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"It's Time" - Dale & Cheryl Golden's Latest Recording!

Our latest all-original recording, "It's Time" is available through a multitude of on-line channels, this website or simply emailing us for the best rate. Email us at info@daleandcherylgolden.com for the details on how to get the very best rate for this project and any of our recordings.

The Watcher Of The Sparrow

"The Watcher Of The Sparrow"

Friday morning, October 23, 2009 was a typical start of the day for me. I arise each weekday morning at 4:30 AM, (which is BEFORE even a rooster sets his alarm!) Ha! This particular early wake-up was the last of a long, hard work week which had taken a toll on me, both physical and emotionally. This was an extra-daunting start to the day. I was one EXHAUSTED "Pop-Pop!"

For the sake of establishing my mindset on this particular morning, I will share with you a few things that I really do not enjoy talking about. Physical ailments are something that EVERYONE has and I am no different. I never want to be someone who dwells on my "issues," nor do I want people to dread seeing me for fear I will launch into some "poor pitiful me" mode with regards to my physical burdens. What a bore that can be! However unappealing one's aches and pains can be to listen to, I have learned that when people hear God delivered me from not one, but two types of cancer, God tends to get glorified, and I like that...a lot! (So does he!) For the sake of this story, indulge me here! Ha-Ha!

The last nine years of my life have seen me diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, endure 36" of abdominal and back incisions, a punctured and collapsed lung with empyema, emergent thoracotomy, 4 or 5 indwelling abdominal drain lines, >10 attempted thoracentesis punctures, pseudomembraneous colitis (from treatment), sinus surgery, multiple lymph node biopsies, diabetes, a ruptured cervical vertebrae, malignant melanoma, biopsy-diagnosed sarcoidosis, 40+ CT scans, a PET scan and two (later proven false) diagnoses of additional metastatic cancer, plus a variety of personal trials and events that would embarrass Jerry Springer! Ha! Throw in a couple of 2:00 AM kidney stones and three teenagers/young adults bent on making my hair fall out and...I think you get the picture! Ha!

Let's just say that on this particular Friday morning, I was feeling EVERY one of those battles. To top these off, I also suffer from serious, chronic insomnia, and recently, it has been particularly brutal. As I drove into the largely empty and darkened parking lot where I have worked for the last 19 years, I did so on 5 hours sleep in the previous 72 hours. These days, I rarely get more than 3-4 hours of sleep a night.

I cherish the 20 minutes or so when I arrive at work and sit, alone and quiet, in my vehicle. Most of the time, the only "quiet" moments of my day come in these moments when I am able to sit alone in my parked truck, usually listening to music, praying, contemplating or generally just "chillin'."

As I counted the minutes down until the moment I had to leave the confines of my vehicle and walk across the lonely pavement, my mind was filled with dread of the day and despair by the events of the past few weeks. My body ached and the fatigue I felt was overwhelming, while my spirit was just flat-out on EMPTY! In addition to the physical burden and emotional drain I was experiencing, the week was one that had been filled with personal trial, disappointments and frustrations. I sincerely doubted that I could muster the will to walk into my workplace that morning. I needed to be somewhere, ANYWHERE else! Yet it was the though of one of my best friends that made me get out of "haven" and head to work...a friend who has been with me since I can remember..."Ura N. Debt!"Ha!

I exited my truck and walked across the lot that soon would be congested with traffic. Now, however, there was no one in sight and nothing moving except the gentle, late-October breeze. As I hobbled near the building entrance, I was reminded of an old Spiritual I have loved since my days as a young boy. My first recollection of this tune was hearing Ethel Waters sing it in some of the Billy Graham Crusades during the mid sixties. Summoning strength to praise the Lord with thanksgiving, especially when we are not especially "strong" in our own right can bring great blessing, I have learned. I wearily began to muster a hum, and then softly sing, these wonderful words of truth:

"Why should I be discouraged? And why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely? And long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is He...

(As I enter the parking-garage that leads to the stairwell I take to my third-floor work-area, I make a sharp right-hand turn to get to the bottom of the stairs. There is a light above that stairwell entrance which brightly beams downward in a warm, approximately ten-foot diameter on the concrete floor at the base of those steps.) This light can't be seen until one is almost upon it, due to it's location. My steps carried me close to the inviting glow of that soft light, as my weary words continued:

"His eye is on the sparrow...and I know he watches me...His eye is on the sparrow...."MY LORD!" I whispered. My song stopped and I froze in my tracks as I could scarcely believe what I was seeing! There, in that cavernous parking garage (which at this time of the morning only held a smattering of cars) and directly in the center of the warm circle of light in front of that stairwell (MY stairwell and directly in MY path)...was a tiny, motionless SPARROW! Dead! Lying on it's back, directly in the path of traffic entering the garage.

As I gazed in a hushed silence at the bird's lifeless body, my first thought was this was just another way to discourage me from "he who seeks to devour." As surely as God has delivered me time after time, so too has my enemy tormented me at every turn. I was repulsed by this perceived attack at the very moment I had been seeking to muster some form of hope and energy to start the otherwise dreary day.
That is the way the adversary is: relentless, ruthless...merciless. I do not doubt in the least that as I began to praise God with those words of faith, it enraged the destroyer.

In my surprise, I could not help but notice the PERFECT, outward condition of this tiny creature, noting that it could not have been in this spot of death for very long, at all. Not one feather appeared out of place, no trauma could be visualized on it's fragile body. It was if someone had literally laid the sparrow on it's back as it slept, directly in the center of the beam of light I was now standing under.

I then slowly knelt down and gingerly picked it up, walking out of the garage and into some nearby grass. There, under a row of hedges, I gently lay the bird's body in a protected area away from traffic of any kind. A place much more suitable than that of the harsh, concrete drive where the bird fell. I stood above it for a few moments and then continued on my way.

As I began my ascent of the stairs, I sought some meaning or understanding from my sobering, daybreak encounter. "God provided for that sparrow EVEN AFTER death," I thought. "That's it!" "That's it!" my mind raced, "If God cares enough to provide for the sparrow, even AFTER death, THEN HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE PROVIDE FOR ME...EVEN IN MY DESPAIR?" What a GRAND BLESSING, this revelation! My Spirit was suddenly and positively renewed at the OBVIOUS blessing God had just sent my way! In a moment of deep physical pain and spiritual depression, I believe this was a sign of God's FAITHFULNESS, which happened in the very moment those words of trust and praise began to flow from my lips!

I am FIRMLY convinced this was no accident! There were no other people in sight at that moment. There were no cars and NO OTHER BIRDS anywhere to be seen. This I know, for I stopped and searched for any signs of any other witnesses, yet there were NO OTHER LIVING CREATURES ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN.

