My Faith Has Been Challenged
Last week, I asked you guys to lift up some blog friends in prayer. As I did this, I knew that people would respond, but was blown away with the response we got. I also knew that I would pray, but I was resigned to whatever was to happen. Tonight my lack of faith was challenged.
You guys took a moment to pray for CJ, Andrea, their daughter Jadyn and their premature son Asher. There was not a lot of info at the time to give, but CJ and Andrea knew there little son was in the midst of a battle. He has struggled to become strong enough to come home, but last week they got news that he could. The day he was scheduled to come home they had a major set back. There was something wrong with Asher’s CT scans. It showed problems in his brain and directed the doctors to believe that there was damage. Not only was Asher not coming home, but now this news was surely too hard to bear.
Without knowing that info, you committed to praying for little Asher. I have admit that more of my prayer was probably directed toward CJ and Andrea knowing how to deal with the rest of Asher’s life, than for Asher’s healing. I was of little faith, but I was of big heart.
I am so happy to say that something took place in Asher over the last couple of days that, in CJ’s words, cannot be explained by the doctor. Yesterday Asher had an MRI done to determine the extent of the damage. But, as the doctors examined the results, they were completely surprised to find no sign of the issues that were there in the CT scan last week. And guess what, Asher came home today!!!
I can’t begin to explain to you how that looks in my head. To know that their is power in community and prayer and agreement. I am blown away. My faith has been challenged. I am now more hopeful because of it.
Thank you for praying for CJ as well as Alex and James. Alex and James are seeing God work through their lives as well and I know you’ve had a part in that. Live in faith and live in hope.
Take a second and read CJ’s post on bringing his little guy home.
You and me both, bro.
CJ Mills’s last blog post…Do You Believe In Miracles?
Great news. I’m rejoicing with you.
badguy’s last blog post…A Question for the ladies…
What a wonderful gift prayer is…Praise GOD for asher!!
darla’s last blog post…Word Up!
Awesome news – God is good, ALL the time!
juliepersinger’s last blog post…A Silent Tsunami
Praise God from whom all blessings flow…
That is flat out the power of our Awesome God.
ckroboth’s last blog post…101% Given by God for us…
Yeah, I am right there with you Brent. I wish I wasnt so shocked… but I just am. God is good, he is so good, even in the presence of a faith that struggles and questions. Thank you Father God for seeing through my unbelief and meeting us exactly where we are. I hope I am further along tomorrow.
ScottMocha’s last blog post…YAY!!!! A Praise Report
Just for the sake of balance…
A dear friend of mine lost his daughter last week…she died in her sleep while staying at her parents’ house. She was 42 and I believe had health problems, but still it is a grievous loss.
I hope we can all praise God when we don’t see Him working, or don’t see how he’s working, or we don’t understand His apparent lack of response to prayer…
Or maybe it’s as simple as there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Perhaps the trick is we learn how to do both at the same time?
badguy’s last blog post…A Question for the ladies…
It’s awesome to see this stuff happen gang.
Bad, your right. I’ve always liked the statement that says, sometimes God doesn’t calm the storm, He calms His child. we have to be willing to praise in the midst of a storm and in the midst of bad news. His ways are not our own and He is always more interested in our character that He is in our comfort.
Thanks for sharing the good report. I know God is and will continue to be glorified for the work He has done in that family, and praised by those of us privileged to join with them in prayer.
Like ‘bad’ said though, there are ‘other sides of the stories’ that can equally testify to God’s workings even in what most would call ‘tragedies’.
Brandy got me connected to ‘Bring the Rain’s blogsite a while back, and her story is one that is deeply impacting and God-glorifying as well. There’s a lot of posts ‘before and after’, but the ‘culmination’ is April 11, 08.
Here’s the address for any who want to read, but you may have to locate 4/11’s from there.
Warning though, read one and you’ll be ‘hooked’ to read them all =)!
D-
http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
I am just rejoicing and praising…what an amazing God we serve.
I think it is important to never assume to know the outcome when we pray. We pray for the best possible outcome, believing that is His will, and freely let Him make that decision. Thank you Lord for Your mighty touch on littler Asher…
Debs’s last blog post…The brokeness of the body…
And, thank you b for being obedient in calling the body together for prayer….there is power behind that…obviously!
Debs’s last blog post…The brokeness of the body…
lazrus2, Little Audrey’s story at Bring the Rain is incredible.
Deb, let’s just keep doing this stuff together. And encouraging others to do it together as well.
Hey, I can do that!
Debs’s last blog post…The brokeness of the body…
Thanks for sharing Asher’s story, Brent.
CJ Mills’s last blog post…Do You Believe In Miracles?
Thanks Brent, for giving us the opportunity to pray. It’s good to feel a part of the body through praying for one another’s needs.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow…
Michelle’s last blog post…Our Wedding Song
Deb
You got it CJ!
Michelle, this is what the church is about isn’t it.
Prayer warriors,
Good news indeed! I believe in miracles, especialy since my wife of almost 33 years now was told she could never bear children and gave birth to two sons and a daughter, afte prayer and fasting and telling me whe would give me a son. We also know that God is sovereign in the affairs of men and by scripture and that even the ‘dark’ things that happen in our lives happen to bring Him ultimate glory. I have no idea how that happens, but the Bible tells me that this is so – even the loss of one of our sons to a fatal auto accident when he was only 21.
So I join you all in your continued prayers for the family spoken of here.
Dan Cartwright’s last blog post…Concerning the Sovereignty of God in the Election of Some to Salvation
Dan, you’ve seen both sides of prayer. The joy and grief. It is good to see those and have as an example those that have praise Him in all situations. thank. And thanks for praying with these families as well.
Rock on, very awesome to hear!
Billy Chia’s last blog post…Worship Is Meant to Teach