Well we have some news on David and he would like to tell it to you himself.
(If you get the email you are going to have to click on the blog to watch it.)
If you want to see the longer interview with David you can watch it here
As far as Julie goes, her post-delivery issues have not been noticed for many weeks and the Stratus which was stolen around Memorial Day is up and running for less than what we were initially told, $600 instead of $1,000.
Tonight, the Zilkies sleep in peace. Thanks for you prayers and especially for David. This has been huge for him and his spiritual journey.
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The Narrow Path
Showing posts with label Answers to Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Answers to Prayer. Show all posts
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Update on David, Julie & the Car
For those of you following along with our life via the blog, you know the past several weeks have been very intense to say the least. In a matter of days our car was stolen, Julie had some major health concerns related to Selah's birth, and David had severe pain in his hip without a fall or accident of any kind.
In response to all of this, we prayed and many of you prayed...and this evening we have a very positive update.
Julie saw a doctor and although there is a small piece of the placenta remaining, her health and iron level is high enough for them to be patient and see if things correct themselves in time. Along with that her bleeding has diminished and there has been no trace of blood for 5 days now which is very encouraging.
The car has been cleaned, the console fixed, and is operable again. There is no radio and the A/C was damaged slightly, but it is running well and for half of what we were told it would cost.
We are most thrilled for David, who after being prayed for last weekend at our church's worship night by several leaders and an elder in the church has his pain diminish over the weekend and has been completely pain free for several days. We have a follow up doctor's visit in July where the X-rays will tell us of any bone deformation, but for the time being things look and David is feeling good.
I am being reminded to ask God fervently in prayer for that which He has laid upon my heart. Sometimes I just "trust" God and assume He will do what He will do. Yet, this is not God's complete desire for me because He wants me to pursue Him and to keep pursuing Him. Ironically, Jacob wrestled with God in the book of Genesis and would not let go until God blessed Him. Finally, after a long night, God gave in and blessed Jacob. Yet, he touched Jacob on the hip and gave him a limp as a reminder that He had wrestled with God and won.
I don't know if we are completely out of the woods yet...we will see. I do know that God is "marking" this journey for David, for Julie and for myself. Today, David felt great and played chase with his brother Jonathan and sister Caroline. They had a blast and for that...today, we give thanks.
In response to all of this, we prayed and many of you prayed...and this evening we have a very positive update.
Julie saw a doctor and although there is a small piece of the placenta remaining, her health and iron level is high enough for them to be patient and see if things correct themselves in time. Along with that her bleeding has diminished and there has been no trace of blood for 5 days now which is very encouraging.
The car has been cleaned, the console fixed, and is operable again. There is no radio and the A/C was damaged slightly, but it is running well and for half of what we were told it would cost.
We are most thrilled for David, who after being prayed for last weekend at our church's worship night by several leaders and an elder in the church has his pain diminish over the weekend and has been completely pain free for several days. We have a follow up doctor's visit in July where the X-rays will tell us of any bone deformation, but for the time being things look and David is feeling good.
I am being reminded to ask God fervently in prayer for that which He has laid upon my heart. Sometimes I just "trust" God and assume He will do what He will do. Yet, this is not God's complete desire for me because He wants me to pursue Him and to keep pursuing Him. Ironically, Jacob wrestled with God in the book of Genesis and would not let go until God blessed Him. Finally, after a long night, God gave in and blessed Jacob. Yet, he touched Jacob on the hip and gave him a limp as a reminder that He had wrestled with God and won.
I don't know if we are completely out of the woods yet...we will see. I do know that God is "marking" this journey for David, for Julie and for myself. Today, David felt great and played chase with his brother Jonathan and sister Caroline. They had a blast and for that...today, we give thanks.
Monday, March 23, 2009
4 Days (Updated Fri, 3/27)
This past Thursday, March 19th, our home officially went up for sale. We had our first viewing on Saturday evening, and by Sunday we had received a respectful but low offer for our home. Monday we countered and the buyers accepted our counter-offer. 4 days, 1 showing, an offer agreement and a fair price for both us and the buyer...here in Michigan...
People often talk about "the favor of God". However, in our prosperity focused and suffering averse American Christian society, the idea of God's favor almost always has to do with comfort, ease, success, money, etc. This bothers me. It bothers me because did not Jesus have God's favor EVERY step of EVERY day of His life? Yet, was not Jesus misunderstood, ridiculed, blasphemed, persecuted, beaten, betrayed and ultimately tortured to death? Jesus, the only and most favored Son of the Most High God.