It would not be long before the area where the sparrow fell would be filled with the hectic rush of traffic as physicians arrived to make early-morning rounds, yet, when found, my sparrow was FLAWLESS in appearance. There would have been no evidence of it's body other than an ugly pile of feathers on the pavement in just minutes, yet God provided that EXACT moment to be "The Watcher Of The Sparrow" AND provide me with a message of hope in the darkness of my hopelessness. God's goodness is immeasurable and PERFECT!

I would not speak of this incident until later that night when I would share my thoughts with Cheryl. As those who know me really well, it was a very emotional and difficult thing to share. I would think of that morning throughout the weekend.

The following Monday at work, I shared my story with a special friend who prays for me, and I for her. We spoke for several minutes about the message to be found in this story. She has an incredible testimony and witness of faith in her life, experiencing a trial I cannot even imagine going through, let alone coming through it to become a radiant light (which she is) of God's ability to bring us through ANYTHING if we allow him to! Perhaps, one day, I will share her story with you as well.

That afternoon as I left my unit for the walk out to my truck, I was once again filled with wonder at the incredible timing of my encounter with the sparrow. As I passed near the site where it's lifeless body was placed, I couldn't help but be drawn to search for it's presence. "Surely it is gone," I thought. (I have seen many early-morning cats prowling the area looking for any sign of food, in any form. "Surely they would have gotten it by now," I thought. "You don't really think it might still be there, do you?" I said to myself. With uncertainty, I nervously glanced in the direction of it's resting place.

Yes! THERE IT WAS! NOW, THREE DAYS LATER! In perfect, flawless condition! No signs of insult anywhere! UNTOUCHED AND UNHARMED! It was as if the sparrow was PROTECTED by someone or something. Call me crazy, but I believe it was. I pulled my cell-phone from my pocket and snapped a photo. As a clicked the shutter of the camera, I figured folks would think of me as "nutty" for doing so, but I did not care!

I now believe the sparrow was protected for three MIRACULOUS reasons: ONE: Because God's word says he does so, he cares for and protects even the fowl of the air, the fish in the sea and the beasts of the field. TWO: Because God wanted me to remind me that even when in my deepest, darkest despair, he will provide for me in ways I can't even imagine. THREE: Because God KNEW I would share this story with you, for you see, this story is as much for YOU as it is for ME!! God KNOWS your need. God SEES your tears. God FEELS your pain. God SENSES your hurt. God HEARS your cry and lastly, God DIRECTS your path...IF you ALLOW him to. God directed my path that Friday morning, of this I am certain!

Certainly, some would have simply seen a "dead bird," moved on and never thought anymore about it. But when we fill our hearts and mouths with GOD'S praise EVEN when we are not sure we can take another step, GOD CAN AND WILL DO AMAZING, MIRACULOUS THINGS IN OUR LIVES!!

Feel like quitting? PRAISE HIM! Feel like faltering? PRAISE HIM. Feel defeated? PRAISE HIM! Feel nothing? PRAISE HIM! There is POWER IN OUR PRAISES!

I PRAISE "The Watcher Of The Sparrow!"
As SURELY as he watches the sparrow, so too, does he watch over YOU!!

Be blessed, my friends!

Still Steppin',

Dale Golden
www.daleandcherylgolden.com

"LEAKY EYES" (Updated 2009)

Sunday, August 2, 2009 will mark another milestone, of sorts, in my life. On this date in 2007, I underwent a surgical procedure that dramatically affected my life in many ways. The following is an updated version of a commentary I first posted to our website back in 2007. I am sharing this today to commemorate the anniversary of such a great blessing from God that He created in my life. Though the commentary is rather lengthy, it is but a brief account of just ONE of the ENDLESS BLESSINGS God has so FAITHFULLY granted me through the years.



My wife Cheryl and I have been ministering the Gospel in song for nearly 15 years now (www.daleandcherylgolden.com). God has been so consistently good to us! We are so thankful for His hand in our lives and ministry! It is our prayer that our stories, music and witness will help others draw closer to EVERYTHING God has planned for them. His plan for you is perfect. ALWAYS remember this, even when it doesn't seem as if He is working, or present in your life.



Our story is not unique. Every human being will face trials, illness, heartache, and despair in one form or another at some time in their lives. What does make our story important is in realizing that as God acts in people's lives during crisis, so too can he act in your life, as well, during YOUR crisis. THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT MY ILLNESS, but rather it is about GOD'S UNCEASING LOVE AND MERCY FOR THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIM!



We are two FLAWED individuals, saved by the Mercy and Grace of a PERFECT, living, caring God. Our prayer is that others can draw strength and encouragement from our personal journey. Our story is not shared to bring glory to ourselves; certainly there is NO honor we are WORTHY OF. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, certainly IS, however, we also pray our words bring Him joy!



We encourage you to read the following with an open heart for what GOD would have for you, be it in your current trial, or one you may face in the future.



This is just ONE CHAPTER of our story. We pray it is a blessing! Written in 2007, updated 2009:

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July 2, 2007 marked seven cancer-free years since my initial diagnosis of PANCREATIC CANCER. The previous seven years have been marked by both the highest "mountain-top" highs of victory and the "deepest valley" lows of despair. My cancer diagnosis has brought with it numerous surgeries, procedures, tests, medications, hospitalizations, blessings, Spiritual growth and even a diagnosis of a new cancer, malignant melanoma, in 2006. Every day brings a new experience, some good, some not so good. Such is life.



My annual follow-up exams and tests are a safe-guard to be ever vigilant should a re-occurrence or new form of cancer arise, since I am, regrettably, a serious "cancer risk". I have come to accept these tests as a part of my journey through life, yet I am always a bit on the "nervous side" in the days following them as I await the results to be completed and sent to me.



On the afternoon of July 19th, 2007, two days after my annual CT scan, I received a call at work. My heart sank when I heard my physician's voice on the other end of the line. I have come to know that when my Doctor phones me, there is usually bad news coming (he graciously allows his "Super-Nurse" Cheryl to phone me with good results). He does the "dirty work". This day, he had some "dirt". I listened with the dread that only one who has stood in the spotlight of a life-threatening diagnosis can understand.



