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Living With C-A-N-C-E-R

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"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."¹

Carol, a staff assistant to a U.S. Congressman, wrote: "Dick, your Daily Encounter on 'Living With a Challenge' was most appropriate for me. I have just had an x-ray and they found a mass in my left lung which might be problematic as I am a cancer survivor. It has been seven-and-a-half years since I fought that dreaded disease. I learned a lot about life and love during this time. In going through all the chemotherapy and radiation I found that I am in a win-win situation. It looks like I am here again, but with God's help I can get through it, and if it is time for me to go on to Glory, what a wonderful present.

"My thoughts this time are different as I would not only be leaving my husband, my four children, but also two darling grandchildren and another one on the way. Leaving this world is harder to think about. You don't know love in this world like love through a grandchild. When dealing with the cancer at first, I went to my Bible to find promises of God to me. I wrote down the letters C-A-N-C-E-R and couldn't turn the pages fast enough as the following promises were revealed to me:

C … stands for 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'²
A … is for his promise to Always be with me until the end of the world.³
N … in Hebrews he says that he will Never, never leave me or forsake me.⁴
C … is to Cast all your cares/troubles on Jesus, for he cares for me.⁵
E … is God's promise of Everlasting life.⁶
R … is for my Redemption and the forgiveness of sins⁷ and Relief for those who are troubled.⁸

"With these promises from God's Word I knew I had already won."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that in all my trials and troubles you have promised to always be with me and to comfort me—so that I will be able to comfort others who are also going through similar trials. Please help me so to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Footnote: At the time of writing this Daily Encounter, the above note from Carol was written less than a month before. I also received an email from her to say that the mass is not cancerous. We rejoice with her. I included her message because there are so many people just in our church who are either cancer survivors or going through chemo. And earlier this year Joy, my wife, has now herself become a cancer survivor.

1. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV).
2. Philippians 4:13.
3. Matthew 28:20.
4. Hebrews 13:5.
5. 1 Peter 5:7.
6. John 3:16.
7. Colossians 1:14.
8. 2 Thessalonians 1:7.

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