Tuesday, October 16th, A. D. 2007Lawton writes,
“Dear Saints:God has done exceedingly beyond what we could ask or think these past few days. Abigail has shown signs of improvement consistently each day. The prayers of the saints have risen as incense to our most Holy, Righteous and Loving God for him to be pleased to initiate the healing balm of Jesus Christ over Abigail.Her breathing has improved (become more stable and not as distressed), she has required less and less oxygen daily. This morning the nurses removed the hood of oxygen over Abigails head and inserted an oxygen tube in her nostrils (Genesis 2:7). Her feeding has improved and she has been able to keep down the breastmilk given.Lord willing Emily will be able to hold her tonight!Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to the children of men (Psalm 107)Lawton”
I do not intend for this paragraph to lift up any man or set a man on a pedestal, but folks need to know what this bondservant of the Lord is doing in order for them to be encouraged and to see holy living in action:
Having spoken with Lawton today, I am once again convicted of the faith and strength that this man has, which I do not. Lawton is testifying the trust which we should all have, especially as husbands and fathers, in order for our wife and children to see. He is truly being an Exemplary Husband and Ambassador of the Lord. He continues to not allow percentages, probabilities, chances to set the thermostat on the condition of his daughter. He is allowing God’s name to be exalted and is testifying that His Lord reigns and not only reigns but has allowed all this and done so for His glory. If we all could have this man’s understanding of His Saviour, we would really see the Lord’s hand working and we would see more cities becoming “the City of God.”
“Lord, thank you for placing a man like Lawton, into our midst in order to see a living example of a today’s “Daniel”, a man of faith, a man of prayer, a man who when thrown down into a den of lions, has said, “Lord, you have placed me and my family here, how can we make Your name high and lifted up. Lord, your bondservants are not oblivious to the reality of this trial, they actually have a greater, truer perspective on this than any other, they know that You reign on high and that this is for Your glory and they desire to see Your glory perfected before you allow this trial to end. Lord, may those who call upon Your name and call themselves children of the living God, all have this clearer understanding and truer perspective each and every day in order that when we are faced with trials, we would not loose the sight. - Amen.”
Monday, October 15th, A. D. 2007
Bishop Ryle writes in his book Holiness in the chapter on Growth, when speaking of trials, “let us not be surprised if we have to go through much trial and affliction in this world. I firmly believe it is the experience of nearly all the most prominent saints. Like their blessed Master they have been ‘men of sorrows, acquainted with grief,’ (Is. 53:3) and ‘perfected through sufferings’ (Heb. 2:10). It is a melancholy fact, that constant temporal prosperity, as a general rule, is injurious to a believer’s soul. Sickness, and losses, and crosses, and anxieties, and disappointments seem absolutely needful to keep us humble, watchful, and spiritual-minded. They are as needful as a pruning knife to a vine, and the refiner’s furnace to the gold. They are not pleasant to flesh and blood. We do not like them, and often do not see their meaning. Read Hebrews 12:11. We shall find that all worked for our good when we reach heaven.” . . . “This also is for my profit, that I may be a partaker of God’s holiness. It is sent in love. I am in God’s best school. Correction is instruction. This is meant to make me grow.”
The Lord’s Day Evening, October 14th, A. D. 2007
Emily was discharged today. God continues to provide all that they need. He shows encouragement when it is needed, and provides opportunity for prayer when needed. They still are providing antibiotics to her, as they are still not sure what her lungs (especially right) are going to do.
The Lord’s Day Morning, October 14th, A. D. 2007Emily is doing good. She has expected normal pain, but is very encouraged by where she is currently. Lawton is well. They both were able to get 5 hours of straight sleep last night. Emily will be discharged today. Abigail will remain in the NICU.
Abigail’s oxygen is now down to only needing to provide 37.5 percent as of 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning. They took the feeding tube out of her mouth for a little while. They will be readmitting it back in sometime today. She continues to have another tube through her belly-button to administer food, and fluids. They will also attempt to locate a more permenant IV into her to get blood and administer other medications if they are needed. Emily continues to pump and provide milk for her feedings.
