Jennifer and Matt were both diagnosed with bronchitis today. Jen is understandably upset by another setback. Thinking about her circumstances this evening, this scripture immediately sprang to mind:
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.
2nd Corinthians 12:8-10
No commentary necessary. What a powerful, reassuring passage. Thank you for your prayers for a quick recovery and for Jen to be encouraged knowing God's grace is truly all she needs. It is all any of us TRULY NEED.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Good, Not Great
Just a quick update. Jen had a follow up appointment to test how well her lungs were responding to the new meds last Thursday, August 2nd. The doc said lung function seems to be improving and for Jennifer to continue her breathing exercise class and to stay away from crowds due to an increased risk of infection. Both would only help to further the seeming improvement. Still, there are some reservations over the news as Jen described it being, "Good, not great."
Regardless, we are thankful for this good news and remain hopeful that God is using these meds to heal her lungs. Trusting that He continues to move and work on Jennifer's behalf and with His glory being top most priority.
Father, continue to use this for your glory. Inundate Jennifer's spirit with peace, joy, comfort and strength. Things that can only truly come from You, and things we can never be robbed of as long as we abide in You. Thank you for your perfect care.
Regardless, we are thankful for this good news and remain hopeful that God is using these meds to heal her lungs. Trusting that He continues to move and work on Jennifer's behalf and with His glory being top most priority.
Father, continue to use this for your glory. Inundate Jennifer's spirit with peace, joy, comfort and strength. Things that can only truly come from You, and things we can never be robbed of as long as we abide in You. Thank you for your perfect care.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Nothing can separate us from the love of God...
In an attempt to update this evening, seems as though not much has changed with Jenny. A report today from our aunt who is with her this week read:
"Working her little heart out! Breathing and exercising to get better! GVH on skin is better....Praise God for his grace and mercy!"
We are so thankful her skin GVHD seems to be clearing; this probably means she's a little more comfortable. Breathing seems to be the same. Jenny is going to exercise classes nearly every day to improve and strengthen lung function. The docs will wait another week (next Thursday, August 2nd) to run tests on lung function in order to give the meds enough time to take effect.
Please join us in praying that the Lord will use these meds to strengthen her lungs and improve her condition. Please continue to pray that God will give her comfort and peace and use this time and this struggle to draw her and those around her closer to Himself.
Some great verses for Jenny and us sent from our uncle Keith last night:
(Side note: I chose the title for this post from one of the truths listed below...Nothing - no disease, no affliction, no scheme of man, no height, no depth, nothing in all of space or time - NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. Whew. Now that's a truth worth hanging your hat on.)
“MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6)
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
I am God's child
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
I am Jesus’ friend
1 Cor. 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
I am united with the Lord and one spirit with Him
1 Cor. 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
I have been bought with a price; I belong to God
Eph. 1:4-5 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child
Col. 1:13-14 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I have been redeemed and forgiven for all my sins
Col. 2:9-10 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and he is the head over all rule and authority.
I am complete in Christ
Rom. 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
I am free forever from condemnation
Rom. 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I cannot be separated from the love of God
2 Cor. 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God
Col. 3:3-4 For you have died and your life in hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
I am hidden with Christ in God and will be revealed with Him in glory
Phil. 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
I know that the good work God has begun in me will be completed
Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am a citizen of heaven
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
I have been appointed and chosen to bear fruit that will last
1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
I am a temple of God indwelt by His Spirit
Eph. 2:6 …and raised us up with Him, and seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
I am made by God and equipped by Him for His great purpose
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I can do all He asks because He supplies the power to do it
"Working her little heart out! Breathing and exercising to get better! GVH on skin is better....Praise God for his grace and mercy!"
We are so thankful her skin GVHD seems to be clearing; this probably means she's a little more comfortable. Breathing seems to be the same. Jenny is going to exercise classes nearly every day to improve and strengthen lung function. The docs will wait another week (next Thursday, August 2nd) to run tests on lung function in order to give the meds enough time to take effect.
Please join us in praying that the Lord will use these meds to strengthen her lungs and improve her condition. Please continue to pray that God will give her comfort and peace and use this time and this struggle to draw her and those around her closer to Himself.
Some great verses for Jenny and us sent from our uncle Keith last night:
(Side note: I chose the title for this post from one of the truths listed below...Nothing - no disease, no affliction, no scheme of man, no height, no depth, nothing in all of space or time - NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. Whew. Now that's a truth worth hanging your hat on.)
“MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6)
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
I am God's child
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
I am Jesus’ friend
1 Cor. 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
I am united with the Lord and one spirit with Him
1 Cor. 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
I have been bought with a price; I belong to God
Eph. 1:4-5 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child
Col. 1:13-14 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I have been redeemed and forgiven for all my sins
Col. 2:9-10 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and he is the head over all rule and authority.
