Week of September 1 - 7

September 1

There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
     I Samuel 2:2

We place our trust in so many things in the world around us, things that are fleeting, temporary and ultimately unreliable. 　We place our hope in our own limited devices as well. 　In the end, all of them will let us down, in one way or another. 　The only force in this world that is constant, perfect and eternally strong is God,　the only one to stay true, and unwavering. 　God will never leave us, forget us or change with the times. 　Cancer presents a challenge that needs the power of God to confront, a power that will not bend when battered, a power that will not fail when challenged.


There is probably nothing more I need to be reminded of than to trust you more for everything I require, dear God. I try to go it too much alone, relying on my own power, limited as it is. Today, I am seeking to place my confidence more and more in you. Amen.

September 2

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
     Matthew 7:8

Most of us say we do ask, we do search and we do knock, but we don’t always receive or find or gain entry into where we want to go. So, how is this passage true or right? The key lies in how we ask and with what attitude we search and knock. If we ask with the answer already in mind, telling God what to do, expecting God to confirm our ideas, we miss the point entirely. In that way we are limiting the scope of the answer and especially limiting God. Instead, the asking, searching and knocking needs to be for God’s will for us, for what we need and not just what we want, for God’s limitless possibilities to be evident too and not just our own imperfect, finite, predetermined ideas. When we pray with that understanding in mind, the answers come and the doors that open are far better than any we alone could find.


Dear God, I come to you today and try to put my limited understandings aside. I come seeking your insight, your wisdom and your answers for me, and not just my own. Amen. 

September 3

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
     Isaiah 35:1-2

Deserts are not the barren, lifeless places we may often think they are. They teem with life and majesty. They may be places of harsh conditions and breathtaking extremes. But in them beauty and wonder abound. Cancer is like a desert – harsh, extreme, barren and life-depleting at times. But also, when we determine it to be, cancer can provide a means to discover new life where we saw no life before. It can be a source of joy when others lovingly and compassionately care for us. There can be beauty in the setting of new priorities, in the realization of new blessings that we ignored before. There can be wonder in the healing we seek, as we adopt healthier attitudes, activities, diets and routines. This place can be a place of majesty when we allow it to be.

Remind me, O God, of the richness of the desert. Just when I think I am lost in a place with no comfort and no hope, help me to notice the rich life that exists even there. Help me to understand there is more to know and see. Amen.

September 4

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,…
     Luke 1:78

There are endless dark nights of the soul when we are confronted with cancer. The draining, sleepless hours fill our minds with frightening and terrible possibilities. The distracting demands of our waking doubts sap energy from us that color our attitudes all day. The negative thoughts that invade our spirits do us no good and keep us from the positive work we must do to create a healing atmosphere in our lives. It is too easy to give in to the dark impulses that bombard us. We must never forget that a healing light from God always shines on us, a light that never goes out. When we always look down upon ourselves or at the problems before us, we miss seeing the light from above. We must look up to let it bathe us in its warmth and in its healing rays.

I do not want to walk in darkness anymore. Today, dear God, I will look up to feel and see your glorious light of hope, help and peace. Thank you for this gift for my soul. Amen.

September 5

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called.
     II Samuel 22:7a

The first place we must go to find help and relief is to God. God already knows what we need. God is already at work in us and around us, caring for our needs and answering our calls of distress. We may turn to countless other helpers – and they may be able to provide solace and hope for us in many ways. But it is God who provides those others for us. It is God who shows us the light and the way. Our first course of action in every dilemma and in every difficult decision needs to be turning to the One who understands and knows above all others just what is best and just what is right for us this day.

I need constantly to remember that when I turn to you first, O God, I am already being set on the right path for my needs. I ask for help not to be diverted today. I ask for the wisdom to put your direction first and not my own. Amen. 

September 6

To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     Luke 1:79

Cancer is not a death sentence. Too many people think it is. But those of us who believe that God is stronger and more able than any cancer, know there is hope even in darkness and amidst the shadows that cancer brings. Today – and every day – when doubts arise and resolve is weak, center your thoughts and expectations on the One who offers a better answer, who holds out a deeper hope and who can give us a very real and abiding peace. This One lifts us from the darkness and out of the shadows and shows us a better way to face our dilemmas and dis-ease.

Lurking within me are forces that try to destroy my hope and well-being. But dear Lord, you are also within and you show me the light of healing and peace. I am grateful for your endless help today. Amen.
Amen. 

September 7


Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God."
     I Samuel 2:1a


Gratitude needs to be the cornerstone of our daily lives. We must always return to giving thanks on a consistent, constant basis. When fear threatens us, when uncertainty consumes us or when pain debilitates us, it is very easy to give in to the darker forces around us. But to overcome those forces, we need to spend time being mindful of the forces of light that are infinitely stronger than any of those forces that attempt to break us down. In recounting our blessings we encounter hope and begin to experience healing deeply and profoundly.

I realize that I need to spend thoughtful, disciplined time remembering what is good within and around me. For when I do, O God, I am reminded how present and active you really are in my life. Thank you. Amen.