I met him last Wednesday night at church. He was easily recognizable in a room packed with 5th and 6th graders, because he was bald. Only one 12-year old kid I know that runs with those boys who is bald. Ethan Hallmark. Cancer fighter. Cancer survivor.
Even from 10 feet away, I could tell this kid was different, and I wanted to figure out why.
And then this morning it struck me. That young man oozes conviction about the Lord's faithfulness. He doesn't even have to say one word. You can just feel his resolve to trust in the Lord.
And I realize that I want what Ethan has. I want to be so totally consumed by conviction of the Lord's faithfulness, that it oozes right out of me. Yeah, that's the kind of relationship I
want with the Lord.
I'm a work in progress. But I will say that after fighting cancer myself, I know I'm closer to oozing like Ethan. Learning to cling to Jesus no matter what your circumstances and knowing He will be faithful to you is a process. It takes time. You have to learn to drink deeply from that pool of resolve.
And the enemy hates you for it every time you do it.
Make no mistake. We have all faced the enemy, and done our share of shrinking into a corner rather than call out to the Lord. But then sometimes--hopefully more often as we learn to trust the King of Kings--rather than shrink into a corner, we choose to look the enemy in the eye and say, "You know what? Sometimes you make me feel defeated. But not today. Today I choose to trust in the Lord's faithfulness. Peace out!"
He has been faithful to you, Beloved! He has redeemed your life from the pit, and He crowns you with His love and compassion (Psalm 103:4).
Ooze, Baby, Ooze!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Can't make me shut up
Now, you first have to appreciate that I have presented in front of 500 plus scientists at a time. Lectured to over 100 post-grad students in one sitting, taught 60 plus 5th and 6th graders a few times, and wrangled a class room of pre-schoolers for ten years before that.
But nothing made me sweat quite like the presentation I made this morning.
That's how I knew it was from God. Because Nancy would never have thought this one up.
I had bought a big bag of chocolates to take to work today. You see, today marks the one year anniversary that I am cancer free. On this day one year ago, Dr. Leitch at UT Southwestern removed a grade 1 breast cancer with clean margins and no lymph node involvement. It was a great day, and I wanted to pass out multitudes of chocolates at work today to celebrate.
I'm still going to do that.
But God took it that one crazy step further and suggested in my heart that I do the same thing on the DART bus this morning. And on the train. And on the shuttle across campus.
So I did.
"Can I have your attention please?" I croaked out as I stood up on the DART bus. "Today, I am one year cancer free, and I just want to invite you to have a chocolate and remember the sweetness of Jesus' grace and mercy on me today."
They all clapped, and the bag of chocolates started going around the bus.
The lady in front of me is cancer free 9 years. The lady beside me said a prayer over me. The man behind me and the man in front of me thanked me for sharing. Several said that I had made their day.
You see, people crave to hear good news. And this morning, God used me to give them some.
So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am our God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He has lifted me up, and I am compelled to lift my life up to Him.
Satan stands in the wings trying to convince me otherwise.
But I am a cancer survivor. And he can't make me shut up about the greatness of God.
But nothing made me sweat quite like the presentation I made this morning.
That's how I knew it was from God. Because Nancy would never have thought this one up.
I had bought a big bag of chocolates to take to work today. You see, today marks the one year anniversary that I am cancer free. On this day one year ago, Dr. Leitch at UT Southwestern removed a grade 1 breast cancer with clean margins and no lymph node involvement. It was a great day, and I wanted to pass out multitudes of chocolates at work today to celebrate.
I'm still going to do that.
But God took it that one crazy step further and suggested in my heart that I do the same thing on the DART bus this morning. And on the train. And on the shuttle across campus.
So I did.
"Can I have your attention please?" I croaked out as I stood up on the DART bus. "Today, I am one year cancer free, and I just want to invite you to have a chocolate and remember the sweetness of Jesus' grace and mercy on me today."
They all clapped, and the bag of chocolates started going around the bus.
The lady in front of me is cancer free 9 years. The lady beside me said a prayer over me. The man behind me and the man in front of me thanked me for sharing. Several said that I had made their day.
You see, people crave to hear good news. And this morning, God used me to give them some.
So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am our God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He has lifted me up, and I am compelled to lift my life up to Him.
Satan stands in the wings trying to convince me otherwise.
But I am a cancer survivor. And he can't make me shut up about the greatness of God.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
How this cancer survivor stopped letting the enemy into my space
She's so petite, that when she sat at my desk, you couldn't even tell she had sat down. It was last Wednesday morning, and Rachel, a petite woman with a thick Indian accent had come to my office to ask me a question.
"Nancy, were you sick last summer?"
I sat back and told her that yes, I had had breast cancer last year, and went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
And for the next 30 minutes, the Holy Spirit spoke directly to me through this petite woman with the Indian accent. She told me that she could feel the Light of Jesus on me, that she knows I have experienced a miraculous and complete healing, and that I continue to let the spirit of fear rule over me.
