I know beyond any doubt there is a God who cares, who is here, and is powerful.
My knowledge isn’t based on others accounts or even on the faith I have clung to my entire life. No, I KNOW this because HE has proven He is.
Last Thursday is a day I will never forget. I took my 15 yr old daughter, Marie, in for a checkup and to make a very long story short (and to not break confidence) we were told she might not have a uterus or cervix.
I reacted as any mother would. In front of Marie I put on my brave face and talked about the positive things this syndrome would offer: no cycles, no hormone fluxes, no stretch marks, the chance to be a surgeon without worrying about splitting her time between work and her children, etc.. I searched for any positive thing I could find. We prayed that God would create a miracle or if this was the road Marie was asked to travel, He would give her the strength and ability to live a full life despite the issues.
But in my private time, once Marie and Jeff were in bed, I bawled. I yelled at God and screamed at the unjustness. I was doubled over and broken. How could this happen? God why?
I felt my mind calm and heard “I’ve got this all under control.”
“But God,” I argued. “How? How did we not know? Why? While she was in my womb why wasn’t hers formed?”
“Andrea, I formed her in your womb. I know the why and the how. Will you let me show you? Do you trust me to be faithful?” It was like a bomb of peace hit me full force.
Did I trust Him to create a child with handicaps knowing full well the issues she would have? Did I trust him to hold her and direct her through the trials she would face? In our other trials He has been there with us and has protected her heart and mind, what would keep Him from doing the same in this extreme circumstance?
So I wiped my tears, caught my breath and went to bed. My mind was still reeling from everything, and I usually need to read to calm my mind before sleep will come.
At that time I was reading a pre-released book I was asked to review and blog about. Isn’t it God that the book would be Fearless by Max Lucado, a book chosen for me weeks ago?
I picked it up and opened to chapter 5. Each chapter begins with a scripture and this one was Luke 8:50 “Do not fear. Just believe and your daughter will be well.” (NCV) The tears flowed freely as I read the chapter and I was able to sleep well knowing that Christ was with us and cared. Goose bumps prickle my body when I remember this gift.
The next morning I went to Marie and showed her the chapter. "He does know what's going on," She said. WOW!
Over the next few days, life was far from normal. I fought to treat my little girl as I always have, but when I walked past a pregnant woman, I would break down crying. My dreams of watching my daughter grow big with my grandchild, might never be. I wanted to close her away in our home and pretend there was nothing wrong. Normal life day in and out does not allow us to pretend. When my thoughts would go to that dark place I would hear, “Marie will be well. Allow me to show you my faithfulness.”
Yesterday we had Marie’s ultrasound. To quote the ultrasound tech, “Everything is there.” She is well!
We are unsure if it is a Miracle or if her parts were there all along, either way I know God was with us to calm our hearts and minds. He was there showing us His faithfulness.
Through the coming trials that life brings, I can say that He is faithful and will be faithful. I know without a doubt He is here.
My heart aches for the girls who are suffering with the syndrome we thought Marie had. The families who will never hear those three words, "She is well." My heart aches for their mothers. Please know I am praying God will meet you where you are and give you grace and mercy, that He will pave the road for a bright and wonderful future.
No matter where you are, or what you face, please know that He is there. He can see and He loves you, no matter what. Through what ever your trial is, He is willing to give you His peace.
Blessings
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
New Update on my Aunt Becki:
I have just been sent a new update on my Aunt Becki who is in the middle of Chemo for lung and kidney cancer.
Please keep her in your prayers.
Buffalo You-Tube Links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS7misT3Mag&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
Dear Buffaloes,
I write you this prayer update with great praise on my lips and in my heart for what God is doing in this process. I see Becki almost daily and it is evident she is gaining strength. We also praise God that the often-devastating side effects of treatment have been minimal.
Melinda Scott has organized this weekend as a “Global Weekend of Prayer for Becki!” The insights that are already pouring forth from this are amazing. Our sincere thanks to all of you involved in these three days of prayer and fasting.
Becki and I have a mutual friend, which many of you who receive this may also know. Maggie and Rich Taylor currently serve as senior pastors in Flagstaff, AZ and have served our Foursquare family as missionaries. John and Becki Rusk were senior pastors of this Flagstaff church just prior to Maggie and Rich Taylor. This week Maggie underwent a double mastectomy and many of us who have prayed for Becki have now joined ranks in praying for Maggie.
Only this morning I received a message from Maggie’s daughter with this quote from Maggie, “This is what it feels like to be lowered down on the mat through the roof tiles to Jesus by your friends.” What an amazing example in the Word. These words brought tears to my eyes as I could just see the picture in my mind and heart. I love that God asks us to carry each other. For both Maggie and Becki, many people are committed to pray and “carry a rope to help them through the roof to Jesus!”
I want to take a moment and thank each of you for your prayer support. John and Becki truly appreciate you.
