Faith comes by hearing.

I am conscious that in this blog I have maybe skirted the basics. But as the church approaches a week of prayer and fasting for me 20th to 26th April, I need to render your prayers intelligent. On Friday December 18th, the consultant told me that scans showed bowel cancer that had spread (metastasis) as secondaries to the liver. She offered 6 months chemotherapy, and the 'promise' of 1 to 3 years life beyond that in remission, prior to a couple of months terminal decline when the cancer returned. No certainties, no guarantees, except death.

I had wanted to give my twin brother the news that week-end, but conscious of his involvement in pre-christmas family get-togethers, agreed to ring him on the Monday. The Sunday evening, before my call, the church that often meets in their home were gathered for prayer and worship. One lady present, had the continuing urge throughout the evening from God "Tell them the story". But she argued, "it doesn't fit in with the theme of what every one else is saying - it would be out of place". And she kept silent. Ten days later when Ian told her my news, she told him the story that God had urged her to share that evening.

She had had a boyfriend in the past, but the relationship had split apart. She met him in the street some years later, and his health was very evidently in decline - he had the outward jaundiced symptoms of a man diagnosed with terminal cancer, and given months to live. She encouraged him to attend with her a church in Dorset which had seen God move in many miraculous healings. As a result, he was miraculously healed by God - the cancer disappeared from his body.

So my brother, what do you hear? My story of Monday morning, giving a consultant's view that brings despair. Or God's story of Sunday evening, that brings hope and faith. Often our prayer is the product of our hearts desire. And Jesus commended the prayer of a woman who knocked persistently for her needs until they were met. Maybe she did so knowing that a seed of faith had been planted in her heart, and she was going to water it until she saw the fruit.

Today's scan results showed that the cancer has retreated in response to the treatment, but flagged up some thrombosis on the lungs, which explains the breathlessness that I had felt this past week. Apparently a side effect of the cancer and/or the treatment - outcome daily injections of an anti-bloodclot drug - a permanent regime.

Much of this blog has been about the common place, the daily grist of life - and yes my tooth is still nagging. And we thank you for the prayers that have supported us through that. May God lead us as we face up to the bigger issues in this week of prayer and fasting.