Dr. Eric Smith's voice is one familiar to me. I was one of his first patients when he opened his practice in Tyler back in the 1980's. He is a gifted, caring physician whose expertise I value and appreciate greatly. I trust his knowledge and opinion. As I clenched the phone and listened with dread, he informed me that my CAT scan results showed enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and chest, and more ominously, "opacities" in my lungs. Swollen lymph nodes I could deal with, but to hear that something was showing up in my lungs was especially frightening. I may not be the "sharpest knife in the drawer", but I am savvy enough to know what "bilateral" (both) lung involvement and cancer means. Believe me, it was certainly nothing good and one of the last things I EVER wanted to hear...Somewhere in the distance, it seemed I heard someone call out, "STRIKE ONE"!!



The Doctor's frightening call came at the end of my shift, and as I left work and walked, in shock, to my truck, my eyes “began to leak" and I once-again experienced that mind-numbing realization of uncertainty that comes when a physician finds something "suspicious" in one's body. There is usually an awful, hollow feeling of helplessness. It was a long drive home, and an even longer night, as I chose to give Cheryl and the family a good nights rest before telling them. I would be off from work the next morning, so I chose to inform them at that time.



To tell the people I love the most in all of the world something I know is going to upset them is one of my most dreaded responsibilities as a friend, husband and father. I want the very best for them, so to give them THIS news would be gut-wrenching, to say the least. That night, I slept sparingly and awoke around 3:30 AM. I got up and went into the den of our home, where I could sit and not disturb anyone else's sleep. My eyes leaked near continuously as I "soaked in" this awful news. Cancer survivors know that reoccurrence is always a possibility, but human nature tends to think in the positive...that it won't happen "to me". The shock of hearing of one's diagnosis doesn't diminish, even with experience.



Cheryl was the first one of the family up, and as she walked into the den and discovered me home, she noticed my red, swollen eyes and knew instantly something was amiss. I could barely answer her when she asked me what was wrong. The words are so distressingly difficult to manage, to say "I have spots in my lymph nodes and lungs..." As she soaked in the words I stammered, Cheryl began to cry and we held each other closely. My eyes were leaking a flood. Once again, we would walk a familiar path, one all too familiar to us. One we didn't choose. I would tell the kids later that day, as well. Each reacted in their own way, and my eyes leaked each time.



Have you ever noticed when Doctor's perform tests on patients, they rarely find "good" stuff? It seems all they usually find is "bad" stuff. Can someone explain to me why my Doctor can't ever find anything like, umm...say, my lost head of hair? Ha! Instead, they always go around finding stuff like cancer, tumors and such. One of these days, I just know one of them is going to be standing there as I wake up from surgery and say, "I was digging around for your tumor and I found your "lost youth" instead...I reattached it...at no extra charge!" Ha!



Back to reality...I don't mind telling you this. By now, you all realize that on top of all the physical issues going on in my life, I also have leaky eyes. Before my pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2000, I was unmovable, emotionally. My brush with death and the "nearness" I sensed of God in that time has totally changed my reaction to these types of moments. The awesomeness of God's presence will do that. Anytime I sense, or am reminded of, that presence, I am easily overwhelmed with emotion, and, sometimes embarrassingly, demonstrate that. This trial was no exception. My eyes leaked for four days!! I was convinced "the other shoe" had finally dropped and it was ME that had just been squashed!!



It is amazing what you think about when you truly believe your life is in imminent danger of being lost. Your "plans" get put on hold while you wait to see if you'll even be around to plant okra next spring. The wait to see my oncologist (cancer Doctor) the next week was EXCRUCIATING. If you are one who happens to NOT believe in our adversary, the devil, try dealing with any serious illness diagnosis or personal trial and see if you don't hear his discouragement, sense his hopelessness and feel his wrath and hatred at EVERY TURN. I can assure you from personal experience that NOTHING is sacred or left un-assailed by him...he hates our very being and delights in creating misery and despair in any situation where he finds us weak. I would catch myself dozens of time each day with a sudden case of "leaky-eyes" when his torment would find their intended mark. Often, he senses our "weak spots" and delights in exploiting them to create misery. He knows he is ultimately defeated, however, and his efforts are doomed to failure...IF WE CLAIM THE VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST AS OUR OWN. Otherwise, we are without hope.



I did my very best to live life "as usual", even though I had become "hyper-sensitized" to the awareness of how brief and fragile life truly is. My family had planned my Dad's 73rd Birthday party for the coming Sunday evening, July 22, 2007. As I made my way to the restaurant where the party was to be held, I couldn't help but think of how blessed I have been to have had my Dad around for this long. I truly don't know how I would have gotten by in my life if not for my "earthly" father's unwavering love and dedication. God knew exactly who I needed when he honored me with my Dad. The Lord literally gave me parents when I had none. He gave me a home when I was without one. God's hand has been on my life since the day I breathed my first breath. I can't imagine where I would be without the love of my parents. It broke my heart to think about my kid's not enjoying the same precious gift of having an earthly father around to help them in their time of need, to guide them and to love them unconditionally. For me, and most parents, I would guess, the thought of "not being there" for your family is one of the most frightening and stressful aspects of terminal illness and end of life issues.



When faced with these thoughts, I have to draw upon my spiritual faith in God to provide for my family when I can't. It is, however, the weakness of our flesh that holds to this fear and causes great turmoil in our minds. As I sat at the head of the table and looked across at the 10 people I love the most in the world, seriously doubting I would be with them at this time NEXT year, my eyes began to leak AGAIN, right there in the middle of Cheddars. "MAN!” I thought, how can it be that this life is so SHORT, why is this happening to me?...why didn't I ever take a trip to Montana?...and....and....why are those people at that table staring at me???...haven't they ever seen a grown man’s eyes’ leaking in Cheddar’s before??"



After a leaky-eyed prayer, good food and fellowship, we all shared our "goodbyes" and disbanded to our individual homes. As I watched each member of my precious family walk to their vehicles and drive away, my eyes leaked one more time. Had my eyes been made of metal, they would surely have rusted-shut!! Leaky-eyes were becoming a chronic condition for me, it seemed. These moments seemed endless and somehow, unreal, as I sensed the coming storm in the distance drawing near.



When dealing with any serious life-altering issues, time can seem to go by agonizingly slow. It seemed my scheduled appointment with my Oncologist, Dr. Sasha Vukelja, would never arrive! I am one who wants to know the "how, when, what, where and who" RIGHT NOW!! The unknown drives me bonkers. When my appointment time FINALLY came, Dr. Vukelja informed me of what I already, basically knew. I was the "proud owner" of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and chest and "opacities" in the lungs. Most likely, this was either a re-occurrence of cancer with metastasis (spread) of the disease or, second-most-likely, a new form of cancer such as lymphoma, or, least likely, an infectious or unknown process. Marvelous!



