When I began this journey with cancer 21 months ago I had no idea the battle would still be raging on. I thought it would be less than a year ordeal and that we would move on with our lives. God apparently had other plans for me. I decided from the beginning it would be easier to blog about my journey so my family and friends would always know what was going on in my life and be kept up to date more easily. What I didn't realize is that people from all over the world would get connected to my blog. I have said from the very beginning that I was on God's journey and I wanted to share His story and to know it wasn't about me, but about trying to represent Him well. I always read the comments that are posted but never look to see where all the people live that read my blog. Saturday night my kids gave me a very special gift. It is a canvas of the world with red pins marking all the different locations where people read my blog. I was overwhelmed to see how far God has taken this story. He alone is doing great things!
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| Our journey as a family. |
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| Red dots represent locations where my blog is being read. |
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I haven't been able to attend church in four weeks. I told my son Friday night that I miss being at church because, when I'm worshiping with other believers and singing hymns and praise songs, I feel like I'm not sick and that God is healing me. Bryan took that comment and decided to bring the church to me last night. He organized a band and some of our friends to come over to our house for a night of worship. What an incredible night worshiping with my friends and family and to hear people share how they feel about this journey I have been on with such great words of encouragement. I felt like I wasn't sick anymore. I had no pain or sickness while everyone was here. It seemed like a small glimpse of Heaven to me.
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| Thank Jerad, Cameron & Sean for leading us in worship. |
God continues to show me this journey was never about me, but Him using me to tell His story to others. I am thankful that my hope and trust will remain in Him and that He brings others along side me to keep me encouraged.
"Today is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."
praying for you each and every day!
ReplyDeleteThe Colberts
Your blog has certainly impacted my life. Your life is a life filled with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praying for you all of the time.
ReplyDeleteI love you Janet Pate. Your an amazing woman and I'm glad God brought you into my life. Thank you for your witness, your faith, and for letting Jesus shine through you. Continuing to pray for you.
ReplyDeleteYour blog has certainly touched me, and inspired me. I pray for you daily, and for your family. Thank you for blogging.
ReplyDeleteLinda - Tampa, FL
Mrs. Pate, you've always been such an inspiration to me. You're life is such a testimony. I'm praying for you and your beautiful family. Love you guys!
ReplyDeleteYou have been such an inspiration to me and a true Philippians 2 model. I giggled to see that one, lone, red tack on the Northeast in Vermont! Praying as I read. Thank you for your authenticity.
ReplyDeleteLove how the most concentrated dots form the shape of a heart!
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful! Praying. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteGod shines through you in a Mighty Way!!! Praying for you in S.C.
ReplyDeleteAdd a tack to Toledo Ohio! I've been reading for a long time but never commented. You are truly an inspiration. Praying for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteJanet-
ReplyDeleteGod is shining through you and we are reading about your journey, and God's grace, in Spokane, Wa. We hope there is a dot there for us!
How wonderful that worship came to you. Your wonderful family is amazing.
We continue to pray for your healing!
Loves, hugs and prayers!
Linda Seppa Salisbury
in Spokane, Wa
Oh, and I do hope you have Northeast Louisiana marked. I can't even remember how I came across your blog but it was shortly after your diagnosis. You have been such an inspiration and I continue to pray for you as you "journey on." Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLooks like I am the lone "Jersey" Girl pin. So happy to represent my state for Christ ! So very blessed to have found your blog and been given the opportunity to lift you to His throne. You have given me such an example of faith, trust, inspiration and encouragement. I will continue to lift you to the Lord daily. Love in Christ from NJ
ReplyDeleteWow G-ma! You constantly amaze me:-) That was tremendously considerate of Uncle Bryan to set up the worship meeting for you. The Lord was working in his heart to do that. You deserve it! I admire your constant hunger for God; for you are constantly filled to the brim! Thank you for being an example in my life. Your character has taught me how to live a content, spirit-filled life. Thank you for helping me and growing me without even knowing it! You are constantly in our prayers. Love you abundantly!
ReplyDeleteAnother reader praying for you from Nine Mile Falls, WA. I am in such awe of your faith and trust in Him. I will continue to pray for you!!
ReplyDeleteAdd Saratoga Springs, Utah as I have been quietly following along and praying for a miracle for you. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to visually see how you are representing God's faithfulness far and wide around the world. I pray for you daily. Kate in Austin
ReplyDeletePrayers and love from ky!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
That's ME up there in Chicago! If you want, you can just put a whole mess of tacks up there b/c you've been prayed for my many in my Bible Study group! And if you think of it...I'd be honored if you would lift my own hubby before the throne of grace tomorrow morning. He's facing his 2 yr. CT scan for Hodgkins Lymphoma (the reason I found your blog!) tomorrow and he's not been feeling well for a couple of weeks. Oh how I've been encouraged by your faithwalk! I check on you so very often...and I talk to the Lord about you every time He brings you to my mind.
