What a week!!

Irene soloed while I was in S. Cal on business from Tuesday through late Friday evening.  Betty Fairhurst treated Irene to lunch on Friday but the unrelenting nausea reared its very ugly head most of Friday night.

Shirley Churchill worked with Irene for several hours on Saturday morning giving her some relief.  Yay, Shirley!!!

Carmen and Jane arrived Saturday and stayed overnight.  Irene joined her sisters and they shopped most of Saturday.  Irene was tired but blessedly content and joyful after spending the day with them.

This coming week will be a busy one for Irene.  On Tuesday she’s scheduled to have two back molars removed which are causing continued discomfort.  On Thursday she’s scheduled to have the catheter removed at Dr. Waddle’s office in Watsonville.  Of course she has dialysis treatment on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon.

Stay tuned and thanks for caring.

Dave

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Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation ….
Philippians 2:14-16a

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Irene humbly and courageously proclaims her fervent faith in the midst of colossal circumstances.  Armed with spiritual, metaphorical weaponry, she fiercely battles the formidable opponent, primary amyloidosis.

Irene’s nausea remains at a low roar and the biggest challenge she’s been facing the last several days is chronic fatigue.  Today she learned that there may be a local option for removing her chest catheter.  We’re pursuing the matter and will report our findings soon.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

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More from Brother Lawrence on suffering…

Twelfth Letter ~

If we were well accustomed to the exercise of the presence of God, all bodily diseases would be much alleviated thereby. God often permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls and oblige us to continue with Him.

Take courage; offer Him your pains incessantly; pray to Him for strength to endure them. Above all, get a habit of entertaining yourself often with God, and forget Him the least you can. Adore Him in your infirmities, offer yourself to Him from time to time, and in the height of your sufferings beseech Him humbly and affectionately (as a child his father) to make you comfortable to His holy will. I shall endeavor to assist you with my poor prayers.

God has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself from us; but faith alone, which will not fail us in time of need, ought to be our support, and the foundation of our confidence, which must be all in God.

I happy not sure how God will dispose of me. I am always happy. All the world suffer; and I, who deserve the severest of discipline, feel joys so continual and so great that I can scarce contain them.

I would willing ask of God a part of your sufferings, but that I know my weakness, which his so great that if He left me one moment to myself I should be the most wretched man alive. And yet I know not how He can leave me alone, because faith gives me as strong a conviction as sense can do that He never forsakes us until we have first forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us be always with Him. Let us live and die in His presence. Do you pray for me as I for you, I am, Yours…

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