A Great Time for Friends

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV84) 

Do you sometimes wish you were more outgoing? Do you wish for a magical switch to boost your charisma in order to make friends more easily? Some of you actually do make friends quickly and easily. Our daughter says that she and her husband can go out to dinner and before the credit card has been swiped he’s made four new friends, two potential business deals, and received an offer to be a groomsman in someone’s wedding. That may be stretching things a bit — but some of you collect friends as quickly as flies on your picnic lunch.

I’m nothing like my son-in-law. I have to work hard to establish relationships, probably just like you do. But every once in a while some great need comes along in our lives that reveals just how many friends we actually have — and how valuable those relationships are — and we are astonished. That happened to a man early on in Jesus’ earthly ministry. His great need was that he was paralyzed, which is debilitating in any time period, but in the first century it was particularly devastating. 

But this man had friends. Friends that were invested in his life. Friends that were willing to step up and help. Friends that had heard about Jesus and believed He could help and heal. The short story is told this way in the Gospel of Mark:

Mark 2:3-5, 11-12 And they came, bringing to him [Jesus] a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic…“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God.

This man’s friends were willing to not only bring him to Jesus, but they were willing to put in a bit of personal labor by hauling him up on the roof, dismantling it, and lowering him right in front of Jesus! That’s quite a picture isn’t it? It’s quite inspiring whether you are the one in need or the one with a friend in need.

I have been the one 'with a friend in need' for the majority of my life, but this year I became the 'one in need'. I have now experienced what it’s like to have friends who will put in the effort to bring me right in front of Jesus through prayer. I have saved every single card and note that was sent to let me know you were praying. In fact, my box of cards was getting pretty full and I decided to put it on the bathroom scale one day in October — FIVE pounds of cards and letters! Can you even imagine how encouraging that is to receive? And I know that each one represented someone with the same heart as the fellas in Mark’s story — giving up their time and comfort to ask Jesus to heal their friend. And I believe He has done just that!

So first, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the kind of friend that would bring me to Jesus for healing. You have inspired me to be a better friend as well.

Next, I want to tell you that by the end of this week, I’ll be completely finished with all three forms of treatments that were prescribed for me: chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Unlike other types of cancer that can reveal whether one is cancer free through blood work, I will simply need to move forward with my life assuming the cancer has been eradicated and follow the future surveillance schedule to confirm that.

Lastly, this is my 35th and final weekly blog post that will contain any updates on my health. My journey has basically been 35 weeks long. I wrote the first post titled ‘Leaning into the Presence of the Lord’ on April 24, 2024. On that day, crossing the finish line of treatment seemed very distant. And look — here I am — officially crossing in two more days! 

I’ve been publishing my updates each Wednesday. Since next Wednesday is Christmas and the following Wednesday is New Years Day, this seems like a perfect place to close this chapter of blogging.

If the Lord inspires me, I may occasionally write a post and share it with you. But, in general, I agree with The Preacher in Ecclesiastes who said, “to everything there is a season.” Thanks for joining with me in this season, and now I would encourage you to look around and find another friend who needs to be brought right in front of Jesus and pray with the same fervor that you had for me. 

As Always, My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

Catalog of Empathy

“ Praise be to…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the

comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
2 Cor. 1:3-4 (NIV84) 

A few years ago Paul and I were enjoying Glacier National Park for an anniversary trip. We decided to elevate our vacation by running up to Waterton Park just over the border in Alberta, Canada for a few days. It was fantastic, and we would highly recommend it if you ever get the chance to head up there.

Fortunately, we had brought our passports and were met by a border crossing agent with personality — which was a plus! She noted that we had very few stamps in our passports and seemed genuinely pleased to add to our meager assortment.

Truth be told, I have always wanted to be that person with an abundance of stamps in my passport. You know, it sort of validates a girl to show how many countries you’ve been to. But the Lord hasn’t really made me that kind of person. But He has been making a different kind of person with a different abundance of stamps that is actually much more useful.

One fine October morning this fall, while I was walking laps around the St. Luke's Hospital campus, waiting for my surgery check-in, the Lord spoke to me about abundance of a different type. He ministered to me that He had actually been adding stamps — not in my passport, but in my Catalog of Empathy. It was being filled up like the S&H green stamp books of old. 

Empathy stamps help us relate to others' difficulties, and comfort others in their difficulties, like our theme verse states. We become so much more effective because we have experienced similar difficulties ourselves and have received comfort from the Lord. We know the path.

Cancer, chemo, surgery, radiation, neuropathy, those are some of my stamps that were added in 2024 in my Catalog of Empathy. I had never aspired to any of those stamps, I had only been focused on stamps from interesting countries. But, at the end of the day, it’s so easy to see how much more useful these empathy stamps are, both in my own life and my usefulness to others.

