Another three-week cycle has passed this Sunday night and tomorrow afternoon I get to high-five my oncologist after my fourth and final round of chemo, praise God! I have been waiting for this day and have finally gotten there – one day at a time. The down side is that round three’s accumulation tuckered me out even more, so after round four my high-five may resemble a low-three by the end of the week.
Even though my body is tired right now, I stand (or lounge cozily if needed…) as a testament to Christ’s personal triumph in this here child of His. An older translation of II Corinthians 2:14 expresses my testimony this way: “Now thanks be to God who leads us on in the train of His triumph!”
In my November 14 post Fleeing Seven Ways, I wrote about the Lord God mounting His steed on my behalf in conquest of the Enemy. Tonight as I contemplate the last chemo infusion filling my body again with less than desirable drugs, I can sleep soundly knowing that God’s final act of defeat of the Enemy includes me being led forth from this time on in the train of His Son’s triumph.
I have experienced health in the midst of cancer – an oxymoron if I ever heard one! – yet I know it’s true because I have lived it these last months. My reality has been Christ’s life living inside my body. His strength has been my strength as He has orchestrated the flow of the chemo drugs. If God could set the boundaries of the ocean and tell it “…this far you may come and no farther…” (Job 38:11), then surely He could set like boundaries for the chemo. I have not doubted that what needed to be protected He has protected, and what has needed to be assaulted by the drugs has been allowed to do its job. The fruit of His faithfulness is proven by the lack of side effects I have suffered. So much of what could have been hasn’t.
It is an honor to hold your head high when you know you’re following the Triumphant Christ. My head may be bald for a season, but I bear on it the mark of His kiss of love, protection, and new life.
Like anyone else who has undergone cancer treatment of various sorts, I am glad to see the chemotherapy coming to an end. As I continue to recover and lean upon more of Christ’s strength and stamina for coming out of this treatment season, I am looking forward to Phase Three of this lengthy journey – reconstruction surgery in late February 2011. Though I’ve wondered several times what more my body can take, the experiential reality of how the Lord has lived me through all this settles me. He is here now beating in my breast, and He’s already waiting for me in the future.
He is my Triumph, and I am…
Being led on,
Gracefully Free
Gracefully Free aka Nancy Charlene,
We grew up and I knew you as my little sister.
I got married and I knew you as my younger sister.
You got married and I knew you as my sister, where
our lives now had much more in common.
The last several years ABBA has had it in His heart to
bind us together even stronger for His purpose.
I have had the joy of ministering along side you,
rejoicing in the Woman of God I saw transformed
from the caterpillar to the Exquisite Butterfly.
I have had the honor to take my place assigned by
Holy Spirit, in this journey of even more transformation.
I rejoice with you as you finish this leg of this historic
journey tomorrow. We now look forward to the time
of reconstruction (so much impact in that one word!)
This had been a journey that has forever changed your
life, and those who have surrounded you, but the
greater revelation is, as you partner and co-labor with
Jesus, Messiah, you will change the world!
Sister, I know you as a co-laborer in Christ, a fellow
world changer, bringing the Kingdom of God to this
earth!
“FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND THROUGH THE
BLOOD OF JESUS, WE WORSHIP YOU!”
I love you, Jan
Rejoices in His Graciousness
Nancy… I rejoice with you in this step in your journey. You are a testimony to God’s never ending grace, out of the box all over the place. I pray that the next step of your journey will also be ‘out of the box.’
You encourage all who have met you in your blog. Praise His …Holy name. God bless you as you rest in His arms after this fourth chemo treatment knowing His care is there keeping you from harm, rocking you into vibrant health. with love…. your sister…. patricia
Dear Jan and Patricia – I love sisters…birth ones and ones in Christ 🙂 You are two of the loveliest ones God has blessed me with, with your encouragement and hearts for fervent prayer and intercessory worship. I have no adequate words to thank you both (and the rest of your Bible study group) for praying and loving me to health in the midst of this journey. My heart is full as God leads us all on arm in arm in the train of His wonderful triumph. We are victorious in Him! Love you both, Nanc