"Trey Tuesday" - October 27, 2015

Rachel

How can six little letters sum up one extraordinary woman/mom/friend?  Rachel doesn't have a t-shirt, but if she did, what Bible verse would be used for her?

Let's take a look at: 
"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have refuge."
Proverbs 14:26

For those who know her well, you will recognize that these words exemplify Rachel:

Fear of the Lord

Strong

Confidence

Her children

Rachel is the epitome of the Mama Bear image.  You just don't mess with Mama's Baby Bears or you will experience a fierce battle.  Cancer did, but Trey won - he is cancer free in His heavenly refuge now!  :)   Rachel responded with her usual strength and confidence for the sake of her Young Warrior.  And now she marches forward again/still, with strength and confidence, day by day, memory by memory, with her tween age Bears watching.

This week, let's pray for our Mama Bear.  Let's praise the Lord that He has given Rachel a Heavenly Father to surround, support and protect her!  And let's thank the Lord for giving Rachel an earthly husband to surround, support and protect her, too!

Please pray for Rachel to continue to find strength as she clings to God and His promises in these difficult days.  Please also pray for God to continue to supply her with His comfort as she presses forward each day...one step at a time...with great faith.

“Blessed is Rachel, who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
She will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
Rachel does not fear when heat comes...and she never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7.8

"Trey Tuesday" - October 20, 2015

Joe

(Joe, the oldest Mitlo child, is our focus today as we pray for Trey's family in honor of the first anniversary of Trey's passing, November 5.)

Joe Mitlo, actually named Ferocious Joe for his t-shirt by his parents, is one amazing young man....but ferocious?! :) Really?  Friendly, funny, outgoing, confident, smart, kind and gentle, yes!  But ferocious?

On the outside?  Maybe not.
On the inside?  Now you are talking!  Ferocious-ly Joe through and through!
Joe is very good at holding it together like a soldier, facing his battles head on, relying on his own strength.  But, as any of us know, our human strength fails, it leaks and has pot holes, and it's inefficient for every fight.  The warfare is bigger than Joe.

Joe's t-shirt verse reads:
"Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle."  Psalm 144:1

Psalm 144:1 fits Joe perfectly!

Jay and Rachel provide one type of training for Joe in his Jiu Jitsu martial art. God, however, is training the inner Joe ferociously.  Watching a little brother endure cancer makes a young man strong.  Enduring the loss of that little brother is insurmountable!

So please pray for Joe to find refreshment, vulnerability and comfort in his Caring Place group.  Please also pray for Joe to allow himself to be open and honest with himself (!) and his parents about his feelings. 

"Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Ephesians 6:10

"Trey Tuesday" - October 13, 2015

Bella

The anniversary of Trey's passing is quickly approaching.  Let's take these next 4 weeks to focus on each member of the Mitlo family, praying specifically for each person as they experience this heart wrenching time of year.

And so today we get to focus on our extraordinary Bella!  Jay and Rachel picked a scripture for Bella's special t-shirt, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25

Bella is a budding designer/engineer/biologist/cosmetologist/chemist.  With great strength and confidence she is ready and willing to accept and accomplish challenges!  She appears, on the outside, to be fearlessly strong.  Losing a baby brother, however, is a challenge the strongest man would struggle to handle.

So as November 5 draws near, please hold our precious, sensitive, strong, silly, sweet, smart Bella close in prayer. Let's exercise our faith by praying and trusting what God has promised in His Word:

"On her bed help Bella to remember You;

May she think on You through the watches of the night.

Because You are Bella's help,

May she sing in the shadow of Your wings.

May Bella cling to You;

Your right hand upholds her."  Psalm 63:6-8

"Trey Tuesday" - October 6, 2015

Final Greetings

Last words or last impressions etch an enduring impact on to our hearts and in to our minds.  I think Trey's last word to me (not that we knew that it was going to be his last word) was, "No!"  (That was a very common vocabulary word for Trey!)  :)  I think it had to do with me asking him if I could give him another kiss or hug at bedtime.  I gave him one anyway!  :)

Graduation, moving, leaving vacation, selling a long time favorite car - each of these momentous occasions holds lasting memories of the final moments.  Suppose Trey (or any of our loved ones) knew they had one final salutation to give.  What do you think they would say?  "Spend more hours at work?"  "Wash the car again?"  "Straighten the pillows on the sofa one more time?"  "Buy more clothes?"  I think not.

Let's look to Paul as he gives the Thessalonians their final greeting and consider this as our bedtime blessing tonight:  "Now may the God of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with you all."  2 Thessalonians 3:16