Monday, April 12, 2010

Stable and fulfilling

My brain tumor remains stable. While I would like it to go away, stable is good. My next MRI is in May sometime. No real side effects from the tumor. Any side effects are from the chemotherapy: trembling of hands and legs, tiredness, indigestion, loss of appetitie, fragile skin. Otherwise I am doing well. Yesterday was both an up and down day. I had a great day in the am church service. Mark Crocco, our preaching pastor delivered a great and powerful message out of James chapter 2 on whether you just profess faith or also possess faith. He asked me to join him at the end of the service, in the front of the sancturary, to talk with and pray with people who wanted help in this area or other areas. I was absolutely great to be functioning in a pastoral capacity again. I can't thank Mark enough. It was a wonderful and special time to pray with some of the Southwood people. My heart is intwined with so many of their lives.

Dottie and I have been beginning each day with Psalm 118:24

(Psalms 118:24)  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Usually, one of us greets the other with,  "So what day is it!" Ans: "This is the day the Lord has made."

"So, what are you going to do about it."  Ans: "Rejoice and be glad it it!"

Try it and see if it doesn't start off your day on the right tone.

The down part of the day was coming home after church and collapsing on the couch. The tiredness can only be described as tiredness of the soul. I should have been ready for it after the spiritually invigorating time at the end of  the service. But I wasn't and it turned into a time of discouragement and wrong thinking. Finally a call to my good and great friend, Mark Crocco by Dottie and his intercession on my behalf, lifted my spirits and the rest of the night went well. I currently have what I assume is a high yeast load in my blood steam. My skin itches (underneath the skin) from head to toe.) Today is Vitamin C infusion (50,000 mg) in Marlton and then back to the apartment for rest, reading and hopefully some writing.

What day is today? and what are you going to do with it?

2 comments:

amybhill said...

love it!

i also recently learned in bible study that following passover the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus and His disciples sung a hymn and went out to the mount of olives (matt. 26:30). traditionally, every passover celebration ended with the latter half of the hallel, psalm 115-118. thus, it is very likely that Jesus sang from psalm 118:22-24: "the stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

In her bible study, Jesus the One and Only, beth moore made the following observation:

"how many times have you sung 'this is the day that the Lord has made'? did you realize that in context the psalm speaks specifically of the day Christ was facing? the day 'the stone the builders rejected' became 'the capstone.' imagine Christ, fully aware of all that was coming, singing, 'this is the day the Lord has made.' whatever Christ sang as the passover meal concluded that night, the words had significance for Him that the others could never have comprehended. i wonder if His voice quivered with emotion? or did He sing with exultation? perhaps He did both, just as you and i have done at terribly bittersweet moments when our faith exults while our sight weeps. one thing we know: Christ, above all others, knew that He was singing more than words. that night He sang the score of His destiny."

be encouraged, pastor joel. you and mrs. macdonald remain in my prayers.

with much love and respect, amy (baxindine) hill

Debbie said...

Thanks once again, Joel, for sharing your thoughts and your times of encouragement and discouragement. It is a blessing to know both! And yours and Dottie's greetings to each other in the morning is a great way to begin the day. It's important for me to remember that each day is a gift. You continue to be in our thoughts, our hearts, and our prayers. With much love in Christ, Debbie