Tuesday, January 16, 2007

"Triumph in His Praise"

Our little precious Joel continues to cling to life. The Lord has sustained him now for 12 days since he had the seizure around midnight on January 4. This morning his blood pressure is 72/37 and his heart rate is 114. His blood oxygen level is 88. He has taken his nutrition a little better during the night. His temperature was a little high during the night, but it has started to come down this morning.

This morning Psalm 46 was a blessing. It starts off saying, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters therof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst thereof, she shall not be moved, God shall help her and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved, he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, he cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah,"

Another verse that really stood out to me is from Psalm 106. The last two verses of that Psalm say this, "Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord."

Today, by God's grace, we want to "triumph in Thy praise". Our victory is in the praise of the Lord, and not in our own strength. Joel is in the Lord's hands, we are at His mercy to sustain his life and to raise him up. We cast our cares upon Him, for we know that He careth for us.

Yesterday we received an e-mail that had a verse that describes where we are right now as we walk this extremely trying valley. Here is the verse:

Sometimes on the Rock I tremble,
Faint of heart and weak of knee.
But the Steadfast Rock of Ages
Never trembles under me.
~ Author Unknown

We have sometimes trembled on the Rock as we have journeyed with Joel, but praise be, the Rock of Ages has not trembled under us. The Rock of Ages is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is the one who 'came to save sinners, of whom I am chief'. He is the one who shed His precious blood on the cross to deliver us from sin. He is the one who died, the 'just for the unjust that he might bring us to God'. He is the One who says in his word, 'Come unto me all ye who labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'.

He is the Savior, the only Savior, sent by the Father to seek and to save that which is lost. He is the messenger of the covenant, the daysman, who has the power to take us by one hand, and the Lord God by the other and reconcile us to himself. He is the Rock, very God of very God, the one on which we stand, although, we confess, we sometimes tremble.

He is also the one who spoke the word, and the sick were healed, and the dead were raised. Oh Lord, we pray, speak the word again today and raise up little Joel according to your will.

We should hear today on what the next step is with Joel and the hospital. Please pray that the Lord will make a way for us to take Joel home and care for him as the blessing from the Lord that he is.

Again, many thanks to all of you that are lifting us up in prayer.

14 comments:

By the grace of God ... said...

Praying that the Lord's will for Joel's life be accomplished in a mighty way for His glory ...

Stephen said...

I praise God His sustaining of Joel. The Lord truly is wonderful in His care for Joel.

Unknown said...

We will be in prayer today for Joel. We pray for your family and your safety in this cold weather.
We pray for the system to allow Joel to go home with you.
Psalm 91:1,2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Peace and blessings from the Lord on the Morris family this week.

Tom, Liz and children

Christine said...

We are praying for Joel's complete healing, and so your dear family will be able to bring him home really soon.

The Lacys said...

I praise you Lord as Joel is fearfully and wonderfully made, by your great hand. Your works are wonderful - we know that fully well. Praying you will be able to take Joel home soon.
Lovingly,
Charlee

kmp said...

I am continuing to think and pray for Joel and the rest of your family. I am a Registered Nurse and have had pretty much a parallel viewpoint as the medical community's definition on "life" and "quality of life" that little Joel and your family is turning on its head. The time in prayer for little Joel has allowed me to let God speak to me I believe. Thank you for that- hopefully I am not the only medical person that is following your blog- and that Joel's spirit is guiding to a new way of thinking and caring for patients and their families. God Bless you and may He continue to sustain little Joel so that you may take him home.

Teena said...

Praying for Joel.... for the Lord's will and thanking Him for sustaining Joel.

I can see by following this journey that your words, scripture and testimony are touching others lives. Your faith is so encouraging.

Lifting all of you up to the Lord.

will check back later today.

blessings,
Teena wife to Billy
mom to 1/2 dozen

busymom3g said...

Prayers are continuing and growing for Joel and you all here at the Medlock household. Not only are you being lifted to God by Bryan and I but now the girls are taking an active part in the conversation of and prayer for the Morris clan! Minute prayers are going up constantly as are special prayers during our personal and family prayer time. May God continue His work in Joel and in the hearts of everyone that Joel's journey has touched! TO God be the glory !

The Medlocks

Laura said...

I just recently discovered your blog and want to assure you that we are praying for you. My 2yo and 21 month-old (Joshua and Abigail) just prayed for Joel and we'll continue every day. Thank you so much for your updates. Your family is such an encouragement to mine and I'm sure to many others.
Laura

Kathy said...

We are holding you up in prayer. I have contacted Senator Dr. Tom Coburn's office by both phone and email and asked for his assistance with the medical community and judicial system. Anyone reading this site that wants to contact him may do so at 405-231-4941 or 202-224-5754. He may be reached via email through his official government web site. It might be good to flood his office with correspondence.

Patricia said...

I have sent a correspondence to Dr. Coburn's office by email. Joel, you and your family are in my prayers daily. This is my prayer:
Lord, if you are willing, their son will be healed.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Patricia Rider

Unknown said...

To the Morris family, we are keeping you each one in our prayers daily and asking God to comfort and protect Joel. Praying that everything works out in court today. Carol Sue

suzyok said...

God is watching over little Joel. We continue to pray for him and all your family.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. (Ps 33.18-22)Susie Musick

Russ R. said...

This incident with Joel is affecting many lives for the sake of the Gospel. Praise be to God.

Today, I believe the Lord gave to me this message as I sought the Lord both for Joel and for myself...

"I have a plan for Joel, and My plan is being executed at this time. All things concerning Joel are in My control; nothing shall hinder it. At the appointed time I will raise Joel up, and many shall be blessed."

Praise God for His Holy Spirit who comforts us.