Blessing of The Hands

It was an awesome couple of days. I was asked again this year by Lake Hospital systems to volunteer at one of their medial facilities and pray blessings for the caregivers there. I first met in the Meditation Room where an employee was my contact. We were given some balm to anoint their hands and a sample prayer. I wrote my own wanting to let them know how much I appreciated their devotion to caring for others. A handful of nurses made their way down so we decided to take our blessings to the 4th and 3rd floors. We were met with 2 responses, "I'm alright" and "Oh, Please!" Everyone seemed appreciative. I prayed for 50 nurses, police officers, surgeons and food service people.

Today was exceptional. I was asked to go to the Mentor Medical Campus. My employee contact went down all the halls and rounded up everyone. But that wasn't satisfactory for her because some people couldn't leave their office. So we went to them. In the pediatrics office, 6 nurses huddled in the kitchen area. Several had never had a blessings before and were a bit skeptical. By the time we were done, two of them walked down the hall arms around one another and one woman was brought to tears. The final stop was an office with one nurse who was very hesitant to give us the time. We arrived just as her young pregnant daughter and husband were there. I talked them into a blessing as well. I prayed for the young couple and we were all moved to realize that this was a divine appointment.

God showed up and I thank Him today for all those who care for us in the medical field.

We've Been To War and Back!

West Virginia that is! First of all, sorry for the delay in getting this blog updated and the link to the presentation. Until I can figure out how to embed it on my blog you will have to copy it and paste it into your browser and then you can watch it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkGCN-VK5KQ

Or you can search for it by name - it's called "1 War Mission Trip large". Weird name but it is what it is!

Our week away was one of extremes - full of laughter one moment and sadness or sorrow the other. Pushing ourselves physically to the limit every day we learned what we could and couldn't do. We could hang drywall, sand, paint, trim, lay block and cement, vinyl siding and sift through trash. We couldn't go halfway - we had to give it our all.

I want to be back there today! The needs are greater than my words or pictures can display. The opportunity for others to experience what we did is out there - we just need to strategically plan with God's direction and then do it.

I would encourage you to pray about how God wants you to be his hands and feet where you are for now and then reveal to you His plan for you in the future. In the meanwhile will you commit to pray everyday for the families of McDowell County West Virginia and specifically for Pat and Vita and family, Albert and Della and family and all our new friends at Big Creek People in Action?

Thanks you for your prayers and support in sending us - we are forever changed!

Ibuprofen is my Friend...Ibuprofen is my Friend!

Need I say more! Day one was awesome. Started with devotions from Psalm 40:5. "Many, O Lord God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us, no one can recount to you." After an awesome breakfast. Our team was split to two locations. Spent a great deal of time at one home that had experienced a fire. Pat and Vita were so gracious and thankful. We'll be there all week hoping to finish and dedicate by Friday. We have much to do - we'll need some divine intervention. Enjoy the pics.

The highlight of the day was the arrival of Jack and Susie - they were waiting when we came back from our job site!

More tomorrow.

On Our Way

As many of you know, we left He Grove at 10am Saturday morning and made it as far as Marietta, OH when Suzie Lendzian experienced a seizure. God was definitely with Brett Johnson, the driver, as he immediately exited where the hospital was. She received excellent care and it looked like after a short rest we'd be on our way. But some concern arose about a blood test and EKG and they decided that she should be admitted. So the remainder of the team went on and left Jack and Suzie at the hospital. We pressed on through the crazy winding roads and arrived at Big Creek at 1:30am. Unload the trailer and try not to wake others and we hit the hay by 2!

Up at 7, too anxious to sleep. Waited for a call from Jack. He announced that they wouldn't release Suzie til she saw a neurologist on Monday. So Jack and Suzie are there as I write hoping for her release tomorrow so they can venture down and join nus.

We've been joined by guys from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Denmark and California. We head to three job sites at 8am. The internet has been down all day so I don't have many pics tonight - hope for more tomorrow. You know what to pray for! Talk to you tomorrow.

Partakers of His Sufferings

My morning devotional from Oswald Chambers was entitled, "Partakers of His Sufferings" based on I Peter 4:13, "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

Here is a short excerpt:

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way."

Guilty as charged!

It seems that the deeper we've gone into Life's Healing Choices, the more we realize that people and relationships most often are at the core of many of our struggles.

This week I started reading a book by Erwin McManus entitled "Soul Cravings". It's a slow read because there is so much depth to his writing. So far I've been reminded that the most dangerous place in this world is "love." In my counseling of couples and individuals and in my own life I have come to agree that our desire and need for love that God has planted in us is often misdirected, abused and neglected. A couple weeks back as we were discussing The Relationship Choice. I stated that the primary reason for so many broken relationships is that we love poorly. I think if I spend more time accepting the opportunity God gives me to "soak on that line" that many of the relationship struggles we face will be dealt with properly.

Oh Lord, help me to make the investment and teach me to love better!

P.S. Will you pray for us November 7-14th as we go on a mission trip to rebuild part of Caretta, West Virginia?