My dad gets to come home this afternoon – he’s really excited to get home and out of the hospital! The neurosurgeon saw him this morning and was pleased with his recovery so far. The next step is out-patient therapy to regain strength in his right arm. Every day his arm is getting stronger. He will also have to get chemotherapy and radiation treatment at some point, but we don’t know when that will start.
Praise God that he doesn’t have to stay at the hospital any longer! God is taking care of us at every step of the way…
-Ben
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
So thankful that Steve is home! Praying for you on your birthday. We love and care for you. May God lavish his blessings on you–
The McCombies
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Dear Ones~
Joni has written recently another (perhaps appropriate) email:
::::: :::::: ::::::
::::: :::::: ::::::
Strange Answers to Prayer
Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days.
–John 11:6
I asked the Lord that I might grow in faith, and love, and every grace,
Might more of His salvation know, and seek more earnestly His face.
'Twas He who taught me thus to pray, and He, I trust, has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way; as almost drove me to despair.
I hoped that in some favored hour at once He'd answer my request;
And, by His love's constraining power, subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this, He made me feel the hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell assault my soul in every part…
"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried, "Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?"
"'Tis in this way," the Lord replied, "I answer prayer for grace and faith."…
John Newton certainly captured in his verse the frustration we all have felt when we pray and God answers in ways we never imagined–or wanted. Mary and Martha must have felt that way when Christ deliberately delayed coming to Bethany after he received news of Lazarus's illness: Why is the Master ignoring our request? Doesn't He care about our brother? Surely He's forgotten us! Jesus chose to make life hard for Mary and Martha. And yet…
* * * * *
It is usually strange answers to prayer that hide the deepest, best and most beautiful purpose. Mary and Martha did not receive a brother healed back from the infirmary, they received their brother raised back from the cemetery. More than that, they received the gift of greater, sturdier, more robust faith. God is interested in the same for you.
God, help me to remember that while You haven't promised me happy endings, You have assured me of greater faith. For me, that's the best ending.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends,
Taken from More Precious Than Silver.
communications@joniandfriends.org
Joni and Friends Daily Devotional, Life Aint Easy
August 9, 2009
::::: :::::: ::::::
::::: :::::: ::::::
I write this just for you & know it is way too long to publish in the 'comments' section… it just seemed that this might be the best location for this kind of communication.
grateful for HIS grip,
HveHope
Zoanna
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Rejoicing with you and continuing to pray.
-Zoanna (blogging friend of Vicki's)
anonymous
August 24, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Praising the Lord that your dad is coming home! This is just wonderful news!! Now you all can get some good rest before you travel the road He has ahead of you.
Thanks for the updates!
Wendy in Maryland
anonymous
August 24, 2009 at 7:54 pm
AMEN!
So glad that he is coming home!
Thank You, Lord, for Your loving care!
Still Praying!
Mary Ann K.
anonymous
August 24, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I am so glad you get to come home and be in your own bed… Wow! That was fast.
I am praying hard for you on this birthday and for the fam.
Vicki G.
Edward Mauser
August 24, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Ben/Family
Great news…..
We are just up the road.
Rodney & Gingie
anonymous
August 24, 2009 at 10:28 pm
PRAISE GOD!!! HE is so good to us. May Steve get better and better each day. Prayers will continue for all the family. Rene
anonymous
August 24, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Praying for you all every day and so happy to hear this news! What a great b-day present. We will keep praying for a miraculous, complete recovery.
Brodes
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 3:06 am
To God be the glory! He is the great healer. SOOOOO glad to hear he's coming home with you guys!!! Love and prayers!
~Jana
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 11:44 am
Steve,
Praying fervently for you and your family…praise God for His goodness and mercy…so thankful you are home! Will continue to lift you to the Lord.
Many blessings!
Debi G.
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Thanks for the updates. So glad Steve is home! Praying, praying, praying.
Glenn and Diana Hughes.
Heidi
August 25, 2009 at 12:12 pm
So glad Steve is coming home! I want Mary to know that I'm praying specifically for her strength and peace as she carrys on with daily life with these new challenges! God is able and mighty to save! I just read a book that had a phrase in that I'm using, "Be a daughter of Sarah who did what was right and did not fear!"
