Psalm 56:3-4

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Asking for some extra prayers.

Tuesday morning when Jerry woke up, he didn't have enough energy to hardly get out of bed. I had to help him. He was so shaky and weak. I called the doctor and they checked his blood counts. They had dropped really low. They admitted him to the hospital overnight (not our favorite place to be).

After platelets and blood transfusions, he is feeling some better. He still has no energy. He also sleeps a lot. He got to come home this morning.

It was scary yesterday, because we know that this is just the beginning and it's hard watching him go through what he calls "his process."

We're just trying to enjoy all the time that we do have.

We want to thank everyone so much for prayers, love, and support. We know that the prayers of God's people have got us this far and they'll carry us through the rest of the battle.

We love you!

Also, Jerry was so blessed and honored. Greenville Christian Academy dedicated the 2011-2012 Yearbook to him. It was such a wonderful surprise for him.

His Grace Is Sufficient

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength  is made perfect in weakness.

 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Our Pastor, Tim Butler, had asked Jerry to preach Sunday night. Jerry was so excited and a little afraid because he wasn't for sure how strong he would be. But we prayed all week that the Lord would give him the strength to be able to preach and share God's word even if it was just one more time.

I know I'm his wife, but I was so proud of him.

The title of his message was "What If God Says No."  Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want, but He does promise that His grace is sufficient to handle His will for our life. We rejoice in all His love, watch care, and tender mercies to us.

Family Time

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there. 

 ~Barbara Bush

So thankful for our family. I liked this quote by Barbara Bush, because when I read it I thought about our family. That's just what they have done. They have put their arms around us and have been there for us.

This weekend we had a wonderful visit from our son, Aaron, his wife, Jackie, and their four kids - Ethan, Emmas, Elena, and Evan.

It was such a great visit. Jerry just sit there smiling and watching the whirlwind of activity and enjoying all the loving from the grandkids. Monday, we both agreed it was too quiet.

Thankful for the Little Things

We had an appointment at the oncologist yesterday. Jerry received a blood transfusion which gave him a little energy.

Sometimes we are so amazed by the little things that God blesses us with. We always tell him thank you when He answers a huge prayer request, but we are so thankful for all the little things.

Yesterday was a day full of blessings. Our doctor gave us a five month supply of diabetes medicine samples and then the lab gave us a large supply of saline and hepra syringes to use for Jerry's Hickman line. It was such a blessing. God is so good to us through so many ways.

Every day we are thankful for the time that we spend together; and also, so thankful for every call or card from a friend or family member encouraging us. We just wanted to thank God for all His wonderful blessings and love to us.

Also, he  has been asked to preach at our church this Sunday night. We are asking that you pray that God will give him the strength, power, and liberty.

In 1973, the Lord called Jerry into the children's ministry. He started preaching to boys and girls and working in the Bus Ministry. Here are a couple of pictures of him preaching in Junior Church at Heritage Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana.

Treasures

A few years ago my husband built me a wooden chest for all my treasures. But it’s not just a little box that will hold a few trinkets. It’s a big chest about the size of a large trunk. The treasure it contains isn’t worth much money; but to me, it’s priceless.

My Treasure Chest

I have a chest that’s full of so much treasure,

And all its worth is beyond any measure.

For they’re more than gems, silver, or gold,

It’s a chest full of memories to all who behold.

There’s a box of love letters from youthful days,

A bouquet and dress worn on my wedding day.

There’s blankets used to wrap newborn babes,

Pictures by tiny hands that were all special made.

There’s notes and cards from friendships past,

Whose love and memory will always last.

To someone else they’re not worth much,

Just a pile of papers, awards, and such.

But oh to me they bring so much pleasure,

And it will always be my chest full of treasure.

-Patricia Rice

All the things in my treasure box are wonderful treasures that I will always cherish, but the greatest treasure that we have is our salvation and the assurance of knowing that we have eternal life and a home in heaven.

