And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7 NKJV).

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19a NIV). 

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:19-20 NIV).

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45 NIV)

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:35,37 NIV).

Hope is an interesting thing. You can have a hopeful feeling or a hopeful thought, but to discover what truly brings you hope, you have to look at where you are putting it. Where do you put your hope?

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)(Matthew 1:23 NIV).

When the doctor says, “It’s cancer,” your mind does not wait for the doctor to explain what cancer is, because it already knows. Whether through TV, movies, news reports, or experiences with loved ones, it’s difficult to live in the world and not have our minds develop a picture of cancer.

He will not let your foot slip­–he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:3-4 NIV).

Dear Fellow Caregiver,

It’s just days until Christmas, and I am sitting with my husband in a hospital waiting room. The sounds of a gentleman rustling his morning paper, staff members chattering through shift change, and my husband’s seventies music are interrupted by a sweet text from my sister: “Jesus is still asleep in the boat and in control.” The story of Jesus sleeping in a boat as the disciples battle a deadly storm seems very real today. My response to her: “Now I understand why they wanted Him to wake up!” There’s fleshly security in knowing He’s awake.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31:25 NIV).   

When I received chemo to treat my cancer, I lost my hair. It was a traumatic event for me. I was grateful for my wig and head wraps to cover my baldness. Some choose to embrace baldness, which is wonderful. I relied on the security of something to cover my head.

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. Sing to God a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth! (Isaiah 42:9-10 NIV)

We’re coming to the end of what has probably been a tough year for you, if you or someone you love has had to deal with cancer. I know when I was diagnosed with cancer, I seemed to be constantly waiting and worrying in the unknown. So I know that as you start to hear Christmas carols everywhere, you may be feeling the same: more weary and worried than overflowing with worship and wonder.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV).

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NIV).

After chemotherapy and my second surgery, I was declared a cancer survivor. Praise God!! My heart smiled big, and my eyes were full of happy tears. However, this news did not mean life went back to the way it was before cancer. I had to deal with recovery from a double mastectomy, no hair, a lack of energy, neuropathy, and trying to find the “new normal.” People’s expectations of me could be challenging. Thoughts of whether the cancer would come back danced in my head.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:1-2 NIV).

Ancestry.com has made the practice of discovering who is a part of your family tree a huge endeavor for millions of people. Discovering who is a part of your ancestry can be really important. The prophet Isaiah certainly thought it was. 

… serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13b).

When my husband, Mark, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I immediately went into “support mode.” There seemed to be no time for us to take it all in, to breathe, to rest, or to admit this was our current reality. We jumped in with both feet, trying to figure out how to beat this thing. I read ALL the material the hospital provided, went to all doctor visits and took copious notes, and kept up with the calendar and his medications so nothing would be missed. It seemed we were operating in disbelief—this couldn’t be happening. At the same time, we did our best to take actions with urgency, while trying to remain positive and hopeful.

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:1-2 NIV).

When the test results come back confirming cancer, we can sometimes feel like lepers. How can I compare cancer with being a leper? Cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by slow-growing bacteria that attack the nerves, which untreated can lead to paralysis and production of deformities. The descriptions alone strike fear into your heart, don’t they?

The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan (Joshua 5:12 NIV).

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Proverbs 19:21 ESV).

The local hospice called and asked me to visit Sandra. It was my first visit to her home. When I came into the house, Sandra was sitting in a recliner. I introduced myself as “Chaplain Tom.”

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:23-24 NIV).

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24 ESV).                                                

Writing to you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, is an honor, blessing, and privilege. Sharing personal feelings about my cancer journey isn’t the easiest thing to do. Through these devotions you are given a front seat to see the wonders and miracles Jesus has granted me through His grace and mercy. How can I be thankful, if an all-loving God allowed a disease like cancer to disrupt my life? I am glad you asked. 

My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off (Psalm 38:11 ESV).

Holidays are a time for celebrating and rejoicing with loved ones. We can share touching memories and funny stories with friends. I love to gather with others around a table filled with turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. However, for some, the festive season might bring loneliness and a sense of isolation. Everyone does not have a supportive, close and loving family. Or some years are especially difficult due to a recent loss. 

He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40 NIV)

How can you have a spirit of thankfulness when you’re told you might have breast cancer the evening before Thanksgiving?

How can you celebrate Christmas with your family when that diagnosis has become a reality and you are preparing for surgery four days later?

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Despite Thanksgiving’s Hallmark sentiments and overstuffed turkeys, sometimes we just can’t summon the energy, let alone the desire, to be thankful when life’s left us overwhelmed, exhausted, and frightened of what’s to come. So what are we to do?