Thursday 30th December - Praise the Lord

Psalm 113 - Praise the Lord, Praise O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all the nations and his glory above all the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth. He raises the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home and making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord.

I wanted to start by writing something to show my praise of the Lord. We went to the hospital today and the Lord answered my prayer of speaking through the surgeon. The surgeon said he removed the whole tumour, he said the other tumor is less than 1cm and that the cancer is not acting as aggressively as it could. He said that I will go through a treatment of radiotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells and the other tumour. If the tumour is still there after then he we will do another form of radiotherapy which will target that specific tumour and tumours are generally responsive to this. He said having no major side effects and being young, fit and healthy were also big advantages. He was really positive and there were so many blessings in what he said. I am sorry it has taken this positive meeting for me to come and praise the Lord in the manner I started with and for this I am sorry.

Ever since I became a Christian I have loved the book of Job and I love how even in the depths of despair Job says 'The Lord give and take away, blessed be His name'. Job praises and revers God even in the depths of all being taken. I thank the Lord for today's meeting and that so many people are continuing to pray for us and our situation. The number of prayer chains the Lord has placed me on is mind boggling and that is how amazing our God is. He is a faithful God who never forsakes us or leaves in it all.

We met 2 other people who had surgery at the same time as myself today. One of them was a girl called Lucy who was about 18. I am not sure of her case other than she must have a form of brain cancer. Lucy was in complete despair after her meeting today. She was crying, wailing, shouting for over an hour and was still in with the nurse as we were leaving. Me, Anne and my mum could just not get this young girl out of our heads. We just had a complete feeling of compassion and wanted to pray for her. As I said I am not sure of her case and what she is going through and I mention her because I really would like people to pray for her situation. I may meet her again and I just would love wisdom in knowing what to say and how to even approach her. Please pray God may show himself to her in her situation and I may have the chance to share the gospel with her.

Once again thank you for all your prayers and support for today. God is an awesome God who is sovereign and mighty to save. Praise His name.

Prayer for the day: Thank the Lord for the news we received today and that I have a real assurance about the process. Pray for Lucy that God may meet her in her situation. Please pray that the radiotherapy works and God destroys all the cancer cells still present. Please pray that God will be glorified in what I say and do around people in the hospital.

Wednesday 29th December - Meeting

This is going to be a short blog as our computer cable seems to be on the blink. We found out today that we are going back to meet the surgeon tomorrow morning at 8 30 am. The results of the tumour may be in and he will discuss the success of the surgery and how much of the tumour was taken. He will then tell us of what is to come and the procedure over the next few weeks.

I have written a few questions out for him about the process, tumour and to try and get a better understanding of my case and what is going on in my body. I am praying that God will go before us into that meeting and the surgeons words will be that of God's. I am glad this is early and the surgeon has already said the surgery was a success which is a real blessing from the Lord.

I sent a few people today Psalm 121 'I look to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth'. What an encouragement that we can look to the Lord for help in all things.

Please pray that the meeting tomorrow will be a blessing from the Lord and that we will receive really good news about the surgery. Pray that the surgeons words will be that of God and that I can process what the surgeon has to say. Please pray for a safe journey for my mum who is coming up and that we will all sleep well and be in the right frame of mind for tomorrow.

Thank you for all your prayers and support they have really kept us going and have a been a real source of strength to us in this time. I thank God for them and that he has really supported us in that way. Thank you so very much and I will update the blog tomorrow with exactly what the surgeon explains to us.

God bless
Glen

Tuesday 28th December - The will of God.

Humans within the Bible have always wrestled with the will of God. Adam, Moses, Jonah, David and Peter. Our human comprehension of why God wills something to happen is near impossible because we are not God. John Piper said 'if God wants you home, no doctor can keep you here, and if God wants you here, no disease can take you home'. I wrestle with the will of God in my situation and its a wrestle because we do not know what it is. I am not sure of what is to come, I totally believe in a God of healing but it comes down to His will. He knows greater what is the best thing for my life and the people around me and who am I a mere human to argue with that.

Isaiah 41 v 10 was sent to me today ' so do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand. God has totally been with me and Anne in all of our days so far and we have a real peace. My worries have been given over to God and I know no worries are going to change my situation. I thank you once again for all prayers and support. I thank God for the outpouring of love from people and how we have really felt wrapped in the peace and love of the local church.

