Monday 31st January - Goodbye hair!

Good evening. Bit of a mixed day really and well I look very different at the end of it. I started the day not feeling too well and being very nauseous and was not looking forward to feeling like that all day. We then went for our treatment though and my body seemed to pick up. We went straight through my treatment and then went for Costa coffee afterwards. We then came home and rested and I watched Invictus which is a great movie. Anne then shaved my hair as it had started to fall out (better to have control) and well I do look very different and well I know it will grow back but still very strange.

God really is a tower of strength in all that we are going through. I was really challenged the other day by Mark 1v 36. It says 'Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, went off to a solitary place and he prayed'. Jesus placed such an importance on his relationship with His father he went and spent time with him, and prayed. Do we do the same? I know I need to be more like Christ in the way I pray. When I pray I feel stronger and closer to God and He speaks. Its why I ask people to pray so much because God listens and it is our weapon.

Thank you for praying.

Verse for the day: Mark 1 v 36

Prayer for the day: Please pray for our attitude towards the Lord in prayer and relationship. Please pray for the success of the treatment and for speed in finding out when scans would be. Please pray for continued physical recovery and for rest. Please pray for our families and for the Gallagher's.

Sunday 30th January - Pride.

Good evening I am doing well today and I have not been sick for a few days now -praise the Lord. We have had a lovely day first going to church and worshipping the Lord at church and doing the youth work which was great to reflect on how much we need God. We then went out for lunch which was fantastic and a really great time of fellowship and I had 3 courses (typical). I then had a camp meeting and we are now resting at home ready for my final treatment tomorrow. Not sure how I am feeling about tomorrow just hoping we find out a scan date and my hair has not fallen out too much.

We were looking at Luke 7 in Target this morning and the Pharisees were wanting to cling onto the power over the Jewish people. They did not humble their hearts and worship Christ who was before them. Jesus says to the woman who does humble her heart and realises her need of him 'your sins are forgiven'. We need to realise our need of Christ and humble our hearts and lives before him. In all things we need to trust the Lord because whatever happens he does not change.

Thank you for all your prayers and I pray the Lord is walking with you as much as He is us.

Verse for the day: Luke 7 v36 -50

Prayer for the day: Pray all our hearts would be humble before the Lord and He would help remove pride from our lives. Pray for the final treatment and my physical recovery from that. Please pray for us as we have to wait for results and news of when scans will be and how the treatment went. Pray for the success of the treatment. Please continue to pray for the Gallagher's and for John and Lucy too.

Saturday 29th January - Rest

Saturday has been a really restful day. Thank you for your prayers for as restful nights sleep as they were answered last night. We both slept well and have had the morning to rest and I am feeling well today. I have not been sick and my body is feeling generally well. My head is still very red and itchy but know this will take time to settle. We have also been to the park, watched some football, Anne has finally had lasagne (Thanks Janette) and we are now preparing for cluedo which could be interesting.

We have started reading Isaiah this morning and it was really challenging thinking about how Israel rejected God and how we are not unlike the Israelites. The Lord says 'They have forsaken the Lord: they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him' v4. Further in He says 'wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight, stop doing wrong' v16. We are like the Israelites and have fallen against the Lord but like the rest of the Isaiah states there is a way back through Christ as Isaiah 9 and 53 state.

Thank you for all your prayers and support it really is a tower of strength.

Verse for the day: Isaiah chapter 1

Prayer for the day: Praise the Lord we have a way back to him through Christ and that our sin is dealt with. Pray we would not just give the Lord a ten minute slot in the day but our whole day would be lived for him. Pray for continued strength mentally and physically and that we would again sleep well again. Please continue to pray for our families and friends. Please pray for The Gallagher's who have experienced a bereavement and need the grace, peace and strength of the Lord.

Friday 28th January - Nearly there

Good evening, sorry about the mix up of last nights blog. We have had a bit of a busy few days and I have not really felt at my peak. The last few days I have been sick, my head is red and blotchy and I have become a little more tired. This has been hard and well I have not slowed down to accommodate this as much as I should. I had my penultimate treatment today which is great in lots of ways but means we are now about to be waiting on results and whether it has worked or not. We met another different doctor today and was told a different set of information as to what they would be scanning and when meaning we could be waiting a further 8 weeks for full results and any more to be done. Frustrating.

Please pray for wisdom for the doctors in knowing when to plan scans, results but also in communicating that to us so we have a clearer picture as to when we will know information. I said yesterday about worrying and have really had a peace about that today. My worrying will change nothing about our situation whereas trusting in the Lord will. God is amazing and I love how his word teaches us so much about him. One of the passages I love to read is 1 John 4, it humbles me. It says 'This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.' (1 John 4 v 9-11).

Thank you for your prayers and love we really have known the love of God in our difficult situation. God promises to walk with you in the valley of the shadow of death and He has been with us.

Verse for the day: 1 John 4 v 9-11 and Daniel 3(What Faith).

Prayer for the day: Please pray for renewed physical strength and my body would not be too weak. Pray for a good, full, peaceful nights sleep and for a restful day tomorrow. Please pray for a swift communication on when scans, results and information about what will happen next. Please pray for the success of the treatment and the tumor not being on the scan. Please pray for a continued presence and strength of the Lord not just to us but to our families also.

Thursday 27th January - 8 down and 2 to go

We are 8 down and 2 to go in terms of the treatment. It went really swiftly this morning and we were able to have a really good chat with the nurses and some of the patients too. I am feeling well after the treatment, with an itchy scalp the only side effect today. We are both in good spirits if not a little bored with the pace of life but expected with the daily routine of treatment.

