He fought hard....

Baby Chandler lost his hard fought battle a little after 11 last night. The infection in his tiny body was just too much for him to overcome. He struggled his whole life, but had made some progress up until last week.
The family needs prayer at this time. It has been a very emotional and physically draining situation.

Baby Chandler needs our prayers

Chandler Ferguson is critically sick. They needed to do surgery last night, but he was not stable enough. He has the intestinal problem that hits preemies, and it is not good. Please pray for him.

Is God There?

In the light of the past week, with the sad events that have made many of our blog community so sad- I thought this might be good reading.
I love you all.

Is God There?
May 5, 2004
by WAYNE JACKSON
When the hardships of life take their toll, sufferers may be tempted to question whether God is at all concerned. Yet the following truths reveal that the faithful child of God is ever in the mind and care of our loving Creator.
Emma was a sweet, four-and-one-half year old girl, the utter delight of her parents. Now, she is with the Lord. Emma was killed in a tragic automobile accident. Many grieving souls, with sincere faith, struggle with these sorts of tragedies.
Does God hear our pleas when we pray for the protection of our loved ones? Does he intervene providentially on behalf of his children? If so, why do these heartbreaking things happen? Why?!
Our souls agonize with those who are subjected to such horrors. How do we assist them? It is not easy, but here are some principles that may help.
Instead of trying to make sense of individual episodes of tragedy, we need to focus upon several fundamental truths.
It is absolutely paramount that we establish our confidence in the testimony of the Scriptures. Unless we are convinced that the Bible is true, and we can trust its message, there is nowhere to go for any meaningful resolution.
We must, therefore, immerse ourselves in the evidences that build faith in the integrity of the Word of God. This will be the foundation upon which all else rests. If we desert our faith, we have solved nothing. Rather than having a single problem, we then will have two; and infidelity is of far greater consequence.
Is the Creator sensitive to out prayers? Yes. Jesus himself depended upon prayer (cf. Lk. 22:44). He prayed that if God so willed, the “cup” of suffering might pass from him; but it did not. There was a higher purpose to be served (Heb. 5:8-9).
Though Christ taught that the Father lovingly listens to us (Jn. 15:7; cf. Jas. 5:16-18; 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jn. 5:14), that does not mean we will be immune to the common difficulties of life. Were that the case, no child of God would ever die!
We are citizens of a planet cursed by evil, and we, like all others, are heir to its hardships. Prayer will provide the Christian with comfort and the strength to endure, but it does not exempt us from trials.
Is it true that God is able to intervene in the lives of his people to bring about, in a providential (i.e., non-miraculous) fashion what is best for them? Yes.
If we could only see “behind the scenes,” we might understand that what is now perceived to be quite “bad,” from our limited vantage point, may turn out to be “good” in the final analysis.
That is why Joseph ultimately could say to his brothers, after much heartache, “And as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good . . .” (Gen. 50:20). The events of our lives must be measured in terms of eternity, not time.
Paul petitioned the Lord that he might he able to visit the saints in Rome (Rom. 1:9-10; cf. 15:30-32). God moved in mysterious ways to bring about the apostle’s request; it actually involved Paul spending four years as a prisoner (Acts 24:27; 28:30).
It is very clear that our Father can operate in our lives. But precisely when he is directing matters, we cannot know (cf. Philem. 15). God can intervene; but some things may “just happen.” We can only resolve to glorify the Lord – under any circumstance.
The Bible makes it clear that it is not possible for us to scrutinize the ways of our Maker and subject them to meaningful analysis. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!” (Rom. 11:33).
We are not qualified to be the Lord’s “counsellor” or to tender judgment upon what he is doing (vs. 34). This was a major lesson that Job, the patriarch of Uz, had to learn (cf. 42:1-3).
We are not the first to struggle with the mysteries of crushing blows in our lives. The early saints were similarly confronted with such hardships, and yet they maintained their faith.
During the reign of Herod Agrippa I, James, the brother of John was killed for the cause of Christ, and yet, Peter, on the same occasion was delivered from prison and spared the malicious intent of the ruler (Acts 12:1ff). Why? Surely the Jerusalem Christians puzzled over this matter.
Four companions in the gospel – Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke – arrive in the city of Philippi to do mission work. Two of them – Paul and Silas – are whipped and thrown into prison. The other two remain untouched. Who can explain it?
Why was it the case that Epaphroditus, Paul’s helper in Rome, who had become so desperately ill, was delivered from his illness (Phil. 2:25-27), while Paul himself, who was afflicted with some grievous “thorn in the flesh,” was informed that he must abide in that condition (2 Cor. 12:7-9)?
Why these seeming inequities? We do not know. But the New Testament writers record these events with no apology. We will never be able to “figure out” why some of us today appear to have it so well, while others are forced to endure agonies. We must simply have confidence that out Father is working a plan that he knows far better than we. We must wait for the clearer picture.
Based upon what we know of God’s goodness, as revealed in the Scriptures, we must conclude that whatever he does, or allows to happen, ultimately is “right” (Gen. 18:25). The life of faith is a life of trust. We are not promised exemptions from suffering; we are promised that whatever bad happens in our lives, through it all the Lord loves us supremely (Rom. 8:35ff).
Finally, whatever the difficulties and mysteries of this life, we can take hope in the fact that the trials we now endure are but a prelude to glory (Rom. 8:18ff). We will understand things much better in the “sweet bye-and-bye.”
But we are not there yet! We’re still in the hard here-and-now.

