The Kenney's Christmas

As many of you know, my wife is presently battling a recurrance of stage 4 cancer - most recently metastacizing in her bones - primarily in her ribs and right leg. She has been in a lot of pain and homebound for the past couple of weeks. As a result of trying to find the most effective medications to ease her pain we went thru a horrible few days of bad reactions - and it all happened right thru Christmas. She couldn't leave the house and missed all the visiting and feasting and opening of presents - which she always looks so forward to. It was crazy and scary.


Thru it all, we were blessed to have both our kids, Jordan and Noelle, with us. Noelle video taped all the parties so Joyce could enjoy watching the grandkids opening their gifts.


We now have stabilized somewhat and are getting a handle on most of her pain - as she prepares for chemo this Thursday.



It's been hard to think very far ahead - especially for the church. But God helped me with the message on Sunday to share my heart for CCE in 2007. That message should be posted to our website in the next day or two.

Hope you all have a blessed and fruitful new year!

In His Arm's, Pat

Jan.1 Gen. 1-3; Mt. 1

Yesterday, I challenged the church to read thru the entire Bible in 2007. Hope you can join along and glean from comments given to bless your own study.

Just a couple of notes on Genesis as we begin a new year and a new journey thru the Word of God. This year I'll be using the reading guide in the Daily Bread. I"ll note the text to be read at the top of each daily blog and try to include a couple of devotional thoughts from my previous studies and present reading.

Genesis is the book upon which all subsequent revelation rests. It recalls the creation of the world, Adam and Eve's fall into sin and the resulting curse, and God's plan to bring redemption and blessing to the world through the descendants of one man, Abraham. It gives the story of beginnings - the beginnings of the world, the plague of sin, the nation of Israel, and the history of salvation.

Genesis shows us the origins of: the universe, order and complexity, the solar system, the atmosphere and hydrosphere, the origin of life, man, marriage, evil, language, government, culture, nations, religion.

Genesis is important to the New Testament. There are at least 165 passages in Genesis either directly quoted or clearly referred to in the New Testament; many of these are quoted more than once, so there are at least 200 quotations or allusions to Genesis in the New Testament.

8 Words can summarize the book: Creation, Fall, Flood, Nations, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

The first two chapters of Gen. tell us of the creation of the universe and of man.

1:1 -2:6 give us a general account of creation
2:7-25 give us a specific account of the creation of man

If you can accept verse 1 of Genesis, you won't have much trouble with the rest of the book or the rest of the Bible. If you can't accept it, I won't be able to convince you of the rest.

Knowing that God created the world around us, and ourselves as part of it, is basic to true religion. God is to be praised as Creator, by reason of the marvelous order, variety, and beauty of his works. Psalms such as Psalm 104 model this praise. God is to be trusted as the sovereign LORD, with an eternal plan covering all events and destinies without exception, and with power to redeem, re-create and renew; such trust becomes rational when we remember that it is the almighty Creator that we are trusting. Realizing our moment-by-moment dependence on God the Creator for our very existence makes it appropriate to live lives of devotion, commitment, gratitude, and loyalty toward him, and scandalous not to. Godliness starts here, with God the sovereign Creator as the first focus of our thoughts.

Genesis 2 answers a basic question. What is the origin and nature of human beings? The answer is that we human beings are the special creation of God, made in His image and likeness. Our special creation gives each human being individual worth and value. Because God made us, and made us like Himself, you and I are precious beings.

In Ch. 3 we see that for Adam to be a creature of free will, there had to be a choice - some opportunity to rebel against God. If there is never a command, never something
forbidden, then there can never be choice, and God wants our love and obedience to
Him to be the love and obedience of choice.

In the spiritual and moral realm, each one of us invariably finds it easier to do wrong than right, easier to drift downward than to struggle upward. We all have a sin nature and here in Ch. 3 we find its root.

And a couple of intoductory notes to Matthew:

Mark shows us the side of the suffering servant.
Luke shows us the humanity of Jesus.
John shows us that Christ is the Son of God.