Prayer Requests:
- Emily - Recovery (healing); transition to home
- Lawton - Strength in the midst of tiredness
- Abigail - Breathing on her own; bonding with Emily; she would, even at this time, be a testimony to her father and mother’s Saviour and how He continues to sustain and strengthen her
- Family - they would mold to what God’s will is for Abigail; patience; that He would continue the work which He has begun.Zephaniah 3:17
Saturday afternoon, October 13th, A. D. 2007
Nurse says soon Emily should be able to practice kangaroo care (holding baby skin-to-skin) with Abigail; this is good for both baby and mommy bonding and should assist with breathing
pray that this is able to happen sooner rather than later
9:25 a.m. October 13th, A. D. 2007
I spoke with Lawton and his spirit was very high and strong. He said that he is seeing the prayers of God’s people being answered by the Physician. Emily will most likely be discharged on the Lord’s Day. Abigail will remain in the NICU. As stated earlier, she is now only needing 40% oxygen. Lawton’s countenance appeared to be very good as well as his lady-wife’s. They are both understanding that this is a trial from the Lord and are being tested. A trial which they were reminded by their doctor to “count it all joy” (James 1:2-4). Because Lawton and Emily desire to grow in holiness and understand that their Lord desires to see them perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, they ask that you pray with them that this trial does not end until this endurance has had its perfect result. How wonderful it is to have a doctor who reminds his patients that the Lord uses all circumstances for His glory and to see His people come together. There have been many people who have been faith praying (not knowing what exactly is going on with this family, but have been told to pray) and God has been honoring the prayers of His saints. On the Lord’s Day, October 21st, at Christ Church, Lawton is up next to provide testimony of “What it means to be a member of Christ Church?” He now understands what he is to provide testimony of. He says it is not by coincidence that he is to speak that evening and to be undergoing this trial now.Scripture which relates to prayer:
Hannah’s Prayer in Scripture Reminding God of His Promise Contrite Heart
8:30 a.m. October 13th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes, “God is clothing our family wiht the Holy Spirit, just like Gideon being clothed by the Spirit as he led the Israelites to battle.”
6:48 a.m. October 13th, A. D. 2007Lawton writes this morning, “2 Praises: Abigail’s 5:45 a.m. feeding was all Emily’s milk given by NICU nurse and her oxygen was lowered to 40 percent.”
11:15 p.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes, “God is so good - thank you saints for your constant encouragement. - Lamentations 3:21-23“
5:06 p.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes, “Abigail is good. Doctors have not mentioned peneumonia or “spots” on lungs. Continue to pray she will breath on her own.
1:13 p.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes, “Emily is walking around a little and persevering though the pain. Abigail is doing good through our Lord answering the saint’s prayers. Continue to pray.”
5:49 a.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes, “Emily’s doing great. Normal soreness. Abigail doing good. Nurse says she is not taking as much O2 (Oxygen) as before but she is still not breathing properly.”
12:43 a.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
From Lawton,
Subject: Spurgeon
Content: “Check out October 11th morning devotional in his [Spurgeon] Morning and Evening . God is awesome throuh his praying saints.”From Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening: Thursday, October 11, 2007
“LET US LIFT UP OUR HEARTS AND OUR HANDS TO GOD IN HEAVEN.”
Lamentations 3:41
The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for proud people like us. If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them, we would never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalog of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While prayer is an application to divine wealth, it is also a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is always to be empty of self and constantly depending upon the Lord for provision; to be consistently poor in self and rich in Jesus; to be weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits. This is where prayer comes in, because while it adores God, it puts the creature where it should be–in the dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer that it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the holy exercise of prayer. Prayer thins the feathers of God’s young eaglets, so that they can learn to soar above the clouds. Prayer readies God’s warriors and sends them out to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. The praying believer comes out of his closet, even as the sun rises from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like an athlete about to race. Prayer is the uplifted hand of Moses that defeats the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the prophet’s chamber announcing defeat to the Syrians. Prayer equips human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives the peace of God to troubled souls. We do not know what prayer cannot do! We thank You, great God, for the mercy-seat, a wonderful evidence of your marvelous loving-kindness. Help us to use it properly throughout this day!
For more of his devotionals, you may visit this link.
12:35 a.m. October 12th, A. D. 2007
Lawton writes,
Subject: The Lord is our rock
Content: [Saints], thank you for your encouragement today. God is doing great and mighty things. We look and hope by the name of Jesus that Abigail will be renewed and strengthened each minute. He will sure do it!!! 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
5:00 p.m. October 11th, A. D. 2007
From Lawton,
“The next 24 to 48 hrs are important for abigail’s recovery. Please ask the saints to pray for God to continue to intervene in a mighty way. In christ - lg”
4:44 p.m. October 11th, A. D. 2007
Abigail Update:
Abigail in still in NICU, the same team of doctors are there that are at Richland so they’ll monitor her for the next 24 to 48 hours at Baptist. She is still on oxygen, but they were able to decrease a little bit on the amount they were giving her and she is on antibiotics as well. Emily got to see her too.For the original post on Abigail Louise, click here.
“We are consecrated and dedicated to God; therefore, we may not hereafter think, speak, meditate or do anything but with a view to his glory. We are God’s; to him, therefore, let us live and die.” - John Calvin
