Lean On Me

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

An invitation for the weary to rest.  An exchange of yokes.  A yoke that is effortless and offers relief.

I'm sitting here tonight longing to remove a yoke.  A yoke of pain and discomfort.  One that has become tiresome due to it's unrelenting weight and presence.  When something endures endlessly it wears us down.

My precious friend Diane has been a good soldier through her surgery and recovery.  She has tolerated ache and annoyance and has put up with the hardship and challenges induced by the limitations presented by the operation.  Tonight finds her hurting and not feeling well.  Although she tries to remain positive, I believe too that her heart is discouraged.

My dear friend has given continually over the past six months.  She has poured all her energy and strength into encouraging me and refusing to let me settle for anything short of victory.  When I would come to her in great need, she never refused me or turned me away.  She offered hope, love, prayer and faith.

Always quick with wit, she can turn tears into laughter, disappointment into joy and fear into confidence.  She has a gift of being able to minister cheer to a broken heart, bringing reassurance that everything is going to be alright.  When doubt wants to steal the expectancy that all will turn out well, Diane refuses to believe anything less than the promises found in God's Word.  She has let me lean on her, and I have leaned hard.

"Friends are the pillars on your porch.  Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough to know that they are standing by."

Today she needs us to stand by.  She needs an infusion of comfort and love.  My arms are too short to cross the miles and embrace my bestest friend.  Her "boo boo" is sore and swollen.  The pain is merciless and incessant.  I long to visit her, but the anticipated trip has been cancelled due to my lab results that indicate an immune system too at risk for travel.  Separated by distance, two little girls sit tonight and wish their Father would make a way for hands to reach.

Friends, will you pray for Diane.  Although this first surgery has been completed, like me, she sits in the middle of her miracle.  She visits her Doctor again in two days and further upcoming treatment will be discussed.  Will you pray that her Doctor will have wisdom for the operation that is yet to come and that the timing of her hospital stay will be the best for her recovery and healing.

Tonight we are leaning...leaning on the arms of One who carries us.
Love ya my friend, and holding your paw.
Standing in the gap for "Hope", Diane,
"Faith", Joy

Living in God's Vast Resources

"Perhaps God brings us to the end of our resources so we can discover the vastness of His." ~ Neil Anderson

Diane and I are discovering afresh the vastness of God's rich resources as we each are leaning on Him.

Thank you again to all of you who are continuing to pray for both of us.  As I shared on Friday, Diane's surgery went well, and she is recovering at home.  I was blessed beyond measure this morning when I received an email from her at 7:30am, saying she was up, heading for the shower and about to enjoy a delicious breakfast that had been so kindly delivered to her door.  Diane is not normally an early riser, so I was encouraged that she was awake and doing so well.  The ironic thing was, I was still in bed, snuggled under covers at the time.  It is usually the opposite scenario. Smile.

To give you a further update concerning Diane's surgery, when the doctor performed the operation he noticed that extensive reconstructive work still needs to be done.  She will need an osteotomy which is a surgical procedure whereby a bone is cut to shorten or change it's alignment.  Diane has already had this performed on her right wrist and is very aware of what is to come.  It is a painful process and the healing will take much time.  She will lean in on the Lord again.  There is more from His vast resources that He has planned for her to discover. I am reminded of Isaiah 59:1 that encourages, God's arm is not shortened that He cannot save.  We are praying for the Hand of God to touch Diane and bring complete healing.

My precious friend "Hope" returns to see her doctor on October 25th and further discussion will take place then as to the timing of this proposed operation.  She is desiring that it wait until after Christmas if possible, but we will have a better understanding of this in a couple of weeks.  We will share the details as we find out more and as it gets closer to Diane's hospitalization.

