God Wins!

In the last several days I have experienced God in such a powerful way.  He has revealed so much to me and I'd like to share. 

We all thought my medicine for cancer was working wonderfully.  Well, I went to the doctor last week because something felt "off".  Don't misunderstand, I still feel great, but I believe the Holy Spirit was preparing me.  My doctor drew some blood this time to make sure my estrogen levels were down low enough that we would be certain the medicine was doing its job.  He said he would be shocked if my level was above 50.  Well...it came back at 160!  This means there is estrogen in my body somehow, we just don't know how or what we're going to do about it.  I have another appointment with him next Wednesday to talk this over, so please pray for me as I embark upon a new path.  This doesn't really have me worried because as God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)  So whatever He wants me to do, I am preparing for it. 

I must admit that this has thrown me off balance, though, made me think and analyze where I've been and where I am.  I specifically asked God to let me know if this medicine wasn't working properly.  I take seizure medication that can interfere with the potency of the cancer medicine, so we have to be on the watch for that.  So, I am not surprised that God is showing me His love, His concern, and His plan in letting me know that something needs to be "tweaked".  What does surprise me is that I believe this is a way the enemy is trying to get to me.  There have been several things happen this week that are only worth mentioning in the context that the enemy does not like it when we praise our Lord.  Remember, John 10:10 tells us "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."  BUT...the end of that verse says it all when Jesus says "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"!  I looked up that word abundant and it means excessive, overflowing, over and above, more than enough, extraordinary!  I love that!  Let's just think this through...The enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy; however, when Jesus came He came to not only give us life, but give us a life that is extraordinary!!  Wow!  I have to say that the things that have been put in my path this week almost got me down.  But did you get the main word of that last sentence...almost.  You see, in my quiet time I was reading in Matthew 4 where Jesus is tempted by the devil.  Jesus was mocked and taunted, but then Jesus says in verse 10 of that same chapter, "Away with you, satan, for it is written that you shall worship the LORD your God and Him only you shall serve"!  Well hallelujah!  Who am I to think that if Jesus was tempted and taunted and mocked while here on earth that I wouldn't be?  But the beauty of this is that Jesus has already won the battle.  Really, I read the back of the book, I read how the story ends - God wins!  A trumpet's gonna sound and I'll be called away!  So the enemy didn't get me down...he tried and he tried hard, but God came in to rescue me.  He swooped down this week and put Himself in my path so that He was all I could see.  It was so vivid to me in front of my eyes and in my dreams and in the car, it was as if God was sitting right beside me.  I literally could hear His voice.  He was able to drown out the enemy for me and God had victory!  Amen!!

I tried a new exercise class this week.  It was 30 minutes long and I was able to do it - maybe not all the steps, but I was able to last for the entire 30 minutes.  After the class was over I went to the back room to catch my breath, but I met God there.  He was waiting for me in that room.  I felt His presence so strongly - I burst into tears.  He gave me a look back at where I've been, where I am now, and gently reminded me that He's in control of where I'm going.  It was overwhelming.  He flooded me with tears of joy.  I know exercise is not a big deal to some, but for me, four short months ago I could barely walk.  I am very humbled and grateful today for each milestone God allows me to accomplish. 

After I finished exercising I walked outside and saw this big, huge tree standing in front of me.  It's always been there in the same place, looking the same way, and I've passed it countless times and not noticed it.  But today, there it was...leafless, yet shining in the sunlight.  There were many branches, but many that were broken, and I thought of us as humans.  Isn't that what we are?  We are a lowly, broken people with many branches in our lives that are broken and battered, yet with Jesus we stand tall and shining in the midst of the "Son".  We stand because Jesus came and died for our sins so that we would not have to die in sin without hope of an everlasting, glorious, beautiful place called Heaven.  This tree reminded me of the tree of life...a connection to a life with Jesus our Lord.  God took me to Revelation 22:13-14 that says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."  God showed me that tree today to let me know that the enemy has no power, no authority, for God is Holy and Just and Worthy to be praised! 

My heart is overflowing today with love for my heavenly Father.  I heard Him today speak to me so quietly, so gently, but with such might and power.  No, I'm not worried about the things thrown into the middle of my path...God walks in front of me...He'll get to it first and He'll take care of it.  In the meantime, He lets the leaves bloom and the branches heal in my body and I give Him praise and honor, and glory for all of it!

I love you all,
Kacey