Prayers of the many

We started our 2^nd round of chemo today. The LORD came through again (we are not surprised, are we?) when we found out that all of Teresa’s blood counts were completely NORMAL! Dr. Young was really pleased with how Teresa responded to the first round. They have adjusted her pain medication so we can even out the spikes of pain and relief. So please pray for this to be effective.

I continue to marvel at how the LORD continues to remind us that “He has been mindful of us” (Psalm 115:12). Just this morning, a long-time client of mine in another state emailed me and said that the LORD had awakened him this morning with Teresa on his mind. He knelt before the LORD and prayed for us. Then at breakfast, he wrote our names on a chalkboard in the restaurant to ask others to pray!

I know I have said it before, but we have so many people taking us before the LORD and interceding for his mercy, grace and healing. We have felt every prayer offered to Abba. I know they have been offered in humility, and I believe they move the Heart of God. We cannot thank you enough for your perseverance. The journey will continue. It will probably be long and there will be times it will be difficult. But the prayers of His saints will sustain us and ultimately His Name will be glorified.

We value each and every one of you. You have been moved to pray at all hours of the day and night, in all the time zones of the earth. We cannot thank you enough.

But selfishly, …. KEEP IT UP!

Chemo + 4 Days Update

I have to start by giving thanks and praise to Jesus. We are now 4 full days beyond our first chemo treatment and the side effects have been manageable. Teresa has been extremely fatigued and she has had pretty intense body aches, but the other promised side effects have failed to materialize. I believe that this is nothing short of the LORD’s supernatural (His “normal”) response to all of your prayers.

While Teresa’s appetite hasn’t been great, she is good about eating. Last night, she ate the best I’ve seen her eat since we got the diagnosis three weeks ago.

I’ve had a great response to the last blog asking for four people to intently pray for breakthrough for Teresa’s healing. I don’t think we necessarily have to take the idea literally and have only four. If you are feeling called, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’m reminded of Jonathan’s admonition to his armor bearer in I Samuel 14:6. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

I expect Teresa to become stronger over the next week. Our next treatment is July 16. You can begin to pray for continued protection of her body as we go for the second round. As I was praying for her the other night, I felt as though I heard the Holy Spirit tell me that He was putting a cocoon around her. That is a comforting image for me.

We continue the journey. There is nothing easy about it, so pray that we will remain strong and faithful.

Love you all.

Four friends and Breakthrough

Cancer affects your prayer life. Either you begin to pray or you begin to pray without ceasing. I’ve landed on the latter.

Over the last few days, I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me to meditate on the passage in Mark 2 where four friends brought their crippled friend to Jesus. Many of you remember the story. Jesus was teaching in a home and the friends couldn’t get near Jesus. So they went to the roof, cut a hole, and lowered his bed to Jesus. The Master healed the man, after first declaring his sins forgiven.

I went back and read it again this morning. Here is what struck me (emphasis and highlights are mine) in verses 4 and 5.

"And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’"

Breakthrough

These friends had to labor to get the sick one to Jesus. I know that Jesus is sovereign over sickness and disease. He speaks and illness bows, dissolves and disappears. In that, I have no doubt. But many times, I believe that He desires to use those of us around the sick to seek breakthrough. In my experience, this is never an easy task. It requires labor and sacrifice, usually in significant ways. The four friends had to work to carry their friend. He couldn’t walk. He was dead weight.

When they couldn’t get near Jesus, they had to labor to get him to the roof. Maybe there were stairs. Maybe there was a ladder. But maybe not. They were undeterred and somehow lifted the man and his palette onto the roof.

They had to cut through the roof of the home. They ignored the possible damage because they were so desperate to get this man to Jesus. I’m sure they didn’t bring tools to do the work. I suspect they worked until their hands were sore, cut and bloody to make the hole.

With their remaining strength, they lowered their friend to the feet of His Only Hope.

In the end, they had a breakthrough and the result was the restoration of their friend’s body and his life (both physical and eternal).

Their Faith

It was the collective faith of the four friends and the one needing healing that moved the heart of Jesus. The faith didn’t begin at the point they lowered him down. It began in days of intercession for their friend. Their faith was birthed in Heaven-inspired love for one who meant so much to them that they would sacrifice whatever it took to see him whole.

The actions of the day were the outward demonstration of a faith that was growing by leaps and bounds through interaction with The Father.

Jesus’ words of healing were in direct response to the faith that He would heal if these four friends could get the afflicted one to the feet of the Son of God.

Calling for Four Friends

I am moved by this passage to ask if there are four friends out there who would specifically ban together and seek breakthrough for Teresa’s cancer. I believe this is a prophetic word for four individuals to collectively intercede and stretch your faith as you implore Jesus for healing.

I don’t believe in formulas for anything in the Kingdom. God is too creative and too big for that. But I do believe, there are times that He moves us to act as those before us have acted. Just acting like the four friends will not move the Heart of God. But true labor for breakthrough and true faith are things He will not ignore.

This is not a frivolous request and your response should not be given without asking the LORD. But if this is you, you can email me at stephen.kinsley@gmail.com and I will put you in touch with the others. I will be praying between 5 and 6 each morning with you and for you and Teresa.

If you are not one of the four, this doesn’t mean that your prayers and faith are any less worthy. This is a particular assignment for a few. Your prayers have brought so much comfort and protection as well as miraculous open doors. Don’t stop! A prayer movement is re-emerging as each person enters His Presence.

Love you all, but not as much as Jesus does.

Steve

Update from First Chemo Treatment

We are in day three of our first round of chemo. Teresa received two infusions on Monday lasting about 5 hours, and then was fitted with a pump to infuse the third drug over a forty-six hour period. It’s due to be finished this afternoon (July 4).

Teresa did great on Monday. We had a private room at the oncologist’s office. I have to tell you truthfully that the Peace that passes all understanding took up residence in that place. We played praise music on the IPad and thanked the Father for his mercies. Teresa was relaxed and rested the entire time. She even ate a part of chicken salad sandwich in the middle of it.

Dr Young did increase the dosage of the pain medicine and that has certainly reduced the amount of pain Teresa has had to deal with. That helps in so many ways … mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

We were warned about a multitude of side effects including nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, cold sensitivity, neuropathy (tingling in the extremities), sleeplessness and fatigue, and a suppressed immune system. The list was pretty overwhelming and we immediately began to pray for supernatural protection from these.

Monday night’s sleep was fitful and Tuesday she has had some queasiness, but as of Wednesday morning she has not experienced any major side effects. The LORD is so good and HIS mercies are new every morning.

We were told to expect the worst days to be day 3 – 5, today through Friday, so please continue to join us in prayer for protection from the side effects as these chemicals do their work to shrink the tumor.

Teresa hopes that she feels well enough to blog soon, so stay tuned.

Keep praying. We value your prayers and your love.

Chemo has begun

We have begun chemotherapy this morning (Monday). We will be here for about 4 -5 hours, then we will be home.

We don't expect side effects until Wednesday but we are praying for the best outcome there.

Dr Zheng at Johns Hopkins and Dr Young here were in agreement about the treatment, so our prayers of unity of wisdom were answered!

I'll post and update later tonight after we are home and settled.