It is important to pray for future generations. We babysat two of our grandsons over the last weekend. What a joy to have them with us, but we take seriously our duty to pray for them to know that God loves them, has a plan for  them, and wants them to make a choice to love him back. That thought leads to another thought we have been discussing in our home lately because of all the problems that could have been big disasters. This is the final verdict we came up with:

It is of ultimate importance to see God's hand in allowing everything that comes our way and we need to thank Him for the good and the bad because we trust and believe he has our good in mind. On the other hand, we need to remember the Jesus spoke the Word back to satan every time He was tempted. He rebuked the sudden storm when He was in the boat with the disciples. He talks about satan being a thief who comes to steal, rob and destroy. "Well, look out satan, we are children of God the Most High and you are out of here, jerk!" He can tempt us all he wants but we will be standing strong and ready to tell him who really has the power, JESUS.

God has always lead Paul and I to come to an agreement at the same time. It is always clear what we are to do. Some people have been asking, is it time to stop Open Door? The answer is a big, "no." Money is not always the deciding factor. People's lives are what matter. satan is trying to rob us of the Coloma Place home so ministry will be limited.

 

But look at what is going on:
1. There are two children at the Quicks' home who are happy and growing in every way.
2. The Quicks' work with us in the ministry at our home training and doing things with the children in our home who need extra support. Melissa, Margie, and Keano have all learned valuable life lessons from Quicks in areas we are not as strong in or they add confirmation to what we do and teach.
3. While the Coloma Place has been in a slump we still have brought shelter from the storm for three families.
4. The Keenon home still has four young adults who are growing and learning.
5. Margie provides for herself and we thought two years ago she would be a person on disability for her whole life.
6. Matt has time to sort out what he has done in his life that were bad choices and we have many conversations about life, Jesus and relationships.
7. Joel is growing and learning. He is very self-sufficient but benefits from knowing he comes home to a place where people love him, care for him and are happy to see him.
8. Melissa is learning very hard lessons and even when it seems hopeless, we see her wanting life to be different for herself but does not understand it yet. Frankly, she is teaching all of us a lot about ourselves as we care for her. She is learning that some people can be caring without motive by observing three good friends she has and us, who benefit nothing from helping her. We all simply care about her and want what is best for her.
9. We are working with one new family, along with others, right now who is actually getting what we are teaching them and their family is healing. It is fun to watch.

So, Open Door is still thriving, satan just wants us to look at the lack, not the surplus we have. We are taking back the power and trusting Jesus to restore all that was taken.

Prayer this week involves:
1.  Melissa's grandma did die. So, pray for her family who is really hurting and they don't seem to see any hope. She will have to go back to Ohio and this is very scary for her.
2.  Matt is trying to get into the Army. Pray for wisdom for him.
3.  Margie has told me she is often mad at me and keeps it in. Pray for healing between us.
4.  We always want prayer for Joel to stay strong. Just because he seems healthy does not mean God does not have work to do and we want to support him.
5.  Pray for release of funds to pay our salary, mortgages on two houses, and for wisdom and trust to continue.
6.  Today is a big court date for one of the children at the Quicks. Pray for God's hand on what ever happens.

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Jesus is the victor and we are his children. Praise God from whom all things flow.