9:34 am
Last night we got a text from Ken saying that Tim was happy that day. He is smiling lots, but is not sleeping.
Sorry, but that's all I have for you for now, hopefully Ken and Shauna will get to updating about the test results tomorrow.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Under God's Mighty Hand
This is an article that I recently read in Clarion ( a Canadian Reformed Magazine) I found that it gave me a lot of encouragement during this time, I hope that it will to others who read it too. It will take you a few minutes to read, but it will be worth your time!
" Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. "
1 Peter 5:6
"Our passage includes the important word "therefore." That means this verse is a conclusion to what the Apostle has just written about the suffering of his readers. These Christians in Asia Minor were suffering for doing right, for confessing the gospel, and living according to it. And that was getting them down. That happens more often with believers, doesn't it? We want to do the right thing and we still end up facing adversity. Then it's easy to throw up our hands in frustration: "Forget it! What's the use"
But Peter steers us away from that kind of reaction by pointing to the mighty hand of God. References to God's hand in the Bible describe God's almighty power to do what He wills. Think of Israel's exodus from Egypt, how God led Israel out of Egypt "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm"
Peter wants to remind his suffering readers that their suffering isn't outside of God's government and control. Whatever we may endure, whatever we might have to deal with, we shouldn't forget that all adversity -accident, disease, disappointment, persecution - all of it comes to us from God's mighty hand. To be sure, there are often mistakes on the part of humans that cause disappointment and suffering. everyone is still responsible for what he or she does. But God's hand is still in it. He deems it necessary for us to go through those difficulties.
And for his people, God's hand is always a caring hand, even when it chastises us. It's the hand of a faithful and loving Father in Jesus Christ. That's why it says in the verse right after out text, "...because He cares for you." Is there anyone who cares for us as much as God the Father, He who gave his one and only Son for us?
So we need to learn to feel God's fatherly hand in everything we undergo. For only if we feel God's hand will we be able to deal with life's ups and downs in the right way, without becoming bitter or anxious.
I'm afraid that sometimes we don't acknowledge God's hand in our adversities. But think of Job's response to his wife after she told him to give up on God. He said "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (2:10) Job felt God's hand, also in his terrible suffering. He received it from God's hand, just as he had received prosperity from that same hand. Knowing that, he was able to accept what happened to him without losing his faith and his desire to do right.
That's how we too need to deal with difficulties in out daily lives. We need to feel God's hand with us not only when things go well, but also when there are trials. If there are health problems, if there's an accident, if there are financial difficulties, if there are concerns with work, if there are troubles in the family, if someone makes fun of us because of our faith - we need to see the hand of God behind these things too. Then we'll be able to deal with our difficulties and sorrows in the right way, even growing spiritually through them.
That's what Peter means when he speaks of 'humbling' ourselves under God's hand. Humbling oneself under God's hand means accepting what that hand does to us. We must struggle against sin of course, but also accept what God allows in out life, even the things He brings upon us as a consequence of our sins and shortcomings. Like Job, we ought to take the trouble as well as the good.
For you'll be blessed if you do! As Peter adds, "That He may lift you up in due time." "Lift up" here doesn't necessarily mean being lifted right out of your difficulty. It means being lifted up out of your despair in adversity. It's a spiritual lifting up!
If you accept what God's hand sends you, you'll discover that God gives you peace, even if He doesn't change your circumstances. He'll renew your joy and put a song in your mouth. He'll give you a strengthened trust and love for Him. He who loved you so much in Jesus Christ. If we're willing to take hold of his hand as it presses down, He promises that He'll also lift us up.
Peter says this will take place "in due time." For it takes time and prayer to work through adversity and to receive it as from God. But when we do that, we discover more and more the warmth of the Father's hand. Just as David wrote in Psalm 63:8, even while he was fleeing Saul, "My soul clings to you;your right hand upholds me." "
Under God's Mighty Hand
written by: Rev. Moesker from Vernon, BC
" Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. "
1 Peter 5:6
"Our passage includes the important word "therefore." That means this verse is a conclusion to what the Apostle has just written about the suffering of his readers. These Christians in Asia Minor were suffering for doing right, for confessing the gospel, and living according to it. And that was getting them down. That happens more often with believers, doesn't it? We want to do the right thing and we still end up facing adversity. Then it's easy to throw up our hands in frustration: "Forget it! What's the use"
But Peter steers us away from that kind of reaction by pointing to the mighty hand of God. References to God's hand in the Bible describe God's almighty power to do what He wills. Think of Israel's exodus from Egypt, how God led Israel out of Egypt "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm"
Peter wants to remind his suffering readers that their suffering isn't outside of God's government and control. Whatever we may endure, whatever we might have to deal with, we shouldn't forget that all adversity -accident, disease, disappointment, persecution - all of it comes to us from God's mighty hand. To be sure, there are often mistakes on the part of humans that cause disappointment and suffering. everyone is still responsible for what he or she does. But God's hand is still in it. He deems it necessary for us to go through those difficulties.
