God Is Able: Praise Jesus and Pray for Mike

We pray to the God who does immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) Because God is able.

The last 2 weeks, I’ve shared our journey since my husband’s heart attack on November 18. Mike’s been in critical care now for a month. Yesterday, Mike had open-heart surgery to remove the temporary heart pump and place the permanent heart pump into his lower heart below the Left Ventricle.

The surgeon explained the risks during and after surgery and possible complications. The OR nurse called my phone every 2 hours for updates during the surgery. Finally, the heart surgeon consulted with me and my family.

Praise Jesus the surgery went well. We’re so grateful.

God Is Able

But we continue to pray to our God who is able. Here are a few ways to pray:

• They are watching his blood output from the drainage tubes coming from his chest. If it keeps increasing, he may have to go back to OR to find the source, clean, and fix. We knew this possiblilty for after surgery.
• For his kidneys, they put in a dialysis line on most of these surgeries, just in case, but so far his kidneys are doing well.
• For his continued recovery in the next 2-3 weeks to get stronger.

Again, we are so thankful for all of the 1000’s of prayers, messages of concern and care, and support coming from all of you and from around the world. To God be the glory.

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Remember Who God Is in the Storm: Pray for Mike

Friend, are you in the middle of a storm right now? My hand’s raised. Last week I shared the story of my husband’s heart attack 3 weeks ago and how he’s still in critical care. But we can remember who God is in the storm.

Although this is undoubtedly one of the darkest storms of our lives. We continue to trust in our God and remember who He is.

Because embracing what we know is true about God strengthens our heart, gives understanding and peace to our minds, and keeps us focused on God—especially smack dab in the middle of a storm.

And it’s not if but when we find ourselves in one of life’s storms. So let’s look at some truths about God that help us in the storms of life.

Remember Who God Is – In Control

(1.) Living. Our God is alive and well. Jeremiah compares man-made idols to the living God. “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God.” Jeremiah 10:10 (ESV)

Mike will have open heart surgery next week to place a permanent heart pump. Over the last 3 weeks and while Mike awaits surgery, we worship a living God who hears our pleas and prayers for healing and care over him.

(2.) God Does What He Says He Will Do. Look at Numbers 23:19, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (ESV)

During this storm of Mike’s heart failure, we rest in how God is always faithful to His promises. You see, God is the ultimate promise keeper.

(3.) In control. “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27 (ESV)

We find such comfort knowing that no one or no-thing can thwart God’s plan for Mike. Even though we continue to pray for his medical team’s wisdom and for healing, Mike’s life rests in the 

We find such comfort knowing that no one or no-thing can thwart God's plan for Mike. Even though we continue to pray for his medical team's wisdom and for healing, Mike's life rests in the Lord. Share on X

Remember Who God Is – Light

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Matters of the Heart: Pray for My Husband

The phrase Matters of the heart describes our deep feelings. Emotions like joy, love, discouragement, sadness, surprise, and others.

This story contains all these emotions and more.

You see, the love of my life and my husband of 40 years has been in critical care for two weeks.

On a Tuesday afternoon, my husband Mike drove himself to our local hospital ER with chest pains and shortness of breath.

He called me at work when he arrived. But before I even made it to the hospital, they determined he had a heart attack and wheeled him back for a heart Cath.

Matters of the Heart

When the cardiologist talked to our daughter and me, he relayed blockage in several major arteries. Stents were not possible at the time because of the damage. 

Scary words and phrases wafted through the air taking my breath away: Acute heart failure, Cardiogenic Shock—injury to liver and kidneys. And, “The heart pump we surgically placed saved his life.” 

So my heart sank into my stomach, aching over the state of my husband’s physical heart. We cried many tears and prayed many prayers waiting to see him. And moments I felt it wasn’t real. This is a bad dream, right? Wrong. It was our reality. 

My Matters of the Heart

In the wee hours of the morning, the ICU team made the decision to transport him to a hospital four hours away for a step-up heart pump and great cardiac team. The care team suggested at 3:00 AM we go home to rest a while and pack some things before we made the drive ourselves.

But with Mike not sleeping in the bed beside me and our sweet pug, Winston, already with a friend, only tears fell until I fell asleep for a couple of hours. Still, waking up only made me keenly aware of the nightmare and journey I was on.

We made it to the hospital. And thankful our son flew in from Minnesota the day we arrived. 

A Roller Coaster of Emotions

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV)

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