The Lord has been amazing in our situation. His provision is amazing in every way. It says in Matthew 6v25' Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear'. I am a worrier in many a ways about life, whether I will get a job, money, food, life. Not a big worrier but I worry. The Lord in the midst of our situation has been amazing and we should not worry about what tomorrow will bring or where things will come from for we are in his hands. He provides and not just things of this world but more importantly things of the next. We start the penultimate treatment tomorrow which brings ever closer the wait to see if it has worked. I praise the Lord I am doing so well please pray this continues and we seek him in all things. Thank you for your support and prayers it means so much and helps us to endure.

Verse for the day: Matthew 6v25

Prayer for the day: Praise the Lord for his spiritual, physical and worldly provision in the midst of our situation and that His character never changes. Praise him for my strength through the treatment and the opportunity to talk to patients and nurses. Please pray for the scan in 4 weeks time or so that the treatment will have worked and the doctors will have the wisdom as the best course of action. For our walk with the Lord, that it would continue to endure and we would know his grace, mercy, peace and strength.

Wednesday 26th January - 7 down 3 to go.

I have had another good day in terms of symptoms and how I am feeling about the whole process. Its amazing how once you are in God's hands you never seem to leave them. We had a bit of a wait at the hospital which was good as we were able to chat with patients and staff alike. I felt a little bit nauseous this morning and my hair is starting to itch a little too meaning I had to put cream in my hair. We have had a good afternoon taking a slow lunch, meeting friends, I have cooked leek and potato soup and stewed rhubarb.

I was listening to one of my favourite Christian songs earlier 'There is a day'. I love the fact one day we will be like Christ and we will be with him in heaven. We are totally praying through the process and know we are in his hands and was a strength and source of comfort that is. Thank you for your prayer and support it really is a blessing.

Verse for the day: Psalm 5 and Isaiah 9 v6-7

Prayer for the day: For the continued ministering of the Lord and his word into our situation. For our witness to the people we meet and wisdom in what we say. For the continued success of the radiotherapy and the scan in 5 weeks will be a blessing. Pray for continued strength to deal with the radiotherapy and for rest and recovery afterwards.

Tuesday 25th January - My wee bro is 18!

It makes me feel very old to think that my youngest brother is 18 today. I am the eldest and can remember Nathan in primary school in his red jumper walking across the road. Happy birthday Nathan and sorry I cannot be with you on this day. We have had another good day today and my body is continuing to uphold physically and have few side effects -Praise the Lord. We are over halfway in terms of treatment and I am sure we will blink and it will be over. We are meeting the same nurses each day and new people started the treatment today, please pray we will have boldness, opportunity and words to have Godly conversations with them.

We are taking things slow and enjoying each day as it comes. It has been great to spend each morning with the Lord. We have been looking at Luke and we looked at the resurrection this morning and was great to see how Christ conquered death for us and how we can stand assured of what is to come. I have been sorting Target Camp (11-14 year old camp) today and would really value prayer that I would be well enough to go and complete the planning process and that I would have wisdom in the way I lead. Thank you once again for all your prayers and support.

Verse for the day: Luke 24

Prayer for the day: Thank the Lord for continued strength and being physically upheld. Thank the Lord for each day and we have been able to relax. Pray for the continued success of the treatment and the scan in 6 weeks will show no further growth. For our witness to the hospital staff and people we meet.

Monday 24th January - Halfway

I am feeling much better today and have not been sick once. We have had a really relaxed day just resting and spending time with one another. The people at Clatterbridge also said I would not lose my hair until the week after my treatment which will be strange as I will have finished but it gives me a good timeline of when it will go. We both slept really well last night and have woken refreshed this morning. The treatment went well and I have had no side effects this afternoon, we have been for lunch and really known the strength only the Lord provides.

I was sent an email today and I know this person reads the blog but it really was an encouragement today. In word for today it said 'Cancer is limited; it cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope, it cannot erode faith, it cannot eat away peace, it cannot destroy confidence, it cannot kill friendships, it cannot shut our memories, it cannot silence courage, it cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life, it cannot quench the spirit and it cannot lessen the power of the resurrection'. It was posted in the Mayo clinic and a real encouragement,thank you.

Anne and I have continually said we would not have coped with the cancer without our faith and without our hope in Jesus Christ. I was reading today of Isaiah 9 v 6-7 'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counsellor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign over David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this.' This was written around 700BC and what a passage as it means He is our counsellor, Mighty God and his kingdom will not endure for a few years but forever. Forever! We are able to trust in a God who keeps his promises not just over a few days but from the start of creation until his coming again and if it is so then this verse shows who we should be putting our trust in, Christ.

Thank you for all your prayers, texts, email, support and love it really is a working demonstration of the love of Christ and gives us such encouragement in the Lord and for our situation.

Verse for the day: Isaiah 9 v 6-7

Prayer for the day: Praise the Lord we have a God who is faithful and who's promises and love endures forever. Praise the Lord he has been with us in all we have been through. Please pray for the Lord's mighty hand will be over the treatment to kill the cancer cells. Pray for his strength in recovery and rest from the treatment. For a love of God's word during our treatment and continued close walk with him. For our witness within the hospital and to others around us.

Sunday 23rd January - Rest!

I apologise for not writing yesterday, we were away with our growth group from church. We arrived on Friday night after a long afternoon at the hospital. The fourth treatment went well and we met with the consultant to discuss how the treatment was going. He was happy with my progress. We had an enjoyable day yesterday; studying God's word, cooking lasagne and drinking lots of tea (in my case green tea!).

Although the weekend did take a lot out of me physically. I've spent the day in bed except for the drive home due to sickness. I start my second week of treatment tomorrow and would really appreciate your prayers for strength to cope with the coming week and wisdom to know when to rest.
Thank you for your continuing prayers and support.

