Hallelujah! It's the day we've all been waiting and praying for with great anticipation! The fall colors are beginning to peek through as the cooler air settles in through the mountainous terrain. Beautiful, absolutely amazing! Even more, God is abundantly and faithfully answering your prayers for Ken and the Drakes! What an amazing opportunity I have had to witness the melding of these two precious families. Maggie and Spencer are truly blessed as they enjoy the overflowing love of friends and family. There are so many people here - showing support and ready to celebrate the union of this special couple! Rehearsal went well and the rehearsal dinner was so much fun as we ate fabulous BBQ and Peach Cobbler!!! The slide show with its hundred's of pictures reflected 2 lives and families that enjoy one another and like to have fun. Mary Elizabeth seemed so "grown-up" as she toasted and her words radiated the love she shares for Maggie and now Spencer - and I must say, moved many of us with tears of joy! The whole evening was filled with laughter, tears, love, and then K & K with M. E. sang the most beautiful 3 part harmony song of blessing over the happy couple! Of course, it was done as only the Drakes can do! Gorgeous!!!! I think I saw little birds listening intently - wishing that their songs could also be that glorious! :) I wish that all of you could be here to experience the fun and love! My jaws are hurting from so much laughter and smiles! We do have a prayer request for today... It rained during the night and I heard thunder this morning. Yes, I'm asking that you would pray with us that God would hold back the rain for just a couple more days! I say days because after the wedding, there's "set strike!" and the big load up!!! The pavilion is also gorgeous and done with such elegant style that Monica and her team have lovingly labored over. I know Kathy is forever grateful! Daylight is now peeking through as I'm sitting in the lobby ( by the fireplace) writing this to you. The staff has the words "wedding party" on every other word of their lips. They are doing a great job hosting this rowdy group! it's like a huge family reunion! Remember to pray, pray, pray for this special day. Everyone is doing great!!! God once again proves His faithfulness as he provides "peace" for all those whose mind is stayed on Him! This wedding is such a spiritual reminder of The love Christ has for His beloved bride - You, his chosen! We are all looking forward to the reception (our time with Christ at the Banqueting Table!). Thank you Ken and Kathy, Mike and Kap for inviting us to join in this most blessed occasion! May The Lord make His face to shine upon you!
1 Chronicles 16: 8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
We received more great news from Dr. McDonald yesterday afternoon! How compassionate and caring he has been. In his busy life he remembered we were leaving for Atlanta today so he wanted to get in touch before we were leaving to give this latest great news! I was amazed that he was even able to get the MRI results back SO quickly. How loving and gracious God is once again in His timing to work that out so we could leave feeling so encouraged and positive about my condition and health and really go enjoy this beautiful, joyful celebration with Maggie and Spencer, and all the family and friends gathering from all corners of the US!!! 1st of all the MRIs showed the organs basically normal! He said the pancreas looked good! Normal!!! No sign of inflamed tissue, mass, or anything like that!!! He said the pressure I am feeling sometime is still its tender condition after coming out of the pancreatitis. Secondly, the liver blood levels that were off the charts, so dangerously high, are also back to normal state. The 1 bilirubin level that was 10 (the norm being .05 -1.0) is now ONE!!!!!!!! Praise my Great Physician, my Gracious and Merciful Lord, and the Lover of my soul! The only result that did show up positive is that I do carry the hereditary gene for hemochromatosis, an excessive iron build up that shows up not only in the liver, but also can be in the pancreas, heart, other organs and even in muscles and joints. When I return from the wedding I will go in to consult with him to get definition on that and just what treatment they will prescribe. Because this build up can occur in the heart he also advised for me to see a cardiologist when I return to let this doctor possibly run an ecocardiogram. Dr. McDonald was only speculating but because I had the low heart rate occur during and after the hernia surgery earlier this Summer he thought that this iron build up could have been a possible cause for that as well. There are a few more issues he is continuing to study in the liver biopsy to give final clarity and diagnosis. In his evaluation he is now concluding that this iron build up in the liver could have also triggered the condition of the inflamed tissue in the pancreas caused by iron build up there causing the bile duct to be blocked or inflamed causing the back up in the liver, therefore the jaundice and the high bilirubin, phosphates, and other levels. We rejoice in this diagnosis, knowing that it is something I will need to stay on top of but that it is treatable. Compared to what we thought we were looking at just 5 weeks ago, we are so blessed, so humbled by the Lord’s grace and mercy that He would so choose to heal me this way and restore me to good health. Now I do ask that you continue pray for us as we get this treatment plan figured out, the visit with a cardiologist and finally, because this is a hereditary condition, Maggie and Mary Elizabeth will also need to be checked to see if they also carry the gene. Dr. McDonald says at their young age the condition is even more easily treated if they would have it. The condition is more common in males than females so please pray that they are not carrying the gene. And happily we give you a Wedding Update: Oh Lord have mercy on us one more time!!! We finally left BR this morning at 10:30 loaded to the gill. Yes just picture the Beverly