Plans change…

Thank you all for the prayers lately! I posted a while back my prayer request for the surgery I was scheduled to have this week. That surgery plan has changed to next week…

My surgery was originally scheduled for October 9. Some friends and family mentioned a gentleman from our hometown who had went through a tough time with brain tumors. The doctor he was referred to was up in Chicago, IL and it was suggested I meet the doctor to see what options were available as the gentleman had great success in Chicago and as I’m told credits his life to the doctors in Chicago.

So here’s my story:

It was suggested I talk to this doctor up in Chicago. My wife called them and a receptionist spoke with her and took some information. A nurse then called her and spoke some more and suggested I come for a consult. This whole time I really disregarded these calls but said I’d go to see what they said. The consult could not be scheduled until October 1.

At the end of September I was invited to a men’s Christian conference down in Monroe, Louisiana called Dry Bones. Recap video below:

Ok, on with Dry Bones. It was here I was able to pause in the madness of life, worship my heavenly father, and be fed from the word of God. During this time the word in my heart was you’re not having surgery on the 9th of October. Of course my mind heard that as you’re not having surgery. I got excited.

Now this conference was on a Sunday evening after spending the morning in church at Pauline Baptist at home with my family. Also, that morning in Sunday School I jotted in my notebook (it was my first time I carried this notebook as usually I jot notes in my bible but wanted to have more space) Psalm 56:8. Back to that verse in a moment…

So, at Pauline that morning my pastor, Rob Leonard, preached on the power of the word of God. So from church that morning to the time at Dry Bones that evening as I told someone my cup was overflowing.

So, I finally went up to Chicago. We left early the morning of the 1st and returned that night late. This story is long but I liked many things this surgery team talked about but I really liked how it was presented as a team surgery where care would come from multiple doctors during the surgery. Knowing my previous struggles the team will be monitoring the surgery from multiple aspects. I’ll be in Chicago for almost three weeks as the surgeon and team check everything out.

*Takeoff from Little Rock early in the morning heading to Chicago*

So, my surgery is rescheduled to October 16th. I’ll be a long way from home in a big city but I believe I’ve been guided by the hand of God to this place.

Leaving Chicago at sunset

As we flew back home from Chicago that night I looked through my notebook and saw the note I jotted down from Sunday School two Sundays ago. I did not write any notes on the conversation just jotted the verse down. As I saw it in my notebook I looked it up and was floored…

You yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? – Psalm 56:8 (CSB)

I read the notes from my bible. It talked about the wanderings also being called misery or struggles in other translations. So, the God of the universe takes my struggles and places them in a bottle and records them in his book. Too many times I think God should answer my prayers immediately (on my time) but as I’ve mentioned before I see his work the most when I look back on my life.

He’s got a list!

Remember: