5 Steps to Victory in Every Battle of Life

April 1, 2016 Effie Barba

Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

The day finally came for the surgery. I had prepared my mind, my heart and my spirit as best I could. But perhaps that is a problem if I say, the best I could. I would need much more than my best, I need God to fight this battle in me and for me. Thirteen hours I was in surgery. I awoke in recovery with excruciating pain as though I had been skinned alive. I could barely breathe, my voice a faint whisper, and unable to move because of the pain. Fortunately, the nurse saw my eyes opened, whispered some words of comfort as she gave me some pain medicine into my IV. Nothing really prepares you for the pain, the struggles, the fatigue, and the total body changes that come with surgery. I needed a God’s battle plan.

FOR GOD IS ON MY SIDE

IT WAS NOT BY CHANCE I WAS AT VANDERBILT, GOD KNEW THE CANCER WAS GOING TO BE THERE AND HE ALREADY HAD A PLAN FOR MY WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST IT. The tumor was large in diameter—about 6 centimeters; but, flat like a pancake. It was a very aggressive form of HER2/neu positive cancer cells. Because I was at Vanderbilt I was placed in two important research studies. The first was to study the sentinel node. Because I was in that study they removed the usual lymph nodes (over 25) from my right arm as well as the “sentinel” node which in my case was located near the center of my chest. It would have been ignored had I not been in the study, since this was a rare location for the cancer to potentially spread. The second study involved the chemotherapy I was going to receive. When I randomized, I was placed in the arm of the study that would receive the most aggressive chemotherapy. In fact, I was going to receive Adriamycin/Taxotere which at that time was considered 2^nd or 3^rd line therapy. Herceptin was barely being developed so that was not in the potential available drugs.

MY CHILDREN AND I

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Christian Blog

How to Prepare Mind, Heart and Spirit for Battle

March 30, 2016 Effie Barba

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

So, I had to prepare for battle in every way possible. It was certainly not the first battle I had fought. I had the battle scars to prove that. Each battle presents with it’s own unique trials and lessons. I needed a strategy, map it out on the playing field of life so that I could march forward into battle prepared to win with God at my side. Well, at least that was what I thought. God smiled and let me plan.

MIND GAMES

First I had to prepare my mind for the actual events that were coming. I couldn’t just ignore the truth that surgery was needed followed by chemotherapy. So as best as I could I needed to plan in a manner as to focus on whatever good I could focus on. The surgery was being scheduled for early December because they had to coordinate the schedules of the surgeon and the plastic surgeon. They recommended reconstruction on the same day as the mastectomy. Personally, I thought that was such a good idea!! So, after meeting with the plastic surgeon; the plan was for a tram-flap reconstruction. That is, they take a muscle and fat from the abdomen and from that they form a breast. I shuddered at the thought. Sounds awful; but, I decided to focus on the positive. I was going to have a tummy tuck paid by the insurance. I determined that to think of positives with chemo as well.

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Christian Blog

How to Find the Strength in Love to Battle Cancer

March 28, 2016 Effie Barba

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. Psalm 59:16-17

It was late October, 1998 when I first heard that dreaded word. There was a light fall breeze and I had been listening to wonderful Christian music as I nearly skipped to the Doctor’s office. Deep inside I knew all was going to be ok. The needle biopsies had all been negative. The mammograms had all been negative. The Doctor had decided to do the open biopsy only because I insisted and because the ultrasound had looked a little funny. God’s plan for me was good. I was half way through my Master’s Program in Nursing. So whatever had been that lump-it was gone now and I knew the Doctor was going to give me good news. My heart was singing songs of joy and praise, as I entered the office and awaited the doctor.

“The cyst was just that a cyst. The lump that we had biopsied, I removed and it was negative—no cancer cells there,” the doctor began. “whew, I was right”, I thought; as suddenly I felt even more overjoyed. Then the doctor continued. “There was a small area near the back of the breast, behind the lump. I took a small piece from there in part to reshape the breast and the tissue looked a little different. The pathology from that piece was positive for a very aggressive form of breast Cancer.” Suddenly my heart sank. My mind began spinning. I could hardly hear the remainder of the words that came. But, I was there alone and had to grasp the words. Decisions had to be made and I was the only one who could make them; so, I must pay attention. “We need to do surgery, you will need a mastectomy”, the Doctor continued. “Then you will need chemotherapy and maybe even radiation. It depends on what we find in surgery and the final staging of the cancer.”

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday-Journey Through This Rugged Land

March 27, 2016 Effie Barba

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.Psalm 62:7

Journey Through This Rugged Land

By Effie Darlene Barba

As I gaze back over my years

The wretched scars, rivers of tears

This journey long through rocky land

That all of this, all as You planned

For in the midst of sorrows here

I heard Your voice as You drew near

The Joy I sought from all these things

This world could give, had taken wings

When all was gone and all seemed loss

I saw Your Son upon that cross

His Love reached forth to rescue me

My selfish Heart He did set free

‘Twas there I came to realize

That with all lost, to my surprise

My Joy was now a flowing stream

More wondrous than my greatest dream

Love now filled this heart of mine

My heart enwrapped with Love Divine

And now I knew this pain took place

That I might learn of Your Sweet Grace

My Sorrows, pain You did allow

That I vain joys would disavow

This joy I know; this love I feel

Your Love, Your Joy You did reveal

Amidst my bitter pain and tears

You held my hand through all the years

You never let me slip away

Steady beside me you did stay

Patient, gentle with heart so kind

You waited, watched for me to find

You are the treasure I did seek

Your gentle kiss upon my cheek

Reminds me that You will my best

And on this promise I can rest

My journey long through rugged land

Has been the one True Love had planned

Whatever treasure of this earth I thought I desired, it was nothing compared to the joy, love and hope I have found in Christ Alone. He is the great treasure, the love, and the joy my heart had longed for. [bctt tweet=”Whatever sorrows I had to face to find Him, whatever scars I bare; it was worth it all to know Him”].

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Matthew 13:43-44

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Christian Blog

What More Could He Do to Prove His Love?

March 25, 2016 Effie Barba

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53: 3-6

Before I begin the new chapter of my life story; I really want to pause to consider once more what faith really is. That is what were going to be the major lessons that I would have to learn over the next 2 decades of my life? What does faith really look like? What is it? What better day to look at that than today, “Good Friday!” The most horrendous act of mob injustice ever and we call it “good.” The day when all the sins of the world, the horrors of the concentration camps, the terrorist bombings, the death of innocent children, and every evil gossiping word that ever came from my own lips were bore by perfect righteousness. He was beaten for my sins. He was mocked, humiliated, and hung on a cross to pay the price of my sin. As He hung there with all the sins of mankind upon His shoulders, the most horrid of all things was when His Father’s joy, love and spirit turned away. The entire earth shook!! Darkness covered the world as the only true light of the world gave up His life to plunge into death alone, naked and covered with my shame, my guilt. We celebrate that as “Good” Friday.

artwork by permission of Ronald Barba

The Centurion Soldier which was in charge of Christ’s execution watched as all the events unfolded. He had heard Jesus say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This Soldier had witnessed the conversation among those upon the cross. He had watched Jesus tell John to care for Mary. Whatever agony was His own,

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