Merry Christmas

I pray that each of you have a Merry Christmas as we celebrate our Savior. I also pray that you have a blessed 2010.

Love,

The Lloyd Family

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month in Alabama. I would ask that everyone pray for a cure for all the different types of cancer. I have friends that are struggling with breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, childhood cancers, etc.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We know that You are Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals. We know that you are able to do all things. Lord, please bring a cure for all these cancers. Thank You for all that you've taught us through these brave ones who have struggled with this beast.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Will Only Post Occasionally

I originally created this blog so I could fulfill a dream that Sue "The Hat Lady" and I had made when I met her at my sister's chemo therapy session in Jackson. We thought it would be fun to make a book or create a website to encourage other women on their various cancer journeys.

I have no experience whatsoever in creating a website, so a blog was the next best thing. I still send a group of women Cheer Songs every day, but since Sue passed away, I haven't felt motivated to keep up the blog.

I would encourage you to read the blogs that I have listed on my blog list. They are some really neat folks who God is using greatly.

I pray that there will be a cure for cancer soon.

Praise the Lord 6/17/09 Wednesday

Please go to the blog on my blog list that is Kwegesyia. See the miracle that God has and is performing. Take heart and be encouraged. The lyrics to the refrain of the hymn "To God be the Glory" by, Fanny Crosby come to mind.

Refrain: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

Cheer Song Thursday 5/14/09

Happy Thursday! I think I must be deaf. The kids in my class sure think so. They had to stay inside yesterday because of the rain. They had 2 volumes they spoke in, loud and louder. I found out from the other teachers that their kids were the same way. They are getting restless and ready for summer. Today we’re having our end of the year picnic party. Last year it was great. I pray that today’s is.


Yesterday my devotion was about God rescuing us. It told how many times the Lord allows us to come to the end of ourselves and our methods for trying to solve our problems so we will turn to Him. He is faithful to rescue us when we call to Him. I was doubtful about whether I was going to use this devotion for the Cheer Song. It’s so neat how God works. One of my kiddies had a shirt on with a fire truck and the caption underneath it that said, “Rescue Me”. Underneath the caption it had the Biblical reference of Psalm 35:17. In that verse the psalmist cries out to the Lord and asking Him when He will save him from the lions that are trying to devour him. I thought that it was a clear sign that I needed to do this topic on rescuing.

Today’s Cheer Song is “Rescue the Perishing” by, Fanny Crosby. Enjoy! Love, Carol

Rescue the Perishing
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Refrain:Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,Waiting the penitent child to receive;Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;He will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;Back to the narrow way patiently win them;Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Cheer Song Wednesday 5/13/09

Happy Hump Day! It was so nice yesterday to be able to take the kids outside. It has been raining in Alabama for a while. We had popsicles and were able to run off a lot of energy. I had forgotten how nice a cool popsicle is to eat as a treat. If you haven’t had one in a while, you need to buy a box of Scribblers that are made by the Popsicle brand. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Have you been feeling so tired and weary that you feel like crawling in the bed as soon as you get home? Sometimes don’t you wish that you could just turn your brain off and not think about anything for a while? It’s such a comfort to know that with all the rush and pull of the world we can rest in our Savior’s arms. He truly is our “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

Today’s Cheer Song is “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by, Simon and Garfunkel. Enjoy!

Bridge Over Troubled Water
When you're wearyFeeling smallWhen tears are in your eyesI will dry them allI'm on your sideWhen times get roughAnd friends just can't be foundLike a bridge over troubled waterI will lay me downLike a bridge over troubled waterI will lay me downWhen you're down and outWhen you're on the streetWhen evening falls so hardI will comfort youI'll take your partWhen darkness comesAnd pain is all aroundLike a bridge over troubled waterI will lay me downLike a bridge over troubled waterI will lay me downSail on Silver Girl,Sail on byYour time has come to shineAll your dreams are on their waySee how they shineIf you need a friendI'm sailing right behindLike a bridge over troubled waterI will ease your mindLike a bridge over troubled waterI will ease your mind

Cheer Song Tuesday 5/12/09

I pray that this Tuesday finds you doing well. It’s hard to believe that it’s the second week in May. It seems like these last few months have flown by. I look at the kids in my class and see that they’re no longer babies. They’ve all grown by leaps and bounds. I’m making scrapbooks for them with pictures I’ve taken throughout the year. It is amazing how their looks, vocabulary, knowledge, and faith have grown in the last 9 months.

