2nd Round of Radioiodine Treatment 05/31/06

Today I received the schedule for my second round of I-131 Radioiodine treatment:

04/24/06 Last dose of thyroid hormone

05/01/06 Begin low-iodine diet

05/22/06 - 05/26/06 Dosimetry Process

05/31/06 Admission to Washington Hospital Center for Radioiodine Therapy

Once I am off of the thyroid hormone, I will become hypothyroid, which will leave me very weak and tired. I appreciate everyone's prayers during this time for physical strength.

The Good That Pain Can Do

Following is a short devotional from today's Our Daily Bread.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. —Psalm 119:71

Affliction, when we accept it with humility, can be instructive, a discipline that leads us to a deeper, fuller life. “Before I was afflicted I went astray,” David said, “but now I keep Your Word” (Psalm 119:67). Peter would agree: Affliction leads us not to live for ourselves “but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2).

Far from being an obstacle to our spiritual growth, pain can be the instrument of it—if we’re trained by it. It can push us closer to God and deeper into His Word. It is a means by which He graciously shapes us to be like His Son, gradually giving us the compassion, contentment, tranquility, and courage we long and pray for. Without pain, we wouldn’t be all that God wants us to be. His strength shines brightest through human weakness.

Has God set you apart today to receive instruction through suffering and pain? Endure this training patiently. He can turn the trial into a blessing. He can use it to draw you close to His heart and into His Word, teach you the lessons He intends for you to learn, and use it to bestow His grace on you.

God is making more of you—something much better—than you ever thought possible. —David H. Roper

By faith a Christian can have poise
And rise above all that annoys—
Sustained and strengthened by God’s power
To live in victory hour by hour. —Hess

Whatever God teaches us through pain is gain.

A Glimpse Of God’s Love

I was intrigued by today's Our Daily Bread entitled A Glimpse Of God’s Love.

"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." —2 Corinthians 10:17

Nadine was in the last stages of cancer when I met her. The doctor said chemotherapy would no longer help. She was a dedicated Christian and had a wonderful peace from God. She spent her last weeks making scrapbooks for her adult daughters and planning her memorial service.

Nadine’s joyful spirit was inviting to be around, and people looked forward to spending time with her. She kept her sense of humor and always shared the ways that the Lord was meeting her needs. She gave everyone around her a glimpse of God’s loving character.

When a man who had been born blind was healed by Jesus, he too had the opportunity to show others a glimpse of who God is (John 9:1-41). Neighbors asked, “How were your eyes opened?” (v.10). He told them about Jesus. When Pharisees questioned him, he told them how Jesus had given him sight, and concluded, “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (v.33).

We may wonder how we can show others what God is like. God can be clearly seen in the way we handle life’s difficulties, such as problems at work or home, or perhaps a serious illness. We can share with others how He is comforting us—and let them know that the Lord cares for them too.

Who in your life needs to see the love of God? — Anne Cetas

Believers who are Spirit-filled
Are unaware that God may be
Revealing through their Christlike ways
A glimpse of His reality. —Hess

You can be a glimpse of God’s love to someone.