National
Pastors'
Prayer
Network
S T R A T E G I C P R A Y E R:
I D E A S & I N I T I A T I V E S
01/16/2004
...Finding New Ways To Connect In Prayer
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I N T H I S U P D A T E ...and for our prayers:
* Pastor Phil's Prayer Letter
** CLARIFICATION ...
1. 2004 - YEAR OF PRAYING FOR PASTORS
2. PRAY WITH PURPOSE FOR THIS PASTOR'S WIFE
3. CITYWIDE PRAYER LEADERS CONSULTATION
4. GOT 30 SECONDS?
5. AN UNCOMMON PRAYER FORMAT
6. AOL JOURNAL - PRAYER BOARD
7. PRAYER STRATEGY FOR "THE PASSION"
8. DEAR PRAYER COORDINATOR,
9. PRAYER CENTRAL 911 PRAYER ALERT
10. TESTIMONY OF ANSWERED PRAYER
??. LINKED
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* PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
*Thanks to your support in prayer (and other practical means), we can share
an emessage like this (received after a recent prayer conference I was
privileged to facilitate):
Hi Phil,
I wanted to thank you again for coming to our church and allowing yourself to be
used of the Lord so wonderfully. I believe your ministry is going to have a
lasting impact upon our church, especially in the area of prayer. There is a
growing excitement for prayer, not only in the church, but also in my own life.
We thank the Lord for you, Phil, and pray His abundant blessings upon you.
*Just thinking ... Notice lately how many
folks claim to have seen or received revelation from an angel? Why is it that
those who were encountered by an angel in the Bible were usually commanded "Fear
not!" while so many today can't wait to broadcast their experience? Is it
possible these 21st century angels are of a different variety than the biblical
ones?
*Tremendously grateful for each of you who take even a moment to pray for my
family and into our ministry schedule - May the Lord return the blessing to
you!
My family:
Jennie and JJ are building a home in Myrtle Beach, SC
Jorie and Tim are expecting their first child in early March
Carol runs our Office and substitutes at several Christian preschools
My ministry focus in 2004:
.Pray! Networks (Prayer Leaders and Praying Pastors) (part-time paid
position)
http://www.prayerleader.com
.State Prayer Coordinator for SBC congregations in IL (part-time paid
position)
http://www.ibsa.org/prayer.htm
.National Pastors' Prayer Network &
.Citywide Prayer Leaders Consultation
http://www.nppn.org
.City Impact Roundtable, National Convener &
.Mission America Cities/Communities Team Facilitator
http://www.cityreaching.com
.One Great City & Pray Chicago
http://www.praychiago.net
.Pray For Surf
http://www.prayforsurf.net
JANUARY
10/11 Facilitate Prayer @ Living Hope Church, Elk Grove Village, IL
12-17 Colorado Springs, CO:
Pray! Magazine
Denominational Prayer Leaders Network
National Prayer Committee
18 Preach @ Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
22-23 Prayer Link Planning Meeting (SBC State Prayer Coordinators)
26-27 Pastors Meetings throughout the Ohio Baptist Convention
February
3-5 Speaker @ Hawaii Baptist Convention Prayer Conference
10-11 Just Give Me Jesus Planning Meetings, Chicago, IL
15 Preach @ Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
18 Facilitate Prayer @ Uptown’s Power Hour
21 Leadership Training @ Uptown Baptist Church
22 Preach @ Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
22-24 Evangelism Conference (IBSA)
Pastor Phil
http://www.nppn.org
http://www.prayerleader.com
__________________________________________>>>
** CLARIFICATION ...
Statistics included in the previous Prayer – Care - Share Edition were
incorrect. The person reporting was offering personal guess-timates. Our
apology for this misinformation.
9. PRAYER: NEXT TIME YOUR SMALL GROUP PRAYS
___________________________________________>>>
1. 2004 - YEAR OF PRAYING FOR
PASTORS
The Denominational Prayer Leaders Network, along with the National
Prayer Committee, Pray! magazine, and a growing list of prayer ministry
organizations, is asking that 2004 be a year of mobilizing prayer for the
pastors who shepherd our local congregations.