Hillbillies and then some! Last night we were still farming out items to some of the BR gang coming for the wedding! It got scary there for a few minutes, Kathy kept giving me that Kathy Drake eye like she was thinking, now if I bungee Ken to the top that will give me one more seat and floor board to stack in!!! But praise God I am writing this as we drive, we are only an 1 1/2 hours from Atlanta, from Maggie and Spencer!!! We are so blessed, so thankful for this time, this celebration, that God in His perfect plan has brought them together to be united as one in Him, and that we are all in great health to enjoy every moment, every adventure, every relationship that He has ordained! You are so part of this moment with us because of your prayers for my healing, walking this journey with us, and asking Him to make a way for this holy, blessed celebration of marriage for Maggie and Spencer! May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart's testing, with Your likeness let me wake. Jesus, guide me through the tempest; keep my spirit staid and sure. When the midnight meets the morning, let me love you even more. Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go. And at the end of this long passage, let me leave them at Your throne." -Jesus Draw me Ever Nearer, Keith Getty and Margaret Becker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3N9VNe7Jto We love you all so dearly! Ken and Kathy Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are HIs judgments and unfathomable His ways! Romans 11:33
Thank you Lord that You have me in the place you want me just now . . . I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom. How safe it is for me to trust Your reasons for acting (or not acting) and Your methods of working! Thank you that I can safely commit my location and situation to You. I can "be willing for You to shift me anywhere on life's checkerboard, or bury me anywhere in life's garden, gladly yielding myself for You to please Yourself with, anywhere and anyway You choose." Thank You that I can trust You with my future places - ready to go, ready to stay. So I rest in the fact that You have me in this place for this day, and I praise You that You will faithfully guide me throughout life to just where You want me to be, as I seek to do Your will. And most important of all is my place in You, my dwelling place, my blessed home, "where I can enter and be at rest even when all around and above is a sea of trouble" (Andrew Murray). 31 Days of Praise, Ruth Myers How rich is the Word of God! How blessed we are that He speaks His Word so specifically, so perfectly in His timing! I pray this speaks to you and encourages you for whatever you may be going through. We continue to wait on Him as He heals my body and doctors continue to study and evaluate my condition. We are eager to know just how and when we can move and do and begin to enter into our ministry and work life. But the Lord continues to speak to us through His Word and the prayers and devotions of folks like Mrs. Myers to wait, rest, bring Him all our needs, plans, hopes, and fears. Commit everything into His care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace.! Plus the doctors are saying rest, let's get this figured out and let your body heal. So here we are, awaiting blood work results and doctor consults to determine just what the problems are in the liver and the iron build up they have discovered and just what the treatment may be for that. At 7 am Thursday I will have two MRI procedures, one for the abdomen and another specifically for the pancreas at The Lake Imaging Center. Again I thank you and ask for your continued prayers for my complete healing, clarity for the doctors in studying these, hopefully, final tests and procedures along with the blood work in coming up with a diagnosis and plan of action. Kathy and I are busy here getting last minute details done and items gathered to pack and leave for Atlanta on Friday. We will be there a few days with Maggie and Spencer to finish up details before heading up to Cashiers on Wednesday to begin preparing for the big weekend and the wedding there. We covet your prayers for all the aspects and details surrounding this holy day, Saturday, September 29th that above all God would be honored and glorified through all the gathering of family and friends, the wedding ceremony and all the celebrations around this blessed event. We appreciate you praying with us about the weather as well. Being an outdoor wedding we are praying for a beautiful day, clear skies. We understand the leaves are turning early so God may even bless us with some beautiful Fall color and cooler temperatures as well. Just another way you can join us in prayer for Maggie and Spencer and be close with us for this event you can go to their website to see pics, read their story and meet their wedding party: maggieandspencer.modwedding.com Again, thank you, bless you dear family and friends for praying, standing in the gap for us, loving us through this journey! Forever grateful! Ken and Kathy Dear Family, Friends, Chapel Choir and Body,
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! AMEN!!! How many times have we sung this Doxology over the last 4 weeks! We just keep singing it louder and with more gusto with each miracle, good report, good news God keeps blessing us with! We are so amazed, so thankful! Talk about experiencing AMAZING GRACE and MERCY on a whole new level!!! And of course we are so humbled and overwhelmed with your responses and encouragement. Just your responses last night and today with our blessed, good news from across the country and around the world - my cousin in Scotland, thanks so much Linda, so great to hear from you - WOW! From all of you. we so feel your love and it encourages and sustains us beyond words! Dr. McDonald did call an hour or so ago to further discuss the results of the liver biopsy so wanted to pass this on so you know how you can continue to pray for us. There are still results pending from the biopsy but the initial good news of NO CANCER is the best! He