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Cancer!
Such a short word with
so deep an impact on every life it touches. What a
dreaded and horrific disease it is... straight from the
fiendish heart of satan himself. Yet, just as Christ
defeated that "lord of the flies, father of
lies," cancer cannot prevail against the love of
Christ Jesus. Sometimes victims receive the miracle of
healing, at other times our God uses this disease to
bring other souls to salvation—either way, love
prevails.
This page is dedicated
to all who suffer from, have recovered from or have died
from cancer... and to all those who love these intrepid
souls. The original border set was created with leading
from the Holy Spirit. Here's what it means:
The shape:
So like a tombstone, for the spectre of death hangs over
those touched by cancer, an ever present dark cloud
lurking behind each thought and deed and attempting to
shroud the heart with gloom. BUT... those who are the
Lord's know death has no sting for them. The tomb is
empty, for Christ LIVES and brings life eternal to all
who follow Him.
The fractures:
The cracks or fractures in the blue background represent
satan's attempt to break up the lives of cancer victims
and those who love them. These cracks, however have not
broken the spirit, indeed, they are now welded together.
Like a mended bone, the piece is still one and even
stronger because of the sealed and healed fractures.
The blue:
There seems to be a storm brewing in the blue background.
Life with cancer is stormy and oft the blues flood in to
plague the heart with doubt and despair. It happens! Yet
it cannot last, for when we pour out our hearts to the
merciful Father, He sends comfort... a call from a
friend, a peaceful sunset bathed in glorious colors as
pure as heaven. If we but let our hearts be still, the
storm will calm, the blues turn rosy and our soul will
find rest.
The sunflower:
Or shall we say SONflower. Created and remaining in
beauty, we belong in the bouquet of the Lord. The petals
are faded by the ravages of cancer, yet the flower stands
straight and tall in faith; the leaves are boldly green
and soak up SON light to nourish the entire plant; the
"eye" at the flower's center is wide open to
the truth and focused on the Saviour. The flower remains
in the foreground, neither daunted nor eclipsed by the
storm behind it.
Like all the border sets
on Handmaidens, you may freely use this one. Just visit
our Graphics section.
What
Cancer Can't Do
Submitted
by Viola Gilbert
Cancer is so limited........
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the Spirit,
It cannot lessen the power.
YOU
CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS
Submitted by Edie Smith
Your
life at any time can become difficult.
Your life at any time can become easy.
It all depends upon how you adjust to life.
It's never the situation, it's your reaction to the
situation.
The way you react to circumstances determines your
feelings.
Your quality of life is determined not by what life
brings to you,
but by the attitude you have towards life.
What happens to you is less significant than what happens
within you.
You cannot always control your circumstances,
but you can control your own thoughts.
It's not your position but your disposition that matters.
Dare
to Dream
By Manuel Diotte
Life!
What a precious gift from God. What a blessing to be
alive in a wonderful, vibrant world of unlimited
possibilities. Then, adversity strikes, and this
"gift" feels more like a curse. "Why? Why
me?" we ask. Yet we never get an answer, or do we?
After contracting Hodgkin's disease at age seven and
being given six months to live, I triumphed over the
odds. Call it luck, hope, faith or courage, there are
thousands of survivors! Winners like us know the answer -
"Why not us? We can handle it!" I'm not dying
of cancer. I'm living with cancer. God doesn't make junk,
regardless of what comes our way, and I don't have to be
afraid anymore.
In my sophomore year of high school, the class was
scheduled to run the mile. I will always remember that
day because due to the swelling and scars from surgery on
my leg, for two solid years I had not worn shorts. I was
afraid of the teasing. So, for two years I lived in fear.
Yet that day, it didn't matter. I was ready - shorts,
heart and mind. I no sooner got to the starting line
before I heard the loud whispers. "Gross!"
"How fat!" "How ugly!" I blocked it
out.
Then the coach yelled, "Ready. Set. Go!" I
jetted out of there like an airplane, faster than anyone
for the first 20 feet. I didn't know much about pacing
then, but it was okay because I was determined to finish
first. As we came around the first of four laps, there
were students all over the track. By the end of the
second lap, many of the students had already quit. They
had given up and were on the ground gasping for air. As I
started the third lap, only a few of my classmates were
left on the track, and I began limping. By the time I hit
the fourth lap, I was alone. Then it hit me. I realized
that nobody had given up. Instead, everyone had already
finished. As I ran that last lap, I cried. I realized
that every boy and girl in my class had beat me, and 12
minutes, 42 seconds after starting, I crossed the finish
line. I fell to the ground and shed oceans. I was so
embarrassed.
Suddenly my coach ran up to me and picked me up, yelling,
"You did it. Manuel! Manuel, you finished, son. You
finished!" He looked me straight in the eye waving a
piece of paper in his hand. It was my goal for the day,
which I had forgotten. I had given it to him before
class. He read it aloud to everyone. It simply said,
"I, Manuel Diotte, will finish the mile run
tomorrow, come what may. No pain or frustration will stop
me. For I am more than capable of finishing, and with God
as my strength, I will finish." Signed, Manuel
Diotte - with a little smiling face inside the D, as I
always sign my name. My heart lifted. My tears went away,
and I had a smile on my face as if I had eaten a banana
sideways. My classmates applauded and gave me my first
standing ovation. It was then I realized winning isn't
always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just
finishing.