Maybe you’ve collected a bunch of stamps in your Catalog of Empathy this past year. Maybe you didn’t aspire to them either, but I hope you might now understand how valuable they were. Maybe you need to pull out your catalog and peruse all of those stamps and ask God how He wants to use them in your life. I promise you, they are more valuable than your full passport.

My update is that after today I only have seven radiation treatments left. Once again, I’m feeling great and looking forward to all the Christmas festivities that we enjoy. Be watching for a big announcement with next week’s Wednesday Word.

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

A Light has Dawned

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; 
       on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV84) 

Do you have your Christmas tree up? We usually set up our tree the weekend following Thanksgiving. I try really hard not to put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving to let that holiday have its unique place. I'll be honest, sometimes it takes a bit of self-control, especially in years like this one when Thanksgiving and Christmas are about as close together as they ever get. But it’s up now, lit and decorated.  

Christmas trees don’t just blend into the living room space like a lamp — they make a statement! In fact, I always have to rearrange furniture a bit to accommodate the tree — I bet you do too. This weekend, once I struck the perfect re-arrangement, and the tree was lit, and the fireplace was on, I told Paul, “I really do love this cozied-in feeling.”  He said, “Yeah, what exactly is a cozied-in feeling?” “Crowded.” I replied, “It’s now Christmas crowded, and I love it!” 

Like I said, the Christmas tree doesn’t simply blend in — it demands to be noticed. Of all the Christmas decorations we set out, I think the lighted Christmas tree is one of our best reminders that God sent His son to bring light into a dark world. Why is it the greatest reminder, you ask me? Well, think about it, trees come from a forest (well, mine actually came from Home Depot about 15 years ago, but just hang with me here) and forests are typically dark. So the point is, we put something right into the center of our homes that represents a dark place but with a twist. We light it up to demonstrate that something has changed, something extraordinary has happened.

What is that extraordinary change? Well, that’s what our theme verse prophesied — that people walking in darkness have seen a great light. The verse prior to this one pointed to a specific place (v.1) … in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.  The basic fulfillment of that prophecy was the light of Jesus’ ministry in the area of Galilee. That’s where about 80% of his ministry happened. But Galilee hasn’t always had the corner on the darkness market — our world is dark too. 

A dark world makes me think about Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5) about not hiding a lamp under a basket, but letting its light shine — letting it make a statement. Maybe our Christmas trees can inspire those of us who possess the light of Christ this year to not merely blend in but make a statement with the light that God has put into our hearts. 

I hope these thoughts help you enjoy your Christmas tree in a new way this year. 

As for my update, today I will have session 18 out of a total of 30 radiation sessions. I’m feeling great and I’m eager for the day that I send out a devotion and have nothing to report about my health. It’s right around the corner!  

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances?

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

“What are you grateful for?”

That was the usual Thanksgiving table talk when our children were young — honestly, it’s still what we talk about at Thanksgiving. I’ll bet many of your households are similar. Somehow passing a large bowl of perfectly mashed potatoes followed with homemade gravy makes it a little easier to recall what we’re grateful for.

But there are many other moments both before and after that beautiful dinner on the table when it’s not so easy to be thankful. Many of those moments are complicated — loved ones are missing from the gatherings — health challenges have taken their toll — relationships have deteriorated or broken completely — financial stability has plummeted — or we’re just plain tired and stressed. When any of those situations become real, our hearts hurt and our minds are distant and it’s a bit challenging to even figure out what there is to be thankful for.

The interesting thing about our theme verse (above) is that the Apostle Paul charged his readers to give thanks in ALL circumstances. What he meant was to give thanks when the mashed potatoes were hot and buttery and perfect and also to give thanks when the eyes were swollen from tears and the heart ached. Because there truly is something to be grateful for in every circumstance. 

That’s one thing I’ve learned through this year of treatment. Whenever I had to be somewhere I didn’t want to be, talk about things I didn’t want to consider, do things I would rather not — there was always something to be thankful for. And even if I didn’t find something to be thankful for, I could rest in someone to be thankful for because I always knew that my Lord was right with me. 

Elisabeth Elliott once said, “Let thanksgiving be the habit of your life.” I love that thought. When something becomes a habit — we just do it — we hardly think about it at all. I wonder if that isn’t the key to giving thanks in ALL circumstances. And by the way, Paul didn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances, but rather, in the midst of those circumstances.  However, I’ve learned in life that sometimes we turn around and even give thanks for the rough patches because of what the Lord did in our lives through them.

I hope you have some good opportunities this holiday week to cultivate the habit of thanks-giving. And I hope you can share some of what you are thankful for with others. 

On Friday of this week, I will have hit the halfway mark for radiation, and I’m thankful for each session and for the energy the Lord has restored to me. I’m also thankful for each of you who read these little blog posts and share with me how you have been encouraged!  

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

Come Away

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”
Mark 6:30

“Hey there!”

“Oh hi, good to see you!”

“You too. How’s it been going?”

“Oh busy. I’ve been really busy!”

