The oncologist called yesterday, right before my PET scan, and said that the bone marrow results indicated Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a somewhat rare and potentially aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's B-Cell Lymphoma. He is referring me to a specialist at MUSC, the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, and together they will work out a treatment plan. He expects treatment to include Chemotherapy, and perhaps (probably?) bone marrow/stem-cell transplants and some other things I couldn't remember. Which is fine. I trust them to figure it out.
How am I doing? Emotionally good. Physically decent. Symptoms come and go. I started working on a song a few weeks ago, my heart's response to this situation. I finished it last night, and I would like to share it with you. The title is "What Are You Doing, God?" Catchy, right? I'll bet that's a pretty common start to many of our prayers. "God? Are you there? Why is this happening to me???"
What are you doing, God?
I don't understand.
I'm going nowhere fast.
You must have a plan.
Why am I here?
What is my job?
Why are you keeping me
here in the dark?
Do I have a task?
What is your plan?
I don't like this waiting.
I don't understand,
Why am I here?
Jesus, I am your servant,
You hold me close.
Jesus, You are enough.
Jesus, hold me close
and I am safe and warm
In Your Love.
Trouble is coming God.
It's part of your plan.
It might be a lonely road,
but in your grace I stand.
I know you are here-
You're near and not far.
You're right here beside me-
here in the dark.
I trust you my God,
with all that I am.
Your grace is sufficient,
wherever I am.
I'm glad You're here.
Jesus- Light in my Darkness Jesus- Keeper of Dreams Jesus- Peace in my Sorrow As long as I breathe,
I praise Your name
Jesus, I am Your servant-
You hold me close.
Jesus, You are enough.
Jesus, hold me close
and I am safe and warm
In Your Love.
In Your Love.
A year ago, I was in the hospital with Covid. The week before, God told me a Trial was coming, and to "Get Ready." This same "Get Ready" is resonating now. It's an imperative, not a suggestion. This morning I opened to Jeremiah 12-14, and my eyes fell on Jeremiah 12:5.
GOD's Answer: If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out, how can
you compete with horses? If you
stumble in safe country, how will you
manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
God was reminding me that I have it easy right now, but it's about to get a lot harder. So pray for me friends. That God will strengthen me and make me Ready, and that God will use this for His purposes.
It is well with my soul.
🙏We will certainly be praying for you (and your family), Pete.🙏 — When you see the oncologist on Tuesday, you’ll likely hear terms like “chronic” vs “curable” and “immunotherapy” in conjunction with chemotherapy. The immunotherapy drugs—and there are a lot of them—all seem to have long generic names ending in “…amab” — example: Darzalex (trade name) = daratumamab (generic name). They’ve made tremendous progress in treating cancer in recent years. What they might now refer to as chronic will—in God’s timing and by His grace—be curable.
🙏Lord, we pray that you’ll give Pete (and his family) your strength and peace for what lies ahead. Nothing is impossible with you, Lord, and we thank you for demonstrating the love of th…