Declaring His Faithfulness

Words for the Weary: Whether it’s Cancer or Cornonavirus

Aside ~ ~ Becky Michel

ButGodIsBigger3

Dear Family and Friends,

Today we’re celebrating thirty-three years cancer-free from Breast Cancer #1! Woohoo! Some of you walked us through that bald and bruised newlywed year. Forever grateful!

Inflow – Overflow

I’ve been remembering how God comforted me in those scary, weary days, and I want to share that comfort with you. Although Covid-19 and Cancer attack differently, both want to kill and both change us forever. But. God. Is. Bigger.

He comforts us in all our affliction, SO THAT we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.           2 Corinthians 1:4 

A Weightier Word

April 2, 1987, soon after the surgeon delivered the diagnosis, “Becky, it’s cancer,” my pastor sat beside my hospital bed and spoke a tender, weightier word: “Becky, let God do something good with this.”

“But God”

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward SOMETHING GOOD and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. Romans 8:28

When we’re suffering the life-altering, wearisome effects of chemotherapy or quarantine, finding “something good” might seem as likely as finding toilet paper and hand sanitizer! But God.

I’m forever changed by Breast Cancer #1. I hate cancer. It lives as a monster under my bed, forever threatening to jump out and grab me — again. But God is BIGGER and He has forever changed me with “something good.”

Soon after Breast Cancer #2, a professional writer captured the “But God” and “Something Good” themes from Breast Cancer #1.

God’s faithful “something good” is comfort to me, overflowing to you. Even if you’ve read or heard my story before, please read it again. Why?

Four Purposes

  1. Happy Dance with me to praise God for the good He did with something meant for evil.
  2. If you’re weary in this pandemic, imagine me speaking a tender, weightier word to you: “Friend, let God do something good with this.”
  3. How is God BIGGER than cancer and Covid-19?
  4. Is God inviting you to know Him better – who He really is – rather than a version of Him that’s not entirely true? “Something good” coming from Breast Cancer #1 was understanding who He is as my “Good Shepherd.” The truth — not my version.

Whether it’s Cancer or Coronavirus

I know most of us like to skim, so I highlighted for you. Click here for the 4 minute “But God!” video referenced at the end of the article.

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Something Good

Thank you for celebrating with me and allowing me to overflow the comfort God Himself overflowed to me. It’s something good God continues to do!

Forever grateful,

Becky  (who BY FAITH is believing God to do something good with this)

 

Despite Our Best Efforts

Image ~ ~ Becky Michel

Dear Family and Friends,

What does “by faith,” “standing in grace,” “hoping in the glory of God,” look like when the downpour of loss and grief and life’s “hard” pelts, relentless?

Jacqui and I were drenched in metaphorical truth this morning.

Why blog after 16 months of nothing?  Because we all get pelted – despite our best efforts.

Forever grateful,

Becky

P.S. Quick Update

  • I’m learning what it looks like to rejoice when facing all kinds of grief. Breast Cancer #2 launched three years of life’s “hard.” Currently grieving the loss of my Mom. (July 18, 1940 – May 19, 2018 – two years after we lost Dad)IMG_4992
  • Good News! All six-month mammograms have been clear!
  • Daily Tamoxifen (meds to keep cells from feeding on estrogen) seems to be working – no metastases – but the sleep disturbances and memory issue side-effects have been life-altering.

Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Psalm 90:14

When It’s NOT Cancer – but Toxic Nonetheless: Living “By Faith”

Image ~ ~ Becky Michel

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Feeling “Dearly Loved!” I passionately declared “But God is BIGGER!” in the Stories of Lasting Change video Harvest produced last spring. Four minutes worth seeing! Inspiring (and you’ll want a “But God” tattoo!) May my life show this truth – more and more! 

Dear Family and Friends,

When a cancer survivor experiences stomach pain daily for nearly a month, her oncologist orders a CT to “make sure we didn’t miss anything.”

But if that cancer survivor has recently watched the entire Sherlock series for the first time, she might dig for a less obvious (and more benign!) explanation for her pain.

Tim is calling me “Sherlock,” and I like it! (You may recall: Sherlock is actually a girl’s name.)

After some investigation and experimentation, I have been pain free for a week. And I think I’ve discovered the source.

Super gross BUT not cancer! (Remember the hickeys and spider bites after breastcancer#1?)

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Bittersweet.Bald.But God! Celebrating One Year Cancer-Free!

~ Becky Michel
Named my own daughter “Jacqui” in honor of Jackie Redmond.
His.Princess.Warrior.

Dear Family and Friends,

I want to be the “one leper” who turns back to thank Jesus (and I want to bring you with me!) Join me? (P.S. In case you missed my Happy Dance on Facebook, doc called Wednesday, “Your MRI doesn’t show any brain abnormalities. Happy Thanksgiving!”)

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Declaring His Faithfulness: When Knowing About God is not Enough

Video ~ ~ Becky Michel

Dear Friends and Family,

(MUCH shorter video – under three minutes! Woo hoo!)

Cancer stinks. (Update coming soon. Seeing doc tomorrow. Keep praying.) But God…

One good coming from the stink is my renewed commitment to tell my God stories. I’m hoping each story will reveal the God of the Bible, and that each of you will say your next yes to God.

This story: He invites all of us to know Him – not only know about Him.

I’ve come from knowing very little about God, to knowing more about Him, to knowing Him, to the thrill of knowing Him – more and more.

Current example:  I know the Bible teaches God is our rest; He’s shade in the heat. We can sing for joy in the shadow of His wings. I believe this is true because the Bible tells me so.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;  my hope comes from him.  Psalm 62:5

But this year – through the cancer – I’m coming to know God, experientially, as my rest, shade, and shadow (where I really can sing for joy!).

Here’s how it looks for me:

I curl up in my bed and imagine myself at the throne of grace – which God invites us to come, boldly!

And I just stay. Right there.

Where my BIG God, who dearly loves me, keeps His eye on me. I’m quiet.

Rest. Shade. Shadow.

That’s it. I don’t do anything. I’m just there. And getting a glimpse of what “cease striving and know that I am God” looks like.

In what way do you know about God but don’t know Him? And you want to! You believe but from the stands – like a fan. But God invites us to know Him, like a “Chad hits hard!” tackle!

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

Thanking God for you! Praying we know Him – more and more.

Love, Becky (His.Princess.Warrior.)

(Who, by faith, is finding Him faithful as my rest, shade, and shadow for joyful singing!

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11)

 

Declaring His Faithfulness: When we need to KNOW God directs our steps (and loves to lavish grace!)

~ Becky Michel

Dear Family and Friends,

Another story declaring God’s faithfulness to the next generation, another story showing Him BIG and wonderful – to an average woman, to the least.

Yikes! When Zach told me the story is 11:40, I wanted a do-over! No can do, says Zach.

But please go ahead and watch this one. It’s worth the nearly 12 minutes – the story is good (and my expressions and gestures are pretty funny!). The next story will be shorter!! Much shorter!

(And let me tell you how I ended up with ORANGE hair!)

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