A Move...

Due to some capability issues, Rosie Rambles On has a new home!

I have moved to RosieRamblesOn.WordPress.com. 

I'd love to have you follow me there! 

Please click HERE to follow the link to my new home!

No More Chemo

Habakkuk 3:17-8 (KJV) 

 ¹⁷Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

 ¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The cancerous tumors have grown. No more chemotherapy. The other chemotherapy options open to us hold less hope than the one Matt was receiving. We will continue with some of the homeopathic protocols we have been using, switching a few of them.

Leaving the doctor's office, the Lord brought Philippians 4:4 to mind: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

It was not the verse I was expecting. Wasn't it a bit much to suggest I start rejoicing right then? My heart cried, "God, I love and trust You, but what is there to rejoice in? The hopeful treatment failing? Tumors having grown?"

God so graciously reminded me,  "No, not in your circumstances, but in Me."

Our circumstances may not warrant anything to rejoice in, but as Habakkuk so eloquently stated it, our circumstances are not what we are to rejoice in! Though our circumstances may not be something that calls for rejoicing, yet we can still rejoice IN THE LORD! We CHOOSE to rejoice in the Lord.

"You Are My God" by Nicol Sponberg

The daughter of a friend who is in critical condition shared this song. Be blessed by it!

What Will Next Week Bring?

A strange mixture of feelings dominate my heart this week.

Next Monday's CT scan followed by a doctor's appointment on Wednesday to hear the results is strangely anticipated just to know ... while at the same time I could wait forever to hear the results. I could continue on in ignorant bliss.

A definitely strange and contradictory set of feelings.

It's another milestone. Has the chemo kept the tumors at bay or shrunk them? Has God chosen to do a miracle in Matt's body and life by removing the tumors? Or is God asking us to continue to glorify Him through this difficult journey?

Whether we find next Wednesday to be a day of rejoicing, or a day of facing hard news, we know that God will continue to provide the strength, grace and encouragement that we need. We know it and we claim it. We cling to Him. Please keep us in your prayers.

In the Presence of Mine Enemies

Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham had their plans.  They were enjoying an anniversary getaway.  God had other plans.  Martin and Gracia were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group and lived a dangerous year on the run with their captors. Gracia's book is an open, from the heart account of the highs and lows of surviving a year of terror. Listen to Gracia's story on the video clip below. In the Presence of Mine Enemies can be purchased from Gracia's website at: www.graciaburnham.org

Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak

This is a great interview promoting, not only Davey & Marie Jank's new book Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak, but also promoting tribal missions. I've known Davey since childhood, and Marie for many years now. They are normal people who God has used in not-so-normal situations to reach an indigenous group of people with God's message of salvation.

The Challenges of Life

Life is full of challenges. Cancer is not the only one. Back home on Thursday after three nights in the hospital and 6 units of blood, Matt typed up notes for his Sunday sermon only to have his computer contract a virus on Friday. With the programs and files frozen on the computer, Matt lost all his notes. 

Saturday morning Jamie reformatted the hard drive. Then it was my job to re-load Matt's LOGOS Bible program, Microsoft Office Suite -- and of course to put on an up-to-date virus protection! Mission completed, Matt then had the job of recreating the notes for his Sunday sermon. Sunday's sermon went well. :-)

Tomorrow we head back up to Rochester for a doctor's appointment -- and tentatively for round four of chemo. Thanks for praying!