I've found myself in a state of reflection on this, the crux of our faith. It's Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection! The past several weeks have taught me in a profound way the depth of God's love for us. As we've journeyed through this trying time, watching our sweet boy struggle more & more each day, we've found rest in God's loving arms. He also has watched His Son struggle & suffer. Through the pain & tears, we've heard His gentle whisper, "I know your pain. I've been there. I will see you through." Because of love, God sent His only Son on our behalf. Because of love, Jesus bore the cross & sin's consequence of death in our place. The perfect sacrifice, Christ rose from the grave, conquering sin & death. Because of this, we can be reconciled to God &, because of love, live our lives for Him. What an awesome & loving God we serve!
Easter rejoices in Christ's victory & celebrates new life. Watching Isaac this weekend, I've been overwhelmed by God's power & the new life He has brought to our sweet boy. By all medical accounts, he should not be alive. Last Sunday, we watched our little boy slip further & further away, unable to stop his decline. Empty-handed, we had nothing left to do but wait to say goodbye. And pray. Pray like we'd never prayed before: prayers of surrender & thanksgiving, prayers of longing & pain. Through it all, God did not leave our side. Because of the cross & Christ's victory, we could come directly to God with our requests, our burdens, & lay them at His feet. Because of "Easter", we could face death with the hope of new life shining through our tear-stained eyes. Holding our dying little boy, we could honestly sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" & "It Is Well" because the truth contained in the lyrics did not pend on our ever-changing circumstances, but an ever-steadfast God.
In the quiet of our hospital room, Jordan & I now understand the depth of Easter unlike ever before. The love of a God who hears. The power of His Son's sacrifice & resurrection. And the sweet pleasure of watching our precious child, still alive & now recovering towards health. What a miracle! Isaac has been given new life. Though we still don't know the end of the story, we do know that God brought him back from the clutches of death & has touched his tiny body. Every doctor & nurse who cared for him last week has been awestruck & dumbfounded. "It's a miracle!" "He's a completely different baby!" "In my 20 years of this, never have I seen someone come back from where he was, let alone to be doing so well!" And to all of that, we give praise to our God, the Great Physician!
Thank You, Lord, for Your great love & for the hope we can find in You. Thank You for Your Son, for the new life we can have through Him. And while the road ahead is still long & unknown, thank You for one more day with our sweet boy. You are a God of miracles & for that, we give You praise!
49 comments:
Praise the Lord for His work. We are singing right along with you as you give this good report. We pray for a full recovery and that you will be able to take your sweet little boy home before you know it.
Is it not amazing how in the deepest of tragedies and heart ache that God can deliver His greatest truths, His most infinite comfort and peace, when the eyes are on Him. I praise Him for what He is doing in precious little Isaac, but I also praise Him for the faith and trust of Isaac's parents. He will never leave us nor forsake us--you all are living proof!!!!!
Thank you for allowing God to use Isaac in such a profound way. Who knows how many people have watched and cared for Isaac and gotten their first glimpse of our Mighty Savior...through the life of a tiny 6 week old baby boy (and his parents). If one heart is changed, it will be worth it all. One day in heaven you will be greeted by doctors, nurses and therapists who wouldn't be there if it weren't for Isaac and his testimony. How awesome is that!!??
That was so encouraging! Praise the LORD! I hope that the levels that need to be lowered are lowered and the levels that need to be increased are increased. One thing that has increased is our faith together and God’s glory. Amen! Thank you for being an example through this difficult time, the three of you have impacted many. May you be blessed more and more by being drawn closer and closer to the One who saves!
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son to die for us. Jesus died for our sins so that we may have new life! So that Isaac may have new life!
Isaac is a beautiful boy. A brave little man. A testament to God's love for us.
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you.
Dear, Precious Patience and Jordan,
I am only one of many that has grown to love and cherish both of you, and your unbelievable little miracle boy Isaac. Just as others have said, the picture of Isaac with you Jordan just blew us away...and of course we have it right on the front of the refrigerator so we can see Isaac EVERY DAY as we pray for him. And I must say that Thomas really captured it beatifully when he thanked Isaac for being calm. How PURELY amazing life is, life that flows through that sweet little boy in spite of all the obstacles and odds against him!!! We were away this weekend and I could hardly bare that we couldn't check in constantly on Isaac. (It was the first thing we did when we got home.) At a church we visited a woman sang 'Amazing Love' and I was crying so hard that Steve put his arm around me and just held me...I was thinking of and praying for all of you... crying out to Jesus, about my love and thankfulness for your family!!!
