Circumstances change; God does not

This morning I received an email from our darling friend Vicki who was at the hospital with her parents. Yesterday at church, her father fell backwards down six stairs and now has a serious brain injury and is on a ventilator. He hasn’t regained consciousness since the accident and Vicki is helping her mom, also heartbroken, to cope. Obviously, Vicki will not be with us this Wednesday, July 11, for Bible study.

I am praying for Vicki and her parents.  I know you will, too.

In discussing God's immutability, AW Tozer said, "In coming to Him at any time we need not wonder whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood. He is always receptive to misery and need" and "today, this moment, He feels toward his creatures, toward babies, toward the sick, the fallen, and the sinful, exactly as He did when he sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for mankind" (Knowledge of the Holy). And so, we continue to lift up the needs of the Porters to our God who receives our prayer with compassion and love.  

And knowing without a doubt that all of you ladies attending wouldn’t want Gana or Donna or me to sing – we don’t call ourselves the Babblelettes for nothing! -- I called Janis Brening who will be singing for us next week, and she graciously agreed to sing for us along with her two daughters, Hannah and Leah, as well! When I told her we were studying the woman with the issue of blood, the woman Jesus stopped to heal while he was on his way to heal Jairus’s 12-year-old daughter, Janis told me that 12-year-old Hannah was playing charades the other day and that story was the one she acted out. Ah. I mean, awe.

We hear you, Lord. We stand in awe. We didn’t know this would happen, but you’ve got our backs. All our backs. Vicki's, her dad's, her mom's. All of us. Amen.

Please join us in praying for sweet Vicki and her dad and mom. And please continue to pray that God be glorified through this study and through the Brening’s beautiful music.

Circumstances change; God, however, does not.

___________________________________________________________

Manna of God is pleased to announce that Janis Brening and her daughters, Hannah and Leah, will open our first summer Bible study session with beautiful music testifying to their love of Christ.

Janis and her husband Ron have been in the ministry for over 25 years, and Janis is currently a stay-at-home mom who home schools her youngest daughter.  Besides singing on a Worship Team at her church, she is also part of the Mathis Trio who will sing for us during the last session of Bible study on July 25.

“There is nothing greater than sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in song,” Janis says.

And how happy we are that she is coming to share with us!  

Update on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 5:02PM by Becky Bader

Text from Vicki with an awesome update on her dad: 

"Can't believe it - dr just took him off of the vent - is breathing on his own for first time! Still critical but huge step in right direction. Thank you all for the prayers!"

Kiss! Kiss! (You would have known this wasn't Vicki unless I put that in!)

Update on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 10:38AM by Becky Bader

From Vicki: 

"We are encouraged that dad is breathing on his own, but he is getting combative and angry and has had to be very restrained at the chest and arms-- trying to climb out of bed! They said he had a rough night and we have been here for about an hour. SO glad my mother is letting me take her home at night-- she is taking this really hard and I am concerned how this will impact her health as well.

 I am overwhelmed by the response of prayer and love showered on us-- I am truly blessed to be a part of the body of Christ! I think this could be a pretty long "haul", but my intention is to return to work next week, and to make my base here at their home so I can be with my mother at night-- can't imagine her being alone just yet.

A skilled nursing center at a nearby nursing home is probably the next step, according to the nurses, if he survives this crisis-- so we are definitely at the Turning Point I have been expecting.

 I just pray that God will be merciful and not let him linger if his mind cannot be healed. They said the worst part of his brain "bleed" is in the front and that is the part that controls personality and emotion. He may never totally come back, so they are preparing us as best they can.

Will keep you posted. My heart is with you for the Bible Study tomorrow." 

God Bless,

Vicki

Update on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 12:01PM by Becky Bader

Update from Vicki...

Good morning.

The day has not started off well. He (Vicki's dad) is developing congestive heart faillure because of the fluid building in his lungs. They are trying to work on that and are putting in a feeding tube directly into his stomach this morning since he still can't swallow properly.

I am doing okay but my mother is not handling this well at all and I have great concerns for her as I said in prior days. She is just not ready to even THINK of the possibility of him passing, so I will continue to be as gentle and supportive as I can. No way to ever prepare ourselves for that moment, but I don't want to see him linger like this! Thank you so much for your love and support.

God Bless, Vicki

Update on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at 4:52PM by Becky Bader

Latest update on Vicki's dad:

From Vicki --  "Transferring today out of ICU - long way to go but we are thankful! His mind has not come back yet, but his heart is stable."

Know they are appreciating all the prayers.

Vicki Porter to Sing July 11!

