❤️God’s Perfect Love

Fear began to arise in my heart a few days before the chemo appointment. The thought of having another severe allergic reaction from the treatment with intense burning in my chest plagued my mind. The actual treatment itself had proved more painful than the side affects. I also wondered how my body would respond to two chemo drugs while also undergoing the new immunotherapy treatment. Despite my many nagging questions, I knew deep inside my soul God would not leave me in this state of unrest. He would bring me through and somehow He would show Himself strong on my behalf.  

Since Valentine's Day was approaching, I jotted down a few of my favorite love verses and let them saturate my thoughts. 

❤️GOD IS LOVE. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might LIVE through Him. ~I John 4:8b-9

❤️"Now hope (in God) does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~Romans 5:5

❤️"The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

💕He will quiet you with His love,💕

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17

❤️"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 💕keep yourselves in the love of God,💕 looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

❤️""There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..." ~1 John 4:18 

The overwhelming feeling of fear lifted as I focused on the incredible love God has for me.

God's love is a perfect love, a pure love, a plentiful love. It's an all-encompassing and everlasting love. His banner over us is love and underneath is the support of His everlasting arms. His presence, a "surrounding stronghold of unfailing love," provides a safe and secure dwelling place for those who put their trust in Him, where nothing can trouble the heart nor frighten the soul. He is faithful. He is true. Hear Him say: "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands," as He stretches out His arms to show us His nail scarred hands. What He did at Calvary to save our souls from lasting torment is like no other. Truly, "Having loved His own, He showed (us) the full extent of His love." John 13:1 NIV
Jesus is the one and only true Lover of our souls and we are indwelt by Him so that we can be filled with all the fullness of His love.

 A few days before leaving for Rochester my dear friend Tarah held a prayer meeting at her house with a few of our closest friends. I prayed for God to fill us full of His love and give us a compassionate desire to share the gospel with others in great need of a Savior. Countless others also joined in prayer and praise to the One whose love banishes all fear and fills us with a "love so amazing, so divine."

Lifted up on wings of love and prayers, our God did exceedingly, abundantly above all we asked or even hoped for in Rochester. At the consultation, Carolyn the N.P. informed us I would not receive immunotherapy at this time. She said the care team wants to give the chemo more time to work before starting a new regimen. Once I have my three month CT scan in April, they will decide whether to proceed forward with this new clinical trial. Relieved to hear that my body would not need to endure another drug with side affects, we thanked God for His mercy.

At the beginning of my chemo treatment, a protocol of drugs were injected to desensitize my system and I only had a slight reaction. Several nurses came in periodically to check my vital signs and change my IV bags. One by one we gave each nurse a valentine gift bag filled with a chocolate bar and a love verse from the scriptures. We were also blessed to speak of His saving grace to one cancer patient and one of the nurses.

Please say a prayer for:

❤️Michelle- breast cancer and now it went to her brain

❤️Carolyn-Nurse Practioner

❤️Sarah- Chemo nurse

❤️Louanne- Chemo nurse

❤️Maria- Chemo nurse

❤️Ami- Physician's Assistant

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing these beautiful gals into my life. Help me to serve You faithfully with an overflowing love that touches the hearts of those around me.

Perfect love removes,

every doubt and fear

it wants all our concerns

so to God we’ll stay near.

Perfect love erases,

worries harmful effects

for, our hearts it always

shelters and protects.

Perfect love takes away,

needless fret and unrest

it wants our anxiety

so with it we’ll be blessed.

Perfect love eliminates,

pride, lust and greed

for, love that is perfect . . .

fulfills our every need.

Perfect love removes,

every qualm and misgiving

for, God’s perfect love  . . .

is merciful and forgiving.

-Deborah Ann Belka