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.