Abigail/Reed Family Update: A Transplant of Faith

This week has been one filled with unspeakable challenges and picturesque blessings from the Almighty. God has proven his sovereign grace time after time after time this week. In a matter of one week we have left our home, a ministry that is near and dear to our hearts, and many great friends. We have stayed at the hospital bedside of our 9 month daughter through her recovery from major cranial surgery, and relocated our family to Kansas City; all of this in a matter of one week.

As we I sit here in our new house, abet it temporary, drinking a cup of coffee and listening to the sound of my daughter sleeping I stand in awe of the sheer number of blessings we have witnessed this past week. I assure you I will explain how we got to this point shortly; however, I would first like to share with something God has been speaking to us. In the past week God has been challenging us to wholeheartedly, with no reservations, or doubts follow Him. As my wife and I spent many hours this week talking (it’s hard to sleep in a hospital anyway) and praying about our future and the direction God is leading us, I was reminded of the story of Abraham.

Following God requires more than is possible on our own; because, following Christ requires a spirit and faith that is impossible to create by human means we require the heart of God to be transplanted into our very lives.

Abraham’s Faith Journey and Transplant

From Nothing To a Nation

In Genesis 12, God calls Abram to leave his job, his family, friends, and his community. Abram didn’t have much to go on but faith and a prayer. He could not do the things that would be required of Him had God not changed his heart and transplanted him from Ur to Israel.

"Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you."

Abram was not likely not a God fearing man and very likely a man who worship various false God's in his homeland of Ur. But when the one true God spoke He listened. I imagine myself in Abram's shoes. Spending my whole life doing the religious thing, making sacrifices to appease the "gods" praying and hoping that those tickets and golden statues would speak to me and bring favor. Now in the midst of the Chaos God calls Abram's number.

Abram most likely wasn't looking for God; however, God was calling Abram out. It has long marveled me that the first recorded words we have that God spoke to Abram was "Go out." God starts His relationship with Abram by ordering Abram to come to attention, and march out. To be at point, leave everything behind, and to move hastily in a new direction. God was calling Abram to promptly and toughly follow His command. Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the whole story is found in verse 4:

So Abram went as the Lord had told him.

What Abram did is not easy. He left behind absolutely everything. All he had with him when he left Ur was his wife, his nephew Lot, and some meager personal belongs. What is more is that they did not even know where they were going, how they would get there, or how long they would be traveling. But they went...

How many of us would do the same thing? It certainly isn't easy but it is after all the central theme of the gospel. Are you wiling to risk it all on faith and a prayer? To follow Jesus means to do the hard things, to walk the narrow path that few would dare to take. To speak to the hurting, to reach out to those in need, to take a chance on the broken road, the outcasts, and the perverse. For after all this is what God has done for us when He came to die for you and I.

It was for this reason the Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out in Luke 9:3:

“Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.”

In both the accounts of Abram, and the twelve disciples God proved His faithfulness. God showed that He is indeed sovereign over all His creation, and that if we will put our hope and trust in His leadership that he will sustain us.  For Abraham, God changed his name, and blessed him beyond his wildest dreams. For the disciples they got to witness God in the flesh doing a great work. One common thread between both their stories and our own is that through it all God name is elevated high above all other names.

Our Faith Journey and Transplant

From Confusion To Clarity

            I greatly admire the faith of Abram, the disciples, and those heroes and heroines of the faith who gave it all in pursuit of God. I respect individuals like Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, Jim Elliot, Hudson Taylor, the early American Pilgrims, and others who courageously followed the call of God to share the message of the gospel with the entire world no matter the cost and no matter the personal discomfort.

           

Before the time our family was even established and before we were even a couple, my wife and I knew that God had called us together for a special purpose. God had placed in both of   It is that sacred principle we have devoted our life to: Follow Jesus, being a disciple-making disciple for God’s glory.

Our hearts a burning desire to be missionaries of the gospel. It is how we met, grew in our friendship, inevitably fell in love, and stared this adventure of marriage and parenting.

