2nd Date Memories and a Reminder from God

After a good check up with my oncologist and all my questions answered, I headed up to meet Mr. Chemo for my second date. I was taken back to meet my matchmakers (nurses) Mary Jane & Jennifer. They were awesome!!!! After getting me started on the pre-chemo meds, I tried to get logged on to the internet, but God had other plans. God knew I need to rest and since Mr. Chemo just stands around and is a real drip, I reclined my chair, put K-LOVE on my ipod, put the chair massage on, and the best part was the wonderful heated blanket!!! Two hours later, I awoke refreshed and hungry. I ate my lunch and thankfully was able to get on the internet. By this point, the first chemo drug was almost done and the second would soon begin and then it would be time to go home. Again, Mr. Chemo asked me for another date on March 4th and I said yes. Here are a few pictures from yesterday. 

Me and Mr. Chemo

View from my window

Another view from my window

And doesn't God always remind you of things when you need to be reminded??? Yesterday morning before leaving for my date, in my devotions, everything was pointing to the word -- THRIVE. What struck me was that "thrive" was my one word for 2013. By the end of last year, I really didn't feel like I was thriving in my life. I felt like I was just surviving. 

But part of the devotional I read was by the lead singer of Casting Crowns, Mark Hall. The following are his thoughts, but they reflect my thoughts, too!! He just wrote them first and probably better!!!

You were meant to do more than just survive. You were meant to thrive.

You were not meant to struggle to make it through the week, the day, the next hour. You were not meant for your world to feel like a weight, for the break of dawn to be the starter pistol for another meaningless rat race. You were not meant to be shackled by anxiety, worry, and fear. No, you were meant for so much more.

You were meant to have life and to have it more abundantly. That is the promise of the eternal God.

You were meant to dig deep and to reach out.

You were meant to know God and to make him known.

You were meant to point to the one hope, the one anchor, the one true source of joy, peace, and contentment for the entire human race. His name is Jesus.

I’m not saying you won’t have trouble in this life. Only the false teachers of the prosperity gospel claim otherwise. They promise prosperity while using Scriptures written from prison or during some of the lowest moments in the lives of godly men. Out of Jesus’ twelve disciples, only one escaped martyrdom, and he was exiled to a desolate island. I still can’t figure how that entitles us to buy a Benz. Without exception, all of us will have some bad days. But Jesus tells us to take heart. He has overcome the world, which means we can thrive amid it all (John 16:33).

In fact, a lot of us are in survival mode right now:

If I can just get to this weekend…

If I can just make it to the first of the month…

If I can just get to summer vacation…

If I can just finish this project…

If I can just beat this sickness…

If I can just make this payment…

If I can just get the kids through college…

You were not made to survive life. Or to survive work. Or school. Or your family. You were not made to exist until you can get over the next hump or get to the next break.

You were created for one purpose: to know God and to make Him known.

Below is the Casting Crowns video of their song "Thrive." Enjoy & may you do more in your own life than just survive, I pray you will THRIVE!!!!!

Only by His strength,
Sandy