From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:
Change is a funny thing. Change has been on our minds lately because on so many levels change is going on in our lives right now. But so often I marvel at how God keeps up with those changes and is never surprised by them even though we are. As I sit and type this and you read this our bodies are changing by breaking down, building up and restoring our cells and systems. Life is constantly about change even though most of us fight hard to keep things in control and in our comfort zone.
When big changes come we respond and then hopefully sit and reflect to see what the changes mean to us in view of God's plan. We think the big changes are what mold us and make us different but I am finding that it is the little changes that impact us more deeply in our soul. A simple change would be deciding you want to purposely be kind, spend your money not on impulse, or giving a word of encouragement. This really is where a deeper change comes.
Although, it needs to be done in Christ's strength and not ours because once we think we are kind or wise we have a rise in our pride. Who wants more of that? In II Peter 3:18, Peter tells us "to grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This is the theme of the Bible, to grow into the likeness of Christ. We need to embrace change and know that everything we do in this life will somehow be transferred to the next which is when the real living begins. That is a change I cannot wait for.
QUICK HOME: 1. With sadness Pat is going home this week. Please pray for him to be able to stay strong and not lose what he gained the last two years at the Quicks. Pray he will grow into a strong man and one who knows the Lord. Pray his mom will see her own emotional sickness and get the help she needs.
2. Tomorrow (Tuesday) the baby will be going to court (At about 9:00 am) to see if she goes home. Pray for a new judge (which is possible), for God's hand on her and the hearts of all involved.
We need to pray for a miracle. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. 3. Pray for the John and Bob as the summer starts and their lives are still up in the air about where they could live.
KEENON HOME: 4. Pray for Margie. She has been very stressed lately and been acting impulsively. Unfortunately many times people try to take advantage of her and she cannot see it. People are always offering "deals" to her in regards to her living arrangements but they are never a deal. So, about every month we end up discussing about why she should not go and then it looks to her like we are holding her back.
This is the main reason she needs to live with someone who can help her make decisions. Pray for her to feel God's love for her and for her to trust him about these matters.
5. Something seems to be going on with Melissa in a good way. There seems to be some thought processes changing. We don't want to guess what God is doing inside her but we would like to uplift her in prayer. Her seizures don't seem to be getting any better. Her mom is coming to stay with her in eleven days for a week while we go to California for a Rotary convention. Pray for them both. Her mom is not a very willing learner. She told Melissa she was going to bring a cookbook, when she comes, so they could cook all week. Her daughter has had an eating disorder for twelve years. Do you see the problem?
6. There is a woman, who we feel, needs to come live with us to get out of an abusive situation. She would be a good fit with Margie and Melissa. She is one of our first foster daughters and she has a mental illness that is under control. She is forty-one years old. She first lived with us when she was sixteen. She is having a hard time making the decision to move. She has been with this man for about eighteen years but is not married. Paul spends many hours with her weekly and ministers to her many medical needs by driving her to counseling, doctor and hospital appointments. Pray for her and us to know what the right thing to do is.
Enjoy the changes this week and thank Jesus for them all.
In Christ's Service for the Community,
Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.
