Day 70 - August 24 - Today?

Today we spent the morning and early afternoon with Connor and Joélle before she headed back to Morgan Hill for work tonight. We had a good time laughing and sharing our time together, and speculating whether today would be the day. You know, one of these days is going to be the day, and it will feel a lot like every other one right up until the moment.

Connor is in a better mood today, although he is feeling a bit tired because of the weaning of the ventilator. Speaking of the weaning of the ventilator, he has been stable all day at 24% O2 and a PEEP of 2! That's very nearly room air, and we thank God for bringing Connor this far with healthy lungs. This afternoon, I observed a number of instances when the machine was set at 10 respirations per minute but he was drawing 11 or 12. Another praise! We wait upon the Lord for the boy's restoration...

The boy has another CT Scan tomorrow to verify his "hardware" isn't infected, since he complained of neck pain AND had a fever. We don't think they're related, but prayer for this would still be good.

Connor also wanted to tell you all "thanks" again for your faithful prayer support and words of encouragement. I asked him if he had any updated prayer requests for all y'all, and he asked you to pray for his physical comfort. He says that when he is comfortable he is able to rest easier, but when he is uncomfortable he gets anxious and jumpy, and then can't sleep well. So I know he will appreciate your prayers in that regard. I would add another comment - he and I were talking about his spiritual and prayer life this afternoon, and I asked him if he was praying. He said "a lot" (with a grin), but then got serious and told me a bit about the other people he has been praying for. I asked him if he would say he's got a good prayer life right now, and he very seriously nodded "yes". That pleases me. Cherié and I have purposed to be mining the scripture for him, searching for the words God wants Connor to hear, since he is unable to do so on his own right now. I would recruit y'all to help in this if you are so inclined. If God lays a particular scripture on your heart for Connor, post up so I can get it to him!

That brings me to my last point for this post. These are some of the lyrics from a Casting Crowns song called "What if His people prayed?" -

What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face yeah
And turn from their own way?

He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear, yeah
If only we would pray

For some reason I feel a burden to ask you - if God lays Connor on your heart, stop what you're doing and obediently pray and lift the boy up. I know sooooo many of you are faithfully doing this already, so please don't take offense at my request - I just feel I'm supposed to mention it here, so I am. I know many of you are old hands at feeling the leading of God to pray, but if you're like me, it's pretty easy to rationalize away that feeling of burden with "oh, that must have just been me making it up" or some other excuse. So if you're like that too, let me encourage you - if your God calls you to pray, pray - right then, right there, with power.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God has given me a sound mind; I love my son; I will not fear but will pray with power, boldly approaching the Throne of Grace, asking in accordance with the direction of Jesus Himself the desire of my heart, that my son be restored physically, 100%, for the glory of God, and believing that I am receiving it.

To Him be the glory. Amen.

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