Dr. Vukelja then scheduled me for a PET scan. If you are one who hates "testing" NEVER get a serious illness...Doctors will test you until they kill you...no pun intended! I think they are just trying to get "revenge" for all the "tests" they had to take in Medical School! Let me tell you, if that is the case, then oncologists extract LOTS of revenge!



Dr. Vukelja is such an amazing woman! She immigrated to the United States from Europe, went through the U.S. Military, trained as a physician and served her country as such and has now established herself as a prominent physician, artist (sculpting and painting) and is very active in both civic and community affairs here in Tyler. She may be the busiest woman on the planet. I love her plain-spoken approach to patient care, well, except for when she tells me I am "too fat". (You think?) Anyway, I admire her tremendously. She is quite an impressive person AND a fantastic physician.



The reason for doing the PET scan is to give the physician a "target" to biopsy or treat and reveals any remote locations of activity that might show up as "hot" (spread cancer) spots in the body. I SO LONGED for a negative report, meaning no "hot-spots". When I arrived at the clinic, I was courteously escorted back to the testing area by a pretty, young lady in pink scrubs who was employed there. We were accompanied by another patient who was also there for testing. He was a frail, slender, African-American gentleman, probably in his 80's, with a bit of a stoop, dressed in Khaki's and a plaid shirt. He walked with a "Grandpa shuffle" and had the kindest smile. He looked like the epitome' of a grand-father. Such a gentleness and sparkle in his eyes! For a moment, he caused me to smile inside...I love the elderly! I have come to realize how much "living" one has experienced by the time they reach their 80's or 90's.



I must admit, seeing him reminded me of how relatively young I am and of how much life I feel I have left to live, and how "young" 46 years old really IS. “Too young for this", I thought. We continued down the hall and out to a portable PET scan parked in back of the clinic. I work nearby, and as we walked to the steps of the Scanner, I could see the windows to my workplace. I figured my coworkers were going about their business, consumed with the routine of work, thinking about "important" things like lunch, the weekend and what they would be doing later when they got off work. Not things like..."if this is cancer, will I be here this Christmas?” or "how is my family going to get by when I am gone?" or "where did the time go?" or "why didn't I take a trip to the Rockies?" I prayed a quick "thought prayer" that NONE of them would ever take the "walk" I was taking at this moment.



I resisted the impulse to run across the parking lot to my trusty truck, one that falsely made me think I could change all of this "mess" by driving away; simply ignoring it and denying it could be true. But I knew better. I have faced too much REALITY to NOT be a realist. This was my challenge, like it or not.



As we approached the mobile PET scan, I visualized the sign written on its side, painted in large, obvious letters; "CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING". Such a sobering, unreal thought to think that, " I am really here...this is reality...the walk I MUST make...alone...this is happening to ME". You always think cancer or tragedy is for someone else, not you...even when your life's lessons have already taught you otherwise. The truth is EVERYONE will take their own version of this walk at some point.



As we stepped into the holding area, the elderly gentleman with the "grandpa shuffle" went first and performed his test while I waited in a room nearby. About 30 minutes later, as he was escorted from the room and went along his way, I wondered how the days ahead would turn out for him. I pray he found peace and contentment...and knew God in the personal way that I, so thankfully, do. I occasionally think of him and wonder what happened to him, even to this day. He and I, for a brief few minutes that day, walked the SAME path...he, an elderly, black gentleman from a different generation and this big, bald East-Texas white-boy. Never forget the path you walk has already been walked by COUNTLESS others. Each individuals JOURNEY is different, but the PATH and DESTINATION are ALWAYS AND FOREVER, THE SAME. We will ALL step into eternity someday.



A PET scan shows hyper-metabolic activity at the cellular level. Let me write that another way, so I can understand it. It means that any abnormal cell (like cancer) that is working overtime will consume more energy (sugar) than will normal cells. One is given a "sugar-water" solution intravenously before the test, scanned and then the films are reviewed by a radiologist to find areas in the body that are absorbing excessive amounts of sugar...these are the cancerous cells. One hopes and prays that NONE of these locations show up in their results, but if they do, one wants them to be located in the primary tumor area ONLY. For these 'hot-spots" to show up elsewhere is evidence of "metastatic" or "spread" disease. Widespread, metastatic disease can be a death sentence in many cancers.



As I lay on the cool, scanner table, I thought back of how many times I have done this since 2000. I lost count when I was approaching my 40th CT Scan. Believe me, this is not an area I would ever have wanted to become "experienced" in. As the table I was strapped to began to move, I quietly sensed another "leaky-eye" moment, this time in the privacy of my PET scanner "cocoon"...the scan was quickly over, my IV was removed, and I stepped from the chilly, mobile PET scanner into the broiling, July, Texas heat, to await the results of my PET scan and to continue with my "routine" as planned.



Cheryl and I left out on Saturday, July 28, 2007 to sing in South Texas. As we departed, I truly thought it likely this might be our last time to sing together, and even more likely, our last trip seeing some of our beloved South Texas friends. Again, I know what cancer in BOTH lungs means. I was feeling my world spinning wildly out of control, and was helpless to control or stop it. The entire weekend was spent taking in each moment, appreciating each second, as I believed it to be perhaps the final moments I would spend doing that which I love the most...sharing our music and testimonies of God's works in our lives with others. Even with our burden, this crisis did not keep us from experiencing God's fullness in our two services on Sunday. As we shared our testimonies and told each congregation of our crisis, the spirit of the Lord was plainly evident. I told those in attendance how much we appreciated them and reminded them of how good God truly is, even in our darkest times. Each service left many folks weeping, but MY eyes just leaked.



In II Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul writes of a similar situation in his life, where there was given him a thorn in the flesh, "the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 - For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 - And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."- KJV



This Word has lifted my spirit so often in moments of despair!! When I apply this Scripture to my life, I can fully say the power of Christ rests upon me, for infirmities have surely made themselves known to me these last seven years. Certainly, if God's grace was sufficient for a man as great as Paul, God's grace is GREATLY sufficient for little old me, premature baldness, hard-head, leaky eyes and all.



Monday, July 30, 2007 (Cheryl's Birthday) would bring our darkest, most ominous news yet. As we made our way home that morning, I received a phone call from my Oncologist. She shared a fresh bit of information that was absolutely DEVASTATING! My PET scan report stated that I had "foci" (spots) in my liver, spleen and kidneys... UNBELIEVABLE!! My worst fears were realized. My heart raced, my head swirled and I felt as though I might pass out! The news could NOT be worse, it seemed. My mind went numb.



