Let it Snow

Today is Saturday, Nov 22nd and it is snowing. I love snow. It comforts me. It gives me hope. It is as if a clean white blanket fell from heaven and covered the death and decay of the late autumn season. I, too, need a clean white blanket to fall on me. Two days ago, we met with the surgeon, Dr. Patricia Bryden. She spent 1 1/2 hours with us, explaining all my options. I never thought I would ever be in this place in my life -- having to make such decisions about my body in order to save my life. My husband and daughter deliberated -- what should I do? Dr. Bryden said, "do what is in your heart. Don't decide today; you have until Monday." I filled out the paperwork for surgery and we came home to a house full of people. We had a Bible study and a birthday party for Doug -- his 53rd birthday. Not the birthday present I wanted to give him -- but hey, this is life. Raw and real. And God is here with me -- He will never leave me or forsake me.

I awoke Friday and said to Natalie, "Let's go shopping." When all else fails, shop. At least for that day. I needed to get out of the house and do something normal. So we did Christmas shopping. Took baby Aiden and shopped. All through the day, the decision loomed over my head like an alien being, trying to make me afraid. I pushed it away. I prayed. God will show me what to do. I know He will. I guess I already knew. I knew before I went to the surgeon. But I didn't want to admit it, because in admitting it, it becomes even more real. It wasn't until 12:30 Friday night that I accepted it -- I will have a radical mastectomy. And after that, deal with what comes next. Chemotherapy is on the slate for me -- I have faith that God will get me through that as well, even though I do not want the 'cup of chemo' - I'm asking my friends to pray that I will not have to have it. Yet the doctor said because of the size of the mass (2.4 cm) and my young age, that I will probably have to have it. But you know? God IS bigger than what medical science says. He created medical science. And miracles still happen.

I will have my surgery on Wednesday, December 3rd. Perhaps on Friday next if there is O.R. time, but for sure the following Wednesday. I will be discharged the same day and ExtraMural will come to the house to care for me. Pray that there is no cancer in the lymph nodes, as that is another operation and radiation.

So here I am on this snowy day, writing about cancer. We were just watching a show about fly fishing on TV. I remarked to Doug that I wouldn't mind fly fishing as I love being outdoors. As the show neared commercial break, a woman with breast cancer spoke about a recovery program for breast cancer patients where they learn how to fly fish (www.castingforrecovery.com). Wow. I guess I'll take up fishing. when all else fails, fish.

To God be the glory................deb

Every Day is a Gift

Every day is a gift. The fact that we open our eyes in the morning means that God has given us another day on this earth. A gift -- even this day is a gift -- today is the day we go to meet with the surgeon to get the plan of action. I will not be afraid; I seek the help of God and I can feel the prayers of people interceding on my behalf.

The enemy of cancer is attacking my physical body, and I am helpless to do anything about it on my own, apart from resting in God and in His peace. He will fight the battle for me. 2 Chron 20:15-17 says that the battle is not mine, but God's. That I do not need to fight this battle, but to stand firm, hold my position, and see the Lord fight it for me. I am NOT to be afraid or dismayed, but to face the enemy that has invaded my body. God is with me and will fight for me; for us -- our family and friends. Our faith is truly being built -- faith in a God who is able to do so much more than we can ask or imagine. We WILL stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord on this day.

"Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you....Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." 2 Chron 20:17,20

I am Blessed

I am blessed. I am blessed with family, children, grandchildren,friends, students, parents of students, acquaintances, business associates, ministry friends. I have been receiving SO much encouragement -- phone calls, emails, visits, gifts, meals, an outpouring from people everywhere. This has held me up this past week as I await an appointment with the surgeon this Thursday afternoon. Waiting is hard. The unknown is certainly that -- unknown. My daughter and grandson arrived home last week to stay with us until December 16th. I am blessed to have them in the house -- I am not lonely while waiting. Just their presence here comforts me. I am blessed to have people drop by and share their lives with me. I am blessed by all my students -- it keeps my mind off this 'thing' for a few minutes each lesson. Although I am a bit weary and struggling to rest, I am still blessed. I love having people in our home. I know that I am being called to a rest for a time. My daughter is trying to help me in this, but I think it takes awhile for me to slow down. I did watch a Christmas movie this afternoon and laughed. Laughter is good medicine. I love to laugh. Tonight a friend stopped by to give me and my daughter a pedicure, however, another friend arrived as well, and received a pedicure, along with my daughter. I taught another student. Babies, pedicures, students playing classical music. What could be better? God is good. Night.

