The Fiery Furnance -

Today is Dec. 3 and by this time tomorrow Mike will have done his first round of Chemotherapy. The decision was made earlier this evening and everything is set up to start in the hospital some time in the morning. The pain just increases and we just have to beat the cancer back. One of the nurses even pulled me aside tonight to let me know that a crash cart will be out in the hall for Mike. She reminded me that the Chemo is very toxic. I look at her and said I know.

Mike and I spent some quality time with Elizabeth watching Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and I played UNO with her. The best part is that Elizabeth sat in the front of the hospital bed and laid on Mike's lap for a little bit. Mike was able to rub her hair and just hold her hand for awhile. Life is about moments. God Blessed us with some good ones tonight.

Melissa and Scott came up tonight as well and just talked and laughed. You have no idea what it means when people come by and just talk about life and laugh. If you know of someone going through something, don't forget about the value of just being there.

So tonight I have a peace and a calm after everyone left. I have thoughts of Daniel 3 and Shadrach, Meshach and Abedengo and King Nebuchandessar. There was a decree in the land that everyone worship an image of Gold that King Nebuchadnezzer had set up. To make a long story short, they didn't and King Neb told them that if they didn't they would be thrown into a blazing furnace and then King Neb said , " Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" (3:15).
Here is their response:

O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the GOD we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. BUT even if he does NOT, we want you to know , O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

So this made King Neb mad and he heated the furnace to seven times hotter and threw them in. It was so hot that the fire killed the soldiers that threw them in the furnace. Once in the fire, there were FOUR men walking around, unbound and unharmed. He even said the fourth man looks like a son of the gods (I believe that was Jesus..) King Neb called out Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They came out of this fiery furnace and their bodies were not harmed, not a hair on their head was singed, their robes were not scorched and they didn't even smell like fire!

So now this leads me to think of Stephen and his stoning in Acts 7 (verses 54-60). Stephen stood in front of a furious mob and looked up and saw heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. While it was happening Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." Stephen cried out, "Lord do not hold this sin against them" and then he fell asleep.

The Lord saved them all -He protected them from the fire and brought them out completely whole and He saved Stephen too and gave Stephen mercy and grace by allowing him to fall asleep and get a glimpse of Heaven!

So here is the thing... God has saved Mike. Period. It is finished (and was finished at the cross) and there is no question about Mike's final destination. Heaven with Jesus. We just don't know as we face the fiery furnace of the next 12 weeks if God will deliver him through it as He did with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego or if He will show Mike mercy and grace as He did Stephen. Either way, God is in control. God knows the exact time Mike will go to be with Him. In fact, He knows the exact time you and I will leave this present Earth as well.

Mike has had a rough day and they have increased his pain medication. He has not really drank too much today. The pain has been rough at times. He is also running a fever of 101 and his heart rate is high.

Please Pray:

That Mike will survive the Chemo treatments

That the Chemo is exactly what God will use to heal Mike

Sleep for both of us

Mike's fever will go away and his heart rate will go down (along with his White Blood Cell count)

Elizabeth.... Her heart, her fears, and her comfort

Me... my heart, my fears and my comfort too!

Mike's pain will be reduced

Mike will eat and drink more

God's Grace and Mercy