“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
It has been a rough few weeks and I am not doing well. I have increased stomach & back pain as well as some nausea. It is more difficult to eat anything which sounds good and that actually sits well with me. Watermelon and smoothies are my current “go to”.
I have found Psalm 121 very reassuring, as I know the Lord is with me and I sense His peace and presence in the midst of it all. It reminds me that this world is not my home and the Lord has me looking to Him and my future assurance of eternity with Him. It is impossible to go through this cancer journey and not think of the future. I know because of my decision to receive Jesus’ free gift of eternal life through His death on the cross that my future resting place is 100% percent guaranteed. No guess work, no being good enough, but all about putting faith in the finished work of Jesus. The Apostle John makes this very clear, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12) You can’t make it any clearer than that!
Yesterday (Tuesday) was my appointment day, but treatment was withheld, as I asked that they evaluate the current treatment to see if it is really working. Also, that they would suggest some new options of treatment. I will be meeting with my doctors next week to discuss possible next steps and would very much appreciate your prayers for God’s leading, guidance & divine intervention. This week I am praying that God would speak to Dr. Martins and the team and put into his mind what is the best treatment for me.
In the zig zags of life, I know God is here orchestrating details beyond my awareness and comprehension. I trust Him. I have seen Him at work and know that I am in good hands.
As the Lord brings me to mind would you please pray for:
>> My pain and nausea levels.
>> For my Dr. Martins and his team.
>> My next steps in treatment.
>> My healing.
>> My continued peace, hope + faith.
>> My energy levels.
>> For our family as we enjoy family time together this summer.
>> That the borders would open to cross into Canada, so that we can go visit family and friends, as I have not seen my mom in person since February of 2019!
Praying for many of you.
Debbie & Patrick
Debbie O'Connor's Journey 
What a comforting Psalm you have noted. The contents of this particular journey post is a powerful testimony. You are amazing, Debbie. You are loved and prayed for! Prayers for your family as well.
Karen Johnson
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Thank you Karen.
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Hi Debbie. Bob Lehman here. Please be assured that we will go down your prayer list one by one. Though we don’t know you… We really do know you if you know what I mean. You’re a dear sister in Christ and we pray for God to take away all the pain and the nausea and that you have excellent time with your family this summer. We will pray for each and everyone of your prayer requests. God bless you. Bob and Janet Lehman
Bob Lehman Mission Recharge Minister-at-Large, Missions Door 602.803.2547 email – bob@bobandjanet.org http://www.missionrecharge.org
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Thank you
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Thank you, Bob
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Very good Bob… Thank you.
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Precious Debbie, Know that we are all praying for you through this rough valley. Thank you for giving us specifics. Nausea is miserable. Pain is the pits. May Jesus deepen your faith and hold you close to his heart. -Joan Schutter
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Thank you Joan.
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Hi Debbie (and Patrick),
I am praying for you and I will continue to do so.
May I share the contents of your post with our “Friday Nite Group” for more prayer support?
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Yes, please share. Thank you Tim.
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Yes, Sister. Amen to your requests. The Lord hears His beloved. I do not know you yet I love you. This love, of course, comes from above and pours over you. He cares.
I am sorry for your present discomfort. You are wise to determine if the current regime is effective and to seek alternatives since this is so difficult for your body. Everybody is different, no?
Again I appreciate your faith and trust, your heart for souls (excellent gospel appeal) and your beautiful communication style. You should write sermons! Market them! Well, if nothing else, I hope that made you smile?
Love and Grace,
Janice Brazeau
Yakima WA
(509)833-1045 – texting
Sent from my iPhone
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Yes, a very big smile as writing is not my thing but it is the Holy Spirit’s thing for sure!
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Dear Debbie,
I’m sorry it has been a rough few weeks with increased pain and nausea. Jeff and I are praying for you. May God continue to comfort, and strengthen you. May He give you joy. We love you and will continue to pray for you.
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Thank you Young Are and Jeff. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
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Dearest Debbie, We think of you so often and hold you in prayer. Psalm 121:1,2 7,8 are my go to verses along with Jerimiah 29:11. Verses 1 and 2 in Pslam show God’s thoughtful wisdom and ultimate power Verses 7 and 8 is His personal relationship with us, ” The Lord will guard us, He will guard our soul (our inner most being), He will guard our going out and our coming in (both day and night), from this day (the day He thought us into being), forth ( our time here on earth), and even forevermore ( when He will take us to be with Him in heaven). He thought us into being before the beginning of time and will be with us where time has no end. How awesome is that!!!!! You have had quite a journey with Him. We are praying for healing and for comfort. We love you Larry and Sandy
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Such sweet words of encouragement and wisdom. Thank you friends.
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Dearest Debbie, We also have you and your family in our prayers. We know that God is with you and you belong to Him. You have served Him faithfully and are precious to Him. He is waiting for you, and for all of us, and our times are in His hands. Even now, your words are strong and full of grace and peace.
What a testimony to us all, and we love you so dearly. You have made such an impact on our lives and the lives of many. Thank you for your faithfulness. Your requests will be our guide to prayer and we will continue to prayer you.
We love you so. much, Mary and Stan
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Thank you dear friends. I was so glad to hear your update through Patrick. Praying for you.
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Debbie
Thank you for your beautiful report and devotional. I love Psalm 121 because it brings so much hope when going through difficult times. Sue and I are praying for you as we specifically prayed through all of your requests this morning. May the Lord give you strength faith courageAnd insight.
