Happy Easter to our Break the Grey family! I hope you all are having a blessed day remembering hope and rescue. I had a few thoughts to share with you all in honor of this day:
Last Sunday at Genesis Church (my church home while away at school) Paul Mumaw, our lead pastor, preached the last sermon in his "Red Letter Day" series about the words of Jesus uttered from the cross. The last phrase He said was, "It is finished," which in the Greek is one word: "Tetelestai." It means, "to end, to complete, to discharge a debt." This word was used in only three contexts:
1. A servant who had finished his work (Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 52:13-ch. 53)
2. A merchant who had paid his debt (Colossians 2:13-15)
3. A priest after examining and approving a lamb for sacrifice (Hebrews 4:14-5:10; 7:23-ch. 8)
(See the verses in parenthesis to draw connections between this word uttered from Jesus' lips and how He is described throughout Scripture.)
When Jesus uttered this phrase - tetelestai - on the cross, the debt had been paid in full. The wrath of the Father that was intended for us - yes, indeed, for the cross was intended for us - was completely satisfied in Jesus' sacrifice. His atoning work was finished. We were ransomed in that moment.
Paul, our pastor, talked about the emphasis that is placed, especially around this time of year, on the blood of Jesus. Why blood? What is so significant about blood? Hebrews 9:22 gives us the answer:
"Under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (ESV)
In the Old Testament, sacrifices had to be made to atone for sin. Blood had to be spilled in order for the debt to be paid: a life for a life.
It reminded me of a time when I was about 13 or 14-years-old and I was inpatient on 7 West at Kosair Children's Hospital. I was pretty sick and I needed blood drawn and an IV placed. The results of my blood tests would tell us how well (or not) my kidney was working and if I my infection had spread to my blood. The tests were crucial.
Anyway, I am a very hard stick. My nurse had stuck me multiple times to draw this blood and she couldn't get it. It was hours past when the tests were supposed to be run, and my medical team was not happy. One of my doctors actually came into my room to watch her draw the blood.
Finally, she got the blood! Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. My patience was wearing thin, and I was so glad to be done.
Then, she dropped the syringe.
As she went to transfer my blood from the syringe to the tubes, she dropped all of it.
Blood went everywhere.
Bright red stains covered the white sheets and the white tile floor.
Since it had all been lost, we had to start over again. I remember in that moment as I gathered myself and prepared to endure more pain, thinking about the blood of Jesus. If my blood was this important, and if spilling it had such dire consequences, how much more power did the blood of my Savior hold?
Because the blood of Jesus covers all of my sins and cancels all of my debts, nothing separates me any longer from the love of my Heavenly Father.
Not my sins.
Not kidney disease, immune deficiency, or needle pokes.
Not even childhood cancer.
No - Jesus' blood covers even that.
I love the way Eugene Peterson paraphrases Romans 8:31-39:
"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? ... The One who died for us - who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (emphasis mine)
That is not to say that those things - kidney disease, immune deficiency, childhood cancer - don't matter or are not hard.
That is to say that even so, His love endures forever because of the blood of Jesus on the cross.
So even though it is hard, be encouraged. Look to the cross. May it remind you that God is good, and He is with you, and He is for you. And, in the end, He wins.
We ended the service last Sunday by singing "Our God" by Chris Tomlin:
"Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against?"
Yes, indeed: our God is greater, stronger, higher. And He triumphs in the end - yes, even over childhood cancer.
This Easter, take heart. Be encouraged. Look to the cross - for there you will find a love relentless and a hope unswerving.
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Patrick Family
A while back I received an e-mail via Break the Grey's 'contact us' page. It was from the Patrick family in Georgia. They were requesting prayers for 14-year-old Nick Patrick who is fighting recurrent PNET (a rare type of childhood brain cancer).
Shortly after they contacted me, Nick took a rapid turn for the worse and hospice was brought in. It looked like Nick's battle would end in the arms of Jesus. However, God seems to have different plans for him. Since then, Nick has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery. He is no longer on hospice, and has completed another round of treatments in an effort to slow tumor growth. You can watch Nick's testimony below:
His family has requested two things of Break the Grey: first is obviously prayers for Nick's complete earthly healing. Please pray that his tumors shrink and die, and that his upcoming scans show no cancer. Please also pray for strength, grace, courage, perseverance, and hope for their entire family.
