Sunday is Here!

Matthew 28 NIV

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

He is RISEN indeed! All Christians are commissioned to preach the Gospel and tell others of the Good News of Jesus and what He did on the cross for us. Are you active for our Lord is spreading the Gospel? I know I want to be active and I desire to tell others about Him. Let's spur each other on to do the work our Lord Jesus Christ has given us to do.

Blessings on the Resurrection Sunday.
<><

Sunday is Coming!!

Update on Easton:


Good Friday for Easton. He's down to 50% on his oxygen, his heart rate was in the 120s when I left and his O2 sats were 92. He's off antibiotics and they aren't finding anything new growing in cultures. The staff is encouraged by his numbers and there's even talk of moving him back to the other vent soon, depending on how he does in the next few days. Remember how easily he can fluctuate, and he is still extremely critical, I was told by his nurse tonight, so please keep holding him in the Light. 

God gave me this Word for Easton tonight:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus. --Philippians 1:6

I believe God began a GOOD WORK when He made Easton. I really mean that. He didn't ravage Easton's body with disease, but I believe He reveals Himself in Easton's spirit. I don't think Easton fights like he does on his own. And it's not just medicine, because he has been so many times already to the precipice, where it is just a question of will he hang on or won't he, and he doesn't let go. I'm expecting our God to perform, perfect, and complete the good work in Easton. And I think He's just getting started. 

Now I woke up out of a sound sleep tonight, and I could not return to it. This post is what followed. 

Be bold and be blessed. ---Aunt Sara

Sunday is coming!!! Please keep on praying for Easton, it sure does look like he is improving. Thank You Father!!

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.

<><

See His Love

Isaiah 53:10-12 NIV

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered,

he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

Caution: Video is graphic and not suitable for all viewers. 

John 19:16-37 NIV

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”


What an amazing love our God has for us. He loves us so much that He gave up His only Son so we can have life. Do you know Him? If you haven't made the commitment yet to Jesus, please email me and we can talk about this, about what is holding you back. Deciding to make Jesus your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make.

Blessed Good Friday.
<><

Jeremy Riddle

Prepare the Way of the LORD

Prepare ye the way of the Lord 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord 

Oh, the way of the Lord 

Make straight paths for His feet 

Clear a way in the streets 

Prepare your hearts to meet 

The One who is coming 

Every valley shall be raised 

The rough places become plains 

His salvation comes today 

To those who would receive Him 

What His words have foretold 

All together we'll behold 

Every knee bending low 

On the day of His coming 

Now is a time of urgency 

You must repent and believe 

For the day of reckoning 

Comes with His coming


Matthew 21:1-11 NIV

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosannab to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”c
“Hosannad in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Blessings in Christ Jesus!!
<><

Circle For Easton

Draw the circle for Easton.

Easton is still not doing well at all. Please continue to pray and pray for him. I noticed a Facebook page put up called Draw the Circle for Easton. It is a place for you to put a prayer or a Bible verse and draw a circle around it. Here is an explanation taken from the FB page.


About
God honors bold prayers, because bold prayers honor God. 

Join us as we boldly 'circle' God's promises for Baby Easton and believe for his full healing.
Description
“Drawing prayer circles around our prayers isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.” Do you ever sense that there’s far more to prayer, and to God’s vision for your life, than what you’re experiencing? It’s time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker—a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his prayers for his people.

If you attended or watched the prayer service for Easton you heard Pastor Sean talk about circling God's promises for Easton. We have already been getting emails from people who have drawn a circle at their home for Easton. Let's see how many circles we can draw across our entire community, and nation for Easton. 

Drawing the Circle is all about confessing God's promises in his word and refusing to stop circling until God answers. 

Will you Draw the Circle for Easton with us?

Here is the picture and verse I made for Easton.

Will you join in and support Easton? He is very weak and the doctors are doing all they can. Here is the latest update from cousin Amy.

