update #1

The following is a message that Jordan's parents shared on his facebook wall last night:

Jordan is in critical but stable condition after a serious car accident. He is heavily sedated to help the swelling on his brain. His right jaw is broken and the facial bones on the left side are all broken. He has two fractures in the back of his skull. He is intubated and ventilated. Tomorrow they hope to reduce his sedation slowly to see the extent of his brain injury. The first 72 hours are critical. Please keep praying for him.
- The Stam Family

In the Blink of an Eye

Yesterday we were busy planning the final details for Jeremy & Bailey's wedding.  Last night we had a very enjoyable rehearsal and rehearsal dinner in preparation for their wedding which we anticipated for tomorrow, Saturday, Dec 22.
But then last night happened.  Jeremy and the guys from his bridal party were coming home from Vancouver in our van when they hit black ice and the van rolled several times. Jeremy, Matt, and Les were treated with the precautionary measures that they take for anyone who is in a vehicle that has rolled.  Les, broke his ankle but Matt & Jeremy left with relatively minor cuts and bruises.  Their friend, Kyle, is doing well but being kept in hospital for observation  because of some injuries they want to keep an eye on. Jordan, Matt & Jeremy's cousin, is the one that we are the most concerned about.  He was airlifted to Royal Columbian with a severe head injury and is in the ICU there.
So we had to decide to cancel the wedding for tomorrow and will put it on hold until we know how Jordan is doing. Les, Jeremy & Matt have all been discharged from the hospital.
We ask everyone to please pray for everyone but especially for Jordan and his parents.
Moments like this put everything into perspective. Who would've thought when we watched Jordan practice walking in for the wedding ceremony last night at rehearsal that today we would be begging God to spare his life? Yes, things can change in the blink of an eye but we have to cling to the fact that God never changes, even if our circumstances seem to spin out of control.

"As for God, His way is perfect." (Psalm 18:30)

Perspective

This has been a day of quiet musings.  One of my friend's daughter-in-law just passed away from cancer.  A dear friend of ours is battling cancer right now.  Our pastor's wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer with mets to her bones and spine. One of Robert's aunt's is dealing with breast cancer that has also spread to her bones.
All of these situations bring home the fact that we never know what's around the corner or what God has planned for our lives. The most comforting thing, though, is that God knows what our future holds and promises to give us strength when we need it. He carries us through our toughest times, even though we often fail to see His providing hand as we walk the journey, wondering if He's left us, forgotten about us, or isn't concerned about us anymore.
What a comforting thought that He promises to never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5).
Praying that He will give us faith that could move mountains in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

RA Links.

If you also live with rheumatoid arthritis or know someone that does, these links might be helpful.

http://rawarrior.com/ - this is a lay person's blog/website about RA. Although she does read medical journals, it is important to realize that some of the information she provides may not be research or science based.  Of course, working in the medical field, I have learned over and over how important it is to back claims up with real research that is done effectively (e.g double blind study method). It is never a good idea to just take someone's word for something. I know of a situation where a lady was recommended to start a 'natural' product for her high blood pressure.  This was a lay person who made this suggestion and I know there are lots of lay people who know a lot but, unfortunately, for this lady with hypertension, the 'natural' product that was recommended nearly killed her.  So, be very careful who you take advice from and always check any new 'treatment' options with your doctor.  In a way, what you don't know CAN hurt you.

I know, I know - a common argument again doctors is that they are somehow linked to or own shares in pharmacy companies and that's why they have all this hype against natural products.  I have a couple comments/questions about that:

• a doctor I know quite well told me that the ONLY time he has ever been offered money is from a alternative health products company
• so, if we were dealing with the issue of doctors actually benefiting financially from pharmaceutical companies (which they don't), and you try to sell me alternative health products, don't you benefit from that financially?  What is the difference? So, in theory, then, it's okay for you to make money off of me but not the doctor? 
• I happen to have several doctors involved on my medical team.  Like one put it, "Sandra, trying to put your level of disease process out with alternative/natural products is like trying to put a house fire out with a water gun." That was all the visual description of the difference I needed to assure me that I was on the right track with all my medications. All of my doctors are completely kind, selfless people and I know for a fact, that if they came across information about a 'natural' product that would benefit people like me, they would certainly let me know.

http://restministries.com is a website that I think is awesome because it focuses on devotions and practical help and resources for anyone living with a chronic illness.