This was the lowest point of the last two weeks. This could mean only one thing, it seemed, and that is cancer. It would also indicate the cancer was spread throughout my body and would almost certainly be a fatal, and probably quick, course. For the first time in my life, I was CONVINCED I did not have long to live.



The silent, five-hour ride home brought me to the realization that I had little time left in this life to prepare for my death. I began to consider things like my family's finances and how they would manage with me gone. I planned my funeral services in my head, reflected on fond memories, thought about all the plans I had that would never come to fruition. One of my primary goals in life is to see the majority of my songs recorded. I have written over 150 songs, but only about 40 have been recorded. It was crushing to think I would not here the remainder come alive. Time and money are always two things that seem short in supply, and now, it seemed, I had neither. I agonized at the thought of my family struggling without me and the contributions I make.



But time stands still for no man, as "they" say, whoever "they" is. We humans seldom think WE might be the ones whose lives are cut short by disease or tragedy. The truth is we are ALL touched by it, sooner or later. It is the human condition. There weren't any "leaky eyes" for the rest of the trip. My body had reached a state of numbness to match my mind, at that point. Where to go from here? To the Lord, that's where! And believe you me, I DID!



When I arrived home that evening, I found a faxed copy of the PET scan report on my machine at home. After such a dark, depressing day, I found a gleam of hope! There was a typographical error in the report! Instead of reading "foci present in the liver spleen or kidneys", it should have read "NO foci present in the liver, spleen or kidneys." During the transcription of the Doctor's dictated report, the word "NO" had been omitted!" "No" can be one of the most beautiful words in the English language!! It certainly was this day, at least to me!! My physician had not picked up on this error and read me the report as it was written. So, after 300 miles of thinking I was consumed by this condition, I came to understand that even with a bad diagnosis, I might be able to have some time to fight. The test, did however, show "foci" present in the lymph nodes and BOTH lungs.



You know what this mistyped report reminded me of? It reminded me how Satan is a liar and hates us all. His hatred is so vile he chooses to torment us at every turn. He is, as the Bible says he is; "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour". He chewed on me that day, but not for long. This is so like his "truth"; it is "truth" only in appearance, NOT in reality. It ALWAYS fades into its own lies when exposed to God's merciful light. It is in God whom I trust, for he is the one who directs my path. I have come to know when he is tormenting me. For five hours that day, he succeeded. In the end, God won the day! We must keep in mind that God will ALWAYS win the battle!



The PET scan results were worse than I had hoped; the best circumstance would have been for any hot spots to be confined to my lymph nodes. The bilateral lung involvement confirmation was crushing to me. This dreaded result set in motion my next phase for treatment, a surgical biopsy. Once again, I heard that familiar call in the back of my mind, STRIKE TWO!!



In my life, my body has been chopped on more times than an onion at a chili-cooking contest, so the thought of getting one more "battle scar" from a biopsy was not one I was especially excited about, but one I realized was going to happen, whether I wanted it to, or not. This news provided me one more private opportunity to sense God's presence, and, of course, experience my "leaky-eyes".



On Thursday, August 2, 2007 I underwent a CME procedure. That stands for "Cervical-Mediastinal-Endoscopy". For those who do not understand that terminology, that means I was about to have my throat slit by a masked man who would then take a large amount of cash from my possession!



As I lay on the surgical table, staring up at the bright, surgical lights, my peripheral vision noted the covered faces of the operating staff members as they gathered around me, preparing to perform the skills of their trade. To them, this was to be just one more routine procedure. To me, my life hung in the findings, for the results of this test would, quite literally, be life-altering for me and my loved ones!



My emotions surged as I realized that soon I would drift off to sleep, and in my next waking moments, I would hear the diagnosis that held my life in the balance. I felt a slight burn in my arm where my IV access was located and, from my previous nursing and patient experiences, knew in seconds, I would lose consciousness. There is nothing like knowing you are going to sleep, and when you wake up, someone is going to give you "life-and-death-serious" news. Talk about drama!! Whew! If I had any hair left, it would have fell out, right then and there!!



I was placed under "General Anesthesia" (nothing but the top-ranking anesthesiologist for me!) and a couple of lymph nodes were surgically removed, at least that is what I am told. They could have biopsied a pork-chop from the hospital cafeteria cooler for all I knew, but I trust my Surgeon. It's the least you can do to someone about to slit your throat and take your money, after all. This episode marked the third time in my life I have had my throat slit and lived to tell about it.



I slept through the whole thing, thanks to "General Anesthesia". I like to believe that because I am so beloved across the nation, the President or someone with a really fancy title commanded the "General" to come to Tyler, Texas and provide my anesthesia! I never got to meet him, but I will always be grateful to our great country for providing "General Anesthesia" to help me out in my time of need!! I know this because I had to sign a form to let him treat me. "The General" did great!! Ha!



I wish I could say I wake up gently from surgery. I do not. I FIGHT the effects of sedation. I am like a mad grizzly bear on some "Animal Planet" show...waking from a sedation-dart-in-the-tush. I begin to growl, grunt and groan. Then I begin to twitch. Then I gnash my teeth and think homicidal thoughts. This is when all sensible medical personnel run for cover. Trust me; it is not a pretty sight. My behaviors awakening from surgery causes some weaker women to faint and grown men to cry, ah, I mean "have leaky eyes" but I managed to come awake without being arrested or forced to eat hospital food. As my awareness "unclouded" and I realized where I was and what had just occurred, my senses suddenly became acutely aware and sought the answer that could no longer be denied. THIS was my moment of TRUTH!



As I opened my eyes, I saw a lovely, smiling face to my left, my recovery nurse. In front of me, towards the foot of my bed was another lady seated behind the nurse’s station. She also had a smile on her face. To my right, there was a third lady walking across my vision from right to left. She also was looking at me and smiling. Now that I think about it, maybe they were laughing at me! My recovery nurse looked me in the eye and said "SARCOIDOSIS!" The lady passing by the foot of my bed said, "YOU DON'T HAVE CANCER!" I think I asked, "I don't have cancer?" to which the lady at the sitting at the desk shook her head, smiled and said, "No, NO CANCER!"



I find myself having a hard time writing here, because there is no way someone with my lack of literary skills can fully express the emotions experienced in that moment. Suffice it to say, my eyes leaked and I gave God more praise than a Pentecostal-on-a-sugar-high, right there in that recovery room! In my sedation-clouded mind, SUCH appreciation welled up in my soul for the MERCY and GRACE God had, ONCE AGAIN, bestowed upon me!! I am certain my nurses probably thought I was hallucinating from drugs as I reached my hands towards heaven and praised God in that recovery room!! I wasn't, I knew exactly what I was doing. As the relief flooded my soul, YOU GUESSED IT....MANY THANKFUL TEARS from VERY LEAKY EYES poured down...and I DON'T REGRET ONE, SINGLE DROP!! From that ballpark-of- life that exists in my cavernous skull, I heard that familiar voice yell..."Strike Three....NO-NO, he hit it!!! HE HIT IT!!.....IT'S A HOME RUN!!!!! Anyone who ever watched me play baseball as a kid KNOWS God was obviously "swinging my bat" on that last, high-and-tight fastball!!



