www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Deacon Stan

Y'all Deacon Stan said he can feel the prayers. They were trying to put a stint/shunt something like that, in his arm today so maybe he can come home for a few days, with no success. However, he said the whole time he was able to pray through it for their success with little pain or discomfort. I guess the viens are too small. They are going to try again tomorrow in the other arm. It is in God's hands. Thank you so much, each one of you and you are in our prayers also.

God bless you all for your generosity for these unworthy souls. Pani Rose

Dear Pani Rose:

Jason was nice enough to email me and tell me about Stan. So here I am.

There is a season for all things� and at times the Good Lord asks us to suffer with him for a awhile. We do so with patience and trust until the moment he lifts the cross from us. There is nothing more sure in this world than the sun � will rise again.

May the grace of the God of us all - make himself known to you - in this season of endurance. May the peace of good conscience and good intentions be with you and still the waters.

His Will � is done. Nothing happens without His permission. May He reveal his will so that we may do it in all things within our own hearts.

My concern and intentions are with you and Stan just as your own have always been for us.

-ray

Ray I am glad to hear from you, have been meaning to write to you. Actually before all of this happened Stan dreamed he was a wilderbeast attacking and elephant and he won. I guess now the dream makes sence now Hope you are doing well.

DEAR FORUM FAMILY,

I was gonna let everyone know that we were able to bring him home this evening. GLORY TO GOD! Your prayers are working. He has been asleep ever sence he came home.

They were able to get the stint in his arm so they can give him the antibiotic here at home. He said when they changed the dressing today there was very little pain. To me that means the infection is loosing and a nurse will come everyday to change the dressing.

He has to weigh everyday if he puts on three pounds in two days he has to get to the doctor. His next appt. is in two weeks. Hopefully, they will be able to maintain as God heals his heart. I beleive that he will not have to have the surgery - or at the very least it won't be quadruple. With God all things are possible! But then the doctors can do what they do because he has given them the wisdom to do it. So either way God wins, to him be the victory!

Pani Rose

My continued prayers dear sister...your names are being sent off right now for another commemoration tomorrow at the Holy Table.

With much love,
Alice

Continued prayers you and Deacon Stan...

james

You may find it interesting to note that the Hebrew word we translate to 'serpent' in the narration of the garden... has a wide meaning. It is sometimes translated in other sections of scriptures to be a whale (huge fish) or dragon or elephant, etc... the best word we have for it is leviathan - which indicates any huge animal like nature.

Taken literally (for the sake of the narration) the serpent in the garden is to be seen as a python - a huge - snake. Large enough to swallow Eve. The python was also typically used as a representation of divinity (a god) within the Greek cosmogonies. So we can see here the image of animal nature �swallowing� up our spiritual nature. We must keep in mind that the narrations of Genesis are (as the early Councils of the Church tell us) a cosmogony (neither a literal history nor legends and fanciful myth). Within the early Council documents Genesis is called �the cosmogony of Moses�.

The thought or picture here is our animal nature (body nature) which we share with other animals. Saint Paul calls it the �law of the members� (the �members� being the way they indicated the parts of the body). Therefor it is the lower �mind� of habits and animal nature which belong to the soma (our animal nature) which we share with other animals. It is often represented as a dog (non-discriminatory as to its food) in scriptures.

I think you get the picture.

This dream and the current events happening to Stan are joined. They are saying - the same thing. A repetition. In other words the dream was not a precursor to this current illness - both (the dream and the illness) are say the same thing in different �words� (if you know what I mean). Yu are being told the same thing in different ways. The meaning and effects of both - are yet to be. The grace has been given and the seeds planted - to grow in due process of Providence. Tell Stan to be patient for Providence to work its works.

Take the advise of John Paul II �be not afraid�. � for fear, suspicion, slander and conspiracy theories (which turn man against man) are the only weapons satan is allowed. No doubt Stan will remember (it being impressed upon him during the dream) his complete lack of fear in attacking such a huge beast! But note that the beast - slink away in defeat - to be back another day (check that and see if I am right about that in the dream).

Peace be with you and your church.

( I am not a spiritual director. My thoughts are only for consideration and reflection and not as guidance. My opinions are based upon my own study of the arch-types of Genesis. As the disclaimer says �Your own experiences may vary.�

-ray

Pani Rose,

As promised previously Ron and I are praying for you both. We believe in the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ who does not fail to answer our prayers...in some way...and in the best way...