Newly revised, Prayed on or Prayed for by Terry Tekyl is one of the most
comprehensive resources available on the subject.
He Biblically and clearly demonstrated how today's Pastor is needful of prayer:
An honest look at challenges Pastor face every day
A practical plan for building a prayer hedge around your shepherd
Interactive - Questions for study
Sample prayers & practical ideas
Terry believes we honor God and invite his blessing when we pray for Pastors
To order: 888--656-6067 or
http://www.prayerpointpress.com
____________________________________________>>>
One honest Pastor:
“If I have two days of praying ten minutes
(other than when I am preparing a sermon),
I have a good week.”
____________________________________________>>>
2. PRAY WITH PURPOSE FOR
THIS PASTOR'S WIFE
>From: "ASSIST News" <assistnews@adelphia.net>
>By: Dan Wooding
LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) -- Rick Warren, the senior pastor of Saddleback Church in
Lake Forest, California, has sent a moving message to friends from her hospital
room in Southern California about his love for his wife Kay who is battling
cancer. (Pictured: Rick and Kay Warren).
"I sit quietly and think a lot and thank God for my wife, and God's amazing
invention of marriage," he says from her hospital room
"Between caring for Kay's basic needs, I sit quietly and think a lot and thank
God for my wife, and God's amazing invention of marriage,” he said. “With all
its ups and downs and ‘in sickness and health,’ I'm certain that marriage is
God's primary tool to teach us unselfishness, sensitivity, sacrifice, and mature
love."
Warren is taking time out from his busy schedule to be with is wife in her
courageous battle.
"We are now half way through her 12 week chemo regimen,” he said. "After this
she'll begin 6 weeks of daily radiation. She healed well from her first surgery,
and the pain from the porta-cath surgery last Friday has subsided. Yesterday she
had a great day here at the hospital UNTIL the chemo effects kicked in about 1pm
and she quickly deteriorated into misery and major nausea. The rest of the day
was very rough as nurses tried to ease her pain. Finally about 10pm, after
throwing up, she settled down and fell asleep on the couch that I usually sleep
on here in the hospital room. (It felt more comfortable to her than the hospital
bed, so I got permission from the nurses for me to sleep in the hospital bed.
Don't tell anyone!).
"Today, Kay feels wiped out from all the meds they've given her, along with the
expected fatigue and nausea from the chemo. I've kept all visitors away, so we
can keep the room quiet for hours. The less going on, the better it is for her.”
Warren went on to say that "illness always reduces life to its basic level,” but
he said that he loved the plaque hanging in the wing of the hospital where Kay
is being treated, which reads:
Cancer is so limited:
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill friendships.
It cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot steal eternal life.
It cannot conquer the Spirit.
He then said to church members, "I want to thank you for allowing me the freedom
to personally take care of Kay during her cancer. My wife is the love of my
life, and this is what God intended families to do. I'd want every husband in
our church to do the same if the situation arose in their family. God blesses us
when we keep our commitments.
"So this year will be the first Christmas Eve Services that Kay, and I have
missed in Saddleback's 23 years. I've prepared a message entitled "When God
Messes Up Your Plans." (how appropriate!) I've always been struck by the fact
that EVERYONE at the first Christmas had their plans messed up by God - because
God had a bigger and better plan. When life doesn't work out the way we
intended, God wants us to trust Him.
"I have videotaped the final point of this message, so I'll actually get to
share, along with our team of teachers, in all 13 services. I have prepared some
words that I know will speak to the heart of everyone, so I hope you are
bringing all your friends, relatives, and co-workers who don't know Jesus yet.
This is the best opportunity to bring them to church.
