Hi Everyone!!

Philippians 4:6 says this:  "⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Some would say," I don't need to pray about EVERYTHING"- and yet this verse makes no exception. 

I guess if you don't need the peace of God... then you are right, you don't need to pray about everything!  When I don't know what the future holds,  I desperately need something to hold on to.  His peace -- that guards my heart and mind... in CHRIST JESUS is ALL I need and want!

Please pray for decisions that need to be made for Nathan legally - we want what is best for him.  Nathan needs to stay close to the Holy Spirit at this time, and remain faithful and patient!

Please continue your faithful prayers for our family!

Much love,

Julie

Hi Everyone~

Everyday seems to be a good day for Nate!  What an answer to prayer!  I believe that Nate is making a FULL and rapid recovery.  It is SO exciting to be on the receiving end of answered prayer.  I wish that I could know more of what is going on, on his "insides".  We know and have been told - the symptoms of a brain injury can take months - sometimes years to return to "normal".  Nathan has a wicked headache due to swelling of the brain - and cannot take narcotics to relieve it.  (narcotics are not recommended for brain injury).  At the same time, I would like to pray that the pain,  however long it lasts, would be a daily reminder of how God has saved him, and finds him of GREAT worth!  Mark and I are astounded how God has rescued Nate, and we are so grateful!

 ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.    (1 Peter 1:8-9)

This Christmas, more than ever, I want to scream from the mountain tops -- that I love Him, even though I have not seen him, and I AM filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for the end result of that is salvation of my soul!  God with me! ( as I walk this journey, not alone, but with Him!) God IN me, as I walk along side of, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Oh that I would ponder than in my heart -- as Mary did!

Much love~

Julie
Pray for wisdom and discernment for follow up care and rehabilitation
Pray that Nate's heart would be protected
Pray for headaches to subside

Hi Everyone~

Yesterday was a great day for Nate.  He went Christmas shopping for a little while.  For some strange reason, yesterday, I battled with discouragement.  I woke in the morning with it.  I can't tell you why (the enemy??)  But I began to feel the normal "Christmas pressure" -- being two weeks behind.  Then I thought of the hymn:

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for Heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
A constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches over me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

 
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me 
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches 
 

  
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

 
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him,
From care He sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He cares for me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He cares for me.

He cares for Nate!!  

I ask that you pray:

For the headaches -- today is a particularly hard day.  With a brain injury, he shouldn't take narcotics...  so it is tricky!

Pray that we all stay focused on Him!  When Jesus is my portion - what more do I need?  Pray that we are constant in prayer!!

Much love to all of you prayer warriors!!!

Julie

We had another great day!  It started out with an argument - interestingly enough.  Nathan woke us up - with a demand to go to church.  We told him that it was not a good idea -- way too much excitement, we explained that we would go next week.  Nathan would not listen to reason!  He actually threatened to take a taxi, if we didn't go with him.  It was a fantastic day - and SO many tears and hugs... and "I've been praying for you!'s"  Even complete strangers had been praying!!  Thank you everyone for all the prayers - and please don't stop!

We still need to research physical therapy, and learn what his needs are, and Nathan needs to be cooperative with that -- as well as being patient as he waits to get back to work.

Pray that Nathan stays fervent in his pursuit of God.  He is convinced that God has allowed this to happen.  He wants desperately to give his life again to God, and to please him.  He is in awe of his family -- it has brought us closer.  Praise Him!

Pray for Nathan to be strong - spiritually and physically, and that he would have a unquenchable thirst for God- and would continue to go after what God has for him!

Pray that this Christmas season would be a blessed time together for this family!

Much love ~

Julie

Hi everyone!

What a great day we had today!  It was evident, Nate was comfortable at home -- and feels ready to get going with therapy.  Just wanted to let you know.  It was a good day!   Yay!  Another good day!!

Julie

Guess Who's Home?

Hi Everyone!

Nate came home yesterday. It has been SO good to have him ~ I read the following from Max Lucado's book "When God Whispers Your Name".

I choose love . . .
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy . . .
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace . . .
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience . . .
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness . . .
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness . . .
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness . . .
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness . . .
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control . . .
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
From When God Whispers Your Name
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1994) Max Lucado

I choose to trust God!  He knows our situation, and He loves us!  He's trustworthy!

Please pray:

That Nathan continues to improve.

That we find specialists for him

That we continue to trust


I love you all,

Julie

God is good!

Psalm 121

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.
 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

Hi friends!  Above is my prayer for Nathan!  Praise God  - that He is in charge of caring for us.  He never sleeps - He watches over Nathan - to protect him from all harm - He will watch over his life -- and watch over his coming and going both now and forevermore!!!

Nathan had a great day!  He slept most of the day, and Mark said he was quite lucid for most of the day.  We still have the immediate future to think about...  but God is watching over all of that, and we trust Him!
I asked the Lord this morning for wisdom and discernment.  Already, we are pleased with what the new doctors are saying.  Mark was suspicious that perhaps narcotics that were given to Nate for pain, were the cause of the agitation.  The nurse at the new hospital explained; "Oh we NEVER give narcotics to people with brain injury!"

I am praising God for those who have shared personal stories about family members who have suffered brain injuries.  I may be contacting you -- for words of wisdom... and comfort!

Prayer requests :

Since Nate had a horrific experience at MarionJoy, he doesn't want to go back there.  Please pray that he would be open to going back - if that is where the Lord would have him go.  Pray that he would be more and more able to reason (I am sure that comes with time -- but we need a miracle!!) - he can't stay in the hospital forever.

Pray that Nathan would trust the Lord -- and desire a closer walk with Him.  Today, before he ate his dinner, Nathan took his Dad's hand - and prayed a very precious prayer -- thanking God for everything!

Pray that Nathan would be open to some changes he will need to face with his new life, and healing.

Our God is SO big!  We need to ask in Jesus name -- and allow Him to work in us and through us.  What a privilege it is, to trust Him with ALL of it!

Much love to all of you!

Julie