The Day the Rock Fell

Monday, November 10, 2008. The day the 'rock' fell. The day I was given a diagnosis of breast cancer. Me? Are you sure? It's not possible! My husband told me and I doubled over and wept. Fear swept over me like a black cloud. We held each other and cried. "We'll get through it, Deb, we'll get through it." I felt sick to my stomach. We lay on the bed and I cried some more. I writhed and cried. What a terrible feeling. We sent out the word for prayer right away. The prayers went up and the peace began to come down. I sang, "The Lord is My Shepherd." We went to the doctor to hear the report. I prayed for strength -- Lord, you got me through many things in my life and You are faithful -- now, can I have more strength for this? I asked the question everyone asks in times like these: "Why me, Lord?" Just like the song says. This is my lifesong and my lifesong sings. God spoke to my heart, "so that I will be glorified."

That day was one of shock, tears, and fears. That night before bed, God spoke to my heart again -- "this sickness will not end in death." I knew it was a verse and looked it up. It is from John 11, where Jesus' good friend, Lazarus, is sick. His sisters send word to Jesus, because they know Jesus can heal him: "Jesus, the one you love is sick..." Look at the verse:

"When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it."

I couldn't believe it: the two statements God spoke to me are put together in this one verse. I knew it was a 'word' to hold on to. I wrote it down and think of it often. I will not die, but live, and live to praise the God who will allow me to keep on living.

I plan to write further posts about this new 'chapter' in my life -- the MIDDLE chapter. I think I'll call my book, "The Book of Deborah; Don't Worry, It's Not Part of the Apocrypha." Anyone want to order a copy?

The process begins.

We Fall Down

We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus. We need to lay down our desires, our aspirations, so He can pick them up and do something with them.

God and Fog

I have been staying on Grand Manan Island for a week now. What a beautiful place that God has created. This morning, we walked up to the Look Out and did we look out! The ocean is so vast, it takes your breath away. Then the fog rolled in and now it is raining a pour, and I can't see the ocean anymore -- but I know it is out there. Just like God -- sometimes I can see Him, but other times the fog rolls in (problems or trials), and I can't see God so clearly. But I know He's there; I saw Him before the fog rolled in. Now I just have to wait 'til the fog lifts; the sun will come out again.

Ukulele Blues

My 11-year-old nephew recently purchased a ukulele (or should i say, "an ukulele?"). His name is Luke (interesting that Luke's name is embedded in the name of the instrument). It's a green ukulele, which is also an interesting colour for a ukulele. Oh well, I digress. Luke told the salesperson today when purchasing this unique instrument that I thought it wasn't really an instrument. (I actually own an instrument, but don't play it, preferring my guitar). After having tuned it for him and actually playing the wonderful instrument a few times (even composing a blues tune for my mother), I have decided to change my mind and publicly announce that the ukulele is now, in my mind, a unique instrument. Happy, Luke?

It's Summertime and the Livin' is Easy?

Is livin' easier in the summer? Seems like it should be. But we are still faced with the same issues, are we not? Bills to pay, places to go, people to see. Our routine changes -- we like it for a season, but when that season is over, we tend to welcome the routine -- work and then play. We are not meant to play all the time, which is the ideal of summertime livin'. Solomon says that we should find enjoyment in our work. We are created to work -- at something, whether that's raising a child, tending a house or building a house. Let's welcome the summer and enjoy a bit of reprieve from routine, but look forward to our schedule returning come fall. More later as I experience this summertime livin'.

Who I am in Christ

Want to know WHO you really are? Search these Scriptures and find yourself transformed by the power of the Word of God to us.

If you are IN Christ (that is, you BELIEVE in the only Son of God; that He died for your sins, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and now reigns) , then every one of these statements is true of you:

You are loved -- 1 John 3:3
You are accepted -- Eph 1:6
You are a child of God -- John 1:12
You are Jesus' friend -- John 15:14
You are a joint heir WITH Jesus, and you share His inheritance with Him -- Rom 8:17
You are united with God and one spirit with Him -- 1 Cor 6:17
You are a temple of God. His spirit and his life lives in you -- 1 Cor 6:19
You are a member of Christ's body -- 1 Cor 12:27
You are a saint -- Eph 1:1
You are redeemed and forgiven -- Col 1:14
You are complete in Jesus Christ -- Col 2:10
You are free from condemnation -- Rom 8:1
You are a new creation because you are in Christ -- 2 Cor 5:17
You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved -- Col 3:12
You are established, anointed, and sealed by God -- 2 Cor 1:21
You are full of love, power and a sound mind -- 2 Tim 1:7
You are God's co-worker -- 2 Cor 6:1
You are seated in heavenly places with Christ -- Eph 2:6
You are given the right to directly access God -- Eph 2:18
You are chosen to bear fruit -- John 15:16
You are one of God's living stones -- 1 Pet 2:5
You are blessed with great and precious promises of God and thus able to share His nature -- 2 Pet 1:4
You are able to know the presence of God because He never leaves you -- Heb 13:5
You are given the privilege of having God work in you -- Phil 2:13
You are able to ask God for wisdom an He will give you what you need -- James 1:5

P.H.A.T.

