"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you." Deut 31:6
Yestarday was a very difficult day. Nathan needed a lot of blood, in fact he needed approx 16 units of red blood cells along with numerous other blood products. Our God is an awesome God, He created man in such a way that blood could be used to spare lives. God used His creation to spare Nathan's life yestarday. He is still very critical and is at risk for many other problems but yet despite the medical fields view on Nathan we see God's hand at work in him. Last night we were told that there may be further infection in various areas. At this time they are just watching Nathan closely. He will not be undergoing surgery any time soon (as of time of writting) because Nate is still very critical. We have much to be thankful for, Nate's hemoglobin levels have stabilized at time of writting and they have even been able to decrease Nate's blood pressure medication. Nathan's blood pressure has held steady even though they increased the dialysis machine to remove more fluid. Speaking of dialysis I think I should explain.. Nathan has kidney failure, this has been an on going thing since Wednesday, they placed Nate on dialysis after his first surgery and has been on it ever since. It has been very beneficial to help stabilize him and to help remove some of the increase fluid build up.
Our Heavenly Father has been so merciful and gracious to us. He has given Nathan another morning with us. He has allowed Nathan and I to spend time together in prayer and song (even if I can't sing so well) God has been so gracious in so many ways and as family and friends we have much to be thankful for. Please continued to praise our Heavenly Father for the blessings He has given us and pray that He will continue to sustain Nathan, myself, our parents, family and friends as we go on together in faith.
"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103: 1-5
Please continue to pray.
Nathan and Aileen,
ReplyDeleteDo know that we constantly are thinking of you guys, your family, the kids, and the other family, also in prayer and in silent moments.
We check the blog every few hours so we can live with you in these times of need.
Glorious to see and read that the Lord is like a shepherd who looks over his flock and is constantly in care with them. Through dark valleys and green pastures, and also to know that He will make a feast for ever in Heaven. We also think of and pray for all the nursing staff who have to act so quickly.
We will keep in touch and are bound in the Lord.
What a gift to be able to write that Nathan has lived to see another day. We are so grateful that not only is Nathan being carried by the Great Physician, but also you Aileen are getting the strength to write what you do. That does not mean that there are no times of fear or distress, but it does give those emotions a certain perspective. We will again spend our day-this Lord's Day-with you all in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and prayers continue to be with you, Nathan & Aileen and family. May our Heavenly Father grant strength to you during this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteLove, Jay & Denise VanderHoeven & girls
May God continue to give you strength and courage. His hand alone will guide you and may His perfect will be done! Our prayers are continally with all of you.
ReplyDeleteDeut. 31:6 says it all! How comforting those words must be! We are praying for God's care and mercy over you all as you travel down this avenue of your lives. He is indeed an awesome God!
ReplyDeleteNathan & Aileen, Taryn & Aiden & extended family,
ReplyDeleteWe are fervently praying for you all. Words cannot articulate the concern and worry we and so many others feel for you in this very difficult time. We are so thankful and awestruck to see how God is granting you strength; may He also grant you His peace that surpasses all understanding and may He continue to sustain you.
In addition to all the personal and family prayers from this week, today there will be many congregational prayers ascending as God's people meet. May you feel carried and surrounded by these also.
All our love,
Ike & Heather,
Anna, Scott, Andrew & Ryan Groenwold
Nathan, Aileen, and family:
ReplyDeletePraying for you all constantly. Your blog is such a witness to how God gives strength to those who need it. It is my prayer this will continue ... may you all continue to find in Him your refuge and comfort. How amazing that we can praise Him in midst of tears and heartache, even - An awesome God He is, truly!
In Christ,
Jenn Harink
Nathan, Aileen, and family:
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you! May God give you His love and comfort during this time.
Rob&Anita Helder
Aileen, Nathan, Taryn and Aidan
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the strength I can see in your words. I know this comes from your faith in our heavenly father. I hope and pray that he continues to give you such strength. For you and Nate and both of your families. I believe you can take some comfort in the incredible response of our christian family to help and pray for you. It is truly amazing the amount of caring and compassion.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God
Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare
his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that
condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is
also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: " For your sake we face death all
day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Do not hesitate to call.
Much love, Christina and Dez
Nate, Aileen and family,
ReplyDeleteToday also you are continually in our prayers. We do not know what lies ahead, but trust that God will work all things to His honour and glory. May He continue to grant you strength as you go day to day and may you be carried in His loving arms.
Love from Mike, Beth and Russell Stel
Dear Nathan, Aileen and family,
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is such an awesome gift that the Lord has given Nathan another day. It is also amazing to see the strength that He gives as each of us requires. He is steadfast and faithful. We need only rely on our Gracious God for everything that we need and He will provide for us. Not a hair can fall from our heads without His will. This is God's plan and we have to trust Him no matter what may happen. Prayer is a powerful thing and we have a most awesome and powerful God who answers prayer all the time. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Please do not hesitate to call for anything.
Love, Hendrik, Sue and Lily
Nathan, Aileen and Family
ReplyDelete"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort , who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We are continually praying for you and pray that the Lord will give you all that you are in need of as each day passes. We thank the Lord that He has been with you, and has guided that hands of the doctors. Let us know if there is anything that we can do...we are just down the road.
