Seeing His Face

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you so much for your wonderful thoughts and comments on my blog. I hope I did not offend anyone with my bluntness. In my passion about what I was learning about my own unhealthy ways and the urgency for radical change in my own life, I could have been more tactful communicating it. So please forgive me.

Tomorrow I go in for my 4th chemo treatment. I will be out of commission, so to speak, for a few days, so I wanted to get this next part of the blog out before it feels like mud in my stomach!

So I'm here to share with you the blessings that have come my way in the past few months. They are kind of amazing. In fact a few weeks ago I began recording them - because they are very significant when it comes to showing the Glory of God. That Glory comes through HIS people!

One of things that face you during a cancer battle is fear. You go to sleep thinking of it and wake up thinking about 'what if." Especially in the beginning. It's kind of like you are in shock. It's difficult to be around people sometimes - if you know me very well - you know that is not me in the natural!
One morning way back in January, I remember a vicious attack from the enemy. I was awake around 4:30 am and the voice of the enemy was screaming at me - it was one of the most horrendous events in my Christian life. It lasted for about 1/12 hours. Every accusation that could destroy me was thrown in my face. Everything from financial ruin - to Robbie having another heart attack  - to my death plans! I wanted to text some close friends to pray for me - but I was paralyzed with fear. I finally pulled myself together and began fighting and standing against the enemy. You know when the enemy feeds you lies - there is always an element of truth that just 'could be' true. That is why you entertain the thoughts in the first place. Keep that in mind the next time the destroyer tries to feed you lies.

Right after that event the power of God began to fall in my life. There are so many wonderful things that began coming my way - all through the Body of Christ. I want to share a powerful scripture that you have heard before. It is 1 John 4: 11-12 Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. vs.12 no one has beheld God at any time - if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. As I was reading this I was overwhelmed with "No one has beheld God at any time" - BUT if we love one another -  I realized we really SEE HIM! Interesting that those two thoughts are back to back in the Word. Plus His love is perfected in us when we allow ourselves to be that vessel. I don't think I have ever been on the receiving end of really beholding HIM like I have in the past few months. I have had such an outpouring of His Love through friends and family. It lets me know everyday He loves me.

I will not mention names, but events that have happened and how they let me see HIS LOVE for me. The following is a list of these miracles:

1. My dear husband standing with me and loving me like Christ loves the church - no matter what I look or feel like! He's been a great house keeper and servant! 
2. My son and daughter-in-law checking on me constantly.
3. I was given a book "Susan Love's Breast Book" - it looked like a medical journal - my first thought was "oh no" I'll never be able to understand this! It has been the BEST resource about breast cancer out there! It is the 6th edition of it's kind by a surgeon from UCLA.
4. Close friend sent me 3 books  - about prayer and standing in God. Wonderful!
5. Someone paying for an extra consultation for a surgeon not included in my insurance.
6. I was sent a "Soma" gift card from a dear friend - so I could enjoy some luxurious pj's!
7. A close friend had me over for a prayer time and Essential oils gift. Then she set up and paid for a massage with Essential Oils and the gal prophesied over me! It was very powerful!
8. My sister's bought me a really nice wig - looks so much like my own hair!
9. Another dear friend gave me a "words of encouragement jar" Everyday a thought or scripture that encourages me!
10. Besides my "Jesus Calling" devotional book, a dear friend gave me a "Streams in the Desert" devotional with a journal. I have faithfully recorded the things Jesus has spoken to me.
11. An unexpected post of Facebook started an avalanche of blessings and wishes coming my way!
12. Multiple texts and private messages to encourage me.
13. The House church stepped up to the plate and filled in when I couldn't do what I regularly have done. Including having meetings in THEIR home!
14. Numerous meals brought by my sisters and other friends!  A wonderful help.
15. A dear friend brought me a HUGE bag full of goodies to help me with my chemo journey - she has walked that road before me! Everything from Ruby Red slippers (in case I want to go home!) to Miralax - mmmmm Thank you Jesus!
16. Unspoken financial gifts that have blessed us with helping pay the astronomical healthcare bills, even though we have insurance.
17. My sister coaching me through my eating and cooking.
18. Shortly into the journey a wonderful new couple showed up at one of our House Churches - she was a Nutritional Therapist! - I was praying for a nutritional person to help me!
19. I think it was the day before my first chemo treatment, I came home to a very large box at my door step. It was a HUGE sign that says "Hope - anchors the soul - Hebrews 6:19" - It fit above my fireplace and is gorgeous! It was a total surprise sent to me from a dear friend and her daughter!

I just wanted everyone to know how blessed I have been and how it really is the love of God and His very face I see through these loving actions. Quite a few years ago I had a friend of mine's husband who really did not like to do yard work. One of his co-workers got cancer - the husband went every Saturday for one year and did his yard work for him - mowing and edging and all that needed to be done! It spoke volumes to me. No one ever knew of his loving actions.

I try to think of others around me that I can give to and encourage. I don't want my focus to be so much on myself. It is humbling when the Father shows His love to me in this great way.

I leave you with this thought - find someone to show His wonderful love and they will see His face eventually. It may be someone you don't even know!

