Tag: philippians

Six Truths for Times of Suffering

Updates: 

  • Yesterday I completed my 10th chemo treatment. Ten down, two to go! Praise the Lord! 
  • Chemo wipes me out, but the Lord is sustaining me. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • Chemo becomes more difficult with each treatment. Please pray that my body will respond well, and my nausea will lessen for my final two rounds. 
  • Above all, please pray these last two rounds cure me from cancer and my next PET scan (at the end of February) will be completely clear! We want to return into “normal life” to do more ministry and grow as a family together in a more normal routine.  

What I am Learning: 

  • Early on in my treatments I read through the book of Philippians. Here are six truths from the final chapter which are encouraging for times of sufferings: 
  1. Suffering is an opportunity to expand my joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
  2. Suffering is an opportunity to pray and bring my fears to God with my thanksgiving. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
  3. Suffering is an opportunity for me to have more joy in knowing people are concerned and care about me. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.” (Philippians 4:10)
  4. I can face suffering through Christ who gives me his power and strength.
    “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
  5. Suffering is an opportunity for the church to share in my trouble and show the kindness of Christ. “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.” (Philippians 4:14)
  6. God will richly give me everything I need to face suffering. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:19-20)

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • I continue to be encouraged by your faithful prayers. Jenny and I both love hearing from you, and it is a blessing to know that you are on this journey with us through prayer.
  • There are many of you who are experiencing extreme trials, some more intense and extensive than my own. It is remarkable how God is sustaining you through His Spirit and by the power of His Word. I hear your stories of suffering and see that God is at work in your lives.
  • There is always someone who “has it worse” than we do or who is going through a more difficult challenge. God uses these stories of suffering to bring comfort to His people.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7)

Feasting as War

Updates: 

  • Monday, December 2nd, will be a significant doctor’s visit. The results of my PET scan will be explained in detail.  
  • It is clear that the majority of my cancerous areas are decreasing. The question is, are they decreasing at the expected rate for where I am in my treatment plan? Am I ahead of schedule? Right on time? Or behind? Only my oncologist can give an accurate assessment, and that will take place on Monday. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • I was able to enjoy the greatest Thanksgiving Day ever. It was full of reading, laughing, story-telling, and feasting. We always read the prayer together for feasting found in Every Moment Holy. “To gather joyfully is indeed a serious affair, for feasting and all enjoyments gratefully take are, at their heart, acts of war. In celebrating this feast we declare that evil, and death, suffering and loss, sorrow and tears, will not have the final word.” 
  • Please pray that I am “on time” or ahead in my treatment schedule. I am thankful the cancer is reducing, and now the need is for it to reduce at the proper pace until it is completely gone!

What I am Learning: 

  • As mentioned before, Pastor Heath encouraged me to read the book of Philippians and write out its implications for suffering. Here are seven truths for Christians about suffering from chapter 3 of Philippians. 

1. Suffering and pain allow me to see the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8).

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” 

2. Suffering loss allows me to gain Christ (Philippians 3:8).

“… For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” 

3. Suffering allows me to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10).

4. Suffering allows me to become like Jesus in his death and is a means by which I may obtain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11).

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” 

5. I can press on through suffering because Jesus has made me his own through his suffering (Philippians 3:12).

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” 

6. I can press on and strain for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13- 14).

7. Suffering teaches me that my citizenship is in heaven and God will one day transform my body into a glorious body like his by the power that controls all things – including my circumstances (Philippians 3:20-21).

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” 

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • The practice of journaling has been a source of encouragement to me. I am not overly strict in the discipline to make it a burden but rather journal as my heart is heavy or as time permits. I never write more than a few paragraphs. 
  • Journaling thankful lists has been a means by which the Lord brings his peace which passes all understanding. A self-imposed goal of writing out ten items of thanksgiving brings a flurry of joy which overcomes anxious thoughts. This excellent sermon on the 9th commandment has spurred me on to replace a lack of content with a full notebook of joy. 

Giving Thanks

Updates: 

  • Today was my half-way point PET scan. This scan shows the effectiveness of the treatment plan. 
  • I won’t hear the official results of the scan from my doctor until December 2nd. However, they have released preliminary results. Here are the highlights: 1) The cancerous lymph nodes are reduced in size. Some are completely gone! 2) My liver no longer has cancer on it. 3) There is activity on my bones, but the scan can’t show exactly what that is. It could be the chemo working. (Which is likely) but the doctor will have to tell me. So, in summary: It is a good report and the treatment plan is working! Praise the Lord!!

