Approaching the Throne Together

Hebrews 4: 14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,  below are three prayer needs in my immediate family.  I ask, that as you read, if the Lord should so impress you to intercede.  I thank you from a heart that we share in His love together.  May He forever be our comfort!

1. My second youngest daughter MandiLyn (27) had surgery 1 1/2 years ago to remove an ovarian tumor.  Praise the Lord it was a benign membranous growth.  This past August, they found one on her other ovary, much larger.  Since then, I’ve been with her to the OB/GYN and asked if removal was her only option.  The doctor said if Mandi would take birth control pills, the hormones may suppress the ovary, possibly shrinking the mass.  Tomorrow morning she is scheduled for an ultrasound to check and see if the process has worked.  She is a prodigal child, walking the way of the world, and so many times she’s been close to returning to the Lord!  I request prayer first for her heart to return to Christ and secondly that the process worked allowing her to see the Lord’s hand at work (many are/have been praying since August), if that be out Lord’s will.
   
2. For those of you who responded to my “Prayer Warriors Needed” request post this past summer  (http://wp.me/p1Ypb1-qp) you will remember I asked prayer for my youngest daughter, Missy (26) who was about to undergo two surgical gynecological procedures after the birth of her second child.  We praised our precious Father and Lord at His tender grace as all went exactly as expected.   Now I  am asking prayer for that second child, dear sweet little JoJo.  Recently Missy noticed that the thumb on her left hand was bent and wouldn’t straighten.  First they took her to an Urgent Care and were told JoJo had “trigger finger”.  Missy made an appointment with JoJo’s primary doctor, who sent her to an orthopedic doctor.  All three doctors gave the same diagnosis, but none gave a reason.  Missy (and Grandma too) did some online research.   This condition usually occurs in the “elderly”, caused by a build up extra tendon/bone tissue and causes arthritis type pain.  The orthopedic doctor said surgery to cut the tendon would fix the problem.  It is interesting though because  JoJo has NO pain!!  Now the other thumb is beginning to show signs of the same problem.  It’s quite possible this is a symptom of an underlying condition.   So Missy and Justin are seeking a another opinion from a pediatric orthopedic specialist.  Missy loves our Lord Jesus and believes He controls everything within our lives.  She knows this will all work together for good!  As a mom of a sweet 2-year-old… it’s the not knowing that she struggles with.  I would ask prayer for the doctor to have wisdom, comfort for Missy’s weariness and  guard little JoJo’s health.
3. Finally there’s me!  Last August I started physical therapy for neck and right shoulder pain.  Tests showed I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis in C-1, 2 and 3 vertebrae.  My doctor believed with neck traction would relieve some of my constant cervical neck pain.  I thank God my physical therapist is a wonderful Christian man and very knowledgeable.  The 18 visits increased my neck range of motion in some directions by 200%.  Now the right shoulder.  Stretching and at home exercises were supposed to do the trick.  😦  It did not, it actually aggravated the issue, which is now determined to be rotator cuff problems.  It seems all three tendons that attach to the shoulder are involved.  I’ve been in excruciating pain for months… sometimes not sleeping for more than 2 hours at a time.  After Christmas I spent 12 days without a normal night’s sleep.  (FYI)  I can’t use my right arm for anything, but I’ve managed to situate my body so I can type 🙂  Tomorrow, while my Mandi is having her ultrasound on her tumor, I’m having MRI’s of my shoulder.  To add to all this,  clumsy/dizzy Grandma fell Thursday night( Life Line time) and bruised some ribs on my right side.  Not to mention, cuts and others bruises.  I fell into a corner between a cedar chest and a CD rack with plants all around, back up against the wall, legs bent.   “I had fallen and I couldn’t get up.” (My guardian angels kept me from cracking my blooming head open!)  So,  now with the bruised ribs on the left side and rotator cuff issues on the right side, I am a balanced, but damaged, Grandma.  The only thing I ask for me is that nothing is broken or torn (on my body) and for some good restful sleep. 

“A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.”  Author:Leonard Ravenhill

Many thanks in Jesus name…♥ Streim