This Was Good! 8/30/17

30 August 2017 - This Was Good! – Manna by Dorothy Callies

I would like to share the commentary that came from The Full Life Study Bible by Donald C. Stamps. I have my reason to share this devotion so bear with me until I make my point from this Manna.

Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”  Seven times God states that what He created was “good” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25,31). Each part of God’s creation completely fulfilled His will and intended purpose.  God created the world to reflect His glory and to be a place where humankind could share in His joy and life.  Notice how God created according to a plan and order:

            Day 1 – light

            Day 2 – firmament (sky)

            Day 3 – dry land

            Day 4 – light-bearers

This part were to bring order to creation.

            Day 5 – fish and birds

            Day 6 – animals and humans

This part were giving life to creation.

            Day 7 – rest

This part of creation is complete and very good.

Dorothy:  I had noticed that some of the days, there was something new with Tony being improved. I watched Tony getting better slowly day by day.  I asked God, “Why couldn’t you just simply healed him completely like You did in the New Testament days when Jesus healed people instantly?” 

The next morning, Holy Spirit encourages me to watch the TBN channel on August 29^th, Tuesday morning at 6:00 with Joel Osteen. I’ll try my best to explain what impressed me about his sermon. He talked about our daily basis of lives and how to focus on small things and to say, “It was good.” Instead of looking into a “big picture” and waiting for that day to come into “big accomplishment or success.”

Start with small things to thank God for.  Each day, when something new and improved you have made, thank God for that and say, ‘it was good.’  Then Joel used the illustration of God’s creation and to notice each day when God had created something new, God would say, ‘it was good.’  On the sixth day, God saw everything that he had made, and, behold 'it was very good' (Genesis 1:31).

Joel also encouraged to take note that this was a partial victory to celebrate for and to know that ‘this was good’ whatever we have done.  God worked His creation on day to day basis.  When He created something new, He would say, “This was good!”  When I 'heard' this,  something inside of me became alive with words of encouragement, telling me to thank Him for healing Tony on day to day basis and to say, “this was good.”

The same day around noon, for the first time, I asked Tony if he would like a date out to McDonald which was nearby to BLM Rehab.  He was delighted. So I took Tony out to my small car, and he was able to get in and out with our new transport wheelchair (22 lbs). I was impressed and “it was very good.” Because last month or so, he couldn’t do it without help.  So I’m learning to thank God for small things each time I see new improvement in Tony.  

So your prayers does really matter and Tony wants to thank you for that. And God blessed you!

Dorothy

News of Tony on 8/22/17

22 August 2017 - News of Tony by Dorothy Callies [Revised to Power Chair]

The verse from Psalm 25:3 says, “Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed.” This came from chapter 19, the War Room book that I have been reading daily as part of my devotions. Here are few tips that impressed me especially when it comes to praying for Tony. I like to quote them:

“Persistence is a necessary part of praying effectively (successfully). Whether God answers in twenty minutes or twenty years, we should never give up on Him.  In Scripture, God reveals that He wants us to trust Him patiently on our knees.

He delights when we walk by faith and show our dependency on Him as we come before His throne. In fact, He may use delays in our life to reveal our hearts and our level of trust in Him.  In the meantime, we must wait upon the Lord in faith.”

Reading part about George Muller who was one of the greatest praying men of all time, documented fifty thousand answers to prayer in his lifetime. George had build five orphanages for 10,000 children according to the google information. His secret? He goes on praying until the answer comes. George Muller never gave up. That story encourages me to keep praying until the answer comes.

Today, I would like to share some news about apartment visited for Tony as therapist observed him taking a walk from friend’s SUV, to walker, to transport wheelchair, and again to walker and to the apartment with stairs that had 8 steps. For Tony to be able to climb stairs, he needed me behind him with belt to hold his balance and a volunteer beside him, to help him reached each steps he took since there were only one rail for him to hold on to. He struggled, but he made it up to end and sat down to take a breath.

