This post is written by Cindy Hamilton as she shares her cancer journey with you.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick. When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Cancer is not fun–wild, crazy, out-of-control cells causing mayhem in my body.  A previously healthy, fit person laid low by the drugs that must now be used to fight this insidious disease.  But, I thank God for them.  I pray that God will direct these drugs specifically toward those cells like Pac-man chomping up the little dots.

God is a healing God.  At the beginning of this journey, He told me…“This is not unto death.”  Those words keep coming at me, wrapping around my heart as I lay awake at night, unable to sleep.  I breathe in and out   “Je..sus, Je..sus” .  And I hear him say, “I’m here, Cindy.”  He sits down softly beside me on the bed, his presence real in the dark room. He knows because He’s been there.  He’s suffered it all—more than I could ever imagine.

Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.  He would not have purposely caused them suffering.  He knew that their suffering would be turned into ecstatic joy and gladness—springing them into the Kingdom of God.  Mary, especially, did not understand why Jesus did not come and heal her brother.  But this sickness would result in glorifying the Healer of the Universe.

Paul saw suffering in the same way, And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

Amen

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

Packing For the Journey

My Traveling Companions

God’s Healing Drip

Recaculating

Don’t Be Concerned

This post is written by Cindy Hamilton as she shares her cancer journey with you.

     It was going to happen; it was inevitable.  They told me it would take about ten days, and they were right. I woke last Thursday morning and realized my hair was falling out.  The reason a person loses their hair in chemo is because the drugs attack the newest cells….like the bad cancer ones, but also, the good ones like your hair.  It’s OK, it really is. 1 Peter 3:3,4 says it this way, “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” Well, Lord, I submit my spirit to you; that’s all I have right now.

There were two sweet sisters who offered to shave my head before all of my hair fell out.  But, when I woke up that morning, there wasn’t a lot of time to get with either of them and make it happen.  My second “healing drip” was scheduled for noon that day.  What was I going to do? I sat down in my chair to begin my morning prayer time with the Lord, when I heard my phone ping.  It was my friend, Rhonda, from church.  In her text she said that she was praying for me and had sent a special song to me via Facebook.  Rhonda! Rhonda was a beautician.  Maybe Rhonda would come and shave my head?  I texted her back. Yes, she would be happy to come.  In fact, for some reason that morning she had lingered at home instead of going on to school.  Thank you, Lord.  You care about even the small things like this.

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

Packing For the Journey

My Traveling Companions

God’s Healing Drip

Recaculating

This post is written by Cindy Hamilton as she shares her cancer journey with our readers.

Two years ago, I flew from Arkansas to Massachusetts to attend a “silent retreat” at the St. Joseph Retreat Center in Cohasset, MA.  The entire eight days was devoted to silence, prayer, and just being with God.  It was so easy.  At the end of my week, my husband (a pilot) and I decided that I would rent a car, drive from Cohasset to New York, and catch a flight home to Arkansas with him.  I was game.  In the rental was a simple  GPS system that would help me find Preston. He told me that I would be fine as long as I didn’t go over the bridge and end up in New York City. The trip went well with only a few “recalculations”.  That is until I approached New York City.  Looking at the map, I thought that I could “wing” it and not listening to the GPS, made a wrong and crucial turn. The woman’s voice got more and more demanding with her “recalculating, recalculating”!  It looked like I was going entirely in the wrong direction.  I knew I’d really messed up when I passed by the Bronx Zoo.  Uh, oh, I was in trouble.  It was 5:00 in the evening, and I found myself right in the middle of rush hour traffic in New York City.  As a small town girl (pop. 4,000), I admit to a slight………let me be honest and say……huge feeling of panic!  Taking a deep breath, I prayed that God would get me out of there.  Knowing that God and the GPS knew exactly where I was, I focused on taking the right turns, trusting with a blind faith that I could make my way through the maze of streets.  And it was a maze!  The GPS usually takes the shortest route, so I turned down side streets and one that even looked like an alley!  At one time, I was stopped underneath the Lincoln Tunnel and the GPS starting saying, “recalculating, recalculating” because she had lost her signal!  Long story, short……..I found Preston!  I was never so glad to drive into that motel parking lot, praising and thanking God!

