Prayer, Protection and Salvation

 

 

Very early in 2004 our son, who was a US Army soldier found out he was being deployed to Iraq.  He was being sent to Abu Ghraib, which was a hot mess.  Being parents we put on our best brave faces, reassured him we would be praying for him and that everything would be all right.  We attended his unit send off at the state's capitol and then came the long quiet drive home.  Now it was our brave son who was being placed in harms way, but he took our hearts with him.  When a family member is deployed the whole family is affected.  To help deal with the situation Joan scrapbooked everything she could for him, a history of his service.  We started an organization called Operation Appreciation.  Our community and church family sent boxes and boxes of supplies and necessities from home to our son and his unit. We prayed and if you came into contact with us we asked you and the church you attended to pray.  These soldiers were covered in prayer.  For the fifteen months he was in Iraq there was never a real night of restful sleep for us.  We knew he was in a dangerous place, and although we trusted God we could not keep the fear away.  There came a time when he got a two week leave and he and his twin sister planned for him to come home unannounced.  It was a Sunday afternoon when Jessica snuck Jesse into the house and then called for us.  When we walked into the room we looked right at him and knew it could not possibly be him ... he was half a world away.  What a strange feeling.  We got to take him on a beach vacation with us and truly enjoyed every minute of it.  Soon we found ourselves at the airport saying goodbye and sending him back into harms way.  Strangers witnessed this emotional farewell and tried to comfort us.  We had him for two weeks and had to send him back into a dangerous situation.  He was involved in a lot of scary, ugly battles.  Some were life or death possibilities.  Back home we prayed, trusted God, prayed some more, tied yellow ribbons on our porch and prayed some more. 

Here are some of his emails to us:

* On a convoy, fuel tankers are a big target.  On the five mile stretch of road from Abu Ghraub to the Baghdad International Airport there was a battle that took place between insurgents and US troops.  Many convoys were ambushed and several trucks were blown up.  An Apache was shot down just a quarter mile from us.
* I almost paid the ultimate price today, along with a lot of other soldiers.  We share the same risks everyday. We are trying to spread democracy to a place that has been subjected to a harsh life none of us will ever be able to comprehend.  We are here to help, and no matter the resistance we have thrown upon us from Saddam's supporters, we will not give up.  Freedom will prevail.  This is my duty.  Pray for us.  I love you mom and dad.  We are ok; this is just something that happens over here.  We are lucky, and God was watching over us. 
* Sometimes after a rough day I wonder why war has to happen.  I wonder why people have to suffer so much.  I wonder why we have to make such horrific sacrifices.  I wonder why we risk our lives and put ourselves in such danger.  Then I remember, it is because I have such a love for my God, my family and my country that I will do whatever it takes to spread freedom and democracy, protect those who are defenseless and make the world a safer place for the ones I love. 

 

Bottom line is God is so GOOD!  He kept our son safe, protected and returned him home to us.  The truth is we love him with an imperfect love and were never "willing" to sacrifice him for anyone.  Our Father God who loves His Son with a perfect love not only was willing but did sacrifice His Son for us (you).  This is not just a story.  It's what He did with Jesus so we could be forgiven.  And that's what we are, we're not perfect, not special, but forgiven. 

 

Psalm 46:1
God, you're such a safe and powerful place to find refuge!  You're a proven help in time of trouble - more than enough and always available whenever I need you.
(TPT)

Romans 8:32

For God has proved His love by giving us His greatest treasure, the gift of His Son.  And since God freely offered Him up as the sacrifice for us all, He certainly won't withhold from us anything else He has to give.
(TPT)

Romans 10:9-10

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
(NIV)

If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do not delay.  For today is the day of salvation. 

~ Randy and Joan

 

God's Healing Power

Eight months into a difficult pregnancy I became seriously ill and had to be hospitalized.  Desperate to find a cause for my extreme pain the doctors decided to take an x-ray.  At this time it was discovered that we were having twins.  Shocker!  Up to this point four ultrasounds had shown only one baby.  Hooked up to an array of medical monitors only one of the babies heartbeats could be detected.  Fearing that one of the babies may have been dead they ordered an emergency C-section.  Both babies were delivered alive and for the first six hours of their lives all looked well.  Being premature and small their lungs were not fully developed.  After struggling to breath and wearing themselves out, they could no longer continue breathing on their own.  An emergency team of  Neonatal specialists were brought in by helicopter from Akron to assist with their care.  After three hours of prep the babies were taken by ambulance to the awaiting helicopter and flown to Akron.  Our daughter was suffering from apnea and our son had multiple health issues including Highland membrane disease (under developed lungs).  After two weeks our daughter was released to come home.  Our son was a different story.  He was on 100% oxygen and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which was feared to have led to more severe health issues including but not limited to; blindness, loss of tooth development, being paralyzed, hearing loss and developmental delays. 

