Sabbath Blessings

Confessions: God is not finished with me yet!

It's nearly the end of January. The year is still young.

Yet...

In many aspects of my life, I feel I've experienced a full year's worth of living already. And, I have a feeling that God is not finished with me yet. (Not that I expect to reach the "finished" stage here on this earth.) I'm still pondering how to put this experience, this learning, this awareness into words.

I heard a quote last week that really struck a chord with me:

"God's love is not a pampering love - it is a perfecting love." (James MacDonald)

Hmmm...

Am I guilty of associating a comfortable life (pampering?) with being loved by God?

Do I recognize God's perfecting in my life? Even when it means discomfort?

(Ouch.) If I'm honest, I know the answers to those questions.

I'll be pondering this awhile longer.

So, what about you? What are you pondering these days???

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. (I John 4:16-18, NLT)

The Gift of Words

A message from my dad on my Facebook page:

Hi, Dawn. Wish we could be there with you today. 45 years ago today, Mom was in Ohio having you. As usual, I wasn't home. I was in Colorado Springs flying the Air Force Academy Cadets to Washington D.C. for LBJ's inauguration. I took emergency leave and was home the next day. What a darling, beautiful surprise when I got there. Happy Birthday. Hope you're having a special day.....Love You, Dad and Mom

I've always known my dad was away with the Air Force when I was born and that he had to get emergency leave to come home. But, I'd never known what he was doing at that point in his military career.

Words to treasure!

Belated Birthday Gifts

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we have to wait for and I suppose that's the way it will be for me this birthday.

Grandad's surgery has been postponed... again. His kidney function is better but still not where the surgeon wants it to be and his potassium levels are still elevated. So, the doctor has ordered some changes to his medicine along with dietary changes and encouragement to drink more water.

That just gives us more time to pray for him!

A Call From Grandad and My Birthday Request

Grandad called me tonight! On his cell phone, no less. That's only the second time in my life that he has ever called me. Granny was always the one to call or I would call them. I guess with her gone, he just assumes (correctly!) that I'll continue to call him. Anyway, his call made me smile from ear to ear!

Good news and good news!

He is back at home now and the situation with his kidneys appears to be correcting itself after getting him hydrated. So, they will continue to monitor him for two weeks. If everything continues to look good, they will do the surgery on his lung on January 20th.

January 20th - my birthday!

Guess what I want for my birthday this year?

"And we are confident that [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." (I John 5:14-15)

Prayer Request: Update On Grandad (10:30 AM)

I just spoke to my parents and they said that Grandad's final blood work done in pre-op revealed that his potassium levels were elevated indicating that his kidneys are only functioning at half capacity. So, the cancer surgery has been postponed.

The surgeon has admitted Grandad to the Cleveland Clinic and plans to have a specialist evaluate what is going on with his kidneys. Grandad has had some issues before that were resolved through giving him intravenous fluids and required Grandad to be more aware of keeping himself hydrated. It is hoped that this is the situation and that his surgery on his lung can be rescheduled in a few weeks.

We believe the postponement of today's surgery was an answer to our prayers for wisdom for the physicians. So, thank you for all of you who were praying!

Please continue to pray for Grandad (Charles) with this new turn of events...

• That the situation with his kidneys will be minor and quickly resolved.
  
  
• For his peace of mind as he once again "plays the waiting game." And, for my parents who are now waiting with him.
  
  
• Compassion from the medical personnel who are in contact with Grandad.
  
  
• Continued wisdom for the physicians and medical staff who are on Grandad's team.
  
  
• Rescheduling of the lung surgery... at the right time.
  
  
• Healing.

I'll let you know as soon as I have another update.

Urgent Prayer Requests

It's been a hard year for my grandfather. We lost Granny last January. It was profoundly hard for Grandad - in one devastating event he lost his love, his partner in life and his "job" as he had cared for her during her several years of illness.

Despite the loss, Grandad has done remarkably well this past year. So much so that we were even able to convince him to allow us to purchase a plane ticket for him so that he could spend Christmas here in Texas with my family, my parents, my sister and nephew. We anticipated this holiday together for many months.

Right before Thanksgiving Grandad had some medical tests completed by his doctor and again with some outstanding physicians at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The diagnosis was both good and bad. The bad? Lung cancer. The dreaded "C" word. The good? It was caught very early and despite years of smoking when he was younger (no longer, thankfully!) and his age (85 years in December!), he is expected to make a full recovery following the removal of one lobe of his lung and shouldn't need any follow up treatments like chemo or radiation!

The doctors gave him the "all clear" to travel to Texas for Christmas. We enjoyed his time with us so much and are already talking about a return trip. Soon, we hope.

His surgery scheduled for Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Tomorrow.

Grandad caught a respiratory virus while traveling so we won't know for sure that the surgery will really happen until a final check in the morning. As of right now, though, it appears that it is a go. The surgery will take place sometime in the morning and is anticipated to last about four hours.

Unfortunately, my mom also caught the same bug. She needs to be well to help care for Grandad when he's released from the hospital.

So, here are my prayer requests:

• Wisdom for the doctors and medical staff attending Grandad. Especially for discernment regarding whether or not to proceed tomorrow.
  
  
• Concentration, knowledge and skill as the surgery is performed. Supernatural concentration, knowledge and skill!
  
  
• Compassion toward my grandfather and my family members as they are in the hospital.
  
  
• Healing for Mom before Grandad is released to her care.
  
  
• And, Lord willing, for a complete recovery and healing for Grandad following the surgery.

I'll keep you posted so that you can rejoice in the answers to our prayers.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

I believe!!!

Happy New Year!

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

(An Irish Blessing)