February 14, 2011

Monday February 14, 2011 7:00am

Happy Valentines' Day...

Last night I read Mark 9 to Garren. Beginning in verse 14 we read the story about a boy with an unclean spirit. The boy's father had tried everything to help his boy get healed, to be freed from this spirit. He finally brought the boy to Jesus' disciples. Turns out they weren't able to do anything about the boy's problem.

Jesus enters the scene, and the man explains what is going on. As soon as the boy came into Jesus' presence, the spirit recognized Jesus and caused the boy to convulse and roll around on the ground. The dad pleaded with Jesus: "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!" Jesus replied "If I can? All things are possible for one who believes." The man replied "I believe; help my unbelief!"

I believe God can heal Garren. I believe that that He is all-powerful, that He is in complete control. I believe that. But there is always this little shadow of doubt lingering in the back of my thoughts. "What if he doesn't get better?" "What if things don't turn out the way I want?" "What if this doesn't go right?" I find myself battling between belief and unbelief. "Jesus, I believe; but help my unbelief!"

It is interesting to note the end of this story. After Jesus heals the boy, his disciples ask Him why they couldn't heal him. What had they done wrong? What were they missing? Jesus said to them "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."

As I mentioned last night. The doctors cannot heal Garren. Only God can. And only through prayer.

Thank you for praying with us.

17 comments:

andi said...

Oh Lord, please touch your son Garren and his family. Heal his brain and allow him a full recovery. Send peace and understanding to his family. Lord, you are the great physician and we know you are in charge of this situation and you and only you can insure Garrens health restoration. Be with the doctors Lord and give them the wisdom to do your will in repairing this little guys health. Let this accident and his recoperation be testimony to you. We know this can all be done in your name Lord, Amen
We are so sorry to hear what you are going thru. Its sort of what Bill suffered in 96 and the Lord saw fit to heal him. Praise God! We are praying for you all and will repost and ask all we know to pray for Garren and you all. Andi and Bill

Anonymous said...

Dear Garren, Happy Valentine's Day! I bet the girls are just waiting for you to return to school and wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and a Happy Birthday when you get there....know that we are praying for you every time you come to mind, or when reading the Bible, or watching TV...you just can't leave our hearts and minds ...Janes family, know that we are in the "waiting" mode with you, and will be until you tell us to stop...we thank God, with tears of joy, for the small steps, and for the amazing witness of faith in our God that you have all shown...love, Sandy & Russ

Anonymous said...

Dear Garren, Happy Valentine's Day! I bet the girls are just waiting for you to return to school and wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and a Happy Birthday when you get there....know that we are praying for you every time you come to mind, or when reading the Bible, or watching TV...you just can't leave our hearts and minds ...Janes family, know that we are in the "waiting" mode with you, and will be until you tell us to stop...we thank God, with tears of joy, for the small steps, and for the amazing witness of faith in our God that you have all shown...love, Sandy & Russ

Unknown said...

When your arms grow weary, we intercede for you. We are praying for a new surprise every day...a new movement, a cough, a finger moving. We pray for complete restoration of Garren for God's glory alone.

Mauri said...

praying expectantly!
Jeff, Mauri, & kids!

Kitty @ Four Toms and a Mom said...

Thank you, Pastor Geoffrey. That's so powerful. I'm so sorry you and Nancy and your girls have to suffer so much right now. The messages you pull out for us through this hour will serve us a lifetime. I think we all struggle between believing and the struggles with doubt. The prayers haven't ceased.

The Coverts said...

Praying without ceasing to the Lord our God who heals, comforts, protects, calms, disciples, cares, and loves us beyond our comprehension. May you feel His presence in this time of waiting and believing.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lord Jesus that You took our infirmities at the cross, so that we could be healed and live as you did here on earth, in Jesus we are healed, whole and complete. Please give Garren and his family true rest in You, may they feel your loving arms wrapped around them and may they experience your supernatural peace and understanding. Garren is healed by your stripes. Thank you for always making beauty from ashes. Lord you did not cause this to happen, but you are doing beautiful things through it. Praise Your Holy Name!
In Jesus' Wonderful Name. Amen.

Malone family said...

As the week begins, we are in continued prayer for strenght and healing. We rest in our God knowing that he is in control and we will wait.
Praying for you all.
The Malone's

our little love nest said...

We love you all! Our thoughts and prayers are with you constantly. I am holding onto these verses today:
"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
...The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm34:15, 17-18

Alison said...

I have been following your family's story and praying daily for Garren's recovery. Yesterday, I shared your story with my church family here in Wisconsin, and we gathered together to spend time in prayer for you and your family.

suzie said...

Praising with you for the small steps and knowing the Lord can heal him. I am continuing to pray often for your precious Garren.
With love and prayers, Suxie Pace

Anonymous said...

We pray today will be another one full of hope and baby steps for Garren. Remember to "hear" what the doctors say, but stay true to your belief and "listen" to your heart and what the Holy Spirit is telling you...most docs, though wonderful and much needed, only explain things from a scientific and/or medical standpoint...God is miraculous; He's not scientific and He can't be explained...He just is!

Your arms might be getting tired, but we hope with all of our hearts that you can feel how many people are continuing to hold them up.

IFTLH, IHL, TSF

Michelle Singleton said...

Thank you for the honesty in your blog. I, too, have struggled with belief versus unbelief in certain areas of life. Jesus knows this. There is comfort in that. He knows our hearts. He knows the depth of your love for Garren as his earthly father. He knows of our love for Garren and the whole Janes family. Jesus hears our prayers, sees our tears and is compassionately moved by our cries for His help.

Sometimes I've wondered how you and Nancy keep holding on. I asked a friend who was in a similar situation with her own son that question. Her reply was, "What else would I do? What else could I do? I just hold on ~ that is all I can do." Later, she told me that she was certain that the prayers of her family and friends carried her when her holding grip was weak and when she was overcome with unbelief.

Please know that we are here, for the duration, to pray for Garren's complete healing. We are also here to pray for you and Nancy as well as for Kara and Kelsey.

We acknowledge that God is in complete control and that we are completely dependent on Him for Garren's healing. There is peace in knowing that He is able!

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Eph. 3:20-21

We love you all...

Anonymous said...

Yes, and Amen ! ONLY GOD CAN ! We do what we can; the medical professinals do what they can then we stand believing, praying and waiting for God's perfect timing and plan to come to fruition. Nothing is too hard for our God. We're standing with you Geoffrey & Nancy . . we're holding your arms up . . rest in Him !
Chris & Rich Charpentier

Drew said...

Hey again!
Garren, you are in my prayers.
Like I said prior, School just isn't the same without you. There is a hole in our lives and we're waiting for you to fill it,
Drew

Chris Hogan said...

This area of scripture is one I have highlighted, underlined, and starred in my bible. This scripture I have continually gone back to over the years during Sean's long road of recovery from his brain injury. God does understand how we think, so well that he put this in His word for us. He says, "Anything is possible if we believe". That is what I go back to when the doubt creeps in.
Our family continues to pray and believe in God's healing and that anything is possible when we believe in Him.
Blessings, The Hogans