Tony got up with walker and he walked right into the apartment for the first time since April 11^th. He walked toward his brand new (used) POWER chair and helped him to get up easily.  He just loved it and was able to click to his own TV.  He looked wonderful.  Then it was time to go down stairs and back to SUV and back to Nursing home.  The Therapist said that if we had lived on the first floor, Tony would come home. But since our apartment have stairs, it would takes about two to three more weeks to strength his muscles.  And still would need two volunteers to help him up.  He still could come home soon.

Meanwhile, we will be working on home service and therapist to come to our apartment. And it would takes a lot of prayers and consideration if we should move to first floor apartment or stay in our present apartment. 

As for me, I rested a lot in between times and totally depend on God to help me stay strong and be able to help Tony. Also eating right makes a difference. So thank you for your prayers.

May God bless you!

Dorothy

Anchors in the Storm 8/10/17

10 August 2017 – Anchors in the Storm – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Joshua 1:9 “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I love that phrase: “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I just felt like Tony and I need an anchor that hold us safe in our spiritual life. It is when I just cannot trust my feelings. An anchor of promise is just want I need.  When God called Joshua to lead His people after Moses’ death, He gave him anchors of promise he could rely on in troubled times.

The Lord said, “I will be with you.  I will not leave you nor forsake you. . . . The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:5, 9).  God also gave Joshua and His people the “Book of the Law” to study and observe (vv.7-8).  That, and God’s presence, were anchors the Israelites could rely on as they faced many challenges.

I was faced with some feeling of doubts that threaten my faith in God. I didn’t like that feelings and I didn’t know what to do with it until I read the devotion, “Anchors in the Storm.”  Oh, how I love God that cares enough to tell me this: “I will be with you.  I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

Although my faith may feel weak, but today I have anchored in God’s promises and presence, He will safely hold me and Tony. It is like a sailboat dropped an anchor in time of storm. That anchor is so important for sailboat that held the people inside until the storm is over and they could safely navigate the sailboat into an inlet area.  

That thought of an anchor in God’s promises and His presence, had really uplifted me and Tony very much.  That thought stayed with me all day long, an anchor in the Lord. Thought of a song came to me: “I’ve Anchored in Jesus.” Just a chorus.

I’ve anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I’ll brave;

I’ve anchored in Jesus, I fear no wind or wave;

I’ve anchored in Jesus for He hath power of save;

I’ve anchored to the Rock of A – ges.

[Lewis Edgar Jones, Sing His Praise]

Tony is doing well today! His motivation is improving. Keep praying that everything will works out for Tony to come home by August 31^st.  Many thanks!  I’ll keep you update. And few more names have been added to Marathon Prayer list are: Dean & Karen Hardy, Dianne Oppriecht, Joyce & Roy Bonnett, Joyce Matos and Richard & Linda Tritt.

Dorothy

Vision of Grapes 8/7/17

07 August 2017 – Vision of Cluster Grapes – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Since April 13^th, Tony fell at the hospital and had his broken right hip replaced, and fractured his upper arm, I was able to maintain my inner emotion in peaceful spirit for almost four months. I have heard some who said, “You are really strong.”  All I could think of was to stay in God’s Word every morning and pray and be at peace and support Tony in all he is going through.  

But recently I was beginning to experience the anguished inner spirit for the last few days and I asked God why. While I was praying, I saw a vision of a hand that held the cluster of grapes.  The hand started to squeeze and press together as the cluster of grapes’ juices flows into a bowl.  The more it squeezed, the more juices keep flowing until I could see some juice from the fruited grapes.

I mediate what this means. Then God spoke to my inner spirit and said “I am flowing out the juices of your deep crush and anguish heart. The juices from the grapes will become a blessing to others and many who need to come out of darkness and get into the marvelous light.”  One note I found that says, Peter reminded us that we are “a people for His own possession, that [we] may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 translation).

John 15:5 came to me and Jesus said, “I am the Vine and you are the branches: you that lives in me and I live in you, we both bring forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.” Then a vision of seeing Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane praying, Jesus experienced anguished and crushed spirit that caused pain in his body, and sweat out the blood of His flesh.

I just absorbed those words into my heart, realizing what Jesus had gone through. At the cross, he was crushed and anguished filled His heart until He said, “It is finished.”  The time will come when God’s work inside of us that the prayers will be answered. I really appreciate the Prayer Marathon. I keep showing Tony the list of names so he knows you are praying for him.

