From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:
The Oswald Chambers devotional the other day told about how when clouds come into our lives, we are not suppose to learn something from it but to un-learn something.
I have been meditating on this since then, and I think it is an important change of thinking. If we learn something new we just add it on top of the pile of wrong thinking we already have. We need to unlearn and get rid of wrong thinking. For instance, unlearn self-sufficiency, or pride or I must fix it to help God out. If we unlearn something it can be replaced with Gods grace, presence and dependency on Him. The things we consistently mess up on and or struggle with are the very things that need to be unlearned. We can either talk to God about allowing him to release us from wrong thinking or let him bring clouds into our lives to teach us the hard way.
Ive been thinking about what it is that I have struggled with most of my life, and I am talking to God to teach me what I need to un-learn and replace it with dependence on Him. Why do we run from God taking care of us? The things we struggle with, if you think about it, are always ways we have learned to try and cope or take care of problems. Instead we need to lean on the God who tells us His love is ever-lasting and He never sleeps so we dont have to worry.
COLOMA PLACE HOME
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Due to the divorce proceedings we are still waiting for the new woman to come to our home. She is still in harms way emotionally but her lawyer is telling her she needs to stay where she is. Pray for her to stay strong in the Lord.
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If this does not happen with this lady we will have to make some other plans for the home. Pray for wisdom.
QUICK HOME
- Allison and Will have Keano for three weeks on vacation. Pray for all of them. I worry Keano will feel abandoned by us. He loves the Quicks and where they are going but it is a long time for a seven year old to be away from his home.
- Pray for their return and who the Lord would like to bring to the home.
KEENON HOME
- We have good new about Melissa. We did those series of tests, and the result was that something is wrong with her brain that hinders her thinking and emotions (that's not the good news) but it is fixable. She will have treatment for months, but they are very hopeful. Pray she will cooperate and be able to get to the treatments by herself. They are in Deerfield.
- Also, about Melissa, I am worried about her while we are gone on vacation. She is 21 and has a job and can do what she needs to do except eat. Joel and Margie will be here with her but they cannot make her eat or not cut herself. We were only gone for four days last year and she did a lot of damage to herself. BUT WE HAVE TO GO! WE NEED IT! Pray she will not hurt herself and she will eat.
- Bonnie is another problem. We would like her to go to the city but she may not be able to. We think she is planning to have people over while we are gone who are not appropriate. I need to have a talk with her on Wednesday. Pray she will be receptive or that the Chicago thing will work.
- Hillary is flying to California to see Marta and then flying back with her while we are gone. Pray for their safety.
- Pray for Joel while he is here with the girls while we are gone.
- Lastly, I am looking forward to this vacation alone with my husband for the first time since our first year of marriage but I have trouble being gone too long. My "too long" is not Pauls "too long". We really like being together and we would just pray for renewing of our relationship with each other as well as the Lord. Pray we will really just rest. So, you wont hear from us for awhile. We care about all of you. Enjoy the rest of your summer.
In Christ's Service for the Community,
Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.