Therefore, it is our belief that everything we might face in life is an opportunity to carry out that mission, to be refined, trained, and when need be broken down so we can get out of the way and let God get all the glory. When we reach the end of ourselves is when we find God. Sometimes it takes a reaching the place of total helplessness until we realize how much we need God.

In spite of all the uncertainty one thing is certain, sooner or later we will all hit rock bottom. Christ is the rock at the bottom and either we will be sharpened or we will shatter. It depends on how we choose to strike the stone at the bottom.

This passage from Psalms has gotten me through without question, one of the hardest yet greatest weeks of our life:

The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The Lord keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

I want to do just that. I want to brag on Jesus for a little bit.  It’s been a tiresome few months and we are starting to see the light feel the prayers of hundreds of believers. Where we are now and the miracles that have been ordained over the past few weeks and days are to numerous and to precise to explain any other way than simple: Divine Intervention

Divine Interventions

From Craino to Coffee

Rewind to April

As I mentioned earlier: “I am sitting in our new house… drinking a cup of coffee and listening to the sound of my daughter sleeping… amazed by the sheer number of blessings we have witnessed over the past week.” You are probably curious as to how we got to this point. I assure you it’s been nothing short of a miracle of God’s grace and through the prayers and support of countless faithful brothers and sisters fasting and praying. We greatly appreciate all those who prayed for our daughter.

            In order for you to understand the overwhelming peace I have right now as I sit here typing this post drinking a cup of coffee, we need to back up a couple weeks:

            Back in April, I posted a blog post after our visit with the Plastic surgeon who was scheduled to preform surgery on Abigail. I shared with you how that day had been, “One of the hardest days for our family.” At that time there was so much uncertainty and confusion. We where just wrap our minds around the idea that in four short months our daughter would undergo major surgery.

            A Challenging Summer

Needless to say, this has been one of the longest summers for our family. It has been one of the most eventful and busy seasons of our short life. There have been a number of ups and far greater amounts of downs, but the deeper and darker the valley the greater the mountaintop.

We have seen a number of major changes and faced various challenges from raising a toddler and a baby to the developing circumstances at our previous ministry that enviably led to my resignation and our relocation to Kansas City and our decision to Attend Midwestern Baptist Seminary. Through it all God has been more than faithful to do above and beyond what we could every hope or think.

Back in May God began to lead my wife and I to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Kansas City. Unsure of when and how that could or even if it would happen we began to prayerfully consider it. As surgery dawned nearer and the realization that we would be leaving our current position and community we were faced with many challenging decisions. It was a logistical nightmare. I had to find a new house, a new job, and a new way of life and quickly. The obvious solution was Kansas City.

I applied for Seminary and was approved and enrolled in classes for the spring semester. Shortly thereafter (3 weeks ago), It became apparent due to other factors that relocation was eminent and I began applying for work and housing.  On a return trip from Kansas City after visiting the Seminary, going to Appointments, and doing a number of job interviews my wife and I decided that if we got a job offer by the end of the week we would resign and relocate our family to Kansas City to prepare for Seminary before our daughters surgery.

A New Direction

On the same day that we had that conversation I received not one but 3 job offers. By the end of the week I had received another 5 job offers. By the time I am typing this post I have received more than 15 job offers. After countless hours of counsel, prayer, study, and with a job in hand we knew that this was God’s direction and He was undoubtedly leading us to take a big step of faith.

 

By this time, two weeks to surgery, we knew God was calling us to move to KC, and had secured on a job; however had no place to stay. We turned in our resignation at the church and began to pack our house and sell most of our belongings. Shortly after this we received word from Lee’s Summit First Baptist a church in the Kansas City Metro Area that we would be allowed to stay in their missionary house until we were accepted into seminary housing.

As the week prior to surgery came to a close we where overwhelmed by the task of packing and cleaning house. God sent some amazing people from First Baptist Oronogo Missouri came a emptied out the house and just blessed us in a huge way. Leading up to surgery God supplied each and every need that came up. We had such a peace going into the surgery. We could feel God all over the whole situation from start to finish. We knew with absolute certainty that this new direction was God’s direction for our family.

