Hand in Hand

There are some things in this life that are simply inconceivable.

I have followed the website of a young Atlanta boy (Ryan Morgan) for a couple of years. Ryan, in 2004, was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. He has fought long and hard. He completed his initial treatments in late 2005 and then relapsed in April of 2007.

As if that weren't enough, Ryan's sweet Mom, Missy, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2007.

Their website has chronicled their journeys and, in the last weeks, became more and more evident that one or both would likely soon lose their battles.

And so it is that Missy passed from this Earth on Wednesday (July 8th) and Ryan followed along the very next day.

Though it is so very hard to imagine such losses for this family....Dad - Les, and siblings Heidi and Will, it is equally powerful to realize that God, in his absolute sovereignty, allowed Missy to welcome her precious child into the kingdom of Heaven. Can you imagine what it must be like to experience that hand in hand?

Please pray for the Morgans as they learn to live life without Missy and without Ryan. I don't know them personally but I've followed them long enough to know that they have faith, they have hope and they have love.

Jesus, for the Morgans (and for all of us), come back soon.

FYI: Ryan's website is www.superryan.blogspot.com (I don't know if it's due to the sheer number of hits or what but it is not operating well at this time). Missy has a Caringbridge site (www.caringbridge.com/visit/missymorgan (this site actually hasn't been updated in quite some time).

Despair

In my 41 years, I've never known a time that there was more hurt and despair among the people that we know and love more than now.

In the past weeks as a church family, we have experienced loss after loss (through miscarriages, sudden deaths, illnesses and also on the job front). It seems that pain and disappointment runs rampant amongst us.

Today, I ask special prayer for the following families:

• An unspoken for a hurting friend.
• For the family of Jeremy Powers, a 21-year old husband (to Courtney), father (to Koby), son (to David & Tracy Noland), grandson (to Jan Noland) and nephew/cousin (to Kenny, Debbie, Alycia and Kacey) who lost his life suddenly in a motorcycle accident last week. I don't believe that I have ever attended a sadder funeral...as young mother Courtney carried in that sweet 2 month old baby (who had just been released from Vanderbilt following heart surgery) to say goodbye to his Daddy. Continue to pray for little Koby's healing and strength.
• For my friend Valerie Hulshof whose sweet mother, Betty, was found dead in her home yesterday afternoon (by Chris & Valerie). As we speak, she is meeting with the funeral home to make arrangements for this sudden loss. I don't believe I have ever known a mother and daughter who have a closer relationship/friendship. Please remember Chris, Valerie, Stephen, Alex and Avery as they adjust to life without Betty.
• Another unspoken for friend's whose baby has received a difficult diagnosis.
• For two of the dearest friends that our lives have ever known; who are struggling with their loss of income and accompanying uncertainties. Brent & Gina Bumgarner (Tara, Addison, Baylor and Blaine) and Danny & Paula Garrett (Erica, Erin, Eli and Ethan).
• Phaedra Clemons' father, Luther, who was diagnosed with advanced cancer two weeks ago and her mother, Elaine, having biopsies done this week as well.
• Niki and Bryan Ary who have experienced the loss of two sweet babies in the last year or so. I know that Niki had a day last week where these losses weighed heavy (heavier than other days) on her and I want to continue remembering her this week as well.
• Tony & Aarol Williams - Tony who is dealing with neck/back pain and Aarol who is undergoing surgery on Wednesday.
• My aunt, Wanda Castleman, who had MAJOR back surgery and developed other complications following.
• Jason Kennedy's father who is battling cancer.

The list is long and, even now, I'm sure is incomplete for I know I have, at the moment, forgotten someone. God knows who they are.

My prayer for each of these is that they would see God in a way that they have never experienced before. That He would be so very real to them and that they would crawl up in His lap and feel loved. He knows our every want and our every need and I praise His name. I may not understand all that is happening (and I don't) but I know Who is in control and I trust His plan.

DOXA

As if I'm not already outnumbered (boys to girls) in this household, this weekend we are really breaking a record.

