Friday, July 20, 2007

God Is Still In the Business of Answering Prayers

It has been one week since my brother's heart attacks and my, has God brought him a mighty long way! I was able to talk to Doug on the phone yesterday and he sounded like a new man. The doctors took him off the oxygen, which means the fluid on his heart is finally coming off. The visitors were kept at a bare minimum Thursday and he took phone calls instead. Doug told me to pass along his sincere gratitude for the prayers you have lifted up on his behalf. He gives God the credit for his healing and the daily progress. The doctor, however, had devastating news for him: Doug will never be able to farm again. For someone who does not have a college education and farming is all he's ever known, you can imagine how upsetting the news was. God has certainly blessed our family with a very capable and intelligent cardiovascular surgeon, but I don't believe the doctor holds the future.....God does. After all, the surgeon told us Doug would probably not live and the surgeon told us a heart transplant was Doug's next option. Both of these diagnosis, the Lord has proved wrong. Now we are believing God brought Doug's life back to him with bigger and better plans for him. I don't think God would allow him to live and live only at 15% of the life he had before. That's not a fulfilled life.

Still no word on the defibrillator surgery. The doctor wants to get all of the fluid off completely before moving forward. He anticipates that will be done one day next week. When that happens, I will be there and will give Doug all of the emails and posted comments for him to read. I know this will be a source of continued support for him, knowing you are praying for him.

I will be gone until Friday. This is Neshoba County Fair week and I'll be there with my family and will visit with Doug several times while I'm off work. In the meantime, know that God is still in the business of answering prayers. I believe I will have even more miracles to share with you when I return.

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectations are in You." Psalm 39:7

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

At this moment one scripture comes to my mind--Jeremiah 29:11. I believe that. I trust it. I claim it.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Tommy, Suzanne, and Mary Peyton said...

still praying. i can't imagine if my daddy (as you know, also a farmer) was told that he could not farm again. even though i am "on my own", i would panic.

please tell Doug that we are still praying for him! hope you have a great time while you are gone.