Post Op

Hi, this is Charissa's mom. She wants to thank all of you for your faithful prayers that definitely carried her through yesterday and to this point today. Yesterday she faced some very trying moments but found much grace to persevere through difficult spots. The surgery went well and the medical team involved were kind and caring. Her surgeon (who is chief of gastroenterology at Hopkins) said he was treating her as his own daughter. She did have a challenging night but is grateful to be walking forward this day. Today she has been undergoing a very challenging procedure to prepare for the next steps in activating the feeding tube. If her system clears, she will start gradual feeding sometime tomorrow and build up slowly. The goal is to build up her system, slowly gain weight, and become stronger before there can be a plan for further diagnostic work.

Charissa continues to see God's hand of kindness and sustaining grace in multiple ways and wants to communicate her gratefulness for the overwhelming impact your prayers have made.

Surgery Day

Just wanted to let you know that Charissa is scheduled for surgery this afternoon, sometime after 2, for a small intestine feeding tube. Please pray that she will have the peace of God going into it. God has continued to meet her faithfully, and she has had many evidences of his kindness towards her.

Hopkins Update

Just a brief update to let you know that Charissa had a test this afternoon that is still ongoing this evening. God has definitely sustained her through a test that she was sure she would not be able to attempt. We won't have any results until tomorrow. Charissa would appreciate prayer that she will get sleep tonight. Also pray for all involved in the decision making process regarding the tentative plan to insert a feeding tube tomorrow

Back at Hopkins

There has been a long silence since Charissa's last post. She has been doing poorly over the last month. Charissa wanted us to let you know she had a consultation with a new doctor this afternoon at Hopkins. He admitted her for a test to be done Thursday and possibly inserting a feeding tube into the small intestine on Friday. Given her current condition, this test tomorrow seems "impossible" but she is asking God to make a way for her. Thank you for supporting Charissa with your prayer. She wanted to share this devotional with you all.
(written by her parents)

July 27

More than Mere Words

I wilt give you the sure mercies of David. (Acts 13:34)

Nothing of man is sure; but everything of God is so. Especially are covenant mercies sure mercies, even as David said "an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."

We are sure that the Lord meant His mercy. He did not speak mere wards: there is substance and truth in every one of His promises. His mercies are mercies indeed. Even if a promise seems as if it must drop through by reason of death, yet it never shall, for the good Lord will make good His word.

We are sure that the Lord will bestow promised mercies on all His covenanted ones. They shall come in due course to all the chosen of the Lord. They are sure to all the seed, from the least of them unto the greatest of them. We are sure that the Lord will continue His mercies to His own people. He does not give and take. What He has granted us is the token of much more. That which we have not yet received is as sure as that which has already come; therefore, let us wait before the Lord and be still. There is no justifiable reason for the least doubt. God's love, and word, and faithfulness are sure. Many things are questionable, but of the Lord we sing—

For his mercies shall endure

Ever faithful, ever sure.

C H Spurgeon

⁵For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
⁶He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Psalm 62: 5-7