My Journey With Cancer, Part 9 By David Maddox
This morning for the first time since the six day hospital stay I am NOT taking powerful antibiotics although what I have in my system will remain active for another three days. As I shared earlier we met with our cancer doctor on Wednesday of last week and clarified the battles raging inside me – what was the priority – and what I was to do last week. For those of you who have had a hospital stay of a week or so you know that weak describes you as you get out. The inflection I have had was tough so I am still weak but improving daily. The priority set by our cancer doctor was the infection. My instructions were to rest and be careful about nutrition (eat regardless of how you feel). Being careful is really important because there is a 20% chance this infection will reoccur. Obviously asking God to heal and protect – to restore and strengthen.
The second priority was the water retention which was creating its own set of discomforts and issues. Taking medication to help get the excess out and finally yesterday begin to see evidence that it is having an effect. I am encouraged. Because of the doctor’s cautions I have not gone out much seeking to do what He told me to do. Planning on that changing today God willing. The cancer issue has been set aside until the infection is clearly gone and my strength has returned. He said that we would not even look at what is next in the cancer fight until I had been off the strong antibiotics for ten days (which would be ten days from today. We have appointments with the nurse in charge of our case for the next two Wednesdays to check my progress and monitor blood tests to be sure the inflection is gone and my levels are where they need to be.
So resting and trying not to be too active is not something I have ever been good at, but like this whole adventure it is a learning experience and gives me massive blocks of time to be with the Lord and to write when I feel like it. The times have been rich – they have exposed more about the Lord and about myself. Having cancer the things you know in your head are true in your flesh. I can do nothing apart from the Lord takes on a whole new meaning as it is true for everything every day. Acceptance of God’s agenda is a struggle when you don’t know what that agenda is. I realize intellectually that if I knew what was next on God’s agenda for me I would simply prepare for that (whatever it might be) and my dependence on the Lord would not be moment by moment – so I don’t know. I keep asking what is on my heart because I have not been told not to ask and because as of yet I have not seen an answer. The passage I am often reminded of is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. It opens with this explanation of Jesus’ purpose in the teaching, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). So until I get different instructions or am clearly told “no” or I see the answer – I am (and I hope you will) “always pray and not lose heart”.
So this week marked a milestone in my life as I have practiced law in some fashion in Texas and Arizona since September 20, 1972. This week the Lord made it clear that retiring from the law firm – transferring clients and files was not enough. So I officially retired from the Arizona State Bar which means I cannot practice law unless I went through a process to get my license restored. I have already done that in Texas some time ago by going what they call “inactive”. God wants no tie or ability to return to that from which He has called me – and thus He took away even the temptation. I must say that He blessed these last years of practice with such a special group of guys (both men and women) who set out to have a Christian law firm – seeking to apply not just man’s law but God’s. I have been so privileged to work with and share the Lord with this team over the years. God took one of the pillars home some time ago – Steve Smyth – and He called another – Mike Herrod to be a Judge – but then He allowed me the joy of bringing James Williams into the firm and it is he that now “fills my shoes” there to the extent they need to be filled. He has recently added a new Director and while I was still active raised up a very special young woman of God to be a Director. God is at work among them and I look forward to relationships going forward. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am humbled and blessed by what God has done though these men and women over the years and that I have had the privilege of being a part of it – and what I know He will do if they keep their eyes on Him – listen – and obey.
My heart was broken and then rejoiced at what Satan intended for evil in Charleston and what God intended to show His love and truth. Most of you know I have a long history with Revive Columbia and have traveled to South Carolina many times. I have many special friends there Black and White. In Christ there is no race or color and if we love Him we will love each other as He commanded. My heart was so filled with sadness until I heard the relatives of those killed share forgiveness and even the Gospel with the killer in a public bond hearing. Their love in spite of the evil done – their forgiveness – their desire that this man be saved overwhelmed me. What an example for the culture that rejects the teachings of Jesus and follows the evil one by promoting hate and destruction and division. There were no riots – no calls for rebellion by anyone connected with the church where this occurred or the families of those killed. Thus far the outside gang that always shows up to take the credit and seek to further divide have stayed away. It is so obvious – America what do you want – riots and destruction – hate and division OR the love and truth of Jesus Christ. I don’t see how anyone could miss it even in this increasingly negative world toward anything of Jesus. I simply rejoice from a broken heart for those precious people.
Please continue to pray – for as I repeat – I am carried by the Lord on your prayers. Nothing about this is possible for me to endure or accept without the Lord – and there is no hope of a positive resolution which opens the way to complete the call Janet and I believe that God has placed on our lives apart from the Lord.
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.
