"I am not moved by what I see (or hear) but by what I believe" - Smith Wigglesworth
Today started with a photo shoot on Fish Hoek beach with the Boyd family. For once, I got to be on the "shooting" end of the camera - with many instructions coming at me from "the master" on the other side of the lens! Being a photographer, you tend to take pics of everyone else and not many of yourself. (I was very happy to have sweet Chan there with her camera too, so the pressure wasn't all on me!)
I just have to say that my sister is incredible and the most selfless person I know. Her strength of character (a gift from God) and attitude towards her situation is amazing and she teaches me so much every day just through who she is. I have not once heard her moan or complain about her situation. She has not once gone into "self pity" mode or asked "why me?" Instead when someone asked her that recently, she simply replied "why not me?" She has not once shown anger or remorse towards the doctors who have misdiagnosed her condition for 18 months. Neither has she lost her incredible sense of humour. Yesterday we attended Rachelle's baby shower and she was the centre of the jokes and puns flying around the room, making everyone laugh in typical Nix-style.
Please could we ask you to pray for peace and clarity for Adrian and Nikki concerning the decisions they need to make regarding her treatment over the next few days. That God would guide them with His peace in these things.
Isaiah 41:13 - "For I AM the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear, I will help you. Do not be afraid..."
Psalm 103:3 - "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases."
Exodus 15:2 "I AM the God who heals you."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Ephesians 3!
Ok, so we worked out the reason Nikki was feeling a bit weak (physically) yesterday is because she was so excited to be off all of her meds that she forgot to take her Cortisone!!! To give you an idea, she has been taking a couple of handfuls of tablets every day for the past year-and-a-bit. Some are taken on an empty stomach, some after food, some with food, some with one glass of water, others with 2, still others at midday / morning / night, some before others etc...etc... (I'm sure you can understand her excitement at being rid of this schedule!!!). As she cannot come off the Cortisone in one shot, it is being decreased ever so slightly over a long period of time. The following portion of scripture has been such an encouragement to Pete and I today (thank you Mark and Dee!!), please pray it over Nix and her family with us today...
Ephesians 3:16-21
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen"
Ephesians 3:16-21
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen"
Friday, August 28, 2009
Latest Update
Over the last week, Nikki has undergone numerous blood tests, bone scans, MRI's and ultrasounds in order to determine the extent of the disease. She met with the oncologist yesterday and the results confimed that the cancer is not limited to the breast tissue but is, in fact, fairly widespread. Nikki & Adrian are taking the next few days to pray and decide on a course of action from here. Please pray for supernatural wisdom, peace and strengh for them at this time.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
How is Nix doing?
"Whose report will you believe? We shall believe the report of the Lord!"
Nikki is incredibly positive and stands firm in her faith in the Lord. She is an inspiration to all of us and continues to encourage us all with her positive attitude and incredible sense of humour.
The doctors have told Nikki she can stop on all of her arthritis medication, so please pray and agree with us that as she comes off the meds, she will feel stronger and stronger every day.
Nikki is incredibly positive and stands firm in her faith in the Lord. She is an inspiration to all of us and continues to encourage us all with her positive attitude and incredible sense of humour.
The doctors have told Nikki she can stop on all of her arthritis medication, so please pray and agree with us that as she comes off the meds, she will feel stronger and stronger every day.
Some Background Info
(Exerpt taken from an email drafted by our dad, Chris Spengler)
Nikki was diagnosed with adult onset Still's disease (a form of Rheumatoid Arthritis) in June 2008. She has been very positive in her faith and outlook and in spite of not seeing a great improvement in her condition since onset, remains convinced that she will one day be healed of this condition.
We have stood by her in prayer and practical support wherever we have been able. Some of you have encouraged us HUGELY in the Lord and I have promised Nikki that I will never give up praying and believing for her for a complete and miraculous healing. Many scriptures have become engraved on our hearts during this time as we have taken up the battle in the Spirit. We have been greatly encouraged by the truth of the Word and have decided that in all circumstances and in all situations, the Word of God (the bible) takes pre-eminence over every statement, report, confession, diagnosis or prognosis from the medical doctors with whom she consults.
Nikki has for some time felt that there must be an underlying cause or root of this affliction. After doing quite a lot of reasearch on her own initiative she came across a possible link between dental root canal treatment and Still's. Her doctors pooh...pooh'ed this thought, not even being prepared to read the articles she had so carefully researched. Having had a problem root canal tooth however, she decided that it may help to have this tooth extracted, which she did. A case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Just recently we received some very shocking new on Nikki's health. After repeatedly asking her doctors to check her sore breast, she took herself to her Gynae for a check up and after a lot of MRI's, blood tests and a biopsy they diagnosed breast cancer, not as a lump or tumor, but in the breast tissue. They now suspect that this is what started the Still's Disease in the first place nearly 18 months ago. In the last week, Nikki has undergone numerous blood tests, bone scans, MRI's and ultrasounds in order to determine the extent of the disease. She received the results of the tests today which confirmed that the cancer is not limited to the breast tissue but is, in fact, fairly widespread.