I am complete in Christ
Rom. 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
I am free forever from condemnation
Rom. 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I cannot be separated from the love of God
2 Cor. 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God
Col. 3:3-4 For you have died and your life in hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
I am hidden with Christ in God and will be revealed with Him in glory
Phil. 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
I know that the good work God has begun in me will be completed
Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am a citizen of heaven
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
I have been appointed and chosen to bear fruit that will last
1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
I am a temple of God indwelt by His Spirit
Eph. 2:6 …and raised us up with Him, and seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
I am made by God and equipped by Him for His great purpose
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I can do all He asks because He supplies the power to do it
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Battle Wages On
As the post title would lead you to believe, Jen is still very much in a battle against the diseases that are waging war on her body. She contracted graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) post-transplant, which surprised no one and is to be expected in many cases. GVHD manifests itself through a wide range of difficulties- with skin rashes at one end of the spectrum and organ failure at the other, more severe, end. Jennifer experienced a skin rash and issues with her gut (both GVHD-related) through the spring and both were thought to be under control after a regimen of treatments. Unfortunately, both have come back, more so the rash than the GI tract issues, and are making Jen quite uncomfortable.
A couple of weeks ago, Jennifer went in to have her lungs tested. At her 100-day post-transplant appointment, her lung function was registering poorly and the doc wanted to test it again. This go-round lung function was down to 25% capacity. After what seemed to be a clear CT scan, the docs concurred that GVHD has entered into the tiny air passageways that feed into her bronchial sacs. (The presumption is because the GVHD is in such a small area, a CT scan could not pick it up and therefore presented clear.) In the lungs, GVHD takes on a new name: BOS (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) and can be terminal. The docs decided to begin Jennifer on a new regimen of meds- a clinical trial called FAM. These are anti-inflammatory steroids that should help her air passageways stay open so that she can exhale properly. You see, inhaling is not the problem. She can take a good, deep breath just the same as you and me. It's the exhaling that proves to be tricky. By pursing her lips together, she can force air out but anyone that has ever had trouble with their breathing (for any reason) can attest to it being a scary, uncomfortable thing. In some cases, FAM has proven to reverse damage done by BOS and in a few it has treated the BOS completely.
Now it is a matter of time waiting to see the effect the meds will have on Jen's condition. It can be a frightening, anxiety-laden day-to-day but once again we turn our eyes to Jesus and ask for the comfort, peace, and healing that only he can give. And, O Lord, in your mercy and graciousness we beg you to use this for your glory. Glorify yourself in the life and struggle of Jennifer. Bring her, as well as those impacted by her journey, closer to yourself. Oh, that you would be honored, that you would be glorified, that your name, the name greater than all others, would be praised, lifted high and adored. That you would be seen as a loving, caring, just and sovereign God deserving of all our worship, adoration and praise. This is our prayer. Whether you choose to heal Jennifer on earth or in eternity, let our hearts rest knowing that you hold it all in your hands, and it is all GOOD. We love you, and we thank you for your matchless love towards us.
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace
A couple of weeks ago, Jennifer went in to have her lungs tested. At her 100-day post-transplant appointment, her lung function was registering poorly and the doc wanted to test it again. This go-round lung function was down to 25% capacity. After what seemed to be a clear CT scan, the docs concurred that GVHD has entered into the tiny air passageways that feed into her bronchial sacs. (The presumption is because the GVHD is in such a small area, a CT scan could not pick it up and therefore presented clear.) In the lungs, GVHD takes on a new name: BOS (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome) and can be terminal. The docs decided to begin Jennifer on a new regimen of meds- a clinical trial called FAM. These are anti-inflammatory steroids that should help her air passageways stay open so that she can exhale properly. You see, inhaling is not the problem. She can take a good, deep breath just the same as you and me. It's the exhaling that proves to be tricky. By pursing her lips together, she can force air out but anyone that has ever had trouble with their breathing (for any reason) can attest to it being a scary, uncomfortable thing. In some cases, FAM has proven to reverse damage done by BOS and in a few it has treated the BOS completely.
Now it is a matter of time waiting to see the effect the meds will have on Jen's condition. It can be a frightening, anxiety-laden day-to-day but once again we turn our eyes to Jesus and ask for the comfort, peace, and healing that only he can give. And, O Lord, in your mercy and graciousness we beg you to use this for your glory. Glorify yourself in the life and struggle of Jennifer. Bring her, as well as those impacted by her journey, closer to yourself. Oh, that you would be honored, that you would be glorified, that your name, the name greater than all others, would be praised, lifted high and adored. That you would be seen as a loving, caring, just and sovereign God deserving of all our worship, adoration and praise. This is our prayer. Whether you choose to heal Jennifer on earth or in eternity, let our hearts rest knowing that you hold it all in your hands, and it is all GOOD. We love you, and we thank you for your matchless love towards us.