Verse for the day: Philippians 1 v21

Prayer for the day: That God would take the sickness away and give me the strength I need to get through this week. For wisdom in reading my body and knowing when to stop and rest. For our growth group as we try to live out what we learnt this weekend. For the continuing success of the treatment and he radiotherapy to kill the cancer cells. That we would walk closely with Christ this week.

Friday 21st January - Christ

Good morning I am sorry that the blog is being done before my treatment but we are going to our small group weekend away straight after and so will not be able to blog later. Praise the Lord I am doing really well and have slept the whole night through. I have not had many side effects at all and feeling strong. We are meeting the consultant who is overseeing my treatment later to review how I am feeling and if I am well enough to carry on the treatment. Please pray this goes well along with the treatment.

We were reading the Crucifixion this morning as we have been going through Luke and we were talking about how we have a God who knows what suffering feels like. Jesus went through the worst kind of suffering being separate from his father. Even in the midst of the cross he has compassion. Jesus says 'Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing'. Jesus wants his father to forgive the people who are putting him to death. We have a God who forgives and who brings us into his kingdom. At small group weekend away we are looking at Philippians, which is an amazing book. Chapter 2 talks of the amazing character of Christ. Paul says In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who, being in very nature did not consider equality with God something to be used as his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself be becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Amazing! We should adopt the same attitude as that of Christ within our relationships with one another.

Thank you once again for your prayers, cards, texts and support. It really is a blessing to us.

Verse for the day: Luke 23 and Philippians 2 v 5-8

Prayer for the day: Praise God that I feel so well and that we have a God who knows what it is to endure suffering. Please pray for the continued success of the treatment and that the tumour would go. Please pray for the same attitude as that of Christ and be obedient to God. Pray for little or no side effects and that I would be upheld by the right hand of God. For our small group weekend away that fellowship, rest and growth in God would be had by all. For our families to know the love, blessing and strength of our Lord.

Thursday 20th January - Compassion (Our God Saves)

I have had my 3rd treatment of radiotherapy today and it is going well. I thought I would start by explaining the process of radiotherapy as I have had a few people ask me and thought it may be helpful. Basically they fire radioactive radio waves at your whole brain. The idea behind it is it kills all new dividing cells, good and cancer. The new cells are able to reproduce within 4 - 6 hours whereas the cancer cells take twice as long and so the immune system tries to attack them whilst the cell is damaged. Prayer for the cells to be sensitive to the treatment and that the immune system would destroy the cells would be extremely appreciated. The treatment only lasts one minute on either side and waves do not come below my forehead so no other part of the body is then effected by the radioactive bits directly.

The treatment will cause hair loss, some tiredness and maybe itching. I was reading today of a story about a guy called Paul Negrut. He lived in Romania and was persecuted by the Ceausescu regime. He was a leader of the Romanian Church. He was in a concentration camp for 6 months then was interrogated all day every day for 6 months. They tried to kill his family through directing water pipes to the electrics. Once the regime had gone Paul learnt that the person who had interrogated him for six months was on his death bed with cancer in hospital. He went to the hospital and put his hands on him, then prayed for him. Not only did the guy's cancer go but he came to faith in Christ and they have been praying together since. How amazing is that! Not only did this guy have compassion and forgiveness he prayed for him. Then he came to faith and the cancer went - how glorious is our God. It made me think how important the gospel was to that guy and should be to us. God answers prayer too, he saved and healed.

I am doing well not having many side effects. I have had some nausea so would value prayer for this. I am also meeting the consultant tomorrow which may give me a greater idea of when the scan will be and will probably come off the tablets - yeah. Thank you for praying and your support. I am preparing Philippians and love how Paul says 'we should strive together for one accord' (Philippians 1 v 27-28) because the support of fellow believers and friends sustains us during the suffering we encounter and its for one purpose, the gospel.

Verse for the day: Ephesians 3 v 20-21 'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all the generations, for ever and ever amen.'

Prayer for the day: Praise God for his gospel and that He has the power to save. Praise God for his compassion and that He loves us. Please pray that God would sustain me during the radiotherapy and I would not have to many side effects. Please pray for the success of the treatment along with the scan in 6 weeks would not show any further spread or growth in the cancer. Please pray that people would come to faith in Him and that we would be bold in our telling of the gospel. That we would continue to sleep well and with the peace of God.

Wednesday 19th January - Walking by faith

Day 2 of the treatment and overall I am doing well. As I am writing this I have developed a slight bit of nausea and would value some prayer for this as it is not very nice. I am doing well though and the treatment can be deceptive as it is not painful or long. We have had a really relaxed day and the rest is doing me lots of good. It was a real encouragement to meet around God's word and pray with other Christians too.

We are both well rested and are looking forward to a night of rest and relaxation. We were reading 1 Peter v1-2 today and being reminded that we have been bought by the blood of Christ and we are the elect of God. I know I take this for granted and saying 'Jesus has died for me' rolls off the tongue until we stop to think of what that entailed. It meant that the living God himself came to live upon the earth, lived a perfect life, was silent when sentenced to death and then died and rose again for my sins against Himself. Wow!

I rest in Him and I pray that He sustains me through this treatment. God was with Joseph for 18 years in prison, He was with David whilst he was running away from Saul and He was with Paul in prison, chains and in persecution and I know He is with us too. Thank you for all your prayers, Anne and I hold them dear to our hearts and are continuing to be humbled by the amount of people who are praying.

Verse for the day: 1 Peter 1 v1-2 and Daniel chapter 2

Prayer for the day: Praise the Lord for our salvation even though we do not deserve it. Praise Him that He has been with us so far and pray that He will sustain us through the whole process. Please pray for continued strength and for as little side effects during the treatment as possible. Please pray for us to continue to sleep well. For wisdom in all things.

