Encouraging News

A (real) publisher approached me about a book deal! Yeah.

Thanks for all who've kept me in prayer. And for all who will keep me in prayer- thanks so much.

Nate

Hi everyone. Thanks for your support and encouragment.

Nate

Pat~ said:

Nate, that is so exciting! What's the book about (if you can tell)?

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The publisher asked me to compile some older writings that I'd done on the topics of suffering and growth. I'd learned they were being passed around in prisons...etc. (I had no clue) I had no idea people were making copies of them and putting them into notebooks and using them as teaching tools. One day I was invited to speak at a state prison, and was told by a minister they were using my teachings in another state prison. (I wrote some of these things ten years ago.)

Oddly, I wasn't all that eager to do that- to go back and rework old things. I don't even know if those files still exist anywhere.

I then told the Publisher about something new I was working on, which is a different direction altogether, because it's aimed is specifically at women's needs. It really challenges stereotypes and misconceptions within the churches, and I've gotten really positive feedback from the women that have read segments. The Publisher wants it when I'm done.

I can't tell you how many doors are opening. It almost makes me look delusional. The magazine I write for wants me to be the features editor. I've been asked to play guitar on a worship C.D. (I used to play in a rock band, and then a worship band)

However, I need prayers. In September a freak accident crushed my right arm. The elevator door closed while I was standing in the threshold and pinned it. It didn't get deformed, but there's nerve damage. (Ulnar neuropathy and impingement syndrom and RSD)

The stress of dealing with workman's comp (I didn't even stop working) and the job caused me to go into arrythmias that put me in the hospital. Then the medications they used to stop the arryhtmias caused my lungs to stop working, and I had to be put on O2 and I went back int he hospital. Now I need surgery on my arm, and workman's comp told me I can't go back to my job as of next Friday because I've worked with special conditions now since September.

Laughs. My life has become a drama with great things and terrible things happening all at once. And honestly, I know where this is all coming from. So if any people out there are into intercessory prayer, I could use a bunch of it. (Maybe I should have said yes to the book on suffering and growth?)

Thanks,

Nate

skylarburris said:

What excitement to be having so many ups and downs at once. Congratulations again, and I will be praying for you.

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Thanks for your prayers.

Skylar, I realize now that all these things are God's gift to me, because without things to look forward to, I'm not sure I could deal with the pain. So many doors are opening at once, that when I list them, I realize it sounds almost delusional. In fact, when I tell people about the bad things happening, it probably sounds just as unbelievable.

First, the Elevator that grabbed my arm malfunctioned in two ways, the sensor didn't see me, and second it clamped, as the release didn't work. Fortunately there was a person there who saw it happen or I doubt my employer would have believed it happened. Still, that happened the same day I prayed that God would open a door for me. (Laughs, perhaps one door closed so that another could open- a minister friend made that point)

After the arryhmias started, when I was in the hospital, two different cardiologists said, "I've never seen this before." The one just stood there watching. If I lay still my heart rate would drop immediately. If I moved the slightest, or sat up, it would shoot up to 165 bpm instantly. If I stood it was shooting over 200 bpm. So, they couldn't both give meds to slow it up and speed it up, and the meds I was on wouldn't control anything.

I had a freakish drug reaction to the anti-arrhythmic that put me back in the hospital. Laughs- I had one doctor tell me to stop the medicine and another told me to double the dose, because he felt my shortness of breath was caused by something different.

I had four specialists (neurologist, cardiologist, intensivist/pulmonologist, and family doctor) who all said, "We've never seen this drug reaction before." At nights I was using Oxygen at home- this stuff impacted the muscles that allow me to breath so that I got worse as the day progressed. And while this was happening, my furnace died in that cold snap when the temps were dropping below zero. And we had to wait days for them to order the part.

Well, I just knew God had a plan for me and I knew I wasn't going to die, and so I didn't get all bent out of shape and just laughed, knowing that scripture in Ephesians is true. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood...but against....spiritual darkness."

For years I ministered to people who were in that place of continuous suffering, and now I've joined them. I've been offered narcotics for pain control, but I've refused to take them. At the same time God has been doing things that are beyond my comprehension. He's opening doors I don't even knock on and brings people into my life to offer me encouragement at just the right time. A sweetheart from Weta (as in Lord of the Rings Weta) sent me a really kind message and said she loved my art. I pumped my fists in the air in excitement and was thanking God all yesterday for that kind word.

Well, today is my last day at work, as workman's comp said I can't stay after friday (Drs apts fill my dance card tomorrow, and I took Friday off)