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace
Friday, June 29, 2012
Samples of Summer
This past week Jen and Matt had the opportunity to take a nice little getaway to Chattanooga. They stayed in a quaint B & B, went to Rock City, visited Covenant College, and explored an aquarium (*see pics below!).
The summer has been trucking along rather smoothly for the Samples. Matt finished his residency last Friday, June 22nd and began his fellowship today, June 29th. Jen is doing well, with not too many changes recently. It seems as though the GVHD that was appearing on her skin and in her gut is clearing. She is hoping her docs will begin to wean her off of her meds and her photophoresis treatments, preferably the meds first as they have some unpleasant side effects. She is anticipating them making some decisions next Thursday. Jen is asking for prayer for Matt as he begins his fellowship in cardiology at Vanderbilt and also for her lungs. Her lung function took a dip in the past couple months, and she is prayerful that the docs will find her lungs up and running at their baseline (pre-transplant) level, especially because this will prevent her from having to take more meds.
Matt and Jen have enjoyed spending some time at Cheekwood in Nashville throughout the summer. Cheekwood is a really neat venue that hosts concerts and other musical events along with botanical gardens and other exhibits of interest. One exhibit they visited more recently were treehouses that had been built based off of children's books such as a pirate ship and a rainbow fish (that one was made out of cds, really cool!). In honor of Matt's birthday this Sunday, they are going to see Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up comedy act tonight.
As you can see, Jen is having a great summer and staying pretty busy! Though she's careful to schedule naps through the day as she is still lacking some energy, something that can easily be zapped in this hot, southern Summer sun!
As always, thank you for your prayers and your concern. Let us all be in prayer that we will not take our health or our days so graciously given to us for granted. We serve such a loving God. He is so good to us, and his goodness knows no bounds. Thank you, Father, for your care, your protection, your love, and your goodness to us. And, (grimace), thank you for the sunshine, Lord. Though it is hot, keep us mindful of our complaining. We are an abundantly blessed people. Let us not forget that.
 |
| In front of the penguin exhibit. |
 |
| Penguins! ...or not? |
 |
| Jellyfish! I dare you to jump! |
The summer has been trucking along rather smoothly for the Samples. Matt finished his residency last Friday, June 22nd and began his fellowship today, June 29th. Jen is doing well, with not too many changes recently. It seems as though the GVHD that was appearing on her skin and in her gut is clearing. She is hoping her docs will begin to wean her off of her meds and her photophoresis treatments, preferably the meds first as they have some unpleasant side effects. She is anticipating them making some decisions next Thursday. Jen is asking for prayer for Matt as he begins his fellowship in cardiology at Vanderbilt and also for her lungs. Her lung function took a dip in the past couple months, and she is prayerful that the docs will find her lungs up and running at their baseline (pre-transplant) level, especially because this will prevent her from having to take more meds.
Matt and Jen have enjoyed spending some time at Cheekwood in Nashville throughout the summer. Cheekwood is a really neat venue that hosts concerts and other musical events along with botanical gardens and other exhibits of interest. One exhibit they visited more recently were treehouses that had been built based off of children's books such as a pirate ship and a rainbow fish (that one was made out of cds, really cool!). In honor of Matt's birthday this Sunday, they are going to see Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up comedy act tonight.
As you can see, Jen is having a great summer and staying pretty busy! Though she's careful to schedule naps through the day as she is still lacking some energy, something that can easily be zapped in this hot, southern Summer sun!
As always, thank you for your prayers and your concern. Let us all be in prayer that we will not take our health or our days so graciously given to us for granted. We serve such a loving God. He is so good to us, and his goodness knows no bounds. Thank you, Father, for your care, your protection, your love, and your goodness to us. And, (grimace), thank you for the sunshine, Lord. Though it is hot, keep us mindful of our complaining. We are an abundantly blessed people. Let us not forget that.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Great Physician at Work
The latest bone marrow biopsy results are in and reveal 99% of Jennifer's marrow as being donor marrow. The 1% that is showing up as her's could very well be from some of the bone getting into the sample when they drew, and the doctor sees no reason to be concerned about that 1%. Furthermore, there were no cancerous cells detected, and the doc has recently 'green-lighted' her to drive. After eight months of being dependent on someone else for transportation, this all-too-often-taken-for-granted freedom is a sweet release for Jen.
