God’s Care

Normally, I would post here my study, notes and musings on the passage I’m using for my Sunday sermon. Last week, I was unable to post due to a health issue. So, for those who follow my blog I wanted to share what is going on and when I hope to be back. 

On September 22, my wife and I left for brief vacation following the morning worship service at our church. We were traveling to Southwest Colorado where we enjoy seeing the fall colors get very vivid and beautiful in the high mountains. I also enjoy the chance to trout fish a little, while there. 

We had enjoyed several days of beautiful weather, gorgeous fall colors and some nice fishing. On Wednesday, I began to develop an infection in my toe and by that evening I was running high fever with chills. We were scheduled to take a train ride the next morning and I was desperately trying to fight off whatever this was. After fighting high fever all night I awoke with the realization that we were not going to ride the train and I needed medical attention. 

Now I must tell you, this is where my stupidity and macho attitude almost did me in. Whenever I get sick, I just want to be home and in my own bed. Give me that and enough time and I tend to believe I’ll be fine and I usually am. Admittedly, I’m a bit stubborn and on Thursday morning this was apparent. We went looking for a local urgent care clinic in a nearby town. None existed and the closest was 20 miles west, away from home. I told my wife to turn east, towards home. In my mind, it was best to work our way towards home and not away from it. 

In the next town, we did find an urgent care clinic and we registered for the next available appointment. While we waited, my infection and fever continued to rage. Once we were called into the exam room, the staff began assessing me and took my temperature five times with three different instruments. They just didn’t believe that I could be running a 104 degree Fahrenheit temperature. The doctor stepped to examine me and stated, “I want you to go straight to the ER – it’s across the street on the corner. I’m calling them now so they’ll be ready for you.”

Now, this where things get interesting and critical. I wanted to just go home. Sometimes we make choices without realizing the potential long term effects of those choices. Sometimes God uses strategic intervention and we only recognize it, as such, much later. When we get into our car, I tell my wife, Tina, “just take me home. I’ll go to the ER in Oklahoma City.” She responds with much greater wisdom and very firm resolve, “We aren’t going anywhere until YOU go to the ER!”

We make the short trek over to the ER and I’m quickly placed in a large examination room. The staff immediately begins taking blood samples, checking vital signs and closely examining the infection site. The doctor comes in and begins to quiz me on any allergies and I tell him that I’m allergic to penicillin and sulfa- based antibiotics and that I recently had a bad side effect from doxycycline. I never want anything to do with doxycycline ever again – but that’s another story. The doctor suggests that my supposed allergy to penicillin is probably out of date, since it’s from a time even prior to my memories. He decides to put me on Ampicillin and monitor my reaction for any indication of anaphylactic symptoms. 

Let me shorten this, I was admitted to this small hospital in Southwest Colorado and treated with IV antibiotics for five days. When I considered requesting a transfer, I clearly heard in my head, “this isn’t about the size of the facility, it’s about the quality of the hospital staff.” Later, the admitting physician told me that if I had tried to make the eleven hour drive home without getting medical attention first, I would not have survived the trip. In fact, they were concerned they would be unable to avoid amputation as a means of saving my life. 

I’m happy to report that I experienced not only great medical care in this tiny hospital, but I also encountered our awesome God in incredible ways during my time there. I was awoken each morning, around 3 am, to get another dose of antibiotics. During that time, I experienced some fantastic worship and an incredible sense of God’s presence and grace. 

Let me leave you with this thought, if we come to God in prayer and present to Him all of our cares, needs and dreams then when we walk away we MUST be willing to leave those things with Him and leave only with His sufficiency. Consider all of the Jehova-compounds from the OldTestament. Jehova-shalom: when we need peace and wholeness, He is all we need. Jehovah-nissi: when we need direction, He is our banner directing our way. Jehovah-jireh: whatever we need, He is our provider. Jehovah-rapha: when we need healing, He’s all we need. There are several more of these, but I want you to consider one that is often missed, Yeshuah. It is the common name Joshua or the Aramaic Jesu, or the English Jesus. It means, Jehovah is SALVATION. 

In that sense, the name of Jesus is the name above all names. He is the epitome of and fulfillment of all of the Jehovah-compounds. HE is all we need. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus to depend on anything and anyone other than God for His needs. Jesus refused, we must too. So, go to God with all your cares and concerns but leave them there and come away satisfied that He’s ALL you need.