Chemo Begins Today

We are not moving forward with fear; we are moving forward with peace and the leading of the Lord. I believe God has orchestrated who we needed to talk to when, and that fills me with hope. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 30:15, "For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.”

Our heart and prayer is that we are not like the Israelites, but that instead we would be willing to return to God and rest in Him. Another translation says, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." We believe as we trust in God, He will be our strength and our salvation.

It has been our informed choice to move forward with chemo today instead of waiting. We are certain the pain was not pneumonia, but instead cancer. We are told that the nodules in his lungs have multiplied. To be clear: we are told by the doctors the cancer began in his testicle, moved to the lymph nodes in his abdomen (they should be 1 cm or smaller; they are 4 cm), and then it metastasized to his lungs. After talking for two hours with our oncologist and team on Wednesday, and the experience that brought us here Thursday, we are confident the pain has primarily been cancer and we are ready to kick it out! We have been told this treatment regime is aggressive, so please pray as follows and as the Lord leads you.

Pray for Peter's body to be strong through chemo, for no nausea, for him to stay hydrated, no infections or complications of any sort, excellent white blood cell counts, for the check up scans and labs to show REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT, specifically any unhealthy nodules to disappear, the lymph nodes to return to normal, the tumor marks in his blood and all labs to return to normal, and for our miraculous God to show His power as He builds this testimony of Peter's life. Pray for the cancer to leave Peter's body in Jesus' mighty name! Pray for my health, Esther's health, our parents health, and any visitors' health. Let every room and our home be purified by the power of Jesus. Pray against any and all negative side effects of chemo, including infertility, and the super rare ones of lung damage, hearing damage, and finger and toe numbness, especially things that affect his ability to be the worship leader God has made him to be.

We stand on the promises of God:

Ephesians 6:1-3: "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.'"

Isaiah 43:2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

We are also praying and worshiping with the promises of Psalm 46, Psalm 144 and 2 Samuel 22:

I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all sin
And He has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in Heaven but You?
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help
You are my shield, my strength
My portion, Deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need,
My very present help in time of need!