Just as the children have grown, I’ve seen areas where I’ve grown in my life. Some areas I wish that I hadn’t (physically), but in that area I’ve seen my lack of discipline and the need to be committed to a healthy diet and exercise this summer. The Lord has also stretched me emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Some of the lessons in the process have been painful to learn, but what a comfort to know that my Heavenly Father wants to make me more like Him. Jeremiah 29:11 states,” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare, and not for calamity, to give you a future and hope.” Thank you, Lord.

Today’s Cheer Song is “ Father’s Eyes” by, Amy Grant. Enjoy!

Father’s Eyes
I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl,And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world.But that's all right, as long as I can have one wish I pray:When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say,She's got her father's eyes,Her father's eyes;Eyes that find the good in things,When good is not around;Eyes that find the source of help,When help just can't be found;Eyes full of compassion,Seeing every pain;Knowing what you're going throughAnd feeling it the same.Just like my father's eyes,My father's eyes,My father's eyes,Just like my father's eyes.And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done,Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone.And when you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me,More than anything I know, I want your words to be,She had her father's eyes,Her father's eyes;Eyes that found the good in things,When good was not around;Eyes that found the source of help,When help would not be found;Eyes full of compassion,Seeing every pain;Knowing what you're going through,And feeling it the same.Just like my father's eyes,My father's eyes,My father's eyes,Just like my father's eyes.My father's eyes,My father's eyes,

Cheer Song Monday 5/11/09

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I am so thankful for the family God has blessed me with. The whole day was a great day of worship, fellowship, food, and fun. I think that with my husband and daughter’s cooking that I gained five pounds. It was well worth it

The Lord has put this hymn on my mind the last few days, “Lord, Speak to Me”. These are the writers of the words and the music as they are listed in the Cyberhymnal: Words:
Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, 1872. She wrote this hymn at Win­ter­dyne, Bewd­ley, Eng­land, for the use of lay help­ers in the church.
Music: Can­on­bu­ry, adapt­ed from Nacht­stück, Opus 23, No. 4, by
Ro­bert A. Schu­mann, 1839


Read the words and then pray them. They make a great prayer about doing God’s will, His way. Enjoy!
Lord, Speak to Me
1.Lord, speak to me that I may speakIn living echoes of Thy tone;As Thou has sought, so let me seekThine erring children lost and lone.
2.O lead me, Lord, that I may leadThe wandering and the wavering feet;O feed me, Lord, that I may feedThy hungering ones with manna sweet.
3.O strengthen me, that while I standFirm on the rock, and strong in Thee,I may stretch out a loving handTo wrestlers with the troubled sea.
4.O teach me, Lord, that I may teachThe precious things Thou dost impart;And wing my words, that they may reachThe hidden depths of many a heart.
5.O give Thine own sweet rest to me,That I may speak with soothing powerA word in season, as from Thee,To weary ones in needful hour.
6.O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,Until my very heart overflowIn kindling thought and glowing word,Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
7.O use me, Lord, use even me,Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,Until Thy blessèd face I see,Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

Cheer Song Sunday 5/10/09

• Happy Mother’s Day! I pray that all of you who are moms, all of you who will be moms, and all of you who have moms will have an encouraging and uplifting day. God was so gracious to bless us with these wonderful ladies.
  
