8/31/05

We were proudly liscenced last night at 9:45pm in Tyler, Tx. We just got a call that a little boy 1.5 years old needs a place to stay for 2 weeks to 1 month. "Emergency Respite" they call it. His regular foster mom wants to adopt him but has to move first. Thats really all I know. The REALLY interesting part is that we head to WI next weekend for Faith's dad's knee surgery for 5 days (thats a 16 hour drive for those of you playing along at home).
Pray God's hand stays upon us and the kid. We pick him up in Quitman tonight at 7pm.

8/10/05

Well I just got news that Alex is having to move his whole family in with his Brother in Laws. He DID NOT want to do this but it was basically down to this or under the bridge. Still no work. He looks and has been at the point of doing anything for money for awhile. Any whooh I am writing this down to remind myself of how God teaches us about Grace. I was typing at him today telling him I was sorry and stuff when he quoted a verse to me: Matthew 19:27-29 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Ok after I looked it up it was 3 verses. Anyway he said he was praising God for his trial and hoped to prove to be faithful.
Amazing.
On a day I was just feeling sorry for myself a little.

8/9/05

Ever have a friend that didnt like you? Yeah it can happen. There is such a guy I like. I think he is a good man. He seems to have nothing but contempt for me. But for some unknown reason the more I pray for him the more God endears me to him. Lately he seems to be increasingly bitter. Not just towards me but to some of my other friends as well. I am not saying this as a judgement, no its more of a concern. He made a statement just the other day that bothers me. He said, "If they only knew the present evil within me". Now alone it sounds like a threat but I dont think he would hurt anyone. And he has never threatened anyone that I know of. Also this statement was not directed at anyone but more to himself. You can begin to see my concern. I wonder if he is fighting some demon. But here is the reason for saying all this... I can't do anything. Normally if it were one of my other friends of course I would offer some encouragement and might throw in Proverbs 16:6 "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." But offering scripture to this friend is taken as "Preaching at him" and that is not what he needs. Yet I am afraid I have offended him so much without meaning to that nothing I can say could be an encouragement.
Maybe it is on purpose and part of God's plan that all I can do is pray for him.

Father it is in Christ's name I come to you, our example of Love and atonement for hatred. I pray, God, that you will bless my friend. With truth, with a fear of you that will free him from evil, with blessings that only you can offer and that I can not know. Bless him with peace, fill his every need Father that he may claim you as in him and not evil. Bless him with knowledge that You are the sole giver of, understanding that You lead us into, and wisdom again that comes with the fear of You.
I praise you Father for the Christ's sacrifice for His example of Love and His laying down of his own life so that none of us need every die. That we can freely come to You in His name. Help me Father to understand how I can help my friend and how I can reconcile with him.
Your Child,
Brad