Debi Sharkey

What Is Faith?

2011-10-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

I was reading in Hebrews 11 this morning and my heart was heavy. I really wanted to hear from the Lord. I needed some encouragement about an issue I'm dealing with . Then it HIT me:

"It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking" (Verse 4, NCV).

Did you catch that? Abel had faith and he died. But even death could not hinder his faith. His faith still speaks But what is faith?

"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it" (Verse 1, NCV).

"Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him" (Verse 6, NCV)

Faith is not just believing God exists. It's not just believing God is All-powerful and able to give good gifts and reward those who seek Him. It's not just believing God is a good and loving God. It's believing that same God will love ME - will bless ME when I come before Him. Sounds easy doesn't it? It takes faith to believe God loves you when it doesn't "feel" like He does or when the world and our circumstances are screaming - "God does not love you! He is mad at you! He doesn't want you to succeed! You are not worthy of His love! He will bless so and so, but not you!"

Those are all lies, but here is the truth:

^"If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39, NLT).

Have faith, my friend and believe that GOD loves you! God LOVES you! God loves YOU!

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-10T10:28:00.004-05:00

As we commemorate the ten-year anniversary of 9-11, I’m remembering the strangest event that happened to our family that night. Our Church called a special prayer meeting that night, so we were at Celebration Church when two FBI agents showed up looking for Rick and me. At first, we thought they were going to tell us Rick's brother died. We hadn’t heard from his brother yet. He works for the government and was in one of the locations attacked that day. We quickly found out that Rick’s brother was okay. We were relieved, but then shocked to find out the reason the FBI tracked us down. Someone hijacked one of our old email addresses to send an email about the towers coming down. The email was sent before 9/11! We couldn't believe someone could do that with one of our email addresses and we couldn’t believe the FBI actually connected us to that email and found us that day. After our initial shock, the event became a real lesson to our girls about the inherent dangers of the Internet.

It was so scary at the time, but once the FBI realized we had no connection to the event I remember thinking, "Wow! I think the girls realize now there are bad things that can happen with Internet use. About two weeks before the 9/11 tragedy we had a huge argument about the Internet with our daughter. She wanted a huge list of friends for her AIM and chatting, but we wanted to approve her friends. She accused us of being overprotective and not wanting her to be popular. We were at a stand still. We believed there were inherent dangers with using the Internet and we wanted her to be safe and use it responsibly. She didn’t believe any cautions were needed. Finally, we told her it was okay for us to disagree, but she needed to submit to our authority as her parents. Sure enough, after the FBI interrogated each of us, our daughter didn’t use the Internet for a whole year!

In our daughter’s defense, the day we had the big argument, we went to a worship service. During the service, our daughter read the Book of Galatians. She didn't like to read, but she talked to Dennis Jr. before the service. He mentioned how he likes reading whole Books of the Bible in one sitting, so she decided to try it. On the way home she told me how cool it was to see all of the things we said right there in Galatians! Although she still didn’t agree with us, she said she wanted to submit to us and respect our authority. She did submit to us. And after our 9/11 drama she AGREED with us too!

Mom Sharkey Is Now Home with Jesus

2011-05-05T10:08:00.003-05:00

Rick's mom, our beloved Nana, closed her eyes for the last time on earth, Tuesday, May 3. She opened her eyes in heaven: "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5). Mom loved life more than anyone I've ever known. Now she is more fully alive than we can imagine.

So many of you have asked about the obituary. You can view the obituary and send condolences online at:

http://www.mariannachapelfh.com

Go to the Marianna Chapel website and follow the obituaries link. Thank you for all of your love and support. Nana was greatly loved and she will be greatly missed. We miss her already.

I also posted a copy of the obituary below:

Mrs. Ruth A. Sharkey, age 70 of Alford, passed away in Jackson Hospital on Wednesday, May 04, 2011.

Ruth was born on June 16, 1940 in Rockland, MA to the late Wilfred and Eleanor Jacques. She moved from Grand Rapids, MI to Jackson County in 1992 where she was member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church that her husband serves as the pastor. Mrs. Sharkey was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Mrs. Sharkey is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Rev. James “Jim” Sharkey of Alford, her sons; Dr. Rick Sharkey and his wife Dr. Debi Sharkey of New Orleans, Randy Sharkey and his wife Judi of Fredericksburg, VA, her sister; June Spring of Alford, FL, five grandchildren; Kinsey Sharkey of New Orleans, Kristen Sharkey of New Orleans, Katherine Prudhomme and her husband Blake of Baton Rouge, LA, Byron Sharkey and his wife Linda of Woodridge, VA, Danielle Sharkey of Fredericksburg, VA and one great grandchild; Byron Sharkey.

A memorial service for Mrs. Sharkey will be held at 3:00 P.M. on May 6, 2011 at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Cottondale, FL.

Marianna Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sad but at Peace: Goodbye Cali

2010-12-07T10:59:00.007-06:00

We had to say goodbye to our pet cat, Cali, this morning. We are sad, but we have an unexplainable peace. Sometimes to do the "best" thing is not the easiest thing to do. In fact, it rips your heart out! We couldn't have asked for a better cat - especially being more of a "dog" family than a "cat" family! She was found as a kitten so we welcomed her into our home 14 years ago. Actually, it was on Kristen's 10th birthday. She became part of our family and she added lots of joy! We have wonderful memories to comfort us and make us smile - especially at Christmas - we have our tinsel stories - and how she liked the boxes, paper and bows more than any toy. It's at times like this I wish cats could talk. I wonder what Cali would have said. Maybe it went something like this:

Thanks for loving me. I was lost, but you found me and took a chance on me. Thanks for taking such good care of me all those years. Thanks for sharing me with others and giving them a chance to love on me too. You were easy to love because I knew how much you cared about me.

Slow down and enjoy the small things. Don't miss the "moments" and don't label things. Like those empty boxes that most people just throw away, but I enjoyed hours of fun playing hide and seek. And like me, I was homeless and abandoned, but you took me in and gave me a home. You loved me even to the end. Thanks for thinking more about me than yourself.

I don't know if there is a Kitty Heaven, but I do know it would be hard to find a place better than the home you gave me. I know that God cares about people and animals alike: "Your righteousness is like the mightly mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 36:6-7).

Squash Pie - a Thanksgiving Tradition

2010-11-24T14:22:00.009-06:00

The History Behind the Pies:

Squash pie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions since marrying my precious husband!

Our squash pie recipe is from Rick’s mom, passed down from

her mom and grandma – all of them New Englanders! In New England, they used canned One-Pie Squash. Usually we would have some cans available from family members, but a few years ago Thanksgiving rolled around and we had no One-Pie Squash! Well, in the same resourceful and ingenious nature of the Pilgrims - and New Englanders as I know them - they discovered canned pumpkin could be substituted for the squash with the same great taste! Now, every year, we make squash pie from canned pumpkin. And, if you prefer more of a custard-style pie, rather than the “spiced” pumpkin pie you will love this recipe. I just hope they don't shoot me for sharing the family recipe. It's just too good not to share!

May you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving! Family makes everything taste better! Enjoy!

SQUASH PIE (Henderson, Little, Jacques, Sharkey)

Ingredients:

2 – 15 oz cans squash (One-Pie Squash or pumpkin – I use Libby’s)

2 cups sugar (Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve used 1 ½ cups and it’s fine. You can substitute Splenda if you must! See note below.)

6 eggs

3 tbsp melted butter (don’t use margarine)

4 1/2 cups WHOLE milk (I tried 2% and skim and it just doesn’t work – Trust me!)

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp corn starch

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°

Line pie pans with crust. (I use 9” deep dish pie pans)

Mix all of the ingredients (I mix by hand, no electric blender. They used to separate the egg yolks and whites and do a lot of extra work - but someone discovered it tastes just as good without the extra steps.)

Pour mixture into the crusts. (Don’t pour mixture into crusts until you are ready to bake or it makes the crust soggy.)

Bake for 10 minutes at 450°

TURN OVEN DOWN TO 325° and bake for 40-45 minutes longer (or until a toothpick in center of pie comes out clean)

Cool and serve with whip cream (or Cool Whip – whatever floats your boat)

(Yields 3 pies)

Hints:

*Place a little foil around the edges of the crust in order to keep the crusts from browning too much. I do this after the first 10 minutes before I turn the temp down.

*Bake 2 pies and reserve the remaining mixture in the refrigerator to bake the third pie in a couple of days. The mixture will keep for several days.

*Use the whole milk and the butter. Except for cutting down on the sugar – go ahead and use all of the suggested ingredients. This is one of the desserts you simply need to enjoy with all of the calories – rather than trying to neuter it and make it less fattening!

Grammy’s Pasta Fagioli Recipe

2010-01-14T20:14:00.002-06:00

1 1b ground beef or turkey or pork or turkey sausage

1 package (about 16 oz) pinto or kidney beans

1 small can of tomato sauce

Pasta of your choice (I use Angel Hair and break it up before cooking)

1 small onion, chopped

Garlic Parsley, chopped

Salt Pepper

Italian seasoning

Grated cheese (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

1. Either soak the beans overnight in 6-8 cups of water - or use the quick start method listed on the package.

2. Drain the liquid.

3. Add 6-8 cups of water and the tomato sauce

4. Brown the meat along with the onion and garlic; then add to the beans.

5. Add parsley, salt, pepper and Italian seasonings to taste.

6. Either place all ingredients in a crock pot or cook on the stove. If you cook in a crock pot – cook on low for several hours or on high for 2 hours. If cooking on the stove, bring to a boil then turn down and simmer on low heat for about 45 minutes, or until the beans are soft.

7. Cook the pasta separately and then add to the soup. I have brought the soup back to a boil and added uncooked pasta and timed it according to the instructions on the pasta box – but my Grammy always cooked her pasta separately then added it. It may be because she made her own pasta noodles and they would fall apart by the time you heated and re-heated the soup.

8. Serve with grated cheese and top with a dollop of sour cream (optional).

The Joy of Cooking

2009-12-31T09:53:00.003-06:00

It’s the holidays so naturally we’ve been doing a lot of eating. I’m starting to have a new appreciation for food this year. Today is New Year’s Eve and since our first new year together Rick and I have enjoyed a tradition of eating live Maine lobster. Rick is from New England so this was the tradition for his family. And since live Maine lobster is quite pricey every other place except New England, we decided to make it a “once a year” treat. When we looked into getting lobster this year we were blown away by the price. As we talked about alternatives and wondered if it’s time to put that tradition to rest, Rick said, “It’s not the food that is special, it’s the people.” Leave it to Rick to remind us of simple, yet profound truths. It’s easy for me to focus on people instead of food. I mean as an adult and as a mom, I’ve been primarily responsible for pricing, purchasing, stocking, shelving, washing, slicing, chopping, boiling, baking, mixing, freezing, tossing, stirring, cooking – and well you get the idea - preparing most of the food! After several nutrition classes and years of spending extra time preparing raw foods instead of processed foods, my Joy of Cooking became the Chore of Cooking! Hey, I’m still all about healthy eating styles. I’m just saying I’m re-discovering the other benefits of food.

I used to think “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” was a cute and somewhat true saying, but I’m finding food really is the foreplay to intimacy. No. I’m not talking about sexual intimacy (mind out of gutter please). I’m talking about “The capacity to relate to another person in an emotionally open equal and caring way.” Yes, love is the glue that binds us together, but food is the mode of transportation. There’s something about the aroma of food that lights up all of our senses and ignites something deep in our souls. And . . . when we have the same foods on certain holidays the feelings are even more intense. The smells waft through the house with a purpose – intent on digging up previous memories and smiles and satiating our desires even before taking a bite.

Food gives us a place to hang our memories. I’ll never forget Aunt Dolly’s fried chicken on our trips to the mountains as a child – or Gramie’s home-made bread and lasagna. It’s like she’s in my kitchen now. I remember mom’s New England boiled dinners - how even after a bad day at school my mom’s hot home-cooked meals made everything okay again. You gotta love those specialty foods that make holidays more enjoyable - like Nana’s squash pies (delicious!) and her Indian pudding (that no one eats but she always makes). I don’t think my girls will ever forget my sister’s visit when she broiled fresh salmon. Instantly, it became Kristen’s favorite fish. Speaking of fish – I remember camping by the Au Sable River in Michigan. Papa caught the trout, put it in the pan and then it went straight into our mouths – forget the plates! I hate to think one day I might be remembered best for the food I prepared. Mmmm.

