I brought Jean home from the hospital this afternoon and I will take this opportunity to post some thoughts about the subject of God’s goodness and greatness.  A number of people wrote us to tell us how good God has been to us.  They are right.  God is good.  We are very grateful that Jean did not have cancer and the problems she did have were relatively easy to fix.

Coincidently, today, the same day that Jean came home from her surgery, was the funeral for our friend Marilyn Pieri, missionary to Italy.  She died of cancer, insisting to the last how good God is.  Was God good to us and not good to Marilyn?  The outcomes were very different.  The Pieris prayed for a miracle of healing and did not receive it.

How great is our God?  He displays His power in healing the sick miraculously.  My cousin had an inoperable and agressive cancer.  I prayed that God would take her quickly so that she did not have to suffer.  Several months later the doctors could find no sign of the cancer.  My cousin attributed her healing to the prayers of her mother, and I agree with her.

God also displays His power in giving the grace to endure suffering and death triumphantly, as in the case of Marilyn Pieri.  This victory over suffering is something that the world cannot understand.  I am reminded of John Wesley’s comment, “Our people die well.”

During Thanksgiving week, Jean’s niece Pat wrote, “God’s blessings and mercy have been very much on my mind this week. Thanks for adding to my list!”  Many years ago Pat lost her hsband to a heart attack, leaving her with five children to rear as a single mom.  She has suffered her share of painful bumps and bruises since then.  God did not miraculously heal her husband.  Yet she is thankful.  The following is the gist of my response to her letter.

Which is the greater display of God’s power: healing or sustaining grace?  I suspect it is the latter.

We can see the goodness of God in Paul’s happy dilemma.  “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  (Phil. 1:20-21)  “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”  (Rom. 14:8)

The Christian is in a win-win situation, no matter what the outcome, because God always knows and chooses what is best.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  (Rom. 8:28)

Thank you for praying for Jean.  The news after her surgery this morning was very good.  The “lesion” that they removed was not malignant.  They did minimal invasive surgery, so the prospects for a quick recovery are also good.

We are grateful to the Lord for his mercy.

Jean is scheduled to have surgery to have a growth removed from her right lung on Tuesday, November 25.  Your prayers for her would be appreciated.

Jean had her PET-CT scan in Budapest yesterday.  The doctor who did the test was puzzled.  He classified the results as “weak positive.”   He is unsure of what we should do next.  I took the disk with the scans in to the doctor in Pecs this morning.  She has tentatively scheduled surgery for November 28 if it is needed.  Please pray that God will give the doctors wisdom about what to do.

Jean has an appointment for a PET-CT scan in Budapest for Wednesday, November 19.  The results of the scan will determine whether or not she needs surgery at this time.  If surgery proves necessary, it is scheduled for this Friday, November 21.  We would all appreciate your prayers about this matter.

Jean had her bronchioscope test today. Though the test was a real trial in itself, the results could not have been better. The doctor believes the spot is an infamation from an infection and nothing more serious. He took three samples for a biopsy, just in case. Your continued prayers would be appreciated. We will update you as soon as we know more, possibly as early as Wednesday.