A Day Full of Blessings

(guest post by Matt)

Right now I’m at Stephanie’s bedside, watching her navigate the ins and outs of popsicle consumption while under the influence of numerous intravenous drugs. We’re nestled in her hospital room after a long, yet incredible day. Today has God’s fingerprints all over it. I left off the last post in a second waiting room while Stephanie was getting a PET scan, which is the head-to-toe scan to detect any further traces of cancer post-surgery.

God has once again answered our prayers: the PET scan showed no signs of cancer anywhere in her body.

This is a HUGE praise, and a wonderful way to close the day. God has answered prayer after prayer in this process, and each and every one of your prayers had an incredible part in this. God wasn’t done performing His miracles just yet.

While we praise God for this clear PET scan, we know that we still have a significant journey in front of us. This fight isn’t over just yet, but we have the upper hand. God is on our side, and He is bigger than the enemy will ever be. I’m a sports guy, so I’m going to use a sports analogy. In boxing, some think that a larger boxer is at a disadvantage when fighting a smaller boxer. “He’s too fast, he’s too strong, he keeps getting inside.”

However, the larger, taller boxer has the upper hand. Here’s why. The taller boxer has greater reach. The taller boxer has easier shots at the head, while the smaller boxer has a terrible time trying to get in that knockout punch. The smaller boxer’s “advantages” become weaknesses because the energy will fade. The speed will diminish, the strength will subside, and fatigue will set in. The larger boxer will never run out of reach, never run out of height, never run out of what is permanently his. This is the moment when the larger boxer can deliver the knockout punch.

Often times during this journey, I have felt like the enemy kept getting the upper hand. I’d get discouraged and I’d get downright pissed. “He’s too fast, too strong… he’s getting inside and doin’ work on us.” Then when I’m at the lowest points, I look in our corner. Where does our help come from? It comes from the Lord. He strengthens us, bolsters us up, makes us larger than we are so that together in faith, we can triumph and be the last ones standing.

By now, Stephanie is fast asleep having successfully triumphed over the popsicle as she has triumphed over and over again today. I can’t begin to explain how proud I am of her, for her unwavering faith and dependence on God. I’m proud of how she’s used this circumstance to glorify Him. Like she mentioned in an earlier post, we aren’t really afraid. We know who wins this fight.

Again, thank you for your prayers and support and for being in our corner with us. Today was full of blessings and miracles from the moment we woke up to now. Oh, and for those who kept up with the blog for Stephanie’s first surgery, you’ll remember that she received an angel pin on her hospital gown from her surgeon. Well, she got another one. Angels were definitely on our side today.

Malachi 4:1-3 (The Message)

“‘Count on it: The day is coming, raging like a forest fire. All the arrogant people who do evil things will be burned up like stove wood, burned to a crisp, nothing left but scorched earth and ash — a black day. But for you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking. And you’ll tromp on the wicked. They’ll be nothing but ashes under your feet on that Day.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.”

10 Comments on A Day Full of Blessings

  1. sarah stabio
    November 30, 2012 at 6:46 PM (11 years ago)

    Amazing, positive news!! Prayers for a smooth recovery from suurgery.

    Reply
  2. KCrews
    November 30, 2012 at 6:46 PM (11 years ago)

    So grateful to continue to hear more TERRIFIC news! (And a nice sports analogy, Matt!) Prayers still with you and Stephanie, Denise and Rick and all of your extended families! But it seems like you’re in GREAT shape for this victory! God bless you all!!

    Reply
  3. thoreaulynoted
    November 30, 2012 at 7:11 PM (11 years ago)

    Love the analogy Matt! Praising along with you both :)

    Reply
  4. Janice Smith
    November 30, 2012 at 7:15 PM (11 years ago)

    So absolutely thrilled and we will not stop pursuing this until it is completely taken care of! Yes…God had His fingerprints all over this day!

    Reply
  5. SherryJ
    November 30, 2012 at 7:53 PM (11 years ago)

    WHOO-HOOO!!!

    May you both be blessed with peaceful, restful sleep this night, Matt…

    Sherry

    Reply
  6. donnajeanne
    December 1, 2012 at 4:43 AM (11 years ago)

    How glorious to hear all the multitude of answers to our prayers…all in one day!
    Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us so we can be a part of it!
    May the Lord CONTINUE to encourage, comfort and strengthen you both. May He give to you all that you need in order to run this race. May He continue to use you to strengthen the faith of others. You are a blessing to us!! I am not a prisoner like Paul, but this passage made me think of you guys!! from 2 Timothy 1 : 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

    8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

    Reply
  7. Debbie Kane
    December 1, 2012 at 9:23 AM (11 years ago)

    I live in the NW Houston area and have been following your blog for a while now. I’ve only left one comment over the last few months, sharing with you and Matt that I too, am battling cancer along with many debilitating issues that were caused by chemotherapy poisoning. I too have been documenting my journey through cancer. I just have not posted my stories online yet. But we can talk about me another time! Right now my focus is on you. I pray that you recover from this last surgery quickly. I know that you and Matt feel the same way! So today, I will be very brief. I am going to share a few links to some amazing songs by a Christian artist named Janny Grein. Perhaps you heard of her? Her songs are definitely anointed. You will notice that pretty much instantly as you listen. I truly hope that someone will help you to find a way so that you can listen to them during your recovery. Then, I will keep following up with your status through your blogs. I speak Peace to you and Matt right now. The kind of Peace that Jesus Himself explained to us in John 14:27. Feel free to contact me via e-mail anytime: jkpromos1@gmail.com Now her are those Janny Grein links. And PLEASE let me know that you received them, OK? Blessings Always, Debbie Kane
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6urjJa2P_8 (STRONGER THAN BEFORE)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQFaqrgSciM (WE’VE BEEN MADE MORE THAN CONQUERORS)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgWUWG4HlTQ (BY HIS WORD)

    Reply
  8. Devra Ashbeck
    December 2, 2012 at 11:57 AM (11 years ago)

    So thankful to hear the good news! We will keep praying here.
    Devra and family.
    P.s. Lincoln heard Stephanie is doing well and immediately prayed, “thank you Lord Stephanie feel better.”
    XOXO!

    Reply
  9. Jon Nealis
    December 2, 2012 at 4:26 PM (11 years ago)

    Thanks be to God :)

    Reply

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