Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I took a bath tonight………not a shower, a bath.

But it was not the regular fill up the tub and jump in bath; it was a “bath” that sick people finally take because it has been so long since the last one that you know you smell funny
and you probably need one anyway. I figured everyone would benefit.

Now bathing for most doesn’t require a lot of effort, but for me it’s a different story. First,
it hurts to stand up, sit down, bend over, walk, really everything I do hurts. My muscles & bones just haven’t been getting along lately. I feel like I’ve been in a car wreck.

Secondly, I always seem to have some “thing” attached to my chest. Tonight, it’s a Phosphorus infuser, which is delivering extra nutrients so that my body can repair the damage that the cancer and the chemo have caused. I have to wear it for 5 hours tonight.

So after Peggy and the kids left to go run errands and get a bite to eat, I made my move.

As my water ran into the tub, I did my best to position my infuser on the edge where it wouldn’t fall in and I eased down into the water. As I waited on my water to rise, I decided I would pray. Again, this bath really was very different.

I started praying for all of you! I thanked God for all the people that have and are lifting us up each day. I thanked God for the way everyone has bathed us in prayer for strength, both physical and spiritual, for your prayers for my healing, for answering the very specific prayers of our immediate needs and for how He has honored the requests of His people.

I thanked Him for bringing people into our lives at specific junctures who have then delivered His divine message.

No one knew this but I have been agonizing over thoughts of being physically disabled and today God showed me that my body is healing. I thanked God for once again showing me how He honors His word.

(James 5:15-17 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.)

I started seeing all of the faces of all of you in my mind. It was a mental video of all the people that have shaken my hand, done us a favor, delivered food, etc, etc, and then told me that you are praying for us. I thanked God for you, for being the hands and feet of Christ to us.

To be frank at this point I was overwhelmed. I sat in my tub of water and cried. Not just tears, I wept out loud and again thanked God for His mercy and grace and love. “Our God is an awesome God he reigns from heaven above, our God is awesome God….”

I prayed for all of you, for your hurts, your needs, and for your faithfulness. I praised God for you!

Yes, I took a bath tonight, but I think everyone got a little wet.

Frank

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was beautiful Frank, Thank you. My eyes are a little wet this morning as I read this and think of the struggle you go through daily. Your strength and courage during all this "Yuck" is inspiring. We're still praying and will make sure to add, "only healing pain Lord." Have a beautiful, painfree day.
Diane

Anonymous said...

Left without words...amazing. Praying for you all and being so thankful for you.
Diane D.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your bathing habits!!! Very powerful. We love you man!

Anonymous said...

Wow...that was very powerful. Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us. You and your family truly are amazing...the more I get to know all of you the more I love each and everyone of you! I don't think that I have TRULY ever prayed without ceasing before I started praying for your family. I love all of you!!!!
Jane

Anonymous said...

As always, your words lift us all! See Romans 5: 1-5. Love to you all. Kristy

Sandy Brody aka Nana said...

This has truly been your heart since day #1 of this journey and God has given you His strength and joy and peace; and you wear it and share it to HIS GLORY! You are not my 'son-in-law' but my 'SON-IN-LOVE'. We walk along side you, lifting all of you up and keeping our eyes on Jesus.
"Hear my cry, O God, Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."
Psalm 61:1,2

Anonymous said...

Where's a shamwow when you need it?!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:8

That verse always makes me think of the entire Carlton family. Thank you for living out loud.

The Conway's

Anonymous said...

Frank, what a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us! You, Peggy and the kids are a blessing to all and we are so grateful to be able to call you friends!
Love you!
Lou & Family

Anonymous said...

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes frim Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62, 5-8

Anonymous said...

Frank, you are a beautiful person. That you pray for those who are praying for you in the midst of your suffering is humbling. You inspired Mike when he was hurting the worst. Your attitude and strength of spirit touched us, and we were amazed by it. I am still amazed by your living so abundantly in the midst of such pain. You are so faithful, and I pray that God bless that faithfulness with health and healing. I pray that you live the abundance in your physical body that you are living in your spirit. I claim your faithfulness before God daily and boldly approach the throne of grace claiming God's promises for you and your family. May the God of grace and mercy bring his healing hand upon you and the hearts of your loved ones and cleanse your body as he has cleansed your spirit of anything that is not pure and holy.
Emily

Brett said...

Frank, your maturity and ability to see with eyes of faith is an inspiration. We are praying for you and your family. Please let me know if there is anything specific we can ever do. Keep believing in your bodies ability to heal - you have come so far already - keep going!

Love Brett Baddorf