T-Day

"He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do" (John 6:6). Anyone with a cursory understanding of God's word will recall this scene in Scripture. Any individual who has spent any amount of time in children's church is probably quite familiar with this event. Here in John's Gospel, we find a record of the feeding of the 5,000+ crowd (because women and children were likely not counted in the number).

While the focus is sometimes placed on the little boy who gave or the enormous amount of food Jesus supplied, the true focus of this passage is on the power of God. The God who created all things is able to take bread and fish and multiply it hundreds of thousands of times over.

But in reading this passage again just today, I zeroed in on this one verse. See when Jesus saw the crowd (quite a large one at that), He asked Philip where they would buy bread to feed the multitude. Then notice what John wrote. "He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do." Jesus did not ask Philip because he was having an anxiety attack over what to do. He was not inquiring because He was out of good options. He asked not for His sake, but for Philip's benefit (and all the others as well). Why? Because even though Jesus asked, He already knew what He was going to do.

T-Day (Transplant Day) for our family is scheduled for September 7. Today this passage has reminded me once again not to be anxious, fearful or faithless. Instead, I am to be confident that He "already [has] in mind what he [is] going to do." Before we knew the what, He knew what He was going to do. Before we knew the when, He knew what He was going to do. Before we even knew the who (that Micah would be born), He knew what He was going to do.

So often as Christians, we can be guilty of treating our faith a bit like superstition. We think, "Well, if I don't pray enough or do enough good things, everything will go wrong." But praying isn't like rubbing some magic genie lamp. Good deeds don't merit our favor or blessing from God. While I would declare that we are called to prayer because the "fervent prayer of a righteous man produces much," I must not fail to realize that in God's sovereignty, He already knows what He will do.

Jesus knew He'd feed the crowd. He knew it would occur through five loaves of bread and two small fish. In our situation, one week from today, God is fully aware of exactly what He will do and will have already done. Even so, we do still pray. We ask that our prayers might be in agreement with the will and heart of God.

The details as of this moment are as follows: Micah will be admitted to the Duke Children's Hospital this coming Thursday evening. He will spend the night, getting all his pre-op items accomplished then. Then, I am scheduled to arrive early Friday morning (probably around 6:00 AM) to prepare. Surgery should begin around 7:30 AM.

Although they will begin to insert all the necessary IVs, connect all monitors and such for Micah before they start with me, I will actually begin surgery first. The surgeons will open up my abdomen, remove my gall bladder, conduct a scan to see all the blood flow of my liver and then physically look to insure the compatibility. If all goes well up till this point, the call will then be made to begin with Micah. The surgeons will then make the necessary incision in Micah to begin the process of removing his diseased liver. At the same moment, my liver is being divided at the point in which it will provide the size Micah needs. Once Micah is prepared to receive the liver graft, it will be detached, flushed, placed on ice and taken to his operating room. Then begins transplant part of his surgery and the closing of mine.

In total, my surgery should last about 6 hours. His should last about 6 to 8. My hospital stay will be between 7 and 10 days. Recovery time is around 4 to 6 weeks. Micah's hospital stay is an average of 4 to 6 weeks. Then it is a careful watch through the first year to insure all is well. Children who make it the first year see their survival rates dramatically increase.

At this time, we simply ask once again for you to pray. We realize that Jesus Christ already knows the ins and outs. He already knows what He will do. Yet, God has hardwired this world is such a way that our prayers can and do make a difference. I don't fully understand it all (seminary taught me how much I don't know). However, I know, without a doubt, He is in ful and sovereign control of all things and yet He calls us to prayer.

Pray specifically for these areas:

1. That in us and in this, our Heavenly Father would receive all glory, honor and praise,
2. That our family, especially Isaac, Ethan and Sarah, would be comforted and at peace,
3. That Micah and I will have strength, endure the surgery well and recover quickly
4. That Micah will receive the liver and have dramatic improvements in health
5. That the doctors will have wisdom and skill from the Lord, who alone gives wisdom and revelation,
6. That others may see a living example of John 15:13 and come to faith in our awesome Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

I would ask that you pray specifically for the doctors by name. The three surgeons performing this transplant are: Dr. Desai, Dr. Tuttle and Dr. Koo.

May God use you today for His glory and may you know the greatness of our God who knows all things at all times and works them for His glory!