We are having more family visits today which is great and will be a real time of encouragement plus I get more presents which not a primary goal is fantastic. The support, love and prayers of a family are fantastic and me and Anne thank the Lord for them every day.

God is with you today in all that you do and I really hope you enjoy all that you do at this very special time of year.

Thanks and God bless

Verse for the day: Isaiah 41 v 10

Prayer for the day: We may know the will of God for our situation and that we would enjoy a day with family. For continued strength and recovery from the operation and continued nights sleep.

Monday 27th December - Kingdom of God

Overall I have had a really great Christmas. I did have surgery but through the Lord's goodness and blessing I was able to recover swiftly and be able to have a full Christmas dinner on Sunday. My family really made it a great weekend and I want to thank them so much for all their support, love and prayers.

My mum bought me a book on prayer and I started reading it this morning and it really challenged me. We all feel guilt, fear and like we are speaking to ourselves when we pray. We go through lists, people, activities and it becomes a chore. We say 'I need to pray now otherwise....'. CHRIST says 'Come like a child'. Open, honest and heavy laden. Whatever, whenever and to him. A child comes with an open heart and is honest. They have no qualms about asking, about being honest and they have no fears things won't happen. Christ loves sinners, He loves children and He loves us and wants us to bring what is on our heart to Him. He listens and in Matthew, Christ says what father would not give their child a good gift if they were to ask.

I love that truth. We can be honest with God. We can bring our burdens and He lifts them off us. What an encouragement!

Verse for the day: Mark 10 v 14-15 - 'Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it'

Prayer for the day: That God would continue to be all that we need in our situation. That I would continue to recover from the surgery. For any meetings that we have this week that God would go before them and bless us with good news. For people who do not know of Christ for their salvation.

Sunday 26th December - Thanks be to our God.

Just to start I want to say thank you to Al for posting the blog for the past 2 days. I have been read them aloud and know they have been a real encouragement to so many. Thank you also to Rebekah McCready who once again organised 24 hours of prayer and for those people who participated for me.What an encouragement!

My God is an awesome God and well I never expected to be sat here having had 8 hours sleep, eaten good food and be at home on boxing day morning. God really held me up in hospital and I really know what people mean when they say 'I am taking life hour by hour'. God never forsakes us, his mercy is mightier than we can ever compare and he never spares us of it. The texts, emails, words of encouragement and that Bill prayed on Sunday were such a real piece of joy in my heart. The neurosurgeon said it went well and that the scan although not clear seemed to show they had got the tumour - Hallelujah. I am recovering well and just glad I am not being offered tinned turkey for lunch today which was on offer yesterday.

Anne really challenged me yesterday. I was praying for health, recovery, a good scan and healing and then she prayed 'Thank you Lord that you sent your son to this earth and help us to remember what Christmas is truly about, the birth of your Son and Saviour, Christ.' How true that on reflection yesterday was the reminder of the fulfillment of so many promises that God had made and all coming true for us. I was reading Isiah 53 in hospital and this morning. How amazing what Christ came to do. We in our mothers womb have already fallen short of the standard of God but Christ was perfection. He came, was punished without a word, died and rose again for the transgressions of us ALL. What an amazing truth to NEVER let go of.

I really hope and pray you had a great Christmas and that your boxing day turkey curry is just as nice. Thank you for all your prayers, cards, gifts, support, love and words they are just so humbling and I thank God so much for them and will never forgot them.

Chapter for the day: Isiah 53 - How amazing is Christ and the promises of God.

Prayer for the day: Thanks be to our almighty God. King of kings and Lord of Lords. That His name would be proclaimed and people would see Christ for who He truly is- The Messiah.

A Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to you all. Thought it would be good to have an update on today of all days. Amazingly our prayers have been answered and the latest news is that Glen will be going home today, though he will return for a scan tomorrow, the doctors have been very pleased with his progress. There is still some blurring to his vision but that is to be expected and the doctors are not concerned.

Glen and the family are grateful for God's grace and mercy to them and the skill and ability he has given the surgeons and medical professionals, and the amazing way God has made our bodies.