I am very careful to presume to know what the favor of God actually is and who is the recipient of it. Moreover, Julie and I want to walk the path of our Savior, which is a narrow and difficult path, and as trials and challenges come we want to be able to honestly and authentically glorify God and face the struggles with the winsomeness and grace God provides.
Then you have these past 4 days...and the wind of the Spirit has been completely at our backs. To sell your home at a good price, in this housing market, here in Michigan, with a counter offer, in just 4 days is...God's favor? I don't know...
What I do know is that Julie and I have graciously accepted the contrarian's way these past two years. I have worked in a warehouse much of that time, talked of a crazy move to Indiana that never happened, sacrificed a ton materially and financially toward our "long term savings goals", struggled trying to find my path back into "vocational ministry", ultimately led by God to give up my need and pursuit of said ministry job, and yet we have walked in some of the most spiritually fertile ground we have ever known. Moreover, our joy for life, for Jesus, for our family, has only grown stronger in that time.
Oh, one more thing...the baby coming in a month had been breech for some time. Well, at Julie's doctor appointment this (Monday) morning, the baby's head had turned south and all systems are go.
I sit here Monday evening in a fog of sorts, with St. Louis and Rooftop that much closer in just a couple of days. Today as these events were unfolding, four different people: an owner of our company, a coworker, the UPS guy Linc, and my friend in Detroit all made reference to God wanting us to go with His blessing and making the way clear for us. When four (and probably more) different people all testify to the power and activity of God in this world and (by His grace) in my life, I say thank you for allowing me to be a part of what You (God) are doing.
It will not continue like this. The Scriptures say that ALL who will truly follow after Jesus will suffer as He did and we continue to pray that we too could know "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil3:10). In the meantime, we adjust our sails, accept the Spirit's wind, and go where He takes us...
(Update 3/27)
...I talked with Eric our Realtor yesterday and asked him if there had been any other inquiries on our home since it went on the market a week ago. We have not yet put the "sold" sign out...NOT ONE ADDITIONAL CALL. One call, one showing, one offer, one pending sale...one God.
People often talk about "the favor of God". However, in our prosperity focused and suffering averse American Christian society, the idea of God's favor almost always has to do with comfort, ease, success, money, etc. This bothers me. It bothers me because did not Jesus have God's favor EVERY step of EVERY day of His life? Yet, was not Jesus misunderstood, ridiculed, blasphemed, persecuted, beaten, betrayed and ultimately tortured to death? Jesus, the only and most favored Son of the Most High God.
I am very careful to presume to know what the favor of God actually is and who is the recipient of it. Moreover, Julie and I want to walk the path of our Savior, which is a narrow and difficult path, and as trials and challenges come we want to be able to honestly and authentically glorify God and face the struggles with the winsomeness and grace God provides.
Then you have these past 4 days...and the wind of the Spirit has been completely at our backs. To sell your home at a good price, in this housing market, here in Michigan, with a counter offer, in just 4 days is...God's favor? I don't know...
What I do know is that Julie and I have graciously accepted the contrarian's way these past two years. I have worked in a warehouse much of that time, talked of a crazy move to Indiana that never happened, sacrificed a ton materially and financially toward our "long term savings goals", struggled trying to find my path back into "vocational ministry", ultimately led by God to give up my need and pursuit of said ministry job, and yet we have walked in some of the most spiritually fertile ground we have ever known. Moreover, our joy for life, for Jesus, for our family, has only grown stronger in that time.
Oh, one more thing...the baby coming in a month had been breech for some time. Well, at Julie's doctor appointment this (Monday) morning, the baby's head had turned south and all systems are go.
I sit here Monday evening in a fog of sorts, with St. Louis and Rooftop that much closer in just a couple of days. Today as these events were unfolding, four different people: an owner of our company, a coworker, the UPS guy Linc, and my friend in Detroit all made reference to God wanting us to go with His blessing and making the way clear for us. When four (and probably more) different people all testify to the power and activity of God in this world and (by His grace) in my life, I say thank you for allowing me to be a part of what You (God) are doing.
It will not continue like this. The Scriptures say that ALL who will truly follow after Jesus will suffer as He did and we continue to pray that we too could know "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil3:10). In the meantime, we adjust our sails, accept the Spirit's wind, and go where He takes us...
(Update 3/27)
...I talked with Eric our Realtor yesterday and asked him if there had been any other inquiries on our home since it went on the market a week ago. We have not yet put the "sold" sign out...NOT ONE ADDITIONAL CALL. One call, one showing, one offer, one pending sale...one God.
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