The Rogers' Family Neighborhood

“Faith is …the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)

Thank you for taking the time today to be a part of my healing journey.
Today, I am reflecting on one of my very first visits to the hospital at the beginning of this journey. I went in for an ultrasound scan of the lymph node under my left arm that would confirm whether or not a biopsy would be needed. As the nurse began preparing me for the scan, she smiled, introduced herself, and said, My name is Faith. I will never forget that moment and the overwhelming feeling that came over me as I looked up at her with tears in my eyes and said, “Of course it is.” God’s presence at that moment was powerful, and I knew I was beginning a new journey of faith. As Faith started the scan, my eyes were drawn to a wall hanging near me that read, “Faith is believing even when we can’t see.” At the end of this update I want to share a poem that has really ministered to my soul. But first:

My labs (blood tests) yesterday were good and I will be going in for chemo treatment #3 tomorrow morning (Tuesday April 30th). The oncologist added two additional days of injections (7 instead of 5) this past week, which has helped to keep my white blood cell count high enough. I find that walking helps to strengthen my mind, body, and soul every day. I am grateful for the sunshine and beauty surrounding me as I walk. Truly thankful that with God’s help, I have been able to manage the nausea. I treasure your prayers as I go in tomorrow and pray that the treatment will continue to eliminate the cancer cells and that the rest of my body will be protected and strong.

Like the waves – His faithfulness never ceases

The Eye of the Storm
(Author Unknown)
“Fear not that the whirlwind shall carry thee hence,
Nor wait for its onslaught in breathless suspense,
Nor shrink from the whips of the terrible hail,
But pass through the edge to the heart of the gale,
For there is a shelter, sunlighted and warm,
And Faith sees her God through the eye of the storm.

The passionate tempest with rush and wild roar
And threatening of evil may beat on the shore,
The waves may be mountains, the fields battle plains,
And the earth be immersed in a deluge of rains,
Yet, the soul, stayed on God, may sing bravely its psalm,
For the heart of the storm is the center of calm.

Let hope be not quenched in the blackness of night,
Though the cyclone awhile may have blotted the light,
For behind the great darkness the stars ever shine,
And the light of God’s heavens, His love shall make thine,
Let no gloom dim thine eyes, but uplift them on high
To the face of thy God and the blue of His sky.

The storm is thy shelter from danger and sin,
And God Himself takes thee for safety within;
The tempest with Him passeth into deep calm
And the roar of the winds is the sound of a psalm.
Be glad and serene when the tempest clouds form;
God smiles on his child in the eye of the storm.”

Today was the second day of treatment (chemo) and we are so thankful for your prayers and encouragement. Side effects have not overtaken Amy’s courageous spirit and she is doing well. There are so many things that she is feeling as her body adjusts to the medical path, medicines, and fights off the cancer.
A week of injections begins Thursday to strengthen the white blood cell count. The next infusion should be two weeks from today.
We are filled with hope, and Amy’s spirit inspires me each day.
Thank you again for your prayers and care!

April 12th our walking path

Thank you for your faithful prayers!

Prayer is so powerful, and I feel I am being carried right now! One of my favorite places to be is sitting with a cup of chai in my hands and listening to others share their journey with the Lord. I love seeing the connections and HIS fingerprints all over the stories of our lives.

This is a season where I am again experiencing the power and presence of God on an unknown path that I could never have imagined I would be on. My walk this evening on a nearby trail reminds me so much about the beautiful views that are unique to this life path that could not be seen from anywhere else. I am grateful for the deep trust cultivated over the years in our faithful God, which continues to grow even more now. I recently revisited one of my favorite chapters in Brennan Manning’s book Ruthless Trust – Chapter titled The Geography of Nowhere. “…The music of what is happening can be heard only in the present moment, right now, right here. Now/here spells nowhere. To be fully present to whoever or whatever is immediately before us is to pitch a tent in the wilderness of Nowhere. It is an act of radical trust – trust that God can be encountered at no other time and in no other place than the present moment.”

I am hearing my Savior’s invitation to live each day WITH Him in the present moment. Not thinking about tomorrow or yesterday or months from now but just today …and I am discovering a deep sense of joy, peace, and hope that is powerful evidence that He is near.

As we shared, treatment this week was delayed due to my white blood cell count being too low. I have received a couple of extra injections this week to help boost my cell count, and I am scheduled for treatment on 4/16. Thank you for praying with us that my blood work will be ok and I will be able to move ahead with treatment on schedule.

