Mercy drops...thank you

I am so very thankful for the mercy and grace of God that we have experienced over these past three days.

 "Holding on to the horns of the altar" is a Bible expression for appealing to God's mercy, as a literal place of asylum that people once ran to in times of trouble.

Our wee family have been literally "holding on" crying "mercy Lord." This has been since our son Stephen ran in the Murcia Marathon and collapsed, around the eighteenth mile, with a life-threatening heat stroke. 

John, in the book of Revelation, talks about 'the prayers of the saints' rising 'as incense, filling up a bowl of mercy' which is poured back out on earth* (Rev 5:8;8:4). This is not just a theology that is relegated to saints of a bygone era. I have found prayer in fact to be a really practical demonstration and release of the life-giving power of God moving today. I call it "kneeology". People from all over, bowing and kneeling, "standing in the gap" to see God move on the behalf of our son (Psalm 34).

So, so many to thank from so many continents.
Firstly our own LVV church family in Lisburn and our BCGC choir family.  We are so grateful for every encouraging message.

Prayer groups and individuals that have been actually praying through the night hours - we thank you. This has kept us going in our time of need.

It's just so great to have friends and family who have interceded on behalf of our big son to ensure he recovers from his coma.

He had been running alongside his brother David, and as Stephen was breathing heavily he encouraged David to run on. They had been training well over the past several months, but unfortunately he suffered a heat stroke causing four of his major organs to shut down completely!  "Heat stroke (also called heatstroke, sunstroke, or sun stroke) is a life-threatening medical emergency."

Thank you for praying - his temperature returned to normal after having been at 40 degrees.

My daughter in law, his lovely wife Bryony, was flown out to share in our bedside vigil. She was accompanied by our third son Jonathan. Having travelled specially from Northern Ireland the hospital  kindly made an exception, by letting them visit with him outside of regular visitation times.

Our faith in our faithful God and loving Saviour Jesus, has bolstered us all along in this crazy three day journey. We have been so so thankful for the nursing staff and medical team here in Murcia intensive care. They have all been exceptionally attentive. 

We even had a friend of one of our BCGC choir members, Daniel, who is Spanish, come and interpret and help sort practicalities for us. 

Also, when we were sitting reflecting here yesterday, we realised one of our main prayers yesterday was about translation. To quote my daughter-in-law Stef "the prayers of our family were well and truly answered. Yesterday we had:

1. A bi-lingual Irish-Spanish couple that are senior doctors; that worked with Bry's brother in law who live in Dublin but happen to be in Murcia for a short period come

2. The marathon organisers came to hospital for the first time and they spoke great English and were very supportive

3. A translator in the hospital was made aware of Stephens situation

4. The nurse this evening seemed to have clearer English than last night!!

5. An  English speaking social worker is also involved"

Even at the start, when we were 'in a flap', trying to communicate to the hospital admissions in English, we even had a Spanish person who taught English, hear us in our plight and assist us. She kindly helped us to track our son down by physically guiding us to the Intensive Care Unit.

Songs of faith, hope and love, new and old, have also helped sustain us through this crisis.

One is a song we sing in our Vineyard Church, which says:
"Mercy drops round us are falling, are falling, Mercy it falls like the sweet, sweet  rain...Mercy drops are falling on me." 

The other is a golden oldie..
"Jesus now more than ever,
We are sailing on stormy weather,
All God's children let's get together,
For we need Jesus now more than ever."

Yesterday I was encouraging myself by reading Psalm 34. Was it just coincidence that my FB news feed had the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing this very same Psalm?

  

There is something about praise and worship that causes us to be made aware of God's power and presence. Check out Jehoshaphat, Jonah and Paul the Apostle - "when they began to sing praises" God moved by His Spirit.

Today, Wednesday we have witnessed a modern day miracle in our precious boy; we now want to testify to the total recovery of our wonderful son. They have this morning continued to gently extubate him, as he regains strength on his own, to exit his coma. Hallelujah!

We are seeing him awake and alert for the first time in three days. He is trying to talk but is understandably still groggy.

We will be filling our visits in recounting back to him his ordeal.
We are ever thankful that he shall soon being restored back to us as his cheerful self.
To know Stephen is to love him.
He has a glint in his eye and is full of good banter and craic.
He has a swagger to His step, confident in who he is and has become.
If you call with him to buy a suit, beware, you could be suited and booted in fashionista style - mention my name and he might just throw you a stylish tie into the bargain!:)

His brothers jokingly remarked "that when he is well that they'll give him a diggin!"(Norn Iron love - letting him know he has gone through an awful ordeal).

A song from my childhood that encourages my heart: (Yes the famous red backed Redemption Hymnal)

1. I serve a risen Savior

  He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living,

  Whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy;

  I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him

  He’s always near. 

Chorus

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

    He lives within my heart.

2. In all the world around me

  I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary,

  I never will despair;

I know that He is leading,

  Through all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing

  Will come at last.

3.Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

  Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

  To Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him,

  The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

  So good and kind.

A massive thank you to everyone for standing with us in our hour of need.

We hope to have him back with us in Belfast on Tuesday 11th February.

"God answers prayer in the morning, 

God answers prayer at noon, 

God answers prayer in the evening, 
So keep your heart in tune!"

#Jesus,the same,yesterday,today andforever

#FaithfulGod

#Jesusjustthementionofyourname

#Prayerwarriorsaremyfriends

#PrinceofpeaceyetpowerfulGod

#Way maker,Miracle worker,Promise keeper,Light in the darkness.

#Jesusnowmorethanever

#Abundant&EternalLifeassured

#Withfaithwecanmovemountain

#Mercydropsroundusarefalling

#Thankyouforpraying

#ItsthepresenceofyourSpiritLordweneed