Monday, December 25, 2006

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! We hope that you and yours are greatly blessed. Our greatest blessing this year has been your prayers for Debbie and for our family. Because of God’s mercy and your prayer, we are enjoying another Christmas celebration with Debbie. We know that it is only because of the mercy and grace of God that we are alive. And because of what has happened to Debbie, we feel a special sense of gratitude for our time together.

Debbie has had a great week preparing for our celebration. She grows weary much sooner then before but with rest she has felt strong enough to return to many of her roles has keeper of our home. She and I both enjoyed the preparations more this year because we rejoiced in each thing she was able to do.

The most recent blood test revealed that her CA 125 count had dropped even more. (It was 30). This is excellent news and is one indicator that the treatments are doing what our doctors wanted them to achieve. The tumors are still present but the cancer cells are not multiplying as rapidly they were just a few weeks ago. Please pray that the tumors will shrink and then disappear.

Please pray that her red cell blood count would increase. This is necessary for Debbie to continue having her treatments. The red blood cells also determine her energy level. The most recent test revealed that her red blood cell count was lower then normal.

This morning as our family read the Nativity passage in Luke 2, I was stirred once again by the faith of Joseph and Mary to cooperate with God. They must have known Him as Lord. They fully surrendered to His will in spite of how it caused them to suffer.

It is a mystery to me why some have this kind of faith and some do not. I have observed this kind of faith in Debbie during her darkest days. In the midst of great pain and suffering both physically and emotionally, I have heard her say, “I trust you Father”.

Why does she trust Him like this? Why did Joseph and Mary trust Him like this?

As we approach January 1, I am approaching my 35th anniversary as a Christian. 35 years ago, I decided to follow Jesus in spite of how it might cause me to suffer. (The blessings of following Jesus have far out weighed any suffering.) Why did I make the choice to follow Jesus in spite of how it might cause me to suffer? Why did Debbie make this same choice 35 years ago before we met?

Through the mercy and grace of God, we saw we were sinners. Because of His mercy, we saw the wickedness of our hearts. We also saw for the first time what Jesus did to save us from our wicked condition. The Holy Spirit then baptized us with the love of God and we gave our lives to follow Jesus no matter what it cost.

When we consider our faith, we can only give God glory. Without His mercy and grace and the revelations we received of ourselves and of Him, we would have never made the choice to follow Him. Now more than ever, we need Him to reveal Himself to us. And He is faithful to do so because of His mercy and grace toward us.
If you are in Christ, He has pledged to you His mercy and grace and the revelation you need for the difficulties that you currently face and will face in the future. Take time to be with Him and to listen to Him. He will be true to His pledge. He will lead you like a shepherd that loves His sheep.

If you are not in Christ, I believe that His mercy and grace is being directed toward you and He wants to reveal Himself to you as He has revealed Himself to us. You may see yourself as seeking truth but the truth is He is seeking you. That is why you have taken a moment to read this blog today. He is seeking you!

If you are not in Christ, but He is seeking you, you need to keep seeking the truth from the bible and from those who follow Jesus no matter what it cost. He will reveal to you the truth about yourself and the truth about His mercy and grace to you. Do not stop the pursuit because He is seeking you. I can assure you that you will find what you are seeking because He is faithful.

Merry Christmas from Debbie and from all the Wells!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sixtynine Days After Surgery

Debbie has had much more energy after this Chemotherapy Treatment. She has felt good enough to do some things she wants to do with the exception of last Thursday. She is excited about Christmas and all the preparations. She decided she wanted to host our family on Christmas Day and God is giving her the strength to get things ready. There will be about 27 of us. We have come a long way in the last five weeks since her last stay in the hospital. Thank you for your prayers.

She is also getting some relief with the problem in her urinary tract. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray that every thing would function normally. Pray specifically that her bladder would not have spasms from the stint that was inserted when she was in the hospital.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Sixtythree Days After Surgery

Today marks nine weeks since Debbie's surgery. One of Debbie's greatest losses has been her ability to be the keeper of her home. On Monday evening Debbie was able to prepare a meal for our family for the first time since October, with William's assistance. This brought her great joy and brought all of us a satisfied appetite. We rejoiced together for this blessing from the Lord and gave Him thanks.

CA-125, cancer antigen-125, is a protein that is found at levels in most ovarian cancer cells that are elevated compared to normal cells. CA-125 is produced on the surface of cells and is released in the blood stream. It is one way to measure the activity of the cancer cells and how a patient is responding to the treatment. Debbie has a blood test for her CA 125 level every two weeks. It has been well over 200 in every test since she was diagnosed last October. Two weeks ago her count was over 200. As of Monday, it was in the mid 50s. 35 is considered normal. Yesterday, when our doctor's assistant gave Debbie the report from Monday's test they exchanged high fives. We praised the Lord together for this good report. We greatly appreciate your prayers.

