Steves email [[01.24.14]] | then God stepped in...

Just in case you were wondering if God still wants to heal… you will be blessed and assured after reading this recent story of little boy Jacob needing a high risk heart surgery. A dear friend sent this story to us and it was a HUGE encouragement! Please read this short amazing story of God working in this family’s life. They, like Sandy and I, have MANY (I mean like tons of MANY) praying…. 

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0b92fc9b6194fc89764d92c1e&id=8f4916964d

So, we keep asking! We keep praising our wonderful Saviour (PS 107:8)! He does everything perfectly! There is NEVER a second of time that God is not good! Never. Thank you again for interceding! Thank you for caring and giving! We send our love and prayers for you also…

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

 Steve & Sandy 2 Cor 4:18 – the best is yet to come!

Steves email [[01.19.14]] | surgery date

“So, what are you doing on Valentine’s Day?”

“Well, I thought I would go have a 10 hr. surgery, you?”

And that is the scheduled date for the surgery – Friday, Feb 14. So, there is more waiting. We still pray that God will grant healing before then. That is our daily plea (actually, multiple times during the day; okay – hourly?).  But if He chooses not to we pray to God the surgery goes very well and the recovery even better.

In the meantime prayer partners, here is how you can help pray:

-          That we would remain thankful – to stay focused on what he have, not what we lose (Ps 103:2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

-          To praise and worship our Lord Jesus Christ no matter what happens to us – keep the big picture – to us believers this life is the worst it gets – for us it will only get better (see Eph 1)

-          That we remain joyful – (Romans12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

-          That the pain and discomfort will minimize during this wait and the tumor would stop growing

-          That our faith will grow deeper and deeper in our LORD – (Luke 17:5 “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”)

-          That we will dare to ask great things of our LORD! (Eph. 3: 20“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” 1Jo 3:22“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”  1Jo 5:15 “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”)

-          Last, but not least, that God would completely heal me from this disease and restore my vision (to UNDO that which is done).

So, thank you again for interceding! Thank you for caring and giving! We send our love and prayers for you also…

Steve & Sandy

2 Cor 4:18 – the best is yet to come!

Steve's email from [[01.14.14]] | 3rd surgeon mtg

One day closer to being well – I can hardly wait!

We met with the Otolaryngology doctor (yep, me too….) yesterday. He’s the 3^rdsurgeon and will do the reconstruction surgery. Some of the projected outcome was not as positive as the other two doctors so we need to get everyone on the same page. The first two doctors will tear everything out and the third doctor puts it back together. But if I do have to go through the surgery we feel really good about the team of doctors, nurses and hospital that will be involved. That helps a lot. There is no date set yet for the surgery (coordinating 4 schedules) but in early February most likely. Watch them mess up our Valentine Day plans!

 

Whenever different staff ask me how I am doing I try to always answer with “I’m challenged and I’m blessed.” Just that can surface any Christians in the room! Well, this is a journey I never would have picked and it is taking me down a path to meet a LOT of people I never would have met. So pray that I will be sensitive to God’s leading in making much of Him and the word of God. That way I do not waste the experience, nor my life!

 

Again, thank you all so much for your prayers! Keep praying more than ever – the day before the surgery I would love to be able to call the doctor(s) and ask if I can come in because they need to see the tumor is gone and my vision is restored!! Do you know how much fun that would be? “My Primary Care Physician (the LORD God) has taken care of everything – it was great to meet, thanks for your services but I’ll be at the house worshipping Jehovah-Rapha (God, my Healer)!!” Sorry, since it is possible I get carried away thinking about what that would look like – what fun! You would be a part of that, prayer partner!

 

Psalm 130: 5 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

 

Steve's email from [[01.11.14]]

MANY, MANY, MANY THANKS to all of you that are praying and supporting Sandy and I during this time!!! What a HUGE blessing to us! Phil 1:3

 

Thursday we met with the Ears, Nose, Throat (ENT) doctor/surgeon to review current situation and upcoming surgery. This meeting was very informative and helpful. His take of the scan images are that the tumor is very aggressive, no hope for my left eye, it is in the nasal cavity and some sinuses ad pushing up to the outside bone area in front of the brain. The eye doctor/surgeon agrees. The sooner the surgery the better. I meet with the reconstruction doctor on Monday (13^th). These 3 doctors will be doing the surgery (I hope they’re all friends and get along!)