Love and prayers, Heidi
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Awesome! Praising God for His goodness and faithfulness with you. Love, Janet Shilling
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Praise be to God indeed. We visited the Murphy's briefly yesterday and we were happy to see that Steve looked Good. Continue to pray for Steve, Ian and the Murphy family.
Vania, Selar and Azad
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Good news. 🙂
Cynthia Haughery
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 4:42 pm
THINKING OF YOUR FAMILY — I think of you all so often.. even though I do not know you, I see so many people who are friends of your family– and you come to mind again —sending prayers…..
PMM
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 6:04 pm
What great news! Thank you for the update. Still praying in Lancaster, PA.
~Teresa Baker
anonymous
August 25, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Incredible! That Steve gets to come home already is truly mind-boggling and WONDERFUL! Goodness, we just had church friends whose son was almost 2+ weeks in the hospital and that was for a ruptured appendix, not brain surgery.
Praying that Steve's recovery continues at this pace. Also, praying for Mary as she adjusts to this new season ~ strength & courage!
grateful for HIS grip,
HveHope, Denver, CO
Debbie
August 26, 2009 at 1:08 am
Great News! We are continually lifting up your family in prayer. Your faith is such an inspiration to us. Bob and Debbie R.
anonymous
August 26, 2009 at 2:27 am
I placed Steve, Ian and the entire family on the prayer chain at Dutilh United Methodist Church in Cranberry Twp. My former pastor from Johnstown, PA is now pastoring at this church. I hope I get to meet some of you wonderful people someday. May GOD continue to bless you all!
anonymous
August 26, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Praising the Lord for His goodness to Steve and the family. We're praying the Lord will continue to work all things out for Steve's good and God's glory.
Praying,
Ron and Elaine Eshleman
anonymous
August 26, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Praise God for good news about Steve! We will keep praying for all of you, dear ones! Thank you very much for the updates. We love you.
Jean R
J H
August 26, 2009 at 7:47 pm
We will continue to pray all the more…
Jonathan & Susie
anonymous
August 27, 2009 at 6:12 pm
We have been praying for all of you. You have been our "heroes in the faith" these last few years and are inspired as you walk through the joys and trials with God's Amazing Grace!
You are testimonies of His grace!
the Tumino family in Akron, OH
anonymous
August 27, 2009 at 9:58 pm
So glad he is home, but also concerned and saddened that your family is having to take on so very much. Your faith has served you so well thru everything and glad for that. So many care and are sending prayers and well wishes! Let my voice be among them and wanting so for a break in the clouds!
My best,
Mary Haverstick
Darci
August 28, 2009 at 12:47 pm
praying for you all and trusting God that He is still good and still sovereign.
anonymous
August 30, 2009 at 4:58 pm
This one is for all of you:
How thankful I am for the Spirit's groanings interceding on my behalf when I have those days where it is all I can do to lift my hands to Him and fall before Him… my voice silent but my heart loudly crying to Him.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26
…lift my hands to Him and fall before Him… my voice silent but my heart loudly crying to Him.
~ Chelsey http://joyfullyliving.blogspot.com/%5D," The Spirit", posted: 27 Aug 2009 from At the Well…In Pursuit of Titus 2
'selected' & 'arranged' from original source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/titus2atthewell/~3/2oZl6HxcOJo/spirit.html
…………………………………..
It says what is on my heart for you,
HveHope
anonymous
August 30, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Dear Mary and Steve,
I will be praying for you much on Monday.
Humble suggestion: Take pencil and paper and take notes as I believe you will be given a lot of information. Question the medical staff until you are satisfied with their answers.
Thank you for your great FAITH, and thank You, Lord, for Your great FAITHFULNESS!
Still Praying for you and your family!
Mary Ann K.
anonymous
August 31, 2009 at 10:46 am
Dear Murphys,
We read this today from MORNING AND EVENING and our thoughts were of you. Thank you for your confidence in our Lord.
On mine arm shall they trust."Isaiah 51:5.
N seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in Him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.
Praying,
Eric and Debbie Grubbs
anonymous
September 11, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Steve–SO sorry hear about what's transpired in your life. It's hard for me to put into words as you are/were such a loving and giving friend, an all-around great guy and lousy tennis player (lol–just a joke–hope you remember our matches at Aidenn Lair Park). My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Be strong and trust in the Lord…he will give you peace…always.
Your old friend,
Jeff Daniels