Thank you a million times over for the pictures!!!
We love you bunches!!!
-dell
(Patience, what a beautiful gifted writer you are, I can't wait until you publish the book!)
God is truly an awesome God! He gave Isaac to you knowing what a hard road he would have. Through unbelievable and unshakable faith, God has blessed you with a little boy. One day, Isaac will be running through your house, screaming at the top of his lungs with the joy that can only come from a 2 1/2 year old discovering the world. You will think back to his first six weeks of life and thank God once again for bringing him back from death's door. You will give God thanks for each breath little Isaac takes and each scream he makes. Isaac will remind you each day what a blessing he is. And you will give God praise every time you look into his little eyes for his little life.
I know this because I look at Makayla with the same praise and thankfulness to God for allowing me to watch her grow up.
Much love,
Carlyn
We are rejoicing in the good news. Thank you God for this precious family! We will continue to pray and expect lots more good news in the weeks to come. This miracle is a testimony of how much God loves each and everyone of us.
Lynn & Ronnie
Praise God, the creator of the Universe, for his great work in Isaac's life. It is awesome news!
We really appreciate your thoughts on Easter and the parallels of your trials with what God went through. It's amazing what He teaches us through hard times. You guys have an exemplary attitude and it glorifies Him.
We're not going to let down or stop praying now, but keep on until you guys are home.
In Him,
Bruce, Cindy and David
That is awesome.
We are still praying.
He is sooo cutee.
xo
delea.
This post has left goosbumps all over. God is just AWESOME!!! Your little boy has drawn lots of people to the power of prayer-- people who do not even know you, such as myself feel compelled to look into my faith a little deeper and trust a little harder. May the Lord continue to lift you, your husband and your sweet Isaac!!
Patience and Jordan, as I read this with tears in my eyes, I am thankful that you have taken the time to reflect and journal through your miraculous ordeal. I speak daily with people who can't wait to read the blog, wondering how precious Isaac is doing. I read the comments offered by so many and know that he has become loved and a part of many families. I am also thankful that you have been so faithful in reflecting God's love for Isaac and yourselves even though you are going through such a rough time. I praise God that things are doing so well now and am praying that he will continue improving. God still gives us miracles!!! and Isaac is proof of that!!!
WOW thats Amazing! i make it a point to read all of your daily blogs, and make them my quite time before bed! This journey has taken my faith up to the extreme MAX! I Was Soo excited to read today's BLOG! GOD is Awesome, and your full Recovery is on the way :)
be blessed, All three of you
Thank you again, Jordan, Patience and Issac, for sharing this journey with us. I know it is very hard, but thousands, literally thousands, of people are being touched and changed. Your faith in the midst of this great storm has served to strength many people's faith, especially my own. I love you, all three, and feel very honored to know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. May strength, wisdom, and peace continue to be draped on your shoulders by our Father. May he keep you pulled up tight under His wing and allow you to feel just how close He is to you.
Love,
Patty
Paitence Jordan and Isaac how very blessed we are to read what God is doing in you all. Thank you for sharing this incredible journey, and Thank You Father for the gift of this family. We continue to pray for all of you.
Thank You!
God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!!
Pipes Family
By the grace of God he will be healed!! All we can say is that God did it. He is GOOD all the time. I love yall all.
Love Always
Autum :)
We are simply blown away by how faithful you two are in the deepest and darkest valley, and how God shows how great He is when all seems lost. We jump up and down with praises for the Great Physician! Hallejuyah!!!
hello- i found you through a prayer chain at yahoo 360. i am also praying for your precious baby. i would like to add you if you dont mind so i can stay in touch. please take care and give him lots of hugs. im sure you do that! take care colleen
everyday I find myself DRAWN to the computer to check for an update... Praise the Lord for Baby Isaac's REMARKABLE progress... Praise the Lord for the 'outreach' Isaac has been a part of without even knowing it! Keep looking up, Kids... I love you!
