Out of NICU!

Just a quick update and praise. About 8:30 pm they brought Emma out of NICU. Tests will continue on an outpatient basis to monitor blood counts etc. She is now with mom in her recovery room and Lord willing she will be going home with mom as early as tomorrow or Friday. Thanks again for all the prayer.

Just a few of the answered prayers
How about the hundreds of prayers offered during the pregnancy that were answered - safety in the c-section, healthy baby, precision, clarity of thought and availability of her doctor to attend to the surgery - 10 fingers, 10 toes, etc.
Our kids at home handing well the time being away from us
Mom and Dad being available to watch them
Specifically the past couple days
Steph being given permission to transfer to Strong to be with the baby
Respiratory concern - baby was off the oxygen within 18 hours
Blood pressure concern - declared fully stable within 15 hours
Results of blood work back after 48 hours - negative (which is the good result)
Reticular good after one day (meaning she is working on making up red blood cells which she is short on)
No answers about why she is anemic but will be monitored as an outpatient - she has not yet needed to receive a blood transfusion
taken off IV's and out of NICU after just 60 hours - We were told best case scenario was 5 days in NICU
Taking well to feeding

We have been blessed beyond measure.

Continued prayer requests
- she has lost 10% of birth weight which is significant - for good feeding and weight gain
- she is Jaundice, that this will not get worse or hinder her departure time
- Steph's recovery (she is doing well, for it to continue)

We trust and hope that all our friends have joined us in being encouraged, amazed and increased in their faith by God's goodness and answered prayer on behalf of our little Emma Joy

Emma Joy - update

What a beautiful sight! Emma and mom had continued improvement yesterday. Autumn, Anna and Sarah came up for the first time (Sarah is too young for NICU) and had a good time meeting sister. They miss having us home although Grandma and Grandpa are taking great care of them.Then of course there was the beak/blanket - Dad's first little gift to Emma. I'm expecting goos, gaahs and smiles right?... not quite
...but she grew to like it!
Emma started eating yesterday and is doing well with it. Once they have confidence that she is eating enough and is responding well is when they will likely release her to mom's room. The other stipulation is tat some other tests come back negative today - 48hr turnaround.
Have a great day.

God is good, prayers continue to be answered. Let God be magnified!

Emma Joy - many prayers answered

Just getting a second to post this as an introduction to my sweet new Baby Daughter Emma Joy Putney.

The Stats:
11/26/07
18.5 inches
6lb 8oz
8:49am



The Story (in pictures)

No, I'm not robbing a bank, just taking the most flattering picture of myself that I could!


Mom is not liking pics being taken while in the midst of a c-section (take note fathers!)
This isn't the first pic but it tells the story of the level of care and monitoring they gave her at frst. Her respiratory rate was super fast (it seemed like her heart was going to beat out of her chest). Her blood pressure was very erratic and her skin was very pale. Park Ridge is a great hospital but not well equipped for babies that need extra care. Within a few hours they were setting up the transfer. Certainly an emotional moment as Emma was in transport and mom had to say goodbye for a few hours.O.K. - no story line but pics of baby feet sure are cuteMore than 24 hours after she was born, mom was finally holding emma!!!!

From the NICU (where she still is) to this pic - you can see how God has been so gracious to us - and so many thanks to all that have been praying. I will take time to list all the answers later...
but for now - my 3 older girls are coming to see Emma for the first time.

Mom: Stephanie is a blessing and a trooper. I have been blessed to see her faith and patience in the Lord as the baby was quickly taken to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Park Ridge and then hours later transfered over to Strong for a higher level of care and testing. She is getting around pretty well already and was transfered over to Strong herself last night to be with Emma. Finally this morning had the privilege of holding Emma for the first time. The outlook at first was at least a week in ICU - talk of blood transfusion, infection, disease etc...

Within 24 hours they are talking about having her come out in just a few days and all prognosis is excellent.

The many prayers of our dear friends and the Faithful God who answered them are to be thanked!

Happy Thanksgiving - Have a Psalm with that Turkey Leg

Take a minute to read and reflect on all God has done for us. This is a beautiful passage to spark our memories of His goodness and mercy. HINT: Might not be a bad passage to read before cutting into the bird at the table!

Psa 103:1 - Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psa 103:2 - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 - Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 - Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 - Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psa 103:6 - The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Psa 103:7 - He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
Psa 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 103:9 - He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
Psa 103:10 - He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psa 103:11 - For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 - Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 - For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15 - As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16 - For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psa 103:17 - But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
Psa 103:18 - To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psa 103:19 - The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psa 103:20 - Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psa 103:21 - Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psa 103:22 - Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.


