Exiting a whirlwind week! So much has happened in the past 7 days that it hardly seems real. Here’s a brief timeline:
Friday, Dec. 7– After much prayer and seeking Godly council, Kurt resigns his position at Southeast Christian Church taking a financial step of faith in obedience to God’s call to join Further Still full-time in a ministry of making disciples (DC: Thoroughly Equipped), Excellent Things and Marriage and Family Discipleship. We are excited to work together in ministry!
At 5PM that announcement goes out to all the staff at Southeast.
At 5:10PM, my doctor calls to inform me that I have a spot on my lung that will need a biopsy. I have been experiencing some back pain that I assumed was a pulled muscle.
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 8-9,: Kurt and I attend the four weekend services at the Oldham Campus and make the announcement of Kurt’s resignation to the church family.
Saturday PM, The elders anoint me with oil and pray over me
Monday, Dec. 10: Doctor appointment
Tuesday, Dec. 11: MRI, CT, ultra sound & other tests all day
Wednesday, 12/12/12: Dr. says there’s a tumor on my right lung and he says it looks like cancer. He also says it doesn’t make sense. I appear to be healthy otherwise and have no risk factors for lung cancer.
Thursday, Dec. 13: Day of rest
Friday, Dec. 14: Biopsy
Saturday – Sunday Dec. 15-16: Rest Days, waiting for results of biopsy
Monday, Dec 17: PET scan
Thursday, Dec. 20: Dr. appointment to hear results
We truly believe this is an attack from the evil one. We greatly appreciate all of those praying and graciously helping us during this time of trial. We are so thankful for Christ and His bride!
You can continue to pray specifically for great faith, increased faith, to trust and believe in the love and care of our Father. How can we not? He has always been so faithful.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Thank you for warring on our behalf!
The “Thirsty Brothers” men’s group at Oldham is warring on your behalf. Shoulder to shoulder, we are standing with you against this attack. The evil one has no authority here.
Kristen,
You are in my prayers for sure. Satan sure has a way of trying to block a Godly decision. I will be praying for your physical needs as well as that spiritually you will feel God’s warm embrace, and His blessed assurance that He is with you every minute. I can’t hardly wait to hear how He will turn this around and smack the evil one in the face with His overcomming success.
Kristen, I don’t know you personally, but I know who you are and I know your husband as a leader in the church. My husband (you may know Joe Shaw – plays guitar with Southeast worship team) and myself will be praying with you through this. Knowing that our God is very capable of miracles we will expect the very best for you. Our thanks to the two of you for all of the love in your hearts that you share with all those who witness you. Prayers to lift you up high before the Lord God in praise and petition . . .
with love, Judy and Joe.
Dear Kristen & Kurt,
We will be praying for you every evening. Please keep us posted.
Love,
Julia & Ivan
I will pray that God will be glorified in all this..that He will reveal Himself to you in a deeper way than you ever have known before..that you will be able to rest in His presence, and trust in His sovereignty. I have been desparate for several years, day at a time..and with each new challenge, He just makes His presence that much more precious, and powerful. Fear not… rest in His peace… Trust in His power… As others intercede for you. He is singing over you even now..and our Almighty God, the head of Angel armies, has asked us to run to Him and cry out. And so we will. Blessings to you dear.
Kristen,
I have been praying for you and your family since learning of this diagnosis on your radio program this past Friday. Please know our family continues to keep all of you in our prayers. We join you in trusting God to take away this cancer and to do the divine work in you, that only He can do.
Love and prayers,
Pam Holbrook
Praying for you Kristen and your family, your ministry, all that God has planned for you.
I trust that you know that God is in control. 🙂 I will commit to praying daily for you that this is a testing of your faith that will produce endurance. You are His and He WILL provide.
Sincerely and with love,
Susan Steitz
We are praying God’s peace for you and for an “all clear” from the doctor!
Love and Prayers,
The Bowmans
Praying for you and your family
Praying.
Kristen,
We are praying for you. Greater is HE that is in me than he who is in the world…. When you are weak He that is when He is the strongest. Praying you feel his strength and all the prayers that are going out for you and your family.
In His Hands,
The Smith Family
Kristen, I am Kathleen Davidson’s mother. I just learned of your recent health issues and want you to know that you will be constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I have met you and Kurt briefly at SECC. I know that God has His loving arms wrapped tightly around you. I work in the medical field and while I know this is scary I have seen manycases where things turn out to be noncancerous, despite what they may look like. I will have you in my prayers from this moment on.
Susan Parks
Kristen,
I wanted you to know how shocked and saddened I was to read this blog entry but I have to share with you how huge and amazing our God is. Last night I was up all night with a terrible stomach virus. While being so miserable and sick all through the night, I was told by God, though not audible, that I was given this virus as a way to pray for you. That each time I was getting sick and feeling so queezy to cover YOU in prayer. I will gladly take on anything as a prayer reminder for you. Thought it was so special that God thinks so highly of YOU to use somebody like me to pray all night with and for you. I am feeling somewhat better this morning but will not stop praying for you. While getting sick I wondered if I just felt so sick about you that that was why the virus came over. The enemy is at work but our God is stronger and is using people like me who barely know you to cover you in prayer. God is so good and I know he will bring you through this! Much love Kristen
Kathleen Davidson
Wow Kathleen,
I just read this out loud to Mom and she started crying as she was so encouraged and blow away by God’s grace. For several nights in a row she was waking up at 3am with discouraging thoughts. She finally cried out to God and asked that He wake someone else up to pray on her behalf. There have been several people who have said that they woke up in the middle of the night to pray. We believe that YOU are an answer to prayer.She has been sleeping through the night. Thank you for praying, we need it! We are so grateful for you and your family.