Second, they have requested that cards, mail, and encouragement be sent to his younger sister, Autumn. She, like so many other siblings of children with cancer or other life-altering illnesses, has not received as much attention while her brother undergoes treatment. Any note of hope, love, and encouragement would be greatly appreciated. You can mail it to:
Autumn Patrick
210 Grassmere St.
Kingsland, GA 31548
Please add the Patrick family to your prayer list and take a moment to send some hope and encouragement their way!
Thanks for your support!
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
Shortly after they contacted me, Nick took a rapid turn for the worse and hospice was brought in. It looked like Nick's battle would end in the arms of Jesus. However, God seems to have different plans for him. Since then, Nick has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery. He is no longer on hospice, and has completed another round of treatments in an effort to slow tumor growth. You can watch Nick's testimony below:
His family has requested two things of Break the Grey: first is obviously prayers for Nick's complete earthly healing. Please pray that his tumors shrink and die, and that his upcoming scans show no cancer. Please also pray for strength, grace, courage, perseverance, and hope for their entire family.
Second, they have requested that cards, mail, and encouragement be sent to his younger sister, Autumn. She, like so many other siblings of children with cancer or other life-altering illnesses, has not received as much attention while her brother undergoes treatment. Any note of hope, love, and encouragement would be greatly appreciated. You can mail it to:
Autumn Patrick
210 Grassmere St.
Kingsland, GA 31548
Please add the Patrick family to your prayer list and take a moment to send some hope and encouragement their way!
 | ||
| The Patrick Family |
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Party Time - Take 2!
We had our annual party on the children's cancer/renal unit at Kosair Children's Hospital this past Friday, April 8. It kept getting postponed due to construction on the unit. They renovated/expanded the family room and it looks awesome! It was definitely worth the wait!
There were only about 10-15 families on the unit on Friday night. This could be counted as a good thing because there are 26 beds on 7 West and they are usually all full. However, a few of our volunteers were a little skeptical about how the party would go with the low numbers. The night was definitely a reminder that we serve a big God who is not limited to numbers. We were reminded that it is not at all about the numbers. It's about hope, love, and, most of all, it's about Jesus getting the glory.
The families that we served all had amazing stories and incredible journeys, as always. My parents and I were able to encourage a lot of families with my story (again, that's not what this is about, but it was good to be able to spread hope) and pray with them.
It seemed like everywhere we went in the hospital we were given opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ (which is, if I haven't driven it home enough already, the point of why we do what we do). We met families in the ICU and families from the heart center. We were able to connect, encourage, and pray with them in addition to the cancer and kidney kids on 7 West.
One new thing at the party this time was pottery painting! Earth and Fire Pottery donated some paint and ceramic tile squares so that the families could paint. They are being put in the kiln at Earth and Fire and will be returned to the child life specialist to be distributed to the families once they are finished. The tiles were a big hit, especially with the siblings and the younger kids. In fact, I don't know if we had any left over! Thanks so much, Kelly, for giving of your time and resources!
Special thanks also to Great Harvest Bread Company for donating loaves of bread and butter, and to Adrienne's Bakery for donating the big, colorful cookies!
Thank you to all of you who helped make this party a success, whether you prayed, volunteered, or gave financially. What you're doing is making a difference!
Please continue to pray for all of the families that we met - for peace, grace, strength, courage, joy, endurance, and hope. Glory to God alone.
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
There were only about 10-15 families on the unit on Friday night. This could be counted as a good thing because there are 26 beds on 7 West and they are usually all full. However, a few of our volunteers were a little skeptical about how the party would go with the low numbers. The night was definitely a reminder that we serve a big God who is not limited to numbers. We were reminded that it is not at all about the numbers. It's about hope, love, and, most of all, it's about Jesus getting the glory.
The families that we served all had amazing stories and incredible journeys, as always. My parents and I were able to encourage a lot of families with my story (again, that's not what this is about, but it was good to be able to spread hope) and pray with them.
