Six Alert And Sober Minded 3

Her cerebellum had swollen due to the stroke, blocking the fluid from flowing down. The result was an excruciating headache.

By early afternoon, the doctors wanted to do an angiogram to get a better look at the vessels in the back of her head. They had determined that it was a bilateral stroke affecting both sides of the cerebellum, the lower portion of the brain in the back of the head. It had affected the right side of the brain the most. As they were preparing to do the test, they changed their minds because of the severe pain she was in and decided to do a CAT scan instead. This would be one of the many interventions by the Lord.

The scan revealed the quickly progressing swelling. They hurriedly took her away to surgically place a shunt in her forehead that would relieve the now dangerously building pressure from the trapped spinal fluid. Shelley's immediate family and our children nervously waited as they operated on her. While anxiously waiting to hear how my bride was doing, I continually talked with the Lord.

We are sometimes rudely awakened to the fact that life is truly but a vapor (James 4:14). You never know what tomorrow holds which is why you and I MUST be sure that our hearts are right before the Lord. We must allow the Master Physician, Jesus Christ, to surgically remove the cancer of sin within us by His Holy Spirit before it's too late. I'm not just talking about the “sinners” in the world, but also those who have turned to Christ.

A false sense of security, which has been promoted by false doctrines within the church, has many resting on the couch of apathy while they precariously stand in the place of great judgment with the rest of the world (1 Corinthians 11:32). We must cry out for the Holy Spirit to search our hearts in this midnight hour. The King is coming and many virgins are sleeping without oil in their lamps.

Wake up church and draw near to God with a humble, repentant heart before the door is shut and you find yourself in a situation and place you never thought possible. While there is time draw near to the Lord so that He may draw near to you before the doors of His ark of deliverance are shut. Our window of opportunity is quickly closing.

A Time Of Testing

The surgeon's assistant soon came out and informed us that the operation had gone well, but the doctor now wanted to perform an emergency craniotomy. Shelley's brain had fluid in more inaccessible areas that had to be quickly reached.

The assistant then rather bluntly informed us that if they did not operate immediately that Shelley would die. Die!!! We had not even been close to going that extreme with our thoughts. It was now late afternoon. The next few hours would be the most intense moments of my life up to that time. It would

be a severe time of testing and proving.

With my approving signature, they quickly took Shelley away to prepare her for a four hour surgery in which they would remove a portion of her damaged cerebellum to create space and relieve pressure on her ever swelling brain.

The neurosurgeon quickly gathered our immediate family into a small room to explain what was happening within Shelley's brain and what he had discovered while placing the shunt. I will never forget the looks on everyone’s faces as he solemnly explained the unthinkable situation we now faced.

The doctor told me that he would like to try and save her life because she was so young, “if I wanted him to”, but he believed that she was already too far gone. Some broke out sobbing, others sat there with wide open mouths in unbelief that we had come to this point so quickly. Without hesitation we all agreed that he should operate. He then told us we could see her before they began the operation. We knew that he was kindly telling us to, in all probability, say our last goodbye.

We walked into a dimly lit room with Shelley's Mother, Father, brother and sister, and our four oldest children. My Mother and Father stayed at our home with Ana. I was in the front with my arm around our daughter, Erika, who was crying. I can still see the faces of those who were standing in a line off to the side of Shelley that would, as soon as we left the room, be involved with her surgery. They all had masks on but I could see their eyes. They looked at our family coming in to tell Shelley we love her and they all began to cry. I wanted to give them a hug.

The Salvation Of The Lord

My heart went out to my in-laws, as well as my brother and sister-in-law, as they tearfully spoke to their daughter, and sister, who lay unconscious before them. They had already lost one son to lung cancer on February 25, 1984. He was only 27 years old. It now appeared as though they might lose another child.

It was through Shelley’s brother, Dale’s death that I turned to the Lord. At his showing, I came under intense conviction as I looked at him lying in the casket. Seeing someone close to my age who had died reminded me of my own mortality. I knew that I wasn’t ready to face the Lord. The exposed condition of my rebellious heart toward Him made it impossible to sleep that evening.

Late that night, while standing outside my in-laws home under the stars of a cold northern winter, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I simply looked up and said to the Lord, “It won’t be easy, but if You’ll help me I’ll do it.” I instantly felt the presence of extreme evil leave me, and then the overpowering presence of Almighty God who came rushing into my life to take over.