And for his people, God's hand is always a caring hand, even when it chastises us. It's the hand of a faithful and loving Father in Jesus Christ. That's why it says in the verse right after out text, "...because He cares for you." Is there anyone who cares for us as much as God the Father, He who gave his one and only Son for us?
So we need to learn to feel God's fatherly hand in everything we undergo. For only if we feel God's hand will we be able to deal with life's ups and downs in the right way, without becoming bitter or anxious.
I'm afraid that sometimes we don't acknowledge God's hand in our adversities. But think of Job's response to his wife after she told him to give up on God. He said "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (2:10) Job felt God's hand, also in his terrible suffering. He received it from God's hand, just as he had received prosperity from that same hand. Knowing that, he was able to accept what happened to him without losing his faith and his desire to do right.
That's how we too need to deal with difficulties in out daily lives. We need to feel God's hand with us not only when things go well, but also when there are trials. If there are health problems, if there's an accident, if there are financial difficulties, if there are concerns with work, if there are troubles in the family, if someone makes fun of us because of our faith - we need to see the hand of God behind these things too. Then we'll be able to deal with our difficulties and sorrows in the right way, even growing spiritually through them.
That's what Peter means when he speaks of 'humbling' ourselves under God's hand. Humbling oneself under God's hand means accepting what that hand does to us. We must struggle against sin of course, but also accept what God allows in out life, even the things He brings upon us as a consequence of our sins and shortcomings. Like Job, we ought to take the trouble as well as the good.
For you'll be blessed if you do! As Peter adds, "That He may lift you up in due time." "Lift up" here doesn't necessarily mean being lifted right out of your difficulty. It means being lifted up out of your despair in adversity. It's a spiritual lifting up!
If you accept what God's hand sends you, you'll discover that God gives you peace, even if He doesn't change your circumstances. He'll renew your joy and put a song in your mouth. He'll give you a strengthened trust and love for Him. He who loved you so much in Jesus Christ. If we're willing to take hold of his hand as it presses down, He promises that He'll also lift us up.
Peter says this will take place "in due time." For it takes time and prayer to work through adversity and to receive it as from God. But when we do that, we discover more and more the warmth of the Father's hand. Just as David wrote in Psalm 63:8, even while he was fleeing Saul, "My soul clings to you;your right hand upholds me." "
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
7:30 pm
I spoke to Shauna on the phone this afternoon. She said that Tim had a really good day today. He was even sitting up playing again today. He also had his first session of physio today and she said that it went really well and that he moved his legs after which is really good. He also had a bone scan today which he was really good for. They had to hold him still for it and she said that he was flirting with the nurses....it's nice to hear that he is smiling again, as I hadn't seen much of those from him lately. If she gets a chance, Shauna is going to post of video of Tim doing his physio. She also confirmed that they should have all the test results in on Friday, and will know more then.
4:15pm
Not too much to update today. They have started to get some of the preliminary test results back, and they all should be in by the end of the week. I'll have to let you know then what the results are once they are sure.
Tim was happy and playing yesterday morning, but seemed a bit more depressed that night. They think he's teething right now too which only adds to it all.
If I hear anything, I will update again tomorrow. I've asked Ken and Shauna to update over the weekend as I will be away, but we'll have to see if they have time to get to it. Otherwise I will update when I get back on Monday.
Please keep praying for a miracle with the test results, that it will not be cancer, and for support for Ken and Shauna if the results do come back positive, as that will leave them a very long road ahead.