Will we believe God's promises?

I was reading Deut 1 for my devotions last night (see below) and want to share a few thoughts God left me to mull over.  Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with one of my dear friends and there were so many pieces that applied directly to what we talked about - that "underneath are the everlasting arms," that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  In this chapter Moses is rebuking the Israelites for their refusal to believe God's promises of provision and victory over the enemies in Canaan. He talked about how God had made their direction VERY clear (cloud during the day and pillar of fire at night) and they still refused to obey and trust Him. My friend and I have seen how God has led us in our lives to this very day, how He has provided for all our needs in remarkable ways, how His grace is what keeps us going and able to bear the cross He has chosen for us, and how we have been blessed spiritually in ways that being healthy would never have done. 

What I took from this chapter was that I need to be brave and "go up" to whatever He leads me into in the future, trusting that He will continue to provide and will keep His promises. I can't stand still and stomp my feet and say, "No, God, I can't go there.  It's too frightening and look at all these things that could go wrong..."  I also realized how Satan can try to suggest that it's probably b/c God hates us that we have to deal with stuff like this or how others can suggest that we "must have some serious sin going on" ...instead of realizing that God only allows things that are for our spiritual good, even though they may be tough for our flesh. 

So we 

• cannot be found "murmuring in our tents" - but we can tell God exactly how we feel, laying our pleas before Him, trusting Him implicitly
• cannot listen to Satan or others who try to set up a case for us not to believe in God (at a time when we need Him most)
• cannot dread or be afraid of what lies ahead
• must believe that God keeps His promises, as He's proved in our past (like how He remarkably delivered the Israelites out of Egypt)
• must trust God for whatever lies ahead.

I was seriously so touched when I read this piece of scripture. It was very comforting.  I felt like God knew I needed to be reminded that, over and over in His word, He assures us of His constant presence, His unconditional love, His gentle leading, and His ultimate purpose of being glorified and us being enriched spiritually. It brings tears to my eyes as I type this.  How can we flounder and give in to doubt and lies....our God is an awesome God!!

Have a good day:)

XOXO

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Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. (Deut 1:8)
Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up [and] possess [it], as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. (Deut 1:21)
Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God: (v26)
And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (v 27)

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities [are] great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (v 28)

Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. (v 29)

The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; (v 30)

And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. (v 31)

Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, (v 32)

Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents [in], in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. (v 33)

Gold or Silver?

I'm sure we've all heard the little rhyme,

"Make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold."

This has proven true in a marvelous way in my life when I recently reconnected with my best friend from high school. After graduation our lives took us in different directions and we kind of lost touch for a bit.  We still chatted whenever we saw each other but the deep friendship that God blessed us with during our high school years wasn't quite what it used to be.  This year, however, this dear girl has become a very close friend again and I am so deeply grateful to God for this amazing blessing! She's a delightful person who always wants God to be her Focus, her Strength, her Guide and the One Who is always glorified!

She is the only one who always called me, "Sam" (so I guess that makes me "Sam Stam" now!) We've had lunch, phone calls, etc where we chatted heart-to-heart, erasing all the years of void.  What a precious gift!

This is just one of the many blessings this year has held for me but it's special and it's such a "God" thing that I just stand amazed (once again!).

More Stam Family excitement!

Carissa and Josh are engaged now too!  Now Doug & Yvonne have 2 girls getting married next year! Carissa & Josh haven't set a date yet but our family has lots to look forward to!  Congrats you guys.  We love you!