Tuesday 18th January - Treatment

Radiotherapy began today and I am trusting and praying in the Lord. We arrived at half 9 and I had a mesh mask moulded for my face by it being placed in hot water. I then had to wait for all the planning to be set up and the treatment began at 10:50. The treatment itself was not very long, 1 minute on each side of the brain and we were finished and off to Cheshire Oaks. We then had lunch at Costa, bought some green tea and mugs and headed off to the next hospital. We then met my consultant who explained the whole picture. He said a lot depended on 3 factors. How I respond to the radiotherapy (i.e. how many side effects I have and how I feel), how successful the radiotherapy is and what the scans in 6 weeks show. I have been told I will lose my hair which I am OK with in lots of ways (less gel and no hair cuts) but anxious in other ways (you can see my scar). I will be more tired than I usually am (how much depends on the individual) and I will get itchy/blotchy skin. There may be others but again its down to the individual reaction.

The radiotherapy times are below as I know people will want to pray at the time when treatment is taking place (Thank you so much for that by the way). Wednesday (11:05), Thursday (11:15), Friday (15:30), Monday (11:05), Tuesday (11:05), Wednesday (11:30), Thursday (11:05), Friday (15:15) and Monday (11:05).

I was really encouraged this morning by a number of things. Daniel chapters 1-3, praying and lifting the treatment into His hands. Also by texts people had sent with bible verses and encouraging words. Daniel in Chapter 1 is taken to a foreign country and asked to live in way that is not for the Lord and Daniel makes the choice to live for the Lord no matter the consequences. The Lord blesses him for this and the people around him notice a difference in his attitude. The king then has a dream and no-one can interpret it and they are all sentenced to death. Daniel then tells his friends to pray for the Lord's mercy to interpret the dream and then says 'Praise be to the name of God forever and ever, wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons, He sets us kings and disposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things, He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells within Him. I thank and praise you O God of my fathers You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king' (Daniel 2v20-24). Daniel is given the interpretation and the king makes him second in command of the whole kingdom due to his wisdom.

I love this passage not because it is saying follow the Lord and you will get to become second in command and be able to interpret dreams and God will give you all you want but because Daniel diligently follows the Lord and he is blessed by doing so. Blessed by being a follower of Him not because of anything he gets. Daniel LOVES the Lord and he will follow not matter what his situation is and you see that as you continue to read the rest of the book. His faithfulness is so humbling and an amazing attitude to have.

Thank you for your continued prayers to our Heavenly Father. God is answering as I have been told by every doctor how well I look and have recovered from surgery - Praise His name. I hope you are all well too.

Verse for the day: Daniel 2 v20-24 and Colossians 3 V17 (All for Him who sits at the right hand)

Prayers for the day: Thank Him for the wisdom He gives, the light that He brings and the peace He provides. That the radiotherapy would be successful in killing the cancer cells in my brain through the mighty hand of God. Pray that I would not have too many side effects from the treatment and for general well being throughout. That the scan in 6 weeks would show no progression in the lungs and brain. For continued peace, love, strength and wisdom from the Lord in dealing with our situation. For the glory to be given to God when I speak to the doctors, nurses and patients that we meet.

Monday 17th January - God is bigger and greater than we could ever fathom!

Well treatment is going to start tomorrow. We are at the hospital at 9:30 to get a timetable of all the treatment times that I will have. I will also have a silicon like mask made to protect my face during the treatment. The treatment itself will last no longer than 15 minutes and other than tomorrow there should be no more than 20 minutes to set up and start the treatment on any given. Anne's work have been fantastic and she is not there for the next month and so will be taking me each day and will be my human rock. We are also meeting my oncology consultant to review my whole case and see where we are up too.

I am a bit unsure of what else to expect really and that makes me nervous in some ways. In talking and thinking things through I am not worried about the treatment itself, the sides effects or having to travel to hospital. I am praying through it all and know that God will sustain me in it all. My biggest fear is going through the treatment and it not working, I am worried about going to the hospital in 6 weeks time and them saying 'I am sorry but the tumour is still there'. In many ways the cancer has been a blessing though. I have not read and had so much comfort from reading God's word, christian books and praying in my 24 years previous (not that I could read at the age of 2!). Our God is an awesome God and we as humans if we were to stop and think what God could and has done, we would have smoke coming out of our ears thinking about it.

God created and designed MY brain and He knows my immune system greater than any doctor to have ever lived. He created and designed everything and God says He holds the universe in the palm of His hand, THE UNIVERSE in the palm of His hand. How awesome is He. Anne and I are resting in His will, the will of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. I love the Lake District and standing on the top of a hill and seeing what God created by His hand. That is the tip of the iceberg, He created the rest of the world too. Greater than that, God is a personal God and He knows all about me, Anne and you. He loves us, sustains us, has compassion for us and He died for us. Thank you for all your prayers as I know in weeks like this God will be sustaining me and the thought of so many people lifting our situation is humbling. Whatever happens God will not change and I will rest in that and that He has got us in His hands. Thank you.

Verses for the day: Genesis 1 and Job 38 (Look at what God created and how He sustains it. Amazing!)

Prayers for today: Praise the Lord for the world that we live in and that He created it. Praise Him for His character and that it does not change. Praise God that He has sustained me so far and we have had abundant blessings. Pray for the start of the treatment and the meeting of Dr Marshall that God would go before us, be in the midst and present after. Please pray for physical strength to endure. Please pray for safety when driving and for our witness whilst we are there.

