Eat Up

"They all ate and were satisfied..." (Mark 6:42).

Mark chapter 6 shows us what it is like to eat at the buffet--Jesus style. Last night in our family Bible reading time, we read this passage. Each evening, as is our custom, we gather to read and pray before the boys go to bed. Interesting that this passage was the one we read yesterday.

It's familiar, that's for sure. I read the account of this event in another gospel just before Micah's surgery. God had another truth and word for me last night from the account.

Jesus has departed in a boat leaving the multitudes behind. However, the crowd sees him departing and travel ahead to meet him at his destination. When He arrived on the shore, the Bible says He saw the multitude like sheep without a Shepherd. Then He instructed them in the things of God for some time.

Time got away from everyone. It was late and the people had not come prepared to stay so long. The disciples were frantic about the lack of food. Unfortunately, the "golden arches" weren't just right around the corner. Domino's wasn't delivering on that day. The place was desolate and the need was great (for there were 5,000 men alone gathered; not to mention women and children who did not get counted).

The disciples knew that it would cost around 200 days wages to feed that number of people. So when they brought the issue before Jesus, and He told them to give the people something to eat, they questioned whether that much should be spent for food. Then comes the work of the Almighty God. While man sometimes has difficulty providing that which is need, the Lord Most High doesn't break a sweat. The disciples couldn't give them something to eat; Jesus could.

Now He could have chosen to command stones to become bread. It is within His power and it was also a temptation Satan threw at Him in Matthew 4. On the other hand, His hands may have scooped up some dust and made Outback Steakhouse steaks. Instead, He asked the disciples to perform a survey. "How many loaves do you have? Go look!"

After performing the survey, the results were dismal. All their polling and surveying turned up only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. What is so little among so many? As the old song says, "Little is much when God is in it."

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He gave thanks to the Father then proceeded to break and distribute the bread and fish to the crowd. The disciples served and served and served! That is, until all were satisfied or filled up. And just when you might think the story would reveal that there were only crumbs leftover and they had barely gotten by, we read that twelve baskets were filled with the collected leftovers. It is miraculous in and of itself that Jesus fed 5,000 with the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Yet to have just a large quantity of leftovers is like put an exclamation point on it.

The truth God reminded me of was this: I am not limited by the situation at hand or the resources on hand. He could have fed them all just as well had there been nothing or no resources available (available physically to the eye of man). However, He chose to use the small amount which was there. The amount, though, did not limit His ability to do the extraordinary with what seemed to be so ordinary and small.

Yesterday was a great day for me to be reading that for myself and to my family. Micah had been to the doctor for the first time since being discharged from the hospital. Last evening just before dinner, we received a phone call with the lab results. While several items looked good, the liver enzyme levels were elevated. These had been right where they needed to be for a few weeks and when Micah was discharged. The reason for this elevation at this time is still unknown. Monday we will return for an ultrasound and more blood tests.

The doctor has adjusted one of Micah's anti-rejection medications. The level showed to be low from the blood tests. This could be a possible explanation for the elevated levels since they like the level of the FK506 to be between 12 and 15 post-surgery and his was only 7.5. Dr. Berman does have concern that there could be a bile duct that is enlarged or some other issue physically taking place with the liver. Thus, the ultrasound will be done to observe what is happening with the liver itself.

We wait, we pray and we hope. We hope this medication adjustment corrects the levels. We pray things do not progress in a negative direction between now and Monday so as to warrant a return to the hospital (even though we have been told a few times that children in the first year typically have return visits to the hospital). But we KNOW the LORD is able to work and bring these levels back in line just as He faithfully brought Micah through surgery, gave him a greater quality of life and so forth. And Jesus Christ is not limited by the situation at hand or the resources. It wouldn't matter what the case, He is able.

While it may sound as though Micah is not "doing well," he continues to be active, happy and very much smiling. His color is good, he is gaining weight and before long we might have to switch to steaks the way he eats that formula. Micah's older brothers are doing well with him home. Though we continue to try to get into a "normal" routine, things can still be quite chaotic and wild. Nevertheless, we love all being under the same roof.

Please continue to pray for Micah. Again, we know the first year is most critical. We know these instances is to somewhat be expected. Yet we have experienced God's might and power thus far in incredible ways and we ask Him to continue to bring Micah through this in a way that astounds even the most seasoned doctor or nurse. And when He does, all the glory, honor, praise, dominion and power be to the Lamb who sits upon the throne!