Irene, Dave, Jocelyn, and JoAnna:

Over the past couple of days, when I think of you folks, the lyrics of a song have been coming to mind, and I thought you might like to read them:

Other Side Of This Trial

I stand at a river,
I must reach the other side.
Don’t know how I’ll get there,
the river’s cold and deep and wide.

So strong is the current,
I’d be surely swept away.
Stronger though is my Father’s hand,
and He will make a way.

This trial is that river,
but I’ve been here before.
I’ve learned from the last time,
that I’ll reach the other shore.

On the other side of this trial I’ll be a better man.
I will know the sweet deliverance of my Father’s mighty hand.
I will have another battle won upon which I can stand.
I’ll grow closer to my Savior as I trust His masterful hand.
I’ll know Him better, I will be better, I’ll be a better man.

I cry with my whole heart,
“My God what have I done
To deserve what I’m going through?”
He said, “It’s just that you’re My son.

“I’m doing a work in you,
building patience in My child.
You’ll find on the other side
that it’s all been worthwhile.

So hold on to My promises
as you watch My will unfold.
You’ll see that this trial
was under My control.

On the other side of this trial I’ll be a better man.
I will know the sweet deliverance of my Father’s mighty hand.
I will have another battle won upon which I can stand.
I’ll grow closer to my Savior as I trust His masterful hand.
I’ll know Him better, I will be better, I’ll be a better man.

I’m not talking about the sweet by and by.
But in this here and now, He’ll deliver me somehow.

Cause on the other side of this trial I’ll be a better man.
I will know the sweet deliverance of my Father’s mighty hand.
I will have another battle won upon which I can stand.
I’ll grow closer to my Savior as I trust His masterful hand.
I’ll know Him better, I will be better, I’ll be a better man.

I’ll be a better man

The Johnson family is praying for you all.

Frank, Bobbetta, and Emily

11 a.m…

Greetings everyone…

Irene is staying the course despite significant obstacles… thanks for your continued support… last night was another long one…

Appreciating your encouragement,
Dave

I am so grateful for your encouragement. I needed it tonight to remind me that, ultimately, God loves us. His love is great and mighty. His love endures forever. Nothing can separate us from His love.

When I was little, my mom and I would listen to (and, of course, sing along with) a children’s tape by the Gaither’s all the time. There was a particular song on it that I was reminded of as I read your well wishes.

It goes like this:

“They’re all above me, beneath me, before me;
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me everywhere.

I could never stray so far
my Father would lose track of where I am.
Angels walk beside me,
holding tightly to my hand.

They’re all above me, beneath me, before me.
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me everywhere.

Even when the night’s so dark
I just can’t see a thing in front of me.
I don’t need to worry;
they can see.
They see me!

They’re all above me, beneath me, before me.
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me.”

As we trust in Jesus, we know that He has commanded His angels concerning each one of us to guard us in all our ways - especially my mom (Psalm 91:11). We trust in His heart. As most (if not all of you) know, music is very important to me (thus all the lyrics ;o) ), I was just reminded of another song that my mom used to listen to all the time growing up, and it has helped me a lot this year. It goes like this:
“All things work for our good, though sometimes we don’t see how they could. Struggles that break our hearts in two; sometimes blinded to the truth. Our Father knows what’s best for us - His ways are not our own. So when your pathway grows dim and you just don’t see Him, remember you’re never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand; when you can’t see His plan; when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the master plan, and He holds our future in His hand, so don’t live as those who have no hope for our hope is found in Him. We see the present clearly, but He sees the first and the last; and like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me to someday be just like him.

He alone is faithful and true. He alone knows what is best for you.”

We keep trusting… keep believing… He is a Healer… We ask that, in Jesus’ name, He demonstrate that mightily.

But, ultimately, His heart is pure, and we trust His heart.

Irene and Dave,

I have read and reread the entry for June 8 in Walk Through the Bible’s INDEED magazine and have thought of and prayed for you.

“With God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)  “Our Bible is full of impossible situations.  A nation camped at the edge of a sea with a hostile army behind them.  An inexperienced band of fighters faced an impenetrable, walled city.  A shepherd boy stood before an armed and angry giant.  A worshiper faced a lion’s den.  ‘Dry bones’ rotted in a valley.  And our only hope of salvation lay in a sealed tomb.”  And now a cruel disease called Amyloid.  God replies, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) With countless others we lift you before our Father’s throne.  We love you.

Paul & Jacque

Irene and Dave,

I have been reading updates and praying for you, Irene.  You, too, Dave, as I know this is incredibly “painful” and exhausting for you too.  You are so fragile, Irene, and yet you are so loved and cared for by your friends, family, doctors, nurses, Dave, your daughters and of course, our Living Lord!  We are all pleading for your healing.  I hope you had a better night and that you remain strong in spirit. 

Dave, let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do!!

Cheryl

Irene and Dave,

We think of you daily and ask God to comfort you with His love, and walk through this valley ahead of you, above you, behind you, underneath you, ... with you.  You do abide in Him.  We bless you.