"Also, Kay and I have arranged to give a free copy of this year's #1 bestseller,
The Purpose Driven Life (over 12 million already sold) to every person who
attends a Saddleback Christmas Service. So bring everyone who needs a copy, and
you can have one to give away this Christmas too! It's our gift to you, and to
our community. (Please only ONE per person - and we will NOT have gift-wrapping
for late shoppers!)
"By the way, Willow Creek Church in Chicago ordered 30,000 books to give one
away free at each of their Christmas services too.
He concluded by saying, "Kay and I are both looking forward to 2004 and the
beginning of our global P.E.A.C.E. plan. It's going to be a great year, and God
is going to use YOU in ways you never imagined. Stay tuned! With great love and
appreciation - I wish I could hug each of you.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net
<http://www.assistnews.net/>
___________________________________________>>>
3. CITYWIDE PRAYER
LEADERS CONSULTATION
>From: "" <PTM@prayertransformation.com>
--->NPPNote: Please pass this notice
along to the men and women, Pastors and Prayer Leaders, who mobilize prayer in
your city across denominational and economic lines.
Plans are underway for our 2004 Citywide Prayer Leaders Consultation. Put these
dates on your calendar: Sunday, July 18 – Tuesday, July 20, 2004.
We are making plans for a convention in California – we will let you know when
we get details, but for now, put those dates down and start making your plans
to join us. We missed being together in 2003 in order to allow you to attend the
Mission America meetings in N.Y. We are back on track and looking forward to
catching up and praying for one another.
Your servant in Christ, Steve Loopstra
___________________________________________>>>
4. GOT 30 SECONDS?
>From: "Tom Sipling" <tsipling@comcast.net>
30 Second Kneel Down
Vision: To transform the history of campuses
by calling a generation to prayer each morning before school at their locker.
Mission: Our mission is to transform
campuses by:
1) Mobilizing students on campuses to sustained prayer, humility, and servant
love
2) Calling youth to walk in the “NO REPUTATION” lifestyle and the commitment of
Daniel until there is a Jesus revolution
Kneel Down Reasons:
1. To broaden the prayer base
2. To put prayer back IN school
3. To develop students with "no reputation" so they may freely share the Gospel
on campus.
What is the 30 Second Kneel Down?
30kd is a prayer evangelism strategy for middle and high school campuses. The
heart of each student is also touched with the humility to serve. Take 30 at
7:30 a.m.
Segment 1: God, Thanks!
God, I bow my knee in humility to You. I know your loving presence
will be with me all day. Thank you for loving me today. I love you, too!
"...love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul and with all your mind." ( Matthew 22:37 )
Segment 2: God, Touch Them!
Prayer: God, touch the teachers, administration and students on my
campus today. One touch from you, Father, can change someone's destiny. Touch
them through me. "...Love your neighbor as yourself." (
Matthew 22:39)
Segment 3: God, Tell Them!
God, the message of Jesus' love for my campus must be told. Use me as the
messenger. I will tell those around me how much you love them.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..."
(Matthew 28:19 )
The Impact
10 students x 30 seconds x 180 school days equals
15 hours of prayer each school year.
30 students x 30 seconds x 180 school days equals
45 hours of prayer each school year.
100 students x 30 seconds x 180 school days equals
150 hours of prayer each school year.
___________________________________________>>>
"Prayer is the first thing
the second thing
the third thing necessary to a minister.
Pray then, dear brother (and sister);
Pray, pray, pray"
Edward Payson
___________________________________________>>>
5. AN UNCOMMON PRAYER
FORMAT
--->NPPNote: Use this year's "50 Day Spiritual Adventure" themes as the
focus of your next eight prayer meetings ... Begin each section with a scripture
and song(s) before moving into prayers of supplication and intercession.
Standing Tall - Facing Fears that Grip the
Soul
When we really get down to it, everyone struggles with fear of some sort at
different times in their lives. But those harassing fears, the ones that are
deep in our soul that probably no one knows about but you and God and perhaps a
close friend, are the ones that the enemy of our soul loves to use to wreak
havoc in our lives. Our Heavenly Father knows our fears and longs for us to
realize that He can help us to stand tall and strong against them. In this 50
Day Spiritual Adventure we will look at eight fears that are common to mankind
and learn new ways to rely on our Great God for His strength for our weakness.
