Monday, July 21, 2008

Hope Rejoices!


When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

He determines the number of stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power.
Psalm 8:3,4; 147: 4,5
Last week I was in darkness but not without hope! This week I come to you with praise on my lips and a heart that is singing with joy! The MRI that my younger brother had on Thursday, revealed no cancer! The neurologist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, etc. all agree that what was picked up by the PET image was damage from radiation treatments from 2005. My brother will be closely monitored but the team of doctors do not feel it is a life threatening problem.
The cancer was first removed in 2004 then showed cancer cells still present a year later. Just moments before the surgery in 2005, my cell phone rang. It was my older brother, reminding us that tears had gone before us. I knew that he was referring to the many prayers that our mother had prayed and that these prayers were kept in heaven. (Rev: 5:8) His voice sounded calm and confident.
This time I could not call my brother, nor could he call me, yet it seemed I could almost hear his voice, reminding me once again of those tears and prayers that had gone before us. I prayed that God would pour these prayers on my younger brother and that His will would be done, with hopes that no cancer would be found. My brother said he would be looking at six months to a year life expectancy if cancer was found on the brain. Both my brother and sister-in-law are doctors so I knew they had medical knowledge for all that was happening.
Everything that happened last week is a reminder of how fragile life is and how quickly our plans can unravel. So often, songs come to my mind when life gets tense and uncertain. Right now, I am thinking about the song, "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow."
I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;
I don't borrow from it's sunshine
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said;
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead
(chorus)
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand,
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.
Ira Stanphill
It is so true! We don't know what tomorrow holds but we know that God is in
every tomorrow. He will be there before we are. No surprises with God!
Isn't that good to know?