"What is Sarcoidosis" you ask? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory, auto-immune disease that causes granulomas to form in body tissue, most often the lymph nodes of the chest, neck and tissue of the lungs. While it can be debilitating and even deadly, many people live with it without serious complications. Compared to the "fastball" God had just BLASTED away from my body, I will gladly embrace whatever this disease may bring. What's one more trial, right? I told my physicians I am the only guy in the universe happy to have sarcoidosis today! Ha! God has delivered me from many threats, including this one, Pancreatic Cancer, even "PREMATURE BALDNESS", so from here, how bad can things really get??



It is my belief today that at some point in my life, I may have been exposed to some sort of toxin or carcinogen that has resulted in this multitude of conditions that have ravaged my body in my 40's. I will never know the answer for sure, perhaps until I make to heaven. You know, when I really think about it, it could be from all these years of eating Cheryl's cooking. After all, I HAVE noticed my body swelling since we were married. OK, maybe not. I will pay dearly for inserting that observation, but I have demonstrated a long history of enduring wrath for the promise of eliciting a chuckle or two. Just kidding, my love!



The recovery room where I was moved to was soon visited by several friends and colleagues who came by to show their concern. I was deeply moved by a few friends who came by to see me, some with their own leaky eyes. I remember who those people are and I will NEVER forget them for their concern! To this day, the love they showed me lifts my spirit!



Once again, God has shown His mercy to me and those who love me.

I have thought deeply about this event in my life during the last couple of weeks.

I had hoped to have some final, profound thought to share with everyone.

I realize my thoughts can't even approach the magnitude of God's DEED'S.

I thought this trial might have changed me, or provided me with some new wisdom; but it did not.

I am still the same...as is God...Bless His Holy Name!!



God is THE SAME, GREAT GOD he has always been. He will NEVER change, regardless of the outcome of my "trial". GOD'S GOODNESS IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON MY EMOTIONS OR OUTCOMES!



I changed when Christ saved me on the cross and then again seven years ago when I first heard the diagnosis of PANCREATIC CANCER. I have witnessed to folks throughout our travels that God is His glorious self ALL of the time. His goodness does not depend on how things are going in my life. I have a plan, but it is not perfect. GOD'S PLAN FOR ME IS PERFECT...even if it seems I don't like it or agree with it. He doesn't usually "check in" with me to see if the plan is OK before He implements it. He's kind of got the "plan" thing worked out. I don't always choose the plan he has for me, but that doesn't mean it's NOT the BEST ONE. All my fear or dread with what's going "wrong" in my life means is I don't know what is always BEST...AND WHAT HIS PLAN IS FOR ME. Sometime, I have to adjust my plan. We MUST realize that our EARTHLY EYES can't see what GOD HAS ALREADY SEEN. Things won't always go "our way", but when they don't, GOD HASN'T CHANGED!! He is still PERFECT, MERCIFUL AND GOOD. I pray I will always trust his plan, even when I don't understand, comprehend OR EVEN LIKE IT.



My faith in God is unchanged. Had my diagnosis been "Cancer", God would still be God.

He is, and always will be the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.



I could be writing from my death bed and God would still be good.

I could be suffering with pain and God would still be marvelous.

I could be groaning in sorrow and God would still be merciful.

I could be alone, feeling forsaken and God would still comfort me.

I could be crying out in the darkness of illness and God would still hear my cry, and stand by my side...if I call His name!



THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I WILL LEAVE THIS MORTAL BODY...AND EVERY EARTHLY "PLAN" I HAVE EVER HAD WILL CEASE TO EXIST. My day won't ALWAYS end in my "planned" victory, but it will ETERNALLY end in HIS VICTORY....if I EMBRACE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME!!



Are you ready for that day yourself?



No matter what I go through, God is still the same.

No matter my experience, God's WILL shall prevail.

No matter my desire, His plan is perfect.



These words are from "I Believe In Him", I wrote four years ago, in another trial I had not "planned" for myself:



No matter the cost...I'll pay any price

Though death may await...I give him my life...

FOR I BELIEVE IN HIM



I TRUST Him, as well. Though His works I don't always understand.



CANCER can't change that. DESPAIR can't change that. PAIN can't change that. FAILURE can't change that!



NOTHING can change that...



I must go now. My eyes are leaking again.





Be blessed...and Trust Him,



(Roy) Dale Golden

Dale & Cheryl Golden - Christ Centered Ministries

Tyler, Texas

www.daleandcherylgolden.com

info@daleandcherylgolden.com

www.facebook.com/roydalegolden

www.facebook.com/cherylwaltongolden

Posted on: Aug 02, 09 | 6:02 pm

Embracing God's Will

Greetings! Today is a day to rejoice in! WE ARE ALIVE! We can't determine what tomorrow holds in store, but we CAN control THE MOMENT! You have a friend who loves you and is concerned for you, a friend who has already prayed for you today.

I want to share a couple of Scriptures which have helped me get through countless "dark" times. I hope they help you as well in your journey of life.

Without a doubt, the two most influential persons in the Bible were the Apostle Paul, who wrote the most significant percentage of the Holy text, and of course, Jesus himself. Today, I want to share with you personally some very timely and eye-opening facts about these figures and the fleshly burdens they experienced. Yes, even Paul the Apostle AND JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF experienced what EVERY man and woman will experience in this journey called life. The burden of the flesh.

It can be argued that no human other than Christ has affected more people through the writings of their lives than the Apostle Paul. This man wrote the majority of the New Testament. God used him to fulfill the Holy Scriptures with his Divinely inspired message. Surely, NO ONE was more deserving of glory and honor than this great servant of God. If one were to hold to any belief that ANY OF US are (or should be) immune to hardship, Paul would be an excellent choice to have experienced a life devoid of difficulty. But as Paul himself writes, he experienced quite the contrary.