Food ignites all of our senses: we can hear the crackling and simmering, smell an assortment of aromas, see the transformation of ingredients co-mingled with each other in ways only imagined by a few but appreciated by the rest. We touch different textures and sauces and get to lick our fingers and taste sweet and spicy, buttery and savory. Oh my! Senses are fully engaged and defenses are down opening the door to spontaneous laughter and communication. All of a sudden we are sharing more than a leg of lamb. We become one – unified over something so primal to our basic survival – FOOD. The moment is sealed, our hearts are penetrated and our minds branded with another memory.

I know this is no new revelation. Food has been the center of many gatherings for centuries. God created food for pleasure and life. There is the land flowing with milk and honey – The Passover – the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Jesus is the Bread of Life and many times He fed the multitudes before offering food for thought. I could go on and on. Of course, like everything else God created, the devil likes to pervert it. He used food in the Garden to deceive Eve that very first time. The Apostle Paul talks about those whose “god is their belly” (Phil. 3:19) so I’m not advocating indulgence and lust. I’m just trying to re-discover the Joy of Cooking, add a little flavor to our holidays.

Lost and Found

2009-11-12T06:23:00.006-06:00

I lost a pair of earrings the other day and as I began looking for them I thought about the woman in Luke Chapter 15 who lost a coin. She lit a lamp and swept the whole house looking for it. My earrings don’t have much of a monetary value, but they are worth a lot to me. They were one of the first pair of earrings I ever owned. I remember buying them as a teenager. I could have sworn I took them off the night stand and put them in my jewelry drawer, but I couldn’t find them. I asked the Lord to help me find them.

I got a flash light and looked everywhere. I searched under the bed and went through my jewelry drawer several times. I even checked the trash. Maybe I threw them away accidentally. I remembered picking up a piece of garbage about the same time I picked up the earrings. I sifted through the garbage and sure enough, they were on the bottom of the bag, under a pile of trash. I washed them off and put them back in my jewelry drawer. I thanked the Lord for helping me find the earrings, but my heart overflowed with gratitude as I was reminded about my own life.

I was tossed aside, thrown out with the trash, but to the Lord loved me and valued me. He searched for me and found me. He redeemed me. He poured His love over me and washed away the scum. Now, He uses me for His purposes.

Also, the Lord renewed my faith and encouraged me to continue steadfast, and with hope as I pray for those who are lost. He is doing the same thing for others that He did in my life. He came to seek and to save those who are lost. He died for the lost. Even while he hung on the cross He prayed for the lost. Because of His great love He is pursuing each and every person. He wants to push through the shame, guilt, pain, fear, depression, loneliness and every other form of garbage, so He can bring true and lasting love, peace and purpose.

C. S. Lewis wrote that our greatest gift outside of salvation is the realization that we are destitute apart from God. I pray I always remember what Jesus did for me when He first found me. I pray that I live keenly aware of how He sustains me daily by His powerful love and amazing grace. And I pray with expectation and hope for those I know need His love so desperately – because He will stop at nothing in order to redeem them.

This is my Roxy Gurl - my grandpuppy - waiting patiently for her mama to come home.

LIVE EVERY DAY AS THOUGH IT WERE YOUR LAST

2009-09-22T07:18:00.004-05:00

Our Church just began a new series entitled "One Month to Live." One of our resources is the New York Times Bestseller, One Month to Live, by Kerry and Chris Shook. The question asked is "What would you change in your life if you knew you only had one month to live?" That prompted me to reflect back when I received the diagnosis of cancer.

As you know, I’m a survivor of stage 3 breast cancer. By the time I discovered the tumor it was almost 5 centimeters and the cancer had already spread to my lymph system. The tumor was the most aggressive possible – a 9 out of 9 on the Bloom-Richardson scale. Although my outlook was good with surgery and chemo, I heard about others who died from stage 1 breast cancer so I definitely thought about, “Could this be the beginning of the end? And if so, is there anything I need to do differently?”

When we think our days are short sometimes we think about a “bucket list” – you know those things we want to do before we kick the bucket – but when I thought my days might be short my “bucket list” was the last thing on my mind. I wasn’t thinking about those things I “always wanted to do.” I was thinking about those things that would “last for always.” I wanted my life to count long after I’m gone.

As I was thinking about how I could do that the Lord reminded me of a truth He showed me soon after I came to Know Him. My first encounter with the Lord resulted in a radical transformation. The Lord forgave me. He overwhelmed me with His love. He delivered me from addictions and He took me off a self-destructive path and put me on a path of life and purpose and passion. He also freed me from my old thinking patterns. I thought I had to look a certain way and act a certain way in order to please Him. He showed me that I am His temple and He lives inside of me. I am to be a good steward of my temple, my gifts, and everything God has entrusted to me – to surrender to Him daily and trust Him for the results.

Well, there I was, almost thirty years of taking care of God’s temple and still got cancer. But this didn’t take God by surprise. I knew I was about to go through the fire. I thought about Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego and how they went through the fire and the Lord was in the fire with them making sure only their chains were burned and they emerged without even a hint of smoke. Whether I live or I die I wanted the Lord to be glorified in my life.

Every day was a walk of faith. How could we pay our bills on one salary? How could I go back for another treatment when I was so sick from the last one? Would I take time to share God’s love with the person next to me who was also receiving a chemo treatment? Or would I turn my IPod on and concentrate on relaxing and getting through my own treatment. I mean, wasn’t it all about my healing anyway? No. For me, the definition of success was not surviving the cancer, but relying on God’s power through the process.

Well, God delivered us through the fire. He was with me through 13 surgeries and 8 rounds of chemo. We paid all of our bills, including extra medical costs, and we were able to continue giving to our Church’s building project the same amount we committed to give before we knew about the cancer. We experienced God’s love and provision through our awesome family, friends and Church family.

I wish I could say I’ve lived my life every day like I did going through the cancer fire. The truth is I’ve made many mistakes. But I’ve found with God, every day is a new chance to live for Him. I’m learning to practice for eternity. And how we practice makes all the difference. You’ve heard people say, “Practice makes perfect” but it doesn’t. Debbie Pell reminded me once, “It’s perfect practice that makes perfect.”

We’ve all heard about Sully – the Hero on the Hudson. He landed a plane safely on the Hudson river after engine failure. He’s been flying for years but his whole career is now judged by that one landing. He said he was never trained for it. He simply did what he always does – used the same skill set and knowledge he uses every time he flies because, “You never know when you will be judged.”

I like what G. Campell Morgan wrote:

“Commit your life to God, see vision, do the work that’s nearest, the work He appoints, truly and well and faithfully, and die knowing you have started delicate influences, dynamic forces which will proceed through every succeeding generation until they gather up the harvest of glorious result about the throne of the Eternal. The man of God has not finished his work in the world when they put him in a coffin”

I don’t know the future and I can’t control it, but I can affect eternity by what I do right now. My desire it to live each day – 100% engaged – using my gifts, knowledge, resources and everything God has entrusted to me to the best of my ability because we never know when it’s going to count for eternity.

STOP AND TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.

Sharkey Family Update

2009-06-23T19:15:00.010-05:00

Let me bring you up to speed with our family by highlighting some of the major events over the past few months:
I got a job at the Seminary in New Orleans working in the Enlistment Office. I started a couple of days before Katherine’s wedding in April. I was able to stay with my friend Nancy for a few weeks before we were able to relocate to New Orleans. I like talking to people about attending Seminary in response to what the Lord is doing in their lives. In the Fall I will be teaching some of the Ministry Wives’ Courses here at NOBTS and I look forward to investing in the lives of these precious women who walk alongside their husbands in ministry.

Katherine married Blake Prudhomme Sunday, April 5th! Wow! This event in itself could take pages to update. They married in City Park in New Orleans and it was the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended! Thank you to all who made Katherine’s dream wedding possible. God did exceeding abundantly beyond all that we asked or imagined through our awesome friends who gave of their time, talents, and resources so liberally. The wedding was phenomenal but even better is their marriage. When they returned from their honeymoon I asked Katherine how she liked married life so far and she replied, “It’s awesome! Blake and I believe our lives together is God’s blessing for our ‘saving ourselves” before marriage.” It’s a joy to see Katherine reap the rewards of loving righteousness and maintaining a pure heart.
We sold our house in Georgetown – We had a contract written in less than two weeks after putting our house on the market and were supposed to close the end of April. We had a lot of hurdles along the way but the Lord blessed us with the best realtor (Thanks Dena!) and with the strength of the Lord she saw the process through to closing - the end of May. Even with the delays it is a miracle to have sold our home in this market and to come out of it without losing our shirts. I told Rick we did lose a sleeve or two!
The beginning of May we moved into our current home (apartment) on the Seminary Campus. We had a series of adventures after moving in. We had a mix up with the gas hook up and I stayed in the apartment for a week without hot water or the ability to cook. We had the wrong electrical hookup for the dryer. When mom came to visit I was showing her the laundry room and she didn’t know that our doors lock automatically. She is in such a good habit of closing the door behind her she locked us out of the apartment at 7:30 am on a Saturday in our nighties! Rick was not home so we had to call campus police to let us in. That was interesting. Our neighbors had an accident with their fish tank which leaked several gallons of water through their floor and our ceiling. All of that aside – we love our new home. The Seminary has been great and it feels so good to “BE HOME.”

May 9, Kristen graduated from college. Wow! Another cause for great celebration. Many of you remember praying for Kristen when she was in high school because she struggled academically. When Kristen was a freshman, she visited Katherine at Palm Beach Atlantic University and caught a dream – a vision. Well, through hard work, perseverance, and complete reliance on the Lord, Kristen graduated! She made the honor roll several semesters while in school and was a key leader in several campus organizations, as well as serving in her Church, leading worship and working with the high school and college ministries. Kristen has the gift of faith and when the Lord gives her a vision, she walks by faith until it becomes a reality. Oh, that we all had such faith.

May 28, Kinsey graduated from high school. Wow! more cause for great celebration. Kinsey was entering high school when we were displaced from our home following Katrina. As a result, she ended up attending 5 different high schools. She was uprooted when we moved to Florida and Texas and had to cope with a mom fighting a major illness. In addition, all of the moves masked a learning disability which went undiagnosed until her junior year. We are so proud of Kinsey. Her name means “Victory” and she walks in overcoming victory! The statistics for high-school graduates is as follows: “Only 70% of all students in public high schools graduate, and only 32% of all students leave high school qualified to attend four-year colleges” (http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/ewp_03.htm). She overcame so many obstacles and is among the few qualified to attend a four-year college. She will be attending Palm Beach Atlantic University this fall. Yes – I know you are thinking – that means everyone in our family went to PBAU. It’s cool that Kinsey made the decision on her own without any pushing on our part. I’d like to say that all of our girls went to PBAU because it is an excellent 4-year Liberal Arts University, or because Rick and I attended there, or because their uncle and grandmother live in the area – and all of this is true – but I think their main reason for going is the BEACH! Besides finishing school, Kinsey was promoted to an assistant manager position at her job before moving back to New Orleans. With Kinsey on your side you will always be on the winning team! She is majoring in Business Management and we know that with her work ethic and her honesty she will be an awesome employer and business owner.

In July, Rick started working for the construction team rebuilding the Airline Campus of Celebration Church. I think the 14 months Rick went without gainful employment set him up for a great attitude. I came home for lunch one day and he said, “I got a job!” I asked him about it and he responded excitedly, “I’m going to be a dung scraper in the House of the Lord!” I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about scraping up bird poop. He is cleaning the floor in order to prepare for work crews. Oh well, it’s not the first time he has dealt with “dung” in the House of the Lord. Like one woman said to me – “We all step in stuff and we just need to scrape it off and keep going.” Rick and I have helped a lot of people scrape off the stuff and live productive and fulfilling lives in Christ. Rick is working on two levels, the actual church building and the living stones (God’s people). We hope to have many fruitful years of building the Kingdom here in New Orleans through Celebration Church. We were blessed with the opportunity to share the Word in the weekend services at Celebration Church (Metairie) while Pastor Dennis was out of town. If you like, you may listen to the message on the website: http://media.celebrationchurch.org/?p=142. Rick and I have taught individual seminars in the same conference, but this was the first time we spoke together in the same message. It was a really cool experience.