Naturally the whole family are gutted at the news, as we feel that she has gone through enough already. But then one has to be strong and exercise faith in these times.
Louise, Eve, Nikki, Adrian, Peter and I are all standing on God's promises for a complete and miraculous healing. We ask you to agree with us as you take her to the Lord in prayer. Not to mention that she has this sickness, but to pray as we have been taught to pray...the truth of God's Word (the bible). I have never before repeated the scripture in Jeremiah so many times, "I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans for a hope and a future, plans to prosper you..."and also thank Him continually that "by His stripes we have been healed". There are so many scriptures to support the fact that our God is a good God and that he has our best interests at heart.
Nikki has had some revelational insight into her situation, likening it to a David and Goliath battle. Her daughter Hannah (5) brought this illustration to her when they tried to explain the situation to the children. "So it is like David and Goliath mommy, we are David and we will pray and the c..... is Goliath and it will die because we prayed." Jesus Himself told us to have faith such as these little children. Our armour is prayer and intercession and our enemy is satan...also..."they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." Please pray the blood of Jesus over Nikki with us.
We are beleiving for a complete healing that will bring God the glory. Will you please stand with us in this?
Please also pray for strength for all of the family at this time. We so appreciate your prayers. God Bless.
Nikki was diagnosed with adult onset Still's disease (a form of Rheumatoid Arthritis) in June 2008. She has been very positive in her faith and outlook and in spite of not seeing a great improvement in her condition since onset, remains convinced that she will one day be healed of this condition.
We have stood by her in prayer and practical support wherever we have been able. Some of you have encouraged us HUGELY in the Lord and I have promised Nikki that I will never give up praying and believing for her for a complete and miraculous healing. Many scriptures have become engraved on our hearts during this time as we have taken up the battle in the Spirit. We have been greatly encouraged by the truth of the Word and have decided that in all circumstances and in all situations, the Word of God (the bible) takes pre-eminence over every statement, report, confession, diagnosis or prognosis from the medical doctors with whom she consults.
Nikki has for some time felt that there must be an underlying cause or root of this affliction. After doing quite a lot of reasearch on her own initiative she came across a possible link between dental root canal treatment and Still's. Her doctors pooh...pooh'ed this thought, not even being prepared to read the articles she had so carefully researched. Having had a problem root canal tooth however, she decided that it may help to have this tooth extracted, which she did. A case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Just recently we received some very shocking new on Nikki's health. After repeatedly asking her doctors to check her sore breast, she took herself to her Gynae for a check up and after a lot of MRI's, blood tests and a biopsy they diagnosed breast cancer, not as a lump or tumor, but in the breast tissue. They now suspect that this is what started the Still's Disease in the first place nearly 18 months ago. In the last week, Nikki has undergone numerous blood tests, bone scans, MRI's and ultrasounds in order to determine the extent of the disease. She received the results of the tests today which confirmed that the cancer is not limited to the breast tissue but is, in fact, fairly widespread.
Naturally the whole family are gutted at the news, as we feel that she has gone through enough already. But then one has to be strong and exercise faith in these times.
Louise, Eve, Nikki, Adrian, Peter and I are all standing on God's promises for a complete and miraculous healing. We ask you to agree with us as you take her to the Lord in prayer. Not to mention that she has this sickness, but to pray as we have been taught to pray...the truth of God's Word (the bible). I have never before repeated the scripture in Jeremiah so many times, "I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans for a hope and a future, plans to prosper you..."and also thank Him continually that "by His stripes we have been healed". There are so many scriptures to support the fact that our God is a good God and that he has our best interests at heart.
Nikki has had some revelational insight into her situation, likening it to a David and Goliath battle. Her daughter Hannah (5) brought this illustration to her when they tried to explain the situation to the children. "So it is like David and Goliath mommy, we are David and we will pray and the c..... is Goliath and it will die because we prayed." Jesus Himself told us to have faith such as these little children. Our armour is prayer and intercession and our enemy is satan...also..."they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." Please pray the blood of Jesus over Nikki with us.
We are beleiving for a complete healing that will bring God the glory. Will you please stand with us in this?
Please also pray for strength for all of the family at this time. We so appreciate your prayers. God Bless.
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