Praise the Lord! You do not know me...I work with Hilary. Several weeks ago she asked for prayer for sweet baby Isaac and I have been drawn to the computer for updates ever since. We added your family to our prayer list at church. Many prayers have been and continue to be sent up for your sweet baby. I am truly in awe of God's work and the faith you and Jordan possess. I have been blessed with two small children and your story has been a testimony to me and encourages me everyday to truly have faith in the Lord. I am so happy to hear Baby Isaac is doing better. I love the pictures...he is adorable. I long for the day to hear you are bringing him home. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jason, Cristy, Hunter & Daniel
God brings you and Isaac before my face every single day. And as He does I pray for continued healing for Isaac and strength for you both. God is faithful and he is using both of you to do an enormous work where you are.
We are so pleased to hear the WONDERFUL news. Your faith is so wonderful and it makes people want to be more like you.. I LOVE GOD and am so THANKFUL to have him in my life each and every day.. Thank you God for all of your miracles and especialy on this BEAUTIFUL little man Isaac.. You are an AWESOME GOD!! We love you sooo.....
I cannot even express in words what to say. You have shared your son with us and he became a part of so many of us.
Praise songs came into my mind every time I read a update. I could hear Patience singing, "Jesus I Need You Here, You are my only desire..." and so many others that you and the praise team sing over and over.
Isaac helped so many of us understand Easter in a different way. I felt like I understood a little of what our Father in heaven experienced as he watched his son be humiliated tortured and nailed to a cross. He helplessly watched him die.
The song that is ringing in my head right now after I read your blog is:
I stand I stand in awe of you,
Yes I stand I stand in awe of you,
...
Thank you so very much for continuing to share your story with us - inspiring us with your strength, love and faith. You truly are a gifted couple in many ways; your faith and your ability to share your faith, being just two of the many ways that God has blessed your family. We look forward to more and more good news in the coming days.
Sharon & Jimmy Jackson
Patience -
Your never ending faith and gifted spiritual writing has touched so many people. Your strength amazes me. I'm in awe at the emotional and spirit-filled words you blog everyday. Your words give hope. Your love for God is amazing and inspiring. Your faith never ending. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Praise God for his miraculous hands of healing for your sweet baby boy!
Awesome God, Awesome God!!! What a blessing Easter 2007 has been to so many... We serve an incredible God...so holy, righteous, and POWERFUL!
Every day I look forward to reading your blog and learning about sweet Isaac and his updates. You are a precious family and we feel as if we know you! After going through a similar "testing" last summer, we consider it a privilege to lift you up hourly and we feel your emotions. God truly ties parents of sick children together!
What an honor that God has chosen you 3 as the perfect vessel to witness to others. What a blessing that thousands of people are lifting you up in prayer, 24/7! What an encouragement to see God working marvelous miracles in your lives and affecting others all around you!
I am praising the Almighty that you and Jordan can breathe a sweet sigh of relief and enjoy Isaac as your precious baby son...we loved the mohawk picture! It reminded us when our daughter, Sara Borden, was taken off the critical list and considered "stable". The nurses put a tiny pink bow in her few little hairs (and attached it with KY Jelly...LOL!) We were thrilled to just see her as our little baby girl; sweet, innocent and gaining strength. We were already so used to seeing the tubes and wires by then, but just seeing her face and little smiles in her sleep- well, it was such an encouragement to us. God has completely healed her and we know Isaac is on the same recovery path. We praise God daily for the miracles HE performs! :)
Still lifting you up daily and praying God's perfect peace for your family.
Claire Adams <><
How astounding it is to walk in the power of the of the cross and the meaning of the resurrection!
Your faith and your testimony are an inspiration.
Our continued prayer for more of the miraculous!
The Reeve Family
Faith Community Church
West Covina, CA
What a wonderful and great God we have. It is great to watch as he heals Isaac. Your family has touched so many people and all of us are continually praying for you.
Our son, Kelly, told us this weekend that Isaac was on the prayer list at his church. (Mount Moriah in Garner)
Thank you God for the healing you are doing for Isaac and the strength you give his parents. You are an awsome God and we love you.
Love to all three of you,
Jim & Carol Canady - C3
What a beautifully written piece. Yes, Isaac is living proof of what Christ did for us on that day. Because of Him, we have hope in ALL things. His sacrifice was greater than anything mankind could or would ever have to endure.
I praise God for what He has done, and continues to do in Isaac's body.
You are so very blessed.
