Peace within the whirlwind -update on dad and the family

These past few weeks have been VERY full, and we appreciate the prayers of all those who have been interceding on behalf of our family. During the first week of January I made an emergency trip to CA which resulted in my bringing my Dad back to Miami with me in order to physically care for him until a long term solution could be found. During our trip out he began suffering from intestinal indigestion which worsened throughout his first week at our house resulting in his hospitalization for 10 days. More than likely he contracted "C diff" during his hospitalization over Christmas and New Years. Known as a "super-bug" this is one nasty intestinal infection, which is finally responding to some very strong antibiotics. He is now home again with us but having to receive our care for all his basic necessities. 


Needless to say, our stepping into 2012 has felt much like being in the center of a whirlwind as we consider all the changes to walk through in the near future, but Claudia and I are immensely grateful for the many, many mercies of God that we have seen during this time. A few passages have ministered to us recently: 


Zeph 3:14-17
 ¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; 
   shout, O Israel! 
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, 
   O daughter of Jerusalem! 
¹⁵ The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; 
   he has cleared away your enemies. 
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; 
   you shall never again fear evil. 
¹⁶ On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 
“Fear not, O Zion; 
   let not your hands grow weak. 
¹⁷ The LORD your God is in your midst, 
   a mighty one who will save; 
he will rejoice over you with gladness; 
   he will quiet you by his love; 
he will exult over you with loud singing.


What an amazing passage! The first 2/3 of Zephaniah explains with no vagueness that Israel is deserving of judgment and God's wrath for their willful disobedience and sin. Yet here he says that though they deserve judgment, He opts for mercy, compassion and love to the point of saying: "He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love, he will exult over you with loud singing." 


Another passage that has blessed us is Ephesians 1: 1-10. Consider Paul's view of God, Christ and the abundant blessings He has received, remembering that he penned these words from within a jail cell more than likely awaiting his execution: 


¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

   To the saints who are in Ephesus, and ^(C)are faithful in Christ Jesus:

 ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.


Again, what amazing grace has been poured out upon us. It's all God in this passage. the only thing we bring to the table is "our trespasses" (sins) in v.7. And to think of the road Paul had traveled, and his heart of gratitude though under guard and imprisoned encourages me to see my own circumstances in light of God's glory, plan and from the perspective and measure of eternity. 
We trust the Lord has a plan...a good plan for the care of my parents. We see how God is caring for my dad's heart and mind even as we seek to care for his body during this time. Thank you for your prayers on this.


There is so much more to share with regards to LAM, ministry and the immediate family, but I will save that for the near future. For now, we are tired but with our eyes fixed on Him and trusting that He is the one who provides shelter in the storm and purpose within pain. 


God bless!
-Kevin for the family.