May God bless you real good!

Dorothy

Secret Prayer, Revised 8/7/17

07 August 2017 Secret Prayer, News Revised as of 8/7/17 – by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 6:18 “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

I was doing a lot of private prayers when I was with Tony at nursing home.  When I got home, I was just wondering if God hears me. I guess I just need reassurance from God. He led to read the Daily Bread devotion with God’s Word from Matt. 6:18 and the part that says, “He hears our private prayers.”  That really inspires me. Especially after I studied on Chapter 10 from the War Room book, the postures of prayers. One of them was silence in prayer.

Using example of Hannah, when the Bible described Hannah’s prayer in anguish, "she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard” (1 Samuel 1:13). No one could hear her silent prayer.  But God did.  And answered her request when she prayed for a child, Samuel.

Right now, this is an urgent prayer for Tony to increase his strength and that he has to been trained how to get up from the floor to the seat before he could be released.  Also pray for home service to check our apartment for accessibility for Tony.

Two more names has been added. Pastor Dale Boyd and Becky Reeder.  Thank you for your prayers.  If you like you could check out the Deaf Prayer Partners Lifeline Blog and see the names on the list. 

http://deafprayerpartners.blogspot.com/

Revised as of 8/7 News of Tony 8/4/17

04 August 2017 - Overcome and news of Tony - Manna by Dorothy Callies

As for news of Tony, he is doing well and God is blessing him with an increase strength that he is able to walk more and more very slowly.  

There are few words of encouragement that blessed me to hear the words of Jesus Christ when He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have troubles; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).   

There’s up and downs time with Tony, and that’s why the words of Jesus are so reassuring that Tony and I can have peace through a relationship with Jesus. Jesus has secured our ultimate victory. Ultimate victory means that we will have our final victory when there are obstacles to overcome.  Obstacles means something that gets in the way of progress or achievement. 

I would appreciate your marathon prayer to where there are obstacles for Tony to face and to overcome his difficulties. August 9^th would be 120 days that he hasn’t been home yet since April 11, 2017.  His broken upper arm is what cause the delay from April 13 to June 13^th, but now he could almost fully use his right arm to where he is able to use both of his hands on the walker to walk.  That is quite an achievement for Tony. So thank you for your continuing prayers. 

04 August 2017 – Updated Prayer Marathon for Tony Callies

1. Mary Tomasian                                                         
2. Celeste Herse and her prayer group                       
3. Sara Smith                                                                 
4. David Corrington                                                     
5. Lucy Schmidt and her prayer group                     

6. Priscilla Mark
7. Christine Loeffler  

8. Dawn Hottinger

9. Connie Martin

10. Dorothy Callies

11. Brenda Harness

12. Diana Kinder

13. Jane Loveland of Utah

14. June Ault

15. Alice Hodgson

16. Janet Nelson

17. Audrey Corrington

18. Mike and Ann Callies, Jr.

19. Cindy Dively and her prayer group

20. Kim Murphy

21. Corina and Aric Schoening

22. Kathryn and Ivan McGillem

23. JoAnne Monahan

24. Ken Monahan

25. Darlene Polson

26. Christine Spink Mitchell, Len and prayer group.

27. Leon Devriendt

28. Melvin and Missy Grey

29. Karen Kidd

30. Paula Hardy and her prayer group

31. David and Joyce Hunter

32. Marilyn Vickers

33. Barb Reu

34. Dale and Wilma Boyd

35. Terry and Suzy Newman

36. Diane Meinders

37. Margie Claussen

38. Lois and Marty Ratterree

39. Brooke Bateman

40. Billy Gipple and National Deaf Culture Fellowship

41. Tammy Newman Pellicer

42. Eugene Robbins

43. Linda Pare & her prayer group

44. Stephanie Wilcox

45. Donna Urban and her prayer group

46. Sandy and Roy Nieukirk

47. Cynthia and Scott McElroy

48. Karen Smith

49. Bridget Timmers

50. Stephen and Jill Valentine

51. Josh Calandrillo

52. Randy and Marti Callies

53. Roy Cruz
54. Randall Fennert