In June 2011 I had a mini stroke or T.I.A. “A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief period of time. A person will have stroke-like symptoms for up to 1-2 hours. A TIA is felt to be a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.” Internet
I was given a baby aspirin (81 mg) to take every day. Soon I started taking 10 mg of Atorvastatin. I took these for 2 to 3 months. Nothing appeared wrong on several tests. It must have been a clot in a small artery in the brain that would not be seen in a CT scan.
After our Bible camp ended, I had time to research my health concerns. Someone else might not have the same conditions or reach the same conclusions so please just consider this my opinion. It was difficult and confusing because the Atorvastatin lowered my “bad” (LDL) cholesterol to an ideal level. Perhaps it was best that I used these medications initially. But I decided to use natural means to accomplish the objectives of keeping my blood thin and lowering my cholesterol (I had borderline high cholesterol).
There was fear that I was doing the wrong thing, but I had asked. The answer is having faith in God enough to give Him your burdens and do what He wants you to do if anything. What was difficult for me is hearing from God to know what exactly to do.
It’s interesting that when we face new challenges, we have to learn to have faith in a new way. I felt like the double-minded man:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:2-7 Perhaps it was just that it took time to determine what I felt was God’s answer,
Sometimes God waits till the last minute to answer me. Sometimes He makes an answer come out of my mouth I hadn’t planned, though generally a hasty answer is not wise:
“Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 29:20 We should learn to keep in close fellowship with God so we can pray when we have to make a quick decision.
Once, when no one else was available, I was leading song service. That is not my gift. I asked the Lord when I should stop. After another song or so I felt so weak I had to sit down. God had answered in a strange way.
Another time our pastor asked if someone would be the librarian. They were leaving soon, and his wife was doing the librarian’s job. I thought, “the only thing I would like to do is order books, but I couldn’t volunteer just to do the fun things.” I didn’t tell anyone this so it was a complete surprise when the pastor asked, “Jerri, how would you like to order books for the library?”
Of course, I had to catalog the new books, and soon I was librarian. I don’t know if the Lord had told him I was to be the librarian or just to ask me to order books or something else. But that is the way the Lord got me to do His will.
Jim, my husband, volunteered to help keep a mission station open for the Sub-Artic Mission by occasionally coming on weekends to have a service. Our pastor came with him the first week but, of course, a pastor has to minister in his own church. I went with Jim the next week so he would not have to go alone, thinking this was a one-time thing. But no one else volunteered so soon I was helping Jim every weekend. This was the way God had me do His will. He works in each of His children “to will and to act according to his good purpose.”:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13
God will answer our prayer for wisdom. Sometimes we have to turn our ears “to wisdom”, apply our hearts “to understanding”, “call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding”, “look for it as for silver a d search for it as for hidden treasure”:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:1-11
I consider God my ultimate doctor. God has provided “good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”:
“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5
Our attitude affects our body. I had given up swimming mainly because of the chorine. I swam five days a week for several years, then three days a week after we had moved from close to the swimming pool, then two days a week, then one. Now I seldom go swimming. I was thinking maybe since I am older I can slow down. I walk at least three miles a day, plus do exercises. But the last time I saw a nurse practitioner she suggested getting more exercise to lower my LDL cholesterol! I felt God was telling not to slow down.
Obeying God, in itself, brings health:
“Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.” Psalm 38:3
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.” Psalm 51:8
“in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:6-8
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
I had to believe that God was giving me wisdom. Even if I died, I knew that would be God’s plan:
“Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.’ Job 14:5
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:15-16
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth…gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. `For in him we live and move and have our being.’ …” Acts7:24-28
If I died, it would not be a punishment or a bad thing:
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
It would be a good thing for me:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” Philippians 1:21-26
I hope I live for the sake of my loved ones and “this will mean fruitful labor for me”. I pray that God will make me like Caleb:
“Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’
“Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” Joshua 14:6-11
In talking to a friend who is on kidney dialysis I realized that she is fighting the Lord’s battles through prayer; she is “as vigorous to go out to battle” as she was when she was young and healthy. No matter what the circumstances we can be overcomers:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk:3:17-19
“…I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…” 1 John 2:13
“…I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4
“is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:5
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 2:11
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—“ Revelation 2:26
“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” Revelation 3:5
“Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.” Revelation 3:12
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21
“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelation 21:7
God will give us the victory in fighting His battles:
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. 37 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.” 2 Samuel 2:33-37 Psalm 18:32-36
I will live and fight His battles as long as it is His will:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Just because we are older or cannot do things as well as others or are disabled in some way or don’t see the fruit of our labor, doesn’t mean we are cannot do great things for God:
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” 2 Peter 4:7
We must make use of our time money and talents:
"Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” Psalm 39:4
We just have to trust Him:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
P.S.
I have since read many articles and testimonies about the dangers of statin drugs. They keep the liver from producing cholesterol, but they also keep the liver from doing needed tasks, for example, producing Coq10 needed for muscles. Statins also have been shown to lower cognitive functions. A good book to read is Are Your Prescriptions Killing You? By Armon B. Neel, Jr., PharmD, CGP, and Bill Hogan.
Exercise will increase the HDL or “good” cholesterol which works to eliminate “bad” cholesterol. Fiber, oatmeal and fish oils lower “bad” cholesterol.
I have also learned that there are alternatives to aspirin for thinning blood. Several foods and herbs thin blood.