I speak for Mary and I when I say that we weren’t shocked by this new trial. Grieved, but not shocked. We should expect sufferings to multiply. Our entire christian experience is marked by suffering- some more severe than others – and our suffering is magnified by our knowledge of the glory that waits for us beyond this earth.
I’ve been struck many times over the past two weeks by Steve and Ian. Father and son. Two recipients of severe affliction. No one knows Ian’s sufferings now as well as his father. Steve now shares in the sufferings of his son.
We aren’t afraid of death, but we don’t want Steve to leave. Not yet. We believe that god could heal steve, and god could heal Ian. But he might not. There is no promise in the bible that he will or that he has to. And we have to be ok with that.
larissa
Vicki
September 3, 2009 at 3:26 am
So beautifully worded Larissa.
Thank you for your faith. Thank you for standing firm. Thank you for staying and persevering when you could choose an easier road.
My love and prayers are with you all. Standing with you in prayer and faith.
Sarah
September 3, 2009 at 3:32 am
Oh how my heart grieves for your family.
The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21)- your earthly trials point me to the joy to come. Even in the pain, it is our Father's kindness to force you to grip the truth that this world is not our home and that Christ is our treasure.
I will be rejoicing with you in heaven, when our Father "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
anonymous
September 3, 2009 at 4:25 am
I've been praying, thanking God for you all… for His mighty work shining forth in your lives… giving you strength, faith and hope. We are standing with you, asking our Father for healing!
Grateful for your example,
Rochelle Calvetti
Pgh.
anonymous
September 3, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Amen. I live with chronic pain while raising three teens. It has been several years of this particular suffering. The Lord is ever faithful.
God sustains us in our suffering. It is much of what this world is all about. The next world with the Lord is not about suffering. We will rejoice together in the presence of God and the angels. We will have our Lord, who is our reward.
I will see you there.
I have loved reading your story Larissa, and seeing Ian's progress, and understanding the strain of life in this family in this season. Praying for you and for all of the family.
In Christ,
Cynthia W
anonymous
September 3, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Yes, the only promise we have is that he will always be with us and that only good will follow if we follow Him. God does not deal with death, but life. We MUST remember the life of Jesus.
We grieve and pray with your family for healing.
God will bless
Minori Family
anonymous
September 3, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Yes.
Cynthia Haughery
anonymous
September 4, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Praying still…
Bernadine
ghartnett
September 5, 2009 at 2:21 am
God's most abundant and sufficient grace to you Steve. I love you, brother. Greg H.
Sandy
September 5, 2009 at 2:51 am
Again, in awe of the God whose face is reflected in your lives. I pray His Grace is sufficient, enough, complete, and all-encompassing for this present day.
babydoc
September 5, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Your entire family has taught me so much in my trial of losing both my parents in the space of 18 months, all before my 26th birthday. I'm so grateful for your honesty and for allowing me learn and grow from your walking through your own trials.
Your blog is my homepage, your family is never far from my thoughts/prayers.
anonymous
September 6, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Dear Murphy family,
I came across this in my "Daily Devotions" online from Spurgeon. It made me think of you. It made me think of your "example" right now in the midst of your trials and struggles….struggles that are almost too hard for us to bear. Yet, you are so inspiring and a testimony of your FAITH and TRUST in Jesus Christ, the Word of God and how you are still "glorifying Him" through it all! Thank you for your encouraging and challenging words!!
May He bless you all and keep you! I know HE will! Praying for all of you….
September 5, 2009
Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar.
— Psalm 120:5
As a Christian, you have to live in the middle of an ungodly world, and it is of little use for you to cry, "Woe to me." Jesus did not pray that you should be taken out of the world, and what He did not pray for, you need not desire. It is far better to meet the difficulty in the Lord's strength and by doing so to glorify Him. The enemy is always watching for inconsistency in your conduct; therefore be very holy. Remember that the eyes of all are on you, and that more is expected from you than from other men. Strive to give no occasion for blame. Let your goodness be the only fault they can discover in you. Like Daniel, compel them to say of you, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."