Paul understood that if ANY man had the right to boast of his works, it was him. This was not because of his greatness, but because of the GREAT REVELATIONS the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. But rather than be prideful, Paul instead demonstrated to us the appropriate path to take in our walk with God. From the 12th chapter of 2nd Corinthians, verses 7-10 NIV:

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you , for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Over the last nine years, I have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, diabetes, malignant melanoma and sarcoidosis. I understand physical hardship, as many others do, even as THE APOSTLE PAUL knew.
I was brought into the world without a mother, father or family to claim me, without even a name to call my own. I have experienced most every form of failure a human can experience. I have failed as a son, brother, family member, friend, husband, father, businessman, professional, singer, songwriter and, most certainly, as a Believer. There is not a day that goes by that I don't feel some sort of dread or significant frustration at the path I have traveled and still, must travel. The truth is, I have known the depths of despair that perhaps few others can or ever will know. Despair, however, reeks of death. Despair is from the Deceiver, NOT from God. Where there is God, there is hope. Today, you and I have a hope! Our Hope is in the Lord!! Without Christ, we are a failure before we even begin.

My failures have come in EVERY SITUATION where I attempted to go without God, and in my life, at one time or another, I have attempted to go, without God in most every aspect. Hence, each endeavor was a failure, whether I was "successful" in an earthly sense, or not. If I am not in God's plan for my life, I have already failed! When I become so convinced of my own strength that I neglect to consider the Father's plan in my life, the result is ALWAYS negative. There is a plan and a path to ALL THAT GOD WOULD HAVE FOR YOU!

The human existence, through our own sinfulness and disobedience was cursed with hardship and pain.
We created our own demise. God designed us to live forever, without sickness or death. We rejected that plan and sought our own way. It WAS NOT God's way. It BECAME our way. We chose the path the adversary tempted us with, which he knew would lead to our destruction. We were without hope. Even after this great fall, God loved us. With a perfect love. A love that would not, could not and will not be denied. When there was NO WAY out of the eternal dilemma of death Satan and our disobedience created, GOD MADE A WAY AND CALLED HIM JESUS!

Let us examine Jesus. Jesus was God in the flesh, sent to Earth to redeem us from our unpardonable sin, sent as an example of God's plan for us, to be the sacrificial gift of redemption that would return to us the eternal life GOD PLANNED FOR US IN THE BEGINNING. As surely as Jesus was God, so too was he MAN. There is NO thought or feeling that you have ever experienced that Jesus DID NOT feel, that he did not experience. He knows our every fiber, our every thought, our every success, our every failure, because, in the flesh, he experienced the same burden, challenge or disappointment every human HAS EVER EXPERIENCED or EVER WILL EXPERIENCE. As surely as there is air to breathe, so too is the fact that GOD knows your struggle.

No burden has ever been greater than the one Christ carried. The reason I know this statement is true is explained in God's word. Christ carried the burden of the entire world, past, present and future. Jesus Christ knew from the moment he entered this world in the flesh what his purpose was. He was to be the sacrifice that would redeem us from the sins of the world. Jesus knew with every breath of his existence here on Earth the gruesome, horrific facts of his coming death. Though he knew what was to come, HE EMBRACED the will of the Father. Unlike us when we are faced with a trial, Christ could have changed the future. He could have refused his destiny. He and he alone had the power to do so, yet he chose to walk the terrible path of Golgotha. He did so because he knew the Father's plan was a PERFECT PLAN and by EMBRACING THE FATHER'S PLAN, he was serving, yet again, as the great and perfect example that only he could be.

The great love Christ had for the Father (and for us) was consummated on the Cross. Yet, even as Christ considered the end, his flesh raised doubts and fear, much as our own flesh sometimes raises doubt, frustration, resentment, anger and a plethora of human feelings when we must face our own destiny.

On the night preceding his crucifixion, Christ would retreat to a private place on the Mount of Olives and begin to pray. His words echo one of the greatest examples set forth in God's Holy Word. Consider the following words of Scripture, taken from the 22nd Chapter of Luke, verses 39-44:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel appeared from heaven and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

I encourage you to savor these preceding words. The God of The Universe, when faced with his ultimate burden, was affected by his human flesh with great anguish and dread. As one who has seen death many times in my profession as a health care worker, and as one who has been forced to consider a fatal diagnosis of cancer more than once, I also have a unique appreciation of this sobering, life-altering challenge. It is, perhaps, the single greatest burden we can carry in life. It is one that we all will face at some moment in our lives.

But there is HOPE where God is concerned!! While EVERYONE OF US will ultimately face the realization of physical death, Christ has provided the final, decisive relief from this load. DEATH HAS DIED AND LIFE HAS WON!! Praise God's immeasurable mercy! Even as Christ has won over death, so too has he triumphed over the burden of the flesh. You see, Jesus is our example. There is NO BURDEN you face today that is greater than that which HE HAS ALREADY faced! He who was won over death has likewise won over the fears, anguish and disappointment you endure. No trial you face is too great when YOU EMBRACE THE FATHER'S WILL AS CHRIST ALSO EMBRACED THE SAME!

My challenge to you today is NOT TO LIKE your current struggle, but rather to follow the Apostle Paul's direction and the perfect example of Jesus Christ, which is to allow the Father's plan to flower in your life, embracing it even when the flesh says otherwise. While we in the flesh often feel abandonment, hurt, anger, bitterness, hopelessness, resentment and a host of other emotions, the scripture reminds us that when we are weak, God's power is made perfect, therefore we are strong. We should and must draw close to him!

WIN THE BATTLE OF THE FLESH!
FIND STRENGTH!
FIND DIRECTION!
FIND RELIEF!
FIND PEACE AND PERFECTION!
FIND THE VICTORY!
FIND THE ANSWER!
EMBRACE GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE!

How long has it been since God heard your voice? He is waiting to hear you CALL.

In Christ,
Dale Golden
www.daleandcherylgolden.com
soundsofgold@att.net

Posted on: Jul 12, 09 | 9:16 am

Become our Facebook Friends!!!

SPECIAL NOTE: For all of you who participate in FACEBOOK, we want to invite you to become our online friends!! You can sign up at www.facebook.com and look for Roy Dale Golden and Cheryl Walton Golden. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch in this ever changing, fast-paced world. We invite you today!!

www.facebook.com/roydalegolden
www.facebook.com/cherylwaltongolden

Posted on: Jul 12, 09 | 9:15 am

"Clear Margins" Article - 1st release 9/26/06

"Clear Margins." To many people, this term might mean little, if anything.
If you ask a Cancer Survivor what it means, however, you will find it to be
one of the most beautiful phrases in the English language. I am a Cancer
Survivor TIMES TWO.

I have now heard this phrase, as it applies to me, twice in the last six
years. One came six years ago with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (98%
fatal) and the other in September, the result of a new diagnosis of
malignant melanoma, which just happens to be the deadliest form of skin
cancer.