At 4:00pm yesterday, as I prepared to leave the church to pick up Debbie after her chemotherapy treatment, my car was missing from the church parking lot. There was a pile of glass where my car had been sitting. The car had been stolen. The body of Christ quickly went into action to meet our immediate needs. One of our associate Pastors went to pick Debbie up at the hospital while I waiting on the Police. Another one of our associate Pastors had his family bring me a car that they wanted to loan us.

The policeman arrived and asked me if there was any chance that the car had been repossessed. This made me look at the way I was dressed to see what would give him that impression. He then mentioned the glass and that most collectors would not go to that kind of trouble. I assured him that the car was paid for and he took down all of the information.

At about 6:30am this morning in my devotions, I was reflecting on "He is Redeemer!" As I was singing, "There is a Redeemer," the phone rang. The police had found the car in a ditch on the Southeast side of Oklahoma City. It was not drivable but it was found. It is damaged but He is Redeemer!

Are you lost this Christmas season? Has Satan stolen you from God and as a result, you have been greatly damaged and your life is in a ditch! There is a Redeemer! He will redeem you if you will trust Him.
Ps 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.KJV

Thanks again to all of you that are praying for us!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Sixtyone Days After Surgery

Debbie had a very good weekend. She grew stronger each day and was able to get out and do some things that she wanted to do. She went to church. She went to several of our children's basketball games. She felt like doing several others things that were a great blessing to her and to us. Thank you for your earnest prayers.

Besides fatigue, her greatest physical battle continues to be her bladder. We believe that the stint that was inserted is causing pain and causing her bladder to have spasms. We would appreciate your prayers that this would be resolved.

Her next chemo treatment is tomorrow. I feel a great deal of empathy for her because she feels so much better right now but within the next 48 hours she will begin to experience the effects of the treatment. Please pray that the effects will be greatly minimized. Pray that God would anoint the chemotherapy to destroy every malignant cell in her body.

I mentioned a family in one of our previous blogs whose son has cancer and he is only three years old. Please continue to pray for Joel Morris. And if you would like to let the family know that you are praying for them, Joel's blog and the family e-mail address can be found at weloveyoujoel.blogspot.com.

Thank you again for standing with us at such a time as this. I will keep you up to date on how Debbie responds to the treatment and how to pray throughout this week.

Jerry

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Fiftysix Days After Surgery

Debbie began to feel much better on Monday. Her strength began to return and she is looking forward to a more active week. Her appetite is much better. She is able to care for herself which she enjoys. Thank you for your prayers.

She does have a bladder infection which is currently the only real pain that she has experienced. Please pray she will be healed of this infection.

Please pray for little Joel Morris. He is only three years old and the son of Terry and Cindy Morris. We received a report today that he has bone cancer that is advanced. The Morris family attended our church for many years and they are such a wonderful family.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Fiftyfour Days After Surgery

We are learning to live with our new normal. Debbie has a treatment. A few days later she loses almost all of her energy and becomes very weak. During these days, she uses most of her energy just to eat. This is a challenge because she does not have an appetite. It is also very challenging just to prepare herself for the day. She spends most of her time in our room sitting in what has become her recliner. This will last seven to ten days before she begins to feel like doing more things. And then on day fourteen, she has another treatment and the cycle begins again.

She is now one among millions of cancer patients who can identify with this cycle during their treatments. For some the side affects are much more severe. There is a whole list of other side affects that many patients experience during treatment.

Debbie's next treatment is scheduled for a week from tomorrow. She will have lab work done on her blood today and next Monday to see if she can receive the treatment.

We have a wonderfuly support system. Our family, our church family, and our friends have rallied around us and are providing emotional, physical, and financial support. So many other people have expressed to us that they want to help but they do not know what they can do. We have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love that we have experienced.

There are things that we are able to experience now that we will not experience the same way in eternity. Since there will be no more sickness, we will not experience the same kind of support from you that we are experiencing now. We are experiencing the love of Christ in a way right now that we will cherish for all of eternity. You are helping us understand the love of Christ in a deeper way than we have ever known.

It reminds me of this prayer in this verses by the Apostle Paul.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.KJV

Gaining a deeper understanding the love of Christ prepares us for eternity and for more effective ministry to others. We have never felt so loved by Christ and by you. My only regret is that there are so many who are going through trials like ours and they do not know this love. How do they survive without this deeper knowledge of the love of God?

Pray that God will use us to make God's love known to others as we walk on this path that God has chosen for us. Pray that God will strengthen us to be His instruments and His vessels. Pray that God will give us the grace to keep singing His praises as He heals us and transforms us into what He wants us to become.

Debbie sends you her love!