Then it hit me “Yes, I can-Cer.” Then He asked, “Can I trust you with cancer to praise and give Me glory no matter what the outcome is?” My answer was, “I hope You can, Sir.”

I love it when He gives me a play on words that I can understand. I hope I will learn to let my life give Him glory in everything.

All of us are dealing with some kind of cancer that takes joy from our inner being. Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that you might have peace. In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” James 1:2 “Count it all joy when you face all kinds of trials.” Be of good cheer. Count it all joy. Why do I struggle? Why can’t I just obey these words and leave the rest (or my rest) to God?

Praise is my shield of faith. It takes faith to sing when all your hopes are at the mercy of something you cannot control. Praise throws up an invisible shield to keep others from spewing their bitterness into our hearts. God inhabits the praise of His people and I so need Him to inhabit everything I think, say and do. Can I trust Him when my prayers are not answered the way I hope? Yes, I can-Cer. Oh, I know I can Sir! For my life is based on Romans 8:28 “For I know all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” So I sing joyful praises to my King for this trial shall be my song of praise.

Our friend, Lisa Knupp was sharing in church about her eleven month old baby, Logan. He had been diagnosed with a brain cancer that had wrapped all down his little spine. It was found on Friday and they operated Saturday morning. The doctor said a miracle from God was their only hope for Logan to live and would give no promise of his motor skills because of the location and size of the cancer.

God increased Lisa’s faith when she cried out in prayer. He said, “Look at Me, let Me be all you see.” Immediately her mind remembered saying those same words to her 2 year old, Tyler. She was trying to make him understand and firmly spoke with his little cheeks in her hands, “Look at me! Look at me! Let me be all you see.” At that moment God lifted her head and helped her understand. He didn’t promise her anything, just commanded her to look at Him. She had God’s Word and God could trust her with cancer.

“Look to Jesus”
© 2002 Mary Etta Mohan

The young mother cried out knowing a miracle was their only hope.
God lifted her heart as He gently spoke,
“Look at Me. Look at Me. Let Me be all you see.”
Immediately she remembered trying to make her toddler understand.
Scrunching his little cheeks in her hands she said,
“Look at me! Look at me! Let me be all you see.”
There may be things in your life you don’t understand.
Listen as God speaks and lifts your head with His almighty hands,
“Look to Jesus. Look to Jesus. Let Him be all you see.”

Look to Jesus. Look to Jesus. Let Him be all you see
And you will find every time He’s all you need
Alpha Omega Beginning and the End
Almighty Comforter – the broken hearts Best Friend

(Logan Knupp is 5 years old and completely cancer free. He was featured on last years Miracle Network for Children’s Hospital. The Pittsburgh Doctors said Logan is the miracle they always hope for. Praise the Lord for His Word.)

The she also had asked me to write an article for the Mother’s Day issue of “The Well.” I had no trouble writing to honor my Mother’s “well” experience. I knew she was the woman at the well. Yet, I have always known I also was the woman at the well.

One day while I was thinking about when I met Jesus the Living Water I got the chorus for “Changed at the Well.” The woman went to the well at a later time of the day so she would not be around other perfect, honorable women. She planned going there to be alone. It was easier than facing rude people. I have known the feeling of shame. Whe Jesus said to her, “if you ask of me I will give you ‘living water’ and you will never thirst again.” She had no idea what He meant but before the encounter was over she ran to tell her town and many believed because she led them to Jesus.

Scripture also tells of another woman in Luke 7:36-50 which says, “she who has been forgiven much loves much.” That’s me! I have been forgiven for so much. I am blessed to have mercy poured out my way. Jesus was waiting at the well for me in my lonely world. Changed! That is the only word that fits those who have truly been given His living water.

This is why I must sing and be about my Father’s business. He changed my heart. I am now no longer alone. I want everyone to come to “The Well” and see this man who told me all I have ever done yet loved me and wanted me to be a part of His Everlasting Life. I was changed at the well.

Here’s the words for Mary Mohan’s song, which is recorded on “Basking in the Light,” the newest recording of Chalice, a ministry of The Well Ministries. For information on obtaining a copy call 412-664-WELL.

“Changed at the Well”
by Mary E. Mohan

She went to the well, like every day before,
expecting to be alone in her painful world.
But waiting there, Living Water from the Lord.
And she heard a voice, Jesus spoke the Word,
she was changed at the well.

She was changed at the well, completely free at last.
Living Water began to flow, washing away her past.
She was changed at the well. She just had to run and tell,
“Come see the One, who spoke the Word
when I was changed at the well.”

He’s there at the well, like every day before,
waiting for those alone in their painful world.
And waiting there, Living Water from the Lord.
He said, “Come unto Me, I’ll set you free,
O be changed at the well.”

Be changed at the well, completely free at last
Living Waters began to flow, washing away your past.
Be changed at the well. You just have to run and tell.
You can hear His voice as He speaks the Word,
“Be changed at the well.”

I was changed at the well, completely free at last.
Living waters began to flow, washed away my past.
I was changed at the well. I just had to run and tell
that I heard His voice; Jesus spoke the Word
and I was changed at the well.
Yes, I heard His voice; He set me free
and I was changed at the well.

© 2001 Mary E. Mohan Publishing Co.

Overwhelming darkness surrounded my soul,
Clouding my mind, smothering me,
I was losing control.
But out of darkness Jesus called me
Into His wonderful light.
Now I do not fear,
When the darkness is here
I know He’s shining on me

The Son of God is shining on me
Even if I cannot see behind this great cloud
I still believe
The Son of God is shining on me
Now I do not fear
I know Jesus is here

© 1996 Mary Etta Mohan

In January 1996, I was driving on a dark, cloudy day. I heard this voice telling me to end my life. Discouragement had gripped my soul. I had lost reason with reality. My life wasn’t as bad as my mind was telling me but I couldn’t get things into perspective. I am a Christian, this couldn’t be happening to me. Looking up into the dark sky I remember thinking, “I can’t do this to my children, they will have to live with the pain of this the rest of their lives. God, are You there? You’ve got to help me.”

In a flash, a tiny rim of sunshine peaked out only for a moment and encircled the clouds. Then God spoke to my broken heart “The sun is shining for you even when you cannot see.” That’s what faith is. Faith is believing even when I cannot see. I started singing, “The Son of God is shining, shining on me.” For the rest of my trip I sang these two lines and the darkness left. The darkness in my mind lifted right then. Things around me didn’t change but I was different. I wrote the rest of the song that day using the scriptures to confirm what I heard.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people: that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” Isaiah 9:2 says, “People living in darkness have seen a great light. In the shadow of death, a new day has dawned overcoming the night.”

I’ve asked God to use me to minister in music to the world. It’s imperative for me to go through trials so I can effectively know how those I’m singing to feel. The Bible says to expect adversity. It also says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” That’s me. I love God. I am called according to His purpose. This song is His message of hope to those in darkness. “He is still shinning through His son, Jesus Christ.”