Sunday 16th January - Fix your eyes on Jesus

I was reading about Genesis chapters 2 and 3 and I just love thinking about how much those chapters show how God planned out our salvation and how much He loves us. Adam and Eve are told not to do one thing and well chapter 3 says 'when the woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her and he ate some.' We sin and yet God straight away deals with it in a merciful manner and Jesus is presented as our Saviour not just after Malachi but after the first sin is carried out. God says to the serpent 'and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between her offspring and hers, he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.' God in His mercy deals with our sin and the whole bible is the build up to the promise of Christ being carried out at the cross in the new testament.

It was a real blessing to go to church this morning and we have been out for lunch also which was a real time of fellowship and blessing too. We are heading back to Liverpool tomorrow and the treatment will start Tuesday morning. I have a few different emotions about this week that we are starting, praying for the destruction of the cancer cells and some uncertainty of how my body will react. I know that in all of this I need to look at Christ and He will sustain and uphold me in it all.

We looked this morning at Hebrews 12 and what an encouragement that was. The writer to the Hebrew church says 'Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not lose heart ' (Heb 12v3) and James says at the start of his book 'consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of any kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.' (James 1v 2-4). Jesus endured the greatest suffering of all for us and God planned it in Genesis 3. He sweated blood in the garden and His body broken and pierced for our sins. What an encouragement that through all our trials and suffering Jesus knows how we are feeling and we should consider it a joy and fix our eyes on Him.

Thank you once again for all the prayers and support. Please know that the Lord is giving us perseverance, love and most importantly Jesus as our strength in the midst of our suffering situation.

Verse for the day: Genesis 3, Hebrews 12 and James 1

Prayer for the day: That we would fix our eyes on Jesus and consider it pure joy to know Him in the midst of our situation. That I would not be too physically drained by the radiotherapy. That Anne and I would continue to support each other and that Christ would supply our every need. For the radiotherapy to kill the cancer cells through the mighty hand of God. For the doctors, nurses, consultants and radiographers that they would know we rest in the hands of our mighty God and not in wordly statistics and medical outcomes. To thank Him.

Saturday 15th January - Blink and the hair is gone.

Well a mixed day overall. I did not sleep well and think that I saw 3,4,5, and 7 o'clock. I was up at half 7 reading a book due to the fact that I could not sleep. The book was excellent though. I also had to lose all my hair today. As I have been told I will lose my hair I thought it best that I be in control and now my hair has been cut to half an inch in length. Reality seemed to kick in' this is the start of a what could be a really tough week. Well I suppose I am not sure of what the treatment will bring and scared that the treatment will not work. In days like these you need the Lord.

I take refuge in the Lord. I don't think I have read the Psalms as much as the past month. Psalm 46 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble'. Psalm 23 'The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, He leads me by still waters'. Psalm 139 'Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I go from your presence.? If I ascend to the heavens you are there, if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!' Psalm 121 ' The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand'. Psalm 5 'But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them ever sing for joy.' I also really love Isaiah 41 v 10 'I have chosen you and not cast you off, fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We have also had lots of lovely parts to our day. Coffee with friends, we have been for walk, shopping with all the nutters with trolleys in Asda and stir fry and dairy free ice cream for tea. I am hoping to whoop the rest of the family if we venture in to playing articulate too. Whatever happens next week I know that God will be with me and that there is no greater person in whom to take refuge. He is the Creator and sustains us in all things and He made me and thee. He knows and protects my body and He will be with me in all things. Thank you for your prayers and I know that will be sustaining next week.

Verse for the day: Isaiah 41v 10

Prayer for the day: Thank God for His character and it never changes. To be able to sleep well tonight and that God would be our strength and portion in all things. That the treatment will not be too draining on my physical and mental strength. For opportunities to talk about Christ in the hospital and during treatment. Please pray that for both our families that they will know the strength and blessings of the Lord.

Friday 15th January - Thank You

I want to take this opportunity to use the blog to say thank you for the amazing blessing everyone reading this blog has been. We have really been wrapped in the love, strength, peace and blessing of both the Lord and the people around us. Anne and I have both said that the support and love of the people around us has been amazing and that people's generosity has really humbled us and showed us the tangible love of God.

God is an awesome, powerful, mighty God but He definitely uses the people here on earth to bless His people. We were reading Luke this morning and were really comforted by how Jesus rested in the will and love of God. He had compassion on the soilder who's ear was cut off and healed him in the midst of His own situation. Jesus really walked with His father and He prayed daily for God's will. What an attitude to adopt.

Thank you for all your prayers, texts, coffee trips, meals, gifts, cards and everything else that I am bound to forget. We are going out for a meal tonight with friends and we are going to be meeting and catching up with lots of people. Please pray that I will be an encouragement and blessing to these people.

Verse for the day: 1 Samuel 18 v 1 -3 (Johnathan had such a love for his friend David that his soul was bound to him)

Prayer for the day: Thank the Lord for the many blessings He has given to us in the midst of a difficult situation. That we would be an encouragement and blessing to our friends and family and that God would be glorified through our situation. That the treatment would not be too demanding on my body and that I would be able to go on our small group weekend away. To thank the Lord for the blessing of friends, family and Christian brothers and sisters.

Thursday 13th January - Joy in suffering

I have been preparing our small group weekend away study today and researching Philippians and it really encouraged me. Paul writes the letter from prison due to the persecution of the Romans but yet is so joyful that he has Christ and that the gospel is being advanced that his suffering is nothing in comparison to what is to come - Heaven. What an attitude! Even in the face of persecution, trial and difficulty Paul wants Christ and the gospel to be his number one goal and not the end of his suffering.

Paul in the section I was preparing states 'and most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word, without fear' (V14). He goes on to say 'as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body whether by life or death' (v20) and finally 'only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ' (v27). I love this and am praying that my attitude would be the same. Our lives on earth are here to glorify, proclaim and worship Him. Please pray my attitude would be the same as Paul's in the midst of our suffering.