In addition, Rick started working at UPS part time. It reminded me of the first time we came to the Seminary when he worked at UPS. They have great benefits. The first time around the health benefits paid for the birth of our first two daughters. Now, UPS has tuition assistance. This will really help Rick complete his Ph.D.
Before we moved back to New Orleans the Lord spoke to me through a few different Scriptures. Basically, He said that He has done amazing things in the past, but He is doing a new thing – even greater things - things He started long ago. Plus, He will use our past to impact our future in a greater way.
“But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. . . . Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world” (Isaiah 43:18-21). (See also Psalm 126 and Jeremiah 29:11).
We have come back home. Like most of you, we have been through a lot since Katrina and we have our story to tell. God has healed me of all disease; He healed our hearts from brokenness and loss; He sustained us; He moved us back home. But the theme of the story remains the same: GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN, FAITHFUL REDEEMER. And He can redeem any situation if you will let Him.

My First-Born Is Engaged

2009-02-02T10:13:00.007-06:00

My first-born daughter Katherine recently got engaged to her sweetheart, Blake. I guess I will be joining a new club, the IN-LAWS. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the whole thing. I've heard the comments: "You are not losing a daughter. You are gaining a son. Grandkids could be just around the corner and grandparenting is glorious." Wait a minute. We haven't even selected a venue for the wedding yet! I'm definitely not ready to think about grandparenting. I'm having trouble believing I'm old enough to have a daughter who is old enough to marry. And who wants to be a mother-in-law? They always get such bad wraps. I still remember one of my seminary professors using a mother-in-law joke to illustrate the meaning of "ambivalence." He said, "Ambivalence is watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Cadillac." Hmmm. I don't think my future son-in-law, Blake, would feel that way. Well, maybe if it was a Mercedes or BMW. I don't think he's crazy about Cadillacs. At least I know he wouldn't be the one sending me over the edge.

Maybe we will be back in New Orleans in time to help with the wedding. Rick and I think the Lord may be leading us to return to the seminary. Yes, our true citizenship is in heaven, but since Hurricane Katrina we have felt like wanderers and returning to New Orleans would feel like coming home in many ways. A couple of years ago we prayed about moving back but the Lord brought us to Texas instead. Looking back, we can see why. We have experienced many miracles in Texas. One major miracle is sparing my life through the cancer.

Please pray for Katherine and Blake as they plan their ceremony and prepare to spend the rest of their lives together. May their marriage bring honor and glory to the Lord! And pray for Rick and me as we continue to seek the Lord about our future. May we know His will and trust Him in all things.

I love the quote from Corrie Tenboom: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Happy New Year

2008-12-27T12:13:00.004-06:00

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. I am still helping with Shawn. He finished his radiation treatments in November. The treatments, as well as the effects continue to work for 4-6 weeks. He is still tired and on a lot of seizure meds. We are praying that the tumor goes away completely and that he has no more seizures. In addition, we pray that he is restored fully from the effects of the stroke and brain bleed. Shawn has suffered so much and the whole family is grieved and saddened since first discovering the brain tumor 18 months ago.

As far as our family goes - I had my one-year scan done and I remain cancer free. Praise the Lord. The doctor said I got the award for the month for having such good blood work. The girls came home for Thanksgiving and they are here for Christmas. We are enjoying our time together and we won't take it for granted. We know each moment is a gift from the Lord. Rick and I are still without active careers. Rick is applying for teaching positions. In the mean time he is selling insurance. Things have been tough but God is faithful. He continues to provide for us.

This morning I was talking to a friend who is walking through a major crisis. in fact, I know a lot of people facing tough if not seemingly impossible situations right now. After I got off the phone I read this passage and was totally encouraged by the Lord:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights" (Habbakuk 3:17-19).

WHAT I HEARD:
“Even though I have no savings and my retirement is gone; even though cancer made me barren, and my husband and I lost our jobs; even though my bank account is empty, and i don't know how we will pay our bills, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He helps me live each day and He enables me to trample the enemy.”

I love God's Word! So many times when we are going through crises we lose hope. We insist that it is impossible to have joy in our grief and loss and there seems to be no "happy ending" in sight. But God is here and can have hope and joy in Him. No trial or fear can overtake us when our love for God is unconditional - when we trust Him even (especially) when things look bleakest.

I have not mastered this wonderful secret Habbakuk knew about to tap into the perpetual spring of joy. There are so many days I allow the devil to rob me of hope. But I am grateful for the constant availability of unlimited joy and freedom in Christ when I trust Him unconditionally. I am thankful that nothing can separate us from God's love.

May you experience great joy in the Lord today, and every day in 2009.
I love you, my friend.

Mom's 75th Birthday Celebration

2008-07-27T09:23:00.006-05:00

I know, I know, it's been way too long since my last entry. I've been spending a lot of time with my little friend, Shawn, the boy for whom we are praying. He is recovering from two more surgeries. The family still does not know the course of treatment. They will see the doctor again in a few weeks and hopefully Shawn can start treatment after he is stronger. Please continue to pray for complete healing from all tumors and disease and for full restoration.

In addition to spending time with Shawn, I had the opportunity to go out of town to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday. My sisters and I took mom to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Bellagio (our room overlooked the famous fountains). We saw the Cirque Du Soleil "O" courtesy of my sis Dawn! It was fabulous! We ate at Emeril's Fish City Grill and took in a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre among other fun things. We rented a car and toured the Hoover Dam and drove through the Valley of Fire State Park.

I really enjoyed spending time with my sisters. This was the first time we have been together in more than ten years. I also enjoyed site seeing. We toured the Hoover Dam and it was an incredible reminder of what people can accomplish with vision and team work. In addition, we saw the Valley of Fire. Wow! God is so creative! His hand prints are all over the place. I don’t know if they named it the Valley of Fire because of the heat or because of the red rocks and cliffs - probably both. The awe-inspiring landscape reminded me of another kind of beauty – our lives after we’ve been through the fire. Being in the fire is no picnic but if we allow God to work in our lives we can’t beat the results! I only pray that my life reflects God’s glory like His work in nature. I pray that I am refined by the fire and not scorched – that when people look at me they see Jesus and remark, "God is so good!"

Celebration Church Women's Tea

2008-05-17T10:25:00.006-05:00

The tea was a huge success! A big thanks to all who made it possible for over 200 women to gather, fellowship together, share good food and tea, and hear the Word of God. The amount of time that went in to the preparations was extensive. You should have seen the tables. Different teams decorated the tables and they all were awesome. It reminded me of the Body of Christ - every person so different yet so beautiful! I know that God showed up because several shared with me how the Lord changed their hearts. I’d love to hear how the Lord spoke to you or touched you in a special way. You can share your story with me by e-mailing info@debisharkey.com. I'm working on getting copies of the message for those who have been asking!

Here are a few pics from the event courtesy of Nancy Werner.

Please continue to pray for the supernatural healing of Shawn Michael McGinnity (little guy in the baseball uniform).

Back from India

2008-04-19T16:33:00.008-05:00

We're back from India. I would have written sooner but I've been a little distracted with some out-patient surgeries. It's all good!

I love the people of India - especially the children. As you can see they are so beautiful. Children are the future and hope of every nation. I'm so glad I went on the trip. At first, I didn't think it was such a great idea to leave the country so soon after beating cancer. But I sensed God leading me and He made it all possible. It's always a blessing to obey!

I don't know how to explain some of the things we saw and experienced. They are so different from the States. I'm not just talking about the poor living conditions of many - or the elaborate temples or random 40-foot statues built by human hands and worshipped as gods. I'm talking about the people.

When someone comes to know Christ in India it costs - many times it costs them everything because even their family members disown them. And the pastors and missionaries! What words can be used to describe the kind of commitment and sacrificial love they have? How do you explain young men - extremely intelligent, educated and gifted who give up the opportunity to make good money and live in the States because they would rather live in humble means in India in order that others might come to know Jesus. Now that is the power of God’s love! Apart from the Lord it doesn’t make sense!

The people I met thanked me so much for coming and told me how encouraged they were by the testimony of how God has worked in my life. But I was the one who was encouraged – encouraged, humbled and challenged. I guess you can say my comfortable Christianity was challenged

Yes, I’ve been to India and my life will never be the same.

1) I'm speaking at one of the meetings. 2) They mow using 2 oxen pulling a grass cutter. 3) Me and my new friend, Sweety at an out-door market.

India Update

2008-04-04T05:53:00.007-05:00

After what seemed to be the "flight that never ends" we arrived in India and the pace is drastically different from the States. If you think New York taxi drivers are crazy on the road you would really freak out here. Our taxi driver hit a guy on a bike and glanced to see if he was O.K. and then kept going like nothing ever happened. Whether there are lines dividing the highway or not there are always 5 to 6 lanes of traffic weaving in and out - sort of controlled chaos. It's amazing that there are very few accidents.

We stayed in Delhi the first two nights and ministered at two different churches. We are in Chandigarh tonight and will be ministering at another church. We have prayed for many people and seen several healed and touched by Jesus. I got to sing and share my testimony, and pray for many people. God is opening the windows of Heaven and showering us with His love.

The people here are indeed beautiful! The first day we were here the team gathered for prayer. Pastor Luke (the team leader) shared how we are here not only to minister to the people but also to encourage pastors and leaders who labor here. As we were praying I glanced down and saw a diamond on the floor. I picked it up and heard the Lord say that these young pastors and leaders are like diamonds in His hands and He is causing them to shine for Him in a land of darkness and He would use us to invest in them. My prayer is that the people of India will indeed be as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

So many people here live in poverty - conditions that are unknown in the States. I swear - we are such a spoiled nation. It rips my heart to see the children - and especially the children that are exploited in order for others to make money. I've prayed that God would break my heart for what breaks His and to give me opportunities to make a difference but it is overwhelming. Who can stand the burden? Yet, this is my work - to do His will - and I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. It is His love that flows through me. Pray that I will be His vessel and that He can flow through me like rivers of living water. It is not enough to stop at John 4 and drink from the well and never thirst again. I must go to John 7 and allow rivers of living water to flow through me.

Thank you for your prayers. It is a miracle that I am here. Just a few months ago I was at death's door but today I am in India sharing the love of Jesus. It is because of your love and prayers.

India Trip

2008-03-26T12:15:00.009-05:00

I'm going to India March 31 - April 11 with a team from Celebration Church, Texas. I'm so excited! I've heard the people of India are beautiful! I know the Lord is up to something great!

Please pray for our safety, and that we will be used by God to encourage the disciples and church leaders, to comfort and heal the sick, and to share the love of Jesus in such a way that thousands of lives are changed and transformed forever!

Kristen's Spring Break

2008-03-26T10:57:00.007-05:00

Kristen came home for Spring Break and brought two of her suite mates from college - Kristin and Monica. We had the best time! Some of the places we visited included downtown Austin and the Capitol Building, Mount Bonnell, the River Walk in San Antonio, Salado and the underground caverns. We even went to the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo! Here are some pics of their visit.

I've Got Hair!

2008-02-24T12:48:00.002-06:00

For those of you who have been asking what my hair looks like now here is a current picture!! Thanks to Diane Stauber for doing wonders with what little she had to work with!

Prayer Request

2008-02-14T09:42:00.004-06:00

Dear Friends, I need your prayer support.

The Lord gave me my call to ministry from 1 Chronicles 16:8-12:

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” (NLT)

I have always interpreted this to mean: “Share the good news of Christ through public speaking and singing” and I seek to do that on a daily basis. But the time has come where I believe God is developing this calling further. When the Lord first called me to ministry He showed me that I would travel the world through a speaking ministry. He also said that it would be at least 20 years before I started this kind of ministry because I first had to learn to “live it” before I could share it. Well, that was more than 25 years ago and since that time I have been “living it.” Of course, there is still so much more I have to learn, but I believe the Lord is saying it is time to focus on this part of my calling. I need to be willing to step out in faith and develop this speaking and writing ministry.

