Praise God for Psalms. Praise God for songs and hymns. Praise God for music. Please take the time (it’ll be worth it!) to listen to the Spring Concert performed by the Jubilate Deo Choir on Sunday, April 21 in Winnipeg last night. Click here to listen (https://boxcast.tv/view/grace—spring-concert-prpi1ybjew9qwhfunn99). Not to mention, our beloved Teitsma fam jam is featured a time or two… or three… or four… or more… 

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The theme for today is: Holding.

Psalm 37:23-24. God holds.

“The Lord upholds him with his hand.” Upholds. Another Hebrew lesson. The Hebrew word for ‘upholds’ is ‘samak.’ It means to lean upon or sustain. The same word is used in the context of the laying on of hands that the Old Testament priests did for the sacrificial offerings.

The Lord upholds. He provides samak. God doesn’t just hold or grasp. He lays his hands on us. He consecrates us. God saves us. God supports us. God sustains us.

April 22. Four weeks already. God is leaning on, sustaining, and laying his hands on Zach. Beautiful. It’s heart breaking to look at Zach’s arm and his missing hand. A piece of him gone. Feels like a part of us went as well. And then the feet. More questions. More worries. More waiting. More samak.

Samak. The laying on of hands. A supernatural transfer of power. The power of God. The power of safety. The power of protection, assurance, and love. The power of the deepest expression of admiration, care, and concern that we just can’t comprehend. Samak for the weak, the vulnerable, the anxious, and the ill. Samak for those with all their limbs. Samak for those with missing limbs. Samak for us. Samak for Zach.

This is another lesson in humility. Another lesson in dependence. Another lesson in trust. A hard lesson. But a lesson learned. Live and learn.

Samak for Zach. Samak initiated by God. Samak promised by God. Samak sustained by God. He did it for His only begotten son. He’ll do it for ours as well.

Today’s Updates:

Zach’s surgery last night went well, praise our God! They amputated his right hand and they were able to preserve Zach’s wrist joint. We are thankful for this as having his wrist will be beneficial for prosthetics down the road. Megan and Melannie got to see his right arm unwrapped and the site looks healthy and clean, although it is surreal that his right hand is gone. We are thankful that the surgery went well, and that Zach’s other hand is very healthy. Praise the Lord for his continued providence over the medical team here at Health Sciences Centre! 

Zach remains sedated and on the ventilator. They decreased some of his pain medications today and his heart rate went up a little bit. They’re keeping him sedated to allow his body to rest, and they will adjust his blood pressure and pain medications as needed. 

Zach had a small open area underneath his tracheostomy site that the trach doctors came and stitched up today. Zach also received another blood transfusion for low hemoglobin. Other than that, Zach had a fairly quiet day today. Please continue to pray for Zach, especially that his brain may fully recover. Please also join us in thanking God for upholding Zach through the four weeks he’s been in the ICU, and grant that he will continue to uphold Zach and all of us with whatever He has in store for the future.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” (Psalm 54:4)

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From the concert: Calvary by Paul Rodney

The pilgrims throng through the city gates
While the night is falling fast;
They go to watch on Calvary’s hill
Ere the twilight hours are past;
Though dark be the way, with eyes of faith,
They gave on His Cross above;
And, lo! From each heart,
The shadows depart,
As they list to his words of love,
As they list to His words of love.

Refrain:
Rest, rest to the weary,
Peace, peace to the soul;
Though life may be dreary,
Earth is not thy goal,
O lay down thy burden,
O come unto me,
I will not forsake thee,
I will not forsake thee,
I will not forsake thee,
Though all else should flee.

Far, far, away, o’er the dream of years
They hear the voice of the King,
Where, O Grave, where is thy victory,
And where, O Death is thy sting?
Captive He leads them forevermore;
While weary pilgrims rejoice;
For looking on high to the Cross He bore,
The faithful shall hear His voice,
The faithful shall hear His voice.