Miracles and God's Will

My stress level skyrocketed this week when on Monday parents and cadets were told that without enough students enrolled, the Air Force was planning the shut down the JROTC program at our high school. My son specifically chose this school because of this program and the news is devastating. We scrambled all week trying to find ways to save the program. We contacted the school board, legislative leaders and the local media. On Friday we were told that the school would give us one week to recruit enough students to get 100+ in the program. As of last week, our number was 73.

I think about my son and how much time and effort he has poured into his first year in JROTC. It's been astounding to see the changes and growth in him, so much that other people have commented about it. I want the program to continue for him and to see other students experience the positive influences, especially when they are so often surrounded by the negativity that the world seems to offer. 

The cadets are planning a trip to the middle school to try to get more incoming freshmen interested, while the booster club is creating a letter to send to the high school parents telling them about the benefits of the program. It feels like we need a miracle to keep the AF JROTC program alive. Fortunately, I believe in miracles.

Today we celebrate the greatest miracle ever witnessed - the resurrection of Jesus Christ! 

Matthew 28:6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Since God raised Jesus from the dead and offers us eternal life, He has more than enough power to add the necessary students to keep this program alive. If it is His will, it will happen. If not, I'll know that I did all I could to help and He has chosen for us to go in another direction.

3/14-17

As a math geek I always post something about Pi Day on my Facebook page. You remember Pi, that constant you used when figuring out the area of a circle. Anyway, Pi is often approximated as 3.14 and acknowledged on 3/14. For those fans of Julius Caesar, there is 'Beware the Ides of March' which is recognized as 3/15. Then there's St. Patrick's Day on 3/17 when we wear green, pretend to be Irish and completely forget about what St. Patrick actually did for the church. But I digress.

I told my son we had March 14th, 15th and 17th, but needed something for the 16th. He said, "How about John 3:16?" Yes! 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I was very pleased and thankful that it was the first thing that came to his mind. However, before you think that my son has it all together, shortly after that epiphany he told me he had a test the next day over a 400 page book that he neglected to read. I just sighed and wished him the best. 

Broken

On Wednesday, my mom and dad were gathering limbs and brush in their yard. Unfortunately mom tripped and landed hard on her wrist. Dad took her to the emergency room and we soon heard it was broken. One wrist bone was broken and one was splintered.  A temporary cast was put on, then a new one the next day.

Psalm 6:2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

It's been interesting to see how my prayers for this situation have changed each day. At first, I was praying that the pain she was experiencing would cease and that it wasn't really broken. Then I was praying that the splintered bone would fuse back so that no surgery would be needed. Next I was praying for quick healing. Now I'm asking myself why I haven't prayed for instantaneous healing, so that when they X-ray it next Thursday there would be no need for another cast.

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Lord, help my unbelief.

Her Dream Came True

I've spent months reading the blog of a country singer who was able to show the world what faith in Jesus can do. ThisLifeILive.com is written by Rory Feeks. He and his wife made up the country duo Joey+Rory. I had heard of them many years ago when my Dad and Mom attended one of their small Saturday night concerts in a renovated barn on their own farm outside of Nashville. I knew they had a baby girl two years ago, then I heard that Joey was diagnosed with stage-4 cervical cancer. Treatments went well the first year, but the prognosis turned grim last summer. That's when I started ready Rory's blog.

Rory recorded their story, full of hope, love, sadness, courage and most importantly faith. Joey turned 40 years old and was not expected to live past Thanksgiving. She made the most of her time by spending it with her friends and family, by teaching her baby sign language, by planting seeds that would be ready for the garden this spring, and by recording music and stories for her daughter to listen to as she grew. She made it to Christmas, New Year's and Valentine's Day. She watched the Grammy Awards where she and her husband had been nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. She was there for her daughter's 2nd birthday. Then she was gone.

Joey died on Friday, March 4th. Her husband wrote, "My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven.The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her Savior."

Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.