This will mean stepping out of my comfort zone and that's scary. I am afraid of failure and afraid of rejection, which is why I’m asking for your prayers. I don’t know the first thing about starting a ministry like this but I know it can't be done apart from lots of prayer. Also, I know that I always have success whenever I obey the Lord. I have no choice but to follow Him. Please pray that I will have wisdom and direction. Pray that I will know what to do and when and how to do it. Pray that I will be full of faith. Thank you for joining with me to take the good news of God's great love to the world. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! May you experience a special dose of God's love today. You are so special to Him.

Debi

Your Praise Benefits Others

2008-02-04T13:57:00.000-06:00

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:25-26, NLT, emphasis mine).

If you have been in or around Christian circles for any length of time you have heard about Paul and Silas and the power of praise. One of my favorite songs is “Praise You in this Storm” by Casting Crowns. I have heard and I have seen how praise sets us free. Like Paul and Silas I have praised God around midnight (my darkest hour) and experienced the Lord’s power and deliverance. Before today, I focused on the principle of the power of praise to set me free and I used to think there was nothing greater. But there is! Our praise can set others free! Paul and Silas were not the only ones who experienced freedom. “The chains of every prisoner fell off!” Don’t you just love it when you read a Scripture you’ve read countless times before and you see something new! I hear you saying, “But none of the prisoners were let go.” Just because they stayed in jail doesn’t mean they stayed in bondage. The jailer was saved and I like to assume the prisoners also experienced freedom that night. Sometimes the Lord is not willing to remove me from my trials but He is always willing to break the strongholds.

For a long time now I’ve been praying for someone I love to experience true freedom. Today the Lord encouraged me with this passage. I believe He was saying, “Debi, keep praising me. Your praise carries the power to set this individual free.” Yes, only God’s power can break the chains and set the captives free. But God set in place a strategy that dispenses His power through us. I don’t understand it, but He makes us the extension of Himself in this world. I’m so grateful for those who prayed for me, for those who never gave up on me no matter what I said or did. If someone had not believed God on my behalf I would still be in chains.

If you’re praying for someone to be set free be encouraged. Add a little praise to your prayers and watch God work. Just don’t be surprised by the earthquake! About six weeks ago, I ramped up my praise and suddenly something worse happened. At first I was tempted to think, “Well, that didn't work!” However, God used an earthquake to shake the foundation before opening the prison doors and removing the chains. Apparently, we're more open to change when our foundation is shaken and it seems God wants to make sure we're ready to walk out of prison before He removes the chains.

Listen to the Beeps

2008-01-30T10:58:00.000-06:00

During my visit in New Orleans Suzanne graciously loaned me her car. I was backing out of the driveway when I heard some beeps and then bang! I hit a telephone pole. I was showing Suzanne the bumper when she asked, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” Her husband saw us inspecting the car so he came over to see what we were doing. We told him what happened and he looked at me and said, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” They didn’t ask if I saw the pole only if I heard the beeps. You see, they could understand if I hit the pole and there were no sensors because the pole was in my blind spot. But there are sensors in this car with beeps that get louder and faster when the driver gets too close to something. The sensors are designed to help the driver avoid damage to property and persons but they can’t prevent an accident. The driver must heed the warning. And there is a cost for not heeding the warnings. Fortunately, in this case the damage was minimal but some injuries cannot be reversed. I shudder to think of what could have happened!

You know, in our lives God warns us to keep us from injuring ourselves and others. I thought about their question, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” I did hear the beeps but for some reason they weren’t registering as a warning. I wondered about the times I may have tuned out the Lord like I tuned out the car sensors. I think we all may have done that at one time or another. If so, why?

1) Maybe we are not used to the sensors. I don’t have rear sensors in my car so I wasn’t paying attention to them. Sometimes believers are new in their faith and aren’t used to hearing God so they don’t pay attention to His warnings.

2) Maybe we disregard the warnings because we are in a hurry or we get distracted. This is usually my problem. I am an activator and I want to “Do it now!” I’ve had to learn that “Fast doesn’t mean best.” Plus, I’m the ultimate multi-tasker. When I hit the pole I was backing out while trying to put on my seatbelt and adjust the seat, etc. No doubt, God directs my steps but sometimes I’m moving so fast I’m half a mile down the road before realizing He said, “Take a right turn here.”

3) Maybe we are familiar with God’s voice and we are not rushing ahead of Him but the warnings don’t match our senses. I remember dismissing the beeps because I didn’t see anything so I assumed they were reminding me to “Buckle up.” I was relying more on my senses than the sensors. The sensors are accurate and designed specifically for blind spots. Just because I didn’t see the pole didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Sometimes we do this with God. We trust our senses more than we trust His Sensor (The Holy Spirit). But we don’t always know when we are in imminent danger.

God is perfect and more accurate than any car sensors. God never sleeps or naps. He doesn’t go on break or take a vacation. He sees everything and He loves us immeasurably. We can be sure He is directing our paths but we need to trust Him! If we hit a pole it’s not because God didn’t warn us it’s because we “didn’t hear the beeps.” Backing in to the telephone pole reminded me that I need to slow down and listen to God, especially during this time of sabbatical. When I trust the Sensor more than my senses I will travel safely and remain on the right path.

New Orleans Visit

2008-01-28T19:34:00.000-06:00

I had a great visit in New Orleans!

We look pretty good! Maybe we should join a biker's club! (Suzanne, Debi, Vicki and Nancy)

(Debi and Debbie)

Welcome the New Year - 2008!

2008-01-08T11:46:00.000-06:00

Many of you have asked about how we're doing and why I haven't made any recent entries to the blog. I wasn't sure how to proceed from here since I am no longer overcoming breast cancer. I am a breast cancer survivor walking in victory! I continue to heal from the mastectomy and reconstruction - visiting the doctor weekly in order to drain some fluids (all a normal part of the healing process). I continue to gain new strength daily and I'm praying about how and when to return to work.

Rick is taking a brief sabbatical in order to pray and seek the Lord for direction and also to allow God to minister complete healing to our family. We have been through so much the past few years, all the while remaining in full-time ministry. Actually, it was our wise and compassionate senior pastors who suggested we take a break from full-time ministry to receive complete healing and restoration from the Lord. And they are making it possible by generously providing for our family during this time. We are confident the Lord is blessing them for their kindness and working all things for our good and His glory! Yeah God!

Every year the Lord gives me at least one Scripture passage as a theme verse for the year. This year the passage is from Isaiah chapter 43:

"But forget all that — it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland" (18-19).

This is exciting, yet at the same time a bit scary. It's exciting because God has done so many marvelous things for our family, yet He is saying those things are nothing compared to what He is doing now! It is scary because so many times as we follow the Lord He discloses only one step at a time. We don’t understand what He is doing, yet we are expected to trust Him.

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36).

God guides us each and every step, delighting in every detail. Our finite minds do not understand His ways, but He doesn't hide His will from us. He doesn't want us living in confusion or wandering around aimlessly. He gave us His Holy Spirit to interpret the road signs and help us follow Jesus without missing a beat. I don't have to understand how elaborate highways and bridges are constructed in order to travel them. I don't have to understand God's ways in order to follow Him. He is the ultimate Guide and He is opening pathways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert! Wow! What an awesome God!

Please pray that during this time of sabbatical Rick and I will be like the tribe of Issachar - able to understand the signs and know the best course to take (1 Chronicles 12:32). Then, as we obey, we will see God doing even greater things than we have seen before.

Truly life is great in 2008!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T18:09:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! This is a copy of our Christmas letter.

(Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Psalm 126:3)

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Texas! This has been another year of miracles for us. We moved to Texas to join the staff of Celebration Church in January. In April, Debi was given a diagnosis of an aggressive form of breast cancer (stage 3). The girls were able to spend the summer at home and were a tremendous help seeing Debi through surgeries and treatments. In October we were given an “all clear” even from the radiologist (which is rare). God uses the medical community, but He is the Healer. He is so good! Debi underwent two more surgeries in November and December before closing this chapter in our lives.

Needless to say, we are happy to be alive and we are grateful for “life.” Thank you for coming alongside us and helping us win the battle. We couldn’t have made it without you. Your love and support expressed the tangible love of Christ. We thank God for you. May you know how special you are and how much you are loved!

Update on the Special K’s

*Katherine – second year internship at Healing Place Church.
*Kristen – third year at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
*Kinsey – third year of high school.

May your Christmas be joy-filled and your New Year prosperous in every aspect!

We love you,

Rick, Debi, Katherine, Kristen and Kinsey

Surgery went well!!

2007-12-05T12:58:00.000-06:00

Mom had her second mastectomy and reconstruction surgery yesterday. She is home now and recovering well. Praise God, this is the last surgery she will have to have! I remember six months ago we didn't FEEL like having hope or trusting God for a joyful ending, but after exercising much faith, God has been so faithful to bring us through every single day of this journey. The scripture rings true when is says, "joy comes in the morning." After patient endurance, there really is great joy. Praise God for His precious love as He meets all of our needs. I'm so proud of mom! She didn't flinch for a moment in the face of this big trial. She is such a woman of faith and an inspiration to us all.

Thank you for all of your prayers!!

Final Surgery

2007-12-01T11:43:00.000-06:00

I am having surgery Tuesday, December 4, a mastectomy and reconstruction. Please pray that this will be the final need for surgery. Thank you so much for standing with me in prayer. We are almost through the fire.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-26T10:16:00.000-06:00

The girls came home for Thanksgiving and we had a blessed holiday. We have so much for which to be grateful. I am thankful not only to be alive - but to have "life." Because of Christ I have forgiveness and freedom, peace, love, joy, and hope - just to name a few benefits. But God didn't stop with internal blessings. He gave me a beautiful family and awesome friends.

Yes, God supplies every need and more. He gives us the desires of our hearts and even grants above and beyond all we could ask or imagine. I think the best part is that He gives Himself. 365 days a year, 24/7 He Is! He never sleeps or slumbers. He answers every prayer. He reveals Himself. He gives wisdom and strength. He laughs and cries with us. He gives us as much of Himself as we desire and He will never leave us or forsake us.

If you are like most people you celebrated Thanksgiving with a feast. How cool to feast in the Lord's presence daily. May you find time to bask in His presence this week. He loves you so much.

Surgery Report

2007-11-07T08:46:00.000-06:00

The surgery went well - no complications. Thank you so much for praying!

Patient (hopeful) Endurance

2007-11-03T11:48:00.000-05:00

As I shared earlier, the Lord has shown me that during this time I need to have “patient endurance” (Heb. 10:36). In order to understand fully what the Lord was asking me to do I looked up the Greek word and its original meaning. Hupomone is translated “patience,” “endurance,” or “perseverance.” In the NLT it is translated “patient endurance.” According to Strong’s Greek Lexicon hupomone means "cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:--enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting)."
The Lord is not asking me to simply “persevere.” He is asking me to have hope while I endure. Isn’t it like the Lord to be concerned about our motives and not just our actions! To endure means to tolerate, or to wait without complaining, to continue through and not give up. But it’s not enough for me to behave with tolerance and patience as I wait on the Lord. No! God requires me to be “full of hope” as I endure. God does not require us to have “patient endurance” because He wants to make our lives more difficult. He requires “patient endurance” because He knows we won't be able to persevere without hope.
It reminds me of a verse I memorized years ago “This hope we have is an anchor of our souls. A hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” (Heb. 6:19, NASB). I like the NLT: “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”
I’m discovering that without “patient endurance” I drift into a sea of hopelessness. But with hope the curtain is removed and I am led into the very presence of God where I regain my vision and experience joy.

Last night I met a beautiful woman who has endured 7 surgeries since her breast cancer diagnosis. She has more surgeries to go yet she was so full of hope. No doubt her hope anchored her to the Lord Who provided her with supernatural joy and strength.
Don’t confuse hope with wishful thinking. In today’s culture we use the word “hope” synonymously with “wish.” “I hope I get a birthday present!” (Your gifts will make this wish come true. Ha!) But really, God is not talking about wishing. He is talking about a confident assurance of things to come: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Heb. 11:1, emphasis mine). It’s similar to giving birth. We endure through the labor and delivery not because it “might” result in a baby. Our hope is sure! We know that on the other side we will see a baby, not a monkey or a puppy. If we have “patient endurance” our hope will keep us anchored to the Lord and we will receive all that He has promised. Why? Because God is trustworthy.

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise" (Heb. 10:23).

