Miracles?

Over the past week, I've asked for prayers for my friend Anne and for her Dad, Bill.

Last Saturday, in the midst of the birthday party craziness, my phone dinged with several text messages.  The first was from Anne's sister-in-law and only said that Anne's dad had been rushed to the hospital, Anne and Seth were on their way and they needed prayers.

My heart dropped.

I could barely focus on the party for a few minutes.  The fact that my parents and Chad's parent where there with us made it even more "real".....we were celebrating while my friend was in a rush to get to her Dad....a long 6 hour drive full of fear and anxiety I was sure...and honestly, I didn't have a good feeling.

In my circle of friends, we have a friend, Stacey who lost her Mom in December.  She lost her Dad five years earlier.  The loss of parents has hit too close to home for me lately....and the news about Anne's Dad wasn't too comforting.

But, I did what I knew I was supposed to do...I prayed...and while I didn't interrupt the entire party to tell each of our guests, I made sure to keep Chad updated and in between games and food and presents and cake I made time to search for any new information I could....I kept my phone close by, prayed silently in my head, and hoped - hoped like never before - that Anne's dad would be okay.  I knew that my dear friend would NOT be okay if anything other than a miracle happened....

Over the next few hours, we learned that Anne's Dad had been with her brother - 2 states away - and had suffered what they originally thought was a heart attack - turns out, he didn't have a heart attack - but, he did collapse and his heart stopped beating.  Anne's brother had to perform CPR while his friend went to call 911.  He had to perform CPR for a long time.  He saved his Dad's life - and while I'm sure he doesn't like being called a hero - that is what he is - without his quick actions the result would have been different.  I'm certain that God was with him, helping him through those    l  o  n  g    minutes of anxiety and panic while he was saving his dad.  I've done CPR before and the adrenaline rush is like no other....I can't imagine having to do that on a loved one.

So, over the past few days, we've been getting updates here and there from Anne and the details have started to come together.  His heart went into V-Fib.  He has a blocked artery.  He will have to have surgery on Monday.  With all of the events of the weekend, her Dad is okay....and he has a long road ahead of him, but he is okay.  She has shared stories of his faith and their emotional roller coaster and their prayers.  She shared that they had read Psalm 23 together - and then, just by chance (really, chance?) we all read Psalm 23 together in our small group on Wednesday night.  It is obviously God's work that her Dad is still here and doing so well.  A miracle yes....but God's miracle for sure!

Anne sent this email today and I asked if I could share it.  It is just another example where everything lined up just as it should have for the events to end the way they did....coincidence?  You can decide for your self....I feel certain there is a greater reason behind it all.

The email from Anne:

Everyone,
 
Thank you again so much for all of the phone calls, texts, emails, offers to help with the kids, offers to help with things in daily life, and most importantly prayers.  We have been on an emotional rollercoaster, but all we can keep saying is Thanks be to God!  We have experienced so many miracles this week....Billy being in Roanoke with my dad with his best friend, the four wheeler that Billy took to Roanoke for my dad just happened to not work on Saturday (if it had they wouldn't have all been together..my dad has 80 acres of land they were playing on) and it worked on Sunday when Seth went to pick it up, my brother knowing how to perform CPR since he hasn't been trained on it for over 15 years, my brothers friends walking the 200 yards to his car to grab his cell phone and when he picked it up my brother yelled to call 911 at the same moment, my mother in law being in town so Seth and I could leave within 25 minutes of getting the phone call, my sister in law being with my mom and they deciding to go shopping at the smaller mall that happened to be right by the hospital, the one doctor that fought for the ultrasound of my dad's left main artery (others thought the ultrasound wasn't necessary since he had not suffered a heart attack), the rainbow God put in the sky the second I found out how serious everything was while Seth in I were in route to Virginia.  How could one not believe?  I have always known that God could perform miracles at any time but I can't explain how powerful it is to experience it first hand.  
 
My dad is going to have double bypass surgery and an eblation procedure on Monday morning.  They are watching him and he is extremly stable so they are wanting to wait till Monday morning as long as everything remains the same.  Please continue to pray for my dad, my brother, my mother, the doctors that will be performing the surgery, the nurses taking care of my dad.  As you can see the power of prayer is amazing.  We have felt all of your prayers over the past week and we are so incredibly grateful.  My dad just keeps telling me to let everyone know how grateful he is for everything.  
 
God has a plan and he has big things in store for my dad.  Just look at all the people he is witnessing to throughout this entire process.  
 
Love,
Anne

Please continue to pray for Anne's Dad and her entire family.  Obviously, I don't want my dear friend or her family to have to deal with anything other than the best possible outcome but I have also learned to pray for God's will to be done.  God has let wonderful things happen for Anne's dad over the past few days.  I hope he continues to carry him in the palm of his hand!

These 2 verses are especially powerful in a time like this - I hope they speak to you as much as they have to me over the past few days!

Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Please continue to pray!  The power of prayer is amazing!