All the world knows that our nation has had an election, and is looking at, and for, change.

It is a larger reflection of the change that I am looking for , personally – but, it is with the same hope.

This nation is part of our inheritance -- we inherited it, many of us were born to it -- and now we have to decide HOW we will care for it. What IS our responsibility? To pray for it, cover it in prayer, and tend it daily, that it does not rot or decay!

Whenever we moved house, we always wanted to know that we left a house better, nicer, than it had been when we moved in. That house should not show years of dissolving disregard, and disarray, if we had been living there. We certainly have that kind of responsibility with our nation. My mother is already repenting and crying about WHAT we are leaving to our children and grand-children.

I have a different paradigm : Perhaps they will find themselves needing to press into God, needing to fight the fight that seems to land upon every generation --- and learn to be perfected by complete dependence on God. SO many generations have had to do that --- we can't think that God intends us to find the perfect system, and create our own earthly paradise....These are some of the things that I have to think about, as I continue to fight cancer.

I have to admit that some days, I DON’T fight cancer -- some days, I just have "life" and disregard the attack against me. I read Devin Mitchell's weekly Shabbat letter, in which he talks frankly about guarding Israel, as part of the the Israeli army --- those letters have taught me that there is no "time out" when under attack -- or even when threatened with attack.

Now, what can I do? LIVE connected to God --- my only sure defense. There is no "wall of health" that I can build, to protect me from the cancer that is already within my walls. I can have some days off --- but not as many as I have "on." The cancer never slows down, or takes time off.

My newest shift : Remembering that "fighting", when led by the Lord, is not physically grueling! It is gentle and soft and steady and can be done from a flopped-in-bed position. To fight this attack against me, I need only to keep my hand in HIS hand -- whispering to Him, thanking Him, listening to Him. The defense part is to NOT listen to what fear says, or to what despair says -- it is to "JUST SAY NO."

The cancer won't go away. My wishes are completely futile, in this. There is no exit door. I have gone every place I thought I would find healing. I have had thousands praying for me. I have spent my own time in prayer. I land, over and over again, on complete dependence in GOD. I land, again, on trusting Him, in all things -- even unto death.

Dennis and I have learned that it is IMPORTANT for us to learn how to take bad news well -- how to live through the shock and move into the wonder and expectation. GOD WILL NOT ABANDON US --- and that means, it will be a RIDE to watch Him rescue us!! WHAT will He do? WHEN, and HOW? I am already watching, eyes on the horizon, for His lead!!

We will -- no doubt -- have to learn some things the hard way. GOD WILL STILL LOVE US, AND LEAD US. We will -- no doubt -- have disappointments. GOD WILL STILL BE IN CHARGE. We will -- no doubt -- have some BIG fights ahead, and consequences to live through. GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL AND STEADFAST.

Serving a BIG GOD,

Melanie