In early September, a trip to my Dermatologist to have him check a
suspicious-looking mole on my neck ended up with two biopsies and a week
later, a surgical procedure to remove a 1 inch by 4.25 inch slice of tissue
from behind my left ear to below my jawline. You might say I had "cosmetic"
surgery...I had surgery, now I need some cosmetics...ahem.

(I hope this helps explain our conspicuous absence at National Quartet
Convention. It seems we must have our "annual" NQC crisis, be it surgery,
hurricanes, or terrorism. Our apologies to those who hoped to see us in
Louisville. Now, back to my story.)

Once again, I found I am quite a grower of cancer cells! Some guys grow
corn, others wheat. I grow cancer. I am also prolific in fat cells, by the
way, which makes me double-productive. I guess if I were a property, I
would be fertile Kansas farmland, downwind and downhill from a dairy farm or
feedlot. Things just seem to float my way.

Some of you may get that later. Or not. Just remember, I have had surgery
on my head recently.

I am both blessed and happy to say that all further biopsies of the removed
tissue show "clear margins." In other words, no sign of spread cancer.
Glory to God! I couldn't wait to let everyone know of this blessing, but
just when I was about to share my good news with you, the Devil threw one
more sucker punch...another suspicious mole found when I had my sutures
taken out that had to be removed and biopsied!!

So for another stressful week, I quietly waited for the results of biopsy
number three. The results are now in and are benign! There's another
beautiful word, BENIGN.

Therefore, tonight I can officially tell you that I am cancer free! CLEAR
MARGINS...BENIGN. I told a dear friend last week that I am a now cancer
survivor of TWO types, pancreatic and malignant melanoma! Cancer may one
day take my mortal life, but it can only do it ONCE. I have (by God's
Grace, not my strength) now beaten cancer TWICE! The best "score" the
disease can ever achieve is losing, 2-1. Cancer will never win more from me
than I have already won over it! Should cancer ever kill me, no one can
ever say "he lost his battle to cancer." They will have to say, "he passed
away after winning 2-1 over cancer!"

My story is a lot like the message of Christ. The Devil can win the day.
He may win the week, month or year. He may win the fight, but in the end,
He ALWAYS AND FOREVER HAS LOST THE BATTLE! Jesus paid it all, all to him I
owe, as the song says. DEATH, NOR DISEASE, CAN WIN OUT OVER ME BECAUSE OF
WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE!!

Don't take my sharing this with you as confidence or arrogance on my part.
My "victories" are Gods, not mine. I am NO MATCH for Satan. He wears me
down day in and day out. Sometimes I think it is because I always try to
give God the glory and delight in reminding Lucifer he has lost already.
Maybe it is because I remind folks just what a LIAR he is. Perhaps I am
just plain 'ole dumb for doing this, as it enrages him all the more. It may
be that is what brings so much trial into my life, and into the lives of my
loved ones. I don't think I will change, however. I grow a lot of
stubbornness, too.

I am such a far cry from what God would have me to be. Every day, I let Him
down, my family down and myself down.
It does not change the fact that He is so good to me. His love and mercy
abide in me, else I would die from my own
lowliness.

I do thank you for the thoughts and prayers of the last few weeks. Keep
them up, I need them more than even this letter can say. Prayer can and
does make a difference. If you don't believe it, just take a look at me. I
will leave you with some very familiar scripture:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in
green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He
guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are
with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Green pastures. Still waters. Clear margins.

Dale Golden
www.daleandcherylgolden.com

Posted on: Apr 26, 08 | 10:50 pm

That I Might More Clearly See

I woke up in a mood of reminiscence this morning, thinking of some very dear friends I said goodbye to this past year. This life is a continuing journey of arrivals and departures. Sometimes these comings and goings are well laid-out, planned to the most infinite degree. Other times, they occur without warning or earthly plan. When it comes to change, this year is no different than other. Some change has been welcome. Some has been brutally unwanted. Tomorrows path will bring more of the same.

My personal journey this year has witnessed the passing of beloved friends, life-threatening physical trials for myself and still other persons I love and care for. It has also brought much healing and restoration. I have, at times, served God as a mighty warrior, standing tall in the battle of victory. Too many other times, I have failed God miserably. There have been seasons of abundance and others of famine. Sometimes, the nights summoned great promise, only to see the days bring bitter disillusion. Through it all, God has been faithful, loving and kind in His guidance.

I am thankful for the more obvious "things" that are blessings in my life: Good health, family, friends, my home, food on the table, my country, freedom and those who fight for it, the music ministry that brings joy and strength for my journey. I am thankful for the memories of my life and the promise of the future. These and so many other privileges that sustain my life.

There are other, less obvious, things that I am equally thankful for, things that come into my life all too often:

I am thankful when I fail. I am thankful when I am weak. I am thankful for loss. I am thankful for despair. I am thankful for pain. I am thankful for disappointment. I am thankful for trial. I am thankful when I am humbled. I am thankful for sickness. I am thankful when I am despised. Yes, I am THANKFUL for these things...I am thankful for ALL things.

Does that mean I enjoy ALL THINGS? No, absolutely not. I hate every minute that I have to endure many of these things. All of these struggles do, however, remind me that GOD IS IN CONTROL. I need trial in my life to keep me close to God. I need to be reminded to "be still and know that He is God". God's word tells us His grace is sufficient for our need, for when we are weak, His power is made strong. I am thankful today for ALL THAT GOD WOULD ALLOW INTO MY LIFE.

The "THING" that I am most thankful for today is..."EVERYTHING" in my life. I shouldn't confuse the "things" in my life that I "like" with the "things" in my life that are "good" for me. If I allow Him, God will "grow" me through every situation, therefore, I will praise Him and thank him for "EVERYTHING"!

Today, many of my family and friends will experience an abundance of God's blessing. Some of that blessing will come in the form of a delicious feast of culinary treat. Others will experience God's mercy at the bedside of an ailing loved one. Still others will reminisce of loved ones gone, but not forgotten. My prayers go out to each of these today. I pray that each will draw close to God, as He will draw close in their time of need. This day of THANKSGIVING should be one of thanksgiving for ALL God has done, and is doing even now, for us.

I pray that today, I would more clearly see what God has done for me. He has given me EVERYTHING. He is with me in EVERY MOMENT. He will be with me at EVERY TURN.

I choose today to be thankful for EVERYTHING that comprises the fabric of my life.

In Christ,

Dale Golden
The Goldens Gospel Music Ministries
Tyler, TX
www.daleandcherylgolden.com

Posted on: Nov 25, 07 | 1:16 pm