Hello sweet friends and family,
Marianne and Louie got a call from the doctor yesterday with an update and they wanted me to share with you all. Louie does have a recurrence of the cancer in his neck, an area under the collar bone, and a small area on his chest. As of right now they are waiting to hear about next steps and treatment options. Their team of doctors from Santa Clara and Fresno will be working together to determine the best course of action, so let's cover them in prayer, asking God to give them wisdom and clear direction. I think we can all agree that this is NOT the news that we wanted to hear, but I hope and pray that we can all keep our eyes on God and pray that He would continue to be glorified in and through Louie and Marianne.
As you can imagine, they were sad upon receiving the news and are still dealing with all of the emotions that come along with it. As Louie and Marianne were talking about the emotions they were walking through, they were reminded that our emotions are a gift from God, created by God. As humans, we can so quickly allow our emotions to overwhelm us, overshadow our faith, and dictate the way we choose to live in the midst of challenges. We have to be sure that we don't allow our emotions to interfere with our relationship and trust in the Lord or with those around us. Often times it is easier to sit in our sadness, bitterness, anger, fear, etc. than it is to release our worries, our pride, and our control. If only we could truly understand that God loves and cares for us so much more than we could ever comprehend! Knowing how deeply He cares for us changes our perspective and allows us to truly find joy EVEN in the midst of difficult times. Louie shared with Marianne that he is confident that God isn't done with him yet. He is choosing to stand on the truth that the joy of the Lord is their strength!
As I talked with Marianne today one thing was incredibly clear to me; regardless of what they are faced with, Louie and Marianne have their eyes set on Jesus and the gift it is to be loved so dearly by Him. Their deepest desire as they walk through this trial (again) is that those around them would be drawn closer to their creator.
That those with hard hearts would allow God to soften their hearts and bring healing and transformation.
That those carrying burdens and hurt would allow Jesus to carry the load as they trust in Him.
That those who are lukewarm in their relationship to Christ would have a fire ignited in their spirit and a renewed love and passion for God and sharing His love with others.
That those who have walked away from the family of God would find a church home where they find Godly friendships and a place to share their gifts.
That those who haven't cracked open their Bibles in some time would be reminded of the power of the Word of God and hide it in their hearts.
That those who may be angry with God would open that door again, allowing Jesus to wrap them up in His kindness and goodness and watch Him pour out His love on them.
That those who don't know Jesus would come to know Him and the sacrifice He made for them!
The list goes on and on!
Louie has said that he would walk through this battle again and again if it meant one person would come to know Christ or have their faith deepened! I pray that this is a reminder to keep our focus off of ourselves and on to what truly matters; loving God, living a life that points others to Jesus, and serving others in everything we do.
Please keep praying big prayers for Louie and Marianne and give thanks to God for how incredible Louie feels. He has no pain, is working full time, and is feeling strong and healthy! We are praying that the perfect treatment option will be presented and that God would heal Louie's body completely! We are praying for each person that reads this post, that God would meet you right where you are and meet your every need. Thank you for being such an incredible support and for your love, encouragement, and prayers.
-Sara
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