Matthew was writing to the Jews, zeroing in on Jesus the Messiah, the king of the Jews.

In writing with the Jewish student in mind, Mt. was bridging the gap, explaining how the OT prophecies are fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Mt. does this by quoting the OT constantly, much more than the other gospel writers. 129x

Matthew's approach to the way of salvation is a call to repentance for entry into the kingdom, to a committment of one's self to the King as His follower...he uses language that relates the rule of Christ to peoples lives. This means that the life of faith is to recognize Jesus as Lord and ourselves as His subjects. Faith is to confess Him as King of kings, and to commit ouselves to Him as the expression of our highest loyalty. Augsburger

Matt. introduces us to the King first with His genealogy, which, in Jewish history, was the most natural and essential way to begin the story of a man's life and to prove to Jewish readers - and skeptics of all nations that Jesus is the Messiah of Jewish hope - the promised Redeemer of all mankind.

Love to hear how God speaks to you thru your daily study of His Word! Pat

12-22-06

An update on how Joyce is doing: Starting last Tuesday evening, she began a very strong drug for her pain. Problem was, she had already been on a pretty potent and habit forming med when she switched. Her body didn't like it and by last night she was a mess - suffering acute weakness and almost withdrawal like symptoms. We decided to hold off on any more dosing of either of the drugs...and pray. She slept well thru the night and today was nearly back to normal! Only a couple of Ibuprofens and she had a real good day.

This one really was hard to watch. She was really helpless and I was a little scared. She didn't have any pain but couldn't move much from the bed or couch for 2 days. Thursday nite I had asked several folks for prayer and the brothers on the Calvary Chapel Senior Pastor's listserver to pray for us for wisdom to know what to do. 24 hours later she's still doing fine and our suspicions of way to much medication in her system was confirmed by one of our oncology nurses. Again God helped us thru a difficult situation and I just want to give thanks this evening for your prayers and His supply of wisdom.

Our daughter, Noelle, is home for Christmas and has been such a great help and encouragement - and a good TV partner for Joyce! She's a performer for Princess Cruise Lines and was able to leave her ship for this week and be with us - another thing we are so greatful for. That's her on the right with her fiance, Paul.

Hope you all have a very blessed Christmas if I don't post again before Monday. We love you all and are blessed beyond words at all the encouragement and prayer we have recieved. Our cup runneth over!

He is the Reason!

Pat

12-19-06

Joyce had her Oncology appt. this morning and tho her cancer is spreading, we still have options to fight it. It had spread in her right leg and has started attacking a few of her ribs. Her abdominal lymph nodes are enlarged too indicating active spread of the disease. On the plus side, her liver is still clean and she has new meds to fight the pain. Also, starting Jan. 4th she will start a new regemine of chemo. She will only have to recieve an infusion once a month and this drug usually does not result in hair loss. We'll also be able to get her treatments done locally in San Marcos rather than having to drive down to San Diego.

Because this is the second series of treatments since her breast cancer metasticized, the statistics of success are cut in half from the first series. In the first, there was 50% chance of success - which she had for 6 months. In the second it drops to 25%, the third time to 12.5%, etc. So we continue the fight and she and I are doing OK with all of it. We were preparing for the worst and this is not the worst. SO we fight and pray and live!

Thanks to all who have continued to pray for Joyce and I and our family and our church!

God has many good things ahead as we keep focused on Him.

2 Pet 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.(NKJ)

In His Arm's, Pat

12-19-06

On Tuesday morning Joyce meets with her oncologist. We're not real optimistic because she has been in pain and fatigue nearly every day the past few months. We'll get the results of her recent scans and mri's and blood work - and the docs recommendation for treatment.



We both have a peace this evening that no matter what we find out, God is in control. He'll be with us thru whatever is ahead.



I do have some concern about my own medical drama with the A-fib heart problem. Last post i mentioned my meeting with the cardiologist and his changing the meds I was taking for the past month to keep the ticker under control. Well, two days later, last Friday, I didn't like the way i was feeling and went back to the med he took me off of. It helped immediately but today he was insistent I stop the med and he gave me something different - and wants another EKG in a week. So while I'm struggling with Joyce's battle, this thing is lurking in the shadows.