This Psalm speaks wondrously of the eternal blessings and mercy God has poured out on us. If you then read Psalm 104 you see another theme of thanks and praise - the psalmist reflecting on the beauty of creation, God's care for man and beast and his glory in this temporal world He has allowed us to behold and be part of. It is a beautiful compliment to Ps 103. Then if you read Psalm 105 you get another psalm of praise, this time reflecting on God's merciful and miraculous dealings with man - recounting the deliverance of his people out of Egypt and into the promised land. And then.... you get the point - He is worthy of our praise!

BLESS THE LORD!

Mouth of the Lord

I was reading Joshua 9 this morning about the Gibeonites deception in making a league with Israel and the root cause of the success of this deception was that Israel did not ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

That phrase - like so many in scripture just stands out. So, using my trusty e-Sword I ran a phrase search and it turns out this phrase is found 11 times in Scripture.

In those 11 verses I think we learn 11 different truths regarding the mouth of the Lord - i'm sure there are many more and perhaps other phrases (like mouth of God - 2x MT 4:4 and 2 Chron. 35:22 etc) that would correspond.

Here they are at a quick glance - commenst, additional insight etc always welcome - just a quick wednesday morning topic study. I am thankful for the word of God this morning, and the ability to search it in so many efficient ways because of technology.

MOUTH OF THE LORD

1. A Christians necessary food – the Bible = the mouth of the Lord
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

2. Trouble comes when you don’t seek wisdom, discretion and guidance at the mouth of the Lord
Joshua 9:14 - And the men took of their victuals, and asked notcounsel at the mouth of the LORD.

3. Judgment comes from disobedience to the mouth of the Lord
1 Kings 13:21 - And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee... (look it up)

4. A true preacher/prophet speaks directly from the mouth of the Lord (source and authority)
2 Chronicles 36:12 - And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

5. If it comes from the mouth of the Lord, it will come to pass - TRUTH (this applies to all the points of course)
Isaiah 1:20 - But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (goes with #2)

6. The Mouth of the Lord has promised His Return and Rule
Isaiah 40:5 - And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

7. Blessings are available to us at the mouth of the Lord
Isaiah 58:14 - Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

8. The mouth of the Lord has promised us a New Name in Glory
Isaiah 62:2 - And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

9. The mouth of the Lord is looking for those to whom He can speak
Jeremiah 9:12 - Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

10. The mouth of the Lord will clarify who is a true or false prophet
Jeremiah 23:16 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

11. Safety and blessing are assured by the Mouth of the Lord
Micah 4:4 - But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Have a thankful day and seek wisdom from the mouth of the Lord - the KJV

Subtlety Sunday

(2Co 2:11) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

God gave a friend of mine a powerful message to preach a couple years ago in Zambia. That message demonstrated powerfully that Satan is no match at all for our Saviour Jesus Christ. He doesnt compete, he cant win, he cant even be pitted fairly against my Jesus.

Let me ask though, if today there was a broadcast on TV, radio and the papers that advertised the fight to end all fights - a bout that has the entire universe on the line - supreme authority for all of eternity over all of creation -
Yes, Jesus vs. Satan for control of the universe

What do you suppose would be the response?

We know Christ could look at Him, wave His hand, speak or just breathe toward him and it would be the end of this wicked enemy. It is only his longsuffering for the souls yet to be saved that He has stayed His wrath on this enemy and all that will reject Him. Yet I would venture to guess that there would be throngs and throngs of people that would rise up in support of Satan - millions if not billions that would somehow think that this will at least be a difficult fight - endless souls that would analyze the tale of the tape out of concern for who will win and what impact it would have on them...

Can I suggest that this was not the case from creation. Surely when God created Adam and Eve there was no consideration of someone that could challenge the Creator and yet somehow Satan began to sway people.

And as I'm certain we all know - he did it through subtlety.

If today, there are many that would at least think he'd be in the fight (perhaps even many professing Christians) then Satan has been making strides in accomplishing his goals.

Isa 14:13-14 For thou (Satan) hast said in thine heart,

1. I will ascend into heaven,
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
5. I will be like the most High.

Satan has used his subtle attacks throughout the generations to build for himself an army of followers to him, lulled others completely to sleep through false gods - money, cult beliefs, humanism, idolatry of celebrities and sports figures and rendered many of the third party - the saved, less effective through fear, through distractions, through allurements, through worldliness, through shedding doubt on the word of God etc etc.

He has much of the world sold on evolution and a worldview of everyone doing what is right in his own eyes. Past that, he has influenced a watered down Christianity where the souls of men, the thirst for the word and a literal belief of what it says is of little importance. God's word has not changed. Yet even though the words on the pages stays consistent with the KJV (which is always under attack) - the reverence for it and adherence to it have been thwarted. I fear a good part of Christianity would rather find ways to explain things away then study it out and recognize how we need to change.