In Christ, Olivia
Praying for complete healing. Evil is all around us, and we must cling to our sweet Jesus all that much tighter. Blessings to you.
I am so sorry to hear this and will be diligently praying for you and your family.
We are praying God’s peace and your health to be renewed. And all the angels to touch you with his glory . God is a great God and he is in charge. Thinking and pray for you and your family. The Stakelbeck
Kristen, lifting you and Kurt and your sweet family in prayer. Love and blessings~
Kristin,
You and your family will be in our prayers! Just now prayed for God to grant you peace and comfort through this difficult journey. You and Kurt have greatly impacted our family over the years and we appreciate you guys SO much!
Kristen and Kurt – a year ago our family moved from KY to CA to help my sister who was diagnosed with Stage IV NSLC. She too had no risk factors. We have learned much about lung cancer and treatment. If you would like her contact info, please let me know. Her blog is: momwithluncancer.blogspot.com, and also has a lot of resources. Please know that we are praying for you all.
Kristen,
I just recently learned of your diagnosis and I want you to know that my family and I are praying for you and your precious family. If there is anything else we can do, please reach out to us. It would be an honor to serve you and your family.
With love,
Cindy Lampe-Clegg
Praying for you, Kristen! We love you and your family! Praying for you!
Kristen,
Although I do not know you personally, I will absolutely commit your circumstances to prayer. My mom was diagnosed with a spot on her lung when she was 67 years old. They said it pointed to cancer. They ended up removing a lot of her right lung. She was in the hospital for quite some time, but recovered beautifully. She is now 88 years old. May God’s faithful presence, power, and comfort, prove to give you strength and peace….and may His healing hand make you whole!
Praying for you and your family knowing God will lift you up. As a survivor of cancer I now how powerful prayer can be. So, know you will be in my thoughts everyday. As a nurse trust in yourself and your feelings research every holistic strategy there is as God put on this earth everything we need to battle illness.
Praying for strength and a full recovery. God bless you while you fight this disease. Linda, Don, children and grandchildren of Southeast. XO
Praying for you Kristen. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you….. I’ll pray for you everyday and will look forward to all the updates, and the good news that God is healing your body. Stay strong, laugh and know that you are loved by so many, especially God.
Kurt and Kristen;
Know that we pray for you every morning during our prayer time. Becki starts her chemo on the 26th. Looks like we may walk through this together. God is bigger than any illness or fear!
Kristen,
So sorry to hear this news. Praying for strength for you as you face this Cancer. You have been such a blessing to us. God is still on His throne, and we will Pray daily to him for healing.
Blessing,
Joel, Becky, Nick and Max Keutzer
My prayers are with you and your family. God is in control and you are HIS loving child. I pray the cancer will be completely healed also.
God Bless you and your family. With Love and Blessings, Vickie
Praying for you and your family, Kristen.
Love,
Malia
Kristen,
Letting you know that you and your family are in the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Lifehouse.
May you constantly feel the warm embrace of Jesus at every moment of this journey.
Fondly,
Joan Smith
Dear Kristin, you have been such a blessing on my life for the 15 years I have lived in Louisville and have attended SECC! I am in continuous prayer for you and am blessed to be another who is waking at 3 am with you on my heart! I remember hearing you speak at a women’s Bible study and how encouraged I was by you. I have watched your family cause major ripple effects and lives have been changed because of it! I will pray for complete healing, for your fear to be taken away, for peace , for strength and for God to be glorified through this storm! You are deeply loved!
Kristen,
I heard Greg mention your name in the service Sat nite in relation to going thru a difficult time and I didn’t hear anything after that. I think I audibly said “what’s going on with Kristen?” I immediately texted a friend who would know (yes, during the service. I never text during church) and she texted back the “bad report”. My text back to her was UNACCEPTABLE. I was shaken but a righteous anger against the schemes of the enemy has been rising ever since. Kristen, I’m in! I’ve been recruited by the Spirit of God. I’ve been in this intercessory prayer battle for years and I’ve found the best WARRING TOOLS: DECLARING GOD’S WORD OUT LOUD, LOVE, PRAISE, WORSHIP & THE NAME. His name is Jehovah Rapha. His Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside your mortal body. Press in to His Beautiful Name!! Press in to your Good Shepherd!! In the presence of your enemies just feast at the table of the Lord. In all your thoughts acknowledge “His Name”. We love you and your family and we will not come into agreement with the spirit of infirmity, but we will come in to agreement with the Truth of God, the Names of God, and the Spirit of God for the glory of the ONE who conquered death, hell and the grave, our LORD Jesus Christ. Our eyes are fixed on HIM. We love you guys!!!
Praying
Kristen,
You have always been so dear to my heart since our first meeting. Your heart for Jesus and your giving spirit has touched my life. My heart was saddened,but then I heard God speak to my spirit “My daughter Kristen will shine for me through this, going Further Still for Me. Many marriages, families and lives will be strengthen & souls saved through her testimony. I will watch over her and protect her. You, must do your part and pray faithfully & share her story as well as share Me.”So that is what I have been doing since I heard about the cancer praying faithfully every day sometimes being awakened and sharing Kristen’s story. I am reminded of Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Praying for you sweet Kristen and your amazing family!