In His Love,
Martha

"In The Beginning" - My Journey

Hello friends and family - I'm going to take this time to share with you how my journey began and how gracious God has been to me through it all! This first episode is a little longer - but other ones won't be. Just had to give some background.

Back in mid December I felt an odd lump in my breast. We had just enjoyed a nice evening with friends and it came as a shock. But, immediately I knew it was something that could not to be ignored.  It took 2 days before I had the courage to tell Robbie.
After 2 mammograms and 2 biopsies it was confirmed to be Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Fortunately only in one breast. However it had spread to my lymph nodes. All of this was in January.

It is true that the enemy bombards you with fear. Every thought imaginable found it's way into my weak mind. But of course, immediately The Lord began flooding me with His truth and sending me people, books, texts, prayers and so many encouraging words. My journey had begun.

I had watched my sister Nancy with her battle against Colon Cancer just a few years before.  She dove into natural treatments full force. Immediately I read a book she introduced me to that changed my life. It is "Let Food Be Your Medicine" by Dr. Don Colbert.  He is a renown Christian Doctor from Orlando. I have always thought nutrition and what you eat is extremely important and was perplexed by my own weight gain in the past 8 years.

He basically takes the 'Mediterranean Diet'  and tweaks it for every disease. I learned that Cancer FEEDS on SUGAR. That is it's  #1 food source. Animal protein is it's 2nd food source. In the book he has a diet for 1st and 2nd stage cancer and 3rd and 4th stage cancer. I put myself on the latter diet, even though it has not been staged yet.  The excess weight started falling off. This is before any treatment at all had begun. I started eating all organic - lots of vegetables - healthy protein and healthy high fat diet. I also learned that Cancer is an immune problem. We all have cancer cells in our body. In a healthy immune system, those cells will die.

We were raised as the 'Kool-Aid' generation - we were fed sugar constantly. To the generation before us, sugar was an occasional treat. For our generation it has been inserted into almost every bottle in your refrigerator you bought at a grocery store. Those of you who knew me at a younger age know that I was extremely thin in my early years. I weighed 106 lbs. from  the age of 23 till 38 years old. I am almost 5'7' . People used to say to me " Oh you can probably eat anything you want and you don't gain weight." Unfortunately they were right! However, I was weakening my immune system. I have always had an interest in nutrition and for most of my life have eaten healthy - I thought! I have had to let go of the thoughts of 'why me'?
Any way I have lost 22 lbs. ON PURPOSE. So if you think I am too thin, I am so sorry. You are used to looking at "fat Americans". I am a perfect size 8.
I am happy and growing healthy and right in the middle of my recommended weight for my height! Not meant to offend anyone!

So right now - I am almost half way through my Chemo treatments. I wasn't going to do chemo. I made my decision because there was a trail of cancer cells heading to my chest wall and we wanted to stop the progression.

GOD SPEAKS - Robbie and I were sitting in the Surgeon's office and heard a word from the Lord. We have always called chemo poison. After hearing a firm exhortation on why I should take the chemo, I walked over to pay the bill. Robbie walked through the waiting room. When we got in the car. He said " a bazaar thing just happened to me.  The Lord dropped this scripture in my spirit. "And They shall drink any deadly poison and it shall not harm them". The second part of it says - "And they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover."  Mark 16:15-18. I was amazed and knew God was saying something powerful. After much prayer I decided to do the chemo along with my many natural things I am doing. I am also working with a nutritionist to help build up my bones and immune system. God supernaturally sent her to me - what a huge blessing!

Since taking chemo - I have had few side effects than most. I have lost most of my hair (enough that I wear a wig!) No nausea and vomiting - thank you Lord!
I believe the combination of believing and preparing my body nutritionally has been the key.

I have to say that Robbie has been the most wonderful support to me through this crazy ordeal. We have been married 44 years this year. We have been through a lot of things together. Just a few years ago he had a massive heart attack. We have weathered many storms. There is nothing better than a husband who stands with you and is led by the Lord. His caring and giving of himself is truly a Godly characteristic. Just makes me love him more!

I'm realizing this could go on and on - and it will - but not all today! I want to say one more thing about Healing. I have been sent many many things about "how to get healed". How about 4 easy steps to get healed !! All with pure hears and wanting to help. For years Robbie and I have though it comical when someone writes a book "ALL ABOUT HEALING" and it is less than 1/2 inch thick! It is so presumptuous for any of us to think we have 'the answer' to healing, as if it some magical scriptural formula or specialty food or specialty drink. Instead - it's about spending time with The Healer.  I don't find myself quoting a list of scriptures every morning. I KNOW those scriptures - they have been put in me for 40 years! I wake up every morning and say - "Father - show me what to do today" - Every morning He feeds me words of TRUTH - words of ENCOURAGEMENT - nourishing words that feed my spirit, give me strength and guide me for that day. I have fresh MANNA in the wilderness. Boy - is it wonderful!
Many years ago I wrote a song "I will give you water in the wilderness - for my chosen one's to drink  - saith the Lord"
I am experiencing that beautiful flow of His Goodness!

My next Blog will be on the "Mighty Flow of His Blessings!!" It has been a wild ride and I want you to hear about these rich blessings!

Love you and hope this encourages you in some way. God is Faithful and is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or even think!

Martha