Interruptions

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.’ ” Luke 1:30-31

Interruptions are inevitable. It’s just the way life works. But, I keep asking myself, why is it that they come at such inopportune times? After listening to a zillion options in the phone-answering menu, someone will start talking to me and I miss the key moment only to have to redial and go through the whole thing again! And who’s the bozo that always rings the doorbell just when the game-changing play is about to happen? Well, I guess we could learn to live with interruptions if it weren’t for the fact that some of life’s interruptions are disruptive on a far more serious scale—a phone call from the doctor giving you bad news about your cancer tests, that pink slip on your desk, the unexpected loss of a loved one, or an unwanted job transfer all stack up as devastating surprises.

Which brings to mind how Joseph and Mary must have felt when their lives were dramatically interrupted by angelic announcements. Their future was bright until the divine announcements threatened their sense of well-being to the core. If all you have is the Christmas-card mentality—Oh, how precious to see Mary, Joseph, and the child with angels fluttering over them!—then you’ve missed the magnitude of just how disruptive God’s interruptions were. What would Mary tell her mother, to say nothing of all the relatives and busybodies in her little village? Do we think for a moment that any of them would believe the story that began with “An angel told me . . .”? And for Joseph’s part, everyone would conclude that he had violated his fiancée’s virginity—which in those days would have been a damning breach of religious and cultural standards. Believe me, no one would want a “Kitchens by Joseph” sign in his or her front yard anymore!

Given the weight of it all, the amazing element in their story is that they both accepted the interruptions with a sense of resolved surrender. A surrender that put them in a place where God could accomplish far more through them than their uninterrupted lives ever would have dreamed of. Though awkward and challenging, God’s unexpected change in their plans gave them the honor of parenting the very Son of God. And our world has never been the same again—to say nothing of our lives!

There’s a lesson here for us. When God interrupts our best laid plans and expectations—even when it seems like the outcomes are devastating—He has a far greater thing in mind for us. God’s worthiness and glory is far more evident when it is expressed in the midst of suffering. There is no greater confirmation of the trustworthiness of God than when we trust Him even in the face of the unexpected insecurities and uncertainties of life. And who knows what He has in store through you in terms of impact in future generations when He rearranges your life? I can’t always tell you what God is up to, but I can assure you that He uses interruptions to do things far beyond what we ever dreamed.

So this Christmas, let’s get the point. When interruptions come, stop resisting. Surrender and start looking for the hand of God as you serve Him obediently in spite of the uncertainty that is staring you in the face.

I’ve often wondered: What if Noah had said, “I don’t do boats!” or if Moses had complained, “I don’t do crowds!” or if Job had insisted, “I don’t do suffering” or if Mary had declined, “No thanks, a virgin birth is too great a risk” or, ultimately, if Jesus had said, “I don’t do crosses!”?
Trust Him. He knows what He is doing with your life!

By: Joe Stowell (Daily Strength)

All of our company have returned home, and the Christmas tree and decorations are all down. It was a blessed Christmas. Family were such a blessing, and friends continue to lift us up and share all their love and support.

We are grateful Mike has stayed well, and continues to do well, even though some of our out of town family became sick, and Amber is sick again. We continue to trust God in protecting Mike. Everyday I care for Mike's tubes, I'm grateful for one more day of them working correctly. That small blessing is such a precious gift.

Today was a little hard on Mike. I think having the distraction and activity of family for a week kept his mind busy and off of our situation. But now that we're back to the daily grind, the reality of things just seemed to be weighing heavily on him. There just doesn't seem to be any quick fix for any of this. I was thankful Mike, at least, had physical therapy to go to today.

Today was also a day when everything just felt a little bigger than me. I know a lot of it was in response to what I saw Mike experiencing. I question, at times, if I have what it takes to get through all of this. My heart feels it's being pulled in a million directions. I'm struggling, adapting to what each day throws at me.

I'm grateful that whatever kind of day faces Mike and I, we have such loving friends and family, that stand in the gap for us and cover us with prayer. Thank you for your continued love and support.

