My Journey With Cancer, Part 51, By David Maddox
Last week was unremarkable medically which is a good thing. We have had something almost every day these past two weeks and both of us kind of ran out of gas Sunday after hosting a goodbye celebration for two teachers who have been in our small group going on five years. So today is a down home quiet day which we both badly need. I continue to be amazed at the discipleship process. It is such a miracle to watch what God does in and through these young people we are privileged to disciple. They change and grow but in the process they change us as well for nothing the Lord does is limited to the recipient. To hear their prayer requests and why they believe God is sending them elsewhere is to encounter God and to rejoice with Him over what He is planning for their lives. The way they touch others for the Kingdom makes you just want to shout Hallelujah. Discipleship is such a privilege (and it is a command – Matthew 28:19-20).
The highlight of last week was the visit by my younger brother Fred, his wife Ruth, their adult child Jennifer and her husband Justin. Such fun catching up and as a special treat Justin, who is a camera man for and helps produce a reality TV series, brought his cameras and filmed Janet and I and Fred and Ruth in a legacy video for kids, grand kids, and generations to come. It was a joy to relive together our childhood, romance, and all the special things God has done in our lives. We are so blessed. It is important to leave those witnesses for the ones who will follow us. We shared how we were saved and how God worked in our lives along with the history of family. Janet closed the two days of filming by sharing the gospel for any who someday will see this video.
Many people encounter times when they regret what they never said to family members who died. It is equally – probably more important – for the family members to share life with those who will (or certainly should) out live them and future generations they never will meet. I can remember when my Mom died unexpectedly searching through the house for a letter – a journal – anything I could find because I felt there were things she had to say that I never heard. I found nothing but some letters written when I was a teenager. I want my kids and grand kids and others yet unborn to know us and more importantly God in us. If you have the opportunity I encourage you to sit down and make such a video so the God stories as well as family history are not lost.
The past couple of weeks in the small group we have been studying “What Do We Have As Believers In Christ – In Him – or In His Name.” Wow. We ultimately found 30 separate things Scripture teaches are available only in Christ (and we may have missed a few). As we did this study I could not get my mind off John 15:5 which reads, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” As you consider the list of what is only available in Christ the reason why apart from Him we can do nothing is obvious as is why if we abide in Him we will produce much fruit . I will be posting the list separately or adding it as an attachment to those who get the updates by email. It is too long to include as a single document.
So here is my challenge to you. Take just one of the things available in Christ each day for a month and read the Scriptures confirming that. Then pray that Jesus be that in you. It is possible for us to pray seeking everything Scripture says about what we can have in Christ with confidence because Jesus prayed that we be one with Him (John 17:23).
Next Monday we begin the chemo process again. That will be the third times with the new medication substituted for the old. We will have blood tests on June 6th where they will again check the tumor markers and we will meet with the cancer doctor on June 8th for his view on how the new treatment combination is working. Please keep us in your prayers during these days as uncertainty can create fear if you lose your focus. We thank you for your prayers and continued partnership on this journey.
About David Maddox, who himself has cancer – 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.
