Several years ago Kurt and I had the unbelievable privilege of traveling to the Holy Land. Every sight, smell, sound, taste and touch escorted my spirit deeper into the presence of my living Lord. When we boarded the plane that would take us back to the US, I felt as if I were leaving home instead of returning.
Imagining Christ kneeling in agony over the gnarled roots of an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood, dying to self as He surrendered His will to the Father’s, shook me to the core. That dying, that surrender, that choice to trust the Father completely – He did that for me and now calls me to daily follow Him down that same path. One other image from that trip has returned to encourage me time and again since last December: the empty garden tomb.
I will always remember climbing out of that dark, hollowed-out room, seeing the light, feeling the warmth and realizing the power of stepping over the threshold of that death-whole into victorious life just as Jesus had done.
A.B. Simpson says, “As we move forward in faith, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be tested. Sometimes we may have to wait and realize that ‘perseverance must finish its work’ (James 1:4). But ultimately, we will surely find ‘the stone rolled away’ (Luke 24:2) and the Lord Himself waiting to bestow a double blessing on us for our time of testing.”
Dear Father, let perseverance finish its work in me. Thank You that the stone is rolled away! Thank You that Life is my inheritance – abundant and free. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is my Life, your life, now and forevermore.
I saw my oncologist yesterday and had a chest x-ray to follow-up from two weeks ago when I had fluid drained from my right lung. The fluid is greatly reduced. Two weeks ago the doctor’s comment on the right lung tumor was that it showed no significant growth. Yesterday he had even better things to say: it was too small to see on an x-ray! His exact words, “I believe you’re stable in that area.” Oh I’m stable alright! My feet are on the Solid Rock.
Praising God for continued healing and praying for full and complete evidence of all He has done and is doing in me. As you continue to pray expecting, please intercede for strong, healthy bones, especially in my left hip and leg and my lower back. They’ll take a look with a CT scan this coming Monday. “All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, and the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?” Psalm 35:10
Victoriously standing at the EMPTY garden tomb.
Kristen, your faith and perseverance under severe trial is helping to lead ALL of us “further still” into His presence! We are traveling this journey with you on our knees, and you are NEVER alone!
Love, prayers, & hugs,
Peggy
Life, victorious life = Joy, unspeakable joy! He came that we may have life and have it abundantly! Live it, sister! All of it! Every moment matters to Him! Continue to pursue His holy presence, my friend! Oh how I love every bit of you! Imagining what that tomb looked like 2,000 years ago! What a place of strength and exhilarating triumph! Jesus makes all the difference…in life!
PRAYERS, ALWAYS to our Healer, for you !!!! & your Family
Much Love, CR
Love you Kristen. Praying fervently.
Yes, our dear earthly doctor, there IS a better way! Yes, Kristen & Kurt DO “have [a] faith”–one that you desperately need. We are praying that the doctor will choose Kristen’s healthcare plan, one that JESUS promises he can keep forever. Eternal praise for the intersessions of our Savior and of the saints both in Heaven & here below. Amen!! Rejoicing in the Lord!!
So excited to hear about your lung! We will continue to pray! Have a blessed day!
Right on Kristen! Loving that post, and agreeing with the comments too! Praying for your peace and comfort for Monday’s CT scan. Praying with boldness and expectation!
Your faith is so amazing to me! You inspire me daily as I pray for your complete healing.
Love you,
Jeanene
Jeanene, So good to hear from you. Thank you for those daily prayers. I sure need them! And, I know God is working through them. Love to you and Dad, Kristen
So wonderful to hear your positive news! I love how you’re a shining light in the medical community , showing who the ultimate healer is and how we can all work together in faith!!!!