Personal Update
The Mayo Visit
As I mentioned several weeks ago, I had an upcoming visit to the Mayo Clinic for a series of tests to reexamine a suspicious spot they found on my bladder wall this past May. After two days of tests (August 1-2), I came home with the most wonderful news: All Clear!
The two sweetest words I have heard in a good long time!
The suspicious spot was completely gone, and the technician was able to confirm immediately, “There is nothing there. No new tumors!” I can’t begin to express the sense of relief that washed over me. I immediately called my wife Carol and texted our kids, and they all rejoiced with me.
Interestingly enough, that morning, God gave me a profound and unusual sense of peace. As I prayed for the day’s tests and scans, I was struck by a thought: I really have no reason to worry. I had done everything I knew I had to do in the months leading up to this appointment. I have been surrounded by a super supportive family who encouraged me every step of the way, I had literally hundreds of people praying for me as I left, and I was in the care of arguably the best doctors in the world. There was nothing else I could ask for, PLUS I also knew that no matter what lay ahead, God in His grace would redeem it all anyway. And that peace stayed with me through every test and scan over those days.
There was only one small hitch: the tests revealed that my single kidney is only operating at 45% efficiency.
Because my other kidney was surgically removed last year (because it was filled with high grade tumors), my new assignment is to take really good care of this remaining one. Thankfully, I have some great people in my relational network with considerable expertise in this area. I’ve already begun making dietary adjustments, which means no more keto—less meat and more cruciferous veggies. I also have to drink a whole lot more water. Have you ever tried to drink 120 ounces of water a day? I feel like I am spending half my day looking for the nearest bathroom! But if that’s as bad as it gets, I can definitely put up with that minor inconvenience.
In closing, I just want to extend a huge thank you to those of you who sent text messages, made calls, and wrote prayer notes – especially those from the Prayer Barn here in Austin. The love and support I received was immensely appreciated, and though I don’t know how all of this works in the realm of the Spirit, I am convinced these prayers made all the difference!
So yes, so much gratitude for your walking this path with me – It means the world – and apparently God has more for me to do yet.
Onward!
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
Love is patient, love is kind.”
1 Corinthians 13:4
In case you are confused about what day it is, no it is not Valentine’s Day. But maybe the fact that this is an ordinary Thursday in August drives home the point even better. Love is patient and it is kind. Without exception or excuse. Not as an aspect of love on a certain day of the year, but as love’s true expression. It’s a really high bar, if you think about it.
Love like that can’t happen on accident. It happens with purpose and intention. It happens though planning and thoughtfulness. It’s hard, at least for me, to imagine God as a planner. But He has carefully planned His love for us – a love like no other. To me, we are never more reflective of who God is than when we express love like that.
I think that kind of love sometimes gets a bad rap in current culture. It’s the dependable, consistent kind of love. It’s not all flowers and butterflies but it also never fails. It shows up day after day, without demands or judgment. It’s a safe harbor in a crazy world.
It’s also the kind of love you might miss if you are rushing through life. That’s probably where the phrase “stop and smell the roses” comes from. Big expressions of love, we always notice – the ones that light up the sky. But they disappear just as quickly. It’s the long enduring love that will carry you through. It’s less obvious but stronger somehow, more resilient. My son, who is currently in the dating phase of life says, “I’m not looking for a firecracker, I’m looking for a fireplace.” I love that so much. It’s a love you come home to from the harsh realities of life. It’s the love God offers us.
I pray you are finding God’s love to be your safe harbor. It is patient and kind. I pray you make time for it. I pray you pause to experience it. And I pray you come to know the depth of its consistency and comfort. Every day.
Caregivers Corner With
Kathi Peters
Caregiver (verb): One who provides direct support for one who is in need of practical help, encouragement and love.
They say the woman “sets the tone” for the whole household. As a woman, I sometimes think that’s a little unfair! But often, it’s pretty accurate. When I’m able to rise above my circumstances and choose cheerfulness and positivity (even when I don’t feel like it), the atmosphere in our home becomes lighter, warmer, and more hopeful.
As a caregiver, though, that’s a tall order. You’re already carrying the weight of extra responsibilities while navigating your own emotions on this unpredictable cancer journey. Staying “up” for everyone – including yourself – can feel impossible.
And when your loved one is discouraged? It’s even harder. Being a cheerleader to someone who’s down, especially someone who stays down, can feel like running a marathon with no finish line.
In this journey, there are different kinds of “down.” Sometimes it’s temporary – a rough illness (David just got over shingles – UGH), unsettling scan results, or the frustration of waiting for a doctor’s call. But then there’s the deeper discouragement – the kind that may be part of your loved one’s personality or the heavy weight of a difficult prognosis. That type doesn’t lift easily, even when circumstances improve.
Here’s what I want to encourage you with: you are not responsible for the mental state of the one you are caring for. You may long for them to be more cheerful or hopeful, but you cannot make that happen. You are only responsible for your own outlook and emotional well-being.
Proverbs 17:22 tells us, “A merry heart does good like medicine.” That “merry” means joyful, happy, full of cheer. For your own sake, nurture your spirit daily. Spend time in God’s Word and in His presence, where He promises fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Let His truth refresh your soul and gladden your heart.
