~Compassion~

II Corinthians 1:3-5(NIV)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

We have physical scars that are visible to the eye showing injuries we've sustained throughout our lifetime. There are also emotional scars that we carry within us from past hurts, wrong choices, etc. From the time we enter this world until the time we leave, our history is being written and we are being molded. There are things in my past that I'm not proud of, but as time goes on I've come to understand that God can use me, with all my failures, mistakes and brokenness, in a way that will honor Him.

A couple of weeks ago on TSMSS ~ the song I picked was a song by Point of Grace. See the lyrics as follows:

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretendI never knew the me back then
I used to pray that You would take this shame away

Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart

And heal the wound but leave the scar
Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

God doesn't want us to ignore or run from our past. He wants to comfort us. Then when we are able, he want us to comfort others.

Update on Jan

1) The dates I previously gave for Jan to return to M.D. Anderson are not confirmed. A Radiologist has to be there when the more extensive MRI is being run.

2) There are 2 areas in question where the radiologist will specifically be looking to see if there is blood flowing through. (One area is where there was a very small spot and radiation was performed; and the other area was where she had resection of as much tumor as was able to be removed, along with radiation) If there is blood flowing through these areas, then this would mean the tumors are active and growing. If NOT, then is is dead tissue or necrosis. I would ask that you please join our family in praying this is dead tissue/necrosis.

3) Besides being exhausted from the quick trip to M.D. Anderson and home, Jan is mentally exhausted. On her blog she states, "Let's all just keep on praying. This has brought me way down. I need to be uplifted in prayer. I am trying to be strong but it is hard."

We can only imagine what it feels like to be in her shoes. I ask that you claim Isaiah 40:31:
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."