Monday, March 16...Next Steps in Carol's Climb

Please be praying for Mark and Carol and the family as Carol is entering a physically more difficult phase in her journey...her climb.

At this point in time, Mark and Carol and her doctors have decided to forego any further treatment for her cancer. Carol is not in pain, but is experiencing greater fatigue due to low blood levels which at this point cannot be alleviated by transfusions. She is still needing to be on oxygen most of the time as she does have some difficulty breathing.

Carol is in good spirits and knows with certainty that she is in the arms of Jesus...she experiences His great care for her in each and every moment of her day. She asked me to share Psalm 27 with you tonight...this is exactly where her heart is:

Psalm 27

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

³ Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

⁵ For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.

⁸ My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.

¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

¹³ I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Please be praying for wisdom and direction for Mark, Carol and the family as they make decisions regarding Carol's care and comfort at home...and for peace and a continued deep sense of joy in God's grace and timing.

Please call or email Cathy or Sharon for information and to arrange visits (and you can always try Carol's cell as well, but she might not be up to answering.) The most important thing to keep in mind is that Carol's strength is very limited so visits will have to be kept very short...just a few minutes at a time and do please call before coming to make sure the timing is good for Carol...her flow of visitors needs to be regulated a bit so she can preserve what strength she does have. Carol does always enjoy your notes to her too...snail mail is very much appreciated!

I know this is difficult news to hear...be encouraged today in knowing that God has given each of us that know Him "grace upon grace" (John 1:16)...John MacArthur puts it this way, "For every feature of life there is not a day that goes by in your Christian experience that you are not the recipient of God's grace. It is grace that upholds you..." through all of life...from the moment of salvation through to our glorious homecoming. May you experience, as Carol has throughout her life, ALL of God's good favors that are given to us through the means of this "benevolent goodness called grace." Let's all join Carol in singing and making music to the LORD...our confidence is in the LORD most high!