Sunday, September 05, 2004

Luke's Mom Finds Encouragement

This is Luke's Mom, Sue. WOW! I just learned how to blog! I just wanted to say how encouraged I am by your outpouring of love and prayers. To be honest with you this has been the worst nightmare of my life and yet throughout this whole ordeal I'm finding at times amazing peace and receiving a ministering touch from the Lord himself.I'm awed at how much our heavenly Father loves me, just to show a quick example I'd like to share some of the blessings I've received throughout this whole ordeal. The other day I was thinking to myself how fun it would be for my little 3 & 5 year olds to ride on a bus, they love buses. Not more than 5 minutes later I was talking to my Sister Jill and she mentioned to me that she was thinking about taking the boys on a short bus ride into the Lakewood Towne Center, I was amazed. Then the next day I thinking to myself how good some of my Mom's home made soup would be and later that afternoon, Mom informed me, that she was going to make up a pot of her delicious soup the next day. Once again, on that same day I was thinking how nice it would be to have a taller chair to sit on by Luke's bedside. This is where I spend most of my days and my feet have been swelling a bit from all the standing on the hard floor. That evening the cleaning lady saw me standing and said that she thought she could find a taller chair and sure enough within 5 minutes I was sitting on a wonderful chair, so that now when I sing with Luke and tell him how much I love him, I am so much more comfortable.I could go on and on with thanks to all those that are continually pouring out their love through meals, helping with the boys and most importantly the prayers.I consider myself to be in one of the deepest spiritual battles of my life and their are times when I can feel definite warfare and I have to cry out to God for help and He always comes through.You're all wonderful and I love you, keep on praying God is hearing you!!

18 comments:

Gordy AKA Luke's Dad said...

Hi Luke's Mom,

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging, I know everyone is glad you are here and sharing your heart.

Love Luke's Dad

PS - We need to stop meeting like this.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sue, It is great to hear from you. I especially appreciate your honesty as you work with your faith and at times are challenged. When my 20 year old died in a fire as she slept (19 months ago), I struggled with faith, but like you, I kept having experiences that convinced me that I was being lovingly held and cared for in ways that could only be explained by faith. There really are no coincidences, only God's love, don't you think? My prayers continue for you and all of your family, and of course especially for Luke's health and strength.
SJC

Anonymous said...

Sue so glad to see you commenting!! Gordy your sweet lol wish I could do more to help, but all this cripple can do is pray!God Bless!
~Julie Ward
:-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue!
Kristen and I were so encouraged to hear how our great God is sustaining you in this ordeal, as well. I admired your quiet, yet visible faith back in high school when I didn't know Jesus. And it's a painful privilege to get to share with you and Gordy now (as well as with Daniel, Amy, Natalie, Isaac, and Zeke) in the "fellowship of suffering" (Phil. 3:10) as your brother (and Kristen, your sister) in Christ. We're in this vigil with you all.

Anonymous said...

Last night our family went to movie night at Wright Park, which is right beside the hospital. I felt myself distracted and kept looking over at the hospital, thinking...little Luke is in there fighting to recover, fighting to be back playing with his family, healthy and happy again. Then the helicopter landed on top of the hospital and it reminded me of all the people who are there and going through difficult times. I started to pray for them all, for kids like Luke and the parents who are going through the worst of heartaches. My kids ask about him constantly and we check your sight several times a day. They can be calling me, or fighting with each other, or wanting something from me, then I tell them I am checking on Luke...both become quiet and stand beside me and ask how is he Mom, is he doing better and suddenly they have forgotten what they wanted from me or what they were fighting about and now they are focused on Luke and wanting to pray again. They ask me what they should pray for this time...does he need to cough more Mom, do we need to pray for those seizures to go away again...they want to see him and talk to him...when can we Mom? Everytime we pass the hospital to go home they mention him and ask if I have another update. Thank you for doing this website and letting us pray for the most current need. The kids and I prayed together for him this morning at church while my husband was leading worship. We will continue to pray everyday, each minute he enters our mind and we will stay faithful to ask for complete recovery for Luke. We are also praying for you Gordon and Sue and your other children. God has many blessings and miracles ahead.

Connie, Joe, Nicky and Amanda Riggio

Anonymous said...

Go Mom! Welcome and all our love and thoughts to you and that wonderful Gordy and your family. Keep blogging and we'll keep up with your ordeal with you. Go Luke!

Anonymous said...

Whatever your problem, know that there is a solution. Lord, I trust
in You always even to the point of a miracle.


