God is in Control

Firstly, I would like to begin this post by acknowledging how great a God we worship and how daily, He has revealed that He is with us through this journey.

A view of the card

Close-up of the prayer

I received the BIGGEST card ever given me in my life yesterday morning from the Pacific Tertiary Evangelistic Centre (PTEC) SDA Church members. This has been the congregation I have worshipped with for the last decade. It is made up of tertiary students from across Fiji and the region who have come to Suva to get a qualification. I must admit that our family has been blessed worshipping with this congregation and I thank God for the many ways in which the members have also touched our lives even if they do not realise it. Many have come and gone but the connections remain as family and I could never think of them otherwise...I am proud to say that I have family right across the Pacific and Fiji who have been part of the circle who have been praying and giving us support. To my PTEC family, not everyone managed to get their names onto that card but let me assure you that your name is definitely there... and I thank you ALL for your support and prayers. I must add here, I love you all and thank God for your parents who have been part of nurturing and praying for your success and spiritual journeys here in Suva.

This morning I received an early morning call from my dear brother in Canada who is not dealing well with the physical changes he has seen in pictures of me. I remind myself that it would not be easy for my close family particularly those who are living overseas. For my family who may be reading this post, I share 1 Corinthians 10:13:

"Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm: at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”

This text informs us that we are not the only ones who face problems such as this. I know that I should not ask, "why me?" but my question should be "why not?" The Lord did not promise us (his followers) that He would spare us the discomforts of this world but His prayer in John 17:15 is: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the evil one."

The other thing that 1 Corinthians 10:13 informs me is that God is in control - He will not allow me to be tested beyond my power to remain strong. It also informs me that God will give me strength to endure it.

Family and Friends, I have to confirm that I experience this daily and cannot stop praising God for this.

Just as I was leaving home this morning I received a text message informing me that all the results for the tests taken last week have been received and these results reveal that I should be experiencing pain which would require drugs such as morphine. I couldn't help praising God that I have not needed morphine and have only taken panadol for whatever pains I have experienced.

It may be our natural instinct to think difficulties or sickness as in my case are a curse from God, but let us be mature about this and allow our faith in God to grow through these experiences. Let us, "trust in the Lord with all our hearts and never to rely on what we think we know" Proverbs 3:5. Only God knows our future and He promises in Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.”

We need to change our attitudes and trust in God, it may be hard to understand but it is OK because we don't have to understand everything. Let us take assurance that God is our heavenly father, and we need to trust Him like a child trusts their father. I find this thought encouraging and it humbles me.Philippians 4:8 tells us to: “fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, pure, lovely and honourable.”

I pray for each of us who may need to change our attitudes and to trust in our father through these difficult times:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the tests and challenges you give us. Thank you for giving us the strength to endure them and the opportunity to grow in spiritual maturity. Please help us learn to trust you when we go through difficult times. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.”

Sharing an inspirational email

I received this email from my long time girlfriend (Tongan sister)this morning. I asked her permission to share it on this blog to inspire others going through similar experiences.

My Tongan Sister, Senorita and I at the Nausori Airport

Good morning Louise 

Popping in to say hi and to let you know we think and pray for you all the time even though I may not pop in often enough to check how things are with you.

I continue to pray that God will hold our faith in Him strong amidst all the challenges we face. Sometimes we do not even understand why things happen - but we are assured that He knows. Ilaise and I trained in on Wednesday and I looked out to the Wellington harbor and thought and prayed for you at the same time. Then out of the blue a seagull dived into the water (it must have spotted a fish) but it brought to mind the promise in Matthew 6 : 26 - (I just googled it now!) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" 

I continue to pray and hope and I know that Tiola, Sea and your many friends and family are doing the same. We also know that we will never tire Him with our pleas and prayers and we also trust Him to give each of us the peace and comfort we all need to understand His will and plans.

We continue to pray and think of you during this time. God bless you, Aunty Ili and Uncle Harry, Waisea, Tulagi, Pate, Lusianne and Eli and everyone else that have been touched by your journey.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!