My #1 Son-in-law

My #1 son-in-law, the famous Paul Kelsey, has given my blog a much needed facelift. I am so excited- I have blinkies and everything!!!!! Paul, you did a great job. If you need a blog revival- see Paul as he may be going into the business. Just kidding, Paul. I know you don't need another job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blog Poem

I never kept a diary for more than a week,
To keep a journal I did not seek.
So what makes Blogging such a wonderful treat?
Perhaps it’s because it’s such an easy feat!

Oh that today I could look back on the past,
And see what I was doing when I was a mere las.
So for all of you Blogging parents in mass,
Be certain to save a paper copy of all that has passed!

For there will come a day and it won’t be long,
When you won’t be able to recount that child’s silly song.
But if to the paper Blog you can once again roam,
Then the memories will be relived in your present day home.

So, though the computer and blogging is today’s current art,
Remember that not too long ago we thought typewriters were a great start!
And, although you may not believe that I am this smart,
There will come a day when you will wish you had taken my warning to heart!

My List

Okay….here goes. Some of this is a wish list! By the way- there are only 50 things here.

1. I love my life.
2. I love God, and I am so thankful that He loves me.
3. I love David more than words can tell. He writes me the sweetest cards, because the ones in the store do not meet his approval.
4. I never intended to marry a preacher.
5. My children and grandchildren are my world. This includes my children-in-law. I can’t imagine life without a single one of them. I also have fears as to how I would handle anything bad that might happen to any of them. My mother also had these fears, stemmed by the fact that her sisters and brother lost children.
6. I love my whole family. While we might not be Norman Rockwell material, I think we do pretty well.
7. I need my sister, more than she probably knows.
8. I love my job. I never dread going to work, other than getting out of bed.
9. I am the “Principal’s Pet”, and have been for the tenure of 5 different administrations.
10. My life would not be complete without my daughter. She is special.
11. My “boys” are now men that would make any mother proud.
12. The day my mother died made me realize how important it is to tell those around you that you love them. She was special.
13. I like for my house to be organized, but it really isn’t. I have also learned that having a clean house is not everything in life.
14. I went back to school and received my Masters at 50. It was not easy.
15. I love teaching for the University of West Alabama. Dr. Snider is one of my favorite people, and he is my boss.
16. I love my swimming pool and cannot stand for the water not to be crystal clear with no leaves. I spend more time cleaning than swimming. No bugs, please!
17. I wish I could successfully loose weight and keep it off. This should really be like #4 on my list. I wish it were as simple as “want to”. I also hate that I have passed the ‘fat gene” along to others. Then again, someone passed it on to me!
18. I think there are 2 places in the world that are the most wonderful- 1. Indian Creek Youth Camp, and 2. Freed Hardeman University
19. I cry easily.
20. I will never live with any of my children- despite all of the nice things I have said about them. I should never say never, but let me tell you, I mean never if I have life and breath and can do otherwise.
21. My gray hair will not cover, despite the fact that the bottle says it will.
22. The day Addi was born was one of the happiest and scariest days of my life.
23. When Levi pats my back, I get tears in my eyes.
24. I love Hannah’s fang tooth. Her grin lights up a room.
25. I haven’t read a book in over a year. Pretty sad for a librarian.