This journey with breast cancer may look very similar.  Faith is stepping out into the unknown, believing that God is there to lead us to the other side.  There may be some panicky voices from others, but I have to listen to His still, quiet voice.  God reminded me this morning that this journey of faith is like that of a small, trusting child confidently taking her daddy’s hand.  At this point, the ONLY thing that I can do is trust that God knows exactly what He is doing and where we are going.

Cindy

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

Packing For the Journey

My Traveling Companions

God’s Healing Drip

This post is by Cindy Hamilton as she shares her breast cancer journey with our readers.

OK, I admit, walking into that chemo lab for the first time was a bit scary. The sweet nurse put my husband and me in a small room so that she could explain the process. The first drug that they were going to give me, she said, was a powerful one; and because it is red, some people called it “devil’s tail.” Well, there is no way that I was going to call it that, so I renamed it “the healing blood of Jesus.” She explained that the chemo would target the fast growing cells in my body. There were side effects that might take place, but they would do everything they could to give me something to off set them.

A young woman came in and sat down, obviously at home and familiar with the process. “Hi, I’m Jamie.” Jamie has Crohn’s Disease and was there for an infusion of potassium. I explained that it was my first time, and she started filling me in on how it all works. She was funny and smart, wise beyond her years. She shared her concerns for her children and her health. Before I left that day, we agreed that we would pray for each other. “It’s going to be alright,” she said.

The next day, I was back for an infusion of fluids, anti-nausea meds, and a drug that builds up blood cells. Guess who was there? Her face (and mine) lit up as I walked into the room. There was my new friend, Jamie. Patting the empty recliner beside her, she invited me to come sit down beside her. God has already told me that this journey would be one where He would introduce me to many new people.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8 NIV

Cindy

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

Packing For the Journey

My Traveling Companions

This update is from Cindy Hamilton as she shares her breast cancer journey with our readers.

So, who goes with me on this journey? I am so blessed to have an amazing, strong husband of almost 42 years who loves me “through sickness and in health.” He is sweet and kind, solicitous when needed, and backs away when he knows that I just need to be alone. We are also blessed with three children who are strong in their Christian faith and love their mama……what can I say? And then there are our seven “grand” children, 10, 8, 6,6,6, 3, and 3. Their precious smiles, hugs, and kisses are what I live for. My heart’s desire is to see them all graduate from high school and college, and walk down the aisle in their weddings. Of course, there are my friends—dear, sweet, Christian sisters who bring me casseroles, pies to fatten me up, chicken salad, cute “Life is Good” hat and T-shirt, Subway sandwiches, send me cards and flowers, cry and laugh with me, pray for me, plan trips when I feel better, and help me decorate my shelves! I have also had calls from the brave survivors, giving me encouragement and strength that I can beat it too! Our church and pastor fills our spiritual souls with prayer, beautiful praise music, sound teaching, and the belief that healing is in the future. Added to all of this are my Facebook friends, the sisters at Womens Bible Café and other sisters that I have met through their beautiful and inspiring blogs. And I can’t leave out my constant companions, Max and Ruby, my darling doxies; looking into their beautiful eyes just warms me to my toes! Like the sweet song by Jamie Grace, I am “Not Alone”.

My husband and I met my doctor last week. I prayed that God would give me a doctor who cared………and He did! She carefully and unhurriedly explained the process of chemo with its possible side effects and assured me that she would do everything that she could do to help me survive chemo (or as my dear friend Ruth calls it—the healing drip into my body). She went out of her way to order one last test so that I could begin chemo a week ago Wednesday. The fight has begun.

Cindy

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

Packing For the Journey

This post was written by Cindy Hamilton as she shares her breast cancer journey with our readers.