Wow. And I didn't even know she was a Christian--and I have known her for 15 years.
"Nancy" she said in that fantastic clipped Indian accent, "When that spirit of fear comes over you, do you know who it is that is pushing that on you?"
She didn't give me time to answer.
"Nancy, that is Satan pushing on you. The spirit of fear does not come from The Lord, Nancy, that comes from Satan. You must recognize it for what it is, stand up and rebuke him in the name of the Lord. You are a daughter of the living Christ!"
She was so excited, I thought for sure she would be standing up. Not that I could tell from this side of the desk (see the first sentence if you don't get this).
When she left, I remember thinking how merciful The Lord is to send someone in the middle of this very ungodly environment I work in to bathe me in His Word...using a thick Indian accent. Fabulous!
Then two days later, I was back in that pit of fear. Oh, you know for some cancer survivors, every little bump or tender spot has the worst case scenario attached to it. Especially for a professional pit dweller such as myself.
I had let Satan into my space. And I let him smolder in my space, tasting the ashes of doubt he flung in my air, choking on the smoke of despair he filled my space with. It took me 2 days before I had the savvy to call a trusted friend and let her know where I was at.
And she called it for what it is by asking me a question.
"Nancy, that Indian lady...she proclaimed to you and confirmed that God had given you a miraculous healing last year. Do you trust God to have done it?"
Well, up until that moment, I thought I did.
And Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering". Mark 5:34
I don't read anywhere in the Bible where that daughter of the Lord came back to touch His robe again, just in case it hadn't worked completely the first time. I like to think she left His presence that day, grinning ear to ear and proclaiming Jesus to whoever would listen.
That's where I should be. That's where you should be. For we have all been redeemed.
So I stood up from my pink camo chair on my back porch dressed in my pink and white fleece pants and flip flops and I spoke in my teacher voice, "Satan, you are in my space, and in the name of Jesus, I command you to GET OUT. This is NOT your space. I belong to the most high living God!"
And just like that--I kid you NOT--just like that, the peace of God which passes all understanding flooded my space and I breathed the cool crisp clean air of Jesus.
Everyday is a brand new mercy. So say Hello to a new you, and stop letting the enemy into YOUR space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG6Aa3DIg9Q
"Nancy, were you sick last summer?"
I sat back and told her that yes, I had had breast cancer last year, and went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
And for the next 30 minutes, the Holy Spirit spoke directly to me through this petite woman with the Indian accent. She told me that she could feel the Light of Jesus on me, that she knows I have experienced a miraculous and complete healing, and that I continue to let the spirit of fear rule over me.
Wow. And I didn't even know she was a Christian--and I have known her for 15 years.
"Nancy" she said in that fantastic clipped Indian accent, "When that spirit of fear comes over you, do you know who it is that is pushing that on you?"
She didn't give me time to answer.
"Nancy, that is Satan pushing on you. The spirit of fear does not come from The Lord, Nancy, that comes from Satan. You must recognize it for what it is, stand up and rebuke him in the name of the Lord. You are a daughter of the living Christ!"
She was so excited, I thought for sure she would be standing up. Not that I could tell from this side of the desk (see the first sentence if you don't get this).
When she left, I remember thinking how merciful The Lord is to send someone in the middle of this very ungodly environment I work in to bathe me in His Word...using a thick Indian accent. Fabulous!
Then two days later, I was back in that pit of fear. Oh, you know for some cancer survivors, every little bump or tender spot has the worst case scenario attached to it. Especially for a professional pit dweller such as myself.
I had let Satan into my space. And I let him smolder in my space, tasting the ashes of doubt he flung in my air, choking on the smoke of despair he filled my space with. It took me 2 days before I had the savvy to call a trusted friend and let her know where I was at.
And she called it for what it is by asking me a question.
"Nancy, that Indian lady...she proclaimed to you and confirmed that God had given you a miraculous healing last year. Do you trust God to have done it?"
Well, up until that moment, I thought I did.
And Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering". Mark 5:34
I don't read anywhere in the Bible where that daughter of the Lord came back to touch His robe again, just in case it hadn't worked completely the first time. I like to think she left His presence that day, grinning ear to ear and proclaiming Jesus to whoever would listen.
That's where I should be. That's where you should be. For we have all been redeemed.
So I stood up from my pink camo chair on my back porch dressed in my pink and white fleece pants and flip flops and I spoke in my teacher voice, "Satan, you are in my space, and in the name of Jesus, I command you to GET OUT. This is NOT your space. I belong to the most high living God!"
And just like that--I kid you NOT--just like that, the peace of God which passes all understanding flooded my space and I breathed the cool crisp clean air of Jesus.
Everyday is a brand new mercy. So say Hello to a new you, and stop letting the enemy into YOUR space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG6Aa3DIg9Q
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