Hope you can join us this Wednesday, July 11, at 9:00 AM at the Bellville United Methodist Church as Vicki Porter, phenomenal Christian speaker and singer, opens our first summer session with her testimony in words and song. If you've never heard Vicki, I promise you will be encouraged and inspired and also, at times, moved to tears. And you'll be so glad you came for God's hand is on this woman as she ministers across the state with her musical gift and her amazing testimony. Vicki most definitely has been touched by Christ Jesus. She is the real deal. I mean, for crying out loud, look at that darling face and her fabulous smile and those twinkling eyes! Oh, and one more thing: she loves to laugh, and we love her like crazy! (Oops! Well, that was two, but you get the idea...!!!) 

Manna of God's Summer Bible Study for Women of All Denominations.

Wednesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM;

Wednesday, July 18 at 9:00 AM;

and Wednesday evening, July 25 at 6:30 PM

Bellville United Methodist Church -- Room 204

There is no charge for this study, but a love offering to support Mosquito Nets for Uganda and Dresses for Africa will be appreciated.

For additional information, contact Gana at gmarek@kerdowney.com or call Becky at 979-885-9526.

Gana Marek -- Donna Riefkohl -- Vicki Porter -- Becky Bader

Is Jesus Enough?

Yikes! Is this year’s Bible study title enough to frighten you away? Is it a thought to think, but not to ask out loud? To ponder, but not to question? Is it okay to ask if Jesus is enough when we’re in the biggest crisis of our lives? When we’re physically or mentally exhausted? When we just can’t seem to handle any more? Or is it an invitation to dig deeper in the Scriptures and see that….   

He was more than enough for an unnoticed woman who had been bleeding to death for 12 years

He was more than enough for an unwanted woman who lived a life of prostitution.

He was more than enough for an unloved woman who lived ostracized from society. 

Questions don’t bother Jesus since he knows what we’re thinking anyway, and he asks some of his own, too! So let’s get real and ask the question that might be tucked away in our hearts. Let’s dig deeper with courage, not fear, and be awed at who Jesus is – the One who gives us Himself and not simply an answer. Even when we, too, feel unnoticed, unwanted, and unloved.

Yikes! I’m pumped! And I hope you are, too. Pick up a friend, back the car out of the driveway, and drive on down the road to the Bellville United Methodist Church on June 11, 18, and 25. We’re in for the ride of our lives, and I, for one, can’t wait!

Hope to see you soon! 

Love, Becky

For the 7^th year, Manna of God presents

A Summer Bible Study for Women of All Denominations.

Wednesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM; Wednesday, July 18 at 9:00 AM;

and Wednesday evening, July 25 at 6:30 PM

Bellville United Methodist Church -- Room 204

There is no charge for this study, but a love offering to support Mosquito Nets for Uganda and Dresses for Africa will be appreciated.

For additional information, contact Gana at gmarek@kerdowney.com or call Becky at 979-885-9526. 

Gana Marek       Donna Riefkohl        Vicki Porter       Becky Bader

Manna of God: Summer Bible Study 2012 Location, Times

For the 7^th year, Manna of God presents a Summer Bible Study for Women of All Denominations.

Wednesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM;

Wednesday, July 18 at 9:00 AM;

 and Wednesday evening, July 25 at 6:30 PM.

We’ll be meeting at the Bellville United Methodist Church in Room 204.

There is no charge for this study, but a love offering to support Mosquito Nets for Uganda and Dresses for Africa will be appreciated, and more information on these programs will be presented.

This year, we’ll explore the lives of three New Testament women whose lives answer the question: “Is Jesus Enough?”

Help us spread the word, and we hope to see you there!

Gana Marek, Donna Riefkohl, Vicki Porter, Becky Bader

Week One: If Jesus...( July 11 - 9:00 AM - Bellville United Methodist Church)

If Jesus was who they said he was, then he was worth it all. If he was God, he was worth the risk. And she definitely took a risk by braving the crushing crowds and the demoralizing stigma of her illness to touch his clothes.  

And when he asked – “Who touched me?” – she knew that she couldn’t get away unnoticed.

This isn’t a story; it’s a life – a real life encounter with Jesus Christ.  A woman who lived an ostracized, powerless life found life in the powerful, personal touch of Jesus.

And she learned a powerful truth:  we cannot go unnoticed. We may want to; but he won’t let us.

“Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet”(Luke 8:47 NIV).

….a few notes from our upcoming Manna of God Summer Bible Study in Bellville.

Wednesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM;

Wednesday, July 18 at 9:00 AM;

Wednesday evening, July 25 at 6:30 PM

Please join us as we explore the lives of three New Testament women whose loves answer the question, "Is Jesus Enough?"