I spoke to Shauna on the phone this afternoon. She said that Tim had a really good day today. He was even sitting up playing again today. He also had his first session of physio today and she said that it went really well and that he moved his legs after which is really good. He also had a bone scan today which he was really good for. They had to hold him still for it and she said that he was flirting with the nurses....it's nice to hear that he is smiling again, as I hadn't seen much of those from him lately. If she gets a chance, Shauna is going to post of video of Tim doing his physio. She also confirmed that they should have all the test results in on Friday, and will know more then.
4:15pm
Not too much to update today. They have started to get some of the preliminary test results back, and they all should be in by the end of the week. I'll have to let you know then what the results are once they are sure.
Tim was happy and playing yesterday morning, but seemed a bit more depressed that night. They think he's teething right now too which only adds to it all.
If I hear anything, I will update again tomorrow. I've asked Ken and Shauna to update over the weekend as I will be away, but we'll have to see if they have time to get to it. Otherwise I will update when I get back on Monday.
Please keep praying for a miracle with the test results, that it will not be cancer, and for support for Ken and Shauna if the results do come back positive, as that will leave them a very long road ahead.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Eric had his breakfast meeting with Ken this morning and talked about a lot of things. I will try to remember them all and hopefully I get the details right. Forgive me if I don't
Tim is drinking again, and they hope to start solid foods again today. He has moved to the pediatric oncology ward, which is the cancer ward at MAC. He is on pain meds right now that are very strong, stronger than morphine. Ken said that Tim was happy yesterday.
As for the tests... It's rare to find a tumor is such a young child, so the tests were sent out all over the world, so they haven't heard back yet as to if it is cancer or not. So right now they don't know a whole lot about what the future holds for Tim.
The tumor was at the bottom of the spinal cord where it spreads out at the bottom, they figure that they got about 70% of it, and they are running more tests to see if it is anywhere else in the body.
Ken and Shauna now have a room at the Ronald MacDonald house, so that they can be close to Tim. Kate is still with Grandma Vera today.
If anyone has any questions, just leave a comment, and I will forward them on the Ken and Shauna, and see if I can get answers for you. Also feel free to leave comments of encouragement that I can pass on to them.
I hope that I was clear
Please keep the following things in your prayers:
- That Tim's test results come back quickly, and Lord willing cancer free.
- That Ken and Shauna's family adjusts well to the Ronald house, and for Kate being out of her normal schedule, and feeling a little lost and confused.
- That Tim will continue to recover well from the surgery and will not feel too much pain. and that maybe he can come home soon.
- That there is no other tumors throughout Tim's body.
- that Ken and Shauna will have the strength and courage to continue on this journey with Tim, as well as be there for Kate, and continue with their other normal work as well.
Thanks for the prayers everyone, and please keep it up!
Tim is drinking again, and they hope to start solid foods again today. He has moved to the pediatric oncology ward, which is the cancer ward at MAC. He is on pain meds right now that are very strong, stronger than morphine. Ken said that Tim was happy yesterday.
As for the tests... It's rare to find a tumor is such a young child, so the tests were sent out all over the world, so they haven't heard back yet as to if it is cancer or not. So right now they don't know a whole lot about what the future holds for Tim.
The tumor was at the bottom of the spinal cord where it spreads out at the bottom, they figure that they got about 70% of it, and they are running more tests to see if it is anywhere else in the body.
Ken and Shauna now have a room at the Ronald MacDonald house, so that they can be close to Tim. Kate is still with Grandma Vera today.
If anyone has any questions, just leave a comment, and I will forward them on the Ken and Shauna, and see if I can get answers for you. Also feel free to leave comments of encouragement that I can pass on to them.
I hope that I was clear
Please keep the following things in your prayers:
- That Tim's test results come back quickly, and Lord willing cancer free.
- That Ken and Shauna's family adjusts well to the Ronald house, and for Kate being out of her normal schedule, and feeling a little lost and confused.
- That Tim will continue to recover well from the surgery and will not feel too much pain. and that maybe he can come home soon.
- That there is no other tumors throughout Tim's body.
- that Ken and Shauna will have the strength and courage to continue on this journey with Tim, as well as be there for Kate, and continue with their other normal work as well.
Thanks for the prayers everyone, and please keep it up!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Prayers for baby Timothy
Saturday afternoon: 4:50pm.
Hey Everyone, I had news earlier this morning, but we have been at a church picnic all day.
Here is Ken's text from this morning, around 10:30
" Timothy is doing well. He is able to fell pain in his feet and has moved his legs!! This a big answer to prayer. Please keep him in your prayers as he is having his breathing ube removed and for no complications as that he will be able to manage the pain as they wake him heavily sedated."