Seek to be useful as well as consistent. Perhaps you think, "If I were in a more favorable position I could serve the Lord's cause, but I cannot do any good where I am." The worse the people are among whom you live, the more they need your exertions; if they are crooked, all the more need for you to set them straight; and if they are perverse, they need you to turn their proud hearts to the truth. Where should the doctor spend his time if not among the sick? Where is honor to be won by the soldier but in the center of the battle? And when you are weary of the strife and sin that meets you on every hand, consider that all the saints have endured the same trial. They were not carried on couches to heaven, and you should not expect to travel more easily than they. They had to risk their lives on the battlefield, and you will not be crowned until you also have endured hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Therefore, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong!
1Daniel 6:5
anonymous
September 7, 2009 at 7:50 pm
God is touching the lives of many through your life journey. We continue to trust God and believe that " Things that are impossible with man are possible with God".
Sending more love and prayers.
Joel, Karen and Maryanne
anonymous
September 8, 2009 at 4:48 am
Praying for you all. So rightly worded Larissa.
Thank you for showing me Christ so much in you.
Sharun(India)
BecInNam
September 8, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I was again reminded of your quote from John Piper a while back stating that, "Joy in Christ is not the opposite of suffering." I was reminded of it because I dont think I've ever seen so much joy displayed despite so much suffering. Your joy alone is beautiful testimony that our God is REAL and very much alive and living on this earth!!! Your posts have always been encouraging to read …even in Africa…and repeatedly set my heart and prayers back on the proper perspective of this life. Thanks so much and my prayers are with you guys!!!
-Becca Mason
anonymous
September 12, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I am a recent reader of your blog, and I know you must have heard this a million times – God's glory is on mighty display by your persistent and faithful faith that looks to Him beyond your circumstances. Your reward in heaven will be very great.
anonymous
September 13, 2009 at 8:47 pm
How is Steve doing? I'm sure you all need time but I was just wondering how things are going? Will continue to lift Steve (and Ian) up in prayer. God is WITH you every step of this journey.
anonymous
September 14, 2009 at 10:16 pm
This is my heartfelt prayer for you today:
Vigor.
Newborn strength.
A heart sparked by hope.
God-endowed courage.
………………………………..
"I have prayed for ease because I was weary, but perhaps what I should pray for is vigor.
Not release from struggle, but a newborn strength that will help me to bear the wilds of this wondrous road.
Not escape, but a heart sparked by hope, a will empowered by supernatural courage.
Who can walk to the high and holy places of God? Those who rise on the strength of His own wings.
Who can traverse impossible ways with Him, as Abraham and David, Joshua and Jesus? Those who pray not for escape, but for zeal, for Spirits breath in their lungs, and Spirit fire kindling their hearts to endure.
We can run for the valley and God will still love us, but I decided last night that I dont want to. With David, I want to believe that:
God girds me with strength and makes my way blameless.
He makes my feet like hinds feet, and sets me on my high places.
He trains my hands for battle so that I can bend a bow of bronze.
His right hand upholds me. His gentleness makes me great.
He enlarges my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. ~ Psalm 18
Lord help me. 'Mountain life', here I come."
~ From Sarah Clarkson, August 04, 2009
My "Birth" story and calling to His ways,
'selected' & 'arranged' from original source: http://wholeheart.typepad.com/itakejoy/2009/08/happy-birth-day-to-me-1.html
………………………………..
warmly, HveHope
anonymous
September 15, 2009 at 10:03 am
Praying that God will continue to reveal himself to you daily and that you will continue to stand on your unwavering faith and trust in HIm.
peg
September 15, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Steve, Ian, Mary, Larissa, and all of you are being prayed for by many like me who haven't met you, but have heard of your testimony through this blog and through others. For instance, I learned that Steve discipled Dave Harvey. This is only one of many 'good works', but we respect and admire your family so much. We are praying for a miracle and pondering God's mysterious ways.
Whether in this life or the next, our aim is the same, to hear 'well done, good and faithful servants'. Thank you for your examples.
Peggy Buckley
anonymous
September 15, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Let us remember that the eye of our loving Savior is upon us, morning, noon and night. He will never suffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear. He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, for He suffered Himself being tempted.
He knows what battles and conflicts are, for He Himself was assaulted by the Prince of this world. Having such a High Priest, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
~ J.C. Ryle, [Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle, The Fight, 171, 172], "Our Compassionate Savior", posted: 15 Sep 2009, from J.C. Ryle Quotes
'selected' & 'arranged' from original source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JcRyleQuotes/~3/KGXJ4FLiBxo/