  I was listening to my favorite radio program the other day. The hosts were celebrating mothers. People called in to talk about their mom. Some of the folks had lost their moms. The male host had told everyone how much he missed his mom who had died two years before. Another caller elaborated on the point of telling your mom how much you love her and means to you because you don’t know how long you will have them. She also made the point to get rid of any anger that is between you and your mom so there will be no regrets on down the road. When we think of all the Lord has forgiven us for it should make us all the more willing to forgive. Thanks to all you mothers who have loved, nurtured, and sacrificed so unselfishly for the people God has placed in your lives.
  
  Today’s Cheer Song is “I Saw Him in Your Eyes” by Susie Luchsinger. Enjoy!
  
  I Saw Him in Your Eyes
  That rusty yellow school bus came to pick us up each dayTook my sister off to school and dropped me at your house to playI'd see you wavin' from the porch down that ol' dusty driveAnd I'd run as fast as I could to your sideYou taught me how to garden and you let me help you cookThat gentle smile was always there and on your face that special lookAnd you told me about Jesus how he lived inside of youYou know I never doubted what you said was trueCause I saw him in your eyesIn your love and in your laughter it was him I recognizedI didn't know it then but now I realizeThat I saw him in your eyesWhile we cleaned up in the kitchen you'd be hummin' some old hymnAnd then you'd open up your Bible and read to me about your friendBut more than songs and stories it was what I saw in youI watched the love of God as it came shining throughYes I saw him in your eyes...Oh my prayer is that some day when my grandchildren look at meThey'll see that same reflection of him and his perfectionThe miracle in you that I could seeWhen I saw him in your eyes...Yes I saw him in your eyes
  

Cheer Song Saturday 5/9/09

I am going to start posting the Cheer Songs and thoughts that I've been sending each day to the ladies in the Cheer Group. I will not put in some of the personal information, but will put the basics from the email

The Lord has been teaching me about waiting and listening to Him before making a stupid mistake by getting all riled up and sticking my foot in my mouth. Too many times I want to swing my sword like Peter did in the Garden of Gethsemane. I don’t think the Lord needs my help in doing any ear lopping. I need to be concerned about my own heart and wait on Him. Through His word, prayer, my husband, and other voices of reason, I’m so thankful that I didn’t jump the gun on a decision I was thinking about making. God has been working in the situation and I’m learning to trust Him in it.

Today’s Cheer Song is “Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation”, words and music by Rebecca St. James and Josh Deaton. Enjoy!

Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation
Speak to me Lord for your child is here listeningSpeak to me Lord for your child is here waiting on youSpeak to me Lord for your child is here listeningSpeak to me Lord for your child is here waiting on youUnveil my eyes let me see You ... see YouUnveil my heart let me know You ... know YouFather doYou are the true God the one living Lord ... FatherYou are the true God the one living Lord ... Father YouYou are the true God the one living Lord ... FatherYou are the true God the one living Lord ... Father YouUnveil my eyes let me see You ... see YouUnveil my heart let me know You ... know YouFather doJesus, Your word stands foreverChanging me foreverSpeak to me Lord for your child is here listeningSpeak to me Lord for your child is here waiting on youUnveil my eyes let me see You ... see YouUnveil my heart let me know You ... know YouUnveil my eyes let me see You ... see YouUnveil my heart let me know You ... know YouSpeak to me Lord for your child is hereSpeak to me Lord for your child is hereSpeak to me Lord for your child is hereSpeak to me Lord for your child is here.

Sue "The Hat Lady"

My sister emailed today with the news that Sue "The Hat Lady" Errington, lost her battle with the beast on March 21st. I am so thankful that Sue is with the Lord. Even though the Lord didn't choose to heal her on this side of heaven, she is completely healed now. I bet the hats that she's making in heaven are magnificent to behold. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet her at one of Margie's chemo sessions. We were able to get to know each other through the Cheer Songs. She was such an inspiration to me with her unwavering faith and never give up spirit. I am listing below part of the obituary her family wrote about her.

