HE IS EVERYTHING TO ME...EVEN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do:

How's your life when things get stressful and you get squeezed?

Last Sunday, Steve and I were in Chicago worshipping with Jordan, Jacqueline, Chloe, and the Keesee's. As I have shared the last two weeks, we certainly enjoyed our time together.

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All the visitors have now returned home and Jordan and Jacqueline are packing for their big move to Kansas City, Missouri this Thursday. Bill and Edna Miller will help them drive their vehicles for which we are so thankful.

A big move, buying a house, starting a new job, and making new friends with a newborn will not be easy...yet, GIGATTAATTGIG...

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Ecclesiastes tells us that different things are going on at the same time in the world. Yes, there are times of celebration. Yet, at the same time there are many who are suffering. Our daughter Jessica has had a headache almost everyday of her life for the last 13 years...little Lauren Schwamb and family wait for someone to "fix" her heart... Scott McEndree and family pray and work for a cure to his cancer....

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Yesterday, I posted something that had been written by Lauren's daddy, Tim. Today, I share with you part of Scott McEndree's post from his Thursday Caring Bridge site.

"Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Joyful in hope
It’s easy to be joyful in hope.

When you have true hope, everything looks grand.

It’s like having warm sunny days and cool star-filled nights.

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Patient in affliction
Patient in affliction is tough.

Patience in itself is tough,

but throw in a little affliction

and rather than more patience

most of us get more frustration or stress.

If you can attain patience instead,

you will be much better off though.

Patience in affliction only comes for me

AFTER I simplify my stress points

and re-group around only what’s important

and needed at the time.

Throwing off the other “minor” things

that used to be important

before the affliction came is the only way I can do it.

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Faithful in prayer
Faithful in prayer is another tough one for me.

I pray most every day,

and many days I’ll pray throughout the day

as I go about things.

It makes me feel good to pray for others that need it,

and I appreciate knowing so many others are praying for me too.

To be honest, I don’t think that is faithful in prayer.

Faithful in prayer to me means

it is at the front of your mind all day everyday.

To me it means you will turn off American Idol

to pray right then about something.

(an example from someone else)

Faithful in prayer is something I still strive to attain....

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

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I ask each of you to continue to pray for these families and keep connected to them through the links on the right sidebar of this blog.

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I also ask you to talk more to God on behalf of our daughter, Jessica. We've done many medical things over the years but with not much success to heal her migraines. Currently, Jessica can only function in rooms that have very little or no light and is in pain 24/7. She rates her pain from 1-10 and then if it's unbearable she'll say that it's an "11". Her pain is rarely below a 6 and this week it has been at an 11. We beg God for mercy and grace and healing and direction. We've been down many "bunny trails" in search of help...we remain hopeful...GIGATTAATTGIG...