Dear friends,
Cancer patients do not generally want to see their doctors crying in the examination room, but my doctor shed tears of joy yesterday as she read the results of my latest scan. A year and a day after we heard my illness had become terminal, we received the best possible news (outside of God intervening to heal me completely). All the tumors shrank dramatically; one decreased in size by 30%.
Hopefully, this new medicine will stunt the growth of the tumors indefinitely, but it will not make them disappear, which means I will be on this medicine for the foreseeable future. I am still in desperate need of prayer, and I covet your petitions. I must deal with the nasty side effects of the drug for the next four or five months, and coming to school sick everyday to teach is becoming a chore. The medicine also causes depression, and I have been battling a vague sense of discouragement and anxiety in recent weeks. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by simple tasks such as paying the bills or packing my school bag. Fortunately, my years of experience take over in the classroom, and I have no trouble teaching. I have also lost 16 pounds, and my doctor says it is essential for me to eat and to lift weights twice a week to prevent muscle wasting. Right now, I'm limping through my workouts; it would be so much easier to go home and sleep.
Thanks you so much for your unceasing prayers. Gayle and I feel like buckets of grace have been poured onto us as a result of many faithful prayers offered up to God's throne on our behalf. Thank you for your kindness, support and encouragement. We are truly grateful.
God bless,
Tim
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer patients do not generally want to see their doctors crying in the examination room, but my doctor shed tears of joy yesterday as she read the results of my latest scan. A year and a day after we heard my illness had become terminal, we received the best possible news (outside of God intervening to heal me completely). All the tumors shrank dramatically; one decreased in size by 30%.
Hopefully, this new medicine will stunt the growth of the tumors indefinitely, but it will not make them disappear, which means I will be on this medicine for the foreseeable future. I am still in desperate need of prayer, and I covet your petitions. I must deal with the nasty side effects of the drug for the next four or five months, and coming to school sick everyday to teach is becoming a chore. The medicine also causes depression, and I have been battling a vague sense of discouragement and anxiety in recent weeks. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by simple tasks such as paying the bills or packing my school bag. Fortunately, my years of experience take over in the classroom, and I have no trouble teaching. I have also lost 16 pounds, and my doctor says it is essential for me to eat and to lift weights twice a week to prevent muscle wasting. Right now, I'm limping through my workouts; it would be so much easier to go home and sleep.
Thanks you so much for your unceasing prayers. Gayle and I feel like buckets of grace have been poured onto us as a result of many faithful prayers offered up to God's throne on our behalf. Thank you for your kindness, support and encouragement. We are truly grateful.
God bless,
Tim
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moses lifted up hands, staff and prayers to the Lord while Joshua fought the enemy in the valley below. Can we do that for Tim? - Fred
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Exodus 17:8-15
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Exodus 17:8-15
