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The Importance of Prayer
Every family will face trials at sometime
or another. Whenever a family faces the
devastation of mental illness,
developmental disabilities, autism,
Aspergers Syndrome, non-verbal
learning disabilities and all the many
brain disorders we are aware
of today, life can be wretched. Hope
can disappear. ThatÕs where your faith
and the power of prayer can make a
difference. |
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Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
When life becomes unbearable (I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." Job 3:26) and you are too tired to pray, your friends can stand in the gap for you. ItÕs okay if you canÕt handle the difficulties at times. Jesus didnÕt intend for you to handle life on your own. If we can only remember to turn to God first instead of trying to solve all our problems under our own power we may avoid unnecessary suffering and pain. In other words, donÕt go it alone.
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Psalm 25:17
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Jill with her husband Randy. |
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Shattered Dreams
Did you ever face a disappointment so huge that you didnÕt know how you were going to get through it? Did you ever lose someone you loved? Did you ever wonder how God could allow certain things in your life to happen? I sure have. When IÕm in the midst of awful things itÕs hard to remember that God is with me, that I can trust him. But through the years IÕve seen good things and experienced good things even when life has hurt so much that I could barely get through the next minute.
Wrestling With God
I spent a good year or more studying this passage. I consider myself a God Wrestler because I was determined not to turn my back on God, but like Jacob, I wanted a blessing so I hung on for dear life . . . and God smiled.
Genesis 32:24-29
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
I hope some of this will help you through your hard times. |
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Legend of the DonkeyÕs Cross
Legend tells us the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday followed Him to Calvary . Appalled by the sight of Jesus on the cross, the donkey turned away but could not leave. It is said that the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and back of the donkey. A cross marking found on many donkeys today remains a testimony of the love and devotion of a humble, little donkey.
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Jill and Betsy the donkey. Betsy is 35 years old and a member of the animal kingdom at the Johnson Farm in Greensburg, Pa. where I grew up. My Aunt Helen and Uncle Arthur keep things going.
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The Legend of the Donkey's Bray
After hiding in Egypt for some years, Joseph decided to move his family back to Nazareth .
During the night they camped along the side of the road.
One night while they slept, their donkey heard the soldiers' horses coming from afar.
Afraid that the soldiers were coming to kill Jesus, the donkey neighed to wake Joseph.
He neighed and neighed, again and again, but his voice was just too soft to wake the sleepers.
Finally, as the soldiers approached, the donkey prayed for a loud voice to wake the family.
When he neighed again, he was rewarded with the loud bray such as donkeys have had ever since. |
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Sparky and his favorite sheep friend. Notice the cross on his back. |
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One of the fields on the farm. |
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My daughter Katie(17), volunteers at our local SPCA where she socializes and exercises the cats and dogs. She helps them and they help her cope with life's problems. This picture is special because Lassie (one of 4 from the most recent movie) dropped by to visit the shelter. |
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This is my 15 year-old daughter, Meghan, (left) with Sarah, one of the youth group leaders from our church. Photo taken at the 2007 Christ In Youth Conference in Cleveland, Tennessee. |
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