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.