Tuesday 8/28/18 Thoughts/Experiences

Breakfast this morning on "Hallowed Ground". Worship music playing with songs like "Yes I will", "Cornerstone" and "10,000 reasons".An abundance of "weeping in humility" about the unfailing Love and care of our God and Savior.

Dark times are dispelled by the bright and shinning Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the "Way, the Truth, and the Light/Life".

I always believed that Christianity is more than just a religion, it's an experience.............Unconditional Love has to be experienced to witness it's reality. God is Love and Love never fails.

Love

J&E

Update on Elise 8-26-18

Family, Friends and all those who have been praying for Elise,
We thank God for all of  you who have participated in this prayer vigil for Elise through out this "time of affliction" to date.
Please continue as "your prayers have been very effective" and God has moved in mighty ways to answer them according to "His will at this time".
The past couple of weeks:
When this all began our Daughters jumped into action to help get everything we needed to fight this into the best hands.
So:
Off to Mayo Clinic for 2 consultations we went. Sarah forwarded the MRI and they said that their team would like to see Elise in person to evaluate her. She made all the arrangements to go.
I know that God was active in this already but here is when He started to "manifest His will".
The neurologist was the first consultation on 8-20-18. His first remark was "this isn't good at all, something must be done quickly". Then he ran her through a series of motor skill tests which we thought she did quite well. Sarah and I were a little perplexed with his responses. He advised that she not even fly but get is taken care of there right away. He was quite concerned.
The second consultation was by the neurosurgeon was on the next day 8-21-18.
The neurosurgeon came in and looked over the MRI and CT scan. His presentation was somewhat different and a lot more compassionate. He made sure that Elise knew what was going on and told all of us about the tumor. He said that it needed addressing but not nearly as urgently (or restriction laden) as the neurologist. He said that not addressing it would be fatal and that it was a very horrible way to go.
Here's where we realized how God had worked all things out.
First there are many neurosurgeons at MC! All good well know and qualified, BUT.......during the consultation we found out that the one He chose for Elise was the top one in the United States and even in the world. He and his team (by God's hand) was picked to evaluate our case and do the surgery. People of note from all around the world come to see him and his waiting list is very long.
So what happened next? They pulled up his appointments for surgery and he said "what is that?" looking at the "one" white space on the screen. His aid said that it was a blank surgery day. The surgeon said "how did that happen?" The day was completely open with no other surgeries. Again this was a surprise to him as he usually stacks surgeries. His remark was "that's wonderful because I can focus on this one alone that day to get it done." This surgery will take around 7 hours. He then turned to Elise and pulled his chair up to hers and looking directly into her eyes encouraged her to take advantage of this timing and get it done, which we did agree to. He also told her/us how difficult it would be right after the surgery and that she would go down hill at first, but if she fought hard she could shorten her rehab time. It was up to her. There would be 3-5 days of recovery right after the surgery, followed by (up to) 30 days in hospital rehab and another possible 30 days at home rehab. All these times will differ depending on "her attitude and effort". When asked what success rate he would give he said 85% chance of being completely recovered. He said this with confidence and humility. So first thought cover the "success rate" with prayer. Cover the operation with prayer for all of his team members that God would "divinely intervene" with their skills. Cover her recovery with prayers so that it might be 3 days instead of 5. Cover her "heart in the matter" during those dark times when she is laying there in recovery. And cover her attitude and effort for her to "get back to normal as swiftly as possible". Cover, cover, cover, cover all things to do with this in prayer.......believing!
A note:
We know that most people will be blessed with a "loving relationship" during their lifetime.
Ours started out "in love" then over the years it grew into "Unconditional Love" by the guidance of our Savior Jesus Christ. We not only "grew" in Love but continue to "grow" every day in "Unconditional Love". A testimony and witness of our lives together. We have been blessed that God "intervened" in our relationship from the beginning and then "made the path straight" ever since with dreams and visions of what True Unconditional Love is.
I know that He will continue to manifest His Love through this affliction to the finish.
Thanks again for your perseverance in prayer and support.
God bless and keep all of you.
Love
Jerry and Elise

Again a review of  "Gods hand in this":
He moved on Sarah to get the MRI into the MC
He moved on Katie to get info from her boyfriends nurse mother
He moved to get us the best neurosurgeon in the nation/world
He moved to get an quick surgery date in an impossible busy schedual
He made it possible for all the very best arrangements at the very best place to get all this done.
He is continuing to make arrangements to bring this successfully to an end.
How great is our God?

