How do we remain strong through these fears?
I’ll share ☺️ … He makes me strong. Jesus Christ was sent for me, for you, to take every single pain, ailment, fear, condemning thought, sin, bitter perception, terror-physical, emotional, spiritual.. All of it. In spirit, He was given to us by God in perfect love. This is not about us. This is about our Kingdom and what He has planned, which is so great that no religion can articulate the greatness that can simply infiltrate our hearts when we listen. It is finished! I am made new daily by the grace of God and given a strength that is not my own. It is supernatural, calming, and peaceful.

I am so motivated by my family and friends to beat earthly cancer. The continued prayers for healing light up my thoughts while I lay in radiation each day and when I am up at night. Thank you so very much for rooting for me after so many years or not even ever meeting me- my heart pours out gratitude. I believe in miracles and know that we will put up the best fight around.
But the notes I’m receiving that someone’s faith in God is being fueled just a little bit stronger as they empathize with our immediate struggles puts me right back to where my heart and soul is now and will forever be. I continually pray that God uses me how He envisions, even when I don’t understand. ‪

‬
‪#‎considerjesus

I love you Adam Bruns. Not sure how you got a California girl to be considered southern but I love our life the way it is today just as much as I did two years ago. Happy anniversary.. Off to reminisce (this time with a baby in tow and a fancy wheelchair in the trunk!)

___ 5am May 18 2016__

Daddy took us back to the ranch we got married at to get some fresh air today on our anniversary & it was so nice to get out into the country after so much time in hospitals and home. Bentley loved the grounds and enjoyed meeting our friends at the ranch. I want her to grow up knowing what a special place it is to us.

I’ve spent all day praying over her future husband and experiences as my little lioness~ never too early to declare God’s promises over our daughters!
Don’t mind my hair, trying not to comb just in case it decides to leave me this week 😔 (apologies for the little bit of vanity!). 

Our wedding video (online, edited version):

She rises to gather strength.
She rises among other lionesses.
She rises to confront enemies.
She rises to walk with her King.

‪#lionessarising‬

#lisabevere

So grateful for Lisa Bevere and her ministry. Without Christ-centered people liker her who spend their time pouring into social media efforts to share the word of God, I wouldn’t have pick me ups like this. One of the Values at our church, Life.Church, is “We will do anything short of sin to reach people who do not know Christ.” I love this because there are a lot of traditionalists in Christian-based churches who bash our church for utilizing technology and social media, which means that those same people/organizations bash others like Lisa Bevere, or Propel Women, or Proverbs 31 Ministries, and so on…heart breaking! We spend tons of time on social media so why not fill our news feeds with Truth and positivity! Makes sense to me. And where is there sin or shame in that? There’s not.

We have already started radiation treatment this morning. This is a 2 week radiation plan that will treat my whole brain, part of my spine where some cancer is pressing against my spinal cord, and my eliac hip area. The goal of the radiation is to shrink the cancer off the major organs as fast as possible. (I’ll spare the details of what radiation is like until I’m a little more comfortable with the process and side effects.)

Meanwhile, my pathology is under further research at the Mayo Clinic where they’re looking for specific molecular mutations so my systemic treatments (chemo) can be tailored to my body and what it needs to fight. We are praying that they find the mutations easily so a pill form can be developed for me rather than having to continue visits each day for IV. We should hear on that next week.

I am doing my best to remain positive for all the reasons you know, but I want to be clear that I am not strong in my own understanding but relying completely on God through this season. My dear friend and mentor through graduate school Diane Rudebock sent a devotional this morning that outlined exactly where I need to be right now: not in fear of my own limitations but in His presence where His limitless resources will provide. Adam and I are in this no matter what the cost: “Yes God”.

I sincerely apologize for missing tons of messages as they pour in; know that they mean the world and I’ll do my best to keep up and provide updates so our intentional prayer chains can continue. I love you all and want to leave you with the challenge of considering Jesus each day. His love for you is unique, profound, and alive!

The great news is that doctors were able to biopsy my liver rather than my brain and had a successful and quick(ish) time with pathology. They confirmed I do not have an infection like we hoped but rather a staged IV cancer called adenocarcinoma, which is glandular. It apparently started in one spot in my lung and has spread to the previously mentioned areas: liver, ribs, iliac hip (where I have so much pain), up my spine, and into my brain. There are many masses but we go into this knowing it’s not a common diagnosis for a 26 year old female. Good news is Our God is also not common and can work miracles.

…We have gotten a first opinion on immediate treatment plans and will be meeting another doctor and team tomorrow at OKC’s Stephenson Cancer Center. Second and third opinions are important to us at this point but we also understand the severit
y of beginning this next season of fighting with medical intervention soon, by end of weekend.
I ask for continued prayers. Pastor @craiggroeschel just reminded us (in different but always relevant content) that praying doesn’t always change the situation but it ALWAYS changes us. I love you all for your faithfulness and willingness to consider Jesus. Our Healer.