Believe

What does "believe" mean? This is a word from God that He gave me this last time I was diagnosed with cancer. The first time it was "be anxious about nothing" and "my Grace is sufficient." And those came to me before I was diagnosed, I didn't even have to ask - He knew what I would need before I did. But when I was diagnosed with cancer to the brain this last time, I didn't hear a Word from God. While talking to a friend about this, he told me to go back through and study the scripture again and pray and ask God for a Word and He'll give it to you. I'll never forget him saying to look for that Word and when you find it, you stand on it; you stand on it and don't move. Listen to God. So, of course I went back over the scripture I had been studying and writing down and I began to see a Word that kept popping out and that was "Believe." After being diagnosed this last time, I was more angry at God than anything. Last time, I didn't feel that way. So, reading scripture, praying, etc. - I just didn't want to do. But after finding this word and reading more about it, I wanted to share with you all what God has revealed to me.

When I looked in the "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology" under "believe" it referred me to "faith." I looked up "faith." And of course there is about 2 to 3 pages on it. So, I'm going to hit the highlight for you through a few blogs.

At first it says it is a noun corresponding to the verb "believe." In the New Testament the term is regularly used to denote the many sided religious relationship into which the gospel calls men and women - that of trust in God through Christ. The Old Testament variously defines faith as resting, trusting, and hoping in the Lord, cleaving to Him, waiting for him, making him our shield and tower, taking refuge in him, etc. Psalmists and prophets present faith as unwavering trust in God to save his servants from their foes and fulfill his declared purpose of blessing them. Isaiah, particularly, denounces reliance on human aid as inconsistent with such trust.

I think that is enough for this blog for our study on "believe." But it is so very interesting what just 1(ONE) Word can say. God is so much bigger and intelligent than we will ever understand. Aren't we thankful for that?

Since the last blog, I have started a new chemo by mouth. You take it two in the A.M. and two in the P.M. You take them for two weeks and then you stop for a week and then start back for two weeks. So far, so good. My counts have been good. I need to gain weight though - I'm trying, but it's just not working. My next scans will be sometime in April and I will see the Doctor April 21st for the results. So be in prayer for those - I'll remind everyone since that is far away. My memory's not that good anymore, so maybe I'll get someone else to remind you. Anyway, let's see what else, OH! I was bitten by a german shepard two weeks ago. Mostly superficial, but it scared the wajibies out of me. I had to go to the emergency room and everything. It broke the skin through two pair of pants (It was one of those really cold days here). So can you imagine if I had had on shorts or something. My Dad has been in the hospital and had the artery in his leg cleaned out - was in ICU for almost a week and my Aunt Polly in Atlanta fell and broke her hip. If it's going to happen, I think it's going to happen to our family.

My doctor-oncologist gave another sermon yesterday and I already feel better. He's a believer and I'll ask him all these questions. He just stands there and listens. He's heard them a million times before. But he knows I'm a believer too and used to work on the field, so he'll give little mini sermons. It hurts to hear it sometimes, but I need to hear it and turn it over to God. But yesterday's was really good and something everyone needs to hear. We need to live for today; have the best day we can; and lay down at night and thank God for this day you gave me. None of us know when God will take us home -- I just have a little better idea, but we are all going to die one day. We just need to live for Him more and more each day we have here.

I found a poem that speaks to this:

I praise Thee while my days go on;
I love Thee while my days go on:
Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost,
With emptied arms and treasure lost,
I thank Thee while my days go on.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Thank you all again for your prayers, encouragement and support. I'll write again soon - don't forget to praise the Lord!

Kim