The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Write an INSPIRATIONAL article (11/27/14)
This week I will be taking a large leap of faith as I travel from Memphis, Tennessee to Houston, Texas. It won’t be a pleasure trip, although I look forward to the journey. I will be going to the MD Anderson Cancer Center for a series of tests to determine if a certain kind of surgery can be performed in order to rid my body of a malignant tumor.

I will be leaving on Monday, December 1st, and returning the following Saturday. If all goes well, I will return a few weeks later for surgery. It will all take strength and courage from a power greater than myself, but something inside keeps urging me to take the next step. God has taken my hand, and I will follow his lead.

This is certainly an act of God. My oncologist, who is a kind and compassionate man, called me out of the blue a few weeks ago and offered this opportunity. After several laser ablations, chemo, and radiation, this stubborn abnormality in my body won’t go away. It lay dormant for a year, then reared its ugly head once more.

Surgery is the only answer now, and there are no doctors in Memphis who are familiar with this particular type of operation. The closest surgeon of this kind practices in Houston.

My doctor presented my case to a group of oncologists at a regional conference, and one of the doctors from MD Anderson got very excited as he viewed my PET scan x-rays. He felt quite sure the surgeons in Houston could help me.

At first, I refused the idea altogether. How in the world could I get to Houston? The thought of driving there scared me to death, and the airfare and hotel expenses would certainly be astronomical. My disability income would never cover it. Besides, I am not a traveler by nature. I enjoy the comfort zone of my home. How could I ever manage the trip alone? I know nothing whatsoever about the city of Houston!

Suddenly, God spoke to me. You must do this! I will make a way for you. This is a gift.

I quickly called my doctor and accepted the offer, and all the while my mind was racing. How can this possibly be arranged? Then, I heard a still, small, voice telling me everything would work out just fine. After that, things started to fall into place.

A family member offered to cover my expenses. The Cancer Center called and made all my travel arrangements for me. The hotel I will stay in is less than a mile from the cancer center, and there is free shuttle service from the hotel.

My older brother called and insisted on making the trip with me if I should return later to have surgery. This is totally out of his nature to do such a thing. He is what some would call a spendthrift, and this trip will cost him quite a bit of money.

If this all works out, in a few months I will be completely cancer free! As I am writing this, I realize just how fortunate I am to have a loving God who made this all possible. I am not afraid, because I know he is with me every step of the way. He has commanded this, and I will follow through.

Before this miracle came to me, I had resigned myself to a battle with cancer for the rest of my life. Now, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. At age 63, I thought I would be lucky to make it to my 70th birthday, but suddenly, I have dreams of dancing at each of my granddaughter’s weddings.


My God is an awesome God!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 777 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Holly Westefeld
12/05/14
Praying that all goes smoothly.
Deborah Porter 
12/05/14
Just popping in to leave a note to say I have lifted you in prayer tonight. Believing with you to dance at each of those weddings ... many years down the track.
Margaret Kearley
12/06/14
Thank you for taking us on your journey with you and sharing the wonder working power of our God who sweeps away obstacles like cobwebs! This is a beautiful and compelling piece of writing - thank you again. With love and prayer, Margaret
Verna Cole Mitchell 
12/06/14
Sending a prayer. Thank you for expressing so eloquently God's hand on your life.
Milly Born
12/06/14
This is definitely an inspirational story--clinging to God and seeing His loving hand at work amid difficulties and sickness.

I'm praying that our Miracle Healer may guide the hands of the surgeons and you will recover in no time. You'll dance that dance.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/06/14
Oh what a powerful piece about Faith. I'm so sorry you're going through this and that I didn't realize it. I've been wrapped up in my own life and I'm sorry. I know God still has many plans for you. Thank you for reminding me to leave my worries in God's hands, and know I've been praying and will continue to do so. Hugs
Allen Povenmire
12/06/14
Certainly I join many others in praying for you as you go through this process. In fact, as I read the piece, I was "inspired" by the Holy Spirit to pray for you, so I'm thinking you nailed the topic pretty well! Always enjoy your writing, and this is no exception. Prayers, and I await the wonderful sequel!
Noel Mitaxa 
12/06/14
Just imagining how God will use you to make credible connections with other cancer patients who are overwhelmed by the disease - with no awareness of God's availability for them. He has his hand on you as a valuable, vulnerable agent of his grace, within your family and among the hospital staff who may be facing pressures of their own.
God bless you as a blessing to others.
LaVonne Wood
12/06/14
I am believing with you that you will be completely cancer free. I definitely believe the Lord wants you well so you can continue to write wonderful inspiring stories like this one. God Bless! LaVonne
Tracy Nunes 
12/07/14
Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us! Your honesty about the fear and then praising God for helping you overcome it is inspiring.I will be praying and I hope you keep us updated.
JK Stenger
12/07/14
Amen. God bless you. I pray you'll be dancing indeed like you so beautifully wrote. You can count on my sincere prayers.
C D Swanson 
12/07/14
Oh Lynn how amazing your journey, as I've said "time and time again" through all of your many ups and downs, there is no limits to what God can and will do.

You have been in prayer consistently since I've met you, and have prayed extra hard for this trip.

All doors have opened for you to go ahead with this procedure...and I've great faith, and absolutely NO DOUBT that you WILl be cancer free and give God all the victory and praise!

You are a special woman and GOd has His plans for all of His children, and He has some amazing things ahead for you!

God loves you and so do I!!!

Inspirational, uplifting and a powerful witness to the power of our sovereign and loving Father!!!

If this doesn't take some kind of a WIN, I give up on this forum! This is the epitome of inspiration and the miraculous workings of God.

My heart is with you.

God bless you abundantly my friend~
Robert Douglas Brown
12/09/14
My dear friend, in the months since I first read your message on Faithwriters home page, I knew in an instant that the Lord wanted me to contact you.

You have become a dear friend, and I feel like I have known you for a long time. You remind me so much of my big sister, and I have officially made you my 2nd big sister!

I have no doubt that you will be made cancer free soon. God will make all of the needed arrangements for your surgery.

Your article is inspiration in its purest form. Keep thinking of God, and he will keep you healthy and happy!

God Bless!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/12/14
Congratulations on ranking 11 overall! Happy Dance!
Linda Goergen
01/08/15
I am belatedly reading some challenge entries and I am so glad I read this one! Thank you so much for sharing this testimony of hope, sharing the amazing way God has opened doors for you! As we look around in this day and age and see the world deteriorating around us, a reminder like this that God is still on the thrown, still in the miracle business and still in control, down to the smallest details is such a blessing to read! Prayers!