MOM's BIRTHDAY

2007-11-02T09:55:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Mom doesn't know I'm writing this blog...

I just wanted to let you all know that mom's birthday is Sunday, November 4th. This is a great day to let her know how much we love her and how much SHE has inspired all of US during this hard season of her life. Leave a blog comment, or if you want or mail her a little something email me at katherinesharkey@gmail.com.

I love all of you so much. Thank you for your prayers and support for the last 6 months. We could not have made it this far without you. With words much too inadequate: THANK YOU!

Love,
Katherine

Pics from New Orleans/Baton Rouge Trip

2007-11-01T09:58:00.001-05:00

Ruth, Debi, Debbie, Vicki - Kate and Debi

Nancy and Linda - Kristen and Debi

Debi, Linda and Suzanne - Sara and Suzanne

Surgery

2007-10-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

My oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) is scheduled for 10:00 am Tuesday, November 6th. Please pray that there are no complications and that I recover quickly.

Will you please pray for a friend of mine who was just diagnosed with breast cancer? Her name is Linda.

You are the best!

Scan Results

2007-10-22T16:12:00.001-05:00

Praise the Lord! I met with my oncologist today and he said the scan results came back great! He said even the radiologist saw nothing to be concerned about and that rarely happens.

Thank you so much for walking through the chemo with me. I couldn't have made it without you. I look forward to celebrating with many of you in New Orleans this week (October 24-29).

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!What joy! (Psalm 126:3)

Please Pray . . .

2007-10-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

Many of you have asked me when I will get the results back from the scan. I have an appointment with the doctor Monday, October 22. If I hear back before then I will let you know. But, I wanted to ask for your prayers on another matter.

Please pray for our daughter. She is really struggling right now. I know God is refining our faith and teaching us through this, but it is the most painful thing we’ve ever known. Hurricane Katrina and cancer are nothing compared to having a lost and troubled teen. My heart is broken. I hesitated even sharing this but I was working through the Beth Moore study of Daniel when I read “Image building is any way we intentionally make ourselves seem different than we really are.” For me, hiding this struggle and pretending everything is O.K. would be image building. And I don’t want to be an image builder. I want to reflect God’s image. God is pure love. He is the perfect Parent. He does nothing wrong, yet many of His children reject and despise Him. Rick and I are far from being perfect parents. We have made many mistakes, but we are getting a glimpse of what the Father feels when His hurting children reject His love.

Our Church is in a series entitled “Miracles” and we are praying for a miracle for our daughter. Just when I think I can’t handle any more God lifts me up. He really is amazing! There is no one like Him. He reminded me yesterday, “With God all things are possible.” God can when we can’t! Thank you for bearing this burden with us in prayer. Please let us know how we can pray for you. We love you so much.

Upcoming Scan

2007-10-13T08:38:00.000-05:00

I am going for a scan on Monday (October 15). I'm praying and expecting the results to be "all clear." Thank you for your prayers. I couldn't have made it this far without you. Finishing the chemotherapy is huge, but I find myself getting impatient about the surgeries I need. I am so ready for all of this to be behind me, but patient endurance is exactly what I need now.

. . . and when all you owned was taken from you,

you accepted it with joy.

You knew there were better things waiting for you

that will last forever.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

Patient endurance is what you need now,

so that you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that he has promised."

(Hebrews 10:34-36)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2007-10-05T06:14:00.000-05:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The American Cancer Society states that the NBCAM program is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer followed by prompt treatment saves lives (http://www.cancer.org/). Few families have not been affected in some way by this disease. We're praying for a cure, but until one is found we're praying for early detection and effective treatments.

As you increase in your knowledge and understanding about this disease I hope you have opportunities to interact with breast cancer survivors. After spending a few minutes with these women you will notice a supernatural glow (not from radiation, ha). I've had the privilege of meeting several breast cancer survivors and each one radiates a sense of peace and a profound appreciation for life. I look into their eyes and hear their hearts saying, "My number was called, but God's grace was sufficient." They exude a unique courage - a strength that is not man made, but rooted in the divine. I cry as I think about how they allowed themselves to be softened and not hardened through the disease. And this is not limited to breast cancer. I've encountered this phenomenon with survivors of all types of cancer.

This is why from the onset I asked you to pray that I come through the fire without any residue or hint of smoke. I know how selfish I can be and I didn't want it to be all about me. I wanted it to be about making Him famous. I didn't want breast cancer, but I did want to be found among the survivors who declared, "Cancer may be big, but my God is bigger!" "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power" (Daniel 3:17). Each of these survivors knew they were entering a furnace but they knew God would not desert them (v.25). When we come through the fire without being singed, and with no hint of smoke people witness the miraculous and will give praise to God (v.28).

My last chemo treatment is Monday, October 8th. Thank you for your prayers. Also, will you pray for two families who are dear to me? The Schlesingers and the Hatfields have been through the fire recently, wrestling with health issues, some resulting in hospitalizations. Please pray for healing and provision. Thank you, I love you so much.

I almost forgot - We got to visit with Jan and Joel. They finally relocated to the Houston area following Hurricane Katrina. They are doing well and continue to use their gifts by serving the Lord through their local church.

Next-to-last chemotherapy

2007-09-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

Ed and Nancy flew in from New Orleans to be with me for my treatment. I couldn't have been happier - unless of course one of them took the treatment for me! As you can see from the pictures, the treatment was so exciting it put Ed to sleep.

Because I am a BRCA2 gene carrier I will be having a prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy following the last chemo. Plus, I still have more reconstructive surgery ahead. I hope to be cleared for surgery within 2-3 weeks following the last chemo treatment. Please pray that the surgeries can be completed before the end of the year. I can't wait to have this all behind me!

When I finish the chemotherapy I am going to New Orleans. Before I started this journey I spoke at the Celebration Women's Tea where many of you partnered with me in prayer for this journey. Now, we have an opportunity to celebrate together the completion of this phase. I will be in New Orleans October 24-29. Also, I will attend the women's conference at HPC while I'm in town. I hope to see you then and personally thank you for your love and support.

Conduit of God's Mercy

2007-09-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday night I went to the park to read my Bible – a beautiful spot in Georgetown by the San Gabriel River. I was watching the small water fall when I noticed a huge difference in the waters before and after the falls. The current before the falls was calm and clear, like glass, but the water beneath was turbulent and muddy. I couldn’t help but draw the analogy between the river and my journey through life. I'm just cruising along at a nice pace and everything is smooth sailing when all of a sudden, I hit a five-foot drop and plunge into the moderate rapids below.

One of my mentors sent me a devotional thought from The Daily Walk Bible this week:

“God has a marvelous way of bringing his children great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations! Consider Jonah. Summoned by God on short notice to preach to Israel’s cruelest foe, Jonah hits the panic button and runs for cover. Finally turned around by God and sent by “special delivery” to Ninevah, Jonah reluctantly preaches his message of repentance. Once again, God does the unexpected by bringing sweeping revival to the city. But instead of rejoicing over the salvation of lost souls, Jonah withdraws to grumble at God. Are you prepared to handle a “mission impossible” today? A shift in plans? An unexpected interruption? An opportunity cleverly disguised as an imposition? Today, the first time something unexpected happens (and it will!) resist the urge to hit the panic button. Instead, look for the door of opportunity God is opening to you, and take it. Let others experience God’s mercy through you!”

She thanked me for letting God use the cancer "interruption" as an opportunity to glorify God and I couldn’t help but thank God for answering my prayer. One of my theme verses for this year is:

"Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’” (John 7:38).

You see, I don’t want to be a reservoir! I want to be a conduit, so that when I capsize the Holy Spirit spills out. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen, but I do have a good strategy. Let’s continue with the analogy of the San Gabriel River. I found out that the San Gabriel has two sources and is formed by the confluence of two forks. Well, there are two sources (The Word and prayer) and two forks (faith and obedience) that allow the rivers of living water to flow in and through us.

When we “drink” in Jesus through the Word and prayer, and believe and obey, then God's Spirit flows through us so that others will experience His mercy.

My second-to-last treatment is today (Monday, September 17). Pray that I will be God's vessel. And I am praying for you, too. I love you so much.

Friends and Family

2007-09-06T17:49:00.000-05:00

Mark and Ruth came to Texas to visit family and we were able to connect with them on Labor Day. We had a fantastic time with Ruth's sisters Beverly and Carole. They prepared a delicious Texas size spread of food. I didn't have to eat again for another day! Here's a picture of Ruthie and me on the porch of her sister's Victorian home in Cameron, Texas.

Also, what a blessing to spend some time with my mom. Here she is with Kinsey, Mini and me.

I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can hardly wait to have the chemo behind me. I have been thinking about how much you (my family and friends) have helped me through these past four months. I wish I was a poet so I could express my appreciation through words. But to tell you the truth, even the most gifted author could not articulate fully my feelings of love and gratitude for each and every one of you. You have given me great joy!

“With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

In that wonderful day you will sing,

‘Thank the Lord! Praise his name!

Tell the nations what he has done.

Let them know how mighty he is!

Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things.

Make known his praise around the world’” (Isaiah 12:3-5)

Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

2007-08-31T10:04:00.000-05:00

Two years ago we were watching the horror of Hurricane Katrina and wondering if our house was among the devastation. About a week later we finally found out that our house was spared total devastation, but we were still casualties of Katrina as we lost our jobs, our home, our church, our schools, and our lives as we knew them. Katrina was not the first of our family’s major losses. In fact, she hit us while we were still repairing some previous breaks. We wondered if her breach might be a death blow to our family but God turned it around. The Lord flooded us with undeserved blessings: new relationships, renewed friendships, financial provision, and joy in the midst of sorrow. The tragedy and loss of Katrina became the building blocks to greater heights.

Then, just as we were coming to the other side of Katrina and feeling like we had gained some strength and stability, we got hit with the next blow – breast cancer! But we can honestly say we had no fear. I know many of you reading this are thinking, “That’s not true. Debi is not being real. Everybody fears. It’s only natural.”

I agree. It's only natural to fear, but that doesn’t make it inevitable.

WHEN GOD IS FACTORED IN FEAR IS FACTORED OUT.

“God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come

and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.

Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

(Psalm 46:1-3)

Yes, we are weakened and saddened by our losses, but we are not without hope. Sometimes we are frustrated by our circumstances, but we are not thwarted from our mission. We don't know what tomorrow holds but we are not afraid. If we trusted in a levee system or a government program we would have cause to fear. But God is our refuge and our strength and He will never let us down. "He has done amazing things for us! What joy!" (Psalm 126:3).

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Ps. 46:10)

Next chemo treatment

2007-08-26T20:51:00.000-05:00

My next treatment is Monday, August 27, and my mom is here to help me. If everything goes as planned I will have a total of three more treatments and finish in 6 weeks. Many of you have been with me since the very beginning. Thank you for your faithfulness. Your love and prayers carry me through each step. One of my doctors commented about how fortunate I am to have so much support. Thank you.

I was able to attend our Celebration Church (Texas) staff and families gathering. Here are some pics. Some great-looking folks don't you think?

Precious words

2007-08-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to send me your jokes and funny stories. They really got me laughing! There were too many cute and funny things to choose the funniest, although, I did see a pattern: children said the funniest things and we (adults) were the brunt of most of their jokes!

Kathy shared that when her grandson was looking at old pictures he asked her if the world was black and white when she was a child.
Vanessa said her grandson noticed she and God were alike. She was filled with a sense of pride and joy until he said, “You’re both OLD!”
After saying hello to an elderly woman, Marci asked her seven-year old daughter if she would take care of her when she got old and her daughter replied, “Yes, but I’m not wiping your bottom!”

I remember when my daughter Katherine was two years old and Kristen was an infant. We were in a store when an elderly man asked Katherine if she liked her baby sister. Katherine replied, “Yes, but all she does is sleep and cry and eat mommy’s boobies.” All of us turned red, except Katherine who was simply answering the man’s question.

At first I thought it would be refreshing to hear adults share as openly and honestly as children. But can you imagine if everyone said what they were thinking? Jesus said whatever is in our hearts determines what we say (Matthew 12:34). We laugh when children say what they think because of their innocence, but when adults speak honestly it’s often a covering for being critical. The Apostle Paul said to “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths . . .” (Eph. 4:29). As a preferred extrovert I don’t always think before I speak so I discovered the best way to control my tongue is to pay attention to the source (my heart). “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy” (Eph. 4:23-24). Be honest and transparent, only make sure you are speaking the truth from a pure heart – as innocent as children or as precious as these puppies.

