My Christian Faith

Update October 29, 2006

As I looked over the last page I’d done about my faith this morning, I was surprised to see that I’d written in five years ago. That must have been in 2001, and it would be another year before I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Once I was diagnosed with cancer, my life changed completely. It has a way of taking over your life, but in the case of my faith, it only reinforced it and made it stronger.

My walk with the Lord today may be different than most; I don’t really know; because I have an impaired immune system I’m forbidden by the doctor to be around groups of people. That can seriously change the way you live! Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband who has made this restriction easier to bear. All that aside, in my life as it has become, I find that I lean on God constantly. I “talk” to Him all day as I move through the days, and He is part of everything I do.

We hold bible study lessons at home, and while I miss having a church family a great deal, Jim (my husband) is trained both to teach and preach, and presents some wonderful lessons. I have so much to learn as a Christian, this has been a wonderful blessing. This last year, since we have had friends around us in our new location, we’ve often had others at our bible studies, and have enjoyed that a great deal. At home we can control who comes, and make sure they are not ill. We are presently working our way through the book of Acts, and I’m enjoying it a great deal. Studying the bible with someone else is completely different than reading through it alone, as you gain so much more when someone is learned enough to bring it alive. It has helped compensate for the loss of our church.

In Matthew 18:20 (KJV), Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Although it may appear that I have not mentioned my faith in all this time since there is nothing else recorded in this section, that’s not the case. At times I am quite ill (I still have active lung cancer), so most updates to the website have been confined on my journal pages, mostly. Reading through those you will see that my faith is very much alive and well. I would not be here today if it were not for the Lord. I was supposed to have died three years ago, and I am only still here due to the grace of Almighty God. He alone controls my life, and my death.

It's inspiring to me to look back over these pages, when my Christianity was so new and fresh. I can now see why people sometimes write to tell me that they also receive inspiration from it.

Although we all grow and change, having a life-threatening illness that goes on and on and on will change you, no doubt about it. However, as with many things, that change can also work for the good. Scripture speaks to this very thing.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I've been asked how I can find "good" in having cancer. That's not a difficult question at all. I know that I could never have had the appreciation of all the wonders that God has created if I had not had this illness. I know that I look at all things in my life differently than if I were not ill, and that no one who has not had such an illness, or the same threat to life, cannot look at things as I do. My family and loved ones all mean much more to me than before, and each time I see them is a precious gift to savor such as I never thought possible. I have come to know more people because of the cancer, and because they search for information and answers, some of them find my pages about it, and draw inspiration from them. That's why they are there. To help those who may have it, and for those who don't, to learn about it.

Early this year I was sorely tried when in January the cancer became very active, and they despaired for me. I, myself, despaired for a day, but only until I turned to the Lord. I had few options left for treatment and none of them were promising. However, the Lord has prevailed, and I am still here. I had the most active and healthy summer I've had in many years.

Last month, however, we moved, and after doing too much, I contracted bronchitis again, and I have had to be quiet for the past few weeks to recover. Now I have to climb that long road back to strength and energy. I do not despair, however, because I know I have the faith of the Lord to sustain me, and as long as He wills it, I will make it back.

Some people speak of my courage. Believe me when I say I am NOT courageous. I am but a lost little lamb without my Lord, and all of the courage and stubbornness, or whatever it is that keeps me here, is all from the Lord, and is due to His love, His grace, and His faithfulness to us.

You can reach my original page about my faith from here. I hope you enjoy it!

In Christ,

Marcie Foley

Page design and graphics