Does that sound like a grocery store interaction that’s familiar to you? I suppose we don’t really divulge all of our deepest dreams or disappointments over the tomato bin — we keep it fairly superficial. But, how often do we describe our lives as being busy? We say that because it’s true — we are busy! 

Jesus and his disciples were busy too. In fact, one time they were described in the gospel of Mark as being so busy ministering to people that they didn’t even have time to eat! Here is how the passage is actually worded: “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31) 

When our four kids were all home and in different stages of life and activities from age 3 to 16, I was often too busy to even eat. I felt like Mark 6:31 totally described my existence: ’for many were coming and going!’ But the funny thing is that busyness sometimes becomes addictive. When the kids are grown and gone we’re still busy. A lot of the things we’re busy with are good things. Paul and I are busy with many projects, ideas, people, and responsibilities; and I bet you are too. Being busy isn’t all bad. 

But what I love about this interaction that Jesus had with his disciples is that He knew it was neither profitable nor healthy for them to sustain their busyness for long without some renewal. That’s why He invited them to “come away…and rest a while.” This is my simple encouragement for us as we are on the doorstep of the busiest time of the year — make time to come away…and rest your soul.

Matthew 11:28-30 is such a wonderful promise for renewal: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

It’s far easier to write about or talk about than it is to actually set aside time to DO. But, if it was important for Jesus’ disciples, I’m pretty sure it’s important for us as well! 

My treatment update is once again uneventful. The radiation machine was not functioning last Friday which caused me to miss a treatment. So, as of today, I have 9 radiation sessions down, 21 to go. The effects may yet catch up with me, but so far, compared to chemo, this is like going on a cruise! 

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

Distant

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 
the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6

Just today I finished up the first draft of our women’s Bible study that will begin in January. It’s a verse-by-verse trek through the gospel of Mark and I’ve titled it Following Jesus. It’s the first full gospel that we will have gone through in our Women of the Word Studies and I’m pretty excited about it.

Mark is the only gospel writer who recorded Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to begin with “Abba Father” (Mark 14:36) and I’m glad he did. Even in His distress, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ intimate relationship with His Father in Heaven. Abba was an Aramaic word that Jewish children would have used to address their father — something like daddy or papa for us today.  But, the point is that it reflected a close and warm relationship.

The opposite of close would be distant and you may wonder why I titled this post with that single word. Well, the reason is that my husband’s second book has finally been published and it’s titled, “Why Do I Feel so Distant from God?” 

Have you ever felt that way? Have you sensed a distance from God? I think we all have because even the Psalmist said “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?” (Ps 10:1) That verse is actually the opening verse of Paul’s book. 

If this resonates with you — feeling distant from God — I invite you to scroll on over to Amazon and order a copy. I think you will be blessed. (Hopefully, a case of books should arrive at our campus bookstore in time for the weekend as well.) 

The bottom line is that God has always intended a close relationship with us, rather than a distant one. My hope is that as we approach a season where we reflect once more on God making Himself known to us in the flesh, we will also do our part to seek Him with all our hearts. As James said, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

My treatment update is uneventful, but here it is — 4 radiation sessions down, 26 to go! 

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com

Being a Peacemaker

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9

I have a routine of setting up my Wednesday blog posts on Tuesday night so it’s ready to go early on a Wednesday morning even if I’m not. This week, Tuesday night happens to be the evening of election day here in America, so I’m scheduling this post with no idea which way the election will have turned by the time morning arrives. But one thing I do know is that in a two-party system like our country has, when the result of the election is made known, half the country will be disappointed at best or downright mad at worst. 

Another thing that is certain is that our country will be in recovery mode for a while to come. This is nothing new, it’s always been this way after a general election and probably always will be. But this isn’t a political post. This is a post about peace and peacemakers.

My husband taught all of Matthew chapter 5 on Sunday, which is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. The opening verse (above) was just a small portion of that teaching, but as I listened I thought to myself, “this might be the most important phrase for this week!” As followers of Jesus, we’re surrounded by opportunities to help peace happen every day, but election cycles elevate those opportunities.   

Making peace with God is clearly in the forefront of what Jesus was meaning in that phrase, but being a peacemaker covers a lot of territory and includes peace between people as well. I’m tempted to launch into a three-part essay here on the ways we can actually be peacemakers between people at a time like this, but I think I will refrain. We all know what it means to inflame a tense situation and we know what it takes to diffuse those tensions. I think I’ll just encourage us this morning to do whatever the Lord puts in front of us to be peacemakers in this challenging political environment — because blessed are the peacemakers!

As for my typical update at the end of each week’s blog — I’m headed for another train ride. Tomorrow I’ll be jumping on the radiation train. This train ride has 30 stops over a six-week period. I’m so thankful for the abundance of technology that we enjoy these days and I’m confident that God will use this treatment in the healing process as well.

My Love & Blessings,

Sue

sue@ccontario.com