Trey Tuesday - May 31, 2011

What consumes you?

I know, I know, we all complain our time is so precious!
We are so busy, busy, busy!

Of course, our finances consume us!
We work to live and live to work!

What about your thoughts?
What consumes your thoughts?
Your past?  Your present?  Your future?

And we don't even want to talk about what we consume!
Time...
Energy...
Food...
Emotions...
Medicine...
Natural Resources...

Let's take a look at a precious piece of scripture describing God's love for each one of us!

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful,
and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29

Did you get to sit by a firepit or a bonfire this Memorial Day weekend?
Have you ever watched a fire consume vast amounts of wood or fuel?

God is a consuming fire!
He strongly and urgently desires to consume all of you with His all-consuming love!

As we pray this Trey Tuesday, let's re-read that verse with Trey in our thoughts and minds and hearts!
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken"
May Jay and Rachel hold fast to the promises of God, knowing full well that God's Kingdom,
God's Way, God's Plans, even through the thickest storms and darkest nights, cannot be shaken!

"Let us be thankful"
Let us all remember to be thankful that God's consuming love encompasses Trey
every day!  Let's also be thankful for the AMAZING success that Trey's treatment has produced!
We are thankful for Joe and Bella being so resilient in schedule changes and altered routines!
And let's be thankful for the dynamic team of doctors and nurses and TEAM MITLO ONE surrounding
Trey in his journey!  And we are so thankful for the teenager at Children's Hospital, Ryan, who became Trey's
friend as they both fight the battle of their cancers.

"And so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe"
God, we worship You, we stand in awe of You and all that You know and all that You can do!
So, medicine and doctors aside, even carrot juice and homeopathy aside,
we trust that healing Trey is something that You alone can do!
We also trust you can spare Trey from mouth and throat sores!
We believe it!
We know it!
But overall, we trust You!

In closing, let's pray some of the amazing verses that follow God's consuming love!

"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Be content with what you have, because God has said,    “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”
 So we say with confidence,
   “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."
Hebrews 13:1-6

Trey Tuesday - May 24, 2011

A love letter to Trey from Team Mitlo One based on Philemon 1:4-7.

Dear Trey,
"We always thank our God as we remember you in our prayers,
because we hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
We pray that you may be active in sharing your faith,
so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Your love has given us great joy and encouragement,
because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people."

Yes, you, brother Trey, have refreshed our hearts!
Your smile, your zeal, your perseverance and strength!
Your courage, your joy, your trust and your love!
(That's exactly what God means when He says, "We pray that you may be active in sharing your faith so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.")
Your obedience to the doctors and nurses who care for you is a very good thing!
Your silly words and contagious laugh cheer us all up!  "Your love has given us great joy and encouragement"
Your admiration of Joe and Bella and your sweet surrender to Dad and Mom remind us always of your sweet and tender heart!

Dear, Trey, we surround you daily in prayer and this Trey Tuesday we ask for God's
continued very best for you! 
"We always thank our God as we remember you in our prayers"
We thank God for your tremendous, astounding recovery from your surgery!
THAT is a God's answer to thousands of prayers!
We pray for a swift and efficient week back at the hospital.
We pray for good numbers on your blood counts.
We pray for you to be protected from mouth and throat sores.
We pray for peace and good sleep for you and your family.
And above all, we present our hearts' desires to see you well and to know your cancer is gone for good!
"Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philemon 1:3
We love you, Trey!
We trust you, Lord!

Trey Tuesday - May 17, 2011

Do overs!

"So God created man in His own image,
   in the image of God He created him;
   male and female He created them.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."
Genesis 1:27,31

Well, that solves all our relationship problems, doesn't it?
Each one of us is created in God's image!  :)

Let's back up:  what is God's image?
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin."
Exodus 34:6-7
Does that sound like your family?
Why not?
Sometimes we feel that our "special circumstances" are a barrier to the God's calling on our lives.
We can't possibly be held to that same standard!?!

When God created Adam and Eve
"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."
Genesis 1:31

We all remember what happened next in the Garden of Eden.
Not very good - but very bad...
Adam and Eve - dwelling in the "good life", innocent and peaceful, walking with God - were tempted and acted on it!
Separation from God, murder, death, loss, strife, pain, toil became their "new" normal.
They probably wished they could call a "Do over!" just like in the simple days of playing tag and kickball!

We can certainly imagine that Jay and Rachel are tempted to feel this way!

But>>>>
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
Jesus has come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10

So as we gather to pray for Trey today, please remember these truths as we entrust Trey
to our Heavenly Creator God who gives us His Life and makes things "very good."
We pray for Trey to be eating and drinking as much as possible!
We pray for him to enjoy restful times at home with Jay and Rachel and Joe and Bella!
We pray for Jay and Rachel to be refreshed and renewed being together at home!
We pray for Joe and Bella to peacefully transition to family life again!
We pray for Trey's continued great progress and the annihilation of many more cancer cells!
And we pray a prayer of thanks for all of Trey's prayer warriors and meal senders and gift senders and care givers!

Trust God - He doesn't need "Do overs!"  He does it right ALL the time!

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called
— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 4:4-5

Trey and Jay and Rachel Tuesday - May 10, 2011

(From Streams in the Desert)

"Walking around in the fire."
Daniel 3:25

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, the fire did not stop them from moving, for they were seen "walking around."  Actually the fire was one of the streets they traveled to their destination. 

"Abraham remained standing before the Lord."
Genesis 18:22

Abraham pleaded with God for the lives of others.  He stood.  And he remained standing...before the Lord.

"Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go"
Genesis 22:2

With heavy heart  and humble obedience, Abraham realizes that now is the time to go.  Despite his feelings, his knowledge, his desires.  But with great faith, he goes.

"Be strong and very courageous"
Joshua 1:6

In the battle God set before Joshua, God's message was loud and clear.

But when our strength and courage have run away, God then says sweetly,

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

That is all that God asks of each one of us.

As Jay and Rachel and Trey become weak through these fierce fires of affliction today and in the days to come, they don't need to try to "be strong."  Please pray for them to "Be still, and know that He is God."  And know that He will sustain them and bring them through the fire.

Trey Tuesday - May 3, 2011

Curveballs!

The Bible is full of them!

Adam and Eve in the beautiful Garden of Eden...sin enters and out they go!
Noah and his family enjoying a warm sunny day in the desert...God enters and Noah starts building an ark - in they desert!?!
Mary and Joseph planning on marrying "someday"....God enters and Mary gives birth to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords - in a barn - Baby Jesus!
Saul goes about persecuting and killing Christians....Christ enters his life and Saul becomes Paul - a great disciple of the Lord!
Jay and Rachel go about their lives raising their young family in the Lord...cancer enters and Team Mitlo One rises up in love and support as Baby Trey fights his fight!

"They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen."
Acts 4:28

And now as Jay and Rachel prepare for Trey's consultation with the doctors tomorrow, we rely on the same God Who was there from the very beginning.  He knows all!

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."  Isaiah 46:10

Please hold Trey close in prayer!
Give thanks for Trey's swift and peaceful tests today!
Carry the burdens of Trey's physical body before the Great Miracle Healer!
Seek the Lord's strength and peace for Jay and Rachel as they walk these days ahead!
Ask the Lord of Heaven and Earth to dwell with Joe and Bella, holding them close, knowing their deepest questions, longings, and fears.

"O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago."
Isaiah 25:1