Of course, I need to apply the same trust that God is in control of me too!





The season of Christmas has always been very special for Joyce, and even more so since our first grandchild, Kaylee, came along 4 years ago on the 20th of Dec. and our second granchild, Brooklynn, last September. So we have birthday parties and Christmas gatherings and Sunday services to prepare for and enjoy. We do need strength and peace. I'll post tomorrow what we find out about Joyce!



In His Arm's, Pat

12-13-06

Just a short not to let you all know my appt. with the cardiologist went well today. My A-fib is mild, my medications were changed a bit and I don't have to see the doc for 6 to 8 months! One less thing to worry about :-)

Joyce and her Women's Bible Study group saw the new film, "The Nativity" last night and really enjoyed it and highly recommend it as a very accurate portrayal of the events surrounding the birth of our Savior.

12-6-06

Last week was a little crazy. Joyce had her brain MRI on the 30th and I had my echo stress test for my heart on Friday. We see our respective specialists in a couple of weeks to discuss the results. Saturday Mark and I did a memorial service for a dear sister in the Lord, Evelyn Szandzik, who recently passed away. Sunday's services were sweet but busy. On top of it all, Joyce had a rough weekend - lots of pain - tho the last couple of days have been better for her.

I confess I had a hard time for a while there dealing with her pain. I couldn't understand why God was allowing this - in spite of the huge amount of prayer being lifted up for her - it was just a very frustrating couple of days. I'm learning there just are things I want to understand that are impossible to understand! And even if I could understand why God is permitting all this I probably wouldn't be satisfied. It's like, I don't care what God's purposes are in all of this - just help her not to hurt. I guess I was a little angry - it didn't last long - thankfully.

I know the Lord loves us and He is holding us closer than we could ever concieve. I know suffering is a normal part of life and that it deepens our love for each other and our trust in the Lord. I find myself leaning on my own understanding instead of trusting in Him and that always gets me in trouble. I'm continually reminded of Isaiah 55 -

Isa 55:99 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.(NKJ)

So today I'm at peace, leaving my fears and frustrations in His hands, and trying to remember all the lessons I've already learned over the past 3 years...which in itself is a great blessing.
When Joyce began this journey with breast cancer we were so fearful she wouldn't make it past a few months - and its been 37 months - over 3 years - and for that and all we have experienced and recieved over that time we are thankful....and there's still more to come!

Blessings! Pat

11-29-06

I had a very blessed time this past Sunday teaching at Calvary Chapel Montebello. The Lord sustained me with my sore back, ragged voice, and fibrilatin' ticker! Since I was talking about suffering and storms in life, I guess it all fit. This week, Joyce has to have a brain MRI and I have my cardiac stress test. Yippie!!

I've been reading in 2 Thessalonians this morning and got focused on a short prayer Paul prayed for the believers in that area who were under a lot of pressure - and it really ministered to me!

II Th 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (NKJ)

Notice the type of encouragement Paul is praying for here. Eternal encouragement and good hope. That's encouragement that gives us hope for now and the future.

This is possible because Jesus our Savior and God our Father loved us and gave us such encouragement and hope. Any other basis for hope will fail.

May "good hope by grace" be your's today in whatever pressure you may be facing!

Blessings! Pat

11-24-06

I would appreciate prayer for this Sunday 11-26. Pastor Pancho Juarez asked me to teach at CC Montebello this Sunday. Miles will be covering for me at CC Escondido.
They have 3 morning services and I'm planning on teaching from Mark 4:35-41 - "Calm in the Storm"

I came across this old poem that relates to my subject this Sunday. Hope it blesses you as it did me:

He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' disappointments come and hope burns dim,
He never fails.
Tho' trials surge like stormy seas around,
Tho' testings fierce like ambushed foes abound,
Yet this my soul, with millions more has found,
He never fails; He never fails.
He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' angry skies with thunder-clouds grow grim,
He never fails.
Tho' icy blasts life's fairest flow'rs lay low,
Tho' earthly springs of joy all cease to flow,
Yet still 'tis true, with millions more I know,
He never fails; He never fails.
He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' sorrow's cup should overflow the brim,
He never fails.
Tho' oft the pilgrim way seems rough and long,
I yet shall stand amid yon white-robed throng,
And there I'll sing, with millions more, this song--
He never fails; He never fails.
by J.S. Baxter, Explore The Book.