Sue Spencer Errington
"'Sue,' what a blessing" she has been to our family, our church and our community. She lived her testimony of faith everyday. I expect she will be missed at Jackson Oncology as well ... as she was better known as "The Hat Lady." She made and decorated a different hat for every holiday or occasion to wear when she would go for treatment to always brighten the spirits of others who were there. This evolved into the "Hat Ministry" and allowed her to speak in various churches and share her testimony of God's grace. She has been an inspiration at home and abroad in her daily walk. Through it all, her faith never waivered. We will miss her greatly as we continue to serve an unfailing God.

Today's Cheer Song is "Homesick" by Mercy Me. I pray it will minister to your heart.

Homesick

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand timesAnd at
least a thousand times I've rejoiced for youBut the reason why I'm broken, the
reason why I cryIs how long must I wait to be with youI close my eyes and I see
your faceIf home's where my heart is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give
me strength to make it through somehowI've never been more homesick than nowHelp
me Lord cause I don't understand your waysThe reason why I wonder if I'll ever
knowBut, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the sameCause I'm still here
so far away from homeI close my eyes and I see your faceIf home's where my heart
is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give me strength to make it through
somehowI've never been more homesick than nowIn Christ, there are no goodbyesAnd
in Christ, there is no endSo I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I haveTo see you
againTo see you againAnd I close my eyes and I see your faceIf home's where my
heart is then I'm out of placeLord, won't you give me strength to make it
through somehowWon't you give me strength to make it through somehowWon't you
give me strength to make it through somehowI've never been more homesick than
now

Cheer Song 4/12/09

Happy Easter! It is a joy to know that we serve a risen Savior. I am so thankful that He took all my sins upon Him so that I could have forgiveness and life with Him for eternity.

Today I have 2 Cheer Songs. The first is" Hallelujah! What a Savior" by Philip P. Bliss and the second is "He Lives" by, Alfred H. Ackley.

Have a blessed Easter!

Hallelujah! What a Savior

Man of Sorrows! what a nameFor the Son of God, who cameRuined sinners to reclaim.Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,In my place condemned He stood;Sealed my pardon with His blood.Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;Spotless Lamb of God was He;“Full atonement!” can it be?Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;“It is finished!” was His cry;Now in Heav’n exalted high.Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,All His ransomed home to bring,Then anew His song we’ll sing:Hallelujah! What a Savior!

He Lives

Music ~ Alfred H. Ackley, 1887 - 1960
Stanza 1:
I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
Chorus:
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Stanza 2:
In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.
I know that He is leading, thro' all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Chorus:
Stanza 3:
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Cheer Song 3/19/09

I know it has been a while since I last posted. The Lord has allowed me to meet some more brave women that are fighting cancer in different forms. Unfortunately, the list is growing that I send cheer songs to each day, but, fortunately for me, I've learned so much about life and drawn closer to the Lord through them.

After months of sending Cheer Songs that I'd written, I morphed into sending hymns or praise songs, and thoughts from my daily devotionals. It has been a blessing for me to read the story behind many of the hymns and how the Lord worked in the hymnwriters lives.

Today's Cheer Song is a praise song that we used to sing in church. It's "Teach Me to Wait". Enjoy!

Teach Me to Wait

Verse:They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength,they shall mount up on wings as an eagle.They shall run and not be weary,they shall walk and not faint;teach me Lord, teach me Lord, how to wait.Oh teach me Lord, I wanna know how to wait.Chorus:Oh wait,oh wait,teach me Lord how to wait.Vamp:Wait on the Lord and be of good courage.Ending:Teach me Lord how to wait.

Update from Sue (The Hat Lady) and Bridget

This picture is of Sue and her friend, Jennifer, who is a cancer survivor, with the Oak Ridge Boys. She is in the cowboy hat. I admire her and her friend so much. Below is an update I got from Sue on Monday, February 16th.
A little update on me. I had a pet scan and there were several new spots on my liver so they changed my treatment again. Now I go two Fridays in a row and am off one Friday. Dr. said would try to do at least four series of this medicine and then do another pet scan. This medicine makes your blood counts drop and, so of course mine have. I have only had one series and when I went this past Friday my blood counts were too low to take chemo. I have never had to take the "blood shot" the day after chemo, but I am going to have to if they can do my treatment this Friday. I told my husband I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle, but at least I am still able to fight it. I am not ready to give up or in to this cancer. I know God is in control of the situation and He will see us through no matter the outcome, He is our Sustainer and Comforter.

