Last month I mentioned my first speaking engagement for a cancer awareness Sunday and today as chapter of my life is completed, wanted to share what God gave me to share for that occasion. I hope that someone will be encouraged and blessed by it. Here it is:
In September of 2013 during a
routine physical, the nurse practitioner discovered a lump in my breast. She
told me I was healthy and that it was probably nothing but still wanted me to
get it checked out. After multiple
diagnostic procedures including, physical exam by my breast care doctor,
ultrasound, MRI, and 2 biopsies, I was diagnosed with breast cancer the very
next month. But thanks be to God that while part of His plan for my life, it
was not the final stageof His plan and purpose for my life. Following chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, and more
chemotherapy, in July 2013, a week before my 30th birthday, God
officially changed my status from breast cancer fighter to breast cancer
survivor.
This
was the greatest battle of my life thus far and while your battle may not be with
cancer we all have to put our war clothes on at some point in our lives. As
Christians, we are not exempt from
having to go through things. In fact it’s necessary for spiritual growth. A
misconception that believers sometimes have is that because they are a
believer, life will be smooth sailing and void of any hardships but the truth
is we will have many trials and tribulations in this life but God repeatedly
tells us “do not be afraid.” But Please be
aware, victories don’t just happen and it’s
never in our own strength that any battle is won and my victory over breast
cancer is no exception. God gave me a faith to match the test from the
very beginning even as I was going through diagnostic procedures-He equipped me
with faith to live and His grace sustained me the whole way through. Not only
did He bless me to overcome but kept a smile on my face in the midst of the
battle.
I’d like to share some principles God gave me to fight with;
to stand on; to sustain me…prayerfully it will help someone.
And we know that all things work
together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. Romans
8:28
God is typically not going to reveal ALL of the good that
He’s going to bring out of a situation on the
front end or even while we’re in it because it would hinder the development or
our faith. He wants us to learn to trust Him even before He manifests and
brings His word/promises to pass. He reminded me that anything He allows to
come into my life is not to destroy me but to build me up.
God has allowed me to see and experience the manifestation
of this scripture in the midst of my battle with breast cancer and even now
that I am cancer free, He continues to bring more and more “good” out of it. He
can use me in greater ways and to encourage more people because of what He’s
brought me through, my faith is stronger, and He even gave me a new hairdo
that’s still low maintenance and still natural-for those who didn’t know me
before, I had locks/dreads- so MANY reasons why it’s been a blessing and not a
curse-not to say that there were not rough spots or that the journey has been
easy but I’ve been kept and I’m still being kept by God’s grace that is ALWAYS
sufficient for everything we face and experience in life.
Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37
God did not put a “period” after the word conquerors-by
ourselves we can do nothing and by ourselves and in our own strength we are
definitely not more than a conqueror but we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us. It’s in Christ that we are more than conquerors –we can do
all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). I believed that I was(and still am) more than
a conqueror through Christ.
God was not going to take me from this place
before He had finished working His plan and purpose in my life-however long
that was
Hearing God speak those words to us will facilitate peace
and comfort when we consider that God didn’t create us for us, He created us
for a purpose and a reason; with a specific plan for our life and that His
thoughts are not our thoughts; neither are His ways our ways and that He ALWAYS
does what’s right and best AND that He loves us.
Even in the midst of the battle God still expects me to serve Him
He may call us to serve in different capacities than before
but He still expects us to serve. By His grace that’s what I strived to do-from
the blog He put on my heart and blessed me to start the day after my diagnosis,
to continuing to pen poems towards a book of poems-a project that He gave
before the diagnosis. The greater
testimony in the publishing of the book is that God blessed me to have
published even before I had received the official report/news from the dr. that
I was cancer free. We cannot be fooled by the enemy or even ourself-the fact
that a war is going on does not put a halt/”stop work order” on God’s plan for
our lives. God can bless us not only in the time of peace but also in the middle
of a war zone. Our battles do not change Who God is nor do they limit His
ability.
God’s provision will always be “on point”
God’s
provision included His word (principles I’ve shared up to this point) and His
presence/Himself but it also included the support system that He built around
me-family, church family and friends who are more like family - who were there
for me not just spiritually through their prayers and cards and words of
encouragement but also there in practical ways-from cooking, cleaning, running errands,
and yes even fussing , there was not one need that went unmet. It’s often said that the key to
victory/overcoming is in the attitude but it’s hard to have and maintain a good
and positive attitude in the midst of adversity without faith and it can
sometimes be a challenge to Keep the Faith when we don’t have a support system.
It’s so important when we’re going through to avoid isolating ourselves from
those that God has placed in our lives.
Remember God knows the plans that He has for you. I
challenge and encourage you to TRUST Him fully and completely and know that
just because you may be facing the greatest battle of your life, it does not
have to be the END of your life. You’ve got to be willing to put FAITH and
works together. To all of my RSBC family who’ve bee a part of that support
system. Thank you and God Bless you.
I'll not be posting on this blog anymore with the exception of communication regarding completion of my website and how to access it. There will be a link to view the blog and all posts on the website. Again to my support system-from my daddy who drove me to every chemo treatment (with the exception of one due to being out of state but even then had a willing sub-one of my aunts) and spent nights with me in the hospital, the rest of my parents and family, church family (RSBC, MBC, LFCC) and friends-everybody who visited and were there for me, to those who couldn't always be there in person but sent texts, cards, and took up their cross as prayer warriors on my behalf; to all who stood with me in faith AND to the medical team that God worked through as well. I thank God for you all! MUCH Love, God Bless & KTF!
