Category: Miracles

Miracle of Miracles

 July 25 was the one year anniversary of my wife’s severe stroke. We have not made this too public for various reasons, but I thought I would do a blog on this in honor of my wife’s miracle. Actually, miracle of miracles. As you can see in the before and after photos, there is literally no difference. The Lord completely removed any disfiguration, deficits or deficiencies.

Allow me to enumerate the other miracles that took place on that day. Please forgive me for numbering these or even labeling them as miracles as if some how I can quantify them or even grasp all of them let alone understand them. Again, I merely “stand in awe,” but here goes….

Reporting on this one year anniversary, allow me to say that in the Lord’s mercy, I was the recipient of a series of miracles. Even a year later, I am still in awe of them. The “largest” one is that I still have my wife (of 40 years). This in in light of how severe the stroke was. It measured 20 on a 24 scale. This means either death or permanent damage with noticeable markers.

But today (as you can see from the “After” picture), she has been given a clean bill of health. To repeat, there are no markers or deficiencies at all. In fact, one doctor reluctantly said, “This is a miracle.”

Now to enumerate these miracles:

  1. The first miracle is that I was sent home to get some clothes for her stay in the hospital. As I was home gather her things, I get a call: “Your wife has just had a neurological episode. You need to come quickly,” the nurse clinically, but compassionately reported. “I will be there in 10.” (I actually got there in 8!) But when I got there, she was already “recovering” from the stroke. I bless the Lord that I did not see her in the stroke state. I’m told her entire right side went slough—deformed and shriveled…. I bless the Lord I do not have to have this image floating in my head. Miracle #1.
  2. Miracle #2: By the Time they had brought her back from the CT scan (about 20-30 mins. later), she was alert, and though she couldn’t talk, she was able to follow us with her eyes. I’m told she went to a 4 on this 24 scale around this time.
  3. Miracle #3: They couldn’t get in touch with any neuro-doctors—even the ones on call. This is a miracle because they would have attempted a high-risk invasive procedure. And I believe the Lord spared us this risk, since the blood clot was high in her left carotid arteries. (Include in this miracle is that they couldn’t get Skype to work with an off-site neurosurgeon.)
  4. Miracle #4: They still wanted to send us to Denver for more specialized care. The plane was there, fueled and ready to go. Because of the weather, they disregarded any helicopter transportation.
  5. Miracle #5: All the family and friend that were in her room praying for her were each using their own individual giftedness. It was beautiful to see the unity of the Body of Christ and the individual uniqueness of her members.
  6. Miracle #6: Someone happened to have a rather large cash gift they slipped in my hands as we were leaving to go to the airplane. Bless Jesus. It helped cover much.
  7. Miracle #7: Kathy is approaching 2 on the 24 scale as she is loaded onto the plane.
  8. Miracle #8: The flight was supposed to go around a thunderstorm, and take about 1 hour to 1 hour & 15 minutes depending on the storm. But as we approached Denver, I witnessed the clouds part, and we were able to make a straight line to Denver. Oh, and in 45 minutes! (Included in this miracle is we even beat the local ambulance to the airport.)
  9. Miracle #9: I am told that the neuro-Team at Swedish Medical Center is one of the best, if not the best, in the nation. They were ready for us as we arrived. Kathy was able to talk a little bit, but still could not say complete sentences…, and some funny time telling, too….
  10. Miracle #10: The next morning when the Doctors were making their rounds, Kathy was up with the O.T. Nurse walking over objects on the floor and then actively engaging in the discussion regarding her episode and recovery.
  11. Miracle #11: Our Oldest daughter and her husband started a prayer chain throughout their contacts. Our Middle Daughter and her husband saw us off from Grand Junciton, CO with prayer, hugs and Love—and the local prayer chain. And our Youngest Daughter was able to get off work, find a flight and fly in to Denver straightaway. (Included in this miracle is our youngest’s boss, let her go in the midst of a major project; she was able to stay with us for quite some time to assist in the recovery when we returned home.)
  12. Miracle #12: We were able to stay with our middle daughter’s in-laws while in Denver. We left with the close on our backs, and the Lord even provided a brand new toothbrush, besides the clothes I was able to borrow.
  13. Miracle #13: The insurance covered everything!
  14. Miracle #14: The prayers and support of all in Denver and those at home, family, and friends welcoming us with joyful hugs of praise.

I am sure there are many more miracles, many of which I am still not aware, but there are those private, quiet miracles that we cherish deep in our hearts.

Thank you, for allowing me to share this brief episode in my journey with Jesus, and joining us in prayers and praise.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

“What if the Miracle….”

Date: 02-28-15

The Big Idea: Lifestyle worshiper, let us not miss the miracle that the LORD will surely bless you with.

My Thoughts: “What if the miracle never comes?” This is what the enemy wants you to ask. With his slithering, slippery tongue, he hisses doubts in your ear. He wants you to buy the lie that the LORD is withholding something good from you. Oh, sadly, I have often listened to this hiss….

But, Lifestyle worshiper, perhaps our definition of “miracle” needs to be refined. Oh, it is still something beyond what we could achieve. It is still something beyond what we could think or imagine, but perhaps it is also something beyond what we can perceive—at least for the moment, and maybe even in this life. Now I know that this may sound like a copout of sorts, but if we have a predetermined “miracle” that we are looking for, won’t this make it harder to see the actual miracle the LORD has provided? We will miss seeing it because we are looking for something quite different.

The other day I was looking for the vacuum cleaner at the church. It is helpful to know that there are actually three vacuum cleaners, but I was looking for the vacuum cleaner. So I asked the person I was working with: “Where’s the vacuum cleaner?” With a wry smile and a soft giggle, she gently said, “Ah, right in front of you.” I was amazed: I couldn’t see the ‘other’ vacuum cleaner literally in front of me, and yet as I had panned the room, I missed it. Why? Because I had a predetermined picture in my mind as to what the vacuum cleaner ‘ought’ to look like….

Lifestyle worshiper, let us not miss the miracle that the Lord will surely bless you and me with. Oh, and join me in ignoring the hiss of that sly snake….

Main Text: — Nehemiah 6:15-16, 19 — 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul in 52 days.16 When all of our enemies—including the surrounding nations—heard this, they became very discouraged, since they saw that the work had been done by our God…. 19 Furthermore, they kept reporting Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and kept repeating what I told him. Tobiah kept sending letters to intimidate me. [ISV]

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Fear the LORD, you his saints,for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

— Psalm 34:9-10 (NIV84)

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

—Psalm 84:11 (NIV84)

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? — Romans 8:32 (NIV84)

  Lord Jesus Christ,  as I patiently wait for the blessing of Your Goodness towards me, open my eyes to see the ‘miracles’  already before me. Deaden my ears to the hissing lies of the sly snake. By Your Blood and in Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike