Steps toward Healing 2

Mark 1: 40-41⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
⁴¹ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 


 On our last entry we discussed how healing can come about in different phases, though instant healing was mentioned as a possibility, all details and scripture went towards a process healing. Today, however, I invite you to consider the more familiar approach to miracles the instant healing.


 The scripture above shows a person stricken by leprosy that gets close to Jesus, asking to be relieved of his misery, and Jesus shows how He is always willing to be a bridge between man and restoration and has mercy on him, imparting a healing touch.
As a personal experience I can relate to people who are going experimenting disease, we move at a whole different level than people who are healthy.  In our daily lives, we might find people who empathize, other that do not understand, our conditions. However, just like the leper, I've come to an understanding that we can never bring to question the fact that God wants us to experience healing.
The leper never doubted Jesus, he didn't ask whether the Lord could heal him, rather if he would.
If there was a moment of doubt coming from the leper, it was not because of the capabilities of Jesus, but because the man did not believe himself worthy of receiving the gift of healing.
However, Jesus did not hesitate.
 There's a lot to learn from Jesus here, especially for those of a less divine quality.


Sometimes as we struggle with chronic conditions, we face people that are neither supportive nor understanding. Just like in Bible times, when people used to link sickness to a hidden sin, people tend to come to their own conclusions. We have all heard the "it's not as rough as it looks" speech, haven't we?
People who are supportive are crucial to the healing process, we need to be more understanding, more accepting. We are not meant to push away or judge those who are suffering, God calls us to take action in their behalf, caring is like taking one's hand and walking with them through their journey.

God has never left us. Although there were instant, marvelous miracles while Jesus walked the Earth, the fountains of mercy are still flowing. I believe in science because I believe in God and the way I see it is that it is part of his plan to empower people with solutions. Next time you are given a prescription drug, take a moment to think how God allowed medicine to conquer most of our frailties in order to extend our opportunities and allow us to enjoy precious time.Think about how not so long ago lupus, for example, carried a death sentence. However, with the advance of medicine, a well treated condition can go into remission and people are able, not only to survive, but to thrive.
People might not understanding, but there no better process that that which combines science and faith. God is still touching thousand with his mercies, sometimes with a word, sometimes with medication.
I have been through quite a few treatments. The most successful are the ones I entered knowing that God is in control.
If we need healing or that sense of peace within our process, we need to start a relationship with God and allow Him to guide us in all our ways.

Steps toward Healing, Part 1

Many people ask themselves, why am I sick? There are a lot of reasons behind diseases. However the word of God gives examples in which sickness touches an individual to open a door to a blessing, to further glorify God. In other words, to open for a chance to experience a miracle!

As I've said I have been blessed with the opportunity to witness such miracles in myself and others. Though most people connect miracles with the idea of instantaneous healing, there are miracles that are in fact, a process. In my case, the road to healing has been a process, one that had allowed me to get a firm grip of God's hand, allowing Him to work through me in steps and each day guides me to a more stable tomorrow, to make fulfilling life choices that allow me to reach my potential as a human being without the shackles of the disease.

It happens that when enjoying of full health we tend to take for granted certain things. If anything this experience has served not only to further expand my relationship with God but also to enjoy moments that in other circumstances might have come across as trivial. I have learned to be grateful for little chances, to enjoy my family to the fullest and to share with others that might be going through similar situations as me. For this I am grateful, humbled and happy to be given such a grand opportunity.
Jesus Christ, our Lord has taught me this and more through His Word and thanks to walking in faith I have been able to avoid the pits of depression and self-pity. I have learned to see His hand, guiding mine, every step of the way.

Sometimes total restoration comes with instructions attached.
Let's take a look at 2Kings 5: 1-19
This is perhaps the best illustration of a process healing.

Naaman, a high ranking officer, had to follow a certain set of instructions to finally be completely healed of his leprosy. God could have granted him an instant miracle, a healing word from His lips, a healing touch through the hands of the prophet, however he was asked to follow a different path.

Naaman was forced out of his comfort zone, leave his home behind to go and submerge in the Jordan (river which not known for its beautiful and crystal sparkling streams!) because that is where God called him to be…

There are a couple of things worth noticing in this passage, the first being that Naaman, recognized God as a healer and completely trusted in the Lord’s power to bring comfort and restoration. Not only did he stretch his hand out to God, but he let himself be guided through.

I am by no means casting medicine aside. Medical treatments are effective and exist for a reason; in fact submitting to medical care and treatment should not interfere with faith at all. After all Proverbs 21:31 reads: "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." (NIV)  This means we can do an assortment of things, take our meds, follow guidelines, it is all part of the plan and if on top of that we really listen and hold on to the word of God, we will be truly and completely free of affliction! Get ready for your healing because once God touches you with his word, you will overcome any battle!