It seemed like everywhere we went in the hospital we were given opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ (which is, if I haven't driven it home enough already, the point of why we do what we do). We met families in the ICU and families from the heart center. We were able to connect, encourage, and pray with them in addition to the cancer and kidney kids on 7 West.
One new thing at the party this time was pottery painting! Earth and Fire Pottery donated some paint and ceramic tile squares so that the families could paint. They are being put in the kiln at Earth and Fire and will be returned to the child life specialist to be distributed to the families once they are finished. The tiles were a big hit, especially with the siblings and the younger kids. In fact, I don't know if we had any left over! Thanks so much, Kelly, for giving of your time and resources!
Special thanks also to Great Harvest Bread Company for donating loaves of bread and butter, and to Adrienne's Bakery for donating the big, colorful cookies!
Thank you to all of you who helped make this party a success, whether you prayed, volunteered, or gave financially. What you're doing is making a difference!
Please continue to pray for all of the families that we met - for peace, grace, strength, courage, joy, endurance, and hope. Glory to God alone.
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tonight
I've been meaning to write before now, but this week has just gotten away from me. We are having our annual party at Kosair Children's Hospital tonight after having to reschedule it due to construction on the unit. The kids' cancer center now has a new family room, and we get to use it for our party! I'm excited to see what's been done and to hang out and love on more families!
What I'm asking you all to do, of course, is pray! Some specific requests are as follows:
1. For the parents we will encounter and minister to at the party - for peace, comfort, hope, encouragement, and strength.
What I'm asking you all to do, of course, is pray! Some specific requests are as follows:
1. For the parents we will encounter and minister to at the party - for peace, comfort, hope, encouragement, and strength.
2. For the siblings - for peace, comfort, hope, encouragement, and strength.
3. For the children fighting cancer or other life-threatening illness - for peace, comfort, hope, encouragement, courage, and complete earthly healing.
4. For all involved in the medical care of these children - nurses, doctors, and other staff - for wisdom, guidance, discernment, compassion, and peace.
5. That all who encounter Break the Grey in some way will be blessed by the love and hope of Jesus Christ. Please pray that God would prepare their hearts even now to receive His message of hope and love, even in the face of devastating illness.
6. That God would continue to open doors as we go about making last minute plans and preparations, and as we throw the party; that God would bless us with opportunities to share the hope, comfort, healing, peace, and encouragement of Jesus Christ.
7. That all of our needs would be met - that God would provide enough parent gift baskets, sibling and patient bundles, and food to minister to each and every family that comes to the parties.
8. For the volunteers that will be serving at the party - that God would give us the words to say and the ears to listen; that everything that we say and do would be reflective of Christ in us, and His hope in their darkness.
9. For specific opportunities to share the gospel, and that we would have the courage to be bold and speak up.
10. That any and all glory, honor, and praise attributed to Break the Grey would be God's and God's alone.
Additionally, we have a few prayer requests for some of the individual families that we serve:
Please pray for Patrick. He is in treatment for relapsed leukemia, and his chemotherapy drugs have had some particularly vicious side effects lately. Please pray that the side effects would be minimized, that the cancer would remain in remission, and that God would provide his family with strength and endurance.
Please say a prayer of thanks for Emily! She recently had a check up and all of her counts are great! She is doing wonderful, and is almost one whole year since her bone marrow transplant (April 16)!
Please pray for JP. JP has been in the hospital for so, so long and continues to be very sick. Please pray for wisdom for his medical team and all involved with his care. Please pray for peace, comfort, strength, endurance, encouragement, joy, and hope for his family.
Please pray for two of our newer families: Gisele and Nick. Gisele is in the midst of treatment right now for rhabdomyosarcoma, and is set to finish in June. Nick has multiple brain tumors and has been sent home on hospice. However, he seems to be making a miraculous recovery and stunning his medical team as he makes strides each day. Please pray for his complete earthly healing and for his family.
As always, thank you so much for all of your prayers! They really do make a difference in what we do and in the lives of our families.
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
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