Restructuring

Sunday, August 24^th 2014 I preached my final message at my former church. It was one of the hardest sermons I’ve ever had to preach. I will sorely miss the congregation there and will continue to lift them in my prayer, and look forward with great expectation to all the mighty things God is going to do through the church body. We built many relationships in the short time we were there and love each of them greatly.

God has clearly showed us that our family needs to take time for some major restructuring in many areas. This new season of life is all about just that, restructuring in our relationship, faith, and ministry. Nothing more clearly marks this new season than the major reconstruction of my daughter’s skull.

Early Monday morning we went in to the Children’s Mercy Hospital and sat in the waiting area for more than 8 nerve-racking hours. We experienced tremendous support from family and friends who made the long drive to sit and wait with us. Every hour we received updates on her progress. After what seemed like an eternity we were finally reunited with our precious Abigail.

Abigail came through surgery remarkably, in one surgery they were able to correct the birth defect that caused her skull to fuse prematurely placing extra pressure on her brain and distorting her face shape. It was an emotional scene when we got to see her face for the first time after 8 hours. Despite coming through surgery remarkably her journey was far from over. After a few hours her swelling had increased, she could no longer see, and was connected to a plethora of wires, tubes, and monitors. It was a heart-wrenching scene. 

In the meantime, the Ronald McDonald House, where we stayed the night prior and where my parents and daughter planned to stay during recovery had a water main break and had to be evacuated. God provided for that need however through the generosity of Lee’s Summit First Baptist opening their home to us early.

After only one night in the PICU (Pediatric intensive Care Unit), Abigail was released to her own recovery room. Once there she made leaps and bounds in her recovery. To the surprise of the medical staff made a quicker than expected recovery and was sitting up on her own eating, drinking, laughing and playing by her second day of recovery.

Now almost a week after we were getting ready to head to Kansas City Abigail is sitting here at the dining smashing Bananas and keeping us up late laughing and playing. It seems that post surgery she is ten times more energetic and playful than before. Despite all odds she can now open her eyes and see. She smiles and laughs all the time now. Best part is we can tell she is no longer in pain as she was prior to surgery and the seizers she was having before are a faint memory now. Thank you all for your prayers and support! It’s friends and prayer warriors like you that make it easier to make it through the hardest days. We will continue to update you on Abigail’s journey.

What’s Next

During Abigail’s recovery, I spent a considerable amount of time on my adventures. God showed me his grace time and time again through flat tires in the parking garage revealing the need to replace the tires to avoid what could have been a costly blowout, a busted water main that lead to a going in to the house and finding the air conditioner was out, and enviably sending our oldest daughter to stay with her grandparents until we get settled.

At one point I was broke down at a gas station in one of the worst neighborhoods of Kansas City with a flat tire at dusk. During my adventure through the “forgot neighborhood” as I limped my car along I witnessed such a heartbreak, despair, and lostness. The Kansas City Metro is by no stretch of the imagination part of the Bible Belt. It is situated in the heart of the country and is vastly diverse. It is filled with people from every walk of life, every tongue, and every nation. As I drove through some of the more remote parts of KC there was no church on every corner, not even one every couple miles. There are entire heavily populated districts with no evangelical presence. More than 2 million live in the metro area and only 6% have received the message of the gospel.

Conclusion:

As I sit here and finish the last few drops of my coffee, I am reminded that like the cup I just sat down, some times life can burn us, some times it may be bitter but by God’s grace it’s always good to the last drop. In the hands of our God nothing is wasted. Not our time, not our talents, not a single moment is wasted that he can’t redeem. The sweetest part is when your cup runs empty and get to fill it up all over. 

In a few short months we start seminary, next week I start working for a great company that will pay my way through seminary, These are exciting time and I look forward to each new day as God begins to unravel his purpose for us: To be disciple-making disciples for His glory. We look forward to being apart of God’s work and assisting in penetrating the darkness in this City. God has strategically placed us here in this time and in this place, under these conditions for His glory. So to whatever may come next, In Christ we’re ready.   

