, God is Near You

 In recent days reports on my physical health have begun circulating the Internet. Here are the details.

One month ago I was diagnosed with cancer. It was found while being treated for another minor issue. It is a Metastatic Kidney (Renal Cell) Carcinoma. The tumor is in my left kidney.  It is Stage 4 having spread to my left lung and liver. This particular cancer is incurable.

My oncologist started me this week on a course of medications, which targets and kills cancer cells, works to shrink the tumor and help manage my symptoms. In June a new CT scan will be done to measure the effectiveness of this treatment. There is no prognosis. We simply let the Lord work out his plan for me, while we wait on the results of the next scan.

In 2010 I had colon cancer. That tumor was surgically removed and I recovered over time. This, however, will be a different process.

I was born again in April 1979. Since then I have known two things: 1) I am on my way to Heaven, and 2) I can trust God’s will for me. On the former the only thing I never knew was how I’m going to get there. On the latter, I do not have to be afraid of God’s will for my life. He has never thrown me a curve.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God,” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

I am trusting in God’s perfect way for me. The hymn writer captures how I can have “Strength …to meet my trials here,” “That every day the Lord Himself is near me,” Our protection…is a charge that on Himself He laid,” “He will help me…in every tribulation,” “Till I reach the promised land.” Day By Day, lyrics by Lina Sindell (paraphrasing mine).

What we all learn in time is that you may not truly experience these things to the fullest until you are in a time of trial and tribulation. Embrace it, hold joy, God is near you. The blessed hope is our future.

LM