Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Kindness of the Lord

Our appointment was today in Columbia and there were a few things we were specifically asking God to help in. One of the things was concerning the weather. We are under an ice storm warning and this is what part of it says, "An Ice Storm Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible." So, we prayerfully proceeded leaving earlier than we normally would to allow for slow speeds and prepared with pleny of warm winter garb. The warning began at noon today and so far this winter season, they've seemed to be right on. The Lord in His kindness has held it back, allowing us to travel all the way there and back with no precipitation along the way! It's now 4:30 and the sprinkles have just started. :)

The second main prayer going into the appointment was that we would not be in limbo having to decide what to do; aspirate the cyst or leave it alone. We prayed that God would make it clear just as He had done for Abraham's servant in finding a bride for Isaac; that He would send His angel before us. They did the ultrasound, measuring the cyst and looking at the heart, then the doctor came in, briefly looked as well and without hesitation said, "I think we're just going to leave this alone and keep an eye on it." That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! The cyst hadn't grown, it wasn't affecting the baby's heart, and the lungs are developing fine. Instead of having to make trips to Columbia weekly, we can now go every other week. The doctor said that if the cyst stayed the same, which he seemed to expect it to do, then we would just deliver and let the pediatric surgeon take care of it after delivery. So, we'll plan to deliver down there.

We wanted to thank everyone for their prayers! I honestly haven't known how to pray concerning all of this and feel I'm more just resting in the Hands of my Savior and soveirgn Lord while my brothers and sisters bear the burden in prayer. How thankful we are for each of you!! If God puts us on your heart, please continue to pray! We'll know more as the pregnancy progresses and we speak with the pediatric surgeon as to any dangers this could impose on baby Allison once she's born, etc.

As we were approaching Columbia and I was getting anxious, this song came on the CD we were listening to. God, as He always has, came with His comforting Hand and settled and comforted my heart. This song seems to be the theme song of this whole trial. Whether God chooses to completely work a miracle in Allison's life by removing the cyst, to have her live a handicapped life, or to take her life early, this is our prayer:

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

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