Rnporter’s Weblog

¹¹Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.                         ¹³Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ^16£Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:11; 13-16)

We learned at the doctor’s today that things are still progressing pretty much as can be expected.  Rosa’s pain is still coming from the notorious spleen that we have been told again and again that is very large and would take time, (up to three months or more) to shrink.  Therefore we are blessed in so many ways that we shouldn’t be complaining about time of being well and whole.  It’s just that that characteristic of a person called a virtue which is patience is very evasive at times.  As the scripture above gives us hope and encouragement we will simply try to be more patient and know that through the many prayers of Gods people we are blessed.

As for the pneumonia and fluid in the lung, we were moved up to see the pulmanary doctor as well today.  She and Dr. Costillos agree that she needs a C.T. scan of the lungs to diagnose that correctly.  Therefore she will have that done on Friday afternoon and we are hopeful for that news to be great as well.  Once again we thank all of you and Praise the Lord for His mercy, peace and love. In Christ. Roy and Rosa Porter

It’s been a few days since I last posted and I wish that it could be that Rosa has been doing that great.  While she is progressing and we feel that it’s forward, Saturday was really hard for her.  She continues to have a lot of pain and it even has shifted in location so that is puzzling within itself.  Is it the spleen or the pneumonia and perhaps both or neither? However today has been a little better with the exception of sharp stabbing pain a couple of times that made her stand straight up.  Pray that tomorrow will be better and soon the pain will be tolerable for her.  We go back to the doctor on Wednesday and maybe we can get answers to some new questions that Rosa has raised in her mind.  Thanks for praying and God bless all.  Love, Roy and Rosa

We’ve just returned from Chapel Hill and seeing the Doctor’s there.  It was a great visit and they were very encouraging.  They concur with Dr. Costillos on everything and did not recommend any changes to her care.  They said that her spleen would have been very enlarged and the cause of most of the pain she has been experiencing.  The pneumonia will clear up in time and that the fluid in her lung may actually be from the chemotherapy and will just need to be monitored to make sure it doesn’t cause any serious problems.  She will see a pulmonary doctor on August 16 if still necessary by that time.

Overall we were very pleased with the visit and their consultation.  We did set another appointment with them in six months for them to check her blood to keep tabs on the leukemia.  They also suggested another bone marrow test in a year.  Until then we will see Dr. Costillos here in Rocky Mount monthly to also keep a close check on the blood cells and effects of the medicine.

Thanks, for the prayers and Rosa and I ask that you do not forget us but keep us in your prayers and we in turn ask the Lord to bless you all.  Please feel free to email us your request and we will be diligent to lift them up in our prayers as well.  In Christ. Roy

Those were Rosa’s exact words just a few minutes ago when she found out a co-worker has “LEUKEMIA.”  His name is Bobby Jones and please pray for him.  He is at Pitt Memorial in Greenville North Carolina.  Bobby is about 70 years of age.  It hasn’t been determined what kind of Leukema he has or just how serious it is.  But we are just saddened at this news and Rosa can certainly relate to what he is going through.  We are challenged once again to pray believing that God will work this out for him as well.

Henry and Richard Blackaby note in their co-authored book, “Spiritual Leadership” that, Charles Finney, a great evangelist of his time, entered the woods near his home and there experienced conversion. Later that same week he would further encounter Christ in his law office in such a way as to change his life forever. It brought Finney to say from his heart, “I want to pout my whole soul our to God.”  And that’s what he did.

I guess you could say that through any experience anytime and anywhere one can encounter God in such a way as to change their life forever.  First for salvation and then for whatever purpose God has for you and through that experience you will give Him honor and glory.  I certainly believe that through Rosa finding out that she had leukemia has been an opportunity for us to encounter God as we never had before and from that share what He is doing in our lives everyday since then.  God is as fresh day by day as the morning dew and we are trying to learn as much as we can while on this part our life’s journey.  Rosa and I want to be able to say with the Psalmist: “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart (Ps. 26:1-2).

