Wednesday Afternoon, Day 6

For those that do not know the MacCallisters personally, they have a long history in our valley. Having worked at the camp for close to 20 years, Dennis and Katie have raised their family in our tight-knit community.  Having raised their kids up in sports, they are extremely well known as coaches, organizers, football players, runners, softball players, watergirls......you name it, they've done it.  And as word of Jerry's ordeal has made it's way around our local community, it seems like everyone has opened their hearts to this story.

Everyone I know is looking for a miracle for Jerry.  Today, as I drove over to see Jerry along with our boss and his wife, we got to talking about miracles.   Jim, the Executive Director of the camp that both Dennis and I work at, was reminding me about the many, many miracles of Jesus found in the Bible.  

If you read any of the recorded accounts, such as those of the nobleman's son (John 4:46-54), the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12), the man healed by the pools (John 5:1-15), the healing of the Centurion's servant (Luke 7:1-10), or the widow's son (Luke 7:11-17) you will see that the miracles never happened the same way twice.  Sometimes Jesus came into a situation because he was asked, sometimes simply because he walked by.  Sometimes all that he used was the faith of those who asked him,  sometimes just his words.  Sometimes it was the faith of those surrounding the person who needed healing.

God's ways are different than our ways, and His timing and His methods are higher than ours.  So as we watch for the complete recovery of Jerry, we can rest in knowing that God's timing is always spot on.  That His methods are always correct.  And that we can trust Him to heal Jerry in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time.

I had the incredible privilege of seeing Jerry today.  I got to hold his hand, flip his TV channel, pray for him, and even help the nurse to shift his pillow.   Seeing him for myself I am more certain than ever that a true miracle is in store for this family.  

Please join all of us today by praying for a complete and total recovery for Jerry.  

Pray that his eyes would be lifted.  Pray that the sunshine that streams into his room would feel like a balm being poured all over his body.  Pray that as he remains intubated that his parents, doctors and nurses would have supernatural abilities to understand his needs and desires.  Pray that he would have patience as he communicates, and that he would be overwhelmed with peace.

As we continue to lift Jerry in prayer, Katie and Dennis have also shared some ways that they have concretely seen God's answers to your prayers.  The list is long, but here are a few:

First, Jerry may be feeling some sensation along his arms and chest areas--doctors are still trying to determine exactly what is occuring.  But this feels like an encouraging sign as his body begins to emerge from the trauma of the accident.   He was also able to spend some time today un-intubated.  They doctors are slowly giving his lungs opportunity to expand, and today they were satisfied with the way Jerry's respiratory system responded.   

It is also amazing to see the hope and determination in the eyes of Dennis and Katie.  The prayers of many have made an amazing difference in these two parents.  Both have been able to eat well and sleep well, and both are feeling encouraged and hopeful.  Please pray for the Lord's continuing protection over Dennis and Katie, and over Jerry's siblings, Josh, Janea and Jessica.

We are also continuing to have some exciting things happen as the support for this family grows.  To the many of you that have donated to the MacCallisters via PayPal, your gifts have been received and we will be mailing you a receipt shortly.  Redwood Christian Park has opened the Jerry MacCallister Assistance Fund, and all of your tax deductible gifts to this family will channeled through this account to them directly.  If more money is given then is needed by the MacCallister family, then any excess will be given to other families facing this sort of challenge at the discretion of the MacCallisters.   

Plans are still in the works for a series of fundraisers, and a meeting time and place will soon be announced.   If you are interested in joining this group of organizers, please send me an email and I will direct it to those that are heading these plans.

Please do continue to comment often to this blog--the MacCallisters appreciate it immensely and will post their own messages (and pictures) to you very soon.

Gratefully,

Marci

marci@redwoodchristianpark.com