Hope Perseveres

But I will Hope continually, and will

yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Hope

Hope reaches out in darkness . . . and touches God.

I love the word HOPE!
When hope touches God, there is a peace that cannot be explained. This peace gives the faith and assurance that God is in control and that His sweet will is far better than anything we could ask for.
When my daughter was so very ill we were praying and hoping for her healing. Then came the day when hope touched God and that unexplainable peace filled my heart and mind and soul. Things did not go as I prayed, yet when God's peace came, I could lift my head and give praise and honor and glory knowixng that God "holds the whole world in His hands."
Less than a year ago my older brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. How frightened I was when I was told the news. I prayed and hoped and prayed and hoped then once again the peace came and I knew that God's will was being done. He lived only a few weeks after the diagnosis but I had several wonderful visits and talks with him, while he was in the hospital. And even though I miss both my daughter and brother more than I can convey, the peace remains.
I have a younger brother that over three years ago, underwent surgery for a serious type of cancer on his face, close to the eye in the temple area. We were all so frightened and things looked somber but the surgery went well and the surgeon gave him as much as a 90 or 95% survival rate. Each year he has had PET Imaging and last week he had his third image. Two of the doctors had released him, and seemed confident that the cancer had been eradicated. But this PET image shows something on the brain that wasn't there before and he is scheduled for an MRI in the morning that will be more accurate in the characterization of any malignancy. We as well as the doctor was taken by surprise yet Hope remains that the MRI will not reveal cancer.
I am praying for God's will and praying for God's peace. I am not there yet. I do not have the peace that I long to have. . not yet. I am still reaching in the darkness to touch God. As I write, my heart hurts so deeply. And my brother and his wife are suffering greatly.
And so this post is just to say that I covet your prayers for my younger brother that I love so very, very much. He has been a strength and help in our family for many years and now he needs our strength and support. . . and God's peace. . . the peace that only He can give!

Here are the words of a song that keeps going through my mind.

"God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way

He will make a way."

Don Moen

I'm holding to that!

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?

The Pathway

To Grandmother

Shattered and broken,

I lay at your feet.

No strength to go on,

too many ghosts do defeat.

Gently. . . you stroked my head.

Quietly. . . you dried my tears.

You somehow gave me courage

to face all my fears.

I looked to your face;

so gentle. . . so wise.

I leaned on the strength

that glowed in your eyes.

You shared how you too,

had once walked this road.

You knew what it felt like

to carry this load.

For years now, I've looked

to you for my strength

trusted you to help me

when I felt I might sink.

But soon now your journey

of toil will be through,

and I can't help but wonder

What will I do?

Where will I go

when my confidence wanes?

Where will I turn

when I'm broken with pain?

Seems now I hear you. . .

your voice sweet and low;

"Seek the path I have traveled

it shows where to go."

I look down that path

and I see at its end

a shadowy vision

that shows where you've been.

There in the dirt

worn down through the years

are two tiny knee prints

and a cup full of tears.

Holding the cup

sits a man robed in white.

His face wise and gentle

His eyes full of light.

I listen in awe

to the words He now speaks

for somehow He knows

the answers I seek.

"Shattered and broken

SHE lay at MY feet.

No strength to go on,

too many ghosts to defeat.

Gently. . . I stroked her head.

Quietly. . . I dried her tears

I then gave her courage

to face all her fears.

Her journey's soon over

but there's room

here for you.

She cleared the path. . .

So YOU would know what to do.

Darlene

Toward the end of my mother's life, my daughter Darlene wrote this poem for her.

Both have now completed life's journey. This same Jesus will lead each of us every step of the way. And when that last step is taken, we will be home! What a glorious day that will be!

"We'll sing and shout

and dance about

the lamb will dry our tears

We'll have a grand homecoming week

The first ten thousand years!"

R. Browning