God bless you my friend! Loloma Bibi Senorita

Empathy

Last night a church member called to find out how I was and we had a conversation about how I was keeping. The conversation then went on to a much loved former PTEC member who has since graduated and is now serving in one of the church schools in Tonga. I was informed that her cancer had returned, apparently with a vengeance and what she was told by the authorities in Tonga who had reviewed her case that since the cancer had spread they would not recommend her evacuation to NZ. I would tell Melefepaki Afu NOT to give up and to join others in praying and to read Luke 18: 1-7... a story Jesus shared with His disciples about the woman who prayed persistently, crying out day and night and praying perseveringly despite all the physical evidences (pain & growth) don't give up, don't let go of our Lord's hand. (Early Writings p.73).

Cancer fighting foods

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/27-top-cancer-fighting-foods.html?page=1

ONLY a little challenge

One week ago today, I woke up with groin like pains on my right leg. I took no notice of them and continued with my normal morning routines of getting my grand-daughter's school lunch ready, having breakfast and getting ready for work. By the time we were ready to leave home I found myself ambling in pain out the door. Mum noticed and called after me in Fijian, "nacava e vosoti?" 

I honestly did not feel it would be prolonged until we reached Fletcher Road and I began shivering uncontrollably. It felt funny, I reached for my phone to call my colleague, Torika Taoi but I could not even use it. I gave up and left it to Tulagi to call her and to ask her to pass the message on to our HR people. We returned home because I realised I would probably make a spectacle of myself at work. I decided, I would not take anything other than panadol for my pains and the good old hot water bottle was a good friend through this experience. But once again, I found myself losing my appetite and it was hard to get myself to eat anything. The pains continued through to Friday and by Friday evening I agreed to have Waisea call the Oncology Nurse at CWM Hospital.

My next two days were spent in the Lancaster Ward and that was an experience after my last hospital admission in the early 1990s. I found this time around that the iron bars on the bed base were painful and luckily the room next door had a few empty beds and we were able to double the mattress. I suspect it isn't old age :) but the pains on my hip bones which require a little more padding. The time in hospital was a blessing as well in multiple ways. There were so many direct messages for both Waisea and I that God is with us through this experience. The doctor who saw me on Sunday morning verbalised his puzzlement about my symptoms suggesting that my case is so different from most other ovarian cases. We had to tell him that this was because of the many prayers being sent out on my behalf and we believed it was a definite answer to prayer. In this time of sickness and pain, the church family, family members and friends across Fiji and the world have been upholding my name in intercessory prayer. 

The fact that I have been able to get to work and survive each day this week is evidence of God's answer to those many prevailing intercessory prayers. Over and over again I am reminded of the fact that those prayers have also been for my family who are bearing this experience with me. We are immensely grateful to everyone for the time given to praying for us, for encouraging us, visiting us from abroad and for calling to check on our well being regularly. Your support confirms the text: Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (NIV) May God bless you all.

Savouring each day

My Resolutions: enjoy each day, participate as much as possible in family events until fatigue sets in. At home, I take things easy as much I can.. spring cleaning during holidays like yesterday's Queens Birthday long week-end was a great temptation. Enjoying my grand-children's growth is fulfilling and though previously I thought 1st Birthdays need to be conservative because the main person is too young to understand, I am definitely going to make sure this birthday is one we celebrate with close family... a perfect excuse to enjoy time with everyone.

My Beautiful Mum

Mum and I during the iMPACT Nadi trip, Oct 2011

She has been my inspiration Strong, stubborn and full of life. She turned 73 last week and spent most of her week participating in the Bowling Carnival.

When the sun set on Friday she still hadn't come home. We returned from Vespers and were a little late with preparations for Visitor's Sabbath but she was already in bed. On Sabbath morning she left again.

I experienced such intense emotions with her departure wishing instead she could be my visitor sharing my gratitude for her 73years of life. For many in my immediate family it would be hard to understand my emotions. And I can understand that. They would see this time out as refreshing, feeding her need for company, for fun, for life as they would call it.

Tonight I discover that she is fighting an internal battle with how unfair life is. And here I was thinking, she was coping. She had spent three months away in Australia and if she could she would stay away more. Being here at home, she sees the physical changes to my body, she witnesses me succumb to a bad bout of the flu and other things which I am not aware of.

I must request prayers for my dear Mother who needs to build her trust in God's leading and to accept the answer He gives to our prayers.