Prayers For Melissa

New Living Translation (NLT)

 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[a] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:7-12&version=NLT

 
 

Inserted from <http://thecouriertimes.com/print.asp?ArticleID=247304&SectionID=9&SubSectionID=24>

in the peace bubble… onto eternity with the Lord at 3:00 p.m. EST 13 March 2010 rest well my beloved sweet Melissa in the everlasting arms

 
 

—

 
 

Melissa Q. Espiritu, of New Castle, went onto eternity to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, March 13, 2010 at her residence. Arrangements are pending at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle.

 
 

http://hinsey-brown.com/pages/details.cfm?obituaryID=547

 
 

Viewing at Hinsey-Brown on Monday, March 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

and Tuesday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

 
 

Service of Celebration in Witness to the Resurrection and the Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Indiana on Tuesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.

 
 

in the peace bubble… onto eternity with the Lord at 3:00 p.m. EST 13 March 2010 rest well my beloved sweet Melissa in the everlasting arms

 
 

—

 
 

Melissa Q. Espiritu, of New Castle, went onto eternity to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, March 13, 2010 at her residence. Arrangements are pending at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle.

 
 

http://hinsey-brown.com/pages/details.cfm?obituaryID=547

 
 

Viewing at Hinsey-Brown on Monday, March 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

and Tuesday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

 
 

Service of Celebration in Witness to the Resurrection and the Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Indiana on Tuesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.

 
 

To love another

in life

with the love of the Lord

and be brought to a profound sense

of the great love of God

for you together

is….

too deep

for words to say,

too rich

for sighs to convey,

too much

for a broken heart to bear,

too vast

for an ocean of tears to fill…

 
 

And yet the love of God is greater still….

 

I love you, with the love of the Lord, my sweet Melissa….

 
 

For always, yours

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

As you are aware, we have been much challenged of late. Upon recent reflection, words from the apostle Paul resonate with us here, in hope…

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we’ve been going through… We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And God did rescue us from mortal danger, and will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in God, and God will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

Three months ago this week, as we prayed to know more what we were facing, we were given a more definitive diagnosis of gastric cancer. More than twelve weeks ago this day, I remember… from our conversation with Melissa’s oncologist, upon asking what kind of timeframe we might expect to have left, that if we got to three months, it would be a miracle. Well, now, here we are, continuing on, day by day, witnessing God’s grace abounding[1], and treasuring every shared moment together as God’s perfect gift[2] as we experience love and care, tenderly expressed for one another.

Today along with yesterday and the past weekend has been marked with very low energy for Melissa.  We are praying, hopeful for her to regain strength as we aim to have her receive more frequent, moderately high dosage Vitamin C IV treatments (semi-weekly).

Sensing that her body needs “a break” from some of the harder regimens of meds and supplements she had been taking to date, we have also begun letting her rest more and decreasing much of the amounts of prescribed, naturopathic intake while still maintaining appropriate pain management as necessary.

Now and through the days ahead, please pray for Melissa:

• for the healing, rest, comfort, peace that her body needs;
  
• for her energy and strength to increase;
  
• for her ability to receive increased nutrition, calories needed, and for her to have healthy weight gain;
  
• for our family’s adjustment into this new season of her healing journey.
  

With renewed faith, hope and love for one another in the Lord, we continue

Prayerfully yours, and His,

The Espiritu’s

---

[1] so that, as the Word tells us, in all things, at all times, having all that we need, we would abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)

[2] every good, perfect gift, coming from above from the Father of the heavenly lights Who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17)

I have found that as long as I can remain in what I call the “Peace Bubble” — the place where God meets me no matter what circumstances on the outside look like — I can remain at rest knowing that God is in control and God is faithful. The danger I face is when I start looking on the outside circumstances and become overwhelmed with not meeting goals I had planned on and/or feeling weaker on a given day.

I know the best place for me to be is in the peace bubble where I can trust God to take care of me and all my needs. I don’t need to dig my own well.

It seems counter-intuitive. Shouldn’t I work somehow for this healing? What’s my role in this healing?

But then I remember that the stark reality is that The Only One Who has a Hand in this Healing is God. God is the Author of this Healing.

Lord, please help me remember this truth. God, You are the Author, Completer, Finisher, Perfecter of this Healing. I put my faith and trust in You, the Lord my God.

In Your Peace, Lord, I remain

Melissa

(transcribed, posted by prayersForMelissa)

Please sign our global Guestbook to let us know of churches, congregations, communities and the multiple locations (e.g. states, nations) in various areas throughout the world where people are praying for Melissa and our family.  We would like to give thankful prayers for our intercessors in specific localities.  Interceding before the throne of grace, together with you, and the Lord, we remain

Prayerfully yours, and His

FYI – Encouraging words from one of the nutrition product representatives providing for some consultation in Melissa’s healing journey:

….