Satan's will
(2Ti 2:26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

His will is to snare people, to take them captive and to bring them under his bondage and control through sin, addictions, worldly pleasures and worship of anything but the One True God

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Satan desires to keep the lost walking according to the course of the world and to convince the saved that the course of this world is not too bad and that it is ok to still take pleasure in most of it. His most effective strategy for this generation has been just taking the same old worldiness and attitudes, repackaging it and adding some religious verbage and trinkets to it.

God doesnt need snares, He doesnt need allurements - where Satan uses subtlety - God uses the most recognized event (The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in all of history to draw people in a clear manner away from the sin that was damning and turning them to that event.

It is that gospel and the living, cutting, sharp, fiery, hammerlike, unbound, true, perfect, preserved, holy, wonderful love letter that will accomplish what God pleases - The King James Bible in the hands of Christians who have the privilege to share it that does the work.

Almost done (purely for my journaling at this point - anyone else checked out 4 paragraphs ago)

Today I was reading in Numbers again and came across a word that I immediately recognized from a commonly quoted verse but I didnt remember having seen it anywhere else.

WILES -

(Num 25:18) For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.

WILE, n. A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or deception; a sly, insidious artifice.
That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6.
WILE, v.t. To deceive; to beguile.

You know the pattern for Numbers and here it is again - no matter how blatent God's power and deliverance was - the disciplines needed to avoid trouble drops, the standards for protecting the eyes, mind, heart and family are forsaken, the flesh starts getting its desires met and left unchecked - sin lieth at the door.

They didnt see it coming, they didnt intend for it to happen...but it did and not just the 2 involved paid the price but 24,000 others...

Why?

because the subtlety of the enemy gradually swayed people from God's will...

Lest Satan should get advantage of us - we must never be ignorant of his devices

Soul Winning Saturday

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

I would suggest that you can't spend a day of Bible reading, even a few chapters without passing verses that state God's purpose and desire - to be glorified in the restoration of people back to Himself through the shed blood of our risen Saviour Jesus Christ.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 -

God's primary interest is not in our hobbies, our bank accounts, our activities, our careers or even our families outside of how those things can be used to glorify His name so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven (Mt 5:13-16).

Today I continued in Numbers and again read multiple accounts of the way that man rebelled against God and His leadership He established through Moses
how God then responded in judgment on the people
how Moses and Aaron pleaded with God for a rescue
and how then God offered that rescue through various atonements like the serpent on the pole (all of which are a picture of THE Atonement of Jesus Christ)
this atonement allowed for a restored relationship with God.

In Psalms, you often cant go a few verses without seeing the desire that the sweet psalmist of Israel had for God to be magnified and individuals to turn to God

Psa 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Although this is context of physical help and deliverance -

• Who is more poor than the lost?
• Who is more needy than the lost?
• Who is more in the hand of the wicked one than the lost?
• Who is to deliver them?
• By WHOSE Power?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to deliver those who are right now how you once were - Condemned for their sin. They are taken captive by Satan at his will (2 Tim. 2:26)

Now is the only life we have and the only chance they have. That chapter ends with the wonderful promise of victory and rule that Christ will have

Psa 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

We have the privilege to influence some to worship Him for all of eternity.

Then in Psalm 83 is one of those chapters where the psalmist (Asaph) is praying for judgment and wrath to be poured out on the enemies of God.

This poses a problem for many because clearly we are told to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us and pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us.

How to reconcile - we do love them, bless them, do good to them... but we pray that God will do to them WHATEVER is necessary to humble them and bring them to seek him - see what I mean below

Psa 83:13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
Psa 83:14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
Psa 83:15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
Psa 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Psa 83:17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Psa 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

The prayer is that judgment will come upon them - this results in people seeing the judgment of God and having it impact them to consider their standing with him. (corporal punishment was ordained by God for that individual to change their ways). The prayer is that they are so leveled from thinking that everything is ok, that they are in control, that they dont need God, that they will never have to give account - to the point where they are broken and trembling before the holy God and that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

If that person doesnt break, convert and as a result impact others by his testimony of God's goodness to him... then the prayer continues that they even perish if necessary That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. (capital punishment was ordained by God to influence others to change their ways).

Our responsibility in interaction with people and witnessing is to love, bless, minister and overcome evil with good (Mt. 5:44-45; Rom 12:14). Remember, we dont love them by not giving them the truth with the grace - it is the law, and sincere warning of judgment by that law that is the schoolmaster that brings people to Christ.

Our hope and desire is that people will be saved by the wonderful goodness of God leading them to repentance (Rom 2:4)

Our prayer, though, should be that God will do whatever is necessary for that individual to be broken over their sin and put their faith in Christ.

I would rather a soul reach heaven because God brought tremendous and even painful circumstances in their life to break them instead of that soul going to hell having lived a prosperous and successful life by this worlds standards, amen?

Tell someone about Christ's mercy today!