has asked for me to come in tomorrow for yet more blood work! It turns out that there is an unusual iron build up in the liver and so he needs to run the blood work to quantify the amount of iron. Once again this has him somewhat puzzled and he is conferring with other docs, saying that my whole case is quite unusual - ya'll all already knew I am one weird cookie!!! : ~ } (no comments from the peanut gallery, that's you choir!!!) I say "unique, fearfully, wonderfully made, Praise Jesus!" Psalm 139 Seriously, he is hoping to get definition on this, checking to see if it is a genetic condition or just what, asking if anyone in my family has had hemochromatosis. Therefore I again ask that you pray for clarity, wisdom, discernment for Dr. McDonald and his associates as they study this blood work. And finally, he also said he would place the order to schedule the MRI on the pancreas. He does still wants to get that tissue study to see the condition there and update on the "inflamed tissue." Kathy and I leave next Friday to go to Atlanta to prep for the wedding with Maggie before heading to Cashiers the following Wednesday so we were pressing him today to get this done before we leave. So please pray for all the details concerning that procedure and hopefully results before we leave. Can you believe it?!?! I will be walking my Maggie down that aisle to Spencer Paul Holmes in just 2 weeks and 2 days !!!! Here we go again (I'm sure you can hear us all the way to your house), "Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Love you all SO much! Your love, your prayers are AMAZING!!!! Ken and Kathy Dear Friends and Family,
We received the preliminary results of the liver biopsy today and no cancer was found in the liver! Praise the Lord and to Him be the glory! We are so very grateful for your faithful prayers, love and support. We do not have the other results from the biopsy yet. We are waiting to discuss the issues that were found in the liver with the doctor. We are rejoicing and singing His praises for the good report! We will blog more when we get a more complete report. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21 Singing His Praises, Ken and Kathy Unfortunately we still have no word! But we will trust in the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, leaning not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge HIM, the Sovereign God and Father of us all, and HE will make our paths straight!
We so appreciate your continued and incredible love, prayers, encouragement and concern for us. We have been so humbled by all of this. Today God brought us to an even deeper place. Mark Bruney, a fairly new Oaks member and fairly new to Baton Rouge, brought us a beautiful meal, quite the gourmet! He himself has leukemia and in remission right now, praise God, but he is walking a very difficult path right now here in Baton Rouge caring for his mother who has dementia. Here he comes with this beautiful meal ministering to us when he himself is walking such a difficult path, but he said he loves to cook and praises God everyday that he can help and bless someone else! How beautiful is the body of Christ! I dedicate these words as a praise and a prayer to Mark and all of you who have loved and blessed us so powerfully, so beautifully! How beautiful the hands that served The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth How beautiful the feet that walked The long dusty road and the hill to the cross How beautiful, how beautiful How beautiful is the body of Christ How beautiful the heart that bled That took all my sin and bore it instead How beautiful the tender eyes That chose to forgive and never despise How beautiful, how beautiful How beautiful is the body of Christ And as He laid down His life We offer this sacrifice That we will live just as he died Willing to pay the price Willing to pay the price How beautiful the radiant bride Who waits for her groom with His light in her eyes How beautiful when humble hearts give The fruit of pure lives so that others may live How beautiful, how beautiful How beautiful is the body of Christ How beautiful the feet that bring The sound of good news and the love of the King How beautiful the hands that serve The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth How beautiful, how beautiful How beautiful is the body of Christ (lyrics by Twila Paris) Mary Elizabeth will sing this at Maggie and Spencer's wedding ceremony as Kevin minsters to them their 1st Communion as husband and wife! We love you all dearly with the love of the Lord! We will certainly keep you posted, therefore we cherish your continued prayers for us! Ken We didn't hear any results from the biopsy today. It was a long day of hoping and waiting for news. Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors and they study the results and pray for Ken as the waiting is very difficult. We are learning deep lessons of "being still" and knowing that our God is Sovereign, loving and faithful.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the nations Psalm 46:10 Yet, there have been so many blessings in the waiting. The weekend was beautiful in the waiting. September is usually one of the busiest months for us in the ministry. But in the quietness of waiting on God for answers this year in Ken's illness, we were blessed as we enjoyed the beautiful weather with a quiet dinner outside. We were blessed with several visits from friends and opportunities to pray and laugh and share sweet memories. We were blessed with several delicious meals prepared by loving servant hearts. I am learning to receive and be blessed in abundance. We were richly blessed at church with beautiful worship music from the choir and worship team and a wonderful message. At the end of the message there was a call for those who needed prayer. So many times through the years I have been one up front receiving those who needed prayer, but Sunday we were blessed as we went forward and knelt and felt the powerful prayer of healing over us. Throughout the weekend the words to a song I love have been running through my head- Jesus, I am Resting, Resting - lyrics by Jean Sophia Pigott from the 1800's. Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole. Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. O, how great Thy loving kindness, Vaster, broader than the sea! O, how marvelous Thy goodness, Lavished all on me! Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd, Know what wealth of grace is Thine, Know Thy certainty of promise, And have made it mine. Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart; Satisfies its deepest longings, Meets, supplies its every need, Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed! Ever lift Thy face upon me As I work and wait for Thee; Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth’s dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father’s glory, Sunshine of my Father’s face, Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace. Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. Steve Green sings it @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiRK2gu-KQQ Thank you for your faithful prayer for complete healing. And so we rest, wait and trust and are blessed as we learn more of Jesus and His heart of love for us, Kathy Hey everyone,
Hope I'm not jumping ahead of the Drakes posting this to you. If so K & K, sorry! It was great to see Ken and Kathy in the worship service this morning at the church. Many hugs were distributed! I'm just hoping he didn't over do it! You know Ken, can't hold him back for anything! We were all so glad to see him and worship together once again! I wanted to remind everyone to please, please, please continue to pray without ceasing! Pray for a calm spirit, sleep, but more importantly; Wisdom for the doctors and for Ken and Kathy with wisdom as to their next steps...MRI! The doctor should call them tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest, with the results of the liver biopsy. I know Ken must be feeling a little anxious so we need to pray tonight for more SWEET SLEEP! Time to sing those lullabies again! They also need to set up a time for the MRI which I believe, the doctor will also discuss with them during the same phone call. Also, be praying for Maggie and Spencer as they quickly approach their blessed day of Marriage! And don't forget our precious Mary Elizabeth as she is so far away with so much going on with her family! I'm sure it makes it hard to concentrate on her studies. So this little blog is another call for the Lord's Army to pray, pray, pray! Believe, Trust, and Obey whatever He is asking of you at this time. Our God is mighty and delights in His trusting children. Praying and Singing, Sherry Dear Family, Friends, Chapel Choir, Staff, Elders, and Body!
Once again thank you for your prayer coverage for the biopsy yesterday. I felt your prayers so strongly as I was rolled into procedure room and the radiologists explained in detail the procedure and some of the side or after effects of the procedure. For moments there anxiety set in and then blessed Dr. Walker came in. Dr. Walker encouraged me as he told me that he had been following my case and story on the blog, praying, studying, researching my case. It brought assurance once again that the Lord was so near and that He truly was holding me in the palm of His Almighty, Healing hands - another blessed moment in this journey! AND God was gracious, I had none of the side or after effects they described. I am fine this morning, maybe like someone has punched me in the ribs on that right side but all is good. I have been told to rest and take it very easy, very careful over these 48 hours after the biopsy. We hope to have the results from Dr. McDonald on Monday and then we hope to get the MRI of the pancreas scheduled sometime next week. So thank you for your prayers, God so knows our need even when we do not! Again I am forever grateful for your faithful, tireless, earnest prayers for me and my family. God woke me very early this morning, having some unpleasant dreams and anxious thoughts so I immediately got out of bed and opened the Word: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17. And Ruth Myers praise: "Thank you that in Your Word I can see your face and hear Your voice. I can discover Your will and Your patterns for living and serving. I can develop deeper faith and confidence. Thank you that the Holy Spirit inspired Your Word and uses it to enlighten and guide me, and to change me more and more into Your image, from one degree of glory to another." And then I was blessed all over again as I began to read through all the blog responses you have sent. Sherry had copied all the initial days into a notebook and Kathy continues to add to. I am so grateful for this and reconnection with so many of you from those fabulous growing up days in WS, the Drake and Dunn family, the crazy Furman gang - those were the days!, the LSU music school crew - I seem to attract the craziest! duh!, the pastors and congregations at First Pres. and Christ Covenant and all the Chapel network through these many years! Thank you for these prayers, scriptures, songs, encouraging, loving thoughts that will bless me all the rest of my days as I reflect back on this journey and God's loving, gracious hand on me through YOU! I am forever blessed, forever changed! How can I ever express my love and gratitude! I love you all! Ken Just got a text from Kathy at 11:00am that Ken is in recovery and did well. He's smiling and talking. His procedure was actually an hour late. Shortly after Kathy's text, I began to hear LOTS of birds right outside of my front door! Singing their brains out! I quickly texted back that the birds must know something that we yet don't know! They are singing praises and glorifying God! Ken should get the results from this biopsy in 4-5 days. Keep praying!!! Kathy continues to ask us to pray for doctors wisdom and wisdom for them as to the next steps. I think I can speak for everyone: "We are right here for you...praying without ceasing!" We ALL love you so much! Sherry
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