Please join us in praising God for these results. Again, they are direct evidence that the Great Physician is very much a part of Jen's treatment and healing. He has not left her side for one moment, and it is thrilling to see Him so actively at work through this positive news. We remember, though, had we gotten unfavorable news, He is still the Great Physician, still our loving Father, still our merciful Savior, and still our sovereign Lord. We do rejoice that He found it in her best interest and most glorifying to Himself to allow Jen to have what seems to be a successful transplant. We pray He will continue to heal her body and restore her health; that He will protect her major organs from graft vs. host disease; that He will continue to uphold her with His strong right hand. Thanks be to God for all of His goodness and mercy to us.
Please join us in praising God for these results. Again, they are direct evidence that the Great Physician is very much a part of Jen's treatment and healing. He has not left her side for one moment, and it is thrilling to see Him so actively at work through this positive news. We remember, though, had we gotten unfavorable news, He is still the Great Physician, still our loving Father, still our merciful Savior, and still our sovereign Lord. We do rejoice that He found it in her best interest and most glorifying to Himself to allow Jen to have what seems to be a successful transplant. We pray He will continue to heal her body and restore her health; that He will protect her major organs from graft vs. host disease; that He will continue to uphold her with His strong right hand. Thanks be to God for all of His goodness and mercy to us.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Oh for grace to trust Him more...
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more...
~Louisa M. R. Stead
Jennifer's testing last Thursday revealed there was no GVHD in her eyes. Bloodwork indicated a low platelet count and low white blood cell count but more tests yesterday showed her counts had recovered. The tests performed on her lungs revealed her lung function is not up to par with her baseline ('baseline' being all her major organs' functions pre-transplant). The doc didn't seem too concerned with this but has prescribed two meds and an inhaler to help with lung function. We are still awaiting the bone marrow biopsy results.
Prayerful Ponderings:
Father, thank You for protecting Jennifer's eyes. Thank You for her count levels recovering. I pray for her lungs. I pray You will restore them and strengthen them. I pray for her other major organs, that You will protect them from GVHD. Place Your healing hands upon her body and restore her health. Father, whether You choose to heal her completely, partially, or not at all, help us remember that Your glory is of utmost importance. Our temporary discomforts, and even momentary happiness, on this earth are nothing but vapor. We are made for eternity. Father, thank You for providing a Way for us to spend eternity with You. We await the day when we join all the others who have gone before us in worshipping You forever, worshipping You perfectly- the way You deserve. Thank You for Your patience with us when we become so consumed with this world. Help us remember we are just passing through; not only is it momentary but it is to be lived with You at the center, not ourselves. There is coming a day when all of this will pass away, we will be called to give an account for the way we lived our lives, and we will be judged. Thank You that when we, as Christians, stand in judgement, we will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ - a gift You graciously made available to all who would accept it. Thank You for Your goodness to us. Thank You that even in moments of turmoil, strife, sadness and heartache, our hope is not lost. We have the hope of heaven; we have the redemptive work of Your Son to cling to; we have the blessing of looking forward to an eternity spent with You.
The Vandy Verse:
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more...
~Louisa M. R. Stead
Jennifer's testing last Thursday revealed there was no GVHD in her eyes. Bloodwork indicated a low platelet count and low white blood cell count but more tests yesterday showed her counts had recovered. The tests performed on her lungs revealed her lung function is not up to par with her baseline ('baseline' being all her major organs' functions pre-transplant). The doc didn't seem too concerned with this but has prescribed two meds and an inhaler to help with lung function. We are still awaiting the bone marrow biopsy results.
Prayerful Ponderings:
Father, thank You for protecting Jennifer's eyes. Thank You for her count levels recovering. I pray for her lungs. I pray You will restore them and strengthen them. I pray for her other major organs, that You will protect them from GVHD. Place Your healing hands upon her body and restore her health. Father, whether You choose to heal her completely, partially, or not at all, help us remember that Your glory is of utmost importance. Our temporary discomforts, and even momentary happiness, on this earth are nothing but vapor. We are made for eternity. Father, thank You for providing a Way for us to spend eternity with You. We await the day when we join all the others who have gone before us in worshipping You forever, worshipping You perfectly- the way You deserve. Thank You for Your patience with us when we become so consumed with this world. Help us remember we are just passing through; not only is it momentary but it is to be lived with You at the center, not ourselves. There is coming a day when all of this will pass away, we will be called to give an account for the way we lived our lives, and we will be judged. Thank You that when we, as Christians, stand in judgement, we will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ - a gift You graciously made available to all who would accept it. Thank You for Your goodness to us. Thank You that even in moments of turmoil, strife, sadness and heartache, our hope is not lost. We have the hope of heaven; we have the redemptive work of Your Son to cling to; we have the blessing of looking forward to an eternity spent with You.
The Vandy Verse:
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5
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