The Sun is Shining!

There is SO much to rejoice about today...the sun is out!  We have had so much rain lately.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good.

How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

Psalm 34:8

Also, we rejoice that Tom has not had any side effects from the Temodar.  He continues to be tired and that is very normal after all he has been through and the with radiation that is to be expected.  The doctor believes the few side effects Tom was experiencing last week were from "over doing it".  So far this week he has not gone into work and really has rested, therefore he's feeling better!

We also are thankful for a brand new toilet installed by our good friend, Elden Deskins.  Our poor old toilet was just ready to retire!  It took many people, parts and patience before Elden said it was time for a new one.

After Tom's nap yesterday he asked me what I was doing and I said making a new recipe and he "groaned".  I was very disappointed that he is becoming discouraged with the new way of eating...healthy.  After dinner he apologized because it was absolutely delicious...eggplant parmigiana.

Last night we enjoyed a visit with our long-time friends (since Bryan College), Doug & Carylee Meyers.  They have been through "life" with us and continue to stick by our sides and encourage, pray and be there for us in any way they can.  Doug's father also had a GBM about 23 years ago.

Our son-in-law was recently at a conference where he picked up a booklet "Don't Waste Your Cancer" by John Piper.  It's a very tiny book that Tom and I read and were very encouraged and challenged by.  There are 11 chapters/challenges that we want to encourage you with.  You definitely don't have to have cancer to be convicted of these things:

1 - We waste our cancer (life) if we don't hear in our own groanings the hope-filled labor pains of a fallen world.

2 - We waste our cancer (life) if we do not believe it is designed for us by God.

3 - We waste our cancer (life) if we believe it is a curse and not a gift.

4 - We waste our cancer (life) if we seek comfort from our odds rather than from God.

5 - We waste our cancer (life) if we refuse to think about death.

6 - We waste our cancer (life) if we think that "beating" cancer (life) means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.

7 - We waste our cancer (life) if we spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.

8 - We waste our cancer (life) if we let it drive us into solitude instead of deepen our relationships with manifest affection.

9 - We waste our cancer (life) if we grieve as those who have no hope.

10 - We waste our cancer (life) if we treat sin as casually as before.

11 - We waste our cancer (life) if we fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.

We pray that today you will be encouraged to "live as Christ"!