Lana Elder

You all are THE BEST prayer team ever!! The results of my MRI’s came back showing there’s no impingement on my nerves and no fractures of my bones. YEA!! That means there is nothing pressing on the nerves to cause the pain in my legs. Unfortunately, I still have the pain, though.  I went ahead with chemo on Friday, but the pain has just gotten worse since the chemo. Thankfully, God has provided some relief in the form of Ibuprofen. But I don’t want to just mask over the pain, so if you could pray for the pain to go away or the wisdom to know what to do differently.

Ever since we had our day of prayer and fasting for my healing, we’ve wanted to have a night of praise and feasting to celebrate God’s goodness even in the midst of it. My son Lucas is home from Hillsong College, and he and one of our former worship leaders (Gary Marini, who lead worship with Lucas for our trip to Israel a few years ago) are going to lead us in a night of worship here at our house this Friday night, June 1st. I’d love for you to come join us! We’ll start the feasting about 6 pm and the worship about 7. Bring a lawn chair, or a blanket to sit on, and a dish to pass for our feast (if you want to) and  we’ll have a nice night under the stars. Just send me a note at lana@theranch.org if you’d like more details or directions. I’d love to have you…really!

I know I keep saying it, but thanks again for all your prayers and acts of kindness. I was really blown away this week by a package of cards that came in the mail from a church we attended about 20 years ago. I honestly cried just seeing what was in the package…lots of cards and and gifts from people in the church. I actually couldn’t even open any cards at first because I was so overwhelmed. When I did open them, I saw that some were from people I knew well, and others from people I’ve never met before. It immediately made me think of how the body of Christ works, and how some people are especially gifted at being able to help others in their time of need.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others…” (1 Corinthians 2:27).

To all of you who have prayed, and sent cards and gifts, and brought meals, and watched the kids and prayed, prayed, prayed…thanks! It means so much. Hope to see you this weekend if you can make it!

Several times this week, as I thought about updating you about my condition, I’ve thought of the cartoon version of “101 Dalmatians.”  There’s a scene when all the puppies are fleeing the evil Cruella Deville. It’s cold and windy and the dogs have to walk a long distance. One of the little puppies says to his mother, “I’m tired and I’m hungry and my tail’s froze…and my nose is froze and my ears are froze.  And my toes are froze.”

Well, today I can empathize with that puppy, not that I have the same symptoms…..I just have a lot of things I could list that I need prayer for. Such as….my heart is beating a lot faster, I have tingling in my legs sometimes that makes them feel like jello when I walk, I’ve been really tired all week, I’ve lost my appetite, I’ve woken up with a headache almost everyday…. whine, whine, whine,…..now maybe you can see why I remind myself of that little puppy!

My doctor ended up postponing my chemo on Friday because of some of my symptoms, mainly the tingling in my legs (it’s kind of like when you hit your funny bone in your elbow, only it happens in my legs). My doctor wants to take some further MRI images to see if there is something pressing on a nerve, or if not, then maybe the chemo agent I am using is causing some of these symptoms.

Although it may sound like I’m complaining, I’m still doing really well, and I’m really thankful for a lot of things. I’m thankful for you praying, and that no one else in our family got the flu that Eric and I had. Wow!  That is truly miraculous!  I’m thankful that Lucas made it home from Australia and to have all my kids home for awhile.  Here’s a picture from Mother’s Day.

Thanks again for your prayers.  I’d appreciate your prayers for my upcoming MRI and the above-mentioned symptoms to go away. I do believe God will answer these prayers.  As Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22).

Even in 101 Dalmatians, the puppies found that help was just around the corner, with a warm barn, plenty to eat, and even some warm milk.  I believe the answers to our prayers are just around the corner, too!

We had a fabulous time in New York celebrating our 23rd anniversary! We ate at some great restaurants, enjoyed some wonderful shows (absolutely loved the Lion King), spent a lot of time in Central Park (my favorite part of NYC), and saw the 9/11 Memorial. I also really enjoyed visiting Brooklyn Tabernacle and Hillsong NYC, both great contemporary churches with incredible worship and pastors who delivered inspiring messages. If you are ever in NYC, I would highly recommend visiting these churches. In fact, we arrived a little early for Hillsong Church and the line was literally half way around the block, so arrive early.

Regarding my health, while some people leave their heart in San Francisco I decided to leave my hair in New York! Well, most of it…it just looks a lot thinner. 😦 I came down with the flu on Thursday night and had to cancel my chemo for Friday (Eric had the same thing three days before me so I know it was the flu). I’m just now getting my strength back and feeling better. One of the nicer things about the flu is that there is really nothing you can do but lay in bed and talk to Jesus. It reminds me of this story in Luke 10:38-42…

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Most of the time I feel my life is so busy and I think more about the preparations that need to be made for whatever is going on that it’s hard to find the time to sit and be with Jesus. But when I’m sick and laying in bed talking to Jesus I realize how true His words really are….”but only one thing is needed.” Mary choose what was better and nothing can take away from her time with Jesus. Things like this really help me focus on what matters most. It really helped to listen to scriptures that I have on CD or online at YouVersion.com

My son Lucas is coming home from Australia on Tuesday for a few weeks so we are looking forward to having our family all together for awhile in one place. Please pray for my continued recovery from the flu and that it doesn’t spread to anyone else and that it doesn’t disrupt the effectiveness of the chemo.

I hope you all find time to sit at Jesus’ feet this week…without getting the flu. 😉 Thanks again for your prayers. Love you all.