Psalm 139

¹O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

 ²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

 ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

 ⁴For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

 ⁵Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

 ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

 ⁷Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

 ⁸If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

 ⁹If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

 ¹⁰Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 ¹¹If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

 ¹²Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

 ¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

 ¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 ¹⁵My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

 ¹⁶Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

 ¹⁷How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

 ¹⁸If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

 ¹⁹Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

 ²⁰For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

 ²¹Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

 ²²I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

 ²³Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

 ²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Please leave a note of encouragement for Tracey and her family.

A Note From Tracey . . .

We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord.

Trusting in His Holy Word,

He never failed me yet.

Oh can't turn around,

We've come this far by Faith . . .

That is part of a song we learned when we were at the Center this last time. It was sung by a wonderful black gentlemen named Colonel MacArthur Hairston. God allowed us to become friends with him, his wife, Shantina, and daughter Shawndredi.

They had such a Godly spirit about them. Shantina has been diagnosed with breast cancer, yet her faith and her love for God was written all over her face. Laureli became friends with their daughter first and then God just lead the way for us all to become friends.

It is amazing how God has put special people in our lives to encourage us. I know we are down there dealing with cancer, but God has taught us about faith, relying on God, and the Power of the Written Word.

While we were there God allowed us to have church with Colonel, Shantina, and Shawndredi. It was one of the most spirit filled services I have ever been in.

Colonel MacArthur played the piano and sang. Boy, did he sing. He is 69 years old and sang with such power. Words cannot describe it. Tony got up and preached. He joked that there was a little black preacher inside of him that wanted to come out. Shantina kept saying, "Let him out, Tony. Let him out."

It was a great time of fellowship. A lot of tears and laughter.

I know I have cancer for a reason. If it's just learning to rely on Jesus for everything, so be it. Someone sent me a book that talked about not wasting your cancer. I DO NOT want to waste my cancer. I want to be able to show people that even though we are going through this bump in the road God is still FAITHFUL and HE is still in CONTROL!!

Thank you again for all your prayers. I know that Shantina would appreciate your prayers as well. Remember that we've come this far by faith. Leaning on the Lord!!! Rely on Jesus for everything!!!"

This is Nole, the gentleman who first greeted us, who has been a blessing to us ever since.

Please leave a little note of encouragement for Tracey and her family.

God Never Forgets

"When pain is to be born,
a little courage helps more than much knowledge,
a little human sympathy more than much courage,
and the least tincture of the love of God more than all."
— C.S. Lewis

     Tracey, Tony, and Laureli arrived back in Tulsa at the Cancer Treatment Center Wednesday evening and checked Tracey in by 6:45.
     The next morning she began her first experience with acupuncture. The acupuncturist talked her through and told her step by step what she was going to do. She placed the needles, so thin they looked like strands of hair, in her feet, legs, hands, arms, and ears.
     Needless to say this was quite a different feeling, but she could hardly feel the needles go in and spent a very relaxing twenty minutes lying on her back in a dark room with soothing music playing in the background.
     That evening they treated her with chemotherapy. But this time she was in an area at the Center where they let the patients, doctors, and family members write on what she called "The Great Wall". When the Center was built the patients and family members wrote scripture and uplifting quotes all over the walls. It's been painted over since then, but Tracey found so much comfort in knowing that God's word was written right beneath her feet. She said she took pictures, so maybe when she is better I'll be able to share some with you in the next post.
     She is doubly thankful for her Care Team. She met with a dietician and her blood work was doing very well, the vitamins and supplements were helping.
     That night did not go so well, but Laureli, her youngest, is quite the little nurse! She is a ray of sunshine and takes very good care of her momma!
     Roby, their 17 year old, is holding down the fort back home on the ranch, irrigating and checking cattle, baling hay with Grandpa. Doing quite a good job, too! He learned how to fix a broken belt on the tractor this past week. They both are so thankful for the responsible, trustworthy children they have! Praise the Lord!
On Friday morning Tracey had another appointment with the acupuncturist and will be going before and after her chemotherapy treatments from now on. And she did have to take a shot to help boost her white blood cells.
     They had hoped to return on Sunday, but Tracey became so sick they couldn't leave. I haven't heard any recent news, how she is now, or when they're coming home, so please keep them in your prayers.
Tracey says thank you to everyone who has been praying for them, how thankful she is for all their friends and family who have been such a blessing to her family.
     She left me with these verses from Psalm 139. "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God. How great is the sum of them."
     I find it overwhelming enough to know that God thinks any thoughts about me whatsoever. But to hear that His thoughts are precious? Many more than I could ever count? If God thinks that many thoughts about me, you, everyone, isn't that proof enough, shouldn’t that provide trust enough that God never, ever forgets about any us?

Please leave a note of encouragement for Tracey and her family.

Please Pray

Please keep Tracey in your prayers.
They're still in Tulsa, Tracey is too sick to return home.
Please keep praying for her, Laureli, and Tony.

Update coming soon.