Joyce and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Pat

11-22-06

Sorry I haven't been posting to my blog the past couple of weeks! Since the incident of my a-fib heart, we've been back and forth to doctor's - both Joyce and I.
Joyce still has one more MRI till she meets again with her oncologist. I have a stress test for my heart next week - I could have told them I already have stress and don't need to be tested for it :-) So that along with a staff pastors retreat last weekend and just a very full calendar have kept me from writing - again my apologies!

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving and I am so blessed - even in the trials - for all that God has done in my life this past year. He has sustained Joyce thru a very difficult year. He has sustained Calvary Escondido as well. The following verses have been a special comfort and challenge for me.

Col 3:15-17
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJ)

May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving Day! Agape! Pat

11-12-06

Got a bit of a surprise Thursday afternoon. Went for an appointment to my HMO to have evaluated some shortness of breath and elevated heart rate incidents I've been having lately...ended up being taken by paramedics to Palomar Hospital's ER. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a condition due to a disturbance in the electrical pathways of the heart. The ER doc gave me prescriptions for some new meds and sent me home that evening. He said my bloodwork indicated my heart was healthy - it showed no sign of a heart attack - but I do need to follow up with my regular doc to try and determine what's causing the irregular pattern of heart beats.

He said one of the causes could be anxiety or stress...I said, "Duh!"

I do want to thank all of you who have been commenting on my blog - and a special thanks for all you who have been praying for Joyce and I as we go thru these crazy times. God bless you all! Pat

11-9-06

Busy last few days! Keeping up a daily blog probably was an unrealistic expectation!

But like the cloud and pillar of fire that led the children of Israel in their time in the wilderness, sometimes they camped only a day - other times a week or a month, even a year. Hopefully my posts won't be a year apart - but once or twice a week I'll try for.

This week we experienced democracy in action as the nation elected a largely Democratic slate to the House and Senate - thus peacefully shifting the balance of power. Also, many state propositions failed including Prop. 85 which would have mandated parental notification of a minor seeking an abortion. For some, this was a dark day. But as I was thinking about it all - really nothing changes as to our mission and witness.

We're still called to pray for those who rule over us - whether we agree with their politics or not. If you'ld like to look at this a little closer, here is the link to my study in Romans 13 from a few years ago, where I dealt with the believers response to current government - just click on the highlighted Romans 13.

I suppose many are wondering if God really hears their prayers - we pray for godly leaders and God honoring initiatives and legislation - and instead we so often get the opposite! But that's only because we just see whats in front of us and then react to it - when in reality, God see's everything that's ahead and knows how it all fits together - how it all works together. God has put you and I in our particular communities, states and nations to be a light and an example of real-time godliness. It really isn't so important as to which of man's government is ruling at any particular time. Governments change but our God's mercy, goodness, righteousness, truth, faithfulness, righteous judgements, and name endures forever.

May we not lose heart as we serve the One True God and may He use each of us as an example of His amazing grace and love.

Blessings! Pat

From Mystery to Ministry

I came across an interesting post about sayings that we often accept as biblical which really are not. The one that caught my attention was: "God will never give you more than you can bear." I have to admit I've thought of that quite often the past 3 years in particular.

Typically this is confused with 1 Corinthians 10:13 which states that "...God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

The word used for tempted in the Greek is "peirazo" which can mean "to try or test one's faith, virtue, or character, by enticement to sin; to solicit to sin, to tempt; used of the temptations of the Devil. This seems to be the context of 1 Cor. 10.

But it does not say that we won't go thru hard times or extremely difficult trial that we would feel we could not bear.

