When The Unplanned Happens

Well I just got back from the hospital. My wife is spending a second night there and since my daughter is spending the night at her Grandma's the house is quiet and empty. So I have the TV on in the background playing Contemporary Christian music. You know Saturday we had our plans for the week. Sunday morning my wife wasn't feeling well, but decided to go to church. She didn't feel up to going to my parents house for lunch and just wanted to sleep. So I left her and Pamela here and went an visited. I had plans to teach at church that evening. But plans were about to change. My wife, Jerri, decided she needed relief from some pain. When she says she needs to go to the emergency room, it is time. They ended up admitting her and doing tests. Tonight she is still there. But my point is, you never know what is going to happen in the next couple of minutes. What will that next phone call bring? What will happen on your next drive? What does that next cough mean coming from your child's room. Is it the start of a nightmare? You know, I grew up in a time, that if the phone rang after 10 o'clock at night, it was an emergency. My wife is a nurse and she had a young nurse come to work after working for 3 weeks she was getting sick. She was about 12 weeks pregnant. And she had some flu like symptoms. She ended up at Willis Knighton and a couple days later her oxygen levels dropped, by that night she was at LSU on a ventilator and sedated. Her husband and family were in shock when we arrived. By the next day she was on a heart lung bypass machine. This has been more that 2 weeks, now she has lost the baby and is off the bypass machine and back on the ventilator. And seems to be slowly improving though it is still up and down and day by day. If she continues to improve it will probably take her the rest of the year to recuperate. Some of you have read some of my reports on Wesley Harty. His family was thrown into turmoil in an instance. You know when these things happen, you seem like you are just along for the ride and you have no control over what is going on. A few years ago my world seem to come crashing down in an instant. I really had no control of what was going on. Oh I tried some things, but I was just along for the ride with the doors locked so I couldn't get out. But you know this was my mindset. A few years before this happened, I fell in love with God. He became my strong tower, my support, my strength. Can I say this, if you are truly saved, learn how to lean on God everyday. Almost like a pitcher practices for the day he can enter the game, one day we will enter the game. On this day, I entered the game. And quickly I found that I didn't know what to do. I was lost. The only thing I could think of was to fall before God and cry. If I had not been walking with God, I would have done something stupid. But this was a long ride. I found I could not see 6 inches ahead of me. Darkness had fallen. I found myself wandering around walmart or home depot, since there was only loneliness at home. God was my main friend. I had a good friend who was pastoring a different church but we had served together and I dare say he is still my best friend. I would confide in him and we would pray. But God was my strength. I determined not to abandon Him, I knew He would not abandon me. Even if things didn't work out the way I prayed. One night as I was praying and telling God just how much it hurt, in my spirit I heard Him say, "I know and I love you. Hang on just a little longer." Wow! you see, God was doing a work in my life and wasn't finished. It is just like baking a cake. you don't take it out halfway through the process or you end up with a half baked cake. Yuk!. If I had abandoned the process before He was done, then I would be a half Baked christian and be more danger than good. So I drew closer to Him. I can't say that my prayers were answered in the way I prayed. But God has truly blessed me from that experience for His good and for the good of others. Look, learn to walk with Him now, the Bible says those times will come. When those times come, draw close to Him. He loves you more that you will ever know. Dark times can be the best of times. If you ever need prayer and it is private email me. I don't need to know specifics, I just need to know you need prayer. If you are not sure of your salvation I would be glad to help you find peace through salvation. Oh, and I believe God is in control with my wife's health. God Bless. email address. mygodsbeengood.blogspot@live.com

Heavy Heart

I have a heavy heart this morning as I have gotten word that a good friend's wife may have cancer. Yet at the same time we rejoice in answer prayers for 3 others we have prayed over. Earl was told that there are no more cancer cells and just needs to take treatments. Wanda is expected to get out of the hospital soon. And Wesley's projected release date has been moved up. Even though Maggie Lee pass away, for the christian, she was totally healed. Prayer does work. My God's Been Good.

Wesley Harty Update 1

The last report I received, the pressure in his brain was back down and his heartrate was back down. Keep praying, he is heavily sedated. God does answer prayers. My facebook page has been all abuzz, if there is such a word. We also are able to keep track almost instantly of anything going on.

Psalm 120:1, NIV. I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

Maggie Lee Henson's Legacy

I was praying this morning and as my prayers turned to Maggie Lee Henson and her family some thoughts came to mind. First how great it is to know your child is in heaven. I know the grief must be tremendous and this is a comfort for Christians. About 2 years ago and a young man died in Iraq as a result of a roadside bomb. I had coached him in baseball from about 11 years old. He was a good friend to my son and had dated my daughter. In the years before heading to Iraq and joining the service he would come over to visit with me and get advice. He was like a son to me. But as with many of my conversations with people, I would talk with him about his salvation. He would tell me about his salvation experience. I called and talked to his mom about our conversations and was sure he was saved and was in heaven. At the graveside I was told by his dad just how much that meant to them. That night 2 boys in my class were led to the Lord because of his sacrifice. I understand that because of Maggie Lee Henson's death and organ donation, 2 more people will have a new lease on life. Because of Jesus' death on the cross we can have eternal life with Him. Thank you Maggie Lee and the Hensons for the testimony of your lives. My prayers are still with you.

Maggie Lee Henson

I just read on caringbridge where Maggie Lee Henson went home to be with Jesus. For a christian there is sorrow and celebration. On the one hand she will be sorely missed by her family and friends. To the family and those closest to her, I can't imagine what you are going through, and my prayers go up for you. On the other hand a christian truly knows we are only strangers here in this land and unimaginable joy awaits us when we see our Lord and Savior. We also know we will see our loved ones who were christians, if we are christians, again. God Bless the family.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson

http://wonderingthoughts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/its-been-a-week-now.html

He Comforts

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles... 2 Cor 1:3-4, NIV

God is the Father of compassion. When we're hurting, He's right there for us. He speaks to us through His Word, He listens as we lay out our pain to Him and He uses other people as a conduit for His compassion. He never leaves us alone to figure things out by ourselves. And then, He turns around and uses us to funnel His love to others in pain. We can look back at what we learned and share it with someone else.

First Baptist Shreveport Accident Update

Jim at www.mybossier.blogspot.com pointed me in this direction.

The youth at First Baptist Shreveport had an accident last week on a youth trip. My prayers are still with the Ugarte family over the loss of their son Brandon. My prayers are also for those recovering and their families. In particular are those still in the hospital. Of real concern is Maggie Lee Henson who has suffered a brain injury. I could not imagine how the families are feeling as I have never suffered such a trial. We studied James 1 this morning that said count it all joy when you suffer these trials. As a Christian one thing I have found Joy in trials is knowing that by going through these trials is that God will reveal something about himself to us. I know that maybe real comforting, but hopefully it helps when these trials come.

Anyways, the best place for information to be found is http://www.fbcshreveport.org/ . You will find a link to www.caringbridge.com where a site has been set up so Maggie's parents can post updates on her condition and theirs. Caringbridge is a great organization.

What is my concern since I don't know or affiliated with anyone in the church. I work with our youth at our church, have gone to many youth camps and now have a 12 year old daughter. Plus the concern a Christian should have.

He Heals

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalms 147:3, NIV