Pastor Dewey Note: It has been a blessing to get to know David Maddox. Not only has his postings been an inspiration, but his testimony through the treatment he is receiving for cancer. Cancer has touched us all. I have several people around me that have cancer. I asked David if I could share his “cancer journey” with all of you. It has encouraged me to encourage others. Here is David’s most recent update:
Last week was a continuation of Miracle Week as the secondary side effects which occur when chemo ends were minimal – Praise the Lord. Every day I became stronger and by the end of the week appetite was just about normal and food tasted as it should. Simple things, but their absence for a time makes you treasure every little thing about life. Janet’s eye surgery has almost healed as well and that process was without any complications – thank you Lord. By Sunday I was what I call “across the line” and felt probably as normal as any of you. Now we enter that third week which is “all ours” as a gift from God. I am writing this on an airplane on the way to Baltimore to meet our newest grandchild Hazel and enjoy time with Seth & Meredith and their first child Sofia. So thankful to be able to travel again for that opens the way to so much of what we thought would be our life when the year began. Last week ended with a CAT Scan which our doctor will compare with the earlier one done before we began chemo to see how effective the chemo regiment we are on has been. At that point he will decide whether to continue what we have been doing or to change it to make it more effective. We won’t hear results probably for a week, but then we all know God is the only one who can deal with this cancer so I don’t read too much into whatever the results are. If He wants to work through chemo to destroy this cancer that is obviously fine with us, but if He has a different plan that is equally fine. We know that nothing will happen except what He does and that He is moving in response to all of your prayers – no question about that.
Spiritually God got real “up close and personal” (in my face) this week to make it clear there were things still in my life that were a hindrance to what He has called us to. As I have shared before, the passage He has impressed upon me is 1 Kings 19:19-21 which is the call of Elisha. Elisha understood that he had to make a clean break with what he was currently doing in order to follow and serve as he had been called to. For him it required the burning of yokes and the sacrifice of twelve teams of oxen so he could not return to farming. God gave me my list and last week was intense as I sought to address it all. I thought I had done that already before the year began, but God showed me I had not in some areas and so I had my own fire and sacrifice which was incredibly freeing. By Sunday God gave me the last sentence of 1 Kings 19:21 which reads, “Then (after the fire and sacrifice) he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him”. I believe that was our release and acknowledgment that we had dealt with those things He wished for me to deal with. Now it remains for Him to enable obedience (deal with the cancer), but in faith we are moving on believing what He has said and are making plans to arise and go.
There were many other ministry opportunities – a new baby in our small group – a death of a parent – interceding for small group members boldly ministering to students in need – lots of on line inquiries and opportunities to share. The most exciting development over the past weeks has been an invitation to join a group of writers on a Christian website. What thrilled me was both the direction to share whatever God gives me – and the name of the website – “For God’s Glory Alone Ministry”. When we began this cancer journey God made it clear that the purpose He had in this was that He be glorified. The name of the website just jumped out at me as an affirmation and an opportunity. Most of what I have posted is drawn from what I write and post on Facebook so what it has done for me is give me a bigger audience to share what God teaches me and to seek to glorify Him. What a blessing.
So what to pray – pray that the Lord make it clear to our doctor what he is to do going forward after he reviews the CAT Scan. Pray that whatever the medical approach may be it will provide us with at least one week between treatments when we are healthy and can travel. Pray that God will make what He shared Sunday possible – that I may arise and go and serve (assist). Please remember as our case nurse said – “Prayer matters more than anything we can do here.” Thank you for your faithfulness and love. Your prayers are being answered.
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.