The Venable Family: Phase One Complete

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Phase One Complete

Phew... we can't believe 12 weeks have passed and the Taxol plus Herception treatments have been completed; only the Lord could have brought us through so "smoothly", relatively speaking of course!!! HE has been so faithful to hear and answer all of your prayers and to minister to Michelle, the kids, and me as only HE can do!!! This last treatment seems to have hit Michelle pretty hard compared to the last four weeks or so, but I'm not sure that wasn't to be expected when you take into account the accumulation of fatigue from 11 weeks of treatments, having her parents in the 10 days previous (not getting as much sleep as she should have! ), and all the work she has been putting in packing things up for our move. I am amazed she is standing at all... again, only in the Lord's strength and through His sustaining power!! She seems to be doing a bit better today but your prayers for a quick recovery would be much appreciated!!!

Next Monday Michelle will take her first "once every three weeks" Herceptin treatment, which she will be doing for the next 9 months, but that should not cause her any difficulty at all. She will also have another MUGA Scan to check her heart function next Tuesday... so pray for those two things!!!

Apart from those things, all else is on track for our relocation. Still lots of little things to pack up but much is already done... but those "odds and ends" can be real annoying, know what I mean? So many things to remember and do!!! Sarah and I will be driving heading out next Wednesday (6/27) to transport my truck and spend the weekend with the church... we will fly home early on Sunday. So, for all intents and purposes, this is my last full week in the office here! I can't believe the time has gone this quickly and we are so close to relocation; I find myself with a range of emotions and feelings. Still, there is that quiet confidence and assurance that we are right on the path the Lord has for us, so I can't wait to "get on with it"!

Many blessings to you all... I will be posting again soon!!! We love you... - Steve and Michelle -

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi,I do not know how I forgot your blog site. John got your message about the condo, move, treatments, etc. and we are so happy that you will be back in the SW. It has been a long haul! God is faithful and good and awesome and so is the Venable family. Steven, Ptr. John had to rent a tractor to do the work that you and Palmer did all those years ago! The tractor isn't as pleasant as you guys! Love, Dianna (Mama D); June 19, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Gretchen Bertuccini said...: Hi Venable gang--

Dianna just e-mailed me this site---We knew about the treatments from Melissa and have been praying, but we had no idea about the move. Congratulations for the move and new ministry opportunities! Moving is miserable when you "feel" well--it's especially awful when your sick. Additional prayers will be made.
Love you all, Paul, Gretchen, Michaila, Mackenzie, Madison, and Jake; June 22, 2007 at 8:04 AM
Steve Venable said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; June 23, 2007 at 6:32 AM
Steve Venable said...: Thank you Dianna and Gretchen... it was an encouragement to Michelle to "hear" from you two!

Dianna, tell John HI and that there is no substitution for youth!!! :-)

Gretchen, say HI to Paul and the kids for us. We trust and pray all is well there in Houston, right??? :-); June 23, 2007 at 6:35 AM

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Trust, Lean, Acknowledge

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Prov 3:5-6)

An alternate rendering of "He shall direct your paths" is that the Lord will make your way smooth and/or straight. This can seem so contrary to life experiences, which at times appear to be anything but smooth or straight. Yet, as we trust in the Lord and not in our interpretation or thoughts on what is "happening around or to us", acknowledging that He is in control and nothing escapes His knowledge including the trials of life, relying on Him for even our very next breath, He truly provides "shock absorbtion" for the bumps and potholes of life; and what seemed to be a dramtic turn in the road is nothing more than Him redirecting us down a path for our edification and growth. It is not always easy and many times doesn't seem to make sense, but in the Lord it is ALWAYS for our good.

Trust in, lean on and acknowledge HIM... He will guide you through even the most difficult of times of life. Today, even if you are in the midst of the fiery trial, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, in Jesus you will come through it not singed, without even the "smell" of fire on you (Daniel 3:27), purified for greater service unto Him and bringing glory to His name alone.

Pause and Ponder (Selah):

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say,'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" (James 4:13-16, NKJV)

At times like the one Michelle and I find ourselves in at the moment, it amazes me how simple life really becomes. Yes, things can seem on the surface complicated when you think of tests, surgery, radiation therapy, possibly chemotherapy; but in actuality, as life becomes more focused on the immediate and more critical, it slows and everything just seems a little more uncomplicated. You can't really make plans for tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next year to some extent; you literally have to live life moment to moment, day to day. This brings about a re-evaluation of ones life, causing that which is truly important to come to the forefront.

It makes me wonder how many times we, even as Christians, fashion our plans, establish where we are heading, and detail out where our life is going and then, once we have come up with it all, ask God to bless OUR endeavors having never sought Him in the process. How much struggle do we bring into our own lives because we didn't first seek Him as we were coming up with our "plans"? I am reminded again that is is okay to make plans in the Lord for our future, but in the end it is the Lord's will that matters most. To paraphrase Henry Blackaby from Experiencing God, we are really here to simply participate in what God is already doing around us!!! As the Word says, don't get caught up looking to tomorrow because you have no control over what it holds and sufficient for the day (today) is it's own trouble (or "stuff" to deal with!). Oh yeah, and don't get hung up looking back at yesterday either because you can't change it!

Keep an eye on where you are heading in the future, yes, trusting in Jesus each step of the way as you make your plans. But be sure, in the midst of the "road trip", to give your ALL today in serving the Lord, giving Him the "steering wheel" as HE guides and directs you into the future HE has planned for you. It is better than anything you could have come up with anyway!!!

The Venable Family

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Phase One Complete

4 comments:

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