Isaiah 33:6

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

It’s been a good week full of blessings. Thank you for your love and prayers.

The Shadow of His Wings

Psalm 63:7

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

This is God's shadow of safety. It makes us rejoice.

This Psalm is about David who was banished to a barren land. During the storms he would see the birds as they would fly overhead. As he saw them lift their wings high, he would be reminded that he was safe in the shadow of God's wings.

We are rejoicing because we know that we are forever safe in the shadow of God's almighty wings, protected by His mercy and grace.

We love you and appreciate all the love and prayers.

A Gift From God

Today was such a special day. We went to the oncologist this morning and even though Jerry was scheduled to get blood and platelets at the hospital, he didn't need any today. That was so great. We didn't have to spend such a beautiful day inside the hospital.

Jerry also felt good today. The steroids have given his body a boost of energy.

So today was a special gift from God and we sure have enjoyed it. The trouble is we don't want it to end. It's one of those days that we wish could keep on going.  

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Friends

It has been so wonderful to be home. We're settled in again and getting into a good routine.

We are so blessed with family and friends. We have really enjoyed having visitors. We wanted people to know that you are welcome to come to visit us at any time.  We just ask that you call in case we have a doctor's appointment or we are at the hospital. Also we ask that you do not visit if you are contagiously ill.

We were so thankful to be able to go to church Easter Sunday morning. We are amazed at what God is doing in our lives and all the wonderful blessings that we have. It has been ten months since Jerry's diagnosis and Jesus has been with us through every minute. We praise His name for His love and goodness to us.

Easter Sunday 2012
At church
with Brylee, Hayden, and Kyla Rice

A few of our visitors -

Our Hearts Burned Within Us

One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of the two disciples on the Emmaus Road. It was one of the first Bible stories I taught around Easter to a Sunday School class of boys and girls.

It is in Luke 24 of the Bible.

The two disciples were walking along talking about all the events of the past few days. And they were sad. They talked about how Jesus was suppose to have risen from the grave and even certain of the women had seen the empty tomb. But they still could not believe all that they had heard. They still had doubts.

They talked about Jesus' crucifixion and how He had said He would rise again and be their Redeemer. And as they walked along, Jesus came near them and started walking along beside them. But they did not know that it was Jesus. It was almost like he was playing a trick on them so that they could not recognize Him.

Jesus asked them what they were talking about and why they were sad.

They couldn't believe He did not know about all the events that had happened. They said you must be a stranger in Jerusalem.

Jesus couldn't believe that they still doubted. Jesus said, "Did you not listen? Did you not read the prophecies in the Word of God. You even saw the miracles that Jesus did. Did you not read Isaiah and the Psalms?"

When they drew near to their village, Jesus acted like He was going to leave them and keep on walking. But, since it was getting late, the disciples asked Him to come and eat with them and rest awhile at their home.

When they sat down to eat and broke the bread and blessed it, Jesus vanished. Their eyes had been opened and they immediately knew that the man that had walked with them and talked with them had been Jesus.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

We are so much like those two disciples. We read the Bible and all the promises in it and how much Jesus loves us and shed His precious blood for us so that we could have everlasting life. And yet we still doubt His mercy and His grace.

The two disciples didn't realize it was Jesus until they prayed and had sweet fellowship with Him. When we let Jesus talk to us through His Word and through prayer our hearts can burn within us.

We are so thankful for the shed blood of Jesus and the resurrection.

We love you and wish everyone a Blessed Easter.

Matthew 28:6

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

A Good Day

Today was so great. Jerry's hives were so much better that we were able to go to church this morning. It had been such a long time.

 We were blessed by the preaching, singing, and fellowship with our church family.

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

I could tell Jerry was really tired when we got home, but we were so glad that we went.

Please be praying as we go to the oncologist tomorrow. Jerry is scheduled to go to the hospital tomorrow for blood and platelet transfusions. We are so grateful for the tender mercies of our Lord.