We were overwhelmed with grief and anxiety. Although we were just starting our walk with the Lord , we cried out as hurting parents to our Father in heaven.  We were filled with a peace and a sensation that all would be well.  After weeks of care our son was ready to be released.  We met with the medical staff to review his health plan and were prepared for all that we could face.  They informed us of a possible future caring for a child with multiple disabilities.  While they were reviewing the plan, we were filled with a calm that the Lord would heal our son.
Fast forward ... both our daughter and our son crawled early, walked early, talked early and had no developmental delays or health issues. 
Thirty seven years later ... our daughter is married, self employed and the mother of eight children. Thirty seven years and two minutes later our son (he says he was a gentleman and let his sister go first) is married and has two boys and is an Anesthetist.
God demonstrated his love and healing power to us.  He is no respecter of men and wants to demonstrate His healing power to you.  Call on His name and seek His face.  He is faithful. 

Note: Our children walk with the Lord and are raising their children to do the same.

Psalm 107:19-20

"Lord, help!"  they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.  He sent out His work and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. 
(NLT)


~ Joan and Randy

Overflowing

Two days ago we talked about being filled with the Holy Spirit and it was a personal experience meant for your good.  Today we're going to talk about another filling of the Holy Spirit that is not only for your good but for those around you as well.

Imagine a five gallon bucket filled with water.  And it's being dumped into a one gallon bucket.  There is no way the one gallon bucket can possibly contain the contents of the five gallon bucket.  So as it's being poured it's going to run out, splash, and saturate the surrounding area.  We are the one gallon bucket being filled with God's unending supply of the Holy Spirit.  It is not meant for us alone, but for us to use to affect the lives of those around us. 

We pray that you're filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to witness and win the lost.

Acts1:8

But I promise you this - the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be seized with power.  And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces - even to the remotest places on earth!
(TPT)

~ Randy and Joan

 

Being Filled

Shortly after being saved we began to hear about the Holy Spirit and how much we were going to need him in our lives.  This is how the role of the Holy Spirit was explained to us.  Imagine you're at a parade and Jesus is marching down the middle of the street.  It would be the Holy Spirit who is running through the crowd tapping you on the shoulder and shouting "there He is", pointing at Jesus, "you need Him." 

Soon we were praying to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  We found ourselves being filled with the Helper and the Comforter.  This filling was like taking a glass with flex of pepper in the bottom.  As you filled the glass with water the flex of pepper began to float, until the glass was full and the pepper was floating on top of the water.  It was when the glass was filled to overflowing that the pepper was washed over the sides of the glass.  The glass represents us and the water represents the Holy Spirit and the pepper the impurity of our sin.

Our prayer is that you let the Holy Spirit identify the sin impurity in your life and fill you to overflowing to wash it away, so you may serve the Lord with all your heart. 

Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, "repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed.  Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For God's promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your family's, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself."
(TPT)

 ~ Randy and Joan

 

 

Storms of life

 

 

 

 

No one is exempt from the storms of life (illness, opposition, relationship struggles, disappointment, demise, financial loss, to name a few).  Sometimes you're caught in a rain storm and you get a little wet.  Other times you feel like you're in a hurricane and your life is being ripped apart.  God never said life would be easy.  But He did assure us that He is bigger than any storm we face.  He is in the center of all we walk through.

 

Psalm 107:28-30
Then we cried out. Lord, help us!  Rescue us!  And he did!  God stilled the storm, calmed the waves, and He hushed the hurricane winds to only a whisper.  We were so relieved, so glad He guided us safely to harbor in a quiet haven. 
(TPT)

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
(NIV) 

And I pray ...
Lord I know you are with me.  You're the only place I find shelter in the storms that surround me.  Thank you Lord that you are victorious in every struggle I face.  You are my source of peace.