Have a blessed day and let us all sing His praises.  In Christ Alone, The Porter’s

We went to see the neurologist today and that went very well.  He doesn’t think that it is to bring about any concern at this time and will check it again in three months. He said since we don’t know when it first occurred, could have been there for twenty years or so, and Rosa hasn’t had any of the disability problems usually associated with them, we would just wait and see if it changes.

She continues to hurt in the side and with her breathing.  If you were to hear her or watch her you would be feeling the pain right along with her.  I certainly do and I can only imagine the anguish she is in.  I Pray that relief comes very soon.  She is a real inspiration though and that too I wish you all could know first hand.

We are both very tired physically but held up by our spiritual strength in the Lord and sustained in friends like all of you who have supported us in many different ways.  Thanks, and God bless you with all the desires of you heart and the real needs of your life. Roy

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel. Who only does wondrous things!” Ps.72:18

The Lord has heard our prayers and Rosa’s white blood cell count is in the normal range.  Give Him praise!  As for the pain she has had since Monday a couple of things are still going on.  One is the spleen is still enlarged and will take a few more weeks to reduce to normal.  The other is that while in the hospital whe developed some pneumonia on that side and the doctor thought the antibiotic he had prescribed hadn’t fully taken care of that.  After another x-ray he decided she will take a stronger dose of antibiotic to see if that want take care of it.  We were well pleased and she doesn’t go back to see him for two weeks.  She will see a pulmonary doctor just to make sure about the lung. 

So thank you all once again for your faithfullness to pray and lift us up before a holy God who loves us and gives us strength to go forward.

In Christ Alone,  Roy

Rosa got up with some pain this morning she has not been having.  Not sure what’s the cause may be so lift that up to the Lord.  She has talked with the doctor and taken additional pain medication.  Keeping a watch on it for now.  In Christ, Roy

Hope everyone has had a great weekend.  Ours was and we thank God for every day and each blessing we receive.  Rosa continues to do well and she is growing stronger every day.  The medicine that she is on hasn’t seemed to make her sick so far.  The only thing that makes her feel sick at her stomach is the medicine that was prescribed for keeping her system functioning.  Otherwise if she didn’t have the oxygen you would know anything was wrong.  We’re just praising the Lord around here.

She will go back to the doctor on Wednesday, so pray for further improvement in the white blood cell count.  Then on Thursday she will see a neurologist about the meningioma.  We don’t expect them to do anything right away but just tell us approximately when it will need attention.  Then on the twenty third of this month we will go to Chapel Hill for consultation with oncologist and get their opinion about the treatment Rosa is on and whether or not they agree with Dr. Costillos’ care plan.  So please be in prayer about these things.

Today we will need to get out and go a few places for a bit and I ask you pray that Rosa will be protected. She wears a mask in order not to breath any germs or bacteria and has to carry the oxygen.  The other day she actually fell and I thought my heart would jump out.  But we know that she will be alright.

Thanks, Roy

I shared with the church last night from Luke’s gospel where Jesus said if we would be His disciple that there was certain things that must be evident in our lives. (Luke 14:26-33)  Things like loving Christ more than anyone or anything else, and like bearing your cross, and even forsaking all your possessions.  Imagine if you will a circle that represents your life.  And the question is, “what’s in the center of your circle?”  Is it yourself filled with pride and gloating over what you have done and the accomplishments you have achieved?  Even as a Christian sometimes we are looking for a pat on the back and bragging rights for the fine job we have done withing the church and God does not get any glory out of us. But, as a christian, the answer should be Christ is in the center of that circle and in authority, controlling our every thought and action.  To God be the Glory!  And from this we can learn how not only to become a disciple, but to improve our journey and develop into a more consecrated and dedicated disciple with the boldness to proclaim who Jesus is and what His mission and purpose is for our lives.  So imagine that circle and ask yourself, who is in the center and who is in control? 

Rosa and I both know that if it were not Jesus in our lives that we would not have been able to bear up underneath the cross we are carrying right now.  But because He is in control, we are worshipping and praising Him. Amen!