Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Here's The Skinny: By Caleb!

Before I get started I would like to say that the purpose of this blog has mostly been about updating all you amazing friends and family as to the actual physical condition of Eowyns’ health. As much as I would like to use this site as a podium, there are so many people who are inquiring about our little baby that it behooves us to create a platform that allows us to disperse information in a manner that can be easily accessed; besides, I hate texting! However, It has become obvious to me that this blog needs to touch on so much more. This blog is going to be longer than usual, so for the sake of those who would just like to hear a quick update I am going to start with Wynnies health.
You may have heard that she has an infection; as of Saturday night, that infection manifested in such a way that I began questioning whether she would make it through the night. Many of the doctors began informing us that many children who are as sick as Eowyn do not make it passed another hurdle of that magnitude. Despite all of that, I am overjoyed to say that, as of last night, Eowyns’ health began making a turn into the positive direction. Praise God for His mercy and faithfullness. She has been stable this entire day, and the nurses have been able to turn down many of the settings on the ventilator as well as many of the treatments. We really felt that before this infection hit she had been making progress and we feel that way again. There has been talk of a drug called Flolan that might help us get her settings down far enough to conduct a biopsy. The next goal is to get her off the ventilator.
Having said all that I think that it is important to discuss purpose. Many of you have heard me say this before and most likely tonight won't be the last time you will hear it again. Suffering is one of those questions that leaves many Christians answerless, and can cause many to question and turn from God. In an open debate this same question regarding suffering was posed by an atheistic philosopher; he asked his Christian opponent, “How do you explain the goodness of God to a child who is dying of cancer or some other terminal condition. How can a God who is so loving allow such horrible things to take place?” For a long time this question has haunted me, and many of you I’m sure. It wasn’t until I heard an even better question that I felt I had some sort of closure regarding the subject. That question is: What does an atheist tell that very same child? I’m sorry but you never really mattered anyway; we are all here by accident? You see; we all deal with suffering. In this situation the only one who has anything to offer IS God, if we turn our backs in situations like these we have just lost the only platform for hope that there is.
This is where the debate begins to break down within the body of Christ. As a person of faith, don’t I have to the power to move mountains? Don’t I have the power, by faith, to heal those who are sick? Is God going to heal her? Is our lack of faith the only thing that prevents miracles to take place? Am I not healed or my loved ones not healed because I don’t have enough faith? Do I even believe in miracles? The answer is: yes, yes, I don’t know, maybe, no, yes.
I do believe that our God is omnipotent. Of course he has the power to heal; if he can uncover the foundations of the world with a blast of his nostrils (psalms 18:15) he can heal if he pleases. So why hasn’t he healed Eowyn? It must be because I don’t have enough faith, right? WRONG!!! I do believe that we have power in the name of Jesus, I do believe that God may still heal her, and I claim healing over her without ceasing, but we are not responsible if he doesn’t. I believe that God has a purpose for all things, and some things just wont change no matter how much twang I can imbue my faith-drenched words with. According to Exodus 4:11 (New King James Version)
11 So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?
that God has taken full responsibility for those who have been created with ailments, and I believe that God has a purpose for it. Take an example from the most righteous of all, our precious lord who asked that he might not have to suffer.
Luke 22:41-43 (New King James Version)
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
Even though he asked, it was not part of the plan. And what are we supposed to ask when we pray?
Luke 11:2 (New King James Version)
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven,[a]
Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.[b]
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 

The bible says that his ways are not are ways; I have no idea why God does what he does when he does it. But I have to believe that God is in control.
Romans 9:18-20 (New King James Version)
18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Here are a few more verses that might illuminate the point of purpose. As much as I believe God would have us walk in faith—and I do—I do believe that ultimately our faith needs to line up with his purpose and will.
John 7 16:18 Jesus[c] answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Ephesians 1:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:8-12 (New King James Version)
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood,[c] the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which[d] is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Hebrews 13:20-22 (New King James Version 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you[a] what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 5:13-15 (New King James Version)
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,[a] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
I know that God loved you enough to send his only begotten son to die for your and my sins. And I know that he loves Eowyn more than I ever could. I know that he knew Eowyn before the foundation of the earth, and I know that the bible teaches that we are to intercede for others in prayer. I thank each and every one of you who are doing just that for our family, and I hope that you will continue to do so. Again, I just want to say how much I love every one of your beautiful faces; even if I am wearing love-colored glasses, they look beautiful to me.
Thank you all so much: The Havertapes.

6 comments:

  1. You guys are such an inspiration to us all! Your family IS HEALED in the name of JESUS!! OUR LORD!! Still praying for you all! Healing, Peace, and Strength! We love you! BE BLESSED! Noell

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  2. I am glad to hear about your little one. Thank you for sharing your heart also.

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  3. This was just absolutely beautiful!! You are all in my prayers daily. Hang in there and know that God is with you!

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  4. ...VERY WELL SAID.....THANKS FOR THE UPDATE, I AM ALWAYS WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT EOWYN....VERY ENCOURAGING....GOD BLESS....NONETTE...Post on (PRAYER WARRIORS) PW, (PRAYER FOR EOWYN)PFE AND (INVITATION TO HER BLOG)(ITHB....

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  5. Even though we don't know the answer to all of the questions regarding our daughters, we know that you guys are beautiful parents, full of love and faith and pure hearts and hearts after Gods. You have shown courage in the face of adversity, strength and determination, love and patience and strong faith. We truly are blessed to be a part of your lives and thank you for the updates on Eowyn's stats regardless of what they may be. We care about every detail of what is physically going on in her precious little body. We are standing beside you in love and prayer. Love you guys, Jen

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