Heading for the Mountains

Today I'm feeling better. After work we plan to head up to the mountains for a weekend of camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love that place. I jokingly tell people that it's mine, but they're welcome to use it if they'll take good care of it. There's no electricity, so I probably won't be able to post blogs for the next two days, unless we happen to find a place with wireless access.

There's a dear family in Michigan whose teenaged son, days before his high school graduation, got a severe headache which quickly progressed to a coma that has lasted for three weeks. There are now some small signs of hope, and having evaluated all options for care, they have decided to take him home in the next week or so. They believe they can provide the stimulation and rehabilitation he needs. The challenges they will face seem overwhelming. I wonder if you'd be willing to lift up a prayer for Micah and his family. God is fully reliable!

This need reminds me of the remarkable story of Elisha that I read recently in 2 Kings 4. First, he promised an infertile woman that she would have a son, and by the grace of God she did. A few years later the boy got a terrible headache; his mother left him on the bed (dead) in the guest room (Elisha's) and hurried to get Elisha. When the prophet got there, he prayed, then lay atop the child mouth-to-mouth, eyes-to-eyes, hands-to-hands. And God sent life back into that boy's body. Amazing! May he do the same for Micah (who is certainly not dead).

A few days earlier, I read in 1 Kings 15 about a huge stone-moving project. An enemy king had invaded Judah and fortified a border town in order to control the border. When help came, the enemy king abandoned the fortified town. That's when it gets fascinating. The king of Judah ordered every adult in his kingdom to help carry away the building stones and timbers the enemy had used in fortifying their hostile position. Not only did they deprive the enemy of materials he could have used in the future, they then used those materials to fortify a couple of their own cities. I think there are things in our lives (habits, objects, obsessions, maybe even relationships) that have in the past been used against us for our hurt. We shouldn't leave them around, available for future spiritual attack. Instead, we should find ways to turn them into fortifications for our souls.

I appreciate your prayers so much. I'm still experiencing mild nausea. More seriously, this new chemo carries a threat of damage to healthy blood cells. (The nurse was quite concerned about our travel plans. We'll test the blood every week, and will adjust our plans if necessary.) God is fully reliable.

Blessings,
Carol