The Curran Events, ...from Margee’s Heart
“My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my Rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62: 5-6
Greetings!!
Last month you had an opportunity to hear from Daniel as he recapped his summer and his new ministry with GradCRU at UC Berkeley. We wanted Margee to take a turn writing this month’s newsletter to update you about what God has been doing IN and thru her life, ...on campus and off. The first part is about her dad whom she is very close to...
A Daughter’s Heart
In mid July, my dad, George was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. THIS HAS ROCKED MY WORLD. The first few weeks after his diagnosis were incredibly emotional as we learned about his type of cancer, the prognosis, got MRI and PET scan results and he began treatment. As I look back on those weeks, the thing that most stands out to me, is GOD graciously and miraculously moving out ahead of us. He has been a step ahead OF US THE WHOLE TIME. Although this is not a journey of our own choosing, God is WITH us; sustaining us, providing for us, and surprising us with HIS exceeding abundance.
I started a caringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/georgemacfarland for my dad and asked a few people to join us in praying for a few very specific requests: mainly that my dad would be able to get into see a lung cancer specialist at UCSF, Dr. Jahan, BEFORE he was scheduled to start chemo. We posted that request on Sunday. God heard the prayers of his saints and my dad got a call on Monday for a Friday appointment. That was the first of a string of blessings God continues to bestow on us! I was “excused” from CCC’s staff conference in Colorado in mid-July and was able to spend 10 days at my parents; went to doctors appointments, chemo, cooked, climbed into their big bed with them at night to watch movies, took walks and bike rides with my dad, ate frozen yogurts with my mom, talked, cried, and just spent uninterrupted time with my parents. It was my favorite part of summer. God was so kind; He was and continues to be my rock and stronghold.
We got disappointing news two weeks ago that the first line of chemo has stopped shrinking the cancer cells. He will start a new chemo drug on Nov. 9. The VERY good news we got yesterday is that his brain MRI has not changed since late August. (The radiation oncologist told us he was 98% sure there was cancer in his brain based on some suspicious spots on an MRI in early October) The “spots” did not show up on his MRI this week!! My dad’s faith is strong and he is feeling pretty good. We are thankful for every day that God gives us.
A Campus Minister’s Heart
I continue to work with Athletes in Action at UC Berkeley. I LOVE what I do!!! Often driving home from appointments with students, I think, “I can’t get over the fact that I actually get to minister to female athletes at CAL.” 30 years ago this Fall, I was a freshman athlete at CAL. WILD!! There is a strong student leadership team (SALT) at CAL. They are doing a fabulous job running the Wednesday night meetings, securing speakers, planning social events and leading the charge. I come alongside of them and mentor and train some of the female student leaders. Last year I met Taylor, a freshman rower. She came to college already following Christ. Her roommate Brittany, also a rower, was interested in Jesus but did not know Him. In the Spring, Taylor and I had a chance to explain to Brittany what knowing Christ personally involved. A few weeks later Brittany placed her faith in Jesus. I, like Brittany, had a Christian roommate, Cheryl my freshman year and I too came to faith in the Spring of 1980!! VERY COOL!
A Swimmer’s Heart
I continue to swim several times a week. God has increased my heart for my teammates and my desire to be a fragrant aroma of Christ to them. I blow it a lot, ...I am too competitive sometimes. Our Walnut Creek Masters Swimming Bible study finished up our 2-year study of the book of Acts and now are moving on to studying the book of Ephesians. Jesus uses my prep time to OPEN my eyes to HIMSELF; I often find myself weeping as I sit and type up the lesson, overwhelmed by His Word!!
I am also attending a women’s Bible study at our church. We are currently working our way through a study by Cynthia Heald, Becoming a Woman of Simplicity. The key verse of study is, ‘”I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:3). Daily, God is using this study to remind me that He wants me to live a “GOD paced life that has time for solitude and respite from our noisy world.” The study is loaded with choice quotes and meaty scriptures that I so need to read.
A Mother’s Heart
For the past 12 years I have prayed weekly during the school year for my children with a Moms In Touch group. It may well be my most “important “ hour of the week!! I am so weak and undisciplined in prayer that I need these other moms to pray with. Our group could write pages about how God has taken our feeble prayers and changed our children for HIS glory. I am so thankful!
I LOVE being a mom. I think it’s the best, hardest, most rewarding and humbling job on the planet. I miss my college age kids but am thrilled to see where GOD has them. He is so wonderfully growing them up in Himself. Hope is a sophomore and Hannah is a senior in high school. We continue to host our monthly Dinner With Jesus gatherings in our home for their high school peers. Talk about a WILD night at the Curran house!!
We are in constant amazement that God has led and sustained us as His missionaries here in the Bay Area for the past 12 years. This is all by God’s grace working through your faithful prayers, friendship and support. We are SO grateful and blessed!
Prayer requests from my heart, ...please pray for me:
1. That I would continue to learn how to become a woman of simplicity in my devotion to Christ.
2. That I would live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34), not worrying about tomorrow, especially in regards to my dad’s cancer.
3. For God to WOO and draw many Cal athletes to faith in Jesus and for BOLDNESS to be faithful in bringing His Good News to the Cal athletic department.
Jesus' Shalom! -Margee Curran
