On March 23rd my wife Judi received a call from a doctor who had just done biopsy surgery on her who said, “I don’t have good news. The biopsy shows that you have two kinds of cancer—one that is more aggressive than the other. I’m referring you to an oncology specialist. Hopefully she can see you next week.”
Judi’s expression didn’t change as the doctor gave the report. She was so courageous. But, what a life-altering call. Many of our friends know that report – you may have received that same call.
Then, we did what we have trained to do, what we’ve told others to do. We prayed together, we had communion together and we called our family to prayer. Then we trusted God – went to a wedding with family in California and put our faith in Him. We called a few close friends who know how to pray. We did communion with some friends by internet. We grabbed hold of the Word of God.
On April 12, Judi had surgery to cut out the cancer. Scans revealed that the cancer had not spread. That was a huge relief … but we didn’t know what was next, what the ongoing process would be. On Thursday morning, April 22, the surgeon’s office called: “Judi, just wanted to tell you before you come in what the pathology report said. You won’t need chemo or radiation follow-up. We’ll see you next week.” Wow!
Last Tuesday, the oncologist said, “Judi, you’re good. You don’t have cancer anymore.” I still cry just typing those words.
God gave Judi a word from Psalms 107:19-21. She held on to it through dark moments. We prayed this scripture together with our children the night before the surgery. I’m sharing it with you now in case you’re in one of those life-or-death struggles today. I encourage you to pray it over yourself:
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”
One of the most amazing moments in this intense journey came just before they wheeled Judi into surgery. The Lord had told her the night before to do this. She grabbed the surgeon’s hand and said, “I’m going to pray for you.” It was electric. Powerful. Faith-filled. Later, the surgeon asked for the photo. She said, “No one’s ever done that before.”
You and I live real lives. Following Jesus is about living in a real world, but with something different from all those you see and hear about in the media: We have an ever-present Shepherd.
When crisis hits – hold on to the Lord. Take his word into your heart. We had some difficult moments of fighting the fear and anxiety that tried to steal our faith. But that’s what life is – the journey with Jesus and the good fight of faith. We know that victory is always on the other side of a fight.
Judi and I are committed to teaching men and women to pray together in their marriage, committed to raising up fathers who pray over their children, raising up men filled with the power and anointing of God.
This calling to CMN is not a job or a preference – it is done with all our hearts, all our strength, all our life.
You are the change agent God has placed on the earth. Your prayers for friends, family and loved ones change everything. You are the answer to someone else’s prayer. Your life makes a difference.
What you do in supporting CMN turns around men, families, the future, by bringing the Kingdom of Jesus to earth
Judi and I are grateful to the Lord for his lovingkindness. We are grateful for your friendship and blessed by what the Lord is doing through CMN.
May the Lord grant to you the prayers and desires of your heart. May you be held tightly in the grip of his favor and love.
P.S. - Yesterday I shared this story on Facebook Live - you can view it HERE. I believe it will be a tremendous encouragement to you and others going through any challenging time.