Our church is participating in a Disciple Now weekend for the Youth titled "doxa". It is a weekend-long event and we (PBF) are joining forces with 2 other local church's for what promises to be an awesome weekend.

The weekend will consist of time spent hearing the Word (led by Brent Gambrell who I love), praising His name (led by the band "24") and a whole lot of food, fun and fellowship.

Jeff and I were scheduled to be a host home for the High School Boys (approximately 6 of them) and their adult leader(s). Our sweet friends, Tommy and Connie Gibson, were hosting the Middle School Boys but Tommy is in the hospital (pray for him) so we're adding them to the mix as well.

I have made the Sam's run this morning and stocked up on Soft Drinks, Bottled Waters, Chips, Burgers, Bacon & Eggs as well as much more.

Though Jeff used to teach Youth, he and I normally (for the last 10 years or so) work with Co-Ed Adults and/or Preschool Children so this will be a different change of pace for us. I am excited and anxious to see what God has in store for this group of young people. I feel that it will kick-start something big amongst these teenagers and I look forward to being a small part of that.

FYI: Doxa means "glory" which is my favorite word these days. It's what life is ALL about....glorifying Him. Lord, let me do just that this weekend and always.

A Full Weekend

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” “Though he slay me, yet will I serve Him.”

This verse comes to the forefront time and time again. This very weekend is no exception.

On Friday, the entire family (Mom and Les; Mike, Hailey, Connor & Tate; John, Ashley, John, Sam & Sadie; and Jeff, Kelley, Jordan & Braeden) drove to Lebanon to meet Carson for dinner. Earlier in the week, he had received his much anticipated championship ring and we all wanted to celebrate with him.

Saturday evening, we were thrilled to take part in a sort of "going away" celebration for Mark & Dena Caruth. Mark will be leaving Tusculum Hills Baptist Church (after 14 years of service) this coming week to return to what is his first love....music. He has been such an encouragement to so many over the years and Immanuel Baptist Church will surely be blessed by him. After our split with THBC in July, we have all prayed for Mark & Dena; all along he and Dena reminding us that God would take care of them....in His time. Even in their waiting, they were a great witness for Him. Mark was, in fact, surprised when he arrived and it was such fun to share in a little of their joy.

But in the midst of that joy came much sorrow as we learned that, for the second time in a year, Niki and Bryan Ary had suffered a miscarriage. It is so very difficult to understand God's plan in times such as these but, as Mark & Dena taught us, He does have a plan and it is better than anything our finite minds can comprehend. Please join me in praying for the peace that only He can provide for this sweet couple.

We wrapped up the weekend with a Super Bowl Fellowship at the Hulshof home where fun was had by all......

......some more than others.

Debbie - I borrowed pictures...hope you don't mind. I'll share mine as soon as I get them unloaded from the camera....

Wordless Wednesday and "I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself"

....and I really couldn't have ever said it better than it was said here and/or here.

Pray for the Chapman family

I don't personally know Steven Curtis Chapman or any of his immediate family. I know people who know him. I live in the same County as he does and I admire he and his wife Mary Beth's commitment to family, to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the huge impact that they have made on behalf of orphans. They are avid advocates of adoption and have adopted themselves three daughters from China.

As most of you have heard or read, the youngest of those daughters, Maria, was tragically killed yesterday afternoon as she played outdoors at their home. She was run over by an SUV being driven by the Chapman's own son. I can't fathom anything more horrific.

I wanted to join others in asking for your prayers for this family. You may also visit this site (http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/) and leave the family a message.

Just yesterday, my Grandmother was buried. Though I still can't believe that she's gone and I continue to cry many tears for the void that is left with her absence, I do know that she is with Jesus and I rejoice for her! My grief is real but in comparison to what it must feel like for this family at this time, I simply can NOT imagine. Thank God for their belief in Him that it provides hope for the future; that they will see sweet Maria again someday soon. I can't help but think, in the meantime, that my NaNa is now Maria's NaNa and that she was there when Maria arrived. Maybe they're learning the ropes together.

Please remember each and every member of the Chapman family as they learn to live life without Maria.