Thinking of you,
Tim and Virginia, Owen
Dear Aileen, Nathan and your loved ones
ReplyDeleteWe just want you to know that we are continuously thinking of you and upholding you in our prayers during this time. We'd like to share these words from Psalm 34:
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." (vs. 17-20)
Mike and Amanda Nederveen
Dear Aileen, Nathan, family and extended family,
ReplyDeleteAs we continuously read the blog, the thought comes to mind "Precious to the Lord are the prayers of His saints". As you together go through another storm in your lives, we pray that you continue to experience the nearness of our Heavenly Father as the storm rages. He is our guide and constant hope. Continue to find comfort in His Word and the strength to continue forward, accepting what this storm brings with it. "Be still and know that I am God". You are all safe in His hands.
Jim and Dorothy Kingma
Our thoughts and prayers are constantly with you. May God continue to give you the strength and trust you are displaying so beautifully and allow you all to continue to be a witness to His glory! His plan is an awesome plan, the details unknown to us, and His grace and mercy abundant even in terribly difficult times! Many of us who do not know you personally continue to uphold you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Bob and Janine Janssens; Kerwood Can. Ref. Church
Nate&Aileen
ReplyDeleteYou and your families are constantly in our thoughts and prayers.
How comforting that we know our Heavenly Father will not give us more than we can handle, and He sustains all.He will turn all bad to our good.
Thinking and praying for you.
Dan&Alyssa
Klayton,Reagan Vis
Nathan, Aileen and families. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. We wish you much strength and comfort in whatever the future brings. Konny and Ann DeBoer
ReplyDeleteDear Nate & Aileen, Tarn, Aiden and Family
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you every moment of the day! May God conitune to grant you all the strengh you may need in this time. What a blessing to have such a wonerful Father who without His will not a hair can fall from are heads! We once were told God does not give samples of stength but rather an abundace. We are thankful to see this strenght in you as well . when your feeling down even then our God Is with you! Loving you all!
Herman& Jolene, KAitlyn.
p.s I sent a cd from this mornings sermon and a cd player with some goodies with John & Shirely Hope tehy get to you soon Love again=:))
Nathan, Aileen and family.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I signed on to see how Nathan was doing and wanted to send a message. A message that would point to Christ, our Savior. A message that would give strength and renew your faith in the Almighty God..
Instead, reading about Nathan's and your faith and trust, you gave me strength. Renewed my faith. So I thank you for sharing your struggles and your hope in God alone. For sharing yourself and your trust in God.
May God be with you and be with all of us, as you travel this journey. For you are traveling on the KING'S highway.
May He shelter us under His wings,
Andy and Gery VandenHaak.
Dear Nathan, Aileen and family,
ReplyDeleteLast year my family was upheld by our awesome God who heard the prayer of many, many people, a lot of whom I had never met, but who are walking the same road, who look to our Saviour for help and comfort! It is my prayer that He may give you all that you need today for I know He provides abundantly!
Marg Nobel
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
ReplyDeleteAlthough we do not know what the future hold, We know who holds the future! May you continue to look to HIM for all your comfort and strength- for he surely will provide. Your being remembered in our prayers daily.
Jason & Melissa Oosterhoff Family
"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"
Psalms 27.14
"...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:3-5
ReplyDeleteProvidentially, this was the word of God that was proclaimed to us this morning. He indeed strengthens His people through suffering and the outcome must bring glory to His Holy name and hope for His people! How beautiful to see and experience this through your faith and trust in Him, Aileen. He is upholding you by His power and He will never leave or forsake you. We are sure that He will hold you close in His loving arms and give you the perseverance that He has promised to those who believe in Him!
Praying for you, Eric and Rhonda Jans and family
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen."
Romans 11:33-36
Nathan and Aileen and family:
ReplyDeleteWe wish you the Lord's strength in the days ahead. We will continue to keep you and your family in are thoughts and prayers.
Love from James and Sarah Vis
Nathan and Aileen and Family:
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy to hear that Nathan has fought, and is with us today. May the Lord be with you and your family as you continue on this unknown path. I pray for strength, and courage for all of you to face the days uncertainties. Continue to go to him for all you need....
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth him.
Psalm 34:7
Love your cousin Angela and Ryan Baroldi
Nathan and Aileen and family
ReplyDeleteWe are also remembering you in our thoughts and prayers. May our Heavenly Father continue to uphold and strengthen you during this difficult time. He never promised us an easy road, but he did promise to to be with us always as we journey on towards His coming. Praise Him for that!
Wim and Joanne Aalbers and family
Nathan, Aileen and Family,
ReplyDeleteWe continue to remember you in our prayers, and pray that the Lord will give you all the comfort and strength that you need as you face this difficult trial in your life.
Bart and Laurie Ludwig & family
Grassie Covenant Canadian Reformed Church
Nathan, Aileen and loved ones,
ReplyDeleteToday the prayers of many were brought before our Father's throne on your behalf. We pray that God may continue to grant strength and endurance to you all. We ask that healing be brought to Nathan, but above all that His will be done.
In His grip, Jason & Linda & boys