Prayer: Praise God for his goodness and Glen's amazing progress, pray for him to be wise as he continues to heal and not expect or try to do too much too early.

Scripture: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Update

Glen went down for his operation at about 10am this morning. By 1pm he was awake and had sat up in bed. The great news and answer to our prayers is that there have been no complications, both Glen and the family are very thankful to God for his work and our prayers.

I'll update again later this evening when there is more information. But for now let's praise God for his help and guidance this morning, and lets pray for a swift recovery, Glen would love to be out for Boxing Day so he can spend some time with Anne and the family. Let's pray too for them to know God's care and comfort during the recovery.

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Thursday 23rd December - Children of God

The term 'christian' is used as one to show somebody who has chosen to follow Jesus Christ. The bible uses a greater term than this and it is a 'child of God'. John explains this when he says 'everyone that believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a Child of God' (1 John 5v1). Paul then further qualifies this when he claims in (Romans 8v 17-19) 'Now if we are children of God, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we might share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us'.

What does this then mean. A child relies on their parents so should we upon our eternal father. A child is loved, cared for, secure in the arms of and rescued by their parents. They have assurance, know compassion and are able to ask of their parents. How more apparent is this with God in heaven than here on earth. God loves us, He has compassion upon us and we are co-heirs with His own perfect son, Jesus Christ. Paul makes the claim our present sufferings are for the glory of Christ and how true that is. We are daily living for the glory that is to come. We went to see the Narnia film yesterday and if you know the story Reepicheep goes to the land of Aslan. We also go to a land but one of greater superiority, heaven.

None of what I am going through is easy, I have fears and worries each day. I cry from time to time and despair that I will leave this earth sooner than I wish. God though is with me. He is a God who made the stars in the sky, who made every hair on my body and commanded me into being before time began. What a God. He is with me in this and we are going to have the treatment and pray for His will. I am going into hospital in the next couple of hours and the blog will be updated tomorrow by a friend. I am sorry if I can not make a posting on Christmas day but will make every effort to return on boxing day. Thank you once again for all your prayers and support. I will make know the time of the operation as soon as I know it.

Thank you and God Bless
Glen

Prayer for the day: That I would have a successful operation with no complications and a swift recovery. I am able to be out on boxing day to spend time with my family and open a present and that God would really be speaking to me of his will for this situation.

Verse of the day: Psalm 69

Wednesday 22nd December - United

I know I may have said this once or twice before but we really have been blessed and humbled by the response of people to our situation. God really is working and moving in our situation. The prayers, gifts, texts, meals, visits, verses and love that we have been shown has really made this situation a blessing in so many ways. God really has united all of us in this we feel such love from so many people.

There is no greater love than that of Christ and how it breaks through all barriers. Thank you to all those people who do not normally pray but have said they will for us now. Christ's love unites all. We are one people and with one purpose: to love, serve and glorify Him alone. There is no greater testament to God than when His people truly show His love to those who do not know it.

I feel ashamed as I have not read God's word, prayed or known the love of God greater than I do now and why have I not done it until this situation has come about. Our days are finite and what we do with them has such a reflection of our view of God. I know the greatest change I want to make is to never stop praying to God or reading His amazing word. Once again thank you for all you have done. I have no greater relationship than the one I have with God and I pray that you would ask him into a relationship if you do not know Him already.

God bless and prayers
Glen

Prayer for the day: That the surgery would be a success and God would give the surgeon wisdom and skill. That my family will make it across for the operation and we can have a family day on boxing day and that God would heal me of this cancer.

Verse for the day: (Romans 6v5) - For if we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly also be united in a resurrection like his.

Tuesday 21st December - The power of prayer

Thank you to everyone who has prayed over the last week. After yesterday I was not sure how I was going to be positive today and how my day would go but God is an awesome God and we are in much better spirits. I prayed in the shower, in bed, with people and with Anne and God has really answered those prayers and been with us.

God is an unfathomable God in so many ways and our complex brains just do not have the comprehension of so many of His ways but in prayer we can talk to God like your closest friend. He knows our hearts and wants us to be in such close companionship with Him. Jesus prayed at dawn, all night and in every situation and we should be the same. Christ is THE greatest example of how to pray and its a model we should follow. Events and situations like ours make me realise the pettiness of everything and focus on how important God actually is in my life. Is He really as important as He could be and am I living for Him or for me?

