As some of you already know, a 1″ mass has been discovered on my pancreas. I was completely taken aback by the news; I had no idea it was Catholic! 🤣
The Medical Side
Here’s the backstory and what the future probably holds:
- Because I have survived renal cell carcinoma and had a benign tumor removed from my pituitary gland (and yes, they indeed verified there is a brain rattling around in there! 🤣), I undergo annual imaging to ensure nothing new shows up undetected. That consists of a full-torso CT scan and a cranial MRI. On Christmas Eve, I drove over to the local VA hospital for my appointment.
- After several missed connections since then, on Monday 1/27/2025 my primary care physician and I finally connected and he delivered the news.
- As of this writing, we do not know whether it is benign or malignant.
- When I asked him what the next step was, he said, “We need an MRI.” Coincidentally, I was already on-premises at that VA medical facility to pickup prescriptions and other business, so my doctor ordered the MRI and I headed for imaging. By God’s grace, when I arrived, they had an appointment cancellation while I was sitting there, so they proceeded with the MRI. Based upon a comparison between the CT and the MRI, they have determined the mass is growing.
- During another phone conversation with my doctor later that day, we agreed a biopsy is an unnecessary risk, so he ordered the outright surgical removal of the mass. The risk of a biopsy beforehand is the possible release of cancer cells into my body which would then necessitate chemotherapy, an ordeal I would just as soon avoid.
- The VA has processed the order and I have selected the doctors who will perform the surgery.
- My initial consult with them will be on Friday, 2/21.
- They will perform whatever additional tests they deem necessary prior to surgery. At that time, I will request another CT to ascertain whether God has already healed me supernaturally or we need to proceed with the operation.
- If the mass is still present, I go under the knife, they remove it, and sew me up. The pathologists will then figure out just what kind of bullet I’ve dodged.
- I will be healed.
- God will receive all the glory.
The Spiritual Side
If God chooses to supernaturally remove that mass prior to surgery, of course some, if not all, of the future steps become moot — other than the last two!
I serve Jehovah-Rapha, the God Who heals me. Trusting, obeying, and believing are my responsibilities. Methods and timing are His.
My Initial Response
When I first received the news from my doctor, the first thing which popped into my head were David’s words to King Saul before he faced Goliath:
Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them .
1 Samuel 17:36
God has healed me, both supernaturally and medically, too many times for me to believe otherwise!
What Has Happened Since
Later, after I returned home and started seriously seeking God about the whole deal, the Holy Spirit quickened to me the following passage from Psalm 91 as the keynote promises I should be standing on. This is God speaking in the first person:
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:14-16
And I have a couple more to add to that:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17
What is Feeding Me During This
God’s Word, of course! But there are some other things:
My Worship Playlist
These are songs that feed my faith. The links for each song are to the iTunes Store. If you subscribe to Apple Music, it’s an easy connection from there. For those of you using Pandora, Spotify, etc. you can connect the dots from the titles and artists.
- Fear Is Not My Future — Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore
- House of Miracles — Brandon Lake
- Hard-Fought Hallelujah — Brandon Lake
- Tear Off The Roof — Brandon Lake
- Count ‘Em — Brandon Lake
- Runnin’ — Brandon Lake
- Same God — Elevation Worship
- Firm Foundation (He Won’t) — The Belonging Co.
- Bless God — Cody Carnes
- Raise A Hallelujah — Bethel Music
- No One Like The Lord — Bethel Music
- Goodness of God — Bethel Music
- Way Maker — Leeland
- Gratitude — I Am They
- Evidence — Josh Baldwin
2 Messages Which Have Encouraged Me
In Closing
Your prayers are requested, coveted, and appreciated. Christianity is a team sport!😀
You can rest assured of 3 things:
- I’m not going to do anything squirrelly to “help God out;” I will be following the medical advice I receive.😇
- I’m going to trust Him to heal me using whatever means He deems appropriate.
- I won’t give up.
Please bookmark this page. I will be updating it as this journey progresses.
Love y’all!
Steve