Update 8-14-18

Each day's a new day a new day in the Lord.
This is one of those days!
Following several restless nights the days were just as difficult.
This morning found us at breakfast going through the routine of eating and hydrating while taking what meds the doctors think needed and the support homeopathic's that we hope will help.
We have wept together before but today at breakfast we both "entered in" to "weep with those who are weeping". Elise started to weep and I only had enough time to ask why when I started myself. The thought of her not coming home from the Mayo Clinic was troubling her mind. I assured her that she would, that was the best I could do to "gird her up" in this low spot of her suffering.
Truth be told (as I told her) my feeling of ineffectiveness was based on "not knowing how to comfort her"!
Each of us is a complete package, body, mind, and spirit. We have not a way of crossing over into another person to give strength, hope, faith, or comfort that we might possess to help them. Only the Holy Spirit can give real comfort. Needed comfort, hope, and peace in their situation. He is the "Comforter". We; are outside of their being or else I would gladly make that journey into my wife to share her thoughts and concerns of all that is going on with her. Again it's tough not to be able to offer any repose in the situation.
Just taking time now to pray that God would send His Holy Spirit into both of us to comfort and encourage us. A needed commodity for the present time.
Well time and need bids me else ware for now.
God bless and keep.
Thanks for your prayers.
Love
J&E
 

Update on Elise 8-9-18

Family, Friends, all those who pray believing!
First, thank you for your devotion to prayer. As far as I am concerned "our help come from the Lord" first and for most.
All our Children have thrown themselves into the fray in one way or another. Some help with supplies or skills but all help with prayer, love and encouragement.
We have learned about an application involving carrot juice, pure and organic being especially effective with tumors both cancerous and benign. So we started this treatment on Friday 8-3-18. After an overnight fast Elise drinks an 8 oz glass of carrot juice before she eats so that it goes to work in her system ahead and undisturbed of anything else. Then we follow it with food and more hydration. As she gets stronger she would like to extend the fast on just carrot juice until she can go 24 hrs or longer to get the full effect of the juice and the fast. Right now she is doing what she can at this level.
Sometimes rest is hard to come by for her. We just went through 3 nights of restlessness and the effects of that on the daytime hours can be punishing. Rest, food and hydration are the daily building blocks for her to be active and when anyone is missing it is difficult for her at best.
Right now she is up and about folding laundry, getting her hair done, doing the books, and moving around on her own quite well. Having suffered 3 bad nights of sleep in a row this is nothing short of miraculous judging by the same kind of events on a lesser scale. Again another "Divine Intervention".
For those who don't know:
We have an appointment with the Mayo Clinic in Mn to get a review of our tests, maybe more tests and then a consultation. The more info the better but still second hand to God or at least under His anointing. I think more will be revealed from this visit.
Being that we have never suffered this kind of incident in our lives either of us knew where it would take us spiritually or how we would respond. Anyone who suffers does so in there own way based on belief (faith), mental strength, and physical stamina. I cannot imagine what Elise is dealing with on all three of these levels but I can be certain that she is trusting the Lord for her deliverance and restoration. She has never been one to complain about anything throughout our lives together, and this remains unchanging except for the fact that she would like to be able to do, what she considers, her household chores. And yes when she feels good she still bumps me out of the way. The difference between a man doing a woman's chores and a woman doing them herself is like night and day. Case dismissed. I do my best looking for her to instruct me on how to do them better.
I have found that no matter what happens in our lives God is there to "open new doors" for us to experience new "intimacy's" with Him. Nothing happens to separate us from the Love of God but only to "draw us neigh so that He can draw neigh to us". His sole purpose is to constantly bring us into His presence deeper and deeper, every instance, every moment, every incident, good or bad, His purpose is to deepen our intimacy with Him. His Word say's "He will turn even the evil worked against us into good" and that's just what He is doing, and if we "fail not" we shall see the "salvation" of the Lord in every situation.
How has this effected me?
I have never "cried out unto the Lord" as much in my life as I have for my "Beloved" during these last several month's. Many times a day with weeping and great deep groans that cannot be uttered. On one occasion around Tues I came out of the bedroom having taken Elise in for a rest, I broke down in weeping with great uncontrollable groaning. But this time I didn't stop it or try to control it, I "entered in" letting it "consume" me for the moment. I was for the first time in this experience of supporting her through her suffering, overcome (though many, many times I wept bitterly in prayer afore hand), and let it carry me, broken and without knowing what else to do into the depth of "praying in groans". Soon they became unspeakable words then words in another tongue. This is very rare for me but now I see the pathway to that kind of praying. First I realized the depth of compassion I have for her. Second that compassion became passion. Third I experienced the depth of intersession in prayer that this type of grief/crying out brings. God comforted me in a way none other could by giving me the expression of a tongue for those few minutes. He is always there to comfort us every moment of the day especially when we "enter in" to His presence casting all our cares upon Him "for He cares for us". This is a life changing experience for me, and I realized that all the previous encounters with grief and weeping for Elise since this started was merely an experience to bring me to the "right kind" of seeking a deeper intimacy in God through that kind of prayer. Once again God leading His own to a taste of His glory here on earth. "Seek and you shall find". Life is good when God is in the lead.
I hope that this brief update will both give you direction and instruction in how to address these "afflictions of the flesh" with new hope of God's intervention and a new intimacy in Him through prayer.
God bless and keep you delivering you from all your afflictions in Jesus name!
Love to all through God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
J&E