Lots of love

2007-08-18T12:42:00.000-05:00

My sister Diana and her son, Chris came to visit me from Connecticut. Here are some pictures of their visit. In case you are now having second thoughts about coming to visit, don't worry - not everyone has to shave their heads and donate their hair to cancer patients. We had a great time as you can see. We went to the Rain Forest Café and now Chris is growing some sort of green thing from his head!

Update

2007-08-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

Hello my friends. I have not forgotten about the contest for the funniest joke and I am enjoying your submissions. I'll report on the winner soon but I wanted to give you an update.

My doctor and I were discussing different options for this next cycle of chemotherapy which may have caused some confusion. Let me clarify. This last cycle consists of 4 treatments, given in three-week intervals. My doctor told me that most people tolerate this drug much better and he was right! I had the first treatment on Tuesday (August 7) and the nausea is nothing compared to the first two drugs. Yeah! I can deal with other side effects much better without nausea. Thank you for your prayers! Please pray that I keep from getting sick. They give steroids to people to keep them stronger through chemo but my dosage is cut in half because of a negative reaction. Therefore, it takes a lot longer to fight off infection and disease. I've been treating an infection in my eyes for almost 2 weeks now.

Family update: Katherine returned to Baton Rouge to Healing Place Church on Monday. Blake flew to Austin to drive back with her. Kristen is back in Florida at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Rick helped her move into her apartment. He returned at 2:00 am this morning. Huge thanks to Greg for picking him up from the airport!

While Rick was gone my friend Suzanne stayed with me and she was a huge help! We had her burning the roads! She was doing the work of three adults but we still managed to catch the sunset at the Oasis in Austin before the real fun began with my treatment on Tuesday.

Before the girls returned to school Ed and Nancy came to visit along with their grandson Micah. We went shopping for baby clothes and antiques. I know, strange combination, but one of the many things I like about Nancy is her spontaneity and fun. Ed says that he is dull, and quite content. I guess because Nancy makes up for it. Nancy told Micah that the illness I had caused me to lose my hair so I showed him my bald head. He stared at me for a moment and said, “Look, I still have my hair.”

Katherine’s friend Amy came to visit and we went to San Antonio. This was her first visit to Texas so I wanted her to see the Alamo. I think I embarrassed her when I made her pose with one of the Texas cops. Hey, she had never seen a cop in a cowboy hat before. Katherine smiled and said, “You get used to it.” My family never knows what I might say or do. The chemo may have slowed me down a little, but it can't change who I am.

I'll add some pictures as soon as Katherine shows me how. Thank you for your faithful love and prayers. I love you.

Laughter is the best medicine

2007-07-30T09:34:00.000-05:00

I have a challenge for you – or you can call it a contest or a game if you like. I want you to send me something funny - a story, a joke, or an idea – true or false. You can post it as a comment or e-mail it to me. I will pick the one I think is the funniest and post it on the blog. Why? Because yesterday the Lord kindly rebuked my negative thinking and reminded me about the importance of laughter in the healing process. Laughter is good medicine – some say the best. Now I’m not talking about the antithesis to tears. Tears also have amazing healing power and last week I shed more than my share. What I am talking about is the opposite of negative thinking. It is therapeutic to cry when we are sick or in emotional or physical pain, but it's unhealthy to cross the border into self-pity land: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Pr. 17:22).

You see, somewhere in the midst of my therapeutic tears I lost my optimism and started feeling sorry for myself. “Poor me, I’m going to be nauseated forever! I don’t get to do anything fun this summer. I’m going to be all alone when Katherine and Kristen return to school.” Notice how self pity tends to think the worst and is loaded with untruths. Remember Elijah in 1 Kings 19? He felt sorry for himself and believed he was the ONLY one left who served the Lord when actually there were 7000 others.

I’ve heard that the average number of times a preschooler laughs is 400 and the average number of times an adult laughs is 15. Wow! No wonder preschoolers have such energy and life! I'd like some big doses of laughter.

So, if you’re up to the challenge type your funny in a comment or e-mail it to me at debisharkey@gmail.com and “Let the games begin!”

A different perspective

2007-07-26T17:45:00.000-05:00

Usually I share from my perspective but I thought you might like a glimpse from a caretaker's view. Rick copied me on an e-mail response to one of our good friends in Michigan and I asked if I could share it with you.

Rick Said:
"Thanks very much for your prayers. It is quite a faith journey we are on. It gets challenging when you deal with the grief, fears, and discouragement all in the context of life that goes 100 miles an hour. As time goes by, the waves of grief come less seldom, but they do come. Debi is a strong fighter. She is so bold and courageous. Our girls are so wonderful. God is so good to us. Last week I was in a car accident, my first. The car was totaled, but neither myself nor the other driver was hurt, another praise for Jesus! But, I have to deal with getting another car and the insurance company and all that stuff (not my fault). Debi had her 4th chemo treatment last Monday. She has about four more to go. She has lost her hair, but not her beauty. Thanks again for your prayers and your love. I would love to make it up there some time, but I don't see any context for that any time soon. I will be taking Kristen back to W. Palm Beach in two weeks and helping her move into her dorm. Kate will be going back to Baton Rouge for her second year of internship at Healing Place Church. It will be back to Debi, Kinsey and me. I can't tell you how much help Kate and Kris have been. It will be hard seeing them go back."

This week has been a week of tears. Sad tears as we prepare to say goodbye to the girls. But good tears as we welcomed Pastor Dennis and Vicki for an awesome visit. We had such a great time! Their encouragement filled our tanks. We played games and had three teams - the girls - Vicki and Dennis - and Rick and me. It was tough but Rick and I finally won! Trust me, no one showed mercy to the chemo patient. Everyone was quite competitive. Those were tears of joy - well at least from Rick and me! (Pastor Dennis has a blog now. I put his link on the right).

Well, I am half-way through the chemo. My final round with the first two drugs was Monday. In addition to fighting off the chemo I'm battling an infection and some kind of virus. Please pray about my next cycle of chemo. My oncologist is trying to determine the best way to administer the drugs since I had a negative reaction to the steroids. Please pray for wisdom.

Your cards, letters, gifts, and e-mails continue to amaze me. They reveal the pure love of God in your hearts as you give expecting nothing in return. Your love reaches us like the very heart and hands of Jesus.

This is our prayer for you:

"We keep on praying for you asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:11-12, NLT).

May you be rescued in every trouble . . .

2007-07-18T13:41:00.000-05:00

Well I said I'd let you know when our refrigerator was replaced. We got it this past Monday, July 16. Hooray! Now Rick can stop pretending we are in a third-world country where we have to go and purchase food for each day. Although, I will say he did such a great job! He was able to make nutritional and delicious meals for our family of five for less than $12.00! Go Rick!

When the refrigerator went out I thought about Psalm 34:19:

“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time” (NLT)

I love this verse and stand on the promise that the Lord will rescue me every time I'm in trouble - especially since troubles are inevitable. Jesus told us to expect many trials so I'm not surprised by them (John 16:33). But silly me, I thought it was only reasonable to face these trials one at a time. I’m a structured individual (translated - "control freak") so it’s much easier for me to deal with problems one at a time. But whether they come separately, in pairs, or in bundles the Lord delivers me from them ALL!

"An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different" (Oswald Chambers).

I am working through this chemotherapy while adjusting to our recent move (new home, job, church, friends, etc). We are facing the joys and challenges of parenting a teen; we just went without a refrigerator for nearly a month; and yesterday, a driver pulled out in front of Rick and caused a crash that totaled our car and sent Rick to the emergency room. Thankfully, Rick escaped with only minor injuries. Look at the next verse in Psalm 34 “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” Yes! The Lord delivered Rick and protected his bones!

As I was meditating on Psalm 34 today I wanted to find a creative way to remember these truths when trials come. Since Psalm 34 is a Hebrew acrostic poem I made an acrostic out of the word TROUBLES by using the verses from the Psalm.

T – Taste and see that the Lord is good (v 8)
R – Righteous cry and the Lord hears (v 17)
O – O magnify the Lord with me (v 3)
U
B – Bless the Lord at all times (v 1)
L – Lord is near to the brokenhearted (v 18)
E – Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous (v 15)
S – Seek peace and pursue it (v 14)

Notice the “U” is surrounded by the truths of Psalm 34.

I pray the next time you face troubles you remember you are surrounded by the Lord and He will rescue you.

Food and fasting

2007-07-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

I’ve been under the weather for a few days since my last chemo treatment so I decided to come up for some air. You know I'm not feeling well when I pass up a speaking engagement. I was scheduled to speak about fasting to a group of youth at Celebration Church today. My husband graciously agreed to take my place and those youth are in for a special treat! Rick is one of the most gifted teachers on the planet. If you’ve heard him teach you know I am not just a proud wife who is exaggerating, but one who speaks the truth.

Fasting has taken on a whole new dimension for me since I started chemotherapy. Right now I feel like I could fast the rest of my life and not miss food. Basically, food has lost its flavor. And if by chance there is some flavor it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A fellow chemo patient said everything tasted like cardboard to her. Maybe that’s why I eat oatmeal every morning. No disappointment there! I expect it to taste like cardboard.

I’ve been practicing the discipline of fasting for many years now. I wish I could say my motives have always been pure. Just the other day I was reading the story about Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy. At first, the boy’s father went to the disciples but they couldn’t heal the child so the father asked Jesus. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy and Jesus commented about their lack of faith. He added, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matt. 7:21, NASB). Many have taken that verse to mean, “When I fast and pray God will work.”

But fasting is not a tool to manipulate God. God is already working (John 5:17). For me fasting is more like a pipe cleaner than a wrench. Just like I fast for health reasons, in order to “cleanse” my body from toxins, I fast and pray to cleanse my soul from spiritual toxins. Fasting with prayer unties the knots of fear and anxiety and allows the Holy Spirit to flow more freely in my life. It helps to clear my "drains" from spiritual noise and allows me to hear the Lord more clearly. Oh, wait, do you hear that? I think I hear God saying it's time for lunch . . .

Talk to you soon.

Welcome to the club!

2007-07-06T05:14:00.000-05:00

I haven’t written in a while. To tell you the truth, I’m bored with all this cancer stuff. Can’t we talk about something else? It’s been two months and it seems like forever. When I was first diagnosed, my friend, who is a breast cancer survivor said to me, “Welcome to the club you never wanted to be part of.” That’s true. Usually we join a club because we want to. And clubs come with paraphernalia and perks. Breast cancer comes with paraphernalia too – all kinds of pink stuff - pink ribbons, pink stamps, pink accessories, pink anything. But what about the perks?

I ran out of lipstick so I thought I would try a new shade. I jokingly asked the cosmetic rep, “What color goes best with chemotherapy?” She didn’t laugh. In fact, I think I scared her half to death; but I did get some free makeup out of it. My husband saw the price of the lipstick and said the samples were anything but “free.” I was hopeful. Maybe this club did have some perks.

Or maybe not. Our refrigerator broke so we called the company for service. They said they couldn’t send someone for several days. It’s under warranty so we didn't want to call another company. A few days! You’re kidding, right? Is this our appliance company or our car insurance company? We’re not cavemen! How do we live without refrigeration? I asked Rick if he could call the company back and tell them I was having chemotherapy. Surely that would speed things up. He did, but it didn’t. They said they had a strict process in place. Sure enough, it’s been almost 3 weeks and 4 service calls later and finally the company agrees the refrigerator cannot be repaired. They are working on sending a replacement (I'll let you know how that goes!). I'm so glad Rick dealt with the company and not me. I mean a few sleepless nights and 2 liters of lukewarm water everyday and . . . well, let’s just say I would have made Ruth’s “Five minutes in the flesh” look good in comparison. We probably would have gotten a new refrigerator a lot sooner but at what cost???

Finally, I decided to “give it a rest” and stop talking about this cancer stuff for a while. I mean some people feel awkward talking about it anyway. And you know how people say the strangest things when they feel uncomfortable. Hey, I say the stupidest things under normal circumstances! Maybe I should write another book called “What not to say to cancer patients.” Like the time I was talking to a woman about the breast cancer and she said, “I had a client I hadn’t heard from in a while. I called to check on her and her husband said she died of breast cancer.” Umm. That’s nice to know. Thank you for sharing.

