Almost a year and a half

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Larissa’s brother visited today and saw Ian for the first time in a year. He was really surprised! A year ago he was still in The Children’s Institute. Then, he wasn’t nearly as alert as he is now, and he had lots of physical/health issues (e.g. thrush, a bacteria in his eyes, etc.). He has come a long way in almost a year and a half.

Thank you for your prayers and your support….

Steve

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No new words, encouragements or updates tonight. Just trudging along through what seems like bucketfuls of sorrow. What else can I say, but that I don’t understand this at all. That’s the bare bones of suffering.

Thank you for praying

-Larissa

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I will sing of your mercy that leads me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy.

Trusting that someday those rivers will come
Thank you, always, for praying
Larissa

Fasting

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Tonight at dinner, Lydia prayed that God would “heal Ian’s booboo.”

On Wednesday, we’ll be fasting and praying that God would do just that.
-Ben

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He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.

This truth is where we should start. After we realize that we are (by human nature) in the domain of darkness, and that God provided us a way to come out of that darkness and know him, everything else is secondary. Knowing God is better than everything else, but sometimes it’s hard to see that. May God always let us keep him in mind!

Recently, Ian was able to move his wheelchair across the room by pushing his feet on the floor. This is a small sign of progress!

-Ben

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Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify your name through me

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The past few weeks in church we have been singing a song that has greatly affected me, and unfortunately I can’t even think of the tune or the lyrics right now! (So if anyone can help me out, please do) The last line in one of the verses speaks on God glorifying his name through our lives.

When we sang this song last week, I was struck again, as I have been many times through this, that his glory does not always come in the way that we would choose. On my own I would never chose this situation to reveal His glory. And in my own finite wisdom, I wouldn’t be able to see how much this would glorify Him. But God is so unlike us. He has become for us wisdom, He knows the result of this trial, and He planned it for His glory. I can’t see that now. But I’ve been thinking how declaring to God that we want Him to glorify himself through our lives is one of the most ultimate acts of humility and submission to him. To ask Him to glorify His name in us means giving Him all that we have, not knowing what He will do with it or how painful it will be, but trusting that it will bring Him glory.

This trial certainly doesn’t feel good. Everything in me is screaming 24/7 to let this be over. I hate that Ian has to suffer this way. Yet, this is how God willed to glorify Himself. I cannot question that. So I must continue the battle of finding even one place in my heart that wants to submit my life to Christ in this way.

Thank you, always, for praying

Larissa

Benefit Concert

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Pray For Ian Benefit Concert

Details:Date: Friday 2/29/08
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Sovereign Grace Church, Indiana PA (http://www.sgcindianapa.org/)
Band: Willis (www.myspace.com/willistheband)
Purpose: http://www.prayforian.com/

For those who are coming, it will be a chance for us to get together and have a good time, support the Murphy family, andmost significantly – have a chance to pray together for Ian.The money raised by the concert will go toward buying a portable ramp so that Ian can go more places. Also, the Murphys are looking to buy some new equipment that will help Ian with his physical and occupational therapy.

For those who cannot attend but would still like to make a donation, checks can be written out to Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana Pa1220 Wayne Ave.Indiana, Pa. 15701Memo: Pray for Ian Fund

-Phil (From Willis)

Flu Again

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I’m ready for winter to be over. Ian was sick again in the middle of the night last night. But, once again God has given him much mercy and is allowing him to sleep through any discomfort. Hopefully he’ll recover from this bout more quickly.

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Ian’s therapists were very happy with his work with them today. He was working really hard to respond to their commands and do what they were asking him to do. He seems to be fully recovered from his battle with the stomach flu which is great.

I’ve been very encouraged lately to continue to pray for Ian to be able to speak. He has communicated to me several times that he wants to be able to speak to us. That’s what motivates me the most. Ian knows that he can’t talk but he knows that he wants to. God needs to give him the strength and knowledge to be able to ever speak to us again. I know that God is big enough to give him that strength if it’s His will.
It seems to me that communication is all that we need. I could care less if the man I marry is in a wheelchair. We just need to be able to talk to each other so that we can move forward with our lives, like everyone else is doing.
Join us in fasting on Wednesday. I’ll be praying specifically for Ian’s communication.

Thank you always,

Larissa