There is an importance of our continued and steadfast commitment in this matter. I ask you at this hour to remain like a soldier who stands watch in the night. The “Word” we hide in our hearts regarding Becki is total and complete healing. Yet, we know in Mark 4 that the enemy comes “immediately” (vs. 15) to steal that Word. If that does not work, then we see he comes “afterward” (vs. 17) to cause us to stumble in the Word, and if these tactics do not work, he attempts to “choke” (vs. 19) the Word out of us. Knowing that the enemy wants to steal the Word from us we must remain strong in our faith.
Our position of faith is seen in the story of the four friends when the Word indicates (Mark 2) that “Jesus saw their (friends) faith” and this is when the miraculous was released! As I conclude the remarks for this communication I am struck by the last words of the text surrounding the story of the four friends, “…all were amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this!”
Partnering Together in the Miraculous,
MEDICAL REPORT UPDATE FOR BECKI RUSK
• TREATMENTS: Becki has concluded three chemo treatments and is doing well with the process.
• DR. COMP: Becki will see Dr. Comp, the pulmonary specialist, on Monday, August 17. This doctor is a wonderful Christian man whom we know personally and we are all looking forward to his involvement in the case. We continue to thank God for the amazing medical team that has come together for Becki.
• REPORTS: It will be another 5-7 weeks before additional scans are taken. Therefore, we will not have medical reports showing shrinkage and/or removal of the spots from her lungs until that time. We always have the “report of the Lord!”
SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS
• MAGGIE TAYLOR: Becki asks that you pray for her friend and co-laborer in ministry, Maggie Taylor, as she recovers from the double mastectomy.
• CANCER FREE: These are the days that we “hold our ground” that Becki’s body be completely cancer free.
• SIDE EFFECTS: The drugs that the doctors are using in Becki’s body can cause side effects that could damage other organs in her body. Please pray that her other vital organs remain healthy.
• MINISTRY: John will return to Africa on Wednesday for a short ministry trip (8/19-9/3). He will travel with Rev. Richard Casteel. Pray for both of them as they minister with local leaders in churches and at the Namibian national conference. Becki is asking God how best to utilize the time she has at home to be most effective in the furtherance of the gospel. Pray for both of them as they make ministry adjustments in this season. The enemy wants this couple down but we stand with them in the Spirit to release even greater measures of ministry in this hour.
• SOUTH AFRICA: The national leader of the Foursquare work in South Africa, Pastor Xavier Andriansse and his wife Heather, will travel in the fall to the US. During their stay with us we will discuss the specifics of how to pray for the extended work in South Africa and Southern Africa in general. Please pray for Pastor Xavier as he seeks God. We are asking God to download spiritual strategies to reach farther than ever before with the work of the ministry. There is currently a strong focus on the 2010 Soccer World Cup Outreach. Please pray on these matters and also for the many teams from Foursquare churches all over the world that will travel to South Africa for this opportunity of extended ministry.
Marion
Please keep her in your prayers.
Buffalo You-Tube Links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS7misT3Mag&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
Dear Buffaloes,
I write you this prayer update with great praise on my lips and in my heart for what God is doing in this process. I see Becki almost daily and it is evident she is gaining strength. We also praise God that the often-devastating side effects of treatment have been minimal.
Melinda Scott has organized this weekend as a “Global Weekend of Prayer for Becki!” The insights that are already pouring forth from this are amazing. Our sincere thanks to all of you involved in these three days of prayer and fasting.
Becki and I have a mutual friend, which many of you who receive this may also know. Maggie and Rich Taylor currently serve as senior pastors in Flagstaff, AZ and have served our Foursquare family as missionaries. John and Becki Rusk were senior pastors of this Flagstaff church just prior to Maggie and Rich Taylor. This week Maggie underwent a double mastectomy and many of us who have prayed for Becki have now joined ranks in praying for Maggie.
Only this morning I received a message from Maggie’s daughter with this quote from Maggie, “This is what it feels like to be lowered down on the mat through the roof tiles to Jesus by your friends.” What an amazing example in the Word. These words brought tears to my eyes as I could just see the picture in my mind and heart. I love that God asks us to carry each other. For both Maggie and Becki, many people are committed to pray and “carry a rope to help them through the roof to Jesus!”
I want to take a moment and thank each of you for your prayer support. John and Becki truly appreciate you.
There is an importance of our continued and steadfast commitment in this matter. I ask you at this hour to remain like a soldier who stands watch in the night. The “Word” we hide in our hearts regarding Becki is total and complete healing. Yet, we know in Mark 4 that the enemy comes “immediately” (vs. 15) to steal that Word. If that does not work, then we see he comes “afterward” (vs. 17) to cause us to stumble in the Word, and if these tactics do not work, he attempts to “choke” (vs. 19) the Word out of us. Knowing that the enemy wants to steal the Word from us we must remain strong in our faith.
Our position of faith is seen in the story of the four friends when the Word indicates (Mark 2) that “Jesus saw their (friends) faith” and this is when the miraculous was released! As I conclude the remarks for this communication I am struck by the last words of the text surrounding the story of the four friends, “…all were amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this!”