♥ Morning update: Easton is still a bit swollen as you can see in the photo...but his oxygen is between 96-100 and his vent is down to 80...they are dropping it to 70 at 5 to see if he can tolerate it. This is all wonderful news and we pray he continues to improve - thank you ALL for the support and prayers ♥ ~ Cousin Amy

Praying and praying for you sweet Easton.
<><

Living in the Realm of the Spirit

Romans 8:5-8 NIV

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:9-11 NIV

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

I'm linking up with Barbie for The Weekend Brew. 

Please keep Easton in your prayers as he has a lot of fluid around his lungs that the doctors have been removing with a water pill. He is scheduled to have a tracheotomy on Monday, please keep him in your prayers. Thanks!!

Blessings,

<><

Update on Easton

Here is the latest update on Easton. Please keep on praying for him, it looks like he is just going to need lots and lots of prayer cover. Thanks!!

Update taken directly from Easton's Facebook page Support baby Easton Fridel.

♥ ok friends- got the OK from his parents to post an update ♥
Easton has had a fever since last night between 101-103. They have done another blood culture and nothing has grown at this point (so nothing indictating an infection) and he is getting Tylenol to keep his fever down. 
He had another bronchoscopy today which showed the positive air pressure of being intubated is allowing the bronchi in his lungs to stay open (thus allowing his CO2 to escape and keeping his level where they should be). 
We will be needing lots of prayers because he is scheduled for surgery on Monday for a tracheostomy and he will also be on a ventilator. After the surgery his mommy and daddy will go through lots of training and we will be in the hospital until that is complete and their nursing agency is able to find certified nurses for nursing care at home for Easton.
Thank you for your patience, they had lots of things to take into account and lots of decisions to make! Easton is one blessed boy to have those two looking after him and to have the support from all of you! I will keep you updated over the next several days! Thanks for your prayers ♥ ~ Cousin Amy

Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

Praying for you Easton!!
<><

Revelation Song

Revelation Song, Kari Jobe

Revelation 5:9-14 NIV

 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Resting in the assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy and He is coming again soon!

<><

She DIED!

Psalm 116:1-4 NIV

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“Lord, save me!”

CHICAGO — A 6-month-old girl who was shot multiple times as her father changed her diaper Monday afternoon has died, according to a spokesman for the family.
The Rev. Corey Brooks, who is serving as a family spokesman, told reporters Tuesday morning that Jonylah Watkins died overnight.
The baby had been rushed to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago Monday and was initially in serious-to-critical condition, police said.
Brooks said he received a call from Jonylah Watkins' family at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday telling him the girl had died. He said her father, who remains at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, has been notified of her death.

Read more here.

Please pray for the family during this very dark time. Pray for the Holy Spirit to minister to their souls, comfort them and for them to seek God.

Jesus, have mercy LORD, have mercy.

Psalm 22:24 NIV

For he has not despised or scorned

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

Psalm 56:8 NIV

Record my misery;

list my tears on your scrolld —

are they not in your record?

Praying!
<><

Prayer & Praise

Romans 8:26 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Prayer is needed for Easton and a 5 month old baby and father who were shot. Thanks!!

PRAYER

BABY AND FATHER SHOT! 

CHICAGO — A 5-month-old girl and her father were shot Monday afternoon as the man changed the baby's diaper in Woodlawn, authorities said.
The baby was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. Relatives gathered there identified the baby as Johnylah Watkins. She's the daughter of 25-year-old Jonathan Watkins and Judy Watkins, 21, who herself was shot several months ago while pregnant with Johnylah.
The baby was in serious-to-critical condition, police said. A University of Chicago official said Johnylah remained in surgery as of 4:30 p.m.
Jonathan Watkins was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police and family said, where he was in serious-to-critical condition. Police said he is a known member of the Gangster Disciples street gang.

Please click above link to read more, thanks!

Easton

Prayers please! Easton was rushed to the ER this evening when he passed out and lost consciousness twice, turned blue and seemed like he was hyperventilating. They are still waiting on blood cultures but right now he has rhinovirus&cronovirus. Xray was extremely cloudy so pneumonia is a definite. His blood gas level was 102+(intabation happens at 79+). Will keep you updated as I hear!!! Thanks for your prayers ♥ ~cousin Amy

PRAISE

Phoebe

Phoebe is on the upswing. Right after she received her platelets and blood transfusion yesterday, Nathan sent me a picture of her walking to the playroom! The difference in how she feels pre vs. post transfusions is really incredible. Blood is so important, and having the right amount of the right things in your blood makes you able to function properly. 

