Prayer Update from Greg, Nov. 20, 2013

Prayer Update from Greg Olson      November 20, 2013 Chasing the Hem of His Garment....               "And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."   Matthew 9:20-21 (NKJV)  Greetings Family and Friends, It's been over four months since I've written. Summer in Phoenix is always long and drawn out. The days are oven-hot and nothing stirs unless it has to, including me. It's been a summer of uncertainty and waiting, trying to maintain balance of work, rest, self-care, medications, doc appointments, and most of all, listening and waiting on God. I've only succeeded partially in most of those thing! I did have another short bout in the hospital a couple months ago due to spiking blood pressure. Blood pressure is one of those things that the kidneys control, and because of my poor kidney function my blood pressure was totally erratic, causing me headaches, dizziness, and inability to think clearly. Four days in the hospital and lots of careful monitoring to help adjust my medications and I was back on my feet. I still need to monitor it every day, but it seems to have leveled off to an acceptable point. The other thing that's new is that I went ahead with the fistula procedure, which is a re-routing of the blood vessels in my forearm to accommodate dialysis should I need it. That was a hard one for me. I fought the idea of doing it for nine months, but finally gave in to my doctor's pressure. It takes several months before it can be used, and he is quite sure I will need it in the months ahead. Technically I'm in kidney failure now if you go by the numbers: 10% kidney function & 5.5 creatinine. But God...  My faith leans forward toward the seemingly impossible: life and healing for my kidney. I told Jeane just the other day that I feel like I'm "chasing the hem of his garment." I have always been intrigued by that story of the woman who chased Jesus down in a crowd just to touch his clothes for a brief moment. Even more intriguing is the response from Jesus. Crowded on all sides as he was, he knew he had been touched "because he felt the power go out from him." (Mark 5:30) Busted....and healed! It is this power of Christ as he walked the earth that drove out demons, returned sight to the blind, raised people from the dead, and proclaimed to people that their sins were forgiven. We, his followers, were told that we will do even greater things than he did. What is it about the church in 2013 that finds that hard to believe?  Maybe it's because our minds can't comprehend how something as intangible as faith can overcome medical statistics and outcomes, something we have grown to rely on here in 21st century America. That's what I've been pondering and that is my quest right now: To see and understand and experience the mystery of a God who heals. I look to the writer of Romans who speaks about a God "...who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist."Romans 4:17 I think that would include a healthy kidney. I do get overwhelmed, mostly because it gets so tiring to have to think about myself and my health all the time. Did I take those pills and check my blood pressure? Did I make that doctor's appointment? Did I drink my wheat grass today? Did I schedule in enough time to rest? Should I continue working full-time or am I just being unrealistic? I do notice I get tired faster; I don't have the energy to go all day and into the evening at full speed. That doesn't, however, keep me from trying (much to the dismay of my wife:-)) I find myself knowing and proclaiming that God can heal my little kidney and bring it back to life. Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is "...being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I live-one day at a time-with a hope that leans me into life, making plans, certain that God has a purpose even for this experience as he writes his story with my life. Jeane and I were talking to a doctor one day and telling him about the stage IV cancer being in regression without chemo or radiation or surgery. He shook his head in amazement. "Most people say they believe God heals, but they really don't," he said. We told him we didn't have that luxury right now. We were in a situation where we were forced to put Him to the test. And, friends, have we not seen God at work? Yes! Next month I go to MD Anderson for a six-month checkup on the cancer. I'll let you know the results when I hear them. Thank you again for your prayers and support. When one is struggling with a medical issue it can feel like you're all alone. I don't feel that way and I have you to thank for that. It is something that is very rich to my heart. Always forward, Greg