Update: The Journey toward Healing is full of amazing Grace January 18th, 2024

Jan 18th: CT and PET scans confirmed that the research immunotherapy treatment is very effective. Involved lymphnodes generally were decreasing in size and activity. Some almost 1/2 the size as previously scanned earlier in my treatment. 

Gratitude for the gifts that God has given to special women and men who are inspired to research and develop these miraculous therapies and interventions. Grateful for the privilege participate in the clinical study that may lead to greater recoveries and possible cures. Thank you Jesus, the Healer of all ills. You are my Rock and Salvation in Whom  I trust.

One of the gifts I received over New Years was Covid....I thought it might be reaction to injection of the antibody which has some similar side effects. I was wrong. Started out with Paxlovid for 5 days, than a series of 5 plasma infusions from folks who have had Covid and donated their plasma for patients like me. Completed my 5th infusion and immunotherapy injection on 18th. All is well. Thank you. I am recovering, by Grace, thanks to the gifts of others I will probably never meet on this side of eternity.

A prayer request I would ask. My daughter-in-law Amy's mother Nancy received a diagnosis of cancer earlier this week. Please take a moment when she crosses your mind and pray for healing grace and peace to cover Nancy and her loved ones. You may never meet her but your prayers matter to God and others.

It's a New Year and looking forward to the wonders and promises God in Christ has for the Ostrem family

 We had a great Christmas and New Years. Lot's of food and family time. Watching for God surprises as the new year unfolds. Colin and Whitney were in Florida with the Robinsdale Armstrong Marching Band and performed at the ReliaQuest Bowl at halftime. Go to You Tube and put in Halftime HS bands at ReliaQuest Bowl  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHoM2j3Urck. Supurb performance. So proud of all our family. They are full of gifts and talents that only God could give. Happy and blessed New Year.

IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS TODAY...LINDSAY OSTREM ROACH

Twenty years today our Lindsay, 26, crossed over from the "land of the leaving" to the "Land of the Living" with Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God. 

Resting in the loving arms the Lord Jesus we have rejoiced in Lindsay"s deep faith that carried her home. We have lived with the painful "Pangs of Loss " as we remember her and miss her. 

Friends and family have held us and helped us grow in our faith and lives. We are grateful for the multitudes of prayers poured out over the year by so many.

Yesterday had my 4th treatment and no side effects. Amazing treatment. I now begin cycle 2 where every 21 days I return to Mayo for another injection. The Journey Toward Healing continues with deep gratitude and confidence in God's goodness and mercy that has followed all the days of our lives. 

"Joy is the Echo of God's Life within us."       SO BE IT. 

Cycle One of Four is complete.

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. Deep in my heart I say, ‘The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!’”

Lamentations 3:22-24 (CEV)

The first cycle of the bi-specific antibody was very tolerable. No side effects. Thank you for all the prayers and gracious comments. God's goodness and mercy was poured out again. Thanks be to God!

Next cycle resumes Thursday-Saturday. 

"In His Nail Pierced Healing Hands" we lay our days and nights. Blessings dear friends. Tedd and Lois

 

The Journey Continues with a new season of treatment

Tomorrow I will begin the process of pre-trial testing to join a drug study for my recurent Mantle Cell lymphoma. It will be a bi-specific antibody therapy which is proving to be quite effective in treating my type of lymphoma. I am blessed to able to receive the opportunity to be a part of this research study at the Mayo Clinic.

Our small group at church this morning laid hands on Lois and me as they prayed for journey toward healing. Prayer is powerful. Jesus the Healer hears our prayers and answers them according to His will. He answers our pleas but not always the way we desire. His peace comes with His presence as we lay our lives before Him in humility and trust. I have no fear for I know whose I am...I am a child of God.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit comfort me. The Scriptures come alive in a unique way at times like these. They are truly the Living Word of God that meet us in our need.

 No matter the outcome of this season, I am good. If I have complete remission I good. If not, I am good. Jesus holds this journey in His hands and I am secure in His presence. Thanks be to God the Father for His goodness and mercy that has followed us all the days of our lives.

Psalm 18 is one of my go to Psalms at times like this...What an amazing, loving, powerful God we serve!

 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

⁴ The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of destruction assailed me;
⁵ the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

⁶ In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷ Then the earth reeled and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,
    and devouring fire from his mouth;
    glowing coals flamed forth from him.
⁹ He bowed the heavens and came down;
    thick darkness was under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;
    he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
    thick clouds dark with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him
    hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

¹³ The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
    and the Most High uttered his voice,
    hailstones and coals of fire.
¹⁴ And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
    he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of the sea were seen,
    and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

¹⁶ He sent from on high, he took me;
    he drew me out of many waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy
    and from those who hated me,
    for they were too mighty for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

 

If I had only known this 26 years ago!!!

 

Orison Marden, who told that story in an old book, said, “Laughter begins in the lungs and diaphragm, setting the liver, stomach, and other internal organs into a quick, jelly-like vibration, which gives a pleasant sensation and exercise, almost equal to that of horseback riding.”[1] 

Most of us worry more than we laugh. But remember, “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). In Luke 6:21, Jesus promised laughter to the weeping. We’ll enjoy many good laughs in the cheerfulness of heaven, but don’t wait until then. Cultivate a merry heart now. Instead of focusing on what might be, focus on what will be.

[1] Orison Marden, Wisdom and Empowerment (Chicago, IL: Musaicum Books, 2017).

 

I might have written Junior off as... a physical therapy/emotional support animal!

He gave me 24 years of wonderful memories...Thank you, Junior

 

Sharing a post from a dear friend of mine...Norton was along side ministering to us through Lindsay's journey home in 2003

Norton Lawellin

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Daily message of hope...

For Friday, November 18, 2022:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”

Yesterday I promised to answer the question: “What happens when we die?” Here we go!

We only need a body because we live on earth. But in the spiritual realm, what matters is your eternal essence, your soul; nefesh in Hebrew. Interestingly, nefesh can also be translated as “life.” So your soul is what is life to the Lord; your body is just an accessory. Your body can die and be put in the ground, but your soul cannot. Heaven is not concerned with the demise of your body, but the Bible says, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” When you die, your soul finds God right away! The soul of a believer is very important to our Lord!

In the end times, Jesus will come to earth again, with much ceremony, riding on a white horse signifying purity. Graves will open and fully restored bodies will be reunited with their souls, joining Jesus in the sky! After that, believers who are still alive will be raptured, joining Jesus and the others. The best news ever is that believers will then be with the Lord forever!

Salvation is permanent!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406