Theme 1 – Face the fear of terrorism and war – Living where
terrorists strike repeatedly is like having the same bad dream night after
night. War is worse. So we can understand why Israel might have been resistant
to Joshua’s plans for the conquest of a “promised land.” Joshua’s troops were
neither trained nor equipped for the battles they faced. But God had given him
promises about being victorious. “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the
Lord your God is with you.” To stand tall in this day of terrorism and war,
confront the unknown with confidence because God’s Word can always be relied on.
Theme 2 – Face the fear of financial insecurity – “I have learned
the secret of living in every situation whether it is with a full stomach or
empty, with plenty or little,” writes Paul in Philippians 4:12. Most of us will
admit we haven’t reached this level of spiritual maturity. Financial insecurity
can be terrifying. It’s a tactic of Satan to strike when his victims are the
most vulnerable. Not having adequate resources opens people to his devilish
attacks. To stand tall and not be consumed by the fear of financial insecurity
requires open communication and a deep trust in God that says, “I know God
always has my best interests at heart.”
Theme 3 – Face the fear of rejection and betrayal – To the
believers in Jerusalem Paul was considered a terrorist. They spoke of him in
hushed tones. They heard he had a change of heart and switched sides. Could
they trust this “strange conversion?” Most remained skeptical. But Barnabas
stood tall and took a chance on this former persecutor, bringing him before the
apostles in Jerusalem. It’s easy to keep people out of our lives and play it
safe. But rejection was not the way of Barnabas or his Lord and it shouldn’t be
our way either.
Theme 4 – Face the fear of skeletons in the closet – We all fear
being exposed in one way or another. It could be terrifying if the proverbial
skeleton in the closet got out! King David experienced this horror. His secret
sins were made public. But with that exposure he found that “The Lord is like a
father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him,” and “I
confessed all my sins and you forgave me!” Most believers would testify that
God gives them more grace than they deserve. It is this side of the Lord we
will explore.
Theme 5 – Face the fear of failure and disgrace - On a stormy
night in the middle of the sea, the disciples were fighting heavy winds when
what appeared to be a ghost came walking on the rough water toward them. It was
Jesus. Peter said to him, “If it’s really you tell me to come to you by walking
on the water.” The invitation was given. What a horrendous position for Peter
to get into. If the sea held him up, he’d be a hero. But failure seemed the
more likely outcome. Peter stepped out of the boat and…when he began to sink,
Jesus reached out and grabbed him.
Theme 6 – Face the fear of disease and death – There are valid
reasons to dread disease and death. But there are also powerful truths that
enable us to stand tall in the face of these fears. How important it is to know
the Great Physician! And when walking through the dark valley of death, what
truth could come close to what Jesus said in John 11? “I am the resurrection
and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else,
will live again.” The Bible addresses disease and death and though the passages
don’t give us all the answers, they certainly provide enough help to calm our
fears.
Theme 7 – Face the fear of the paralyzing “what-ifs” – Worry and
fear are closely related. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where one stops and the
other begins. Worry usually relates to what might happen in the future.
“What if my car breaks down?” or “What if I get a serious illness?” can be
paralyzing “what ifs”. Jesus made a clear contrast between worry and exercising
faith in a caring and compassionate God. “Don’t worry about tomorrow,” were his
words, “Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Theme 8 – Face the fear of gathering doom – Some people prefer not
to think about the future. World problems like nuclear weapons, AIDS, water
shortages, human trafficking and “superbug” infectious diseases are too
overwhelming. Knowing the resurrected Christ personally helps us stand tall
against these global fears. Because of his promises we can anticipate that
wonderful day when he is revealed to the whole world and all is made right.