ReplyDeleteAdd another home tack. Your daughter and I know one another through my fiance, Nic Groves. You and I have never met. I teach Freshman English at Bentonville High School. Today in class we discussed thematic heroes. You were our prime example of a hometown hero. Thank you for blessing our children. I have 165 kiddos this year; all who were blessed by your words. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePraying for you near York, PA.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet! I've read your blog for months now. I don't comment much but I wanted to take a minute and tell you what an amazing and inspiring woman you are. I've been a Christian my whole life, but your unshakable strong faith amazes me. I am praying for you always!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud to be the Australia red dot! And am grateful to Kelly Stamps for asking for prayers for you which is how I found your blog. With prayers from Brisbane, Australia. Michelle xx
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you and your family in SC. Each morning I check for updates. You are a blessing.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your family from Alvin, Texas. Over this past summer, my sister-in-law battled multiple myeloma. In August, she was taken off clinical trial and told there was nothing else they could do to help her fight. I cannot tell you the sense of peace that overcame us, knowing she would not have to keep fighting. Her battle was won. God wrapped us all in his arms and gave us so much comfort and peace of mind...peace of SOUL. I pray that you and your family feel His presence, His peace, His comfort.
ReplyDeleteGreat is Thy Faithfulness indeed!!!!!! Love the words on your wall. I understand your need to be a part of the worship experience, it feels like we aren't "whole" when we don't participate. I know it isn't the same as being there, but since my best friend's church does their entire service online each week, there are many weeks that I will watch and the worship music always fills my soul. Living in Florida this Texan doesn't always get the southern worship I long for. Try watching First Baptist Church of Columbia SC, just click on archives~you will be blessed!
ReplyDeletePraying for you, your family and friends dear!
Praying for you & your family from Atlanta, GA. I came across your blog when Kelley Stamps requested prayer for you in her blog. I check on you & pray for you daily.
ReplyDelete~Jennifer
Yesterday I shared that my husband is going to Africa. You are a missionary too! How neat that your testimony is being shared far and wide. Obviously, this is not the same circumstances, but when my daughter was pregnant with triplets, she was on bedrest for much of the time and desperately missed church. She had her C-section on a Tuesday and was ready to get back that Sunday. I did discourage that because she was so weak! Even though the boys were in the NICU for 7 weeks, she had them there too as soon as possible. For some of us, worship and our fellowship at church is like breatheing.
ReplyDeletePraying for you in Kentwood, MI. You are truly an inspiration, Janet!
ReplyDeleteThis is the season to be thankful and I thank you, Janet. Your unwavering faith, and the strength and courage you draw from it, has been an inspiration. I want you to know that you have played a part in bringing me back to church. I am there every week, I say daily prayers and am helping out the church food pantry. I found your blog last year when my Mother was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. I was so distraught and was looking for any help I could. As I read your story, I could feel all the emotions, the ups and the downs as my family was experiencing very similar situations. Your prayers, your hymns, your words of worship comforted me, helped me through the darkest hours as my beautiful Mother lost her fight. You have helped me to have God in my heart always, not only when I need him.
ReplyDeleteI pray for you always. For you husband, your family, your friends. You are so open, so honest, it’s easy to feel I know you all. I think you are an amazing woman. This is also the season of miracles and I am praying for your miracle, Janet. Sincerely, Sharon of Braintree, Mass
I have been quietly reading your blog for a long time. Found it through Kelly's Korner. What an inspiration you are!! Praying for you in Utah !!!
ReplyDeleteI've been checking on you and praying for you every day here in Marietta, GA. you are indeed on God's journey. He always picks the BEST people to share that journey with himI I'm so happy that worship was brought to you in your home and I marvel at how special your family is for making that visual reminder of the lives YOUR life has touched all over the world. I will always be praying for you and for your family as you walk with our God every day. You are a wonderful example of HIS love for us all.
ReplyDeleteI lost my Dad (51 yrs) to leukemia this past April and we also had a blog for our family. It started out so small, just a way to keep everyone informed. But God has a way of taking our tiny lives and making them huge blessings to the people around us. And yes, even the world! I have been reading your blog and praying for you for a long time (found it through prayer requests blog links). Our family was experiencing cancer too and I found it so uplifting to read your thoughts and meditations. And even now, after losing Dad, I find such encouragement and blessing here. God is using you in mighty ways, to Him be the glory!
ReplyDeleteMy prayer for you is that you will not lose heart and that you constantly find peace in Him. God deals with His children so tenderly in these heart-wrenching times. The memories that I have of my Dad and my family in the days after the terminal cancer diagnosis are so precious. I am praying for daily strength for you, your husband, your family as you continue to walk this journey. May you always feel His love, grace, and nearness!
~ Karen from Ontario, Canada
Love how your dots make a heart where you live <3 Praying for peace and healing from Mtn Home AR
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