"The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Proverbs 14:9). I have been reminded in recent days of this truth. So often we make our plans and ask God to bless them, even though we never consulted Him in the planning phase. James corrects believers who say "today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a city and buy, sell and make a profit." He directly charges believers to remember the Lord in making plans. "For you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall do this or that.'"
Certainly God has given us the capacity and intellectual responsibility to make wise and godly decisions. But failing to include God in one's plans is planning to fail indeed. I certainly know what I'd like to see as the timeline and outcome of this medical situation regarding Micah. But the Lord is the One to direct our steps. So we have consistently prayed and asked for the same divine gift which Solomon petitioned the Lord--wisdom. Wisdom, knowing what is true coupled with the ability to apply that truth in proper judgment, allowed Solomon to rule and act in some remarkable ways.
I admit that I don't always see things as they are or as God sees them. Without a doubt, I am sure I do not see completely the mind, heart and will of God in this present circumstance. So I pray for wisdom. To know, to see and to apply it properly. I pray for wisdom that I might not just make my plans in this difficult time, excluding the Lord and His desire in this time. Therefore I pray, "Lord, as I make my plans, guide me! As I plan the way in which we will travel, give me insight and wisdom. May I do what pleases you. May I lead my family into paths of righteousness so that they too may please you."
Micah is officially on the transplant list. He is second on the list at the Duke Clinic. In our region (this side of Charlotte, NC to the NC coast), there are only two liver transplant clinics. These are Duke and UNC. We're not sure how his score compares to those who may be listed on the UNC list and whether he is above them in needing a liver transplant.
In the past few days, Micah has been more engaging, alert and vibrant than he has been in some time. His sodium, which had been critically low, has now rebounded. His stomach is still enlarged due to fluid. The blood flow in the abdominal region is also not as it should be (redirected; which is expected as the liver gets more diseased).
As for the living donor screening, the 15 viles of blood seemed to check out well. Praise the Lord! Though I have slightly elevated cholesterol, nothing seems to be a hinderance to the forward progress of screening or to prohibit me from being a potential donor. The next step is a MRI on Tuesday of this coming week. The MRI is mainly to determine the health of my liver (blood flow and anatomy) and to insure the anatomy of my liver and the piece they would be transplanting would be a match. From there, if all checks well, I would meet with the surgeon and complete a couple more tests related to my general health (EKG, chest x-ray). The meeting with the surgeon could be this coming Thursday.
Continue to pray, if you will, for the screening process. Also be in prayer for Micah's health, that the Lord will continue to sustain him and help him to be strong. We would so like to have him be as strong as he is now when the surgery is performed. But most of all, I want you to continue to pray again that the Lord be glorified. He always is! But sometimes individuals miss out on the blessing of being a cooperative participant.
In the same chapter of Proverbs, the fourth verse tells us that God has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. In all things, God will be glorified. When a sinner repents and receives Christ, God is glorified as His great love, mercy, grace and patience is demonstrated mightily. When a sinner rejects and refuses to receive Christ, God is still glorified. For even when the sinner refuses to repent, the judgment of God upon sin highlights his holiness, justice and righteousness. In all things God is and will be glorified. Therefore we pray and we ask you to pray that God will be glorified in this and through us as we surrender ourselves fully to Him as cooperative participants. Regardless of the hurt and pain, by no means do I want to miss the joyous pleasure of seeing God glorified out of a situation that most of the world looks with scornful eye upon.
Certainly God has given us the capacity and intellectual responsibility to make wise and godly decisions. But failing to include God in one's plans is planning to fail indeed. I certainly know what I'd like to see as the timeline and outcome of this medical situation regarding Micah. But the Lord is the One to direct our steps. So we have consistently prayed and asked for the same divine gift which Solomon petitioned the Lord--wisdom. Wisdom, knowing what is true coupled with the ability to apply that truth in proper judgment, allowed Solomon to rule and act in some remarkable ways.
I admit that I don't always see things as they are or as God sees them. Without a doubt, I am sure I do not see completely the mind, heart and will of God in this present circumstance. So I pray for wisdom. To know, to see and to apply it properly. I pray for wisdom that I might not just make my plans in this difficult time, excluding the Lord and His desire in this time. Therefore I pray, "Lord, as I make my plans, guide me! As I plan the way in which we will travel, give me insight and wisdom. May I do what pleases you. May I lead my family into paths of righteousness so that they too may please you."
Micah is officially on the transplant list. He is second on the list at the Duke Clinic. In our region (this side of Charlotte, NC to the NC coast), there are only two liver transplant clinics. These are Duke and UNC. We're not sure how his score compares to those who may be listed on the UNC list and whether he is above them in needing a liver transplant.
In the past few days, Micah has been more engaging, alert and vibrant than he has been in some time. His sodium, which had been critically low, has now rebounded. His stomach is still enlarged due to fluid. The blood flow in the abdominal region is also not as it should be (redirected; which is expected as the liver gets more diseased).
As for the living donor screening, the 15 viles of blood seemed to check out well. Praise the Lord! Though I have slightly elevated cholesterol, nothing seems to be a hinderance to the forward progress of screening or to prohibit me from being a potential donor. The next step is a MRI on Tuesday of this coming week. The MRI is mainly to determine the health of my liver (blood flow and anatomy) and to insure the anatomy of my liver and the piece they would be transplanting would be a match. From there, if all checks well, I would meet with the surgeon and complete a couple more tests related to my general health (EKG, chest x-ray). The meeting with the surgeon could be this coming Thursday.
Continue to pray, if you will, for the screening process. Also be in prayer for Micah's health, that the Lord will continue to sustain him and help him to be strong. We would so like to have him be as strong as he is now when the surgery is performed. But most of all, I want you to continue to pray again that the Lord be glorified. He always is! But sometimes individuals miss out on the blessing of being a cooperative participant.
In the same chapter of Proverbs, the fourth verse tells us that God has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. In all things, God will be glorified. When a sinner repents and receives Christ, God is glorified as His great love, mercy, grace and patience is demonstrated mightily. When a sinner rejects and refuses to receive Christ, God is still glorified. For even when the sinner refuses to repent, the judgment of God upon sin highlights his holiness, justice and righteousness. In all things God is and will be glorified. Therefore we pray and we ask you to pray that God will be glorified in this and through us as we surrender ourselves fully to Him as cooperative participants. Regardless of the hurt and pain, by no means do I want to miss the joyous pleasure of seeing God glorified out of a situation that most of the world looks with scornful eye upon.
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