Please be encouraged that God answers prayer and that He really is your closest friend. He wants you to bring everything before Him and prayer is such an amazing in which to do that. As people of faith we have a few amazing things at our disposal and prayer is a powerful and mighty weapon in our battle against the enemy. Please continue to pray whatever your circumstance as God WILL be with you and He is our Friend, Redeemer and King.

Verse of the day: (Philippians 4v6) - 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, present your requests to God'

Prayer of the day: That we would continue to know God's strength and that God would use this situation mightily for the glory of His name. That people would come to faith in Christ because of what we are going through.

Monday 20th December - Reality

Good evening, sorry today's edition is so late. My range of emotions today has been varied. Nerves, anger, laughter, love and trust. We have been to see the neurosurgeon and there was a lot to take in. He informed us he found 2 tumours one 3 cm long which he will be able to take out fully and another maybe a tenth of the size which they will monitor and scan after the surgery. This will probably be dealt with by radiotherapy but depends on how it changes or grows etc. I was not expecting this one and well was hard to take. The surgeon was frank about the process, risks and outcome and well why I called the blog reality as this is going to be a hard process. Please pray for strength to deal with this news. We know how great a God we have and he is greater than any cancer, death and situation and I know he will be with us in all things..

The surgery will be on Friday, meaning I have to go into the hospital on Thursday and be in on Christmas Day. The surgeon said I should be out by Boxing Day and is a really straight forward procedure which would take at most 2 hours. He is the best surgeon at the hospital at this kind of surgery - praise the Lord and he was very confident this would go well and completes hundreds of these procedures every year. As some of you know I love cooking and was really looking forward to doing the Christmas meal, presents, church and well normality. I know this is not going to happen and was really hard to hear.

Me and Anne read Psalm 23 before we went to the hospital. It says He is our shepherd, He walks with us even in the valleys and that He is good to us. I am not sure what is to come and that scares me, I scare myself with statistics, books, people and myself but the one thing I do know is that God will be with me in ALL things and who is there greater to put our trust in. Today has been a hard day and I knew there would be them. Please pray for a real sense of God in our midst and and that we can truly walk and trust Him in this.

I will continue to update the blog and when I know a more specific surgery time this will be posted. Once again thank you for all your prayers and support.

God bless

Verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he makes me lie in pastures green, he leads me by quiet waters, he refreshers my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me and your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare me a table in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer: That we would know God with us, that the surgery would go smoothly and my recovery well and the whole tumour would come out successfully. Please pray that we would continue to trust in the Lord and all He is to us.

Sunday 19th December - All things are good for the glory of God.

Been to church this morning - what an encouragement! There are times when I think why me? How can this be a good thing? How is this making me love God more? Romans though this afternoon emphatically answered this 'and we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose' (Romans 8 v28). C.E.B Cranfield says in his commentary on this verse ' we understand the first part of the verse to mean that nothing can really harm in the deepest sense of the word- those who truly love God but all things happen to them, even grievous ones to help them on their way to salvation, confirming their faith and drawing them closer to their master'

All things help us to grow closer to the Lord and have a greater sense of who He is. I am nervous about tomorrow's meeting and really want the surgery to be this week so I don't miss out on Christmas, even wanting to cook Christmas lunch. I am not sure why this is happening, why me or what the outcome will be but one thing I can be sure of is that God will use it, I will draw closer to God and I am more sure of my salvation than ever before. God is truly working in our questions, prayers and being at church this morning. We are growing daily and completely trusting in him.

Please be encouraged that we are totally positive in this situation and find ourselves in the grip of grace. That is totally down to the prayers of His people and God's amazing grace. Thank you for all the words of encouragement we have had and how totally supported we feel by each and every one of you. We love you all.

Prayer for the day: That we can be of some encouragement to other people, that the meeting tomorrow goes well and they can take the whole tumour and that we grow closer to the Lord.

Saturday 18th December - Love conquers all!

