Thursday, January 22, 2009

Hello Dear Family and Friends,

Since our last blog Kelly has told our oncologist that he will not be continuing chemo. Our doctor agreed to monitor Kelly on a monthly basis. We are very grateful for this. We continue to work with our Naturalpathic doc. here in Fresno. He is also a pastor and has been talking to us about pursuing the healing of our souls.

He explained that we are all born body and soul and our spirit comes alive when we become Christ followers. These three part of a person effect the other parts. Every emotion causes a chemical reaction in the body and every experience is stored in the soul weather memories are explicit or implicit.

In my soul I have memories, both good and bad, and likes, dislikes, preferences etc.. Some of this stored information is good and some of it is not. For example, why do I want to eat a piece of chocolate when I feel stressed out rather than turning to God for help. I know that there is a physical reaction to chocolate, serotonin levels and all that but... I cognitively know that the better help in times of stress is God.

The work of the Holy Spirit in us and show us the beliefs that do not line up with what our spirit might already know. Have you ever had the thought, "I know that God loves me and will always do what is best but some how it doesn't reach my heart? And I still worry." This is what I am talking about.

The Holy Spirit goes into the soul and helps us "work out our salvation" or simply the process of sanctification. As Beth Moore said in a recent study I took, "I want my theology to match my reality."

I feel like I am rambling a bit, sorry. Anyway, I am just starting to grasp this whole thing and so is Kelly but we both feel a confidence that God is leading us and preparing us for a work that He has prepared for us and we are both excited about it.

We are still prayerful as to the direction we are taking with regards to treatment and remain open if the Lord leads to chemo but for now, we believe that He has us here and is giving us an opportunity to take an inward look and work on living in the freedom that He has already provided us.

We covet your prays during this process because we are not ignorant of the enemy and his desire to steal, kill, and destroy the work and image of God in and through us.
Thanks, Gabriela