Consider 2 Corinthians 1 :8 "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life."(NKJ)

Paul is saying "Now, here's what we went thru brothers! We have been thru the fire! This walk has not been a stroll in the park....."

Let's take off the blinders here....there was trouble, affliction, hardship as we ministered in Asia....the word speaks of a pressing together...

We don't want you to be unaware of the realities of the battle...

We were burdened beyond measure...above strength

Burdened: pressed down from outside circumstances

Beyond measure: beyond our power

Phillips Translation: At that time we were completely overwhelmed, the burden was more than we could bear, in fact we told ourselves that this was the end.

I know of many folks who, because life was hard and circumstances were overwhelming, forsook the Lord, saying, "well, He said he wouldn't give me more than I could bear - and He did; so He lied to me." God never said that! I don't want to make the same mistake! The hard realities of life are not the same as the attempts of satan to solicit us to sin, which 1Cor 10:13 is talking about.

In fact, all the things Paul and his team endured, tho they felt they were at deaths doorstep, brought them to a place where they learned not to trust in themselves but in God who raises the dead. 2Cor1:9

The result of those difficult seasons was greater ministry. Alan Redpath once said,
"Have you ever faced things like this? Where your imaginations and dreams turned to
valley's of dry bones? Where your walk, once vibrant, has become stale...and it all
seems to be a complete mystery? I wonder if the Lord is going to bring thru these
verses new light upon your experience because He wants to turn the mystery of that
experience into ministry."

Pastor Chuck Smith once said, "It takes more faith to make a total commitment to God and to rest in whatever He chooses to do with us, than it does to demand that He heal us and to put conditions on our service to Him."

I'm learning that God hasn't left me or failed me because I am in a hard, even unbearble season in life. If you are facing similar mountains today, I pray as you trust the Lord he will turn the mystery into ministry!

Blessings! Pat

10-30-06

Joyce and I got away Thurs thru Sat. lastweek. The staff had blessed us with a two nite stay at the Blue Lantern Inn up in Dana Point for our 25th Anniversary at CCE, which was back in July. We finally were able to use it and we had a wonderful time.

We're doing good with all the emotions surrounding the possible recurrance of Joyce's cancer. We just have to deal with each day fresh. The Lord is so good to us - truly His mercies are new every morning!

Today I was reading about Paul and Silas in Acts 16 and their imprisonment in the Philippian jail. They had been faithfully serving the Lord and proclaiming the Gospel in Philippi when they were arrested, beaten and thrown into the prison with their feet fastened in the stocks. No doubt they were physically hurting and probably emotional beat up too, yet at midnight they were praying and singing and the other prisoners were listening. You know the rest of the story. A strong earthquake hit and shook them free from the chains and their ministry continued.

In the bleakest of circumstances God was at work whether they "felt it" or not. That just ministered to my heart to continue praying and singing - not praying and worrying but praying with joy and peace in my heart, not forgetting that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think - even while fighting cancer and pastoring the church. Our God is an awesome God! Pat

10-24-06

Well here we go again. More opportunities to trust and grow in the things God has for us. Our oncologist has ordered new testing for Joyce - CT and Bone scan and brain MRI. Her tumor marker count went up, doubling from 2 months ago, so it's likely, barring Divine Intervention, that she will be starting chemo again soon.
We'll be scheduling all the tests by early next week and then meet again with the doc in December to discuss the best way to continue the fight.

Thanks to all who have been praying - please don't stop! We're both doing better this time. We're learning not to project too far ahead because our tendency is to be fearful about things that haven't happened.

God does hear all our prayers and cares more than we know about all this. How He chooses to answer is often beyond our understanding...but were not to lean on our own understanding anyway.

On another note, thought you might like a pic of our newest granddaughter, Brooklynn, born 6 weeks ago!

Blessings! Pat

10-23-06

Thanks to all who were praying this past weekend. Joyce did well at the retreat and was blessed on how well it went and was thankful for the many spirit-led conversations. I, of course, was glad to have her back home. Even tho she was only gone for two days the house felt empty.