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • My Sunday prayer was that this week would be the best cancer killing week to date. On Monday we waited over an hour in the lobby for my chemo infusion. This was unusual. The nurse came out and told me they had to lower the dosage of my infusion based on weight and vitals. This was disappointing news. The original plan was to blast me as hard as possible with the max dosage of chemo until my body surrendered. If my body could not handle it, then they would need to adjust the meds. It seemed my body was raising a white flag. So, when we were finally called back for treatment, I asked for an update. The nurse was incorrect. They actually increased my dosage instead of lowering it! This is because I’ve gained so much weight – which is unusual and a very good thing! Our nutritionist said she has never seen this happen with people on my treatment plan. I had no idea they could increase my dosage, but the Lord knew and answered prayer. Thank you for praying! 
  • It is incredible the cancer spots are gone from my liver. This is phenomenal news and a result of what the Lord has done.
  • Please pray my cancer continues to decrease during the last half of my treatment!

What I am Learning: 

  • Early on in this journey, Pastor Heath encouraged me to read the book of Philippians and write out its implications for suffering. Here are eight truths for Christians about suffering from chapter 2 of Philippians. 
  1. I have the mind of Christ to become obedient even to the point of death – even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5–9).

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8)

  1. God the Father rewarded Jesus for his obedience to submit to the will of God to suffer and exalted him to the praise and glory of God (Philippians 2:9-11).
  2. In suffering, do not grumble or complain, so I may be innocent and blameless in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:14-15). 
  3. I can shine during suffering by holding fast to the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16). 
  4. Paul was glad to be poured out in suffering for the faith of others and rejoices in this opportunity (Philippians 2:17).  
  5. Suffering is an opportunity for the church to rejoice together (Philippians 2:18).
  6. Suffering is an opportunity to think of the interests of others (Philippians 2:21, 26). 

“For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” … “for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.” 

  1. Recovering from suffering is a cause for joy to be restored to everyone (Philippians 2:28-30).

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • We are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving next week. We are planning on the best Thanksgiving celebration we have ever had as a family. 
  • As we prepare, we have been putting together a “Thankful Tree” during the month of November. It is a way we can add leaves each day and seek to cultivate the habit of gratitude to God. This year our plan is to take down all the leaves on Thanksgiving Day and read them during our meal. 

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126)

Letters To A Young Engaged Man: Content with the Greenest Grass

by Sean Perron

Dear Young Engaged Man,

I hope you have not bought into the false idea that the season of engagement is a form of hell. Instead of enjoying engagement and using it to grow in godliness, many people waste the engaged portion of their life because they view it as a hindrance and a necessary obstacle to marriage.

We’ve both talked about how marriage is good and perpetual engagement is not. However, I can’t help but notice that discontentment has given you a low grade fever and even made those around you miserable.

Too many single folks pass their days wishing they were married. There are a lot of single people wishing they were married people.

Girls can dream of their wedding day by pinning all manner of things on their social media just in case they happen upon a relationship tomorrow.  All the while, the guys spend their time twiddling their thumbs to line up a perfect timeline for the next potential candidate.
Whether people are hanging paper lights on a virtual alter or calculating the perfect proposal for the mystery Mrs., contentment is the missing variable from the equation.

Now the irony here is that I know married people who are just as restless in their dreams.  Believe it or not, I have had married friends tell me they wish they were single because they could have more time to read, study, serve, and spend for the kingdom.  Yet the greatest irony is that those restless married people were just as restless when they were engaged!

Notice the inevitable cycle: those discontent singles become discontent marrieds. Engagement just happens to be the canal in between. You must stop the cycle before you reach the other sea.

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Brother, do not forget that you need contentment most when everything seems to be going your way. Whether you are sky high on the thought of engagement, or in the thrills of marriage, you need contentment just as much as when you are sunken low in the shafts of singleness. Contentment in Christ needs to make its way into every crevice of every circumstance.

Regardless of the ringing of wedding bells or the hollow echo of loneliness, I encourage you to lay hold of the strength of Jesus to be content in Him. Circumstances should not change contentment.

What is the secret to a happy life? Realizing that everything you have and need is found in Christ alone. The happiest people in life are not single or married. The happiest people in life are those who seize each season for the glory of God. The grass is greenest where we graze upon God.

May you enjoy each season to the fullest by enjoying God to the highest.

Until then,
Sean