Because He lives,

Amy

Here is a LINK to a worship song that has been encouraging my heart today:
Such an Awesome God >

You call the sun to rise – And You lay it down to rest – You hold this heart of mine – And You hold my every breath.
Such an awesome God – So mighty – So holy – So wonderful – Such an awesome God – So selfless – So generous – So faithful, You are
Seated in majesty – Reigning in holiness – The table is set for me – For You are the living bread
Such an awesome God – So mighty – So holy – So wonderful – Such an awesome God – So selfless – So generous – So faithful, You are
And nothing comes close to the Lord Almighty
Nothing as sweet as His love and mercy (x2)

Nothing comes close – Nothing comes close
Jesus, the Son of God – Hung on the cross to die – But not even death itself – Could hold You down, for You rose to life.
Such an awesome God – So mighty – So holy – So wonderful – Such an awesome God – So selfless – So generous – So faithful, You are

Thank you again for all of your prayers. The second chemo treatment that was scheduled for tomorrow (April 9th) has been delayed one week. Amy’s white blood cell count was too low, so some medication for two days will help raise it to the needed level.

Genesis 9:12-17 – When I send the clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. 

On Easter Sunday morning, I received a text message from our son Josh. He was volunteering as a parking attendant at his church and sent me this picture of not just one rainbow but two! The beauty on display in this picture spoke deeply to my heart of God’s promises and care during this journey.

My second chemo treatment is coming up on April 9th. The side effects have been minimal so far; most of them occurred during the first few days. I have an appointment with the oncologist this Friday to get a deeper understanding of the treatment plan ahead. 

I am so grateful for the prayers, love, and encouragement from family and friends, and I truly feel as if I am being carried. As I reflect on the unknown path with my health, I remain in awe of my Amazing God. There is a depth of love and presence that I am experiencing from the Lord that is unique to the path that I am on. Psalm 91:1-2 has always been a beautiful promise for me, but it has taken a whole new meaning in this season as I walk this path holding tightly to my Father’s hand. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

As I walk through this week, I have found myself making this declaration: 

“God, you are my refuge, my place of safety. You are my God, and I TRUST YOU!

As we approach Easter Sunday this weekend, the song “Because He Lives” has a special power and message for all of us!

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives…” Bill Gaither

We are grateful for your prayers as Amy begins a five-month chemo treatment journey. The first infusion is tomorrow (Tuesday, March 26th), and then every other week.

We are so grateful for all of your care and prayers!

One of my favorite worship songs is Goodness of God. The lyrics to this song have taken a whole new depth of meaning over these last few weeks. As I sing, it has become a prayer and a confident declaration. All my life, I have experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God. As I walk on this unknown path that is before me, the Lord continues to reveal through beautiful and profound ways the depths of His love and shows me that He is near! 

There have been many unknowns that have kept us from knowing how or just what to communicate. As we have shared, in early February, I was diagnosed with Metastatic Ductal Breast Carcinoma involving Lymphoid tissue. I have had two biopsies – one of a lymph node under my left arm and now, more recently, a lymph node in my neck. Both tested positive for Ductal Breast Carcinoma.  What followed was a full body PET scan where no additional areas of cancer were found, which is good news! An appointment with an oncologist last Friday then updated the proposed treatment plan. So, I will not be having a mastectomy surgery right now but will be going in tomorrow morning (March 19th) for a chemo port placement. I will begin treatment, most likely next week. 

Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, notes, and love for our family! We are grateful for each of you and hold you in our hearts & prayers.

Because He Lives …

Amy

 God showed up this morning. It was a quiet (somber) hour drive from Murrieta up to the Kaiser Hospital in Riverside for her early morning PET scan.  We waited quietly until she was called in.

After an hour scan, Amy came out with a big smile on her face.   I was confused.   

She said,  “God surely loves me. ” and went on to tell me how she shared her journey and faith in Jesus with the scan technician – who then gave her three warm blankets to make her feel more comfortable during the scan,  put worship music on (first song being, “He Reigns” by the Newsboys with lyrics that begin like this, “It’s the song of the redeemed, rising from the African plain!”),  then the technician asked if he could pray for her. And he did, with care and power!  He was so moved by the presence of Jesus in Amy and responded with holy care and prayer.  

Thank you, God.  

Thank you for your prayers, too! 

“He turned our mourning into dancing again…”(Ps 30:11-12)

Last evening here before returning to the USA tomorrow- so absolutely wanted to spend time with the amazing children in the ELI Home!!!