Elise and I just returned last night around 7 pm. from a needed hiatus to see and visit all the Children we have, except Mike as he was working on a project. My Brother Al had a small get together with my Brother Bart and his wife Eileen, and my Sister Sandy and her husband Bill.
There was much laughing and crying as we received the comfort and fellowship that only family can give in a poor situation. Hugs were plenteous as was holding hands and the expressing of sorrow or confidence.
All showed love and concern. We rested in that.
As for the family and those who read this goes many did not expect to see her in the actual condition that she was in. Here was a strong independent woman/mother now needing to be helped around most of the time just to walk. By the grace of God several times on the trip/visitations she was able to fend on her own howbeit there were times that she needed to be helped, or at least stood near for safety reasons. There were even times at my Brother Al's and Linda's house or at the campground and Sarah's and Kristian's house that she had enough strength and balance to walk freely, even great distances (distances being from the bedroom to the dinning room table or 800' down a road). There were times when her strength and stability were almost normal, but there were also times when it was lacking and difficult.
Her best times were at my Brother Al's house. The several days we were there she had a remarkable recovery so prompting us to name that place "Al and Linda's House of Healing". Was it the trout caught in Lake Superior? The hand rubbed, vac sealed rotisserie grilled pork loin? Or was it the great fellowship one gets when we spend time with family? Whatever it was God's anointing was on it and He was there.
We also received the same benefit from our Children's domiciles. Seeing Children and Grandchildren, sharing in their joy and concerns, seeing them all participate in the care of Elise, was a blessing of the greatest kind, God using each and everyone of them to encourage us and make us smile. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" was the order of all the time visiting, and we are thankful that so many of them took the time to sacrifice the distance and drive to be there for us. They also sacrificed their homes and apartments to make us comfortable, and food/homeopathic helps to give Elise the best of chances to succeed against this obstacle.
As to how she's doing?
Man's effort:
Again the need to understand that aside from a couple of prescriptions (high blood pressure pills and low potassium pills, which has no effect on the tumor,) there is nothing they can do but operate. Do to the deep position of the tumor that is very risky. The side effects could be devastating for the rest of her life aside from the hand of God intervening.
As part of "man's effort" we are partaking in God given herbals and oils. We don't believe that anything can work outside the "anointing" of God but they comfort us to a degree, alluding to the fact that we are doing something until God heals her. God did ordain them to be "upon the earth" and they have been used for thousands of years just for that purpose. We always use them "in the name of Jesus" that He would work His design through them and effectuate His divine results through them. So our part comes "in Jesus name" no matter what we use, for our comfort and effort, but it's "in Jesus name" that we put first and rely the most on.
God's intervention:
From the beginning of this whole affliction we have seen God's hand in it both divinely and using our "in Jesus name" applications. The fact that this affliction has existed for 20-30 yrs and is just now being made known is a miracle in itself. This could of been a more aggressive type that could of showed up in the middle of our child rearing days! God is good all the time.......
This incident has pulled all our family and friends together in a greater intervention through prayer that seemed not necessary before. It has also taught us that all battles are not in the flesh but in the heavenly's not against flesh and blood but against powers of darkness. Anyone who feels that the answer to this is in the hands of man and not God's intervention alone, (no matter how He orchestrates this) please don't continue to confuse the "prayer of faith" with the surrendering to man's plans and sidelining God. Faith puts God's will and ways first, man is only a gap filler till God moves. I believe that God uses any means that we choose to apply to our needs, He is the "Lord God Almighty" and can (and does) use doctors and guides/anoints them too, but if we put the doctor first and then ask God to help we are in error. He will because He is "Unconditional Love" which allows Him to "intervene" on our behalf even if it starts Him in second place.
The end of our trip home left Elise ill nourished and dehydrated so her symptoms flair'd up, and the same as on Fathers Day, when she went into the Fast Pace Clinic then to the hospital. Feeding her something and hydrating her "in Jesus name" roused her around from physical exhaustion and the thought that she was dying. Again "God is good, all the time". Here we are 4 hours later and she is resting listening to the Psalms, still a little weak and shaky but a far cry from what she was going through this morning.
So as not to make this representation seem small here are a couple of things she is experiencing:
A dizziness like a bad vertigo, even to the point of vomiting.
Loss of strength and weakness that makes it difficult to stand or walk unless assisted.
Headaches both pounding or sharp.
In spite of these there is the need to get up to use the bathroom every half hour or so always assisted.
The knowledge that only God can fix this as all the "presented" help of man is not an option.
But...........
In all this she still has great days when she can walk around on her own, wants to do laundry or make a meal. Again God does not leave us hopeless but proves His power over and over again.
The difficulty I have in all this is the fact that we have seen so many miracles in our lives that it's mind boggling. People coming out of sure death coma's. A man who had no blood to his brain for 1.5 hours and after surgery he was in a vegetative state came fully functional by the laying on of hands and "in the name of Jesus". The dead raised, food multiplied many times, the working of miracles, injuries healed, being delivered from sure death and more than I can begin to tell. Life in Christ has at best been incredible and at least truly amazing. Now the heavens are like brass and outside of faith the experience of praying seems futile, (though it is not at all). When I used to "walk and talk with God (an experience all believers should have regularly), now there seems to be (but not fully) a "missing of the we small voice" in my heart to listen to. There is still revelation on a regular basis but not having to do with my Wife's condition. Odd to say the least but in no wise changing my heart toward God or making me ask why. My question to Him would be "how will you glorify yourself in this"? If all things exists by Him than all things exist to glorify Him. "Even the evil worked against us will be turned to good".
So there you have:
My Wife's condition
Me and my position
Doctors and mans answer
Then God's Unconditional Love, His ways. His will, and His answer to come.
I choose God's Unconditional Love. Period!
Thanks for praying. Keep it up as we thrive on it's continuance and God's faithfulness. God bless you all in "Jesus name."
Love
J&E in Tn
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