Pastor Jerry
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you Pastor Jerry and Sue. There is so much to learn and understand about this journey. I am asking the Lord for greater insight as you mentioned. Your words of encouragement and prayers are greatly appreciated. Love to you both.
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Love you! So glad I got to visit you a couple of weeks ago. So sorry to hear your stomach aches and nausea have increased. praying for you my dear friend.
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Thank you Bridget. So enjoyed catching up and seeing you in person. Thank you for taking time while you were here to see me
Blessings!
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Hallo Debbie,Just red your update. Yes, it’s an up-hill battle!We will keep you in our prayers and will pray for healing and endurance.Now I have to tell you news about myself that is not so nice either. On May 3 I had an operation on my colon and a part of it was cut away because it was malignant! The operation went very well but now 2 malignant spots in my liver were discovered.Tomorrow we ‘ll discuss with the oncologist which treatment is best. We also checked out the Dutch Cancer Institute for treatment. Probably we’ll go there.I am so glad that we know the Lord and are at peace! Our help comes indeed from the Lord! Hallelujah!Stay strong in the Lord!Love you 🥰😍😘EdithSent from my Galaxy
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Thank you for sharing Edith. Patrick and I will be praying for you and your next steps.
Please keep us updated as you are able.
The Prince of Peace makes all the difference in this journey. I am so glad you know, love and trust Him.
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Dear Debbie and Patrick, My heart is heavy for you as I read this update and I am especially sorry for your increased pain and nausea. I am praying for your requests and for adequate meds to help you to be more comfortable and keep down what you eat. We do feel for and pray for all four of you, and for your Doctor and team. And I’m so sorry for nearly 2 1/2 years of not personally seeing your Mom, Debbie. That makes me cry too, as it would hurt me so much if I couldn’t see my mom that long. She had just told me the border was still closed and I was surprised. I don’t know what they are waiting for. But God can move them to open now and I pray He does and you will feel well enough to drive up to see your parents. They need to see you too.
Prayers are answered that you have peace and trust in the Lord and know you are in His forever care. As hard as it is for your family, I pray for their peace and trust too. And may our gracious Lord give you special family times together.
Gary and I send you all hugs and will keep praying for you. I wish we were close enough to help. I pray your church friends are able to come help, Debbie, and I know they’ll be blessed being with you. With Love, Vicky & Gary
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Thank you Vicky for your words of concern and comfort. As a family we are doing well and spending quality time together.
The church family has been supportive and helpful. I am humbled at the response of the body of Christ with prayers, cards, help, encouragement and on and on.
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Thank you Mrs. Syens. Your prayers and words of encouragement are a blessing.
Praying for you as well and your upcoming surgery.
Debbie
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Dear Debbie, I read your post of July 7th several times trying to let it all sink in. I didn’t want to not respond but I also didn’t want to respond with rote or trivial common phrases that can just slide off the lips when one doesn’t know what to sy but feels like they must say something.
I got out my Bible and read Psalms 121 and I have a devotional book called Together with God — Psalms on the top of my desk from Our Daily Bread.
This is how the introduction describes the Psalms:
“In this lifetime, it may not be possible to adequately plumb the depths of the book of Psalms. The length of it is imposing its own, but then a we begin to dig into its truths and teachings, we become further convinced that we could never mine all of its treasures.
Yet we need to start digging. This book, which John Calvin called “an anatomy of all parts of the soul,” reveals to us an unending array of insights into the mind of God and in the ways of humankind. It continually challenges us to pursue wisdom and to seek God.
The songs and poetry that comprise the Psalms teach us to pray, encourage us to trust, and invite us to dine at the table of God’s endless goodness. No wonder C. S. Lewis said, ’the most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance.’”
The editor goes on to say – we invite you to dance along with Lewis and with David as each day of the year an exciting new and God-directed truth is opened up to you in these devotional articles. I thought “what a wonderful invitation to read and study the Psalms”!
There are 6 devotionals on this one Psalm – Psalm 121. I hope you don’t mind my sharing them with you one day at a time in the next few days.
LOOK UP! Psalm 121:1-8 “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2
In the park near our home there’s a trail I enjoy walking on. Along one section there’s a panoramic view of red sandstone rocks in the Garden of the Gods with the majestic 14,115-foot Pikes Peak behind them. From time to time, though I find myself walking that section occupied with some problem and looking down at the wide, smooth trail. If no one is around I may stop and say aloud, “David, look up!”
The psalms known as “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134) were sung by the people of Israel as they walked the road up to Jerusalem to attend the three annual pilgrim festivals. Psalm 121 begins, ‘I will lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?’ (Vs.1) the answer follows, ‘My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (vs 2). The Creator is not an aloof being, but a companion who is always with us, always awake to our circumstances (vv. 3-7), guiding and guarding our journey through life “both now and forevermore” (v. 8).
Along life’s path, how we need to keep our eyes fixed on God, our source of help. When we’re feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, it’s alright to say aloud, “Look up!” Written by David McCasland **** This reminds me of Lauren Daigle’s song “Look up, Child”.
You touched on these very thoughts in your post. You have dug out and mined the treasures God has for His Beloved in these verses.
I must close for today. We are driving to Bryan, TX for the funeral of my dear cousin Yvonne Owens. It will be a long day for the drive itself is about 2 hours and 20 minutes from League City each way. They are combining the visitation and funeral services in the same day because of so many people, like us, are coming from out of town. It will be a family reunion of sorts because so many of the cousins had moved to other states and it’s been years since we have seen them (decades even).
I will touch base again in a day or two with part 2. I love you, my little sister in Christ. Thank you for the list of ways to pray for you.
Barbara White
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