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{SFTH} *The Lord Neither Sleeps Nor Slumbers* 4/4/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"
If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to
forward it on to family and friends. If this has been passed along to
you and you want to join the list, just send a blank email to: Thunder27@aol.com
I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to
write me (Michael T. Powers) and let me know what you think!
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Just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful comments on the Batman
story, and congratulations on the book signing. It will take me a
while but I will respond to each of them as soon as I can.
I have received a few emails from people thinking that I am the sole
author of the new "Heartwarmers" book. (I wish!!) It is a collection
of stories by 20 or more different authors, like the Chicken Soup For
the Soul books. (Most of the stories were ones that appeared on
Heartwarmers.com.) I have two stories that appear in the book, and
was asked by the publisher to do book signings and television
appearances for it. The author's name that appears on the book is
"Azriela Jaffe," whom was our contact person in charge of collecting
the stories and making decisions on which stories to offer to the
publisher. There are numerous authors contributing to the book, but
she was the one who compiled them.
Having said all that, I will be looking into publishing my own book
of stories in the next month or so. Lord willing the process will be
well on it's way by this summer.
Hope this helps with any confusion there may be!
Michael
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The Lord Neither Slumbers Nor Sleeps
Since the day Jillian was born it seemed we were getting her well just
in time for her to be sick. Diagnosed as a severe asthmatic, I soon
became educated in my daughter's care. I was provided with the basic
equipment necessary for her daily maintenance. As well as adrenaline
injections that proved to be essential in the emergencies that made
their rounds about every two weeks. I will never forget that feeling of
helplessness. I simply had no control over what had become for us a
continuous episode of events from infections to seizures.
By the age of three years, Jillian required medication around the clock,
with medication costs higher than our housing expenses. This routine
continued for the next few years. Only with God's help could we bear
our affliction, and so, bear it we did . . . together.
The Lord was truly our strength and Jillian, His arms extended. In
simple terms I'd have to say, Jillian was our burden with blessing.
Resilient, full of spunk and topped with red bouncy curls. Jillian was
joy to each of us. Always the little witness, I can remember one
particular morning as I was running late for an appointment, irritated
by the frustrations that were clearly possessing my morning. I didn't
hesitate to express myself. To rant and rave without ceasing, you
might say. I glanced over at Jillian, totally oblivious to my spouting
as she gazed out the window from her booster seat. Then, with
appreciation and excitement that seemed to be unmatched, she said,
"Look Mommy! Everywhere you look you see God's miracles!"
Immediately my cranky disposition was changed as I looked at the
world around me through the eyes of my child. Jillian was surely
blessed with a style of ministry all her own.
As Jillian grew, her bouts with asthma became fewer and farther
between. However, her attacks remained severe, and these widespread
gaps between bouts only revealed other symptoms. Symptoms that
had otherwise been hidden and/or confused by her asthma and
medications. An arrhythmia was found, confirming an abnormal heart
disorder. All these years Jillian had been battling not one, but two
serious conditions.
After the evaluation of her case, doctors perceived her disorder as
potentially fatal, recommending she have a catheter ablation as soon
as possible. The ablation was an alternative to open heart surgery and
proven to be a relatively low-risk procedure. However, once inside the
heart it would be imperative that the doctors be able to trigger the
arrhythmia in order to locate and ablate the abnormal tissue. This is a
lengthy process lasting from 6 to 12 hours. Nevertheless, if successful,
it would prove to be a permanent cure.
Consequently, Easter Sunday, we found ourselves checking Jillian into
Children's Hospital. I once read; "Faith is putting all your eggs in God's
basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch," and this
particular Easter, that is exactly what we did.
In a large, darkened room in Children's Hospital, I lay there quietly
as I prayed. Across from me, resting peacefully and trusting God
completely, lay my "Curly Girly." Now thirteen, and still ever so
much the fine example of faith and joy, is Jillian. As I prayed, I was
overwhelmed with reassurance; The Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps
and He was taking care of my Jillian. Feeling a sense of peace, I was
soon fast asleep.
The morning sun had yet to break through when I waken to Jillian's soft
voice, "Mom, are you awake? I think something's wrong with my IV."
So began our day with the harsh reality of the event that lay before us.
My thoughts were persistent, insisting I should share with Jillian the
Lord's assurance. Finally I surrendered. "Jillian, last night as I was
sharing with the Lord my concerns for you, I was encouraged with this
assurance: "Although you will be asleep for a very long time in surgery,
The Lord will neither slumber nor sleep. He'll be taking care of you." I
tried not to cry as I felt a trickle down my cheek. "I just know the Lord
wanted me to share this with you." I explained.
Then, with the usual twinkle of her blue eyes, she shared with me her
dimpled smile. "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'm going to be fine! I
think The Lord must have meant that for you, because I'm fine! Really!
I don't even need this surgery. I've been healed!" she said with certainty.
"Well, if you don't mind, as the Mom, I think I'd like a second opinion
on that!" We both just smiled.
In an effort to change the subject, she asked me to reach for her
literature book from a nearby table. "Oh yeah, I was supposed to read
my part in class today. I wish I didn't have to miss" she remarked.
I handed her the book and excused myself, as I went off to the next
room to freshen up. It wasn't long before I heard, "Mom, come here!
Listen to this! It's my reading for today!" She began to read to me
from her literature book a portion from Anne Frank's diary.