The best news is that her ANC (Advanced Neutraphil Count) is 30 today, which means that her immune system is revving up again and she could be headed home as early as tomorrow. It's wonderful to think this might be her last transfusion for a very long time, and that soon enough we can take her all around town and to church without worrying about her immune system! What a feeling that will be, to just be able to go places with our whole family intact. 

Eventually we will work towards weaning her off her ng tube, giving all of her meds orally, and teaching her that she has to drink despite her lack of thirst. We will also be setting up a set-caloric intake to help balance out her weight. There are still many challenges ahead, but having been through the last fourteen months, they seem minimal in comparison to chemotherapy and learning to swallow, breathe and walk again after sepsis. We can do it! She can do it! We have so much to be thankful for.

Here's to Phoebe coming home to stay!

~Amey

Thank you to all of you for intercessing for these sweet precious souls.

Blessings,
<><

Persistence in Prayer

Since that last post that I put up on George Mueller, I have been doing some reading and studying on prayer. I found, on Kindle, 6 free books by him and below is a small snippet from his Answers to Prayer book on how God provided for him and why God made him wait.

The funds are exhausted. The labourers, who had a little money, have given as long as they had any left. Now observe how the Lord helped us! A lady from the neighbourhood of London who brought a parcel with money from her daughter, arrived four or five days since in Bristol, and took lodgings next door to the Boys' Orphan-House. This afternoon she herself kindly brought me the money, amounting to £3 2s. 6d. We had been reduced so low as to be on the point of selling those things which could be spared; but this morning I had asked the Lord, if it might be, to prevent the necessity, of our doing so. That the money had been so near the Orphan-Houses for several days without being given, is a plain proof that it was from the beginning in the heart of God to help us; but because He delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to pray so long; also to try our faith, and to make the answer so much the sweeter. It is indeed a precious deliverance. I burst out into loud praises and thanks the first moment I was alone, after I had received the money. I met with my fellow-labourers again this evening for prayer and praise; their hearts were not a little cheered. This money was this evening divided, and will comfortably provide for all that will be needed to-morrow."

Müller, George (2012-05-12). Answers to Prayer From George Müller's Narratives (pp. 32-33).  . Kindle Edition.

Sometimes God makes us wait on Him for the answers to our prayers only for the reasons that He delights in the prayers of His children and He is trying your faith.

Proverbs 15:8 NIV

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

James 1:2-3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

1 Peter 1:7 NIV

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Brothers and sisters, just because Father hasn't answered your prayer right away that doesn't mean that He won't. There are reasons for this and one of the reasons may just be that He finds joy in hearing you pray and speaking to Him. Press in with prayer, make sure your heart is clean and your prayer is not selfish but according to His will.

I'm linking this post with Barbie at The Weekend Brew.

Blessings,

<><

Pray For Phoebe

Please be in prayer for Phoebe. She has finished her last set of chemo, had a blood transfusion yesterday and is now very sick with a fever. This does not look good folks, please pray. Below is taken from Phoebe's blog An Atypical Miracle.

Nathan and Phoebe are in the ER tonight waiting to be seen. Phoebe had not been feeling well this afternoon; lethargic and sleepy, and when she woke up after her nap around 4:30, she had a fever of 102.6.

Usually after Phoebe receives a blood transfusion she feels much better and things are uphill from there, so it’s a little scary for her to spike such a high fever with her counts bottomed out. Please keep both of them in your prayers tonight. Port access can be a little traumatic sometimes in the ER if she doesn’t get a nurse who is familiar with accessing. She still has a fever of 102.4 and is feeling really crummy.

We already know that she will be admitted because her counts are bottomed out and she has fever. I will update when we know more.

Thanks,  Amey

Revelation 3:20 NASB 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock;

if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Praying for you sweet girl

<><