They anticipate the surgery taking 6-10 hrs, a week stay in the hospital for recovery and then 1-3 weeks in a nursing care facility for further recovery that cannot be done at home.

That is assuming God has not miraculously healed me BEFORE the surgery takes place. And that is a valid option we continue to beseech God for. He said to ask, and keep asking, and keep asking (John 14:13,14; 15:16; Eph 3:20; I John3:22) BUT to be okay if He chooses to do something else, and we are. And that is the work of God’s amazing grace because of your prayers.

In the meantime, I continue to stay on all the protocols I have been on for 9 months to help keep the tumor at bay. The surgery is not scheduled yet but will most likely be early February.

                                                                                                       

Thank you again for walking this journey with us! We love you!  Steve & Sandy

 

John 11:22 “But I know, THAT EVEN NOW, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” (thank you Martha!)

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

THAT EVEN NOW!

Hey Prayer Warriors: when talking to a preacher friend of mine in Texas God used him to show me something beautiful in the word of God. How about John 11, after Lazarus was dead four days and Jesus comes and talks to Martha. She says to Jesus if he had been there Lazarus would not have died. But the fact was, Jesus didn't come, Lazarus did die. It was a done deal.  But look at Martha's faith - vs22 “But I know, THAT EVEN NOW, (after the death of her brother), whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” 

God can UNDO that which is already done!

God can reverse that which is irreversible!

It’s not over until God says it’s over!!

BUT I KNOW, THAT EVEN NOW.....   what a Book! what a Saviour!

-Steve

Steve's email from [[01.03.14]]

We met with the eye doctor/surgeon this morning to discuss MRI results and options available.

 The doctor said the tumor has grown into the eye and cannot be salvaged. His fear was how deep the tumor had progressed toward the brain (which becomes fatal). He seems to think it is not to the brain but getting close. His recommendation is surgery to remove the tumor on my nose (left-half of my nose) and remove left eye and all tissue around it. This may take place within 2-3 weeks. There is to be another Dr appt next Friday to discuss details after consulting with other surgeons. 

I lose an eye but get to live! The doctors seem to be expediting everything due to the severity of issue. He is also trying to help with resources available to help financially since we do not have insurance. And most of these doctors are not doing the Obamacare program….God is in control of all of this. He knew all about it before I ever did. And since I gave Him my life years ago and haven’t reneged on that deal due to His grace, there is no need to bail now. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth (Ps 121). He is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? (Ps27:1) 

I still want and pray for God to heal my nose, eyes and vision. He said to ask and keep asking (Luke 11:9). I do and encourage you to do the same. And I am to be okay with anything He wants to do, even if I didn’t expect it. He can execute my future much better than I. I have to remind myself how FAR God’s ways are above mine (Is 55:8).

 This battle is going to be in the prayer closet! Thanks for joining me… 

Steve's email from [[01.02.14]]

Update - Thurs - MRI

Well, I’ve been on this planet 58 years and I have never had the pleasure of doing an MRI until today. It wasn’t exactly on my bucket list and I’m pretty sure it is still not on that list. But it did go well. Facility and staff were very good. So the MRI is done and the eye doctor will review it tomorrow (Friday) with us at 8:45am.

So, that gives us more time to petition our great God to do the miraculous and answer our prayers! I really do appreciate everyone praying for me. I am so encouraged by seeing all the comments and letting me know you are praying. Here is how I am praying:

1)      Come Lord Jesus tonight! (not with the purest motives!)

2)      If not that, Lord, please heal me and restore my vision before there is any surgery (Ps 30:2)

3)      In all things for wisdom and to make much of Jesus Christ and the word of God – He not only should be trusted but can be trusted. There is NO ONE greater or more loving then He. He also knows how we feel (Heb 4:14-16), He has suffered far greater than I ever will. What a magnificent Saviour!

Love you all, thank you again for continuing to intercede on my behalf!!