~ Joan

God's Protection

Living a life style of a hardcore biker I was invited to a party.  This party was in a very secluded area along a river.  There were a lot of people there, a lot of drinking and a lot of drugs.  After several hours of hard partying in the wee hours of the morning, I found myself having to answer natures call.  Seeing a few campfires and hearing some voices in the distance, I decided to head for a big tree a few yards away.  When I got to the tree I step around to the back side of it.  I didn't realize it was growing out of the bank of the river.  I soon found myself dropping several feet into rushing water that was over my head.  I was terrified and grasping at anything I could to get my head above water.  Clawing at the mud on the bank I managed to get a gasp of air in my lungs before being submerged back into the river.  I remember scratching and clawing at the bank of the river.  I was trying to find anything to grab onto and there was nothing.  With the jeans, a leather jacket and biker boots filled with water I was sinking and giving up hope. I was just about to the point where you realize that you're defeated.  I was ready to give death the victory.  In a split second I envisioned the yellow caution tape marking off the area and the search for what had happened to me.  In one final act of desperation I reached and grabbed onto something.  Was it a tree root, some reeds ... I don't know.  But I do know it was the hand of God that got me out of that rushing river.

God loves us no matter where we are in life and always wants to come to our aid.  Think about all those "coincidences" in life where you were spared from harm or disaster.  It was God.  He wants us all to be saved and extends His salvation through His Son Jesus. 

Note: This is a true story and happened in the summer of 1978.

 

Deuteronomy 31: 6

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
(NIV)

Romans10: 9-10

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (NIV)

~ Randy

 

 

 

The Wedding Ring

This is a short story about how our walk got started.

This is the second marriage for both Randy and I.
When we got married my mother gave us her parents wedding rings to use.  Now I had 3 brothers and 2 sisters that she could have given them to but she choose to give them to us. Back in our BC (before Christ) days in the 70's we lead a wild life of partying. One Friday night Randy decided to hit the bar scene while I stayed home.  Although it was late I had decided that I would join him at one of the local bars.  When I got there he was very much under the influence and became agitated and angry and accused me of checking up on him.  In a fit of drunken rage he took off his wedding ring and threw it across the bar.  Broken hearted I returned home without him.  When he got home after the bar closed he just passed out. The next morning when we got up he realized what he had done.  He was apologetic to gain my forgiveness.  Now came the hard part.  I told him he would have to be the one to tell my mother what he had done with the ring that was so dear to her.  Randy wanted time to contact the bar owner in hopes that he could search the bar and find the lost wedding ring.  Out of desperation, while we were waiting for a chance to search the bar we decided to hunt in the pockets of the clothes he had on the night before.  Knowing full well the wedding ring would not be there ... and it wasn't.  Now I had not prayed for a very long time but out of fear of having to tell my mother we no longer had the ring, I thought the situation warranted  a prayer. So I prayed, Lord if you let us find this wedding ring I'll go to church. I went about the Saturday business of cleaning and doing laundry.  It was about 2:30 in the afternoon and as I went to transfer the clothes from the washer to the dryer what I saw startled me to the point of screaming. Imagine that the clothes went through a sloshing wash cycle and then a tornadic spin cycle. When I opened the washer lid, on the top of the agitator, perfectly balanced, standing straight up and down was the wedding ring.  This sight left us feeling a little freaked out.  Holding to my promise on Sunday morning I got up and got ready for church.  As I was literally going out the door Randy said to give him 5 minutes and he would get ready and go with me.  And so our walk began ...

We're sure that God was amused by my prayer.  God does not bargain with us but He did take advantage of the situation to draw us to His salvation.

Note: The ring is a thin band with a decorative curved edge.  As many times as Randy has tried, he has never been able to make it balance.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

 

~ Joan and Randy

 

Excercising Faith

I found myself in church one day calling out to God.  I need more faith, so I can believe to receive all You have for me.  The answer I got was you're not using the faith you have, why would I give you more. 

When we were saved we were given a measure of faith.  This is the same faith that Jesus had.  Our faith is in Jesus.  We need to grow that faith. 

If you look in a mirror and don't like the body you see there is no instant fix.  But if you believe you can change it and begin an exercise program, you will change it.  We can grow our faith by exercising it.  This sounds easy but it takes some work.  It required me to stop praying about something and immediately formulating a plan to fix the problem myself.  Now I pray and trust (use faith) that God will intervene.  Now I read a chapter of scripture and make a conscious decision to believe what it is telling me.  Sounds easy ... do it.  It takes exercise and is hard.  But you know just as that muscle changes and becomes defined and bigger with effort so will your faith. 

1 John 5:4

You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.

(TPT)

~ Randy