On Saturday, April 19, I spoke in the lovely seaside village of St. Martins. I LOVE going there. I could live there (although I want to live everywhere I go). My topic was how to be P.H.A.T. in a P.H.A.T. world. The world's definition of PHAT is this: "Pretty Hot and Tempting." I came up with this acronym for how we ARE as Christian women of God: "Pretty Holy and Threatening!" And that we are! Thanks be to Jesus for providing us the way to be PHAT!

Ask the Lord for What?

This morning while praying, I asked the Lord for these three things: His Protection, His Provision and His Peace. What more could I ask for?

Grandbaby #4 born!

Wednesday, March 26th, another grandbaby born into the MacDonald/DuBois clan. Our daughter, Natalie and husband Joshua, living in The Pas, Manitoba have received the precious gift of an 8 lb 5 oz baby boy! "Aiden Joshua" is his name. He is the now the eldest of how many children, Natalie? Time will tell! We are so excited for them, and can't wait to see them when we travel to Manitoba in April. Daddy Josh is now an RCMP officer, and they are living in their very first house....

Proud grandparents are, of course, Doug & Deb MacDonald and Dave & Wendy DuBois! God is so good!

New Baby born into the MacDonald Clan!

Well, today, on Monday, March 17, 2008 -- Saint Patrick's Day, a young Scottish lass was born into the MacDonald Clan. Daughter of Jonathan Alton Douglas and Alicia Dawn MacDonald, an 8 lb 11 oz doll baby...."Ivy Isabel MacDonald," a sister for Afton Natalie and Jack Gregory MacDonald.

Proud grandparents are Doug and Deb MacDonald and Greg and Nancy Bubar.

Clan Donald is flourishing!

The Gospel

"...If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Roman 10:9-13)

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other true message but this one. May the world know.

Snow

I love snow. It's been snowing today since noon. I love to be cloistered in the house while it's snowing, or outside wading around, and one could certainly do that today! I sat in the armchair this afternoon and watched it fall outside my big picture window. It has a way of calming my soul. I also read the Bible and felt the comfort of the Word of God. Snow is falling on pine trees in my world.

Happy New Year

Well, it's January 1, 2008. A year of new beginnings. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Gen 1:1,2).

This is the beginning of the new year. I pray that God will take my formless and empty shell and hover over it, creating new and wonderful things in this year of our Lord 2008. The year 2007 was certainly chock-full of surprises, and I am sure 2008 will be no different. Instead of making resolutions that I will ultimately break, my prayer is that Christ be formed in me. Can I go wrong there?

He Has Made Everything Beautiful

"HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. ALSO HE HAS PUT ETERNITY IN THEIR HEARTS, EXCEPT THAT NO ONE CAN FIND OUT THE WORK THAT GOD DOES FROM BEGINNING TO END.

I KNOW that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
GOD does it,
That men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past." (Eccl 3:11-15)

May I always remember that He makes EVERYTHING beautiful in its time.

It's Cold Outside!

November is almost over, and it's beginning to feel a lot like COLD! It makes you want to hibernate like a bear. Tho' it is cold outside, inside it is warm -- though the storms are just beginning, the warmth of the Holy Spirit thrills our hearts as we snuggle up into Him. Cloister yourself with the Lord and see how warm you will be!

Blessings today as you get warm....

The Cost of Discipleship

Reading a few excerpts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the cost of discipleship with regard to the Word of God.

"...this word which sets us at once to work and obedience, is the rock on which to build our house. The only proper response to this word which Jesus brings with him from eternity is simply to do it. Jesus has spoken: his is the word, ours the obedience. Only in the doing of it does the word of Jesus retain its honor, might, and power among us. Now the storm can rage over the house, but it cannot shatter that union with him, which his word has created.

There is only one other possibility, that of failing to do it. It is impossible to want to do it and yet not do it. To deal with the word of Jesus otherwise than by doing it is to give him the lie. It is to deny the Sermon on the Mount and say No to his word. . . . However vehemently we assert our faith, and our fundamental recognition of his word, Jesus still calls it "not doing." But the word which we fail to do is no rock to build a house on. There can then be no union with Jesus. He has never known us.

That is why as soon as the hurricane begins we lose the word, and find that we have never really believed it. The word we had was not Christ's, but a word we had wrested from him and made our own by reflecting on it instead of doing it. So our house crashes in ruins, because it is not founded on the word of Jesus Christ."

Wow! We must be careful to not just HEAR the Word, but to DO it. We need to BELIEVE what the Word says and APPLY it to our lives. Really, really believe! Take Jesus at His Word.

Simplicity

"Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of your Holy Spirit; grant me to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to put away from my heart all useless anxiety and distress, and let me never be drawn aside by various longings after anything whatever, whether it be worthless or precious; but may I regard all things as passing away, and myself as passing away with them. Amen." (Thomas a Kempis in "Little Book of Prayers")

We need to ask God to simplify our life in all areas and to value things that are eternal, not temporal.