But what about all the nice things people say? Like yesterday, when I went to get my MUGA scan. (A medical test to evaluate the function of the heart - commonly used to monitor ones’ heart during chemo when receiving certain drugs that are toxic to the heart muscle.) One of the nurses complimented my hair. “It’s a wig,” I blurted out. She couldn’t believe it. The receptionist overheard and said she couldn’t believe it either. She said her aunt was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and was going to start chemotherapy. She was really worried about her hair falling out and if she could get a nice wig. I told her where I bought mine and she couldn’t wait to tell her aunt. Maybe talking about this cancer stuff isn’t so bad after all . . .

(The picture above is with my new wig!)

You are changing the world

2007-07-01T20:36:00.000-05:00

When Katherine first mentioned setting up a blog I was not in favor of the idea. I was technically challenged, and I thought it might be impersonal. However, after several hours of answering individual e-mails, basically repeating the same information, I reconsidered. The blog would be an easy way to update family and friends about my condition. But I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. The blog became a lifeline. Let me explain.

The other day I had the opportunity to get out of the house and to wear my wig in public for the first time when our family went to see the movie Evan Almighty. The film is about a U.S. Senator who prays to change the world. At one point God appears to Evan and tells him that the way to change the world is through acts of random kindness. I know it’s no new revelation. From the very beginning God commands us to “Love our neighbor.” But the truth hit home this time.

My world has been changed by your acts of random kindness. Every act, even the smallest, comes at just the right time. Some days I feel sick and tired then one of your acts of random kindness comes and my whole world changes. What’s really cool is that I know I’m not the only recipient. You are doing acts of random kindness for others also.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. I didn’t have much choice in the matter: “Here is your diagnosis and your road for the next few months.” But with every act of random kindness you make the choice to travel alongside me.

Thank you for changing my world.

As my friend Marc from HPC would say - "You rock!"

Live by faith and not by sight

2007-06-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

“Live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

My hair has been falling out for a few days now. Because I have such thick hair, and lots of it, the loss was not so noticeable. Finally, when more hair was in my hands than on my head I knew it was time to even things out and shave my head. I looked in the mirror and heard, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7b, NLT). I’m so thankful for practicing the discipline of Scripture memory. Hiding Scripture in our hearts allows the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Word to our minds any time and any place. To “Live by faith and not by sight” is not a religious cliché. It is an absolute necessity. In order to see things as God sees things we must live by faith.
If I live by sight I see a bald chemo patient in the mirror. It’s amazing how wrinkles and facial features become more apparent. It’s as if my nose is trying to compensate for the hair loss! (At best, I see a faint resemblance to Demi Moore when she played the role of a soldier in one of her movies!) If I live by faith I see things as God sees them. He doesn’t see Demi Moore but he does see a soldier, His soldier, His child. And not like Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter dressed in fatigues and laced in bullets. He sees a child of God, fitted with the complete armor of Christ, able to stand firm against all of the strategies of the enemy, especially the strategy to walk by sight, deceived, demoralized and defeated. I hear people say it is harder to live by faith but it should be easier. Sight is temporal, inconsistent and always fluctuating because man’s knowledge is the source. Faith is eternal, dependable, and unwavering because it is rooted in God’s Word. Living by faith allows me to stand triumphantly over my circumstances not stuck as a victim underneath them.

When you look in the mirror who do you see?

Gene Therapy

2007-06-26T18:47:00.000-05:00

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer one of my physicians suggested genetic testing, especially in light of my family history. The lab took a sample of my blood and told me to expect the results in a few weeks. A couple of days later I flew to New Orleans for a speaking engagement and stayed with my friend, Suzanne. She looked at me and said, “I think you need some gene therapy.” I didn’t say anything but I wondered why she thought I needed gene therapy, especially since no test results were in. She continued, “Everybody feels better with a new pair of jeans.” Oh, shopping! A lot of people love shopping - that is, until they get the bill! I don’t like shopping but I love the company, so off we went. As we walked into the store I looked at the name – Jeantherapy. She wasn't using an analogy for shopping. She was talking about an actual place. And she was right. I did feel better in a new pair of jeans. Thank the Lord for friends who are skilled in the art of shopping. They keep me from looking dated! Do you know someone who is ill? Maybe she needs some jean therapy.

Clarification:

Gene therapy = a technique for correcting defective genes.

Jean therapy = a technique for buying designer jeans.

By the way, the test results came in this week and I tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation. Experts say 10-20% of all breast cancers are associated with an inherited genetic abnormality. (I didn’t need genetic testing to prove abnormality on my part! Ha!) Two months ago I had never heard of BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer 1 and 2) so I am researching furiously in order to find out how this affects my family and me. If you are interested and want more information please check out the Breast Cancer link on the right side of this page.

Until gene therapy is developed enough to correct and eventually prevent inherited genetic abnormalities . . .

IS ANYONE UP TO A LITTLE JEAN THERAPY?

Only God Can Heal

2007-06-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

The following is an excerpt from my book:

“. . . ‘Go and wash and be cured’” (2 Kings 5:13). Naaman was a well respected commander and a great warrior in King Aram’s army but he suffered from leprosy. One of his servant girls knew that God could heal Naaman so she suggested he visit the prophet Elisha in Israel. Naaman traveled to Israel and was waiting to see Elisha. “But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: ‘Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy’” (v 10). Naaman was furious and stalked away. He expected Elisha to wave his hand over him and heal him immediately in the Name of the Lord. “But his officers tried to reason with him and said, ‘Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” (v 13).

God wants to make Himself known through the healing process. If Naaman was healed immediately would he have come to know God or credit God’s agent, Elisha? The suggested cure was so simple Naaman doubted it would work. Maybe Naaman would have believed if Elisha said, “Go seven rounds of chemotherapy.” But if the process was more difficult would Naaman have seen God’s hand at work? Or would he have placed his faith in the difficult process and his own actions? We must recognize that man can suggest a cure (a treatment to restore health) but only God can heal (to set right; restore health).

God invites our faith into the healing process. Naaman followed the instructions and was restored to complete health (v 14). The Lord heals us as we cooperate with Him. No one is healed apart from God, whether immediate or after a lengthy complicated process. What is the Lord saying to me? Follow the instructions from the medical experts. Go seven more rounds of chemotherapy (I wish it was seven dips in the Mississippi River) and place my faith in the Lord, not His agents and not medical procedures. The Lord is my Healer.

Losses and Gains

2007-06-20T18:26:00.000-05:00

Today was wig-shopping day so I’m glad I woke up this morning with renewed energy and zeal for life. It must have been the charge I got from the folks at choir practice last night! Thanks Pastor Lori!

Tuesday the doctor told me I had 3 to 4 days left with my hair. How do they have this down to such an exact science? With no time to spare, Diane (my stylist) offered to take me wig shopping. You know, I’m actually looking forward to no “bad hair” days for several months. Think about it. Even if my wig looks bad technically I’m still not having a bad hair day – since I’ll have no hair.

My friend Kathy suggested I get a Raquel Welch wig but I’m not sure. The wigs didn't seem to make me look like Raquel at all - more like Brittany or Paris Hilton don't you think?

I can count my losses due to cancer . . . sleep, regularity, body parts, hair . . . but I cannot even begin to measure the gains. Those of us who survived Hurricane Katrina can testify that our losses were great, but our blessings were beyond measure. Some of my favorite blessings include reconnecting and strengthening relationships. Following Katrina I had the privilege of strengthening a friendship I had with one of my college roommates, Celeste. Bon vivant!

Friends are God’s way of showing us what He is like.

Gas and toll to the wig shop, $5.00 . . . lunch, $7.50 . . . one wig, $160.00. Visits with friends – PRICELESS.

Let me share some recent priceless visits . . .

**We ate garlic mashed potatoes and practiced Middle-Eastern dancing with Ed and Nancy (O.K. just Nancy danced, but Ed watched).
**Pastor Ricky made a stop on his way to a mission site with 2 busses filled with young people. Ricky travels best with an entourage (and a good hat)!
**Bob and Clo drove in from Dallas and we shared African tea on my Zimbabwean tea set. The “left hand” provisions were a challenge but I managed. Crackers, cookies and scones would have been natural complements for tea, but Clo said my stale granola bars were perfect. Gracious as always!
**Pastor Dennis took a huge detour from San Antonio to spend time with us. No matter how full his schedule (and it’s full) he gives his undivided attention – a true pastor’s heart!

**The Cherry’s came on Father’s Day. I was still dragging and Rick had some kind of bug (uh, huh) so they did all the cooking - delicious! I like how that worked out!
**I hesitate to mention Suzanne’s visit only because I don’t want to deter you from coming. We spent one day in diagnostic testing and one afternoon at the hospital emergency room but we still had fun. If you have to be a human pin cushion Suzanne is a great companion! A word to the wise - avoid Mexican food immediately following a P.E.T. Scan.

O.K. Now you have no excuse! If you are in Texas, near Texas, or even thinking about Texas you must come and visit – especially if you know how to cook – and you know who you are (Lisa S., Diana, Bettye Jo, Nana).

If you want tea then bring something for the left hand. If you’re left handed, like Rick, you only get the tea.

See you soon!

*Footnote - O.K. I was kindly rebuked for not including in my list of visits Blake (better known as "that boy" or Kate's boyfriend) - probably because he came to visit our daughter. When we did get to spend time with him we had a great time. And if ever you need a teammate for the game Cranium Blake is your man - especially for spelling words backwards!

Questions?

2007-06-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

All of my life I have been what I call a “Why?” person as opposed to a “How?” or “What?” individual. I confess I thought it was better to ask “Why?” since it opens the door to problem-solving, solutions, possibilities, and prevention. When I first heard the diagnosis, “breast cancer” it was only natural for me to ask “Why?” I wanted to understand the reason. I thought the “C” word was reserved for individuals with unhealthy lifestyles. Not for me! My body is not my own. I belong to Christ and seek to live daily as a faithful steward of His temple. For more than 28 years I have made every effort to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle - body, mind, and spirit. I exercise regularly, eat nutritionally rich foods and avoid foods and habits that are detrimental to my health. Breast cancer! Researchers found women who breastfeed are at a reduced risk for breast cancer and I nursed all three of my children. I did everything right. It just didn’t make sense.
As these thoughts were going through my mind I sensed the Lord say, Debi, this is not the time to ask “Why?” Oftentimes, “Why” questions have positive results but they can lead to negative conclusions as well. The disciples asked Jesus why a man was born blind because they wanted to cast blame: “‘Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?’ ‘It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins.’ Jesus answered, ‘This happened so the power of God could be seen in him’” (John 9:2-3). This is the time for me to ask “What?” and “How” questions. Questions like, “What do You want me to learn, Father?” And, “Lord, how can You be glorified through this experience? I realized it’s not the type of question a person asks that determines her wisdom or ability to learn and grow. It is knowing WHICH question to ask and WHEN. God is so cool!!

On a lighter note - don't let the pictures of our teeth scare you. Nothing permanent! Since I was out of commission Rick took responsibility for how we celebrated Katherine's birthday party - need I say more? Actually, he did a fantastic job and I think I will let him keep that job forever. Who knows what he will make us do next year?

The secret to staying filled

2007-06-15T18:04:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your prayers. Every day I wake up feeling more alive, barely, but alive. How would I describe the first round of chemo? It was like going one round with Muhammad Ali. How do they get people to return for round two? I mean, the first time ignorance is bliss, but now I am fully aware. I am on the mat, waiving the white flag and crying “Uncle, Uncle!” Don’t make me go another round!

Yes, chemotherapy depletes my body and makes me feel terrible, but the chemo cannot deplete my spirit. The secret to exiting the round filled is to enter the round filled. “Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power” (Luke 4:14). Wow! I realized that Jesus had been beat down and tempted by the devil yet He walked out of the desert filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? Because He was filled with the Spirit before He ever entered the desert (4:1). If I enter the round in my strength my spirit will be as depleted as my physical body. But, if I enter the battle dressed in His armor, filled with His Spirit, then “after the battle I will still be standing firm” (Eph. 6:13).

