Growing in grace continues. . .

Up close and personal. Last week I wrote about the young people ( Immanuel church from Nashville, and our own) and what a blessing to see the Lord using them and 'growing them in grace' as they served and shared with us how God is working in our lives. That was truly a blessing of grace then, but nothing compared to what my family was to experience last weekend with Brad, Sara, and Shelly's accident.
I was not able to be with you last Sunday because I had been in the ER and finally ICU at Baxter Regional with Brad there and Sara on the 3rd floor. I listened helplessly as the Dr said "I don't want to give you any false hopes, Brad is still in danger. The next several hours will tell. He could go either way." And the other doctor that had examined Sara looked at her and said "no you're not alright; you've had a heart attack." My head fell down against my arm on the rail of the gurney Brad was laying on and my heart cried "Lord, help".
This is not the first time I've been in this particular valley. Each time there is a very strong reoccurance of God's presence and assurance that He is there, and in control.
I got on our modernized 'grapevine' called facebook and posted simple 'help, need prayer' message. You heard it. Thank you.
It's been unbelievable how many calls, visits, notes, and all answering the cry for help. God moved people's hearts in a powerful way, just to say " I'm here, I've got this".
I'm trying to piece together the several facets of this story and will write it into a more coherent version later, but there is a lot more to this than just the surface of the accident. You see, our daughter was scheduled to go on a mission trip to Haiti to join her husband Robby at the time this happened. She was torn between staying here to help her mom, and brother, while at the same time listening to God call her heart to 'join Him' there. What a blessing to listen to her share her burden with me and then decide to 'join Him'. Again, growing in God's grace continues.
There are more than just these testimonies coming in. Some of you have shared things happening in your lives also that are making God's personal presence more real and blessed than ever.
It's starting to appear that the enemy does not want us to learn about this wonderful Lord Jesus we have to walk with us through our lives. He is more than just a nice Bible story character that we can teach our children about on Sunday morning. He is our "wonderful, counselor, mighty God, prince of peace" saviour, Christ Jesus the Lord. "Now unto Him who is able. . . ".

God bless all of you
Jack