For now, we are trying to stay focused on the present healing....for both of us.  I return to see my family doctor on Thursday, and if my immune system has improved, there is a possibility I will have opportunity to travel to Virginia and spend a couple of weeks with Diane.  Please join us in praying that the Lord's will in this travel decision will be clear to us.  There are other medical concerns in my immediate family at the present and so we are looking to the Lord for direction and confirmation regarding this trip.  How we both long to see one another.  There's just nothing like a best friend hug.

God is showing Himself as Sustainer, Comforter, Provider and Healer.  Thank you again for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Diane as she still experiences discomfort and tries to handle the daily routine tasks which are difficult to carry out at the present moment. Pray that the Lord will renew her energy and be her strength.  If we can pray for you, please leave your prayer requests and we will lift your name up before God's throne of grace.  We believe in the power of "two or three" gathered in His Name.

Standing in the gap for "Hope", Diane,

"Faith", Joy

My Phone Rang!!!

I couldn't wait for my American Cell to ring!!!

Diane is out of surgery and doing well.  I spoke with her friend Debbie, and all is moving ahead according to plan.  Apparently she was out of surgery by 9am, but Debbie was whisked off so quickly to recovery to see her she had no time to call and phone reception was non-existent.

As it would appear, somehow before or during surgery, Diane's eye was scraped.  It is feeling irritated and is visibly swollen.  A Doctor is coming to check on it before she can be discharged from the hospital.

Debbie is still guessing that they will be home by noon, and now we continue to pray for Diane's healing.

As Diane recovers, I am praying Hebrews 12:12 and Isaiah 35:3, that the Lord would "strengthen feeble hands".

Please continue to lift my precious friend up to the Lord, and rejoice with me over all that God has done.

Standing in the gap for "Hope", Diane,
"Faith", Joy

Two Are Better Than One

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up…”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

The comfort of companions.  Sharing life with one another brings relief from times of loneliness and isolation.  A friend offers assistance and comfort in times of need.

Diane and I are both so thankful for the friendship, love and prayers you have extended to us, especially over the past five months.  We have been on a roller coaster of emotion, yet we have held unwaveringly to the Hand of the Lord and He has brought us through each ebb and flow. 

We were just remarking to one another recently how the Lord has alternated our needs, making it possible for us to support one another through each difficult trial.  Now as I begin to regain strength, Diane is facing surgery. 

On Friday, October 14^th, as an outpatient she will have surgery on her left hand to repair two torn ligaments, two torn tendons, correct carpal tunnel syndrome, eliminate a cluster of ganglion cysts and remove a section of nerve in her forearm.  This surgery is similar to operations performed previously on her right hand, so she is very familiar with the procedure, the pain and the recovery. 

Friends would you join me in praying for “Hope”.  She has stood faithfully beside me, daily connecting and encouraging my heart as I walked through my wilderness.  Now she is facing an unsettled frontier and needs the assurance of friends coming alongside her on this journey.

Together will you pray with me that the surgery be successful, with no complications and that the recovery will be swift and pain free.  With her right hand already fused and the left now going to be cast, daily tasks will become difficult.  Living alone, regular, routine activities will present a challenge.  Meal preparation.  Walking the dog.  Housekeeping.  Personal care. 

Diane is so thankful for those who have already offered their presence and help during the first crucial few days, and I am so grateful for the kindness extended to my best friend.  Distance is difficult at times.  I am hoping and praying that the Lord will strengthen my immune system enabling me to visit her at the end of the month.  Although she suggested I request prayer for the Lord to comfort me at this time, I surrender my needs for the sake of my friend. 

  

As her mind recalls previous surgeries and the memories they uncover, please join me in praying that the Lord will bring every thought captive under His control.  This is a new day.  God is saying, “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

We know that God is in control.  He will bring about His healing in His time.  There will be a way in the wilderness.  New flowers are going to bloom.  Flowers of trust and acceptance.  Flowers of peace and grace.  Flowers or Hope and Faith.

Yes, two are better than one and a cord of three strands is not easily broken.  The Lord binds our hearts together in love even when miles separate.

Standing in the gap for “Hope” Diane,

“Faith”, Joy