Prayer request (updated)

We received word at the school of the latest news of our student Daniel. Please keep him in your prayers. Here is the latest word from his mother:

Dear family and friends,

Daniel’s journey has only begun it seems. Thankfully, the spinal tap went well with very little discomfort. Today was rough, however, as Daniel dealt with the effects of downing barium sulfate in prep for the CT scan.

The difficult news to share is that we received a call from the neurologist who reported the CT scan revealed multiple 3mm nodules in the lungs as well as a cubic inch mass in the area of the thymus which is most likely a thymoma. He said it is important to get Daniel strong enough so a pulmonologist can test/treat the nodules and that Daniel can (most likely) have the thymoma removed. Hopefully, we will get Daniel started on IV immunoglobulin infusions (2 hr/day for 5 days) on Thursday as that should help him regain strength. (The effect lasts about a month.)

We are finally getting answers…they are just hard ones to swallow. Daniel continues to be brave and trusting. All of us wish we could give him our strength, trade places, but wonder if we could handle it anywhere as well as he is.

It is of great encouragement and comfort knowing that you will be faithful to pray as God leads. We are indeed standing in the need of healing and an hour-by-hour, pressing-into-God kind of faith.

Dana and Becky

Daniel, Grace, Caleb, Delcy

Prayer request

Two weeks ago, a student a the high school I work at suddenly started having muscular problems. We just received this note from the mother of the student:

Dear family and friends,

God has been answering prayer. We asked that the neurologist would have wisdom, diligence, and a sense of urgency in getting to the bottom of this. We have seen that to be the case. After the EMG on Thursday, Dr. Sajagian was pretty confident Daniel has Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), a neuromuscular transmission disorder. The “textbook” EMG results plus the symptoms/progression are consistent with this rare (especially in young people) syndrome. A specialized blood test needs to be done for an actual confirmation. There is concern, however, about how long that might take and what the underlying cause might be. Hopefully, the spinal tap on Monday and the fluoroscopy CAT scan on Tuesday will help determine the cause. The treatment options include plasmapheresis and/or IV immunoglobulin. Because of Daniel’s steady decline in muscle strength, he was started on medication to hopefully keep it in check. As we try to understand what is going on with Daniel and the possible outcomes, we continue to look to God for healing, direction, continual shoring up of our spirits and quelling of fears.

Since Sunday’s prayer time we have seen God’s mercy in so many ways. Here are some of them…

• The many, kind encouragements and assurances of prayer.
• Daniel’s sense of humor and upbeat spirit.
• Willing siblings who gladly participated in the big job of changing out rooms so Daniel can be downstairs.
• On Tuesday, a friend bringing us a very nice wheelchair the very day Daniel said he would need one. (The doctor suggested it on Monday, but Daniel wasn’t so sure.)
• Good buds at school who are looking after our Daniel, pushing him from class to class, decorating his wheelchair. (One sweet girl even attached a sign so Daniel wouldn’t have to continually answer questions, including “If you have the urge, you may push me to my next class.” J)
• A yummy meal arriving on a very full, tiring Tuesday.
• Carpool friends who are doing more than their fair share.
• The “coincidental” connection with the friend of a friend whose son was treated by the same neurologist. His physician father affirmed that Sahagian is known as “the best.”
• The focused prayer at Wednesday’s youth group. It was beautiful to watch Daniel Perumal deflect all attention from his own big news (accepted into the Air Force Academy!) to make sure that our Daniel was loved and supported.
• After 3+ hours at the neurologist on Thursday, arriving home to a fabulous dinner prepared by our dear Aunt Annette and Uncle Donnie. They have the gift of making any occasion special. It was just what we all needed to turn our hearts away from fears and worries.
• The promises and perspectives of the Word!

Your continued prayers are much valued as we walk this road. This week we are seeking God for…

• Peace and protection as Daniel undergoes more uncomfortable tests. (This last week’s 3+ hours in the MRI machine was a challenge!)
• Wisdom in decision making.
• Progress towards completely healing.
• Faith to confidently trust God that He is fulfilling His purposes.

So thankful for your coming alongside,

Dana and Becky

Attractive prayers.

I called a good friend of mine tonight and she immediately said to me, "I was just going to call you!" I asked her why and she responded by telling me that she wanted my prayers for her mom. My heart was really touched by her trust in me. She told me about her mom and I gratefully and wholeheartedly accepted her request for prayer.

She is not a Christian but she knows that I am and finds my faith to be ultra-radical. Because of this, I said that I didn't understand why she wanted me to pray for her mom since we didn't share the same faith. As we continued talking, some insights came to mind and I expressed them to her. I explained that I believed God to be a very jealous and angry God in the sense that He alone is worthy of our supplications. He made the world and everything in it. Why would the true God want His own creation to pray to a false god that had not given it life? As the saying goes, don't bite the hand that feeds you. For the biblical allegory, read this.

I told my friend that I too fought with God tooth and nail over these concepts when I was first drawn to Him. How could God hate anything? Why would God despise the prayers of those who pray to other gods? Isn't it simply their way of finding truth and seeking blessings? Wisdom came to me when I understood that the motivation behind God's jealousy and anger is what sets those emotions apart. Being the owner of my body and soul, God is jealous to keep me in His possession. Those things that seek to steal me from His grace give Him righteous cause to be angry. His jealousy and anger are, therefor, motivated by love to protect what is rightfully His. He will destroy those things that deny His children the full experience of His great glory!

I told her that I would never ask a Buddhist to pray for me simply because a Buddhist is not honoring the One God with their prayers. She was surprised but admitted that my argument did make logical sense...if actually true. I brought to her attention that, even though she found my beliefs to be radical (and wrong), by her request she saw something to be desired; something incredibly attractive bound up in those very prayers she asked me to present to God. By contrast, according to my explanation of the meaning behind prayer (to honor the One who gives us breath to pray), I could find no value in prayers that are offered to other gods. Ultimately, I suggested that my prayers are attractive because of the One who is represented in them.

I pray everyday that she, and all who hunger and thirst for righteousness, will be filled.