- - - - - - -
50 Day Adventure Starter Kit is $129 prepaid plus $9 shipping/handling. Call
our customer service line at 800-224-2735 for more details or visit our website
www.sundaysolutions.com <http://www.sundaysolutions.com>
to order online or for information about the seminars we have left in January.
New this year ! A change in the format for the adult journaling process.
Instead of having one book with 50 days worth of daily devotional times, we
have broken it up by week into something we are calling Bulletin Journals.
These can be stuffed in the Sunday bulletin and give everyone a chance to spend
the whole week following a Sunday service referring back to the pastor's
preaching theme for that week.
___________________________________________>>>
6. AOL JOURNAL - PRAYER
BOARD
>From: prayercntn@aol.com
I wanted to let you know about a Journal on AOL called Inland Empire Prayer
Board. This AOL Journal shares personal thoughts and photos with you and others
online, and even allows you to add your own comments. Stop by to view this
Journal at:
http://journals.aol.com/prayercntn/InlandEmpirePrayerHappenings/
Dear Friends, The Lord is doing much in the region of the Inland Empire
(Riverside and San Bernardino counties). In an effort to increase
communications, I have put together a bulletin board to keep you informed. You
can access it by the link posted on this email or you can get to it by going to
my website at: www.prayercommandpost.org and then go to the "Inland Empire"
section. I pray that the Lord helps us to get more connected and united in this
New Year....so that the world might know of His great love because of our love
and support of one another. May the blessings of the Lord overtake you in this
new year! Lynn Heatley Prayer Command Post (www.prayercommandpost.org)
PrayCalifornia (www.praycal.org)
Check it out and let me know what you think. Better yet, post your comment while
you're there.
Enjoy!
Your Thoughts. Your Blog: Create Your Own AOL Journal
<http://hometown.aol.com>
Earn Money: Sign on a friend
<http://friend.aol.com/soaf/index.adp?129999>
___________________________________________>>>
7. PRAYER STRATEGY FOR "THE PASSION"
Coordinate a creative prayer strategy to under grid the many creative
outreach ideas that make use of the stunning motion picture, "The Passion of the
Christ."
http://www.thepassionoutreach.com/ideas.asp
Look for Idea #11
____________________________________________>>>
8. DEAR PRAYER
COORDINATOR,
The National Association of Local Church Prayer Leaders is now under
the stewardship of Pray! magazine and can be found at:
http://www.prayerleader.com
The cost of membership has been cut in half and a new website is being developed
that will soon combine the best resources and ideas from congregational and
denominational leaders from across the nation.
Call -800-691-7729 to begin your membership.
___________________________________________>>>
http://www.unitedprayer.org
___________________________________________>>>
9. PRAYER CENTRAL 911 PRAYER ALERT
>From: Prayercentral Update <wayne@prayercentral.net>
Want to make a difference where it really counts?
Do you pray the minute you hear about an emergency need?
Does your heart go into high gear before God when the situation is serious?
Do you jump at the chance to cover an urgent need?
If you answered: "Yes", then why don't you get on board with PrayerCentral's
911 Prayer Squad.
We're connected to folks who work in some of the hot-spots of the world.
And from time to time, believers write us about desperate situations.
Things that need heartfelt prayer RIGHT NOW!
If you'd like to join up with our 911 Emergency Prayer Squad, go here, and
sign-up:
http://prayercentral.net/engage/911_alerts
There are lives on the line, and your prayers can make a world of difference!
"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."James5:16
Below is a current need, and a sample of what you might receive from time to
time
as a member of the 911 Prayer Squad. Be sure to sign-up if you want to receive
more of these alerts.
Thanks, Wayne Dillard
------------------------
Sri Lanka
Please take a minute and make your voice heard in heaven.
