My scripture for today comes from Proverbs 19:21. It says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” What a timely message to remind us that God’s purpose will always prevail. The definition for prevail is “to prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.” Yes!
Yesterday morning we headed to Mayo for our 3 month check up. Before we got there, I had a “memory” from 2 years ago come across my FaceBook page of the day I rang the “finished with chemo” bell. That was such a joy filled day! One of the last things I said on my post was “that God was good 2 years ago and he will be good today.” And he was and he is!
He is good–not because of any report findings or scan results, he is good because He is faithful, because he is trustworthy, because he loves us, because he never changes, because he has a much bigger plan than we can ever imagine and it is perfect.
I’ve been praying for God’s perfect will for my life. I honestly can’t wait to see how this plays out because the news from the medical world was not what we wanted to hear. But y’all, if I’m praying for God’s perfect will for my life then I have to be open to how he writes the story. (AND He has been known to do some miraculous things!)
Yesterday the doctors told us that my CA 125 marker numbers had a 300% increase from 35 to 114. This basically means that the cancer cells are rapidly growing. The scans showed that 4 lymph nodes in my pelvis area are enlarged which indicates that they are trying to fight these cancer cells. The good news is that no tumors were found, nor had the nodules increased in size.
He presented 3 options: chemo, a clinical trial, and to do nothing. We told him “no” to the chemo. That was a choice I’ve already made–the chemo I could take started shutting down my kidneys the last time I had it–it is some nasty stuff. The other chemo option was the Hipec “hot chemo wash” . I don’t want to do either treatment especially since they do not give you any guarantee for extending life and the possible side effects are awful. We will get the information about the clinical trial next week and will schedule an appointment to discuss if it merits my participation. We asked him what the typical outcome for the “do nothing” option was and he said because of how fast the cells are growing that I could look for about 1 year with little complications but that after that my body would start presenting complications.
So let me share with you what that means. It means that God’s plan will prevail. His purpose will be victorious! In the first week of 52 in 2020 we memorized Psalm 138:8 it says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” I don’t want to waste time worrying about the medical facts that have been given to me because I know the plans of the Lord will be the absolute perfect plan for me. I trust that with my whole heart. You can trust that too!
Julie, the reasons you listed why God is good rings true!!! I understand praising Him in the storm, the valley, in the middle of a crisis!! He’ll hold you up!!
Praying! You have a powerful testimony. Pray God makes the seeds you have planted flourish.
Yes—you have walked through your own storms! The Lord is good and worthy of our praise.
You are truly an inspiration! I have you in my daily prayers and will keep praying! ????????♀️♥️
Continued prayers for God’s will, strength, peace & love from our Heavenly Father above. We love y’all ????????????????????❤️
Just this morning I read in a Christian book ‘it is impossible to savor life unless you are prepared to lose it ‘
Hallelujah and PTL for His mercy, grace and love in our lives. His is the plan and we do not walk in fear of the unknown like no one is in charge !
I love you Julie and your precious testimony to the world. Your strength cannot come from anywhere but our saviour Jesus Christ !!!!????❤
Julie,
I LOVE this part….
” I don’t want to waste time worrying about the medical facts that have been given to me because I know the plans of the Lord will be the absolute perfect plan for me. I trust that with my whole heart. You can trust that too!
God’s plan is perfect. Your words are an encouragement to me! Praying God’s will for all of us.
Debbie
Blackshear Elem.
You are amazing, because God is amazing and it is His light you are reflecting. Love you Julie bug
You are truly an inspiration Miss Julie. You remind us that it is ours to delight in the Lord and to know that he will give us the desires of our heart. Your testimony is the manual in how to delight in Him and trust that His will is good and perfect regardless of what the world would have us think. I am so thankful to you for this life lesson in living by faith. You are a most gracious and loving teacher. Praying for you and giving glory to Him who cradles you in His hand, knowing how much he loves and cares for you. Much love my dear sister in Christ ♥️
Well, I just love you and how strong your faith is…I have known you since our childhood years and you have always had an extra something special about you. My prayers for you of course are selfish, I guess. I wanted to hear, nothing has changed since your last appointment and in fact everything was just miraculously at a stand still with the numbers unchanged. The thing that didn’t change was in fact “God’s purpose will prevail…” and also the fact you don’t want to waste time worrying about the medical facts that have been given to you because I know the plans of the Lord will be the absolute perfect plan for you. You trust that with your whole heart. I need to trust that too…I love you Julie! Thank you for allowing God to work through your life to encourage us to do the same…
My dear friend, you are such an inspiration to me and many, many people! I will continue to pray for God’s perfect plan in your life. He is using you to touch so many people! I love you girl!!
Julie, What a testimony you have given to the greatness of our Almighty God! He is in control of every fiber of our being, Before we were conceived He knew us and continues to know every hair on our heads, every sand of the seas…There is a Plan A and Plan B……Eternity with our Heavenly Father or Eternity without our Heavenly Father. He definitely wants His perfect plan for us. We pray for others to choose wisely as you, myself and others have accepted His plan for us. I love you and your family. Praying for you always.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25.
My Sunday school lesson today was summed up in this verse above. Why hope in “the word of the cross” (vs 18) when human reason may say otherwise? Why trust in a God who kept John the Baptist incarcerated and eventually beheaded when Christ could have rescued him? God’s plan is beyond our ability to reason it out…his “foolishness”, if there ever was any, surpasses the most brilliant human’s thinking. If he could have a weak moment, then that moment would far surpass any power man could conceive of creating.
Your testimony is a display of this truth and a picture to others of how saving faith triumphs over our momentary afflictions that are preparing for us is an eternal weight of glory. We continue to pray for your healing and a miraculous recovery. As we are often unaware of His revealed plans for our lives, we trust fully and cooperatively that He is enough along the way.
You are a complete and total inspiration and testimony to trusting God’s will and purpose for you and your family. You have touched so many people and shown them what Fearless Faith is. I will continue to pray for you daily and know that you are in God’s hands.
Dearest Julie, I cannot begin to express sweeter or more precious thoughts than these I have just read but we all have much in common to have experienced your love first hand and for that I want to say again and again, Thank you! You are indeed an inspiration to all of us and I personally treasure every moment I have had with you! His Hand is mighty and His Love will not fail. It is wonderful to hold to His unchanging Hand. He knows best! ‘Tis so sweet To Trust in Jesus, Just To Take Him At His Word! Love you, Julie!
Sally Leatherman