Psalms 121
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the heavens whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made the heaven and earth.
Behold, He that keepeth thee shall neither slumber nor sleep. The
Lord is thy keeper. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
Once again the tears began to flow as I felt the presence of the Lord.
When Pastor Chris, Jillian's youth pastor, arrived he was ready to sit
out he duration of her surgery. Soon after, our Senior Pastor, Rev.
Whitlow arrived. Rev. Whitlow was quick to suggest a word of prayer.
I can't remember word for word his prayer for my daughter that day, but
there are a few I will never forget . . . "For God shall neither slumber nor
sleep. He is watching over you, even now as we pray. He will guard
you and keep you safe. Amen." Jillian, now bubbling over with
excitement, was eager to share with Pastor Whitlow how his words had
just served as our third confirmation to the Lord's assurance.
While we were still sharing how the Lord had encouraged us, the
orderlies came in to take Jillian over to surgery. As she wheeled down
the halls, wearing her fluffy pink pig slippers, she sang a happy tune:
"God is bigger than the boogie man . . . and He's watching out for you
and me!"
After only six hours, we were informed they had called it quits. They
had been unable to trigger the arrhythmia necessary to successfully
complete the procedure.
I broke down. "I can't do this anymore. I just can't! And Jillian . . .
Jillian will believe she's healed. I know her, I know what she'll say!"
I cried, I cried like never before. As I too had been so sure this was
our answer. I was sure that this surgery had been God's means for
her healing. Confused at my response, Pastor Chris questioned me:
"What's wrong? This is a good thing, isn't it?"
I tried to explain: "You just don't understand. The doctor's told us this
might happen. It means they couldn't find it! It means they'll have to
try again when she's older!" As I cried, my thoughts were of how I
could help her? I knew only too well, she would be carrying on as if
she hadn't a care in the world. How would I protect her, yet, encourage
her? How would I hold her back, yet, not break her spirits? My mind
continued to race and my tears continued to flow. Pastor Chris spoke
up, "Well, I believe she's healed!"
I too had felt sure this was our answer to prayer. Only now, as the
pressures of the world seemed to be closing in, I wasn't so sure
anymore. But sure is the Lord, and surely He knew how I would again
recall His Word. His Word that He had given and confirmed three times
that I might hold on to it, and hold on to it I did, tight! As I was certainly
going to need it in the days and weeks that lay ahead.
We quietly waited in Jillian's room until her doctor came in. "Well,
how's our patient doing?" he asked but not allowing her time to answer.
"Did your parents explain we were unable to do the ablation?"
"Yeah, it's all Marty's fault" she said.
"Marty?" He questioned.
"Yeah, Marty. He's a guy in my youth group. They all prayed for me.
Then, Marty prayed that when you went in you wouldn't find anything!
I've been healed!" she added with her usual spunk.
Under these unusual circumstances her doctor allowed us to take her
home without the use of a heart monitor. We agreed to phone him
immediately if she should develop any problems.
It has been since April of 1998 that surgeons made their ablation
attempt. Today, nearly two years after her surgery, Jillian is nearly
sixteen. She has had no signs or symptoms of heart trouble. Even
the asthma has scarcely revealed a trace. Her doctor told me recently
they have no record of anything like this ever happening before!
Jillian is active in youth group, Bible quiz, band (oboe), color guard,
piano, fine arts, baby-sitting and school.
Jillian's dream is to someday become a doctor.
Will Jillian see her dream come true? Will her physical battle resume?
Even her doctors can't say for sure. But, of one thing I am sure, the Lord
will neither slumber nor sleep, He is her keeper now and forever more!
Colleen (Graham) Robertson -- Jillian's Mom
HapEface2u@aol.com
Send Colleen an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
A little about Colleen:
I live in Oklahoma City, I'm married, and mother to three wonderful
daughters, Christina (26 and married), Jillian (almost 16) and Stacy
Jo (13). I am also "Gammy" to my 7 year old grandson, Warren. Our
family was brought to it's wholeness one year ago with the adoption
of our two year old Dalmatian, Dot.
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REQUEST!!
From: TAKEYYANITES@aol.com
Dear Michael---
We are at our wits end in trying to figure out what to do--- my
friend has hired a lawyer and did all of the right things in order
to try to win the sole custody of her granddaughter--her daughter
was murdered and this is the only part of her she has left-- the
child is staying in a household where they have been arrested for
illegal drugs and firearms--- the guy is not even the child's real
father--- the child has even confessed to her therapist that "her
daddy" is molesting her--- but my friend can not get anyone to listen
to her story or in what direction to turn for help... the child is put
back in a dangerous environment every time she is taken back over
there--- right now my friend has the child and we are trying to
figure out who or where to go to get some kind of help--- if you or
anybody has any ideals or can tell us where or what to do please
email me --- thank you for listening- and may God bless everyone--
thank you
Loni
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Thought For The Day:
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have
the most live the longest."
(Larry Lorenzoni)
Verse for the Day:
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
Kid's Thought For The day:
"When in doubt order a hot dog."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Having a baby is like taking your bottom lip and pulling it over your
head."
(Carol Burnett)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"There is nothing noble in being superior to someone else. True
nobility lies in being superior to your former self."
Deep Thought For The Day:
"The money from the tobacco settlement should be used to fight
illiteracy, since people can't seem to read the Surgeon General's
warning."
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video
we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty
seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was
the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such
a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html