Roller Coaster
The latest new drug, stopped working (ya Salam) and my cancer blasts (bad cells) came back with a vengeance. My Journey’s roller coaster was going up, then all of a sudden, Kaboom, it headed straight down. The new drug stopped working and I started heading down hill … however, if you would think about the roller coaster, you would realize that it was designed to deliver you safe and sound, once the ride is over. It does not matter if you are going up or down, you are being held tightly in your seat. The whole ride was designed with your safety in mind, regardless how you feel.
Same with life. I am tightly held in His Grip regardless the ups and downs. He custom designed my ride for safety and He will carry it on to completion ! Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
The doctors found me a “temp” drug that is working just fine with little to no side effects (yeah!), while awaiting a new protocol, expected within two months, that would allow us to use “killer cells” vs more Chemo.
I am relaxed (praising & rejoicing) since I know who is in charge. The roller coaster effects are just discouraging feelings along the way, that I chose to totally ignore, but rather to keep my eyes focused on the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. I desperately need them.
In His Grip,
Sami
Sami Lahoud 
I love your positive attitude Samsoum! I admire you for that, and for your strong faith..
Hang in there habibi, you will disembark from the roller coaster sound and safe Habib Albe.
I love you and will never stop praying for your fast recovery.
Was waiting for your post ..with Faithful prayers ….May the Lord of peace wrap His love around you and Jacqueline and the Children every day, with every up and down, with any “temp” may you rejoice as we all say ‘الى هنا اعاننا الرب” He is able to keep you safe 🙂
Sami – you never stop to inspire us and increase our faith! you are truly amazing and God is working through you to increase our faith, and Jesus is working in you to cause miracles of healing. Christ is always holding you tight in His loving arms, because He has no better child than you habiby. He will keep embracing you with His healing love until you feel better. He will keep protecting you and your wonderful Jacqueline and adorable children. I can’t wait to meet you all, soon InShaAllah when you feel better. Love you so much. I am always there for you and praying for you.
Sami – as one above said, “you never stop to inspire us and increase our faith!”. It is great to hear from you. You are an astonishing Soul… I love you MAN…..
You are in my daily prayer, and you indeed are an inspiration on how to live your faith!
We continue to pray for continuous healing in Qatar God bless you. Frank
Sami
I pray for you everyday. You are an example for me and a hope of life and strength in God our Lord.
My love for you and your family
Sit tight during the ride; as with a coaster on the up n downs, let out a scream or shout as needed. The victory is assured in Jesus. Miss u brother; keep fighting the good fight.
We love you Sami and we pray that God will keep you very close to His heart ..thank you for being the Rock inspiring the rest of us even from the depths of your pain..
Habibi Sami your words are so inspirational and your faith and belief so true!! I pray for you always, all the time. Our prayers will be answered!! Your smile shines bright and your strength keeps us all closer to God and Christ our Lord!! Love you habibi!!! Ramsey
Great to see you’re still trusting the Lord, in his grip
Bravo Sami; you are blessed with your faith. the Lord is beside you and will surely keep you unde his wings. courage for all of you. xo
See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)
Sami you are an inspiration to all of us. May the healing hand of God touch you and heal you.
Sami,
I am sure that our father in heaven is feeling so proud of you. Great is your faith
You are a hero at least my hero of faith.
We love you and will continue to pray for you and your wonderful family
Peace in Him
Sami, not sure we can add much more than has already been said, but it is worth repeating!!! You and Jackie have been such pillars of FAITH to all of us who love you and pray for you continually! Our faith does NOT have a chance to fail because you two are always “building US up”!!! There is no doubt that God is so PLEASED with you and your family. Not only have you embraced this trial, but you are using it to MINISTER to others even while the battle is raging!!! The analogy of a roller coaster has to be Holy Spirit led. Such a PERFECT analogy. And as we were reading it, I thought about how we lift our hands “up high” on roller coasters to show we have no fear and I could see YOUR hands lifted high PRAISING your Heavenly Father for His goodness, mercy, faithfulness, love, perseverence, grace and the list goes on and on!!! There is indeed VICTORY in JESUS! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty and it is evident you walk in that Liberty!! PTL!!! God has not allowed such an AWESOME roller coaster ride for NOTHING!!! You have ONE POWERFUL TESTIMONY and the BEST IS YET to come!!! As the Word states, Be Still and KNOW that I AM GOD!!! We love yall and continue to pray for God’s new mercies everyday!!
