Summer / Health Update
Summer has flown by so fast! I've been able to enjoy a lot of backyard time and am so appreciative of the visits I have from friends and family. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BY!
In the middle of June I was outside measuring my boat trailer so I could order some new rubber treads for the top of the fenders. As I was coming back into the house, my legs collapsed on the second step of our porch and I fell backwards onto the pavement cutting my head open with a lot of blood pouring out. Fortunately I was able to crawl to the door and ring the door bell so Cathy could come and help me. Ended up needing two stitches, but fortunately, no concussive symptoms. This incident made us realize the need to build a ramp up to our front door. Bob Kirk did a great job on the ramp. Here's a picture of it:
Walking is getting tough for me these days. I use a walker all the time, both inside and outside the house. My arms and hands are getting weaker too. Keyboarding is getting tough. In grade 9 typing class I was at 36 words a minute. My rate these days is likely around 10 words a minute after fixing all my mistakes! Lung capacity is under 45%, so breathing on a hot, humid day is hard. Sleeping is very good, though, thanks to the BiPap machine.
Had a great day trip to Mazinaw Lake with my buddy Steve Kirk to visit an old university friend, Jeff Leavens. I definitely needed a lot of help getting in and out of their boat, but it was a great day. Thanks Jeff and Steve!
We also got to re-celebrate Deagan and Brianne's wedding at Brianne's family cottage with all of their friends who couldn't make it to the actual wedding in December because of Covid restrictions. Here's a shot of the family. I look old and thin in this photo, but the joy in my heart makes its way into my smile!
Hearing From God
People have been praying that I would hear from God, perhaps during a dream. One night, as I was about to wake up, God told me "pay attention to these numbers: 2, 2, 5". So, when I got up, I had those numbers imbedded in my memory and I assumed they related to a verse in the Bible. I assumed that the first "2" was the second book of the New Testament - the book of Mark - and that the second "2" was the second chapter in Mark and the "5" was the fifth verse of chapter 2. It's amazing that the story in verses 1 to 12 is about a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus by four of his friends for healing. There was a huge crowd gathered around the house that Jesus was in, so the four friends went on the roof of the house and broke a hole in the roof and lowered the paralyzed man on his cot down to Jesus. Jesus healed the man and he walked away in perfect form!
Wanting greater clarity on this, I prayed to God for more insight. A couple of weeks later, on a Monday morning, I woke up like an alarm had just gone off. I look at the clock and it was 4:56 AM. I managed to go back to sleep right away. The next day, Tuesday, I wake up again like an alarm had just gone off. I look at the clock and it was 4:56 AM. I go back to sleep right away. On Wednesday morning, the same thing happens, but this time I think, "what is going on?"...I didn't look at the clock until two minutes later, because it suddenly struck me that maybe God is speaking to me! So, I look at the clock and it is 4:58 AM. As an accountant, I'm a numbers guy, so this is how God is speaking to me. Again, I translate the numbers 4, 5, 6 into a verse in the Bible. "4" translated to me as the book of John, the fourth book of the New Testament. So I look up chapter 5, verse 6 and what is the story about?...It's about another paralyzed man lying by the pool of Bethesda. Jesus asks him if he'd like to be healed and the man immediately becomes well and picks up his cot and walks!
ALS eventually leads to a paralyzed body, so these two stories really resonate with me. I feel that God can and will heal me of ALS because of the Bible verses that God led me to. Every day I pray for the healing that Jesus provided for us!! And I know that many of you are praying alongside of me for this healing as well. I get the sense that God wants more people to be praying -- not just for me -- but for everyone's needs, so that more of this world can experience the love of God. Verse 5 of Mark, Chapter 2 says that the man was healed because of the faith He saw in the four friends who brought him to Jesus. It is possible that God is using my illness to increase the faith of others -- including you! God would have even greater reasons to grant the prayer request if offered by many than he would if the prayer was offered only by the person in need. As noted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:10-11, a response by God to prayers by many will encourage the church in profound ways. Another praying friend was pointed to Isaiah 54:2-3: "Expand the space of your tent. Stretch out the curtains of your tent, and don't hold back. Lengthen your tent ropes, and drive in your tent pegs. You will spread out to the right and to the left." Your tent is a tent of faithful prayer. Let it expand!
If you're up for it... if you believe in the power of prayer.... I ask again for prayer for the elimination of ALS from my body. And not for my glory, but for the glory of God. That I will have a story to share with the world that God is real and God loves each one of us!
Thanks for following my blog and for the love you show for me. I've updated the prayer points which you can find on the home page of the website or using this link https://www.faith-over-fear.ca/blank-page
Garth.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until destruction passes by.
I cry out to you, O God Most High, to You who fulfill
Your purpose for me.
Psalm 57:1-2