Day 35 – Thursday (9/27/18)

Health Update:  Tomorrow is the big day!  I will finally get to sit down and discuss everything with the oncologist, and establish a treatment plan.  I have several health items I plan to bring up with him.  I have played everything off up to this point as still trucking, still waiting… but there have been a few things that have been causing me some trouble.  About 10 days ago, my right arm starting hurting.  I found a spot near my shoulder blade that if I push on, I can shoot pains down my arm.  I have this dull pain 24/7.  Next, I have been coughing quite a lot… just dry coughs… like an irritation, not fluid in the lungs or anything.  Next, my heart rate stays steady between 100 and 120 all day, no matter if I’m sitting, standing, or walking.  Finally, I have been losing a lot of weight.  I have lost 35 pounds in 2 months.  10 of those pounds in the last 14 days.  This is not from lack of eating.  I have been eating double and triple portions, to no avail.  Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to tomorrow where I can hopefully get a game plan for everything.

Thought for the day:  Checkpoints / Goal Lines

How do you feel when you stand on the verge of reaching a long-awaited goal? Are you happy, sad, or relieved that the journey is nearly over? Are you frightened of the tests and trials that still lie ahead, or do you view your future with courage and faith in God?

Forty years of wandering in the wilderness had brought Israel to stand upon a mountaintop overlooking the land of promise.  Joshua 1:1-5 “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead.  Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you nor forsake you.””

After 40 years, the children of Israel were finally getting to enter the promised land.  They had reached the long awaited “goal” (or really in this case, served their punishment sentence).  Nonetheless, it was time for the next step.  Joshua led Israel into battle to conquer the promised land with courage, knowing God was with him.  As I enter the next phase of my trial tomorrow, the treatment phase, I also have courage knowing the God is with me.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for filling me with excitement and courage as the doctor’s appointment approaches.  I’m ready for the next phase.  I pray that You would guide the conversation tomorrow, and guide the doctor to establish the proper treatment plan for me.  If there is anyone else who is approaching a long awaited goal today, and is nervous about the next steps, I pray that they would seek You and know that You are with them.  Amen.