Dear Blogging Friends and Family,
I want to do a shout-out to my Uncle Clay. Hi, Clay! I want you to know that we are praying for you and for Cheryl. I hope you don't mind if I share a little bit of your story.
Uncle Clay has been suffering at home for several months after doctors sent him home with out a hip. Can you believe the absurdity of that statement? He had hip replacement surgery about a year ago and let's just say things weren't done exactly right. Doctors removed the hip and, after a long stay in the hospital, they basically said "we're done" and sent him home. He has been bed bound for months and his only link to the world is a laptop computer and maybe the tv, but I'm not sure about that. He has recently re-entered the world of blogging through his blog Netblogger2. To add to the urgent need for prayer, Clay's wife Cheryl is having surgery today to remove a tumor on her spine. This was a sudden development and now leaves them both with major issues of medical care and concern.
If you have the chance today, please join us in praying for Cheryl's surgeons and a quick recovery. Also, please pray that someone can step in and take up Clay's struggle to receive proper medical care!
Thank you!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
It's Official - We're In the Army Now!
Just wanted to let my faithful readers know that it's now official! Patrick has just been sworn-in to the US Army as a Band Member. We will give you more of the details as the weeks progress. At this time, we do know that he will "ship out" to Fort Jackson in South Carolina for basic training on June 24th. We will not know his permanent station for a few more weeks. Thank you to those of you who have been praying with us about this. We know that you are a big part of our lives. Please continue praying that all of the details will be worked out.
We will both fulfill our contracts with the school district. Our last day will be June 13th. Not sure of the living arrangements after that, but I know we will be ready to go!
Stay tuned to Patrick's blog for more details.
We will both fulfill our contracts with the school district. Our last day will be June 13th. Not sure of the living arrangements after that, but I know we will be ready to go!
Stay tuned to Patrick's blog for more details.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Healing Family Hurts (from James MacDonald)
This post is borrowed from one of my favorite blogs. I felt it was very timely today.
Taken from "I've Been Thinking: A Weekly Devotional" from pastor and author James MacDonald)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV
Have you got some hurdles to overcome in your family relationships? You know . . . some things that need to change and improve at your house? All of us can at one time or another admit to family problems, causing family pain.
I have just one word to offer you as you seek help and healing for your family: love. Love is relational dynamite that obliterates all obstacles in its path. Talking won't do that for you. Pressuring won't; prodding, insisting, demanding, getting selfish-these all will only tear your life and family apart. But 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never fails" (NKJV).
Love never fails to what? Let me point out three things that it will handle for you:
#1 Love never fails to conquer selfishness. I am selfish and so are you. All of us need help here. You never have to work at self; it's just right there barking for attention. Love conquers the biggest obstacle in me: selfishness.
#2 Love never fails to conquer skepticism. Over time, it's easy to doubt that anything is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you. Someone does something foolish or hurtful and you want to bail out. But love holds on. Love is being used by God to transform that person-even when that person is you.
I wonder if you've read this far and are thinking, James, we've got real problems over at our house and some pep talk on love is not going to fix it.
You're right-that's why 1 Corinthians 13:6 sits in the middle of the passage: "[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."
#3 Love never fails to rejoice in the truth. Love doesn't sit back in some happy delusion that everything will be okay. Love doesn't deny problems, but works to see them changed. Love is an action before it's a feeling.
In love, serve your family when they choose to be selfish.
In love, humble yourself before your family when conflict creates distance. Be the one to go back and say you're sorry. Own your part of the problem. Humble yourself first.
In love, lavish on them words and deeds of kindness and affirmation.
In love, forgive your family by releasing them from the obligation that resulted when they hurt you. Let it go. Don't hold it over them.
And lastly, in love, speak God's Word in any situation regardless of the cost. Truth, delivered with love, is what sets us free. Stand for what's right.
"Love bears all things," says 1 Corinthians 13:7. Love tries again. Love trusts again. Love gives God an opportunity to work. Love is part of the solution. It's a tool in God's hands to work through you in helping your family.
James MacDonald
Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
Taken from "I've Been Thinking: A Weekly Devotional" from pastor and author James MacDonald)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV
Have you got some hurdles to overcome in your family relationships? You know . . . some things that need to change and improve at your house? All of us can at one time or another admit to family problems, causing family pain.
I have just one word to offer you as you seek help and healing for your family: love. Love is relational dynamite that obliterates all obstacles in its path. Talking won't do that for you. Pressuring won't; prodding, insisting, demanding, getting selfish-these all will only tear your life and family apart. But 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never fails" (NKJV).
Love never fails to what? Let me point out three things that it will handle for you:
#1 Love never fails to conquer selfishness. I am selfish and so are you. All of us need help here. You never have to work at self; it's just right there barking for attention. Love conquers the biggest obstacle in me: selfishness.
#2 Love never fails to conquer skepticism. Over time, it's easy to doubt that anything is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you. Someone does something foolish or hurtful and you want to bail out. But love holds on. Love is being used by God to transform that person-even when that person is you.
I wonder if you've read this far and are thinking, James, we've got real problems over at our house and some pep talk on love is not going to fix it.
You're right-that's why 1 Corinthians 13:6 sits in the middle of the passage: "[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."
#3 Love never fails to rejoice in the truth. Love doesn't sit back in some happy delusion that everything will be okay. Love doesn't deny problems, but works to see them changed. Love is an action before it's a feeling.
In love, serve your family when they choose to be selfish.
In love, humble yourself before your family when conflict creates distance. Be the one to go back and say you're sorry. Own your part of the problem. Humble yourself first.
In love, lavish on them words and deeds of kindness and affirmation.
In love, forgive your family by releasing them from the obligation that resulted when they hurt you. Let it go. Don't hold it over them.
And lastly, in love, speak God's Word in any situation regardless of the cost. Truth, delivered with love, is what sets us free. Stand for what's right.
"Love bears all things," says 1 Corinthians 13:7. Love tries again. Love trusts again. Love gives God an opportunity to work. Love is part of the solution. It's a tool in God's hands to work through you in helping your family.
James MacDonald
Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
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