Weather the storm

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Last week I wrote about trusting the Lord even through the storms.  As I was thinking of what I wanted to write this week, I actually saw a post on Facebook from a former co-worker and the person that headed up the work place devotions for many years.  Some of you may remember Naressa Allen.  This is what she wrote (I share with permission):

Four years ago last week, I was diagnosed with Stage IV cholangiocarcinoma, which is more aggressive than pancreatic cancer.  My docs said I couldn’t live with only one hepatic vein and 20% of my liver.  I told them, respectfully, that the Lord has His own plan as He is the Great Physician.  They gave me six months…but some are finally understanding that “my times are in His hands”, (Psalm 31:15) and He is in control of this storm.  My oncologists say that we are in “uncharted waters” because I’m STILL breathing.  I’m not in remission, the tumor has a blood flow to it, yet it hasn’t grown any and I haven’t had chemo in over a year.

As I said from the beginning, I wouldn’t trade this cancer for anything.  It has been and continues to be such a blessing.  I thank the Lord for each day that I can tell others about Him and for allowing me these four years of loving on my family, kids and grandkids!  All ten of us go to church together every Sunday, and three of my five grandkids just got baptized.  All this and heaven too!  God bless and thank you to so many for your prayers and being my prayer warriors. 

Naressa is an amazing women of God.  She truly demonstrates considering her life worth nothing to her, but is living to complete the task the Lord gave her.

Her testimony hit my hard last night as when I wrote last week’s devotion, I had just finished under-going some scanning for ovarian cancer.  Praise the Lord that the scans came back clean this week.  Like Naressa though, I had already decided that if that was what the Lord planned for me, then I was okay with it.  I knew that he would use me through whatever circumstances I faced. 

Today, I ask you to join the force in praying for Naressa.  At the same time, I hope that you pray that God would use you as He has her.