Shauna also sent out an email today that reads as follows:
"Hi everyone,
Friday afternoon: 3:00pm
Eric just called me. Ken's dad stopped by his work after being at the hospital. Tim is doing as well as can be considering the circumstances. He is able to move his legs again which is a good sign. The surgery was 8 hours long, and it was done through his back. They had to take part of his spine away to do the surgery. Apparently they used a microscope and took the tumor apart cell by cell, but because they went through the back, they were still unable to get it all. The part of the spine that they took out will not go back in. So they are not sure of the permanent damage caused by that yet. Later on he may have to get that part of his spine fused. ( Shauna being a bone doctor must have just cringed at this) He is in the ICU at Mac and from what I understood, though I may be wrong, he will be in there a week. They are waiting for an MRI now to see how much of the tumor they got, and they are waiting for the cultures to come back to see if it was cancer or not. So they still don't know if there will be chemo. Ken and Shauna are staying in a hotel near Mac as the Ronald MacDonald house was full.
That's all that I have for now! Please keep praying hard to Tim's recovery and that the culture will come back with good results. Or, if it's the Lord's will that it is cancer, please pray for strength for Tim to get through the treatments, for Ken and Shauna to support him through that, and for Kate, who is probably feeling a little lost and confused through all of this.
Friday morning.
So yesterday at 3:15pm we heard that Tim was in Surgery. At 9:30 we were getting anxious about not hearing anything, so Eric texted Ken to see what was going on. Ken said that Tim was still in surgery, and that 2 hours earlier they had heard so far so good.
At 12:30 last night (I guess this morning) we got another text that Tim was out of surgery and that it went well. Most of the tumor was removed. It was not through the spinal card sheath which is a blessing. They will know in the next few days if there is any permanent damage, and in the next week or so they will know if chemo or radiation is required.
So please keep praying for Tim and for his recovery, and that hopefully it is all gone, and that no chemo or radiation will be required! Please also pray for his parents and family that they continue to have strength and courage to get through the next few days and weeks and months.
Update: Thursday afternoon.
Tim is in surgery at Mac right now. The tumor is around his spinal cord. The surgery is supposed to be very lengthy and very risky PLEASE PRAY HARD.
Update: Thursday morning.
A bed ended up being available at Mac, so they went there instead. Tim had his MRI this morning. I haven't heard anything else yet
Update: Wednesday evening.
Some time this afternoon they went to Mac. We just got a text from Ken that says that Tim has an adrenaline secreting tumor that is most likely malignant. They are told that he has an excellent prognosis. They are headed to sick kids in Toronto. There wasn't much other details so that's all I can say for now. We are assuming that they are going to Toronto for surgery.
I just got another text... Because the tumor is secreting adrenaline, he is not eating or sleeping. They are not sure it if is attached to his spine, but Ken suspects that it it as he is no longer moving his toes when you tickle his feet. He says that they are going to sick kids in Toronto after waiting a whole day for a bed at Mac. He needs an MRI and a full workup to see how best to treat it. About 2 weeks ago they brought him to the ER at MAC and that's when they first saw this tumor when they brought him in then, and the staff say that he should have had an MRI when they first saw it...( I'm thinking they must still be in Cambridge they way that he worded that those at Mac are idiots) Apparently the mass grew from 2.3cm to 3cm in 12 days.
That's all I have for now...please keep them all in your prayers!
Update: Wednesday morning: Last night I spoke to Shauna, Tim was in the middle of getting chest x-rays, and he is now on Morphine for the pain. They were trying to get his transferred to Mac ( they were in Cambridge) for an MRI. Please keep up your prayers!
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to put out a prayer request for a baby of good friends of our, little Timothy. He's the little guy I babysit twice a week with his sister.
Anyways, the last 3 weeks he has not been himself and has been doing a lot of crying....ok, screaming, and seems to be in pain. So he has now been admitted, and they are running all sorts of tests to see what is wrong, and he is also on IV.
So please pray for Tim, that he's not in too much pain. Please pray for Ken and Shauna, that they may have the strength and courage to get through this, and also please pray for the doctors that they may figure out what is wrong!
Hey Everyone, I had news earlier this morning, but we have been at a church picnic all day.