Pharmacotherapy for lupus nephritis based on stage

 

Pharmacotherapy for Lupus Nephritis Based on Stage

Classes I and II

Minimal mesangial (class I) lupus nephritis requires no specific therapy.

Mesangial proliferative (class II) lupus nephritis may require treatment if proteinuria is greater than 1000 mg/day. Consider prednisone in low-to-moderate doses (ie, 20-40 mg/day) for 1-3 months, with subsequent taper.

Classes III and IV

Patients with either focal (class III) or diffuse (class IV) lupus nephritis are at high risk of progressing to ESRD and thus require aggressive therapy.

Administer prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for at least 4 weeks, depending on clinical response. Then, taper it gradually to a daily maintenance dose of 5-10 mg/day for approximately 2 years. In acutely ill patients, intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone at a dosage of up to 1000 mg/day for 3 days may be used to initiate corticosteroid therapy.

In patients who do not respond to corticosteroids alone, who have unacceptable toxicity to corticosteroids, who have worsening renal function, who have severe proliferative lesions, or who have evidence of sclerosis on renal biopsy specimens, use immunosuppressive drugs in addition to corticosteroids.

Both cyclophosphamide and azathioprine are effective in proliferative lupus nephritis, although cyclophosphamide is apparently more effective in preventing progression to ESRD. Mycophenolate mofetil has been shown to be at least as effective as IV cyclophosphamide, with less toxicity, in patients with focal or diffuse lupus nephritis who have stable renal function. It may be used alone^[ or sequentially after a 6-month course of IV cyclophosphamide.

Appel et al studied 370 patients with lupus nephritis in a randomized open-label study and found no significant difference in clinical improvement was observed with mycophenolate mofetil compared with IV cyclophosphamide. The study included induction and maintenance therapy, and both study groups received prednisone.

Administer IV cyclophosphamide monthly for 6 months and every 2-3 months thereafter, depending on clinical response. The usual duration of therapy is 2-2.5 years. Reduce the dose if the creatinine clearance is less than 30 mL/min. Adjust the dose depending on the hematologic response. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue leuprolide acetate has been shown to protect against ovarian failure.

Azathioprine can also be used as a second-line agent, with dose adjustments depending on hematologic response.

Mycophenolate mofetil was found to be superior to azathioprine in maintaining control and preventing relapses of lupus nephritis in patients who have responded to induction therapy.

Class V

Patients with membranous lupus nephritis are generally treated with prednisone for 1-3 months, followed by tapering for 1-2 years if a response occurs. If no response occurs, the drug is discontinued. Immunosuppressive drugs are generally not used unless renal function worsens or a proliferative component is present on renal biopsy samples. Some clinical evidence indicates that azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and chlorambucil are effective in reducing proteinuria. Mycophenolate mofetil may also be effective.

In a study of membranous lupus nephritis, 38 patients were treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine; after 12 months of treatment, 67% of patients had a complete remission and 22% had a partial remission, with only 11% resistant to treatment.^[ Long-term follow-up of 12 years showed 19 episodes of renal flares. Retreatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine showed similar responses.

info/emedicine medscape

For there will be a morning as sure as now is night

Psalm 30: 2-5
 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave 
you spared me from going down into the pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30 is a song of joy composed by David after being delivered from sickness and death. This is a beautiful example of someone who is grateful, as he has come to understand life is a gift that comes wrapped in opportunities.

I'm not just talking about illness, I am talking about valleys, low points in life, situations that threaten to derail our objectives. In all this, if we allow Him, God will show His guidance and mercy and we will also be able to say. Thank you Lord because you didn't allow this evils ti befall me!

David also mentions that sadness might last through the night, but will be gone with the first lining of the golden sun in the morning. No doubt about it some of our "nights" are longer that others, specially for some of us who suffer from autoimmune diseases. If you want to take a "night" literally, think about turning and tossing in pain without sleep and in the vouches of depression that usually we find ourselves stumbling into...Yeah there are certain "nights" that lead to loneliness,regression into ourselves and loss of faith. But through it all we must NEVER forget that pain too, shall pass and that we need to rely on God and one and other and if we seek Him and hold on to Him, God will shower his mercy upon us all. This reminds me the beautiful lyrics of Laura Story's song:

" 'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise"

Give yourself an opportunity to wake - no matter how long the night- into the morning sun.
Think of what that morning will bring you, new starts, new opportunities, a new lease on life. Be grateful in all, for all the things that God has done.



But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect  day. Proverbs 4:18