Babe Ruth said, “It’s hard to beat someone who won’t give up.” It’s your love and prayers that keep me challenged to “Be filled up and never give up!”

Did you catch the license number on that truck?

2007-06-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've been run over by a truck. At least your prayers are working and the nausea is held at bay. Many of you know I have a high tolerance for pain but when it comes to nausea I am a wimp!

Did you notice the wonderful links Katherine added to the blog? Ms. Lauraine (our Hurricane Katrina angel) sent me a Lennox Christmas tree ornament and the funds help to support breast cancer research. Check out the Breast Cancer Store.

I’ve included some help for others fighting breast cancer. "Cleaning for a Reason" is a foundation with chapters all over the country willing to clean houses for women with breast cancer. Welcome Home Cleaning did a phenomenal job cleaning my home. Also, check out Stephanie’s "Think Pink" for women on her Deep Waters Ministry Site. Katherine put the links to my doctors and my nutritionist.

If you look at the blog map you can see that people from all over the world are visiting the site. No doubt they are encouraged by your comments and prayers in the simple love of Jesus trickling through your keyboards.

In His Strength - Debi

First Chemo Treatment

2007-06-11T18:49:00.000-05:00

I had my first treatment today (June 11). As you can see, the whole family accompanied me. Of course they are smiling, they don't have to get chemotherapy. I am smiling for many reasons but most of all because we are all together.

I did have a little snafu today. I received the first drug and started the second drug. I went to another room for a lymphatic massage to help my right arm. When the nurse came back to get me an hour and a half later the second bag was supposed to be finished but it had barely been used. This means I will need to return in the morning to finish the second bag. Maybe it is a blessing in disguise to space the drugs out this first time!

Other than feeling a bit weak and queasy I feel fine. I noticed there were not many smiles in the treatment room. Everywhere I looked I saw disease and suffering as if death was hovering. I realized one of the biggest miracles through this process will be getting through with a smile on my face - being thankful for everything I have.

I am a fragile jar but I house the great treasure of the Lord to make it clear that the power in me is from God. Please pray that I can bring the light of Jesus to that room of sorrow. Pray that as I live in the face of death it results in eternal life for others (v.12).

"Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies” (2 Cor. 4:10).

I love you.

Preparing to Start Chemo

2007-06-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday (June 7) I met with my doctors and found out about the chemotherapy. I begin chemo on Monday (June 11) at 1:00 pm. I will be doing the dosage dense method of every 14 days as opposed to every 21 days. I will have 4 cycles of Doxorubicin (also called Adriamycin) and Cytoxan followed by 4 cycles of Taxotere. That puts my last treatment the week of September 10.

I admit I was not prepared for my appointment with the oncologist. I went alone because I thought it would be just an informational meeting about the chemo plan. Rick was out of town driving Kristen home from college, and I told Katherine she could volunteer at church. When I arrived they sent me to the back room so the nurses could draw blood from my port. Tears filled my eyes as I entered the back room and saw several individuals receiving treatment. I thought I would have a few more days before being part of this picture. "I could really use Kate right now" I thought. But I was not alone.

God always provides. He loves each and every one of us and cares about even the smallest things in our lives. He sent a veteran, Rebecca (a 10-year patient who comes often to receive vitamins and supplements through her port). The nurse instructed me to pick a chair and I chose the seat next to Rebecca. "If you want to recline you don't want that chair. It's broken," she said. I thought, "Doesn't recline? No problem. I don't want to get comfortable because I'm not staying! Just take what blood you need and let me out of here!" I mentioned this was my first time using the port and Rebecca assured me it was no big deal. (I had visions of my port malfunctioning and blood spilling out everywhere). But Rebecca was right. It was only a little prick and the port worked beautifully. I didn't even bleed to death.

In order to fight the cancer and regain complete health I will take a leave of absence from work (though I will volunteer as much as possible). Many of you are encouraging me to write during these months of treatment. Well, I hear you, and I hear God saying the same thing. He has given me direction for a book. Please pray that I will have the energy and focus necessary to write this book to the glory of God. I believe it will be a source of encouragement to everyone. But I've never written a book and I will need God's wisdom and strength for every word.

I love you all so much. So many have sent cards and posted comments on the blog. It's a weird feeling for me because I am used to being the card writer and encourager. It blows my mind to hear you say that I am a hero. You are the real heroes - taking time out of your busy schedules to pray for and think about others. I am blessed to be one of those you remember.

Chemo Cut

2007-06-02T16:37:00.000-05:00

The oncologist told me about 3 weeks after chemo begins I will lose some or all of my hair so I decided to rob chemo of some of its power and get a "chemo cut!"

Speaking about the power of chemo let me share a little insight:

Chemotherapy affects the whole body by going through the bloodstream. The reason for using a port instead of a vein to get the chemical into the bloodstream is due to the nature of the chemicals. The chemicals are so potent they can destroy veins and can damage skin to such a degree a plastic surgeon would need to reconstruct. The port allows the chemicals to be pumped directly into an artery near my heart.

This is like the power of God’s Word - penetrating soul and spirit and able to expose our innermost thoughts and desires (Heb. 4:12) affecting our whole lives.

When we genuinely believe it, live it, breathe it, and allow it to penetrate our lives it TRANSFIGURES us from death to life – from the inside out.

When we are superficial, pretend, play games and wear it like a good-luck charm it DISFIGURES us from life to death – from the outside in.

Just a thought! But you gotta love that hair, eh?

An afternoon stroll!

2007-06-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

Nancy Werner has been on my case to walk a bit - stroll the neighborhood (but that's boring even in my adorable white robe and slippers from Erin and Tammey) so I decided to take Katherine (well her take me) to walk around the Square in Georgetown and stop for a cup of coffee at Cianfranni (Rick's and my favorite coffee shop). O.K. it must be my Type A personality but it felt like I was "skipping school/work." I felt so bad for all my friends that are slaving away at work reading my blog about me having so much fun!! And - no - Stephanie - I did not wear my designer shoes from Target (pronounced Tarzhee). I wore flip flops and this adorable fish hat!

Doctor Visit

2007-05-29T19:07:00.000-05:00

I saw the surgeon today and he removed some of the stitches and said I was healing nicely. I was excited until he reminded me that as soon as I heal the oncologist will start the poison! Humm! Mixed emotions! Do I want to heal? Yes. Do I want to be poisoned? No. Oh, well. The good news is the more aggressive cancers love the poison and that means they will be taken down!!

One cool thing about the visit today was the cool robe I got to wear! Who said this wasn't going to be fun? I get lots of cards, flowers, a great blog site, friends coming to visit from out of town, my dishes done for me, and really cool robes at the doctor's office . . . yes this is the pain medicine talking . . .

Safe in His Treasure Pouch!

2007-05-26T14:38:00.001-05:00

I don't know if I am doing this right because I am upstairs and Katherine is downstairs. She thinks I am sleeping and I am trying to be cool and type in my own comment! ha! I was praying and realized I had not shared with you guys one of the cool Scripture verses the Lord showed me about this cancer enemy. He has given me lots as you would imagine. In addition to using His beautiful children to show His love (you) He speaks and comforts and heals and encourages through His Word. Check this out!!

"Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, (cancer cells) your life is safe in the care of the Lord Your God, secure in His treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies (cancer cells) will desappear like stones shot from a sling" (1 Samuel 25:29, NLT).

How's that for being safe and secure? It's like being in God's own kangaroo pouch! O.K. Gettting really excited now! Next time I go and speak it will be about being "Safe in His Treasure Pouch!"

Now let's see how long it takes Kate to find out that I am awake - if I did this right.

By the way - for those of you who are interested and curious - and you know that is all of you - I look like I did when I was 14 except for the cool railroad track of stitches running through the middle of my chest!

Love you - keep the comments coming - they are an inspiration and joy and reveal your level of faith which encourages my faith meter to rise!!!!

Debi

Thank you from Debi...

2007-05-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for praying and sending all the cards and love. Katherine is typing this for me because the room is still spinning from pain medicine. Having Katherine, Rick, and Kinsey has been like having a full time staff at my beck and call. Nancy Werner even came to town to entertain me and Mini dog! My house has never been so clean! I'm eating great food. Thank you Celebration for providing wonderful meals. I had my drain taken out today. We also recieved the verbal report from the doctor that only two lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. That means no radiation! Praise the Lord! Again this is just a verbal report, but we're 99% sure.

I can't tell you how much your love and prayers mean to me. I can't describe it. Truly God must be smiling at all of you because He is being glorified through this. I see Him in every card, every blog comment, and every expression of His love through your lives. You're the best. Love you...

Here are the DETAILS:

2007-05-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

So I'm sure many of you are curious to know some more details about the surgery and Mom's condition. When Mom was having the mastectomy Tuesday morning, the doctors did have to remove all of the lymph nodes on the right side. And they put in a drain. She also had a port put in the left side of her chest where the chemo treatments will be injected. I think we start chemo therapy in a couple weeks. We will find out on Friday if the lymph nodes test positive for cancer. If they do, Mom will also have to go through radiation. So Mom has the stitches on the right side and the port on the left side so it's hard to move both arms. This also causes a lot of pain and discomfort...KEEP THE DRUGS COMIN'.

Many of you have asked why chemo and radiation are still needed even after surgery. I've been learning some interesting scientific information about cancer. Up to 100,000 cancer cells can fit in the head of a pin. Therefore there are microscopic cancer cells still remaining in the body which the chemo and radiation will kill.

We are doing well and are very blessed. Mom's doctor is among the top 100 oncologists in the country. Her nutritionist is world reknown. God has definitely provided the best healthcare available for her.

ALSO PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR COMMENTS MEAN TO MOM. KEEP THEM COMING!!

Home from the Hospital

2007-05-23T17:31:00.000-05:00

We are home from the hospital as of today at 4:00. We actually had a lovely stay there with our nurse Missy. She was really cool. But, it does feel good to be home. Mom is doing well. She is taking a nap now. She is also taking her pain medication. But, she looks great as you can see in this picture. Isn't she beautiful...and this is the day after the surgery. Your prayers are being felt...

Surgery went well!!

2007-05-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

Friends and Family:

Thank you so much for your prayers and support today. Mom made it through the surgery well. Everything is going well. Dad, Kinsey and I were with her in the hospital today and she was awake and talking with us. I'm sure none of you would be surprised to hear that she is in great spirits. God is truly taking care of us every step of the way. The doctors had to remove some of the lymph nodes today during surgery. Please pray that they test negative for cancer. If four or more lymph nodes are infected Mom will have to have radiation in addition to the chemo therapy.

Again thank you all for reading, and for your love and support. We will keep you updated as best as we can.

Much love...

Update

2007-05-17T15:18:00.000-05:00

Praise the Lord. The tests done on Monday showed all organs clear. We still do not know if radiation therapy is needed. We will know after the surgery on Tuesday. Please pray that no radiation therapy is needed! In addition, pray for successful surgery, complete healing, and a quick recovery. Surgery is Tuesday, May 22 and chemo begins 2-3 weeks following surgery – after the wound heals.

Thanks again for all of your love and prayers. They are being felt.

New Orleans Trip

2007-05-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

As many of you know Mom had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Women's Tea at Celebration Church New Orleans. I also was able to meet her there and see her for the first time since Christmas! She did an incredible job sharing about how much a positive attitude affects the circumstances, relationships, priorities...really everthing in our lives. It was so cool to be back at Celebration and see all the familiar faces... more like family. It was such an encouragement to us to fellowship with all of you. We love you dearly! Here are some pictures from the event:

More tests . . .

2007-05-13T19:05:00.000-05:00

To the ladies in New Orleans - Thank you for an awesome Mother's Day Weekend! I enjoyed spending time with you and I know your love and encouragement will help me through this fight. "How's y'attitude Dawlin?"

I have 3 diagnostic tests tomorrow (Monday, May 14) - an MRI, PET scan and CAT scan. Please pray that there are no other cancers found. After we get all of the results back I will meet with the oncologist to decide our course of action.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers!

I love you!

Breast Cancer Awareness

2007-05-08T13:28:00.000-05:00

Breast Cancer Awareness has taken on a whole new meaning to my family over the last few weeks. We recently found out that mom has a very serious case of cancer. We are trusting that God is in control, and so far everything is going well. Please pray for us as we begin this fight together.