Rebecca VanderWerff
i have been following issac's recovery since i heard about his situation last week. i look forward to seeing how great our Lord is everyday as he heals issac. your easter reflection was simply eye opening and beautiful. thank you for your faithfullness for it has grown mine. i love baby leino and i will continute to pray for him daily. God bless you issac. bradenton, fl is praying for you.
What a beautiful story and a beautiful reminder of Christ's love for us. Isaac is truly a miracle, and I praise God for all He has done. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nahum 1:7, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Patience and Jordan,
As I was sitting in my grandma's church on Easter, the words to the song "Because He Lives" brought me to tears, knowing how great our God is! I've included the lyrics to the first 2 verses and the chorus for you. What a mighty God we serve! Thanks for keeping us updated on your sweet son!
Julie Miles
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus He came to love, heal, and forgive.He lived and died to buy my pardon,An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.Because He lives, All fear is gone.Because I know He holds the future,And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.But greater still the calm assurance,This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.Because He lives, All fear is gone.Because I know He holds the future,And life is worth the living just because He lives.
What an incredible testimony.
The pictures are precious... I'm so thankful for each new day that you are able to spend with him.
I sit and read each blogg update in complete Awe and Amazment of our Mighty Lord. Then I think to myself...why am I amazed? He has the strength and power to provide, heal, rise from the dead...Your heart is amazing and is such a testimony to all of us. From the strongest believer to the most defiant unbeliever, the Lord has used little Isaac to touch our hearts and draw us closer to HIM.
-a college friend
AMEN!!!! i know that in isaac's six weeks of life & through this blog, your family has been able to reach a multitude of people. it is such a beautiful thing to truly surrender our children, which are His to begin with, to God. as a mom, it was so difficult for me to give God complete control over my 3 boys. but as you, patience, it happened when the boys were very young. as i watch them grow into these young men, i'm overcome with gratefulness to my loving Father, because they are not my boys, but His. you've reminded me again, with this last post, that our Maker knows exactly what we've been through b/c He endured it first. this way when He tenderly says, "I know. I understand", He does.
what God has prepared beforehand for you guys must be pretty amazing. Thank you, God! it's so wonderful that we're all able to share the beginning of this journey with you!
much love 2 the 3 of you & all your family!!!!!
:-) jane
Hallelujah.
Amen.
You said it!!!!! YOUR FRIEND FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!
LOVE STEVE
wow
Praise the Lord! We are still praying for you and Isaac!
This is such a testimony! I am praising God along with you as my eyes well with tears of joy!
You humble me.
Praise God for His wonderful love! We praise with you both as you rejoice in God's miracles for Baby Isaac. We will all continue praying without ceasing as God continues to bless with His very presence. You and Jordan have demonstrated such faith and strength. God is so good.
Rick & Shelia
Thank God for miracles! It is so amazing to see what all Isaac has been through and how strong he is to get through all this and God's work he has performed. We pray that you and Jordan will be able to bring him home soon!
Bryant & Hilary
Praise the Lord! I will continue praying for your precious little boy and your entire family.
Hi! It's Cindy Sampson, Lynn Leino's coworker, again. My daughter, Lois has the full trisomy 13, also not to be here past 6 months and will be 6 years old on May 4th--she enjoyed hugging the Easter bunny this past Saturday and plowing into the bunny cake I made--a far cry from the prognosis we were given. I've heard similar "miracle" comments from medical professionals, too--we always repsonded that she had gotten much prayer. Issac is so cute and appears to have such a strong spirit! I really believe that he, too, will be a miracle child--they do exist! My prayers are that he will have a total recovery from all the issues! We'll all keep pushing the devil away and thanking God! God Bless all of you and rest when possible, Patience, I know how tiring it can be to pump when a baby can't nurse as that was my situation--do it when you can but forgive yourself if you are just too tired at times--we all have to have a certain amount of sleep! Cindy Sampson, Seffner, Fl.--mother of Lois, full tisomy 13, 5yrs. 11 month old miracle baby
Thank You Patience and Jordan for sharing your journey with me. I love to see God at work! The faith you both express, strengthened by the Spirit, is such an amazing encouragement to me and to so many around the world. May You Continue To Find Rest & Refuge In Jesus Today!
Your Cousin,
Drew
Praise the lord for his work.
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