"Let him ask in faith." James 1:6

It has been a wonderful Christmas! Mike has felt very good most of the time the past few days. He has napped when he could, and has been enjoying the children, grandchildren, and other family here to celebrate the holidays. We feel so blessed and are very grateful!

I wish you could have been sitting in the room with me when Mike tried out his new foot bath. He had asked for this, thinking it would help ease the discomfort in his feet from his neuropathy. It became absolutely hysterical when he first tried using it though, because he had the water temp too hot. The repeated efforts to stick his toes in the water cracked me up. Then Chloe, our Cocker Spaniel, became the show when she became curious of the new object. At one point she must have thought it was some high tech water dish...because she would try and sneek forward to get a drink, and then would jump back. After several attemps, Mike decided to get real cute and turned on the jets. I guess it doesn't take too much for Mike and I to be entertained! ;)

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (Amplified Bible) "A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,"

Merry Christmas

We were almost at the point believing prayer was going to be our only option to help Mike with his chemical imbalance, since we learned late last week that several of the medications that help with this, can be dangerous to the liver. We certainly have our hands already full with a cantankerous liver. :) But we learned this morning that there were other options we had, and Mike began taking his new medication today. Hopefully he will feel the benefits of it before too long. We've been told it can take 4-5 weeks before things will level out, and he'll begin to feel better. Besides this, Mike's other symptoms seem to be under control, and he continues to do well.

We have Mike's sister and brother-in-law coming into town this Christmas, as well as my sister and her husband. We know it will be a sweet time of fellowship as we watch Ethan and Drew celebrate Christmas, and just all of us being together as a family. We pray Mike's mom will be able to leave the nursing home she lives at, to come home and be together with us too.

I just want to tell all of you how much Mike and I love you for standing with us in this fight against Mike's cancer. Everyone of you have been helping us keep one foot in front of the other, most especially at times, when that was the most difficult thing for us to do. You have also given to us so unselfishly, with such a servants heart, and have shown us God's mercy and faithfulness through your loving hands. We are deeply touched by your kindness to our family. We pray God will doubly bless your lives this Christmas, as you and God have blessed ours.

"The work of praying is prerequistite to all other work in the kingdom of God. By prayer we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness, the powers which can capture strongholds and make the impossible possible." O. Hallesby

With God all things are possible! Matthew 19:26

Mike continues to do well. We praise God for His protective hand and all of your faithful prayers.

Mike's physical therapy sessions now last for 2 1/2 hours, 3 days a week. He feels he's slowly regaining some of his strength.

His weight remains stable. He's not gaining, but he's not losing anything either.

His stamina isn't back to where it use to be, so he quickly runs out of steam, but we are grateful he continues to make improvements.

Mike saw a doctor yesterday concerning some of the other things he's been struggling with, and they believe he has a chemical imbalance, and medication would help. So he should be receiving benefits from that in a week or so.

Last night we went to our Sunday School Class Christmas party, which was a progressive dinner. We were unable to attend all of it, but it was tremendous joy being with friends, celebrating the holiday season, and feeling "normal". This special "family" of ours has been such a blessing to us! There have been steady amounts of hugs, prayers, love and support from them.

You, our "family" as well, have been such a tower of love, support and strength for us too. What comfort you've given us, standing right at our sides, willing to do anything to make things just a little bit easier or happier for us. Mike and I feel deeply blessed. We love all of you. The gratitude within our hearts could never be measured. You have met every need of ours and beyond.

Celebrating His Faithfulness,
Mike and Beverly

We are so thankful Mike hasn't caught the virus the kids and I have been battling the past week and a half. So far, he continues to stay well, and I am on the mend. I'm certain it's because of your prayers. Thank you so much! Zac, our son-in-law, is the last one to come down with the virus, but we're hoping he will be on the mend soon, and we can all be well for Christmas.

Mike's oncology appointment was cancelled today due to the bad weather we're having. The ice made it difficult for his doctor to come to town, so we will not see him again until after we come back from Houston in January. So far Mike's biliary tubes are functioning well. That's another praise!