Today we have both meet with fellow Christians which has been a blessing and I have inherited an exercise bike (thank you very much for the donation). We have sold our other car as I am not allowed to drive for the next two years, which I am very sad about. Anne has sorted our paperwork out for the last 6 years. What a blessing to have such an organised wife I definitely know I needed it. Thank you for your constant prayers they are a blessing to say the least. We are going to Doncaster tomorrow. Please pray we will be a blessing and also that we will get their safely. I hope that all is well with the people reading this and that God is sustaining you in all that you deal with daily. Please be encouraged that God is answering prayer and my mental and physical state is excellent, positive and reassured. Thank you.

Verses for the day: Please read the whole of Philippians 1

Prayer for the day: To give thanks to the Lord that He has sustained us so far. To thank Him that I am physically well and mentally strong. That I would have the same attitude and heart as Paul in my situation. For a safe journey to Doncaster and that we would be a blessing and encouragement to the people we meet. That I would be bold in my proclamation of the gospel. To continue to pray for John, Lucy and the Gallaghers.

Wednesday 12th January - The simple things in life

Me, a friend and his little girl went to the park and I really enjoyed just walking in the fresh air with the trees and chatting with a friend. Seeing the little girl jumping in the puddles reminded me of the simple things in life. We then went and had lunch with friends. Tomato soup what a delight and simple things such as this are great and really show us to cherish life. I then went for a Costa peppermint tea and chat and its great just to stop and think about how I have grown over the last few weeks and how I want to continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord.

We then had fajitas for tea, my favourite. Its funny how when the busyness of treatment stops and life just becomes well simple its a really strange feeling. Normality is never attainable but life kind of goes on normally around you. You're not at work which I really struggle with as I just want to provide for Anne and well the simple things in life are great and just keep you sane. God though is in it all and He is the strength and all that sustains us however we are feeling. I am not sure for the next six weeks how I will feel each day, what the toll of treatment will be and how it will turn out but I know that God is an awesome God. Psalm 139 reflects this 'You know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue behold, O, Lord you know it all together. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain it.

Our God is with us. He never fails us and sustains us and He knows all of what is to come. We can stand in the character of God and know that when life becomes too much He will sustain and carry us. I love the poem Footprints which talks of how God in the hard times carries us. The simple things in life are such a sight and each day is a blessing and God is the ultimate blessing to us all. Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to text as it really is a blessing to receive them and makes me smile. Thank you for all you support and love it really is a blessing.

Psalm for the day: Psalm 139

Prayer for the day: Give thanks to the Lord for all that He has been so far to us and for us. That God would continue to meet every need, emotion and strength that we need. That I would have physical strength to cope with the radiotherapy. That when we meet people in hospital I would have the wisdom to know how to deal with them. For our families and friends that they would know the love, wisdom and strength of God also.

Tuesday 11th January - My desert

As people may know now I am reading a book on prayer. Last night I was reading my book for over an hour in bed. What a section of the book I read though! The author Paul Miller was talking about how God writes a story through his peoples lives. He places his people in deserts as part of the tapestry of their life, a desert could be anything from a difficult boss, a child going astray or your own sin. He says 'God customises deserts for each of us. Josephs desert is being betrayed and forgotten. Moses lives in the midian desert for 40 years as an outcast. The Israelites live in the desert for forty years. David runs from Saul in the desert'. All of them hang on to the hope of God's word yet face the reality of their situation. They place themselves helpless before their God above.

It really struck me that God has placed me in the desert. That my situation means I have to come helpless before my great and mighty God above. I have to completely rely on the almighty God and everything else in life becomes so much less significant. The desert makes you helpless and makes you realise your need of God. Miller also says 'when we suffer we long for God to speak clearly, to tell us the end of the story and most of all to show himself. But if God showed himself fully and immediately, if he answered all the questions we'd never grow'. I don't have the end of my story and I don't know all the answers but I do know that I am growing in my relationship with him. I am in the desert but relying on Him. God is teaching me patience and trust and I can truly say there is nothing more important than Him.

Paul says in Ephesians 3 v 20 ' Now to him who can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power within us'. We have an awsome God who is able to do so much. I am growing with Him everyday and realising that the more I place myself before Him the more I am growing in strength and love for Him. We are having another great day and are enjoying the blessings and strength of the Lord hour by hour. Thank you once again for all your prayer and support. It truly is a blessing from the Lord.

Verse for the day: Ephesians 3 v 20

Prayer for the day: That I would continue to rely on the one true God. That my body would continue to be strong as we head closer towards the treatment. For continued prayer for our families and for our friends. For Dot and Alan Gallagher and her mum and that we may meet John and Lucy again. That the cancer cells will be sensitive to the radiotherapy.

Monday 10th January - Enjoyment

Anne and I have had a good day but feel like we have not stopped. We are trying to sell the car and have had a few offers which is good. We have sorted out our house from top to bottom and seem to have our little house in a bit more order. It may not be spring yet but it certaily felt like it today. For people just starting to read this now we went to the hospital last week and they said that the melanoma can be really sensitive or can be resistant its just down to each individual case. Please prayed for the cells to be sensitve to the radiotherapy.

I was reading my book on prayer this morning and was once again really challenged. God wants us to open up every area of our lifes to Him. Jesus prayed constantly to His father and was in constant communication. We should pray for absoloutely everything. Our finances, our words, our families, our work, our lives. John says 'This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of hHim. (1 John 5 v 14-15). What an amazing truth. We can come before God and ask and He will grant according to His will.