I'm putting an update that Bridget had on her CaringBridge site last Tuesday(17th).

On Thursday, I will have a PET scan, looking for tumor activity in my body. Next week I will have CT scans to complement the PET. I have to admit I am so nervous about these. Just going thru them and waiting for the results is so gut-wrenching. I would ask for your prayers and also for my husband and children. This disease has absolutely taken such a toll on all of us. Pray that we will lean on the only strong and sure hope, the Lord Jesus Christ, who holds the keys to life and death.

Please keep these precious women in your prayers. They have great faith in the midst of immense suffering.

Some great news; my friend Debbie got a great report from her doctor about her CAT scan last week. She has no signs of cancer and gets her port out on March 4th. Jamie, whose blog site I have listed on my blog, it finished with her hyper-baric treatments and is healing well. Lindsey, whose blog is also listed on my blog (Pleasent Drive), finished her chemo treatments and moved into her new home, after selling their other house in a short period of time. God has used these women and is still using them, to touch so many lives, in cancer and in health.

Cheer Song 2/2/09 Monday

Happy Groundhog Day! Our Groundhog Bill in Birmingham saw his shadow and we will have 6 more weeks of winter. I wish that we'd have some snow to go along with the prediction. If we don't we'll hope for some next year.

I would like to ask y'all to pray for all my brave friends still battling the beast. Please pray for my friends Bridget and Sue. Their cancer has spread and they're on new chemo treatments. Please pray that these treatments will kill all those new and existing nasty cancer cells.

The Cheer Song for today is one that I wrote using several different verses. It's called "Always Pray". Enjoy!

Always Pray

Chorus:
Always pray
Don't give up
Always pray
Don't lose hope
He is faithful
He will answer
Always pray

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways, acknowledge Him
He will direct your paths
When you (Chorus)

2. For I know the plans I have for you
Declares the Lord
Plans for welfare, not for calamity
To give you a future and hope
So (Chorus)

3. Seek ye first His kingdom
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added to you
Shall be added unto you
So (Chorus)

Thought for the day

I have been home from work for the last 3 days because I'm having to wait on a pair of new glasses. I overwore my contact lenses and can't wear them for 10 days. I wore glasses from the time I was 2 until I turned 14 years old. I got the latest style when I was 12. When I got contacts, I never wanted to wear glasses again. I was tired of being made fun of by other kids. I didn't have any glasses to wear except for my 40 year old pair. They get laughs from everyone who sees them as they have no ear pieces. They broke off a long time ago. My old roommate used to make me put them on to get a laugh out of her dates. I wore them to a Halloween party when my husband I dressed up as nerds. The opthamalogist and nurses at the office said that they were the oldest and most pitiful pair of glasses they had ever seen. All of this to say, I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with vision. I have come to appreciate the sight that I do have these last few days. I can't see any details up close.When I put on my dinosaur glasses I can see detail from a distance. I am thankful for doctors that can diagnose and treat my eye problems. I'm thankful for contacts and glasses. I'm thankful for insurance that helps in paying for the implements that help me to see clearly. So, in light of the inconvience of these past few days, it has made me so thankful for all that the Lord has blessed me with.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2009 from my family to each of you! I pray God's healing hand to touch each of you in this new year.

Here is today's Cheer Song: Enjoy!

I'm Praying for God's Healing (to "I Wish You a Merry Christmas")

I'm praying for no more chemos
No more surgeries or radiations
I'm praying for God's healing
Of your cancer this year

God's blessings I pray for you and your kin
God's blessings for peace and for healing this year!