Persistence in Prayer Pleases God!

I've been wanting to share a few amazing stories with you all for awhile, but have just not had the time to sit down and blog. First of all let me begin by saying that Luke is doing good. He was very sick on Friday night, another all nighter for Gordy and myself, Saturday was still not so great, but today he is doing good once again.

I am amazed, though I know I should not be by God's continued faithfulness during this journey that we've been on for the last four years. I briefly mentioned in my last post about how this year's "anniversary date" of Luke's accident was by far the easiest one we've had so far. While we were in Newport we found a church to attend on Sunday morning. That morning was kind of difficult as Ezekiel was still not fully recovered from his bike fall and Luke was a bit congested that morning, I'm so glad we didn't take the easy road and stay home that morning. During church I had to go out often because Luke was being too noisy with his breathing so I stayed in the back and listened to the message, wondering to myself "why" we had attended at all. But God in His faithfulness had something wonderful for me after the service.

We had just walked out of the sanctuary when a lady approached me, she asked me if she could share something with me, of course I said yes. She than proceeded to tell me that while she was praying that morning in church she saw a picture of a little boy and this little boy looked just like my little boy, Luke. She said in this picture she saw Luke walking with ski poles. I told her with tears in my eyes that I truly believe that Luke will walk again one day, then she continued to say least I be confused that the little boy she saw was not using the ski poles for crutches, rather he was playing with them and walking, almost running with them in his hands. I began to shed a few tears, she then asked me to pray, we joined hands together and asked God to let this happen soon. As I got in the van that morning I still had tears in my eye's marveling at God's faithfulness, the boys asked me why I was crying and I told them they were happy tears, not sad tears.

God knew that I once again needed to be reminded of His promise to me that Luke will fully recover one day. It would be so easy to stop believing in this miracle, to just accept Luke like he is today, but I know better. My faith is unmovable; I can not and will not stop believing for God to finish what He started on August 30, 2004, when he brought Luke back to life after being dead for so long. I often remind myself that "Persistence in prayer pleases God" God's word says we are to pray without ceasing, that is exactly what I'm doing. Not just for Luke's miracle but also for so many other children and people that need a touch from my Heavenly Father.

I know this post is too long already, but I have to share one more answer to prayer. A few days before we got home from vacation I received a call saying that we were finally accepted to receive a grant from the NOCK Corporation, to get a new wheelchair stroller for Luke. After hearing that we are getting the chair with all the added accessories I asked how much we owe and they told us "NOTHING". What a huge answer to prayer. I realize that most of you will not understand what I'm about to say, but I'm going to share it anyway, because as you all know I often share with you the good, the bad and the ugly of my thoughts. I was rejoicing that we did not have to buy Luke a wheelchair, this is something that I never wanted to do and as God is such a generous God, He answered my prayer.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I want to let you all know and I realize that once again you will think I'm crazy, I'm taking a team down to Mexico on October 3rd to paint a church. God begin to birth a vision for me to take this team awhile back, but I had to wait for His perfect timing and now it is here. I along with Natalie and 9 other people will be down in Mexico for 6 days painting and serving Jesus anyway He wants to use us. I'm very excited but at the same time, thinking to myself that I must be insane wanting to add planning this trip, putting together all the details, into my already very full schedule, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is God led. Therefore I quote often my favorite scripture that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" realizing that He will give me the strength and wisdom to pull this off for His glory.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOW SEED INTO THIS MINISTRY?? I need all the prayers that I can get, of course not only for myself but for my family I leave behind. I'm so thankful that God has been bringing in money for this trip, our $900 of gas has already been paid for along with many other donations by the faithful people of our church. I would love to bless the amazing ministry they have down there at their Rehab center for men. This rehab center runs completely on faith, they take in men off the streets that want to change their lives, they help them to detox from the drugs and alcohol in their system and then they pray with them and teach them God's word daily to help them stay clean. They teach them a vocation so that when they leave they have experience to get a job. These men are often reunited with their families and are able to hold down a job when they leave. The last time we were there they served us a dinner on very old and often chipped plates and cups, I would like to bless them with new dishes, towels, clothes, food and other items. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?? If so please e-mail me and I will let you know the address of our church where you could send money to sow into this ministry. I don't think that I've asked for money before, but I really believe that some of you will be led by the Lord to bless this ministry and I want to say thank you in advance.

Love in Christ,
Luke's Mommy Suzi