No one seems to know what to do between Christmas and New Year's, which is just fine with me. I’m just taking it slow and adapting to some of the strange things going on with my body.

Thankfully, I was well enough to attend church last Sunday. As always, the Lord's Day left me feeling refreshed. As a special bonus, we went caroling after the evening service. We had a big group, so the neighbors could really hear us. It was great fun, and I can hardly wait for next year!

Christmas Day was great fun too. I felt "almost normal," with a good appetite to enjoy the special food, and lots of energy to enjoy presents and games and conversation. My parents joined us for the day, and we stayed late at a friend's house. After all that excitement, we have enjoyed some quiet days together through the rest of the week.

I did not feel well on Wednesday and Thursday, so I was back at the hospital a couple times for scans and tests. Thankfully, these showed no major problems, and since then I have felt better. In fact, I'm feeling well enough to get back in the pulpit tomorrow. For the last month, I have enjoyed being a “hearer of the word" while Pastor Nathaniel has handled all the preaching work. Whether preaching or hearing, I pray for grace to always be a "doer of the word."

We are enjoying even more family visits these days. My younger brother arrived yesterday, and another brother will arrive Monday. These visits are a lot of fun, especially for the kids, who can't keep all the uncles' names straight!

While my chemotherapy is underway, we continue working on the plan for my surgery. Right now, we are seeking a third opinion, to help sort out some different perspectives between team here in Santa Clara, and the team in Toronto. That might seem outlandish, but my cancer really is very rare and complex, and we need to get the plan right. Wonderfully, another outstanding physician-scientist in Toronto will review my case.

While we form our plan, we are also praying for God’s blessing on it all. I need his healing, whether through these natural means, or by some unexpected miracle.

It feels strange to talk so much about “plans” when things are so uncertain. At this time of year I typically make some family and ministry plans for the year ahead. Usually I have to remind myself that whatever plans I make, I still "do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14). That seems blindingly obvious this year!

With this in the back of my mind, it was a special blessing to read today in Isaiah 33:5-6, where God promises to bless Judah through the upheaval of their coming exile:

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

The coming year is a good time to trust God’s righteousness, enjoy his salvation, learn his wisdom, and live in his fear. He will be the stability of our uncertain lives.