The Best Step June 6, 2008

Tom here! 

This morning I was sitting on our porch about 6:30am and began to reflect on the past few months.  What a ride!  It has been almost 4 months since we entered into the world of cancer. 4 months doesn’t seem like a long time, but these 4 have been long and draining. 

As I mentioned I began to reflect this morning on the things that God has allowed me to learn these last 4 months.  I thought of Dr. James Casset, Amy’s surgeon.  While Amy was still in the hospital recovering from the surgery that removed the mass, I asked Dr. Casset what was the next step.  He couldn’t tell me because he didn’t know.  The test results were not in, but I wanted answers.  He assured me that the ball would not be dropped!

I was exposed that day to a principle from the Bible–wait on God.    Isaiah 40:31 is a verse of Scripture that helped me to recognize why we should wait or hope in God. 

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

For the longest time I looked at this verse and desired to soar on wings like eagles.  I even have a beautiful picture in my office with a eagle and this verse.  But over the past months I have needed my strength renewed time and time again.  Not to soar, but just to walk and not be faint. 

As I look back to that conversation with Dr. Casset, I am so grateful to him for the answer he gave.  He told me the truth, he didn’t know.  That answer was just one of many answers to questions that I posed to Doctors, friends and medical websites, but it was the answer that pushed me to chase after the One who knows the next step.  Dr. Casset, thank you for doing your job–you’re a great surgeon–and thanks for giving me the truth that afternoon.  God, thank you for providing and renewing our strength during this time of our lives.

Next week Amy and I have the opportunity to take 32 students to Super Summer at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO.  We are looking forward to spending time with each other, our students, adult leaders and God, do more reflecting and growing. 

Once again, thank you for all of the support and encouragement.  Amy and I are much stronger people because of this season of life!  Don’t get me wrong, we still have a long way to go, but we’re going!

 

 

The Journey Is Too Much For You March 24, 2008

Hello all, this is Tom. 

We had a great visit with Corey, Diane, Kaylee, Tyler and Melissa.  It was tough to let them go, but very thankful for the visit.  My mom also visited with us on Good Friday and we enjoyed BBQ at it’s finest.

As we walk through this season of life we’re trying to honor God with our lives.    To be honest, it’s tough!  One reason is because we desire to be in control.  During this past 6 weeks we have realized more than ever, we are not in control, but God is. 

It’s seems like Amy is better at dealing with this than I am, and if you know us well that doesn’t come as a surprise!  But each day, I realize that my story is similar to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:5-7–All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water.  He ate and drank and then lay down again.  The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”

It is so amazing how God continues to provide for us during this season of life.  God has brought many people to our aid and they have been the ones telling us, encouraging us, to “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”  This journey is too much for us.  This journey is too much for me! 

Tonight another one of God’s messengers came our way, disguised as a Blacksmith!  He gave Amy this cross as a way of showing support for her and our family during this time.  A note was attached “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you  1 Peter 5:7  God’s timing is perfect.  It came at a time when I needed the boost and a reminder that this journey is too much for me and I can’t carry this load!  Thanks Doug, we value your friendship.  This journey maybe too much for Tom and Amy Denton, true.  But we know God knows, God cares and God is able to carry us the entire distance.

Thanks to all, for all.

God is good! March 18, 2008

Wow!! Thanks for all the blogs. Tom has been such a blessing to keep up with the blog and updating whats going on at this time of our life. God has blessed me with many friendships. I appreciate and are so encouraged by everyone who has blogged me. It is amazing how God brings people in our lives when we go through difficult times. But I really don’t look at this as a difficult time it is just life and it is making me lean on God more. I haven’t talked to a lof of people that have blogged me in a long time. So I kinda want to update what has happened in my life.

Before Feb. 1996 I lived my life for me. When I found out I was pregnant with Katie my life changed. She was born in Oct. 1996 and I decided to stay home with her and started going back to church. My life was not about me anymore it was about her. But I always had an empty feeling inside of me that nothing was filling it. I started to get more involved in church as far as Bible studies and such and I started to have a relationship with God. Tom wasn’t attending to much with me so it was a hard couple of years. Then I was pregnant with Ian and gave birth to him in April 1999. I knew then that I needed to rededicate my life to God and live for him not for me. After that Tom soon started getting involved in Bible studies and rededicated his life. Now we live at church as Tom has been the youth pastor for five years. I still laugh to this day that Tom and I are in the ministry because 20 years ago it would of never crossed my mind.  But I enjoy and love the youth so much. Tom and I have gotten so close to some of the youth they are like our own kids. They keep us on our toes.  

So I look at this experience I’m going through as a growing period with God. God did not give me this cancer it is just part of the world. But I know I can use this experience to Glorify Him. Esther is my favorite book in the Bible. She had such God strength and I have always have wanted to follow her example of faith. There is a verse her cousin tells her “For such a time as this”. She had to stand up for God and I feel this time in my life is “For such a time as this”.

Easter is this Sunday and it’s going to be so hard on me not to be at church to celebrate what God did for you and me. God sent His Son to die on a cross because He loves us so much.  But I will be praising God and thanking God at home. I’m not perfect by no means but I am a child of God and with God on my side I will not let Satan take me down with cancer. I am feeling really well and I know it is all the prayers giving me strength. Thank you so much for taking the time to pray and to think of me. Love ya lots and God Bless.