Every Step of the Way by Leila Harris, Ashe County In December, 2001, I was diagnosed with terminal (inoperable) lymphoma. Numerous x-rays and a PetScan revealed that my entire upper body was inundated with cancer. After much prayer, God intervened, and after the final biopsy, the doctor came out of the operating room in a flabbergasted state saying, “I can’t believe it. It’s not cancer. I guess the tests can be wrong. I just don’t understand.” We praise the Lord daily for this miracle. God Interrupted My Life for a Reason It turned out to be Sarcoidosis (a swelling of the lymph nodes that causes extreme fatigue) and other side effects. Knowing God interrupted my life for a reason, I stopped working 70-80 hours a week in the mortgage business and started staying home more to study his Word. The more I studied the Bible, the more I wanted to learn. When the lymphoma was discovered, I was working 70-80 hours a week in the mortgage business. For some time, I’d met with banks and other lending institutions to assist my husband’s construction customers, but the day came when I was asked by a
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bank CEO to manage their mortgage department. It was extremely successful, and I made more money than I’d ever dreamed. It was very challenging, but the Lord walked me through each day. The stress was phenomenal, and when I felt overwhelmed, I’d go lock the door, get under my desk, and pour my heart out to the Lord. He always intervened and sent his peace over the situation. Every morning my prayers were for strength for the day, but I would remind him that I wanted to do more to glorify him. I also knew during that time he was helping people with finances to build or buy a home and was allowing me to participate. But God knows the future, and we don’t. The diagnosis limited the number of hours I could work or even be very active. The bank merged with a larger bank that had its own mortgage department, so I left the mortgage business. I began praying for an opportunity to finish my college degree and study religion from home (as we live in an area not easily accessible to major colleges and universities). God answered prayers again and led me to Regent University’s online classes. I applied, got accepted, and began my journey. After graduating in 2007, I began writing full-time, as opposed to a part-time hobby. I continued my education through Regent’s online program for a master’s degree in education (with Biblical Studies certification), which was completed in December 2010. I also plan to work on my doctorate and teach online classes in religious studies in order to help others in their journey. Boundaries Make Me Fruitful for My Master During one of our online blackboard discussions, I gave my testimony that my sickness was a blessing to me. Another classmate -- a woman --blasted me. She said that I was wrong,
