Guiding Light!
The Ride!
Last Monday night I got to take a ride in a vehicle that is lit up like a christmas tree and makes lots of loud noises to a place where one gets lots of attention.
This all sounds pretty exciting and in a way it was exciting, but not exciting in a way any of us would like to experience. Monday was a normal day of daily activities, running errands, going to the post office, stopping by the church checking messages and even taking time out for lunch. The day was basically uneventful, that is until evening came.
I was on my way home around 8:30 in the evening from delivering some study material to a new Christian who had just got baptized the day before. It was a good visit sharing God's word and promises for our future and all the blessings He wants to shower on us when we are obedient. The young couple was very excited about doing God's will and setting a good example for their young daughter.
As I was driving home I noticed I was getting a sharp pain in my chest, luckily only being about one mile from home the pain continued to get worse. As I entered my home the pain had become almost unbearable, I was getting very faint and a sharp warm pain was traveling down my right arm. Unable to think clearly, I laid down on the couch trying to concentrate on relaxing hoping the pain would subside and eventually go away.
Wishful thinking on my part, the pain got worse and my breathing became labored. I crawled to the phone and dialed 911, the call was answered immediately and the lady on the other end asked what is the emergency? I told her, "I think I am having a heart attack", then the important questions were asked and she immediately dispatched an intensive care ambulance to my home. As we talked I found it very difficult to even concentrate on what she was asking, she asked if I would like to stay on the phone with her until the ambulance arrived. I told her, "No, I can't hardly talk and the pain was unbearable, I have to go and lay down."
Only moments later the ambulance and the fire department showed up and a birage of people and equipment was entering my home. Everyone knew their job and everyone was busy doing their job as I sit in my office chair barely conscience. I was asked a series of questions by the para-medic to determine my problem, it was quite obvious to him I was having a severe heart attack. He asked me on a scale of 1 to 10 where was my pain at, I almost had to chuckle as I told him it was at 25. I have never experienced this kind or severity of pain in my life and I never want to experience it again.
I was given three (the maximum allowed my the para-medics) blast of nitro under my tongue and two injections of morphine to help ease the pain. When this didn't ease the pain in the least the para-medic became very concerned that we would make it to the hospital quick enough. He told me things were very critical and that there was the possibility that we wouldn't make it to the hospital in time to save my life. Honesty, you have to love it!
Even though I was in extreme pain and knowing that I might not survive the evening, I never felt a sense of panic or fear. Actually the only feeling I felt besides the pain was that, "Father I may be coming home to be with you, receive me as your child, I am ready to come home." In fact in a selfish way I was hoping I was going home to be with our Heavenly Father. Remember the words the Apostle Paul wrote, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
We arrived at the hospital the cardiologist doctor met us immediately, he asked some of the same questions and immediately started ordering injections, pills, an ekg, a heart monitor and other important things that I don't really recall now. I do recall seeing him standing at the foot of my gurney, calm as can be ordering the events like a well planned out play. I felt very confident in his abilities and control, it gave me a sense of ease seeing his command.
As all the plays were ordered and in motion he came over to me again. He didn't mix words, he was very direct and to the point. Kenny, he said, this is very serious and we are not sure what will happen in the next few hours. There is a distinct possibility that you may not survive this heart attack and you need to be aware of the events that are taking place. He could of just told me I had inherited ten million dollars and it wouldn't of made any more difference that what he had just told me. I was in so much pain, I could not process the information I was being told.
He informed me that I had a 95% blockage in my main artery going into my heart. With this blockage for at least the last two hours it is very likely that I would have severe heart damage. He prescribed some new type of medication that was to dissolve blood clots. He informed me that it normally takes approximately two to three hours for it to start working. Good I thought, just get me some relief from this pain, that is all I care about right now.
I wasn't in the emergency room for more than perhaps 15 minutes and there were about 10 church family members there praying over me. I wasn't aware of what was going on behind the scenes with these people or what they were doing until a little later. I was informed that a couple of calls were made to a select few people and in turn they started the prayer chain calling.
About 45 minutes after the blood clot dissolver medicine was administered I was feeling relief from the chest pains. The doctor could see the relief of pain in my face and my talk. He came over to the bed and asked a few questions and then commented that he has never seen this medicine work this quickly. I then asked him, "Do you see those 10 people standing over there?, yes, he said, I told him that there was probably another 100 or more people praying right now for God's intervention in the events taking place.
I didn't know what was going to happen next, but I always knew that God was in charge and that I did not need to worry because He has never failed me before and He wasn't going to fail me now. The events that would take place over the next three days was a real glory to God.
Tuesday morning I had a probe inserted in my artery by my groin which they sent up into the main artery of my heart. This confirmed that I indeed had a blockage in my artery and it had to be addressed immediately. The doctor ordered me transported to a Boise hospital that specializes in heart trama. Not long after I arrived in Boise I was whisked off to the operating room and they began doing they duty on me. They inserted a balloon into my artery and expanded the blockage and then they inserted a stent to hold the effected area open. Wonderful, I went from a 95% closure to a 115% opening in less than 24 hours.
Wednesday morning, the attending cardiologist came in and told me that I needed to take it easy for a few days and give my heart a chance to heal and I can go home tomorrow. YES! God is Good! He informed me that I would have very little heart damage and that I was a very lucky person. I had to chuckle, I told him, "lucky?, no it didn't have anything to do with luck, it had everything to do with prayer."
God hears our prayers and is merciful to our requests. The power behind corporate prayer is beyond our imagination. But it is very powerful and profound. Never underestimate the outcome of corporate requests of God fearing people, especially for a fellow brother or sister in time of need. God heard their requests and He knew my heart of trust and faith in Him. No one, the prayer warriors or myself ever doubted God or His ability to be in control of our every thought and emotion.
There has been a lot of events that has taken place during the past four days and God has been glorified and His word has been shared with many. In our next devotion I will share some of the things that took place at the hospital and the insights others and myself have gained from this experience. My head is still spinning with everything that has taken place in such a short time, from near death to overwhelming peace with God.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
Always, always, keep your trust in the one who redeemed us, He will never fail us nor forsake us, we are His child.
Heavenly Father, we are in awe of you and how you work in the lives of your children. I thank you Lord that you let me be a first party to your awesome work that you have performed though us to touch others for you. I thank you for the peace you instilled in my heart during these events and always knowing that you were in charge. I praise you Heavenly Father for your love for us, as unworthy as we are, you see us as clean as snow and unblemished through the blood of Christ. Thank you again my Father for all you do in my life, I look forward to being right in the middle of your will daily. I am available to you today Father, to be used as you desire. We honor and glorify your name today.........in Jesus name we pray,..........amen.
In Christ's Service,
Kenny Millhouse
kenny@guidinglightministry.com
http://guidinglightminstry.com
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