Update on Jeff Geise

Before I share a letter from Jeff Geise, which gives an update on his condition and how we can pray for him, I wanted to share a couple words about Jeff. Jeff Geise is one of those people that is an inspiration to many. He's the kind of guy whose life you look at and go, "Oh, so that's how this "faith thing" is supposed to work. That's what it looks like to have the "peace that passes understanding" during trials that the Bible talks about in Philippians 4:7. As you read Jeff's update, in addition to having the privilege of praying for him, I pray you will be inspired by his unshakeable faith in God. His life truly is an inspiration to me. Thanks Jeff!   Janine

March 30, 2005

Dear friends, family and prayer partners,

It has been quite some time since I have written you concerning my health. For the last year and a half, since I finished Chemo in October of 2003, I have enjoyed a HUGE blessing from God and have had great health. A year and a half ago I was being prepared for a Stem Cell transplant because the Chemotherapy was not having the desired affect. It was then that I feel God stepped in and grabbed the timer of this ticking Leukemia bomb in my life and said “rest." The last year and a half has been an incredible time of rest and experiencing God's grace and growth.

Monday the 21st of March, I went in to meet with my Oncologist to discuss my latest CT scan. The news was not good. My doctor says that the Leukemia is growing again, and fairly rapidly. He suggested that we start another round of Chemotherapy as soon as possible leading up to the stem cell transplant we talked about a year and a half ago. I’ll tell you more about the stem cell transplant later if we head that route. For now just know that it has nothing to do with babies or “harvesting” cells from fetuses.

After much prayer we have decided to go ahead with those plans. Unless God steps in, in a miraculous way (and I am very confident that He can) I will begin Chemotherapy on Monday April 4th. I would do 2 – 4 months of Chemo to knock down my immune system and then have the stem cell transplant which hopefully, prayerfully would jump start my immune system to produce healthy blood. 

While I am not excited about crossing the parking lot of the cancer clinic to get “plugged in” to the Chemo on Monday I am very excited to see what God has planned for Cindy and I on this next leg of our adventure. I pray that it involves miraculous healing and sooner rather than later. God has been so faithful. This next page in my life did not catch Him by surprise. He isn’t saying “Oh no, I just turned my back for a second and now Jeff’s leukemia is growing, what do I do?” I believe that this has passed through His hands to my life for a purpose. I look forward to discovering His purpose. 

The verses that have been impressed on my heart are from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus is with His disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. An unexpected storm comes up and begins to rock the boat; waves are even coming over the edge of their boat. They look for Jesus and He is soundly asleep in the stern of the boat. They were terrified and woke Him up all worried that He didn’t know or understand that they were in deep trouble.  “…they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher don’t you care that we are perishing?’ And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you so timid? How is it that you have not faith?’ And they became very afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’” 

I clearly know who He is. He is the Son of God, my Savior, redeemer, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer and my healer. He has saved me and is able to sustain, guide, and provide for me. He, at the sound of His voice is able to calm my storm with a simple, “Hush, be still.” I am choosing not to scream and wave my arms around and shout, “Lord, don’t you know what is going on here!” I am choosing to curl up next to Him in the stern of my storm tossed boat and trust Him.  

As I start this next chapter of my life I once again covet your prayers. Here a few things I would humbly ask you to pray for…

Last Saturday I jumped out of an airplane from 10,000 ft. strapped to my “new best friend” Vladimir. It was an awesome experience. It was a little frightening but I enjoyed even the momentary terror because I was strapped to someone I trusted. Well, here we go. I’m at the door of the plane ready to jump again, only this time I’m strapped to Jesus and I trust Him even more then Vladimir.

 

 

Safe and Secure in Him,

Jeff Geise

Read Pastor Jeff's powerful sermon, The Ink is Not Dry about what God has taught him through his experience with Leukemia.

 

Home