And if your joy spills over to your loved one? Wonderful. If not, you can trust you’re still planting seeds – seeds that may take root in God’s perfect timing.
Worship Moment
with Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: Make a Way (Spotify and Apple Music)
Band: Elevation Worship
From: “Can You Imagine” (2023)
God isn’t intimidated by obstacles!
He’s the God who moves mountains, fulfills promises, and shows up right on time.
I know You’ll come through…
This mountain is moving.
The promise You made still has the final say.
You always make a way.
Even when we don’t see a solution, God is already working behind the scenes. In those space where it feels impossible to us, THAT is where He does His best work. I hope this song speaks to your heart today. He hasn’t forgotten you. He’s faithful to finish what He started—and yes, He will make a way.
Because You are God
No matter the odds
The outcome is always the same
The words on the pages
The promise You made us
You still have the final say
A Word of Encouragement
Jesus said, "I Am the Life"
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to speak at my home church, Shoreline, on a familiar but none-the-less powerful statement made by Jesus in John 14:6: “I am the life.”
On one hand, this was a relatively easy passage for me to address, because Jesus has so clearly given me new life. He took my brokenness and made me new, a real-world transformation story straight out of 2 Corinthians 5:17. I’ve experienced His forgiveness and deliverance firsthand, and for that, I will be forever grateful.
However, the truth is, this new life in Him has not always gone the way I expected. The writer Annie Dillard was right when she said, “God draws straight with crooked lines.” While I am exceedingly grateful for my new birth, I’m not always sure I want to wholeheartedly embrace the “life” He’s laid out for me. Maybe you can relate.
If so, I invite you to take 30 minutes to listen to the talk I shared. It might be exactly what you need for where you are right now.
You can find it HERE.
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
Let’s talk EMF and EMR!
We live in a world surrounded by invisible energy: electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from things like Wi-Fi, cell phones, smart devices, and even household appliances. While technology brings convenience, long-term exposure to high levels of EMFs has been linked to sleep disruption, headaches, fatigue, and even increased oxidative stress in the body.
Here are a few easy ways to reduce your exposure at home:
Turn off Wi-Fi at night – Give your body a break while you sleep.
Use airplane mode when your phone is not in use or when kids are playing with it.
Create a tech-free zone in bedrooms, especially important for children.
Don’t sleep near charging devices – keep phones and tablets at least 6 feet away.
Ground yourself – spending time barefoot outside can help the body discharge built-up EMF.
Awareness is the first step toward creating a healthier, more balanced home environment.
A Prayer of Grace
For Myself
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Lord, You made me, and You understand my frame. Nothing that I am is strange to You. With Your mold, You handcrafted me, and no event in my life surprises or catches You off guard. You planned my life out before I even knew about Your love.
All my days, seasons, moments, and times are in Your hands. My life is safe in Christ in God, who has my best interests at heart, and You have called me the apple of Your eye. I love You because You have placed me safe and hidden in the hollow of Your hands.
On days when I feel strong and healthy, I praise You for Your mercy and grace. And on days like today, when this weight of doubt, fear, and worry assaults me, and I feel frail, drained, and weak, unsure of life, my diagnosis, and what my test may unveil in the reports, I will still love and praise you!
by FaithInfluenced.com
Piet's Ponderings
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
My first inclination was just to chuckle and move on, but then I was struck by a thought: “Why do we do this?”
It’s a common trap many of us in the church fall into: creating a kind of insider language that replaces normal conversation.
I’m not sure why we do it, but I suspect it’s rooted in a subconscious desire to climb a spiritual status ladder. We use certain phrases to signal our spirituality, and while this might give us some standing within our own circles, to those outside the church, it often sounds pompous and alienating.
If our goal is to truly influence the world around us, we need to drop the spiritual posturing. It’s time to admit that we’re all just fellow strugglers, trying to figure things out. And God, in His mercy, is graciously meeting us along the way…
Willing To Help?
Put your school supplies purchases on hold (just for a moment).
Because I can help you as you help me! Here’s how (cue imaginary drum solo)… please take less than 30 seconds to hit the subscribe button on my YouTube page!
I’m hoping to add 300 new subscribers between August 1st and September 1st. And because I believe in rewarding kindness, every new subscription will be entered into a drawing for a pretty cool “back-to-school” prize package valued at a crisp $300.
What’s waiting for you in this treasure trove of triumph?
1. The Amasouk roll-up backpack: So you can stride into class looking less like a student and more like one who has already figured out how to be stylish for whatever awaits you!
2. A Pocket Prayer Devotional: Because even the most brilliant minds need a spiritual recharge, especially during finals.
3. An 18-month planning calendar: Your new best friend for conquering deadlines and actually remembering what day it is.
4. And for when your brain cells stage a revolt, a 10th-anniversary Calvin and Hobbes comics collection: Seriously, who doesn’t love themselves a little Calvin and Hobbs?
Support the work!
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects related to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.
https://www.patreon.com/c/pietvanwaarde