Half the fun of taking a trip is planning it! I love to pour over the brochures, peruse the websites, make lists, and pack my suitcase. So, I’ve been thinking; what do I pack for this spiritual and healing journey? Here’s my list so far:

God’s Word (This has already given me a lot of courage and strength.) The Bible will be my travel guide and map. When or if I get lost along the way, I have all the confidence in the world that He will be my GPS. There may be a lot of “recalculating, recalculating,” but I trust that God knows where this journey ends, and He will get me there safely.

Prayer Journal–Over the years, I have kept a prayer journal during different times of my life. It always amazes me to go back and read how God has intervened in the most wonderful ways! Several years ago, I purchased a book called, Praying in Color by Sybil McBeth. This book teaches even those of us who aren’t very artistic to doodle our prayers in a journal. It’s fun and effective.

My “fight” songs. I have created a playlist of my favorite songs on my IPod that are musical prayers for me. Music is healing! When I wake at night, dark thoughts filling my head, I sing. I often wake with one of these songs playing in my head.

There are several books that I want to read along the way. A dear friend just sent me The Meal that Heals, Enjoying Intimate Daily Communion with God by Perry Stone. Anne Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is another book that will be packed away in a special place. There are so many wonderful books out there that are just a click away on my IPad!

Speaking of the IPad! The YouVersion app at www.youversion.com/free-bible-apps is a free Bible App that allows you to take the Bible along on your IPad, IPhone, or laptop. The App has multiple translations, Bible reading plans, a place to take notes, and other great options. So, that will definitely be packed in my suitcase!

My camera. Photography gets my creative juices flowing! When there is an artist inside who can’t draw or paint, photography fills the void. It’s fun to see God’s world through the lens of a camera. It’s as if you have an intimate close-up look at His creation. Scripture and photography just goes hand in hand.

My Pillow………OK, I don’t go anywhere without my pillow!
It’s going to be a miraculous journey; and I may have to pick up some things along the way, but I have all the faith in the world that God will provide. Now, who will go on this journey with me…………

Cindy

Cancer and Faith Articles by Cindy Hamilton

With God’s Help, I’m Ready

This post is by Cindy Hamilton as she shares hew new journey with our readers.

It’s January 2012, a fresh new year full of fun and surprises. I’m not supposed to get this call, “Mrs. Hamilton, it’s Dr. Hagans. You have breast cancer.” No, this is not supposed to happen to me. Except for one cousin, no one in my family has had breast cancer. Where in the world did that come from?

For almost 64 years, God has held my life in his hands. As a little four-year-old girl, I opened the door to my heart and accepted Jesus into my heart. I will never forget the picture that the nice neighbor lady showed me….there was Jesus standing at the door inviting me in. I walked right in and gave Jesus my hand. He’s been holding it ever since.

Jesus and I have been on an adventure together for the last 64 years. He has introduced me to His Word, taught me that miracles can happen, chastened me when I strayed, sustained me when I went through spiritually dry times in my life, held me when I was afraid, challenged me when I was hesitant, laughed with me, smiled at me, met me every morning in my chair with my sweet dogs cuddle up along side and His word opened in my lap, went to work with me everyday, heard my pleas, and cries, and petitions……….He’s not going to abandon me now.

As I begin this new journey, He will be right there with me each step of the way; and also with my sweet daughters, son, sons-in-laws, grandchildren, and precious husband. He is Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15: 26. I’m ready.

Last Tuesday, I faced CT and Bone scans to make sure that the cancer hadn’t spread. I felt such a peace as I walked through the doors into the cavern of that big hospital. This picture was taken a year ago, walking up that same sidewalk into that same hospital. I took it on a whim, and God brought it to my memory a couple of days before the tests were to take place. As I brought it into Photoshop to add the scripture——I saw it! There was the cross. I was standing under the cross. That picture went with me into those dark scanning rooms.

My husband and I met with the doctor late Tuesday afternoon. All my scans were clear! Chemo follows, but with my sweet husband, family, and friends by one side and Jesus on the other, I will continue to fight this fight with the sword of the Spirit. I know who wins.

Please continue to follow me as I share “A Light from My Journey” based on Psalm 119:105 NLT

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

To contact Cindy post a comment below or visit her website at A Quiet Place