I’ve received your messages regarding things being difficult for Melissa the past [few] days. I am so sorry to hear that. [However,] … I feel it is very important and could be encouraging for you to know that this could be a very good sign that her body is doing some significant detox and work at a deeper level.

Detox can be very uncomfortable though productive. What we encourage people to do when detox symptoms become very uncomfortable or debilitating, is to drop back just a little on the amount of product they’re taking in. If that helps, then we hold them there for a bit but soon try to work back up to where they had been. In Melissa’s case, we wouldn’t necessarily drop back on amounts since we’ve got the shakes down to smaller increments already, but instead to just back down to fewer shakes a day and see if that gives her some relief. Then gradually work back up to where she had been and eventually up to the full [number of] shakes [per day] we’re aiming for.

….

In hope,

——————————————————————————————————————————————

This pretty much confirms and resonates with our recent experience(s), sense of shared discernment and leading in prayer together. At our visit with Melissa’s oncologist this morning, her doctor also concurred.

We praise God for the Lord’s wisdom and perfect timing in answer to prayers as we continue learning to listen in body and spirit with the heart and mind of Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory be to the Holy and Anointed One Who heals and leads us!

With thousands of hallelujahs as Melissa receives twenty thousand more (double from last week) units of Vitamin C via IV, we are even more hope-filled and encouraged

In the Spirit of the Lord,

Rex and Melissa

Dreams

The worst time to worry

Because in dreams

Fear becomes reality.

Last night.

I dreamed of the Last 3 months that the doctors prescribed

Then she went away…

I wish I couldn’t dream it.

I went through everything.

Every emotion.

The trying to accept it

The grief.

The wailing,

The crying,

The anger

The trying to accept it

Over and over

I went through

The consolations from friends

The memories

The melancholy

It stopped at the viewing.

I walked into the room

But before I could see her

I woke up.

Not crying

Not even wanting to cry.

Just wanting to hug her

Into eternity

Never stopping.

Never crying

Never dying

Warm embrace.

Forever.

———————

About a month ago, my mother was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in its late stage four. I’m going to share with you an unfinished story…

A Story of waiting

Waiting for an answer to prayer

Praying for healing

Hoping the healing will be on this side of eternity

Faith in the midst of uncertainty

Certain of the dreadful possibility

Knowing He

Has a plan.

Knowing this is for His glory.

But.

Why?

Why me?

Why us?

Why mamma?

Why now?

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you are faced with trials and temptations, for the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

James 1:2-3

I don’t know how to be or act

I don’t know how I should react

I must look depressed.

I am.

I think I shouldn’t be

I know I shouldn’t be

Should I?

I trust in Him

But His will is His will.

And I don’t know what that is

I don’t know how to be or act

I don’t know how to respond

“I’m okay”

“I’m better”

“she’s okay”

“she’s better than yesterday.”

“please pray”

More people know now.

More prayers now.

More hugs.

More condolences.

More support.

More help.

I don’t know how to respond

I don’t know what to do or say

I can’t figure out a way

To be.

To do.

To love.

To laugh.

To work.

To play.

Without thinking of Her

Without feeling guilty for being momentarily happy.

I can’t ignore it

Am I Pretending to be ok?

Am I ok?

Am I better?

Am I ignoring this vacancy inside?

This looming unknown.

Am I hopeful?

Am I trying to be positive?

Am I attempting to believe and have faith?

I know I trust Him

but

In spite of this

I still doubt.

I know He can do it.

But I don’t know if He will

Am I pretending? To be ok?

My Dear Mother,

At School today

I cried in the bathroom stall.

I was mad.

I was tired

Maybe that’s why

But.

I cried.

For you.

If I may,

May I forget?

May I stop?

May I give up?

But

You’re not giving up.

Daddy’s not giving up.

Put on a bold face.

Put on a bold face.

For my friends.

For my parents

For my sisters

For…

Me?

My Dear Sister,

I feel so selfish.

I am so selfish.

I’ve been so selfish.

I’m sorry.

You’ve done so much.

Stop being a martyr.

You’ve given so much.

I

Haven’t.

Haven’t had the chance to.

Haven’t had the time to.

Haven’t had the will power to…

To be a mom.

please.

Understand.

I can’t stop

I wanted to

but

I have to stay on the team.

It’s for mamma.

It’s conflicting.

But.

She would hate herself if I quit.

Just for her.

I

Cant.

I know.

To you, it seems like I’m gone forever

Returning home exhausted.

No doing anything

While you’ve been slaving and mothering.

I’m so sorry.

My turn to be mom will come.

Then you can relax.

I Just…

I need to finish the season.

Please?

Understand.

I love you.

I’m so very grateful for you.

Hold on.

Hang on.

We’ll make it.

We’ll make it.

A speech written, made by Hannah Espiritu ©2010 Espiritu Productions