11-10-2014 Faith Gives Us a Soft Landing

       

       We gave Jamie a ride back to Claremont today after her visit with a missionary couple from Oregon. We decided to make it a part of our weekend activities--every week after we drop off Bridgette at her orchestra rehearsal, we would go back to the Claremont house to spend time with mom, dad, Jamie and Pepper(my mother-in-law's new poppy who a couple of months ago was only allowed to roam around downstairs but now has earned his spot in the master suite upstairs right by my mother-in-law's bed) 

     I  have to say Jamie has never looked healthier. She runs 10 laps each morning, does Chinese hand-shake motion 50-100 times, does her steam sauna 30 minutes, and follows a strict organic, healthy diet. With the assistance and care from her cousin Christine and a pastor's wife,   Jamie is in good hands. 

    Most importantly, this lady is in good spirits knowing that God has her best interests in mind and already summoning all the help and forces she requires to fight this fight. 

    After our supper, Jamie and I sat outside by the lovely swimming pool. The weather was a bit chilly. Finally it felt like winter. Jamie told me she is doing all she can to keep herself healthy and strong before going through the chemo treatment, David is planning to to Taiwan to seek second opinions. He has some friends that are cancer survivors who had success stories after receiving treatment from Taiwan. 

    Being a doctor himself, David wants to get a feel whether the person who is going to treat Jamie is a good fit for her or not. 

    We talked about faith.  

    I shared a book that I've been reading. It's written by a pastor named 楊牧谷. In the book, the pastor wrote about his experience about battling cancer and his observations in the chemo/radiation room. The message I came away with is that our faith is not to explain our life, but to make us strong bearers of life. It broadens our mind and capacity to live our lives in the way that God intended. The uncommitted don't have this hope when faced with difficulties, but as Christ followers, we do have a great priest whom we can always turn to and rely on. God is able to keep us from falling. 

     "Our faith provides us with a soft landing, "Jamie said.

    She once asked the Chinese doctor who she sees regularly a question. "What do you think is my strength that's different from other cancer patients that you see?" 

      Without hesitation, the doctor replied, "It's your inner peace that arises from faith. Other patients don't have that. So run with it! " the doctor encouraged her. 

     Lately Jamie said she's been doing a lot of meditation while walking or jogging in the yard, having continuous one-on-one talks with God. She wants to figure out what to do next with her life? She is more than eager to find out God's plans for her. Is it a good idea to travel to Asia to seek other medical advises and also visiting Dean in China? Lots of questions remain unanswered. 


    "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen"(Jude 24)

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that your promises are always true in Jesus. You are able to keep Jamie from falling in all circumstances. You are Jamie's rock, fortress and her only Savior in life. We present her before you and ask your gracious hand to rest upon her. Guide her each step and let her know that all glory, majesty, power and authority belong to you. You are with her from the beginning to the end. In the name of your beloved son Jesus, we pray. Amen.   

Jamie's latest painting