Our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka have come under severe attack from
Buddhist extremists. In the last 2 weeks, over 15 incidents of church burning
and beatings of pastor's and their families have taken place
1. Please pray for God's protection over His people. (Ps.46:1)
2. Pray that the authorities will clamp down on those responsible.
3. Ask God to touch the extremists, and turn the 'Saul's into Paul's.'(Acts
26:14)
4. Let's agree in Jesus name, that the evil powers behind the violence be bound.
(Matt.18:18)
5. "When the devil starts messing, the Lord starts blessing."
Let's ask for the Lord to bring, 'beauty instead of ashes.' (Is.61:3)
Your prayers will release His touch!
Thanks for lifting up your voice and don't forget to signup for future alerts:
http://prayercentral.net/engage/911_alerts
___________________________________________>>>
10. TESTIMONY OF
ANSWERED PRAYER
>Larry Lewis <larryl@missionamerica.org>
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all
thy iniquities, who heals all thy diseases—“(Psalm 103:2-3).
Yesterday Betty Jo and I had an appointment with Dr. Peter Reissmann, her
oncologist and lead person on her medical team responsible for her cancer
treatment. He couldn’t have been more positive! “In my entire medical career”
he said “I can’t remember anyone who has had such a rapid and complete recovery.
From all indications, the leukemia is in complete remission.” WOW! Not only
has she been healed of the pneumonia, which took her to deaths door with slim
chance of survival, and brought her through the gall bladder attack, but now, it
appears, God has worked a mighty miracle of healing with the leukemia! Neutrophils
are being produced in abundant supply (5.9), white cells are at a normal level
(7.9), platelets are being produced in sufficient number (237,000), --all blood
counts are “normal”. She is still a little weak, but walking about, not only in
the condo but outside as well, without either wheelchair or walker. Saturday
she drove our new mini-van (yes, I kept my promise) and today she drove to her
Bible Study by herself. Who knows, maybe by this time next year she’ll be
cooking and cleaning house again!
Of course, we are careful to let everyone know, including her doctors, that we
believe the Great Physician has been at work doing a mighty miracle of healing
in answer to the fervent, effectual prayers of Betty Jo’s many friends and
family. We couldn’t have had a finer, more competent medical team, but we give
God the Glory and Praise! When I asked one good doctor if he believed in
“divine healing”, he said: “I don’t believe there’s any other kind! We doctors
and medicine can aid the process, but only God can heal.” Well said.
“Saturdays Coming”
One of the darkest, most difficult moments in Betty Jo’s journey was
Saturday evening, Sept. l3. Her condition had continued to worsen and her
medical team had decided to move her to ICU. Dr. Spitz, the pulmonary
specialist, explained that she might have to be placed on ventilation, and if
so, her chance of survival was slim—about 20-25%.
The following morning I left my vigil at her side to attend worship at
our church just a few blocks away. While my pastor was preaching I did my best
to listen attentively, but, or course, my mind wandered back to Betty Jo in the
hospital ICU fighting for every breath. I needed a word from the Lord!
My Bible opened to Numbers 12, the story of Miriam, Moses’ sister,
smitten with the dread, terminal disease of leprosy. My eyes fell on verse 13:
“And Moses cried unto the Lord saying ‘heal her now, O God, I beseech thee”!
I thought of how often, over the past several days, I had uttered that
very prayer. How did God answer that fervent prayer?
“And the Lord said to Moses—let her be shut out from the camp seven
days, and after that let her be received in again”.
So Miriam had to stay alone, outside the camp, for seven days. After
that, she was made whole and was returned to the camp.
I could hardly wait to get back to the hospital. “Honey,” I said “I
believe I have a word from the Lord. God seems to be saying, you must stay in
this dark valley seven days, then you can come back to us. The crisis will have
passed, you can come out of intensive care, and you’ll eventually recover and be
whole.”
I looked at her, lying there in pain, fighting for every breath, oxygen
mask over her face, frightened and confused.
“Honey, can you do that? Can you hold out seven days? That will be
Saturday, just one week away! It will be the longest week of your life, but
Saturday will come!”
