Jeremiah 29:11-14 God's plans to prosper us, to give us a hope, and a future
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
NIV
[Editor's commentary: It has been said, "Tough times never last, Tough people do." This Scripture verse in Jeremiah 29 is one that I Ioften quote when I am having a bad day. Today, Thursday, December 27, was a tough day for my darling wife, Melvine. Greg drove us to our dermatologist's office at 10:30 a. m. The surgeon, Dr. Hughes, nurse and staff drove over from Marietta, GA to do the surgery. The office was cold because surgery was going on. I am glad I had on my leather coat. They did offer us blankets. We did not ask for them although they were available if we needed them.
We were hoping that the doctor would have to remove one and at most 2 layers of skin from her nose. The surgeon would remove a layer, take it to the lab to see if he got it all. That took 45 minutes for each separate layer of skin tissue. Instead of one or two layers of skin, the doctor had to take 6 layers of skin. At one place he had to go to the cartilage of the nose structure. The good thing is that the bridge or cone of the nose was not effected by cancer. That is a good thing and we praise God for every blessing He bestows on us and we want to express our gratitude to a Great and Holy God that loves us in our times of suffering and trauma.
This surgery left a big hole in Melvine's beautiful nose God created for her beauty. In order to close up the area that was affected by the surgery, he needed to do a skin graft. There are two procedures to accomplish this closure. One is to take skin from the forehead and lap it over the nose. This skin is similar in color to the nose. However, with Melvine's age, and the fact that she is going through chemotherapy he recommended that he take skin from the back of her right ear. Well, we decide to the skin graft from the back of her right ear. That took another 45 minutes to an hour to do. By this time, we didn't know how long it really took.
It appears that Melvine will have two black eyes tomorrow morning. I had to tell you this you want think I did it. I have never struck Melvine with my hands or fists. She is in a lot of pain. I gave her an extra 10 MG of Oxocodine allowed by the oncologist (20 MG at one time). The surgeon prescribed an antibiotic and I gave that to her.
Greg went to our local pharmacy to get the antibiotics the doctor prescribed and to Wendy's for our supper after we got home. Melvine went to bed at 8:30 p. m.
A little time ago I went into our master bedroom to check on her. She told me she was hurting badly and asked me to pray for her. So, I reached over to lay my hand on her right shoulder and prayed. I will be checking again in a few minutes. At 11:30 p.m. I am allowed to give her another 10 MG of pain medication. Her oncologist doesn't want her to hurt and be in pain.
Although Melvine, Greg, and I are going through a difficult and tough time in our lives, God's Word sustains us
and offers us a hope and a future the world could never give. Our daily prayer is for God's Will to be done in our lives and ministry. One day soon, this momentary suffering will pass, and brighter and more beautiful days we shall see. After the storm comes a calm and tranquility appears to remind us that things are looking up.
In the midst of it all, God gives us peace. As I compose these thoughts out of my heart and life's experiences of 86 years, I am reminded of a song O. N. Todd, Jr., my pastor in Birmingham, used to sing that is entitled, "'Till The Storm Passes By."
If you will please Click Here you can hear the Gaither Vocal Band sing "Til The Storm Passes By."
Here are the Lyrics:
In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more.
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by";
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more.
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passed by.
In times like these, I turn to the Bible that has a secure Word when I am traveling
through a temporary storm, that keeps Melvine and me, as well as Greg safe and brings
hope for better days.
I don't know what the future holds, but Melvine and I know Jesus Christ our Lord knows
all about our future and it is good. "And the longer we serve Him the Sweeter He grows.
Every need He is supplying, and plenteous grace He bestows."]
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
NIV
[Editor's commentary: It has been said, "Tough times never last, Tough people do." This Scripture verse in Jeremiah 29 is one that I Ioften quote when I am having a bad day. Today, Thursday, December 27, was a tough day for my darling wife, Melvine. Greg drove us to our dermatologist's office at 10:30 a. m. The surgeon, Dr. Hughes, nurse and staff drove over from Marietta, GA to do the surgery. The office was cold because surgery was going on. I am glad I had on my leather coat. They did offer us blankets. We did not ask for them although they were available if we needed them.
We were hoping that the doctor would have to remove one and at most 2 layers of skin from her nose. The surgeon would remove a layer, take it to the lab to see if he got it all. That took 45 minutes for each separate layer of skin tissue. Instead of one or two layers of skin, the doctor had to take 6 layers of skin. At one place he had to go to the cartilage of the nose structure. The good thing is that the bridge or cone of the nose was not effected by cancer. That is a good thing and we praise God for every blessing He bestows on us and we want to express our gratitude to a Great and Holy God that loves us in our times of suffering and trauma.
This surgery left a big hole in Melvine's beautiful nose God created for her beauty. In order to close up the area that was affected by the surgery, he needed to do a skin graft. There are two procedures to accomplish this closure. One is to take skin from the forehead and lap it over the nose. This skin is similar in color to the nose. However, with Melvine's age, and the fact that she is going through chemotherapy he recommended that he take skin from the back of her right ear. Well, we decide to the skin graft from the back of her right ear. That took another 45 minutes to an hour to do. By this time, we didn't know how long it really took.
It appears that Melvine will have two black eyes tomorrow morning. I had to tell you this you want think I did it. I have never struck Melvine with my hands or fists. She is in a lot of pain. I gave her an extra 10 MG of Oxocodine allowed by the oncologist (20 MG at one time). The surgeon prescribed an antibiotic and I gave that to her.
Greg went to our local pharmacy to get the antibiotics the doctor prescribed and to Wendy's for our supper after we got home. Melvine went to bed at 8:30 p. m.
A little time ago I went into our master bedroom to check on her. She told me she was hurting badly and asked me to pray for her. So, I reached over to lay my hand on her right shoulder and prayed. I will be checking again in a few minutes. At 11:30 p.m. I am allowed to give her another 10 MG of pain medication. Her oncologist doesn't want her to hurt and be in pain.
Although Melvine, Greg, and I are going through a difficult and tough time in our lives, God's Word sustains us
and offers us a hope and a future the world could never give. Our daily prayer is for God's Will to be done in our lives and ministry. One day soon, this momentary suffering will pass, and brighter and more beautiful days we shall see. After the storm comes a calm and tranquility appears to remind us that things are looking up.
In the midst of it all, God gives us peace. As I compose these thoughts out of my heart and life's experiences of 86 years, I am reminded of a song O. N. Todd, Jr., my pastor in Birmingham, used to sing that is entitled, "'Till The Storm Passes By."
If you will please Click Here you can hear the Gaither Vocal Band sing "Til The Storm Passes By."
Here are the Lyrics:
In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more.
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by";
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more.
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passed by.
In times like these, I turn to the Bible that has a secure Word when I am traveling
through a temporary storm, that keeps Melvine and me, as well as Greg safe and brings
hope for better days.
I don't know what the future holds, but Melvine and I know Jesus Christ our Lord knows
all about our future and it is good. "And the longer we serve Him the Sweeter He grows.
Every need He is supplying, and plenteous grace He bestows."]