Love,

Ken and Shirley and the children

Dear Irene,

Our prayers are with you.  We are reminded of how faithful our Heavenly father is.  He loves us every minute of every day.  We plead the blood of our Saviour Jesus over your health and stand on God’s Word in Matthew 19:26 that “With God, all things are possible.”

We love you and Dave dearly and will continue to stand in the gap on your behalf!

Your friends in Christ,
Steve and Jana Ratliff

Oh Dias Family -

My heart is full of love for you all. I wish there was a way of holding each one of you. I know the this dark valley and it is so hard to see you waiting on God while Irene suffers in this trial. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers all day long. What a warrior Irene is and what a battle that is being fought. We just all have to remember that God loves her, even more than we do, and He has not left any of you to battle alone - He is there with you - even when fear grips you so tightly; when you can’t feel His presence; when you think you can bare no more. He will give you the strength and He will carry you through this. You must hold on and Trust Him.

I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant”;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
I will strenghten you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-10

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; and the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaah 43:1-2

Love - Betty and Dick Fairhurst

I was reading through John and this section of verse made me think of you

“Now when evening came, His Disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat and went over the sea toward Capernaum. It was already dark and Jesus had not come down to them. Then the sea rose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” John 6:16-20.

As you both have lived a life honoring The Lord,  as you are trusting in him daily, even in the most violent storm, he will most certainly guide your boat back to shore…..

Our prayers are with you for daily sustenance and for Irene’s ultimate recovery!!

In Him,

Taylor and Karen Thorne

Dear, dear Irene,

I came across this poem again today and thought of you all….

Hope is my heart’s sacred courage
Hope is my life’s daring experience
Hope is my soul’s illumining success
Hope is my Lord’s ascending perfection

You’re in our thoughts, prayers, hopes and hearts.

Fondly,
Cynthia, Joshua & Cath

Irene and Family,

I just wanted to let you all know that you are in my prayers.  I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through.  As I have browsed through this website, I can definitely see that God is at work.  He is your strength Irene!  The thing I most remember about you throughout the years is your radiant smile.  It is like a hug from God.  You truly shine His light, and you continue to do that each day, even now.  I pray that His grace would be sufficient for you today.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.  Isaiah 54:10

Emily

Dear Irene & Dave,
How thankful for the internet to be able to be close to you during this journey.  As you know, we are in NC and you can imagine the level of activity.
Nevertheless, YOU are on our hearts and in our minds as we constantly cry out desparate prayers on your behalf.
Ashley is here by my side and wanted me to tell you that she is also praying for you.
Love from us all,  Phyllis

9 a.m…

I sat down to do an update last night and couldn’t find the words… Irene is certainly in a deep valley… I have struggled with sharing the enormous challenges she is facing each day and yet preserving her dignity through this trial…

As you’ll recall from an earlier update, last week Irene said that she felt like she was “gliding on the prayers of others”... as I was bedside with her @ 2 a.m. last night, the imagery that came to mind related to that comment was that of the Grand Canyon… now that is certainly a deep valley!

I pictured Irene riding a “prayer raft” on the white water of the Colorado River as it winds through the Grand Canyon.  She was literally “gliding on the prayers of others”.  However, Irene was not alone on the raft.  I saw what looked like the image of a man, perhaps Jesus himself, on the raft, directing it on it’s course through the treacherous white waters…  Your prayers are the “raft” carrying Irene during this time…

I’ve also been thinking alot about ultimate life purpose and focus…even more than before!!!!  Psalm 39:4-13 certainly comes to mind…

4 “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;
    let me know how fleeting is my life.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
    Each man’s life is but a breath.
   
6 Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
    He bustles about, but only in vain;
    he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;
    do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
    for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
    you consume their wealth like a moth—
    each man is but a breath.
   
12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
    listen to my cry for help;
    be not deaf to my weeping.
    For I dwell with you as an alien,
    a stranger, as all my fathers were.

13 Look away from me, that I may rejoice again
    before I depart and am no more.”

All of us want our lives to matter…to count for something that is beyond our lifetime and significant…because life is so short…

Thanks for encouraging us on this journey…

Pushing on,
Dave

Sending a Texas sized helping of love to you, Irene and Dave, and continual prayers for you both.

Martha has a special evening planned for Marsha tonight…an early birthday celebration.  I am sure this week’s Tarr Pit will have a report on it.

Psalm 121

Kent

Hey there! I’m sitting at my computer reading about you as I do every morning. You are in our prayers so much and I think about you constantly during the day. I know the power of prayer and what God’s healing touch can do. Price and I prayed heavily for our niece, Amelia, 10 years ago as she had a recurring cancer and had a bone marrow transplant. These are the days where God carries not only you and your family, but all of your friends as well who are praying for you. I am so thankful that He is there always and never leaves us.
We know how critical this time is and we are praying for wisdom with your doctors and guidance in their decisions for your needs.
We love you all lots and can’t wait to see you either in California or in Georgia.
Love from both of us,
Price and Nancy.
P.S. Amelia is 14 and beautiful and absolutely LOVES the Lord with all her heart! He is truly an amazing God!