The memorial service was a challenge but it really went very well. There were a lot of folks who I hadn't seen or talked to for 15 years or more. God helped me deliver a message of compassion and He helped me present the Gospel clearly. Candy Ferner helped with the music and she sang beautifully.

I haven't talked with anyone from our team at the street faire Sunday, but God blessed the day with clear, pleasant weather, 60,000 people, and lots of opportunities to talk with folks.

Sunday's morning message went well too as I spoke on "Dealing with Doubt." The text was about John the Baptist wondering if Jesus was really the Messiah because he had been thrown in prison by King Herod, who John had expected to be overthrown by then.

John dealt with doubt by directing his questioning right back to Jesus. Always the most important first step away from doubt or disappointment or depression is turn to Jesus. It's not a sin to doubt...just be sure you bring your questions first to Jesus.

A fellow named Cuyler back in the 19th century said, "Every step toward Christ kills a doubt. Every thought, word, and deed for Him carries you away from discouragement."

I think the Lord touched a lot of hearts thru the study. You can go to the ccesco.com website and listen to the message if you'ld like.

Anyway, all in all it was a quick weekend filled with lots of ministry so thanks for praying!

Tomorrow, Tuesday 10-24, I take Joyce back to her oncologist for her bi-monthly examination. Please pray for a good report.

In His Arm's, Pat

10-18-06

I was thinking about what I wrote yesterday and the Lord directed me to John
12:27,28.
Jesus is getting very close to the time of His death on the cross. As he is
ministering to His disciples about true servanthood, He bares His heart
about what He is facing. He says, "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall
I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this
hour. Father, glorify Your name."

The word "troubled" means agitated, stirred up; to make restless; to perplex
the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts; from Thayers Lexicon.

I can't imagine what Jesus must have been going thru. I'm sure His "agony"
began long before the Garden of Gethsemane. But how he approached the
anxiety that gripped His soul was not to escape it but place it as part of
His divine purpose for coming into this world.

There is so much in life that happens to us that we don't understand. So
many circumstances that tie our stomachs in knots. But I am learning that
thru it all, God is in control. I don't know how things will play out but
He does. If I dwell on my fears I'm a mess. If I put it in His hands and
remember that my purpose here is to bring glory to God - and let that guide
my thinking and actions - then His purposes will be accomplished and He will
be glorified. And if I have to hurt or grieve or struggle along the way,
which by the way seems a normal part of life here, then He will give the
strength to endure.

It wasn't easy for Jesus, but it was the will of God. It was Jesus' entire
purpose in life. And the same goes for each of us. Jesus said,
Matt. 10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me."

Life is not about fun and money and fulfillment in this world. It is about
the fact that Jesus gave His life for me, so I need to give my life for Him.
Jesus cared more about His purpose than His person. He lived to serve His
Father in heaven.

Rick Cathers, pastor of Calvary Chapel of Fullerton said, "The prize is in
finishing the race, not in quitting. A runner will never know just how he
might have placed in the final standings if he quits.

How do you know that the rough time you're facing isn't going to end up
being one of the "high points" in your life?

Just some things to think about today!

pat@ccesco.com

10-17-06

I am presently facing another mountain where I have to trust the Lord and
not lean on my fears. My precious wife, Joyce, is battling stage 4
metastatic breast cancer. Her cancer was declared to be in remission last
May and since then every two months she has testing done and meets with her
oncologist to monitor how she is doing. Her next meeting is next Tuesday,
10/23. The past couple of months have been marked by increased pain in her
right leg and hip and a couple other areas. It may be nerve damage and
arthritis accelerated by all the chemo she has had the past 3 years. It may
be something else and that's what looms large in my thoughts.

God has seen us thru many difficult and trying days - I am so greatful that
I know Him! My life and love has been deepened immeasurable thru this
constant onslaught. I think the most difficult part for me as a caregiver is
watching my helpmate hurt and being pretty powerless to stop it. And
perhaps it's not my place to stop it - really only the Lord can do that! My
place is to support and encourage and care and hold....and trust...and not
dwell on (lean on) my fears - Proverbs 3:5-6

pat@ccesco.com