Love and peace,

Mary Jo

Pani- You know, when I was awaiting a verdict, it seemed that every doctor who strolled into my room had a different opinion: one said I needed a double bypass, one said I could get by with a stint or two, another said I needed quadrupel...
I ended up with a triple bypass.
I suspect you are getting the same sort of differing opinions; it can be a real rollercoaster.
Was the infection contracted in the hospital?
Much as I have come to appreciate certain aspects of modern medicine [to which arguably I owe my life] this is a big problem; one that has been in the news.
Another problem, which hopefully Fr Deacon Stan has been spared, is the modern hospital staff's total indifference to the need for rest. Talking loudly at shift change, loud chatter at the nurses' station, etc, can wear heavily on a patient.
On the other hand, the mercy of a kind nurse cannot be underestimated!
Continued prayers,
Daniel

Ray I definately see your point. And a good one it is.

He has no fear - today for a slight moment - he got a bit depressed but he is just walking through in faith. God has gone before us and made the way, that is what he does for all of us. As you said before the dream, all was in place. Looking back, now I can see the dream as a forewarning of sorts, but more so just letting him know - reminding him - that in all things God is triumphant.

He says he feels the prayers and love of all those God has placed in his path that love him. Those that do not even know him, he thanks God for their compassion and the love that they have for God, that they take time from their lives to pray for a stranger. It is all very humbling.

He is walking towards God on whatever road it takes. He cannot serve the Altar now, but he knows when he is finally able to return, it will be far more wonderful than ever. In a sence it is being deprived of the presence of Jesus - physicaly - however, otherwise he is closer than ever.

Deacon Stan is a man of obedience. He would not turn from what his doctor or our pastor has asked of him. He truly understands obedience to God through those Christ has placed over him. So he is at peace.

God is good all the time! All the time, God is good!

Thanks so much for the interpretation.
Pani Rose

Daniel, Jo, y'all are all so sweet, all of you! Thank you.

Porter I know the prayers for peace have worked because there is no fear. It is just total trust that God has it all worked out. Thanks so much.

Daniel I hear you! Yes I appreciate you words of frustration and warning. He has heard a number of things, but they are all pointing to the quadruple bypass. But we are in agreement with you, it will be less, with all the prayers maybe not at all.

Daniel were you able to return to carrying the mail after your surgery ok?

Also, the staph infection - NO, it is what put him in the hospital. He got it someplace else, we have no idea of where. Today, he said he was thankful for for it, without it, he would not have known how bad off he really was. We just had no idea, notta - nothing. So without God putting him flat on his back with pain from that infection - who knows, his life could have been decreased a lot.

I am just befuddled sometimes as how people think they are walking through life without God. He is so merciful! As our oldest son, they just had their first baby, told a friend who is agnostic, "just wait you will know God exists when you have your first child - when you find out you are pregnant you will know." He got a phone call a couple of weeks ago from his friend saying, "Will, I think I feel God." They found out she was pregnant.

Thanks for your prayers.
Pani Rose

Dear Rose- I returned to carrying about half my route- 5 miles or so- about six weeks after surgery, though I really was pretty weak. However, given my previous health problems, I had run out of sick leave and really had to return.
It wore me out for a while, but by around 6 months I was walking the whole 10 miles.
However, despite what the doctors assure you, it was only recently, 3 years after, that I have been able to endure strenuous physical labor [eg; moving furniture] without exhaustion. But then I was already weakened by a stroke when I had my surgery; someone who is in good health should recover much more quickly.
-Daniel

Dear Rose

Be assured that our prayers are with you all. I will be lighting a candle or two today for Fr Deacon Stan [ Am going to DL today ]

A wee cheer you up thing ..

Our Pastor in Holy Cross one Sunday in February 4 yearss agao annonunced he was to have an emergency triple Bypass [ a routinue medical had shown up a problem - never had any problems] He returned to the Parish for the Easter Vigil and has never looked back since - he even went on a fortnight's skiing holiday 10 months after his operation !!

May the Lord God grant to his servant, Deacon Stan, healing and health, strength and a speedy recovery. May God grant to him and his family, every blessing, for many happy years!

Continued prayers for Rose and Stan. You two remind me to be grateful for my own good health. I forget that all too often.

I offer prayers for Deacon Stan and Pani Rose. May they both feel the Healing Presence of Our God.