"Hope is a dangerous thing."
I just watched 1917 and I won't give anything away but the above line is spoken by a commanding officer to a young lance-corporal. He meant it is dangerous to have hope in such a dire situation as WWI, but I submit that, in this cosmic battle into which we were born, hope is dangerous because it is our weapon against the enemy. A hopeful people are a people full of potential, and if you oppose them, danger.
This brings me to Isaiah 61:1: "...the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted..." (NASB). The word afflicted here is the Hebrew word 'anav which can mean, "poor, humble, afflicted, lowly, (very) meek." But Genesius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon gives one more meaning that I clung to when I first read it: miserable.
Miserable comes from root words meaning "pitiable."
I just wanted to give you hope this morning that if you feel miserable, lowly, poor, meek, pitiable, YOU have good news preached to you by the Lord. And as we approach the end of Lent, I find it of the utmost importance to tell you that the aforementioned "good news" is Christ's birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and continuing work on our behalf. "...to bring good news to the afflicted..." And I believe we can weather anything this world or the devil himself throws at us with this news.
Hope is a dangerous thing.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Some Final Thoughts: The River Of Life Runs Deep
"The river of life runs deep." I couldn't get this sentence out of my head as a I prepared for and received my latest PET scan. I had no idea what it meant but it gave me a great deal of peace.
Fast-forward to yesterday evening after the test. I was worshipping to Hillsong UNITED's Zion Sessions album and, during a spontaneous moment, started singing, "When I pass through the river You will be with me, in it, in it, in it." I felt it resonate deep inside of me. Then, the light flipped off in my spirit and I remembered the beginning portion of Isa. 43.2 (God talking, here): "'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.'" It all finally made sense. I don't know if this is at all theologically accurate (#SorryHeresyHunters) but I think this is the same "river of life" God put in my head and heart: quotidian, cancer treatment, get the kids to school, vote in an election, life.
I just wanted to hop on here and share. I hope this helps somebody. Whether you be sunbathing in the shallows of this river of life or plunged head-long into the raging middle: "You are with me."
Much love,
Anna Jo
Fast-forward to yesterday evening after the test. I was worshipping to Hillsong UNITED's Zion Sessions album and, during a spontaneous moment, started singing, "When I pass through the river You will be with me, in it, in it, in it." I felt it resonate deep inside of me. Then, the light flipped off in my spirit and I remembered the beginning portion of Isa. 43.2 (God talking, here): "'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.'" It all finally made sense. I don't know if this is at all theologically accurate (#SorryHeresyHunters) but I think this is the same "river of life" God put in my head and heart: quotidian, cancer treatment, get the kids to school, vote in an election, life.
I just wanted to hop on here and share. I hope this helps somebody. Whether you be sunbathing in the shallows of this river of life or plunged head-long into the raging middle: "You are with me."
Much love,
Anna Jo
Monday, March 16, 2020
Last PET Scan At Portsmouth Naval
Well, today was the end of an era. I had my final PET scan at Portsmouth Naval Hospital (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth). This is a big deal because it's where I had the high-risk operation that removed the cancer from the head of my pancreas and where I received all subsequent, cancer-related care.
The phrase that I haven't been able to get out of my head since last night is, "The river of life runs deep." I don't entirely know what this means but can somewhat connect it to a comment I saw on a facebook post once. A man had just lost his wife to cancer, like hours before, and a wise leader in my life and mutual friend of ours said something to the effect of, "My prayers are with you; you're in the deepest waters life gives right now." That was four years ago and it still sticks with me.
I learned what it means to fight at PN. I learned what it means to grieve and help others through their grief at PN. I learned what it means to give up gracefully at PN. I learned what it means to receive grace gracefully at PN. I befriended countless doctors, nurses and staff at PN. It will always hold a special place in my heart. The river of life runs deep.
The river of life runs deep. Sometimes we're blessed to sunbathe in the shallows but sometimes we are thrust headlong into the raging middle. What I can say is thank you. Thank you to family and friends for holding me up on the darkest nights. Thank you to the medical professionals who save our lives. And finally, after much fighting, I can say thank you to God. For all of it. As my old Young Life leader who also beat cancer always says, "all a gift."
The river of life runs deep.
The phrase that I haven't been able to get out of my head since last night is, "The river of life runs deep." I don't entirely know what this means but can somewhat connect it to a comment I saw on a facebook post once. A man had just lost his wife to cancer, like hours before, and a wise leader in my life and mutual friend of ours said something to the effect of, "My prayers are with you; you're in the deepest waters life gives right now." That was four years ago and it still sticks with me.
I learned what it means to fight at PN. I learned what it means to grieve and help others through their grief at PN. I learned what it means to give up gracefully at PN. I learned what it means to receive grace gracefully at PN. I befriended countless doctors, nurses and staff at PN. It will always hold a special place in my heart. The river of life runs deep.
The river of life runs deep. Sometimes we're blessed to sunbathe in the shallows but sometimes we are thrust headlong into the raging middle. What I can say is thank you. Thank you to family and friends for holding me up on the darkest nights. Thank you to the medical professionals who save our lives. And finally, after much fighting, I can say thank you to God. For all of it. As my old Young Life leader who also beat cancer always says, "all a gift."
The river of life runs deep.
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