God is a gracious God who loves His people. We have so much to be thankful for and are blessed with. Food, houses, money, family, friends and most importantly Christ and in that we rest most assuredly. Christ is the greatest blessing of them all and in Him according to His word we will find rest. So rest in the knowledge we have salvation in Him and enjoy the day. Thank you for your constant prayers and support.

Verse for the day: 1 John 5 v 14-15

Prayer for the day: That we would continue to rest in the grace, peace and assurance of God. Continued prayer for the sustaining of our families. That the melanoma cells will be sensitive to the radiotherapy and that the tumour and cancer cells will go by the mighty hand of God. For continued strength and physical rest.

Sunday 9th January - His day

Psalm 118 v 24 'This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.' We went to church today and this was the verse that the sermon was preached on. The sabbath is the Lord's day and we are to rest in Him. Anne and I are doing really well and enjoyed a night out with friends last night and thank you as that was a real blessing. I continue to be strong physically due to the blessings of the Lord and we are continuing to walk in the peace only He can provide.

Each day is provided by Him and we should live it for Him. It was a real blessing to know that the sabbath is a day of rest this morning and that we should rejoice in Him and be glad. We are using this day to rest, entertain and be with God's people. What a blessing! Thank you once again for all your prayer it humbles me to think a sinner such as myself can have so many faithfully praying to Christ for us. Thank you. I love how Paul has such an attitude of thanks before God in his letters and I wish to copy this example. Thank you for your prayers, love, support and encouragement it really is a tower of strength.

Verse for the day: Psalm 118

Prayer for the day: That we would continue to find rest and find peace in Christ alone. For our families and friends that God would continue to minister to them and that He would really uphold all of their needs. God would really continue to speak to us through His word of His will for our situation. That people would come to Christ through our situation and head knowledge would become heart-felt relationship.

Saturday 8th January - Peace

Good morning our computer cable came this morning - Yeah. The past few days have been a real blessing from the Lord. Our church has had a week of prayer and last night we had communion together. It was great to go and think about what Jesus Christ has done for us and to pray for our brothers and sisters across the world. Today we are resting, watching Cold Feet to be precise and resting together. I am still feeling great physically and the Lord really is continuing to sustain us.

A major thing that is sustaining us is Hope. The hope that we have in Christ. Paul says in Ephesians 2v 8 'For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of your own doing it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.' In completing communion last night I was reminded that I am a complete sinner. That I have done nothing to gain my salvation. Jesus Christ has done it all for us. We have a hope that is greater than any other. We have salvation in Christ.

Paul reiterates this in Phillipians 3 v 14 - 16 'I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think and if in anything you think otherwise God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
We have an amazing hope, given to us by Jesus Christ and our lives should reflect this. Within the midst of our situation that hope is a sustaining factor. We press on to the goal of heaven.'

We are praying that God continues to give us peace and that He is with us in the midst of our situation. God answers prayer. He has answered prayer as we are in that peace. Thank you once again for everyone who has prayed and is continuing to pray for us. It is a real blessing to know so many people are petitioning our case to the Lord. God has really blessed us with such amazing friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you and God bless.

Verse for the day: Phillipians 3 v 14-16

Prayer for the day: That we would continue to be surrounded and sustained by the peace, hope and strength of our glorious God. That the melanoma cells will be killed off by the radiotherapy and that God would be glorified through our situation. For physical strength through the treatment and that I would still be able to complete activities such as small group weekend away.

Thursday 6th January - Our identity is in Christ

Sorry that I did not blog yesterday my computer still does not have a lead. We went to the hospital today and got a start date for the radiotherapy. This is on the 18th January. The doctor reinforced the cancer is not being as aggressive again and he said that the melanoma is unpredictable and can react really well or not react but we have the other treatment to target the tumor if it does not work.

I was listening to Matt Chandler today who finds himself in the same position as myself and he was preaching on Colossians 2. He was saying our identity should be in Christ alone and not the things of this world. Christ died so that we can receive him as Lord and that he can dwell in us fully. Colossians says 'So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in Him rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the the faith as you were taught and over flowing with thankfulness.' What an amazing truth that we should do and be all things in Christ.

Our identity should be Christ and we should do all things for Him alone.I know that in this process I am not alone He is with me, Anne and our families. He is the great sustainer and we have the Lord as our Saviour as Paul says to the Colossians. Thank you once again for all your prayers it really humbles me to know that a sinner such as I can have so many people praying for our situation.

When I was first diagnose with cancer I read this article given to me by John Piper and it really challenged me about my situation and how amazing God is in our situation. I just know that God is in our situation and I hope that when you read it its as much an encouragement to you as it is to me.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/dont-waste-your-cancer

Verses for the day: Colossians 2 v 6 - 10

Prayer for the day: Thank God that He has been with us and that He has sustained us in all we have been through. Thank God for His church and that people are praying. Please pray that the radiotherapy works and the cancer is not resistant to the treatment. Please pray that I make the most of every opportunity given to me and that I have opportunities.

I thought today I would update people more as to how we are feeling and how we have been generally. We have really known the blessings of God the past week and have really clung to him. We have had a really nice week and since the surgery my recovery through the power of prayer has been consistent and I am feeling physically and mentally strong. I am cooking again and we have been looking after a little girl for one of our friends. I have had no headaches or any major symptoms.

I did pick up a cold in hospital and so still sneezing and would love prayer for this to go but God really answered prayer in taking my cough, sore throat and blocked ear away. We really have known the grace of God and have such a peace about the process that we are going to go through. We are finding things to do and are really enjoying some peace, rest and watching cold feet. We really did have a blessed Christmas and we will definitely treasure it always.