Sami: thinking of you all the time and praying for Jesus to alleviate your burden and heal your wounds. You are amazing… you have no idea how much we love you… as Ramsey said above, your smile is always shining and filling our hearts with love and warmth. Always with you Habib Albi. Keep the faith. We are always with you.
Sami, you are always in our prayers. Your faith is an inspiration! May you continue to stay strong in your faith….
Sami, Keep up the good fight. You are an inspiration!
Love to you Sami. God, please, we ask that you hold your faithful Sami close to you, Lord heal him as only YOU can. Guide his doctors. Just a whisper from you Father and he will be healed. Show your awesome power through your servant Sami.
In Jesus precious name, amen.
عظيم هو الرب وحميد جداً ليس لعظمته استقصاء
انتظر الرب وصبر له
مساءً وصباحا” وظهراً أشكو وأنوح فيسمع صوتي
ويجدد مثل النسر شبابك
Sami, I was waiting for your post. Your faith has been an amazing insipration to me. Keep your positivism! I will keep praying for you.
dearest sami,
ya rabbi and inshallah all our prayers and urs will be fulfilled. We are constantly praying and ur always in our thoughts; please inform us when back home. we miss and love you.marwan and suzy
Every time we read a new blog entry of yours, we are filled with awe by your amazing faith! And then a new blog entry comes along, and we are in greater awe! June 8’s magnificent simile you posted is no different, Sami! Thank you so much for keeping us posted on your progress and showing us incredible faith. We continue to constantly pray for your complete and utter healing, and once a week, a group prayer virtually meets to pray for your healing – same time (Wednesdays evenings at 10 pm CDT); different places.
Lots of love from Lebanon.
Sami,
You are an inspiration for us all. Your strength of faith is amazing. We keep praying for you..
With you in thought and prayer Sami. Physically, I’m flying to London.
Praying for you and your family, and trusting The Lord for His mercy and will for you !!love you all.
Hang in there Sami. Your faith and strength are so inspiring. But you’ve always been this way. So it doesn’t surprise me at all. You and your family are in my prayers, always.
Sami,
Not a day goes by without thinking of you and praying for you …. continue to be a role model of a person that you are.
Albert
Hey Sami! I appreciate the update! We all miss you dearly here in Iraq. Not a day goes by where one of our Iraqi secondees does not ask me how you are doing. You have an amazing attitude and approach to life, and you left an indelible mark on everyones’s life here. Stay motivated Sami! While I cannot imagine what it must be like to be on this roller coaster ride, I do know that your amazing attitude will get you through this. Never forget that Sami. We will always be here to support you too.
Your dear friend, Ramsey.
We continue to pray for you, Sami.
Sami, I’ve been thinking of you a lot lately and know that you are standing firm and within His comfort. You have been such a testimony for us all. Thank you for sharing such grace and faith in your time of trial. You’ve been such an inspiration for me. God bless you.
Love,
Trudi
I continue to think of you and pray for you. Thank you so much for sharing your faith. I don’t know of anyone who is stronger or more demonstrative in your faith. You are such a gift to your family and friends.
Your faith is an inspiration to me. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;” (2 Cor. 4:7-8). I am praying for you. God is to all.
Sami… dropping by to say hello… To get some inspiration from you Habiby… to let you know that you are always in my prayers, my thoughts, my heart… I believe your birthday is in June? am I right? you and my other brother Ramsey were both born in June…. Happy birthday Habiby… With many many many Happy returns Sami… Hope to see you and Jackie soon. God bless you.
Love,
Dalia
God is the defender of the weak. Love u
Wow. I absolutely love the rollercoaster analogy. Beautiful thoughts. God bless you!