26. I love to find a bargain.
27, I love to monogram with my new machine.
28. I miss having a “best girlfriend”- when Glenda moved to Georgia our relationship changed.
29. I like eating out- that is part of the problem with #17.
30. I do not like conflict. Sometimes I keep my mouth shut to keep things from escalating.
31. I wish people would do what they say they are going to do and not make excuses.
32. I wish I had more money so that I could help my kids out more.
33. I love being able to give more to the church now that I have a third job.
34. Sometimes I look for small imperfections in things, and then let it drive me crazy. For example, if I buy a new dress and it has a tiny little flaw, I will think that everyone sees it.
35. I don’t like water marks on my stainless sink. I have them, anyway.
36. I sometimes leave things in the refrigerator until it gives off fumes (seriously). When I clean out the frig, I vow to not do it again, but I do.
37, I wish I had insisted that my children take more responsibility in cleaning, and cooking.
38. I wish my mother and father could see my grandchildren. They would be so proud.
39. I am not as adaptable as people think I am.
40. I miss being alone at times.
41. I am not as kind as I need to be.
42. I love my dog, but I don’t understand people that think animals are like their children. None of my children ever dug a 4 foot hole under my steps!
43. If I could only eat at one place for the rest of my life, it would be the Fish Market.
44. I do not want to be buried. I want to be cremated, but David and Patsy are not too keen on that idea. Then again, maybe I will be here when the Lord comes and that will be a non-issue. I also want to be scattered at ICYC because it is my happy place. Just pour me off the point.
45. I think Blogging brings people closer. We all say things on our Blog that we would not say in public.
46. I need to be a better Bible student.
47. I am excited about baby Lila. I also miss Lila Mae so much. I never had anyone outside of my family that loved me like she did. She would be excited over baby Lila and have someone make her a quilt!
48. I am not going to make it to 100- so this will be 50 things!
49. When you start making a list, you realize that some things are not in the order that they should be.
50. I vowed I would never do one of these lists.

Please, Call me by name!

In February, when we attended the Freed Hardeman lectures, we attended church on Wednesday night at the Estes congregation. Tom Holland always speaks on Wednesday night, and it is always a treat. When they made their announcements, it was announced that one of the members had just been diagnosed with colon cancer. I could tell it was someone who was a faithful, active member, simply by the way the announcement was made. As we were exiting the building, there was a lady standing in the back. Everyone was crowded around her. She looked to be about 50 years old, and she was crying. I could tell by the conversation that I was hearing that she was the lady in the announcement. Everyone seemed so concerned. One man stated- “We are praying for you.” The lady kindly replied, “Thank you. Please, call me by name when you pray! I don’t need generic prayers right now.” In other words, she did not want to be clumped with all of the other sick- she wanted her name brought before the throne of God. She wanted God to know that people were praying specifically for her. I don’t know the lady, or her outcome, but I do know that she understood that prayer is powerful. Will you help me as we pray for this people- and call them by name?
Melody Ferguson
Chandler Ferguson
Denese Billitz
Phillip Hammock
Chad Vernon
Bayley Maddox
Teale Yielding and Baby
Betty Garrison
Wayne Courington
Virginia Barnes
Eva Gaither
Would you like to add others to this list?