Abigail Update! Seizers, Miracles, and everything in between.

            They say, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Of those steps we take along life’s journey the first one is often the hardest. Throughout this life our paths meander down many unexpected and at times difficult stretches.  For some we choose to take the road less travelled for others a path of toil and pain. Each one embarks on their own journey, some to discovery others to despair. Though the roads we travel may seem rough and steep; and even though many seem to have lost the way, there is hope and healing in our God who winds the path we tread. For He is the one who goes before us. He is the one who stands behind. He has seen our ending from our beginning.  He reigns sovereign over time.

            I could pick many a milestone from which to begin, this discussion of God’s grace and the sovereignty of His plan. For it only takes a moment, a single ounce of strength, for us mere mortals to catch a glimpse of His grace. If we would but stop for a moment and peer into to the Spirit’s realm imagine all that we would see. Then we would finally know that even in chaos, God is working mightily.

            Nonetheless, I shall choose one example of God’s grace. It came, on a wintery day on November 20^th, 2013, in the form of a

child. Her name is Abigail Grace. Like a miracle from heaven, she came without warning. Through her baby blues and her adorable smile, God has softened my heart and began to show me a glimpse of the depth of his grace and love. She truly is “her father’s joy.”

            As most of those close to us know, on April 18^th 2014, our precious girl was diagnosed with a rare birth defect know as Crayniosnostosis. (For more on this check out my previous blog post). Since that time we have been on a roller-coaster of emotion. There have been many ups and an equal or greater share of downs. It has been a difficult journey. But we cling tight to the promise: With God all things are possible. Now with a surgery date of August 25^th fast approaching we hold ever tighter to that promise.

            Less than a week ago, Abigail began showing signs of having minor seizers.  We had been keeping a close eye on here and made a call to her doctor for advice. They had advised us to go in for an additional CT scan. Our nerves were about shot.

            The week leading up to this day was nothing short of chaotic. Work stress, upcoming ministry event, spring-cleaning, and preparation for a long and arduous summer, not to mention two night of sleeplessness due to toddler nightmares had left us utterly drained.

            We made our way to the hospital and this is where the real miracle began…

As much as this is about our daughter, God had a greater purpose. He worked everything to fulfill his purpose and plan, to transform the chaotic into the miraculous.

            For those wondering, Abigail is still slated for surgery in August. And the plates in her head are still very much fussed. But God is using her journey to bring hope, healing and salvation to others. This is not a story about Abigail or even a story about us, rather a story of God’s sovereign grace.

            At the same time our family was making our way to the hospital out of concern for our daughter, the Heavenly Father was sending another one of his daughters to cross our path.

            Her name is Betty (changed name for privacy) she had a rough life, lost her husband and son due to a horrific turn of events, and early today attempted to take her life.

            God sent Betty to the same small ER room occupied by our little family. She began expressing her hurt and desire to leave this world to the staff, and law enforcement officers. Weeping and pleading for reassurance that she had not lost her mind. Explaining that voices in her head told her to take her life so she could go to be with her loved ones.

            At the right moment, I introduced myself as a pastor and offered to talk with her if it would help. She invited me in and I only got the chance to tell her who I was and that with God there is hope before the doctors began a series of tests and procedures.

            In time God would open a marvelous door. In the meantime my wife and I went about our business attending to Abigail and singing worship songs to her. We sang, “Jesus loves You” “Greater is He that is in Me” and a plethora of other simple songs. During our waiting period to be released the lady on the other side of the curtain began to express to the nurses that, “As long as they sing I can’t here the voices.” This is the only time the voices ever stopped.” The longer she stayed the more peaceful she became.