A faint smile crossed her tortured face. “Yes,” she whispered, “I think
I can. Saturday—“
She labored on through that day and evening. No doubt, every minute
seemed like an hour and every hour like a day. I watched as she tired and
became ever weaker.
Monday afternoon, our son Mark left his turn at her bedside and found
me in the visitor waiting room.
“Dad”, he asked “what’s this about Saturday?”
“Why do you ask, son?”
“Because Mom asked me if it were Saturday yet?”
Only one day had passed, but it must have seemed like an eternity!
Her condition continued to worsen, and on Tuesday that hard decision
was made to place her on the ventilator. We gathered around her to pray and to
share what we knew might be our last words with her on earth. We told her how
much we loved her, then each of us had a private time.
“Honey, I think we must put you on the ventilator. You’re working
too hard. You need sleep and rest. Then, your body can concentrate all its’
energy and oxygen on fighting the infection, killing the pneumonia and the
cancer.”
I paused a long moment. The words came very hard. “You need to
know, you might not survive. But the doctors and I think it’s the thing to do.
Do you agree? Is that what you want?”
Her tired eyes spoke even more clearly than her words: “Yes”, she
whispered, “I can’t go on. I’m too tired.”
“Remember”, I said “Saturdays coming! Just a few more days.”
“Yes” she whispered “Saturday—“.
Soon, after going on ventilation, things began to improve. In
answer to the prayers of hundreds, perhaps thousands, the hurdles began to be
overcome. Her body began to produce the important neutrophils, the blood cells
that fight disease, and the escalating white cells began to decrease. There was
evidence that the pneumonia was beginning to subside. All vital signs were
improving and one doctor even talked about what we should do “When she comes
home”! Another even suggested that maybe “this weekend” she might be ready to
come off the ventilator. PTL!
When Saturday finally arrived, my expectations couldn’t have been
higher! I went to the hospital fully expecting the doctors to be there already,
preparing to take her off ventilation. After several days of steady
improvement, her condition was stable at best and, in some areas, had worsened.
“Not today” Dr. Reissmann said, “Maybe sometime next week. We’ll see”. Not
the news I wanted to hear.
Disheartened and discouraged, I went with our son Mark and his
wife Dara for breakfast. About an hour later we returned to the hospital.
Larry Ray, Betty Jo’s brother, ran down the hallway to meet us, smiling from
ear-to-ear. “She’s awake! Come quickly—she just woke up!”
Our entire family rushed into the ICU and to her bedside. Her
eyes were glassy but open. She was trying to speak, but tubes in her mouth
prevented her saying anything. When Larry Ray asked if she could wiggle her
toe, she moved her entire foot. When I asked if she could hear me, to blink her
eyes, she did so feebly. She was definitely alive, alert and awake! She had
come home!
Our serendipity was short lived. Her trip back to consciousness
was created by the removal of the sedation tube for a few minutes so another
procedure could be performed. Within 30 minutes, the sedation was continued and
she slipped away again. But it was time enough for us to know that she was
right there waiting for us as soon as we were ready to bring her back. And it
was Saturday morning.
We had the same experience the following day as Betty Jo came
back to consciousness for a few minutes Sunday afternoon. Monday the reports
were more encouraging than they had ever been. Blood counts and vital signs
were all very good. Tuesday the doctors began the process we had all been
praying for and hoping for, taking her off ventilation. I was told it might
take an entire day, or even two. However, within two hours the tubes, wires,
sensors, and machines were unhooked and Betty Jo had come back to life!
(Actually, seven full days after having gone on ventilation the previous week).
I’m not sure whether the “seven day” revelation applied to the
time between Sunday and the following Saturday, when she first came to
consciousness, or the time on ventilation, or simply a figure representing a
definite period of time. But I am sure God used this to assure my heart and
spirit that even though she must spend some time in the valley, she would come
home and would be whole.
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
Larry Lewis, National Facilitator for Denominations
Mission America Coalition
640-1312 Camino de la Reina
San Diego, CA 92108-3217
619.291.1975
___________________________________________>>>
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