Partnering Together in the Miraculous,
MEDICAL REPORT UPDATE FOR BECKI RUSK
• TREATMENTS: Becki has concluded three chemo treatments and is doing well with the process.
• DR. COMP: Becki will see Dr. Comp, the pulmonary specialist, on Monday, August 17. This doctor is a wonderful Christian man whom we know personally and we are all looking forward to his involvement in the case. We continue to thank God for the amazing medical team that has come together for Becki.
• REPORTS: It will be another 5-7 weeks before additional scans are taken. Therefore, we will not have medical reports showing shrinkage and/or removal of the spots from her lungs until that time. We always have the “report of the Lord!”
SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS
• MAGGIE TAYLOR: Becki asks that you pray for her friend and co-laborer in ministry, Maggie Taylor, as she recovers from the double mastectomy.
• CANCER FREE: These are the days that we “hold our ground” that Becki’s body be completely cancer free.
• SIDE EFFECTS: The drugs that the doctors are using in Becki’s body can cause side effects that could damage other organs in her body. Please pray that her other vital organs remain healthy.
• MINISTRY: John will return to Africa on Wednesday for a short ministry trip (8/19-9/3). He will travel with Rev. Richard Casteel. Pray for both of them as they minister with local leaders in churches and at the Namibian national conference. Becki is asking God how best to utilize the time she has at home to be most effective in the furtherance of the gospel. Pray for both of them as they make ministry adjustments in this season. The enemy wants this couple down but we stand with them in the Spirit to release even greater measures of ministry in this hour.
• SOUTH AFRICA: The national leader of the Foursquare work in South Africa, Pastor Xavier Andriansse and his wife Heather, will travel in the fall to the US. During their stay with us we will discuss the specifics of how to pray for the extended work in South Africa and Southern Africa in general. Please pray for Pastor Xavier as he seeks God. We are asking God to download spiritual strategies to reach farther than ever before with the work of the ministry. There is currently a strong focus on the 2010 Soccer World Cup Outreach. Please pray on these matters and also for the many teams from Foursquare churches all over the world that will travel to South Africa for this opportunity of extended ministry.
Marion
Monday, August 3, 2009
Words
Each morning I start my day with a devotional and quiet time with my maker.
For the past few months I have been using Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, which is the best devotional I have ever found. I blogged about the book here.
Today the lesson was on words and how they can easily bless or wound.
As a writer, wife, mother and friend, I am constantly reminded of the power of my words. I have watched them bring a smile and sadly I have also watched them bring pain.
As a Christian, my words have much more power than to bring pain or joy. Our sermon at church yesterday, was about the power of prayer. When I pray, Christ says I am able to open and close doors.
What’s the connection?
Have you ever had someone say something which led the way to great joy? -Words that literally opened the door in your mind to new possibilities.
How about the flip side; have you ever been told something that slammed a door in your face and closed off all possibility of moving forward?
Words, they are powerful.
My mother taught me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. She was handed this advice from the Bible. Proverbs 12:18, James 1:19, and Ephesians 4:29 all give us clear directions on what we say.
It hurts to realize I frequently do the opposite of what I have been taught AND what I strive to teach my own children.
So how do I go forward? How do I change something that seems to be a large part of who I am?
Hello, they are my thoughts!
Only through words- Ironic, I know!
I must be humble and ask Christ to direct my thinking. Pure thoughts bring pure actions. Speaking is an action.
He has promised to help when I ask. By asking Him to help me out, I am opening a door for Him to pour out direction. -Which most likely means MANY more chances to learn how to direct my thoughts and words.
Hope you have a great week.
For the past few months I have been using Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, which is the best devotional I have ever found. I blogged about the book here.
Today the lesson was on words and how they can easily bless or wound.
As a writer, wife, mother and friend, I am constantly reminded of the power of my words. I have watched them bring a smile and sadly I have also watched them bring pain.
As a Christian, my words have much more power than to bring pain or joy. Our sermon at church yesterday, was about the power of prayer. When I pray, Christ says I am able to open and close doors.
What’s the connection?
Have you ever had someone say something which led the way to great joy? -Words that literally opened the door in your mind to new possibilities.
How about the flip side; have you ever been told something that slammed a door in your face and closed off all possibility of moving forward?
Words, they are powerful.
My mother taught me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. She was handed this advice from the Bible. Proverbs 12:18, James 1:19, and Ephesians 4:29 all give us clear directions on what we say.
It hurts to realize I frequently do the opposite of what I have been taught AND what I strive to teach my own children.
So how do I go forward? How do I change something that seems to be a large part of who I am?
Hello, they are my thoughts!
Only through words- Ironic, I know!
I must be humble and ask Christ to direct my thinking. Pure thoughts bring pure actions. Speaking is an action.
He has promised to help when I ask. By asking Him to help me out, I am opening a door for Him to pour out direction. -Which most likely means MANY more chances to learn how to direct my thoughts and words.
Hope you have a great week.
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