Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wings

Hi...

Still hard with a broken right wrist so I'll write big, haha! I spoke the other sunday about mounting up with wings as eagles. I tried to point out that it was not "..mounting up on eagles.."! They can't fly with you on their back!

It doesn't say that we are scooped up by eagles, but that WE are to do the "mounting up" on our spiritual wings just as eagles do. They don't constanly flap their wings and struggle to stay in the air but they glide off mountain tops or out of their aerie (nest), and catch the air currents. If they need to go higher, they just find a thermal and ride it up by circling within the thermal (hot air updraft).

God wants us to stop "flapping and struggling" to stay in the spiritual "air" and learn the "currents" and "thermals" 0f His spirit. Above every storm there is a cloudless sky! The sun is bright and the view is beautiful. I know of many people who have been in such terrible storms and did not know how to "read the wind" to rise above it.

Jesus knew how, and He said to us all, "Come unto me all you who are laboring and are under a heavy load. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me because I am meek and humble and I know the currents!" (My addition).

To hear this message live, go to www.touchedbyhislove.org and click on "media" and look for Dec 14th message.

jack

Friday, December 19, 2008

More on tiffany

I am still struggling with this broken wrst/arm so I will keep this short. I will pick up better after Christmas!

Here is an update on Tiffany I got from LA yesterday:

Hi bro..Yesterday revealed two things, small improvement in that Tiffany's nerves when subjected to electric shock displayed movement in the legs. That would indicate that the legs are alive and not destroyed. The second thing we saw was the obvious disappointment in Tiffany at how far she has to go on this journey. At one point she said, "just think what I was doing a week ago". She has been flat on her back a week today and the pain seems to be increasing as the pain meds are decreased. She is miserable in the bed because she can change positions very little. The care in the hospital is very good and attentive. Tiff is surrounded every day with many friends here who are from all over the world. 80% of those living in Dubai are from other countries. They, along with her company, have flooded her with gifts and flowers. Teresa spent the night with her last night and I'm having breakfast and getting ready to go to the hospital. She has a very nice room. The insurance company balked at first and said they wouldn't pay and the owner of her company, a very powerful man, called and said, "if you ever want to do business in Dubai, take care of this young woman". We now have a suite with leather coaches and two t.v.s. I am struggling with trying to navigate the normal frustrations of trying to do the daily tasks in a foreign culture. For example I spent all day yesterday just getting money from her atm and picking up her car from the shop. God sent me two angels, after he let me sweat and steam. One was an Indian who volunteered to take me to the bank. He stayed with me, helped me buy a prepaid phone card for my local phone and brought me home again...no charge!

The next angel was a Taxi driver from Peking. We spent a couple of hours together trying to find her Jeep. He took me everywhere and waited patiently as I sorted out each challenge. Yes, I gave him a good tip! There's a summary of our present situation. We love all of you and sense and see the effects of your prayers daily. I have traveled all over the world preaching for 30 years but things are different when you are trying to wrestle for the life and health of your child. Thus, much of my frustration. I'm not handling it very well but I am pressing toward the mark. One thing you can pray for, in addition to her healing is the right place for her long term rehab. Her company insurance will not pay for rehab in the USA. At first we were told possibly England or maybe France. Now thay are saying possibly India! That's a little scary to me. We can't afford to walk away from here insurance and bring her home so we are investigating every possible option. Please cover this in prayer. Bless all of you, Teresa and I truly pray that you and your family will have a joy-filled Christmas. We were excited that our son Shane will be joining us here for a Middle Eastern Christmas!

Much Love and Appreciation!
L.A. And Teresa

Monday, December 15, 2008

LA's daughtger

I haven't been really able to type with this broken wrist, but I will get better next week. I am so slow I get tired of waiting for myself to get the typing done..

I did want to tell you all that L.A.'s daughter Tiffany, who lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (sp ?) fell from her second floor balcony last week and messed her spine up. I will paste the laatest news at the end of this... PLEASE pray for her. LA & Teresa immediately flew over there and are having to stay for an extended time through surgery, some rehab, etc. Long way from Georgia!!!

Here is the latest! Remember it is Arab time...

Subject: Update on Tiffany
It is Monday at 3:30 p.m. as I write this. It has been a pretty hard this morning. After a 6 1/2 hour surgical proceedure yesterday, there are questions about the extent of the damage from the spinal injury. It has definitely affected her legs and feet and possibly bowel and bladder function. I only share that for prayer. Tiff had a difficult morning with it all. I think reality of the situation is setting in and the long recovery process that appears to involve extended rehab. The surgeon showed us xrays of the before and after views. He put in large screws and plates to expand the crushed area in the spine. This will, as he said, allow the healing to occur. He would not give me a time frame on the hospital stay except to say, for some time. He did tell me that his goal was to get her up and sitting. Then, he said, there is not adequate rehab here in the UAE. That raises a lot of questions. Does that mean our taking her back to the US? Insurance coverage? Many things are in question. However, we will trust the Lord and take it one step at a time. It appears that we will be here for some time and will learn more as healing occurs and we can learn the extend of the damage.
Thank you for your love and concern.
Blessings,
LAJ

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Wrist break

Well, we were working at the church this week, doing some needed repairs and remodeling as well as the Christmas decorations. Everything is so beautiful (except for the stuff we haven't done yet). Thanks to the wonderful people who pitched in to get it done

We are putting a new playground in on the east side of the church, half for the nursery age and the other half for the 3-6 year olds. It is just outside the fellowship hall and the nursery so that we can watch them play and look after them.

In the process of all these projects, I managed to fall under the portico and break my wrist. It had to be my right wrist too! I will have to make short work of this blog due to the difficulty typing. I will write before Christmas but I just wanted to tell everyone Merry Christmas and bless your aproaching year. Make it the best ever!

jack

Monday, December 1, 2008

It's coming!

Well, Christmas is coming and I am concerned (once again), that even the believers will commercialize it! It is not, I repeat, NOT a time for wish lists nor for thinking about what all you are going to get for Christmas, it is all about what you have already gotten!
I realize that December 25th is not neccessarily Jesus's birthday, but for the life of me I can't find anyone that knows when it is!!! So... realizing that the first thanksgiving wasn't on thursday, and there is no specific day of the month when Jesus arose from the tomb, and other such unknowns exist, I will be, (a)- grateful on whatever day, (b)- celebrate His tomb exit, and (c)- His birthday on whatever day my brothers and sisters in Him are doing it! It's a "family thing"!
We have better things to do than argue about this. Let's be one in the Spirit and be grateful that we have such a marvellous thing to celebrate and to be grateful for! And don't write me your contrary opinions about this, I'm set in my ways! However, if you want to be right, then agree with me!! (lol)
Teach your children that it is a time for giving and receiving! If you have plenty, share with the less fortunate. If you give to the poor, you are lending to the Lord! (Prov 19:17 and He pays good interest!) "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his position shall be exalted with honour." (Psalms 112:9)
I will give some things to my grandkids for Christmas because I love them, but I do this all year long! Just a note, we have a few families we get every year from the Red Cross that have a specific need and the church buys the stuff but we let families (with kids in tow), take them to the people who need them. Try it! You and your kids need it!
jack