Grateful for His grace, and ever-dependent on His grace

Now that Nathan's heart rate is now within normal range, the surgery that has twice been postponed is scheduled for 11am tomorrow.

The surgery is to seal a crack in the base of his skull with a view to preventing any future infections from reaching his brain through his sinuses and causing meningitis. The surgery is a rather delicate as it involves procedures close to the eyes and to the nerves leading to the nose and mouth, so your prayers for the surgeon's wisdom and dexterity are very much appreciated.

Psalm 103:3-5 describes what the Lord has been doing for Nathan and what we continue to pray for him:

"He...heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle's!"

Hannah and I are ever mindful that the Lord's goodness to Nathan has nothing whatever to do with Nathan's worthiness or ours. We were grieved to hear just yesterday about the deaths of a Christian college student killed in an auto accident and of a former missionary's son killed in action in Iraq. And we have had several good friends and missionary colleagues die untimely and painful deaths. We cannot, of course, say why Nathan has been spared. We know that understanding the actions of a God who is both infinite and sovereign is far, far beyond us (Job 42:1-3). But our perplexity does not diminish our gratitude for God's graciously sparing and healing Nathan.