Abigail Update! Seizers, Miracles, and everything in between.

            They say, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Of those steps we take along life’s journey the first one is often the hardest. Throughout this life our paths meander down many unexpected and at times difficult stretches.  For some we choose to take the road less travelled for others a path of toil and pain. Each one embarks on their own journey, some to discovery others to despair. Though the roads we travel may seem rough and steep; and even though many seem to have lost the way, there is hope and healing in our God who winds the path we tread. For He is the one who goes before us. He is the one who stands behind. He has seen our ending from our beginning.  He reigns sovereign over time.

            I could pick many a milestone from which to begin, this discussion of God’s grace and the sovereignty of His plan. For it only takes a moment, a single ounce of strength, for us mere mortals to catch a glimpse of His grace. If we would but stop for a moment and peer into to the Spirit’s realm imagine all that we would see. Then we would finally know that even in chaos, God is working mightily.

            Nonetheless, I shall choose one example of God’s grace. It came, on a wintery day on November 20^th, 2013, in the form of a

child. Her name is Abigail Grace. Like a miracle from heaven, she came without warning. Through her baby blues and her adorable smile, God has softened my heart and began to show me a glimpse of the depth of his grace and love. She truly is “her father’s joy.”

            As most of those close to us know, on April 18^th 2014, our precious girl was diagnosed with a rare birth defect know as Crayniosnostosis. (For more on this check out my previous blog post). Since that time we have been on a roller-coaster of emotion. There have been many ups and an equal or greater share of downs. It has been a difficult journey. But we cling tight to the promise: With God all things are possible. Now with a surgery date of August 25^th fast approaching we hold ever tighter to that promise.

            Less than a week ago, Abigail began showing signs of having minor seizers.  We had been keeping a close eye on here and made a call to her doctor for advice. They had advised us to go in for an additional CT scan. Our nerves were about shot.

            The week leading up to this day was nothing short of chaotic. Work stress, upcoming ministry event, spring-cleaning, and preparation for a long and arduous summer, not to mention two night of sleeplessness due to toddler nightmares had left us utterly drained.

            We made our way to the hospital and this is where the real miracle began…

As much as this is about our daughter, God had a greater purpose. He worked everything to fulfill his purpose and plan, to transform the chaotic into the miraculous.

            For those wondering, Abigail is still slated for surgery in August. And the plates in her head are still very much fussed. But God is using her journey to bring hope, healing and salvation to others. This is not a story about Abigail or even a story about us, rather a story of God’s sovereign grace.

            At the same time our family was making our way to the hospital out of concern for our daughter, the Heavenly Father was sending another one of his daughters to cross our path.

            Her name is Betty (changed name for privacy) she had a rough life, lost her husband and son due to a horrific turn of events, and early today attempted to take her life.

            God sent Betty to the same small ER room occupied by our little family. She began expressing her hurt and desire to leave this world to the staff, and law enforcement officers. Weeping and pleading for reassurance that she had not lost her mind. Explaining that voices in her head told her to take her life so she could go to be with her loved ones.

            At the right moment, I introduced myself as a pastor and offered to talk with her if it would help. She invited me in and I only got the chance to tell her who I was and that with God there is hope before the doctors began a series of tests and procedures.

            In time God would open a marvelous door. In the meantime my wife and I went about our business attending to Abigail and singing worship songs to her. We sang, “Jesus loves You” “Greater is He that is in Me” and a plethora of other simple songs. During our waiting period to be released the lady on the other side of the curtain began to express to the nurses that, “As long as they sing I can’t here the voices.” This is the only time the voices ever stopped.” The longer she stayed the more peaceful she became.

The only thing that stood between her and us was a thin veil, praise be to God that nothing can stand between us and God’s grace and mercy. The scene reminded me of a passage of scripture in Romans 8. The Apostle Paul tells the Roman believers

 “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”             ~Romans 8:37-39

After an hour of waiting on running tests of our own, God opened a door of opportunity. As the room thinned and we were preparing to leave; I heard a faint voice:

“Sir, Sir. Do you talk to God?”  Asked the lady from the other side of the curtain. I smiled and replied, “Why yes actually that is kind of what I like to do!"

