My Journey With Cancer, Part 17 By David Maddox
As I have shared before – the real battle for a cancer patient is fought between the ears – who will you believe – what will you believe – what will you allow to control your emotions. The ups and downs physically of the cancer experience makes one vulnerable if your focus shifts even for a moment from the Lord to yourself. I had one of those moments last week as the battle for blood chemistry continued and the doctor’s office instructed me to take a double dose of a mineral apparently in short supply in my blood. Following the instructions I immediately had an attack of stomach issues and intestinal unpleasantness which went on until we finally figured out the problem because of what a health food store employee had warned us of when we purchased the mineral. We called the doctor’s office and they agreed so we cut the dose I was taking in half and that only every other day. This experience added about four days to the recovery from chemo which obviously did not please me and when we went back for a follow up blood test I labeled the doctor’s office “The House of Pain”. Not exactly a good attitude as the Lord made clear so I repented and God has graciously caused all things to return to “normal” and for the most part the side effects of the last chemo are history – Praise the Lord. Now we are in the good days when in many ways you feel normal, but still a little weak. For a cancer patient these are golden days of opportunity and in their own way pleasure – although for the average person they are just another day. Treasure what God has given you.
Spiritually the week was a high light week. We have been able to join with the Time to Revive team in Dallas by Skype in the mornings for Bible Study and prayer. Those have been wonderful times of revelation – tears – and laughter. Times to consider the wonder of what God is doing as He seeks to find those willing to be used in the revival and awakening promised before He returns in Matthew 24:14. If you truly believe that these are the last days (I am in that camp) – then the possibility of being used in this promised great movement of God that will assure everyone on the face of the earth hears the Gospel and has the opportunity to accept the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus – is almost beyond comprehension. That belief and God’s call is what drives me to cry out for healing so I can be available to be used. So I continue to seek Him for personal revival in preparation remembering that the definition of revive God shared with me is “God changing your heart so He can use you to change others hearts.” Every Believer should want that so they can be used.
Last week ended with the best of the best as we had a chance to share the Gospel with a young man who is seriously dating (discussing marriage) one of the young ladies in our home group. This young lady was the first to join the group when it was formed years ago. She had always joked that if she didn’t marry by age 30 she would give up and live with her cat as “cat lady”. Obviously we prayer against that – and for all the young women in the group that God would bring to them the man He has called to be their husband – the father of their children – the one who they can complete and live life with as one before the Lord – one who could be the Spiritual head of the household. Scripture provides clear instruction to the unmarried that this person cannot be an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). In reality a Believer should not even date an unbeliever. Scripture does provide direction for those who are married to unbelievers to stay with them etc. but the clear instruction for the unmarried is to avoid marriage to an unbeliever. The young man in question was a seeker, but did not yet know the Lord. He had been raised as so many are today in an unbelieving home and thus had no real knowledge of God. He had never heard the Gospel, but because of the obvious relationship the young woman had with the Lord – he began to seek to know about the Lord. Clearly the Father was drawing him to Jesus as Scripture affirms is necessary (John 6:44). At dinner on Sunday night we had the opportunity to see his heart and God opened the way to take the little blue Time to Revive Bible and share the five verses we use which clearly explain the Gospel and outline the way to salvation by acceptance of the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord [(Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23) (Romans 5:8) (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Romans 10:9-10)]. In a moment of great joy we witnessed the new birth as he came into the Kingdom – GLORY! Those are the moments of celebration of what only God can do that changes eternity. The joy comes from being used by God as an instrument of His salvation. Hallelujah! He can use anyone, but when He uses you – the joy is intense. What a privilege.
As this next week begins Janet and I are excited that (God willing) tomorrow we will get to go to the Northwest and spend some time with our five grandkids there who we have not been able to see since the battle with the intruder within began. We moved the next round of chemo back a week so that we would have the best chance of “good health” during this time. I would appreciate your prayers for health and safety and a special time with the grandkids. Also for those of you who have been praying for a publisher for my book I want you to know that God in a clearly God way has provided a publisher who is considering the manuscript. After prayer and discussion with him I felt clearly God’s direction and sent the manuscript yesterday. The work required to finish a few details in the final draft took up a lot of yesterday which is why this update is a day late. Please continue to pray for acceptance of the manuscript and for work God is leading me to complete on discipleship materials for new Believers. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer. The day is coming when we will all be able to celebrate God’s answer to all of your prayers.
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.