Southern Porch Extension

[BeachGrandma]

Another reason why I'm so proud and thankful for the missionary-minded denomination I grew up in and under whose auspices so many of my immediate and extended family served in full-time Christian ministry: the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Just a couple of paragraphs long but packed with good news of the gospel:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Missions/Defa ... id=1396740

[ready2go]

I haven't heard of him, Don, but I'm glad you can get him.

Oh, I don't get Pastor J.D. on television. A person on a Christian message board that I belong to will always post the J.D. U-Tube videos as soon as they are available. That is when I see them.

Did you listen to this one?

Don

[Laurie]

Had a productive day here with cleaning, running errands and working on my tax return (finally - I usually file in early Feb.). I will help my mom with some things this week, but it will probably only be about a day's worth or work altogether - so the least amount of time for a week so far. And I slept decent for three nights in a row. That's a relief. While my siblings are all helping, they were able to get back to their lives after the funeral, and I'm just now starting to do that. After two months (from the time we found out the cancer spread to the brain), I'm ready for a little bit of normalcy.

[Laurie]

Just saw this on Facebook.

Updates on Jess from her parents:

Jess is out of ICU!!

Kidneys are recovering. Keep praying for her left hand, kidneys, left leg, lungs, and toes. Everything looks great except toes. Praise Jesus.

speaking valve in place...check
hemo-dialysis...check
down size trache....in the plans for today
dressings changed...check

[Carole L]

I have an urgent prayer request.

I have a cousin, Dick, that I grew up with, who may lose his son, Joe, tonight.

Joe has been thru some of the same problems that Jess is undergoing. His heart failed, and they replaced it, with a pump. He is a heavy smoker and drinker, and not eligible for a heart transplant. It was thought that the heart pump would get him thru the next few months. If he is able to go six months without smoking or drinking, they would put him on a heart transplant list. His pump seems to be malfunctioning. His liver is failing. There has been severe abdominal bleeding.

His numbers are very low, if he survives the night, they will attempt to replace the pump tomorrow morning. But they are not optimistic he can survive the surgery.

That side of my family are mostly Catholic, and, as such, I have no idea where they actually stand with God. I am afraid it is NOT with a personal relationship.

Please pray for Joe, and for his family. Pray for his strength, and for them to know God's trus presence in their lives.

[ready2go]

Wow, Carole. Lots of things needing prayer, for sure.

Count me in...I will be praying!

Don

[Laurie]

Carole, I saw your post earlier and have been praying this evening. What a difficult and intense time. Will be watching for an update when you hear more.

[Green Leaves]

Just wanted to add that I also am praying for the needs listed.

[Green Leaves]

Maybe I have mentioned this before, but I have been pondering Job...particularly the way God allowed Job's bodily afflictions resulting in glorifying God. Job could not understand why all that was taking place and no doubt felt of little value during that time. Yet his story has had tremendous impact to the suffering through the ages.

As I look at those around me who are enduring so much, our own dear Mariane, Don's Carol, Jess, Marty's young neice with ongoing cancer struggles, and others. They too probably have no idea how much encouragement they bring to our lives. By their attitudes and witness, they are bringing glory to God.

When you add in those going through so many other struggles, as many of you are, it should be apparent that God is using each one to bring glory to Him...because through it all you still trust God. There is no reason to feel discouragement or shame for what you can no longer do, because you still are fulfilling your purpose by glorifying God by your life in the midst of the struggles.

I don't know about you, but I know of very few who are not struggling in one way or another. Your lives, your continuing faith in God, brings hope to all who observe your life. I thank God that in the life of the Christian, He can even use the "bad" in our lives to minister to others. Nothing is wasted.

I guess this is where this poem came from:


GOD WASTES NOTHING

Carol A. Penhorwood

I thank you, Lord, not for the pain
But that Your love redeems.
I know that I must walk though this
As heavy as it seems.

But when I think I can't go on,
The pain is so intense,
It's then You whisper in my soul,
"Of this I will make sense."

This too You'll use to help someone,
In this I'll give You praise.
I'll gladly bear the price of pain
If this Your hand displays.

For in my weakness You are strong,
This pain is not in vain,
For You waste nothing in my life,
Myself and others gain.

So though I ask for healing,
I want Your plan far more,
For in the center of Your will
There's peace forevermore.

[Green Leaves]

Have you heard this quote?

"Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God's overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil, in short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring.". The Cost of Nondiscipleship by Dallas Willard

[Joanney]

I don't know about you, but I know of very few who are not struggling in one way or another. Your lives, your continuing faith in God, brings hope to all who observe your life. I thank God that in the life of the Christian, He can even use the "bad" in our lives to minister to others. Nothing is wasted.

Carol, this statement reminds me of a time when Paul had just lost his job. I had already paid for a weekend in Minneapolis for a women's conference. The speaker made a statement that we are all either going through a storm, coming out of one, or about to head into one. It was a great reminder that we are not alone in our struggles, to keep other's storms in mind instead of judging them, and to enjoy the mountaintop experiences because they would not last.

As of late, I have had several experiences that have made me think that God is preparing me to use the Domestic Abuse of my early twenties as a ministry. I do not know yet what that would look like, but that is where I feel Him leading me. So, my prayer request is for clarification and direction in this area. I don't know if it would be to volunteer at a battered women's shelter, to educate young girls on how to avoid abusive relationships, or to educate people how to help a friend or relative without making them feel responsible for the abuse.

[BeachGrandma]

Carol, that is a beautiful poem and very timely! It seems to me your writing gets better
every time you do another one! Thank you for posting it. It's a keeper, for sure.

I just saw this link and if ever there was a miracle, this was it. There's no other way to explain it:

http://www.godvine.com/Woman-Drowning-i ... -1342.html

[Carole L]

I've been stalking my cousin's FB page, looking for updates, this was finally posted two hours ago.

Joe is going into surgery at 6:40 AM. All indicators are good to go. Keep our fingers crossed. It was a rough three days for all.

[BeachGrandma]

I won't promise to cross my fingers but I will fold my hands, bow my head, close my eyes and bend my knees. How's that?

Seriously, I'll be joining the others in prayer forJoe and hope to hear good news from you as soon as you receive it.

[Laurie]

Carole, thanks for the update on Joe.

Joanney, I'll be interested to hear how God specifically leads you in this ministry that He seems to be calling you into right now.

I'm so tired, but I better take advantage of some time today and try to catch up on things a little more. Who knows when things will settle down, so I better keep at it.