In times like this perspective becomes ever important. Money, drugs and life itself becomes of second importance to that of life and love. The love of a spouse, parent, brother and most importantly God comes to the fore of our minds. John qualifies this when he says 'beloved let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God'.... 'This is how he showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might love through him. This is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent us as an atoning sacrifice for our sins' (1 John 4 v 7-10).

Love is a powerful thing and God showed the greatest love when he sent his son. We are so weak and there are days when I feel so useless, sinful and compounded to do wrong against the Lord. God though says 'you are forgiven'. His grace is greater than all loves and the cross reflects the character of God in its purest form. In the midst of all this anguish, pain and realisation this world could come to an end, God's love meets all those and I am able to to live each day.

God's love for us has been no greater evident than in everything people have done for and with us. God's love is in action in our friends, family and church and has shown us that God will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for all you have done, it means so much and we feel so much closer to God because of it.

God loves YOU! No matter what you have done, where you are in life and your attitude to him. I urge you seek that love because all others will fail.

Prayer for the day: That we would know God's love with us and will help us in dealing with all aspects of this situation.

Friday 17th December - Our mortal bodies are weak!

I thought I would start today with the verses. A friend came to visit us the other day and really challenged myself with this verse and it is very apt for today. 2 Corinthians 4 v 16-18 'therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen, eternal.'

Me and Anne have such a peace about this process and the fact God is in control is made so real each day and our spiritual needs are being met day by day by the Living God. We have been so touched by people's gifts, prayers and texts and God is really giving us the grace needed for each day. Our physical ones are much harder to control though. Anne is feeling really run down through feeling physically weak and I just can't seem to find the energy or enthusiasm to complete the mundane tasks of life. As Paul says though our bodies here are weak we have an eternal and powerful God. A day of cold is nothing in comparison with the eternal glory we have to come.

We are going to meet the Neurosurgeon at 2:45 on Monday and are praying that it goes well. Just as an aside me and Anne are not greater, special or more spiritual than anyone else but we have a God who gives us Christ each day and is sufficient for all our needs. I am not sure what is to come but what I am is that God will not be there all the way through. Please be encouraged that whatever your circumstance God is with you.

Prayer for the day: That we would have our physical needs met and that Anne would be stronger physically and I have some motivation for the mundane. That the meeting on Monday goes well and that the surgery will be soon and they can take all the tumour out.

Thanks for all your prayers

Glen

Thursday 16th December - How amazing is my God!

I suppose lots of you who are just reading this and have read the title in relation to what we are going through are saying how can Glen say that? Let me explain. 2 days ago I found out that I have a brain tumour on the back right part of my brain and that I have 4 small cancerous lumps in my lungs. It was never expected and came as quite a shock. I am due to have brain surgery within the next 2 weeks followed by a course of radiotherapy for the brain and chemotherapy for the lungs. The doctors seemed more upbeat than I was expecting and being young is a good thing.

God though has been our rock and our strength. We were told I may not get much sleep due the tablets I have been on but both me and Anne have not got less than 6 hours every night. Within 24 hours there was a facebook page with people going to pray for 24 hours for me? Meals, texts, cards, invites and support. Can I just say thank you to all those praying and lifting me up to God and for all you have done as it has completely humbled us. God has provided when we needed it the most. I suppose most people would say it is easy to serve the Lord when all things are good. Wife, house, car and job but now I want to do the same in the difficult too. I have what the world would say 'all to lose' but according to God's word we have the greatest hope of all - eternity. Me and Anne have such peace over this situation and I totally believe God can heal me as he has in the past. Without him he we would be a mess, he has never left or foresaken us, that's how I can make the claim how amazing is our God.

I will be writing on this blog everyday to update and encourage people. I will try and upload pictures as I go through and how I am feeling day by day. Please feel free to read along and share this experience with me. Can I make my first plea to any who doesn't know the Lord - seek him while he can be found. God loves you and will be with with you in all things.

Please feel free to comment or email me at Nofearindeath@hotmail.co.uk with any questions or thoughts. The prayer and verse for the day are below.

God bless and thanks for reading

Glen Heggarty

Prayer: That we have God's peace in the midst of our storm and that the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy will work. That God will use this situation for his glory.

Verses of the day: (Psalm 5 v 11-12) 'But let all who take refuge in you be glad, let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely O Lord you bless the righteous, you surround them with your favour as a shield.