She asked me to explain the gospel to her and expressed that for the first time in months she felt peace, hope, joy, and light. She understood Jesus was the only way out of her situation and that God was calling her to live life for Him.  After sharing the gospel with her she went on to say, “you know the Bible is a pretty gnarly book… Jesus is a pretty gnarly dude too.” She gave her life to the Lord today and than began to share her newfound faith with anyone who would listen.

God put a spark in her eye and a spring in our step. Afterward the doctors told us that Abigail’s CT scan came back good and that she was showing no cause for concern. That can’t explain why she had those seizer like attacks. I believe that He may have allowed them just so that our paths would cross and one of His children would come home.

There were two seizers that took place today, one in the form of Abigail’s brain sending some “gnarly” signals to her body and another from God sending some “gnarly” blows at the enemy. Because of Abigail’s suspected seizers we got to witness first hand God’s seizer of this lady form the clutches of the evil one.

Never underestimate the everyday moments you face in life. Never take for granted the voice and time your given. Never take for granted the opportunity in front of us to share the good news of Jesus or to simply sing a song of praise or say a silent prayer.  You never know it just might save a life.

           

           

           

           

            

Having a Battlefield Mindset Eph 6

The date was June 6^th, 1944. This infamous date went down in history as D-Day. It was on this day 70 years ago that 175 thousand men stormed the beach of Normandy to wage war against the Axis of Evil. On that day more than 10,000 men gave of their lives fighting for our freedom.  The Battle for Normandy was one of the largest most significant battles in Human History. Not only did it represent one the largest armadas in history, it marked the turning point of the second world war.

From reading, listening, and hearing the stories from those who fought that day it is obvious that there had to be a certain mindset. Defeat was not an option. IT was do or die. There was no turning back. This mentality was best put by the Commander of the Allied forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower, "This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success."

Those 175 thousand men were not going to the beaches of Normandy for a sightseeing trip, they were not going to simply turn around after seeing the task ahead of them. They planned and accepted the fact that at the end of the day the “Stars and Stripes” would fly over the beach.  Defeat was not an option there was no turning back, no giving up, no chance of surrender. They were victors in mind before they stepped foot on the battlefield. History bears record to their victory.

Much the same way we as followers of Christ are called to live with the same battlefield mindset. To live with no regrets, never looking back always pushing forward, never giving up always looking up. We are called to live with victory in mind and never bow to the pressure of the enemies forces. Are we planning to be victorious are we living our life in expectation that God is going to bring the lost to Him. This is one of the central messages of the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus.  He instructs timothy to BE STRONG in 2 Timothy 2:1- 6:

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops”

Have we as solders of the Most High been engaging in civilian affairs? Have we gone AWOL in our Christian duties? God is calling us to take our stand firmly on His word. We are called to return to our posts and live for him bodily and fight the good fight. There is a dark and ominous enemy greater than all the evil of Hitler’s regime combined. Our enemy seeks to destroy the souls of all mankind. His is the enemy of our God. Our battle is not one of physical force and tangible ammunition.

IT’S A SPIRITUAL WAR FOR THE SOULS OF EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD.

RETURN TO YOUR POSTS! AFTER YOU’VE DONE EVERYTHING TO STAND! STAND!

IF YOUR BURNT OUT OF DOING MINISTRY KEEPING GOING!

YES IT IS HARD BUT GOD IS GREATER!

THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGHT FOR MY FRAILTY TO INTERFERE!

THE STAKES ARE TO HIGH FOR MY PERSONAL PREFERENCES TO INTERFERE!

THE STAKES ARE TO HIGH FOR HOLLOW CHURCH POLITICS AND SQUABBLES!

"This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success."