S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y

"I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~Romans 8:38-39

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

God is our helper and our strength. We need not ask God to come to us. God is always with us in spirit. At our moment of need God is there to help us. If we knew God's love and God's desire to help us,
we would know that God needs no pleading for help. Our need is God's opportunity. We can learn to rely on God's strength whenever we need it. Whenever we feel inadequate to any situation, we can realize that
the feeling of inadequacy is, in its own way, disloyalty to God. We can say to ourselves: I know that God is with me and will help me to think and say and do the right thing.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may never feel inadequate to any situation. I pray that I may be buoyed up by the feeling that God is always with me.

Leon said...

Welcome to blogging Luke's Mom. You will become hooked now! I just wanted to say hang in there and take care.

Anonymous said...

Good to hear from you too, Sue! Joe and I are talking about driving down to the hospital tomorrow. Just know that we have been praying for you all and we are filled with hope that God will heal Luke completely. I know it must be difficult, but try to rest when you have the opportunity. If there is anything that you need or anything at all that we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask. Take care and God bless you. See you tomorrow.
Love,
Joe & Rena

Anonymous said...

Oh Sue! Every mom out here is feeling for you, and loving you, and praying for you! Where would we be without our great God?! He is in those lovely small things that you described, that are so encouraging when we need them! He is in those amazing miracles that He is performing in your sweet little guy! He is everything to us and without Him,we are nothing. Keep trusting and delighting in God's goodness! I love you!Sue Olson

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sue Way to go sis.....:)You both are so precious,not only to me but to so many. I know as a person you are strong, Unfortunatly through this trying and heart wrenching experience,You are tested and shaken as if a huricaine has side swiped you. Amazingly you both held on to the cross and held on to Jesus for dear life.I know God is delighting and rejoycing in your faithfullness. God is blessing you,Breathing healing into Lukes lungs,restoring him. I want to say, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!You both are a testimony to me and to sooooo many people.I pray for Peace, rest and joy! I cherish you both greatly. your sis, marion

Anonymous said...

Sue,

It was great seeing you and the family this weekend, wish I had more time! I wish I could give you a week of my time and more!!!!

Love you all,

Lori (Auntie Lori)

Anonymous said...

Sue,

It was great seeing you and the family this weekend, wish I had more time! I wish I could give you a week of my time and more!!!!

Love you all,

Lori (Auntie Lori)

Anonymous said...

Dear Little Sister Sue,

There are no words to express the thanks to our wonderful Father God for giving us back our Luke,
and the sustaining strength of His love. Last night
was so great. May Jesus bless us today with a smile.
Love you lots and lots, Cindy

Anonymous said...

Sue,

As I read you first entry and I reflected back on how there were time that all I was have a thought and God answered. It amazed me that He would hear my thoughts and answer. Later I realized that He was trying to teach me that if He would take to answer just my thoughts,how much more He would do if I went to Him in prayer. He has shown you that you are on His mind and He is caring for you. He will meet your every need and answer your prayers. As I told Gordy, God has blessed us all by showing what what is is like to have faith such as yours. I love you Sue, and your family. Danial is such a wonderful influence in Johnathon's life. To see such a close nit family warms the heart. I know you all have your ups and downs as no family is perfect, but I beleave that God put you in to our lives to show us how we should love one another. I knew or should have known that our church was a family but boy I am amazed to see it through new eyes as I have over this past week. You are a beautiful person, a wonderful mom a great source of inspiration, and truly a powerful women of God. I have been praying like everyone else, and I do pray now that God would bind the enemy from placing any doubts in you as to what the Father is doing. That your Faith will build day by day, that the joy of the Lord will fill every part of you. I am reminded of Moses standing with his arms outstreached and he was tiring. God placed people beside him to hold his arms up. I know that God is placing people all around you to help hold you up. He has called us to pray for you for strength, both in the physical and in the spiritual. For enduring faith. For rest, for peace. I know God won't let us faulter, we are for you. again I love you Sue,may God bless you more than you can truly know. Bob Hart

Anonymous said...

I wish I could do so much more for you and your family, I love them all as if they were my own. You trully are a wonderful family. Allowing God to work through your own personal experience with Luke and sharing him (Luke) and in turn sharing the word of God with the world to bring hope, and a binding force that nothing could stand against.
I Love all of you guys, Thanks for letting me be apart
XOXOYXOXLXIXOXO

Anonymous said...

God Bless You All, And Know That Luke Jeremiah Searles is in the Lords hands. I am fasting and praying with you today with the rest of my family.
Love, Brianna in San Antonio TX

Anonymous said...

Dear Sue & Gordy
I am so sorry to hear about our precious Luke but knowing Luke I'm sure he is a fighter. WIth God on our side, he will surely win this battle. My family and I are continually lifting him up in prayer, and I am confident in our Lord Jesus, he never forsake his own.He does answer prayer. You are all in our prayers.
Funmi & family