My Journey with cancer, Part 10 by David Maddox
What are two of the hardest words in Scripture for Believers to walk in and be at peace in the midst of difficult circumstances? For me during the past four or five weeks it has been “patience” and “content”. Both are virtues Believers should walk in, but like most of the Christian experience you soon learn that they are easier in theory than in practice – and that there is no realistic possibility of obedience without the Lord’s enablement. Paul knew what He was taking about when He said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). The reverse of which is I can do nothing on my own – which is exactly what Jesus said – “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Paul simply confirmed that truth. Well that is where I have been living. After decades of heath and quick recovery from anything that might have attacked my body I find myself getting better every day but extremely slowly. That infection which attacked my body took its toll and its effects are only now leaving – slowly but daily improvement (Praise the Lord). The effect of the antibiotics only began to wear off Thursday and they kept my stomach and bowls in a bit of a mess (most of you have probably experienced that) the whole time. Yesterday Janet and I were able to go to church and go out to eat with David and Ashley which was our first social going out in over a month. It has been tough, but God has been faithful to provide what is lacking in my faith and strength and focus – and for that I praise Him. He really has carried me these past weeks on your prayers more openly than ever before.
The past week medically has been a little improvement every day. We met with our Nurse in charge on Wednesday – had blood tests – and begin to talk about how we proceed to battle the cancer. Miraculously even in the midst of the inflection battle the tumor markers went down again – and the inflection has not returned (Praise God). They are concerned at my weakness as reflected in some of the blood tests and the loss of weight, but then when we saw them we were still struggling with food which complicates everything. Now – Praise God – food is again appealing and I am able to eat reasonable amounts so I am getting stronger. We will meet with the Nurse again this Wednesday for more blood tests and to make decisions on when to resume chemo – and how should it be changed – if at all. This is key because we need to get back to the cancer battle but we must be careful whether to begin a week from today or push it back further. Looking for God’s wisdom to know when to move forward. We know that if we stay on His schedule, He will enable us. That is our major prayer request – wisdom to know when to proceed and how to proceed.
My prayer really doesn’t change. This morning I was reminded of my heart’s desire in Psalm 71:18 – “So even to old age and gray hairs (or in my case right now – no hair), O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come.”
It is the “Here am I! Send me” of Isaiah 6:8, but then we await the enablement to go. So I pray for a new and deeper revelation of the Lord (much as Moses did in Exodus 33:18) – an affirmation of the call on our lives – and God’s release and empowerment to go in obedience to that call (both in Arizona and elsewhere as He directs). If anything the events of this past week have increased my passion to be able to go and stand for the Truth of God’s Word. The “gay marriage” decision confirms that the republic formed by that most amazing group of men in history who met that summer in Philadelphia is no more. Franklin warned us when asked what kind of government they had given us. He answered, “A Republic if you can keep it.” Last week the “final shoe” dropped and we lost it.
The system those men devised was unique in all of history. A limited federal government with all power not specifically given it by the Constitution to rest in the States. It was the people who were to rule and not the government. The government was to rule by their consent. Checks and balances were provided to keep any of the three branches from assuming power not specifically granted to it by the Constitution. But now we have an Executive branch that rules by dictates through Executive Orders which negate Congressional laws – and by regulations propounded by agencies; we have a Congress which because of political parties and the Senate’s silly rules make it impossible to even get debate or a vote on legislation which the country desperately needs leaving the Executive with freedom to ignore them; and finally this week the US Supreme Court demonstrated that a majority of nine can ignore the votes of the people – laws passed by the states and Congress – and most dangerous of all what the Constitution says and does not say – and do what they want. The government is in rebellion against the people and more and more against the Lord. But the truth is that God does not need or require America to advance His Kingdom and as a Believer my citizenship is not first as an American, but as a citizen in God’s Kingdom. Things have changed and God’s people must change – not as some will argue by “going along to get along”. NO – now is the time for Christians to stand as never before together and individually for the truth of God’s Word. We can disagree and still love people, but we cannot agree with them that what God says is not true and call it love. My passion is greater to be released to be a part of this fight in the coming years – and not at a distance.
Finally I just have to again say how moved I have been at God’s display of His love and power in Charleston. The victim’s families’ forgiveness of the hate filled killer – the unity of the community and state as it came together to stand against hate – and the declaration that hate would not win. God showed in these days how the love of Jesus can change a community – a state – heal etc. Don’t miss the difference in what happened in Charleston with what happened in Ferguson or Baltimore. We must stand and allow God to show His power. When He does – there can be no debate for the fruit of love is obvious. I wanted to go to South Carolina where I have had the privilege of working with Revive Columbia for a year out of a Black church principally in Black neighborhoods – but God said “no” so I rejoice and cry from a distance hoping that distance is only temporary.
Please be praying that we will have wisdom for how God would have us continue this fight against the intruder within – and stand boldly for the Truth of God’s Word.
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.