Anne and I were reading Luke 19 this morning about the entry into Jerusalem. The Jews had an expectation of Jesus that he would come, overthrow the Romans and be a greater king than that of David. He did something even greater He came to bring salvation. Jesus knew going into Jerusalem what was going to happen. He knew death was on the way and yet He faced it head on and God walked with Him in all of it. How amazing. I have not been told I am going to die, the doctors are being really positive but I do know that God will be with us in all that we are going to face. I once again thank you for your prayers and even more so those who have never prayed before but are now. What a testament to our God.

Passage for the day: Luke 19 v 28 - Luke 20. The amazing arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Prayer for the day: That God sustains us in all things and continues to strengthen us both physically and mentally. That people who are going through the same situation as we are but do not know the Lord may seek Him while He may be found and for our families that God would continue to sustain them in all of this.

Monday 3rd January - The problem of sin

Sin. Placing ourselves kings of our lives and dethroning God from being king. It started with Adam and Eve but we all were born with a sin problem and have all dethroned God. Its the reason our world is the way it is. People say how bad our world is and yes because of our sin problem. We love us more than we love God.

When sat in hospital I was really challenged by David's attitude in Psalm 51 especially verses 9 and 10. 'Hide your face from my sins, blot out my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew in me a steadfast spirit within me'. David realises his problem of sin and wants God to not look at his sin and to remove them from him. David wants God to clean his heart and make him clean. I know that my attitude is not always in the same vein as this and it should be.

God answers David's prayer in Christ. He deals with his and our sin by sending Christ to earth. Christ was perfect, blameless and yet we are sinful from even in our mothers womb. Christ was put to death on the cross for us. That is how much God loves us. It did not end there. Christ was resurrected. He conquered death, sin, hell and we can have eternal life. How amazing is that. We whose hearts are full of opposition to God made right with Him through a perfect love in Christ. How amazing is our God and God does not put a limit on how much sin can be forgiven. Believe in him and it is all dealt with every single one. All we have to do is accept we are a sinner before God, believe that Christ died and rose again for our sins and we can take hold of eternal life. What a gift.

I really hope that thought is an encouragement to everyone reading this. Our God is an awesome God and He loves you.

Thank you for all your prayers and support once more and I hope and pray that God is with you in all you will encounter today.

Psalm of the day: Psalm 51

Prayer of the day: Prayer for continued strength from God in all that we face. Please pray for 2 dear friends of ours Dot and Alan Gallagher whose mum is in hospital and extremely unwell that they know the grace of God sufficient for all their needs. Please continue to pray for Lucy and her family and that the radiotherapy appointment would come through swiftly.

Sunday 2nd January - Who are we living for?

I am writing this blog from Telford as we have gone to Anne's parents and so will be able to blog until Monday as our new computer cable will not come until Thursday at the earliest.I went to church this morning and what an encouragement it was to be with the Lord's people, to praise him and know that God is with us in all things. God has been the amazing constant in our week of differing emotional and physical states. I was reminded this morning about who am I living for in 2011? Do I wake up and read God's word, do I enquire of his will and bring my ambitions, fears, hopes and dreams before him. God does not require riches or following rules or things of this world, we cannot stitch any of the tapestry of our salvation. He just wants us to come, humbly to him and accept Christ.

I am not sure of 2011. The one thing I do know is that God will be with us in all of it and that His character will not change. How amazing is our God. I have such a peace of what is to come and I pray every day for the success of the treatment which the doctors are being so positive about. Every day I am amazed at the way God is totally using my situation and how He is being completely glorified through our suffering and that's what I want. I do not blame God and He is not picking on us, He is with us in our suffering and has given us the strength to deal with this situation.

Our situation means that me and Anne talk so much more about spiritual matters and how we feel about our situation. Anne and I are of the same opinion of is that we want this situation to bring people to Christ. I know I am being bold in stating that but I am being forthright in that and want to be honest. We have just had Christmas with gifts of books, money, clothes etc but the greatest gift of all is salvation. I want people to realise the greatest thing to live for is Jesus, that all the other things will fade or spoil but He won't. I pray that people realise their need of him and accept him as their true and living Saviour.

Please if you are reading this blog and you don't have faith in Him, please search for it. Go to church, pray that God show you Christ, read God's word and ask Christ into your heart and if there is someone who reads this and turns to Christ please let me know as it would be the greatest encouragement to us both.

Verse for the day (Glen's favourite bible passage) : 1 John Chapter 4. We did nothing but Christ

loved and died for us.

Prayer for the day: Please pray that I may serve the Lord with a Christ like heart in the midst of our situation, to continue to pray that God would kill the cancer cells by His mighty hand or by the radiotherapy. That we would continue to sleep well, enjoy the peace of God and that we would seek him always. That people would come to faith in Christ and that head knowledge would become heart knowledge.

New Years Day - 1st January 2011 !!

First from the Heggarty and Lawson families, thanks for all the prayers, support and kindness you have shown us, especially over the last few weeks. It has helped us to know that their are lots of people in so many churches, and so many friends and families praying for Glen, Anne and their families. We all feel really blessed, encouraged and held up by a loving God.



Glen and Anne have had a few restful days. I (Glen's mum) am writing this blog for them, as their computer is out of action. Hopefully this will be sorted by Monday.



Bible Verses - 1 Peter 1: 3- 8 reminds us that as Christians we are given a new birth into a living hope and an inheritance that will never perish, spoilt or fade, kept in heaven for us!! - How fantastic it is to remember this at the beginning of a New Year.



Prayer - Pray that Glen will quickly receive his appointment to see the radiotherapist and that they will be explain what the next stages will be. Pray for Anne as she supports Glen through his treament. Pray for the medical staff who every day are supporting, talking and nursing patients, especially when dealing with difficult situations.