The
Vision of Hope
Below is
a poem of prose recently written by my mother, who,
though she is not yet 50, was recently diagnosed with a
brain tumor located on the pituitary gland. As you can
imagine, this has produced some turmoil for her. I've
always known her to be a strong Christian woman, and as
with everything else, she seems to be taking all of this
rather well. We do not yet know how bad her condition is,
but no matter what the outlook, she is full of peace. She
is not afraid of dying; though I think the thought that
she may become disabled bothers her because she has never
wanted to be a burden to anyone. But whatever happens,
she knows the Lord will go through it with her. You see,
being a Christian isn't a "religion" to her; it
is a very real and close relationship with the person,
Jesus Christ. He is her Friend. I hope this poem will
touch you as it has touched me. As you read it, put
yourself in her shoes. Feel her struggle, then feel her
faith. You may just find it is what you have been looking
for yourself.
With
Love,
Linda's daughter, (Shelly Donahue)
e-mailed comments are welcome at: jpd3rd@juno.com
***(Feel free to e-mail this to anyone you care
about.)***
THE VISION OF HOPE
Written By: Linda L. Rucker
©1-19-99
satan is
a blackness
That creeps into my room;
Late at night,
When I feel all alone.
The darkness so deep
I can not breathe.
he whispers ugly words;
Words I dare not say;
About sickness, disability and death.
But:
God is a soft, warm blanket
That covers me with grace.
He says, "Hush child.
I will rock you to sleep.
Haven't I always been with you?
Have I ever let you down?
Didn't I send you my Son?
Hasn't He always been your Friend?"
Oh yes; my Friend!
Jesus is a Friend.
He has always been my best Friend.
When I was a child
I talked to Him outloud.
People would smile and think, 'How cute,
She has an imaginary friend.'
But I knew He was real.
We would walk in the woods
And pick blackberries and wild plums.
When I heard a scary noise
He would say, "It's okay.
Our Father will take care of us."
And:
When I was old enough to understand
What He had done for me, |
I was
broken hearted.
How could that happen to my Friend?
Who was so good and kind;
So perfect?
Then He whispered in my ear,
"I was willing
Because I loved you."
And so I vowed
To never let Him go.
He said, "I will send my Spirit
To guide you on your way."
And now:
The Holy Spirit is my Guide.
He speaks to me and says,
"You're too close to the edge.
Move over, closer to the mountain.
Hug the mountain and it will grow.
The mountain is your faith."
I hear Him coming in the blackness;
Sounds of cooing doves.
Speaking words of love.
Speaking words of comfort.
They bring the Light.
They pour It down upon my head
Until It covers me
And soaks into my soul.
And there is perfect peace.
I smell the fragrance of the prayers
That are said for me.
They gently fall like flower petals,
Covering the Light;
Sealing It in so not one dot of darkness shows.
And now I understand,
The beauty of a prayer. |
***Note from the author*** This writing
may be copied anytime and anywhere, (though it must not
be sold for any purpose unless pre-approved by me in
writing). My only request is that you never capitalize
the word "satan" in the first verse, (because
the devil doesn't deserve such an honor), and that you
keep the 8th chapter of Romans in your heart.
Encouragement
From My Friends
Submitted by Carol Skipper of Apron Strings
My
precious friends Carol and Julia sent me these when I was
in California with my niece Donna who was battling
leukemia. I pray they encourage you as much as they did
me.
I Refuse To Be
Discouraged!
I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
and here's the reason why:
I have a God who's mighty,
Who's sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
and I am on His team.
He is all-wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.
My God knows all that's happening;
Beginning to the end;
His presence is my comfort;
He is my dearest Friend.
When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.
When circumstances threaten
to rob me of my peace;
He draws me close unto His breast,
Where all my strivings cease.
And when my heart
melts within me,
and weakness takes control;
He gathers me into His arms,
He soothes my heart and soul.
The great "I AM" is with me,
My life is in His hand,
The "Son of the Lord" is my hope.
It's in His strength I stand.
I refuse to be defeated.
My eyes are on my God;
He has promised to be with me,
as through this life I trod.
I'm looking past all my circumstances,
To Heaven's throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God
I'm resting in His love.
I give God thanks in everything.
My eyes are on His face;
The battle's His, the victory is mine;
He'll help me win the race.
I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me. |
A
Healing Stillness
By: Guy Garrett
A
Healing Stillness
Psalms 46:10 Be Still And Know That I Am
God
Be still my child...
and in that stillness
you will come to know
that I AM GOD.
Stop the rush of thoughts, ideas, tasks to be
performed...
Lay all aside and be still before Me.
I will not compete with your thoughts.
You must choose Me;
for then and only then, will you know, and I
know,
that I AM your GOD.
In My stillness there is peace.
In quietness I dwell.
In my presence is the fullness of your joy.
My presence will restore you.
It will renew and strengthen you.
Rest from the battle and I will make you strong
for the next conflict.
When you know...
when all doubts, fears, and anxieties
bow their knee to My name
and are dissipated by My presence,
when you truly know who I AM, and what I AM,
you will never fear again.
All the resources of heaven stand ready to move
on behalf of those who trust Me,
who believe that what I have said in My Word is
true.
Know this well.
There is no greater power on earth than I.
I AM GOD!
I love you deeply.
I care for your life.
I sent my most Precious Possession to earth
to live a life before you that would strengthen
and encourage you.
He came that you might have My life force within
you.
Then He bowed His life unto Me in humble
submission
and allowed His Precious Blood to be extracted
from Him
as settlement for all that you would ever do
wrong.
I have done all for you that needs to be done
in order for you to live your life in the power
of My Spirit.
I have forgiven you;
I indwell you; and all I need from you is
agreement and consent.
Then My Power will flow from you
as it did from My First Born.
You will order the affairs of your adversary.
He has no dominion over you anymore.
My Glory will be manifest in your life
Be still and know that I am God.
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