The only thing that stood between her and us was a thin veil, praise be to God that nothing can stand between us and God’s grace and mercy. The scene reminded me of a passage of scripture in Romans 8. The Apostle Paul tells the Roman believers

 “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”             ~Romans 8:37-39

After an hour of waiting on running tests of our own, God opened a door of opportunity. As the room thinned and we were preparing to leave; I heard a faint voice:

“Sir, Sir. Do you talk to God?”  Asked the lady from the other side of the curtain. I smiled and replied, “Why yes actually that is kind of what I like to do!"

She asked me to explain the gospel to her and expressed that for the first time in months she felt peace, hope, joy, and light. She understood Jesus was the only way out of her situation and that God was calling her to live life for Him.  After sharing the gospel with her she went on to say, “you know the Bible is a pretty gnarly book… Jesus is a pretty gnarly dude too.” She gave her life to the Lord today and than began to share her newfound faith with anyone who would listen.

God put a spark in her eye and a spring in our step. Afterward the doctors told us that Abigail’s CT scan came back good and that she was showing no cause for concern. That can’t explain why she had those seizer like attacks. I believe that He may have allowed them just so that our paths would cross and one of His children would come home.

There were two seizers that took place today, one in the form of Abigail’s brain sending some “gnarly” signals to her body and another from God sending some “gnarly” blows at the enemy. Because of Abigail’s suspected seizers we got to witness first hand God’s seizer of this lady form the clutches of the evil one.

Never underestimate the everyday moments you face in life. Never take for granted the voice and time your given. Never take for granted the opportunity in front of us to share the good news of Jesus or to simply sing a song of praise or say a silent prayer.  You never know it just might save a life.

           

           

           

           

            

Having a Battlefield Mindset Eph 6

The date was June 6^th, 1944. This infamous date went down in history as D-Day. It was on this day 70 years ago that 175 thousand men stormed the beach of Normandy to wage war against the Axis of Evil. On that day more than 10,000 men gave of their lives fighting for our freedom.  The Battle for Normandy was one of the largest most significant battles in Human History. Not only did it represent one the largest armadas in history, it marked the turning point of the second world war.

From reading, listening, and hearing the stories from those who fought that day it is obvious that there had to be a certain mindset. Defeat was not an option. IT was do or die. There was no turning back. This mentality was best put by the Commander of the Allied forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower, "This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success."

Those 175 thousand men were not going to the beaches of Normandy for a sightseeing trip, they were not going to simply turn around after seeing the task ahead of them. They planned and accepted the fact that at the end of the day the “Stars and Stripes” would fly over the beach.  Defeat was not an option there was no turning back, no giving up, no chance of surrender. They were victors in mind before they stepped foot on the battlefield. History bears record to their victory.

Much the same way we as followers of Christ are called to live with the same battlefield mindset. To live with no regrets, never looking back always pushing forward, never giving up always looking up. We are called to live with victory in mind and never bow to the pressure of the enemies forces. Are we planning to be victorious are we living our life in expectation that God is going to bring the lost to Him. This is one of the central messages of the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus.  He instructs timothy to BE STRONG in 2 Timothy 2:1- 6:

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops”

Have we as solders of the Most High been engaging in civilian affairs? Have we gone AWOL in our Christian duties? God is calling us to take our stand firmly on His word. We are called to return to our posts and live for him bodily and fight the good fight. There is a dark and ominous enemy greater than all the evil of Hitler’s regime combined. Our enemy seeks to destroy the souls of all mankind. His is the enemy of our God. Our battle is not one of physical force and tangible ammunition.

IT’S A SPIRITUAL WAR FOR THE SOULS OF EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD.

RETURN TO YOUR POSTS! AFTER YOU’VE DONE EVERYTHING TO STAND! STAND!

IF YOUR BURNT OUT OF DOING MINISTRY KEEPING GOING!

YES IT IS HARD BUT GOD IS GREATER!

THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGHT FOR MY FRAILTY TO INTERFERE!

THE STAKES ARE TO HIGH FOR MY PERSONAL PREFERENCES TO INTERFERE!

THE STAKES ARE TO HIGH FOR HOLLOW CHURCH POLITICS AND SQUABBLES!

"This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success."