Thank you for praying for us and loving us!

The Lord is faithful. He sustained us in the past, sustains us in the present, and promises to sustain us in the future. I’m convinced we cannot sustain ourselves. I tried sustaining myself apart from Jesus for well over 1/2 of my life. Even now, as a follower of Jesus, I can easily lose focus, and try to do things in my own strength. Then, it’s as though I need to hear, and feel, the crack of a painful slap on the face to bring me back from my nonsensical condition. Thankfully, the Lord prefers embracing us with grace like a mother holding her helpless newborn baby for the first time, rather than the face slap thing. Somehow, like the baby, we instinctively know who the sustainer is. 

“Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees.” 

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭116‬-‭117‬ ‭NLT

I’m disoriented yet I find such sustaining nourishment from Gods word. Grief from chronic illness is so convincing. Sometimes I feel like a hostage tied to a chair and instead of the usual suspect, I look like that goofy duct tape guy wearing mascara. Oh, how I miss Jeanne. It’s indescribable. She was the one that not only held me, but held me together. Even on her death bed she could share a look of encouragement to help sustain me through another difficult night. 

I’ve been wrestling with a cold and my healing powers feel like Sampson with a crew cut. I’m thankful this week’s PET scan was a good report. I had misread the kaleidoscope report beforehand and brought some high blood pressure with me to the appointment. The cancer at present, is considered stable. Although I’d rather be in the presence of Jesus, God is sustaining me yet again on this side of heaven. Like the rest of the human race, I’m suffering from collateral types of damage. Physical, mental, and emotional damage from years of life on this side. Although I haven’t felt physically well for a long time, my oncologist assured me that in another month to 6 weeks I should feel at least some physically improvement. 

This morning for some spiritual encouragement, I enjoyed reading again about William Carey’s missionary journeys. He taught at a pioneer missionary conference and the main point he drove home has really stuck with me over the years.

William Carey “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” Isaiah 54:2,3

Thank you for coming along on this ride. God has sustained and encouraged me yet again!

With all our love!

Mac ( aka Steve) and family