I would appreciate your continued prayers for Mike beyond just the physical. There are so many facets to what he's dealing with. I pray the Lord would lift his heart and give him peace. Please also pray God will show me all I can do to help make things easier, or better for Mike. Your prayers and support continue to keep us strengthened.

"Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word." Psalm 119:169

Mike continues to ward off catching this virus, although yesterday afternoon, he told me he was feeling a little something in the back of his throat. The worst of it seems to be over for me. I have been going around the house disinfecting everything in sight, trying to protect Mike. I just hope we're successful. Thank you for your prayers.


"But faith will find its strength, not in the thought of what you will or do, but in the unchanging faithfulness and love of Christ, who has assured you, once again, that those who wait on Him shall not be ashamed." --A. Murray

Thank you for your prayers. Mike is remaining virus-free. I'm much the same, and feel grateful for not feeling any worse.

Mike's countenance has been a little more lifted today. He went over to his shop this morning, cleaned his guns, and reloaded amunition. I'm grateful he can enjoy this hobby of his. Maybe if the weather continues to warm up a little, he will feel up to going to the range for a little while.

"Prayer is a mighty force, an energy that moves heaven and pours untold treasures of good on earth." E.M. Bounds

It was probably inevitable, since Drew, Matt, Ethan, and Amber have all been, or are still sick. But I'm joining them, coming down with some kind of virus. So far, my symptoms haven't seemed as bad as the kids have been. I'm praying it will stay that way.

Please keep Mike in your prayers for protection, that he can either avoid getting sick, or not get it as badly as some in our family have. With tubes in Mike's abdomen, it would be very uncomfortable for him to begin coughing like the kids have.

Mike also has had kind of an off day anyway, unrelated to any viruses. He has been a little blue and a little tuckered out following his PT. They've increased his PT session to about 2 hours, from 1-1 1/2 hours. His feet (the neuropathy) have been troubling him and he's had trouble staying warm today.

Thank you for continuing to think about, or pray, for our family.

"When my soul fainted within me...my prayer came in unto Thee." Jonah 2:7

Mike is continuing to do okay. He tells me he is feeling fine, and he is eating well. He is also continuing his physical therapy three days a week. I guess I would just feel a little better if I saw Mike gaining more weight, and if I saw his energy level increase. Doing much of anything seems to wear him completely out. He's good for about one hour of anything, before needing to lie down.

Some days it is hard for me to see Mike so easily tired. I have to remind myself of how well Mike's tubes are doing, and how less of a hassle they presently are for Mike. That he is keeping his food down, and feels well enough to even go to physical therapy. We have so much to be grateful for, and it's wrong to allow anything, to steal away that peace and joy.

I'm grateful to have friends and family who pray for us even when our hearts grow a little tired or discouraged from the journey, and when we don't even know how to ask for prayer specifically. You know our hearts, and you continue to hold us up. What a blessing!

"My helpless friend, your helplessness is the most powerful plea which rises up to the tender father-heart of God. You think that everything is closed to you because you cannot pray. My friend, your helplessness is the very essence of prayer." --O. Hallesby

Mike was back in physical therapy this morning. His PT added three new exercises to Mike's routine, using weights. A lot of the exercises he is being given are for strengthening Mike's lower back, thighs and arms. Mike was ready to lie down once he got home. We learned last week that our insurance has approved as many PT sessions as necessary for Mike.

Everything with Mike's liver is functioning well since our last trip to Houston. We would love to relax, let our guard down, enjoy the holidays, and feel as close to "normal" as we can possibly feel, but it doesn't come easy. There is so much on our minds.

But our hearts are infinitely grateful for the love we have from our family, and the depth of unconditional love, and immense support we continue to receive from our friends. The measures of understanding you have, could only come by God's hand, and that leaves Mike and I speechless, and on our knees. You have been such a blessing to us.

"It is blessed to know of a place where we can lay our tired head and heart, our heavenly Father's arms, and say to Him, "I can do no more. And I have nothing to tell you. May I lie here a while and rest? Everything will soon be well again if I can only rest in Your arms a while." --O. Hallesby