Here is Ken's text from this morning, around 10:30
" Timothy is doing well. He is able to fell pain in his feet and has moved his legs!! This a big answer to prayer. Please keep him in your prayers as he is having his breathing ube removed and for no complications as that he will be able to manage the pain as they wake him heavily sedated."
Shauna also sent out an email today that reads as follows:
"Hi everyone,
Friday afternoon: 3:00pm
Eric just called me. Ken's dad stopped by his work after being at the hospital. Tim is doing as well as can be considering the circumstances. He is able to move his legs again which is a good sign. The surgery was 8 hours long, and it was done through his back. They had to take part of his spine away to do the surgery. Apparently they used a microscope and took the tumor apart cell by cell, but because they went through the back, they were still unable to get it all. The part of the spine that they took out will not go back in. So they are not sure of the permanent damage caused by that yet. Later on he may have to get that part of his spine fused. ( Shauna being a bone doctor must have just cringed at this) He is in the ICU at Mac and from what I understood, though I may be wrong, he will be in there a week. They are waiting for an MRI now to see how much of the tumor they got, and they are waiting for the cultures to come back to see if it was cancer or not. So they still don't know if there will be chemo. Ken and Shauna are staying in a hotel near Mac as the Ronald MacDonald house was full.
That's all that I have for now! Please keep praying hard to Tim's recovery and that the culture will come back with good results. Or, if it's the Lord's will that it is cancer, please pray for strength for Tim to get through the treatments, for Ken and Shauna to support him through that, and for Kate, who is probably feeling a little lost and confused through all of this.
Friday morning.
So yesterday at 3:15pm we heard that Tim was in Surgery. At 9:30 we were getting anxious about not hearing anything, so Eric texted Ken to see what was going on. Ken said that Tim was still in surgery, and that 2 hours earlier they had heard so far so good.
At 12:30 last night (I guess this morning) we got another text that Tim was out of surgery and that it went well. Most of the tumor was removed. It was not through the spinal card sheath which is a blessing. They will know in the next few days if there is any permanent damage, and in the next week or so they will know if chemo or radiation is required.
So please keep praying for Tim and for his recovery, and that hopefully it is all gone, and that no chemo or radiation will be required! Please also pray for his parents and family that they continue to have strength and courage to get through the next few days and weeks and months.
Update: Thursday afternoon.
Tim is in surgery at Mac right now. The tumor is around his spinal cord. The surgery is supposed to be very lengthy and very risky PLEASE PRAY HARD.
Update: Thursday morning.
A bed ended up being available at Mac, so they went there instead. Tim had his MRI this morning. I haven't heard anything else yet
Update: Wednesday evening.
Some time this afternoon they went to Mac. We just got a text from Ken that says that Tim has an adrenaline secreting tumor that is most likely malignant. They are told that he has an excellent prognosis. They are headed to sick kids in Toronto. There wasn't much other details so that's all I can say for now. We are assuming that they are going to Toronto for surgery.
I just got another text... Because the tumor is secreting adrenaline, he is not eating or sleeping. They are not sure it if is attached to his spine, but Ken suspects that it it as he is no longer moving his toes when you tickle his feet. He says that they are going to sick kids in Toronto after waiting a whole day for a bed at Mac. He needs an MRI and a full workup to see how best to treat it. About 2 weeks ago they brought him to the ER at MAC and that's when they first saw this tumor when they brought him in then, and the staff say that he should have had an MRI when they first saw it...( I'm thinking they must still be in Cambridge they way that he worded that those at Mac are idiots) Apparently the mass grew from 2.3cm to 3cm in 12 days.
That's all I have for now...please keep them all in your prayers!
Update: Wednesday morning: Last night I spoke to Shauna, Tim was in the middle of getting chest x-rays, and he is now on Morphine for the pain. They were trying to get his transferred to Mac ( they were in Cambridge) for an MRI. Please keep up your prayers!
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to put out a prayer request for a baby of good friends of our, little Timothy. He's the little guy I babysit twice a week with his sister.
Anyways, the last 3 weeks he has not been himself and has been doing a lot of crying....ok, screaming, and seems to be in pain. So he has now been admitted, and they are running all sorts of tests to see what is wrong, and he is also on IV.
So please pray for Tim, that he's not in too much pain. Please pray for Ken and Shauna, that they may have the strength and courage to get through this, and also please pray for the doctors that they may figure out what is wrong!
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