9.30.2026

I’ve asked Kim Elliott to write the Pastor’s Note this week about her health journey. I’m certain you’ll be blessed - Pastor Terry

Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 91:1-2: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 23:4: "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."

I’ve always loved the psalms. I enjoyed a college class called Psalms and Poetic Literature from which I have a scrapbook of a number of the psalm projects I did there. While I know many of the psalms and love them, those above are some of my favorites.  Our Wednesday night Bible study has really made me dig deeper into them and analyze them.

This past week I’ve found how important they are to me right now in my life.

I’m in a valley . . . looking to the hills . . . seeking a refuge and strength and help in my personal time of trouble.  I need a fortress I can trust and the One who made me to help me.  This is my opportunity not only to read and study and appreciate the psalms, but also to put them to the test and put them into practice in my life.  

If you haven’t heard, I was diagnosed with cancer on September 21. It was pretty shocking and scary.  Until I have surgery I won’t know for sure what is going on, but thankfully, so far, the biopsy shows a non-aggressive type of cancer. 

I so appreciated being anointed and prayed for at church on Sunday. I believe in divine healing, and I’ve seen others who’ve been healed during my life. I want to practice that same faith now and be supported by those of you who have faith that Jesus can heal me. Please pray that it is either not there or contained/encapsulated and can be removed without the need for further treatment.

A friend who has walked a similar path said, “Only say that the doctor has diagnosed you with cancer, never ‘I have . . .’” I get her point.  Doctor Jesus is the one who made me, and He has the power to remove whatever is going on in my body whenever He wants to.  He is the Great Physician. I am also glad that I have a top-notch oncologist who will be doing the surgery.  

Whatever the case, I’m on a path I would not have chosen for myself or for anyone else, for that matter. While all of this was a surprise to me, it wasn’t a surprise to God.  I’ve always said that when tough times come (and they will and do), I want to try to see how Jesus can use them to draw others to Himself. That’s the goal of being a Christian, right?  How many can I bring into the kingdom before my light here goes out . . . which I hope won’t be for a number of years yet!

We often hear Pastor Terry talk about how the lives, actions, behaviors and attitudes of the early Christians made Christianity grow like wildfire in the first centuries after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Should we be any different now?  I want to be a light for Jesus regardless of the circumstances I face. I want others to see Him in me as I go through the storms of life.

So, as I walk this walk, I want my talk (and my actions and attitudes) to match my walk. I want to touch more lives for Jesus. I want to be a light to others on this cancer journey and let them know there is hope and love and help in Jesus.  I want to be intentional in my witness as I walk this path I didn’t choose. 

If I believe the psalms and the rest of the Bible, then this is the time for me to act like it. Yes, I’ll cry, and I may even have days of fear ahead. I may ask God to take this cup from me; but if He doesn’t, I still will follow Him. He has given me strength to do so many things that I couldn’t have or wouldn’t have without Him. He is my source of courage and encouragement.  

Along with Jesus, I am so thankful for you, my Christ Church family, both here in person, and those who join us through Facebook or this newsletter. Your prayers and support and love buoy me up. Keep it up and keep being Jesus “with skin on” to me and others who need it. Please pray through the prayer list below. I try to make that a practice in my own life, too!

My journey to Christ Church was a journey of faith, and it has brought me to this new journey of faith. Jesus goes before me, behind me, beside me and within me through His Spirit just like He did when He opened the doors for me to make the move here. I know He still has a plan for my life despite a scary diagnosis, and I can trust Him now, just like I did in the fun, scary and exciting time of moving from Florida to Alabama. 

There’s an old song that has been with me since the first appointment that has led me to today, and I’ve repeated the first verse many, many times in the past few weeks:
 

Whether I live or die, whether I wake or sleep
Whether upon the land, or on the stormy deep,
When ‘tis serene and calm, or when the wild winds blow,
I shall not be afraid; I am the Lord’s I know.

I’m thankful that I know, that I know, that I know “I am the Lord’s.” He has me in His mighty hand, and I’m strongly supported by a host of saints who are praying all around me and for me, so I can follow the words of Joshua, “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NRSV

Blessings,
Kim Elliott