Preparation...

I'm not sure how you really prepare yourself for what lies ahead.

None of us really know (even when we think we do!) what's around the next corner, what lies on the agenda for the next day, or on the next month's calendar.

Sometimes in effort to prepare for what we can't really prepare for, we get fearful, anxious and impatient.

But really, the only way to prepare yourself, for anything, is to place your trust in the Lord. Because He IS the ONE that is around every corner, a part of every day, and on every calendar page. And we can count on Him even in the preparations, even in the unknown.

"Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday
and today
and forever"
Hebrews 13:8

We are trusting Him as we gear up for David's surgery, fast approaching on Friday, February 20th at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

If you are interested in ministering to the Baker family these next few weeks, we are so thankful for you! There are lots of ways you can be a blessing to them - the main one is simple, and you can do it anywhere, anytime.

Pray for them. Go before the Throne of grace with confidence and beg God to have mercy, extend grace and show favor on David Baker - & on his family.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

The second way you can bless this family is also simple...and you can do it almost anywhere and most certainly at any time!

Encourage them. Your blog comments are a great encouragement. Just knowing you have been on the blog and are reading/praying for David is an encouragement. When they hear that your friends, or your office, or your students, or your family is praying, it is an encouragement. When you leave a Scripture that you have prayed over them, it is an encouragement.

The third way you can bless the Bakers is by visiting them at the hospital...many of you came in December to read Scripture with the family and pray for Dr. Chen, the nurses & David during his surgeries. This surgery will start early Friday morning and is as intense or even more intense than the first surgery. Your presence and focused attention on the Lord, David, Matt & Kathe, Austin & Lauren, & Barbara is a blessing.

There are lots of other ways you can bless the fam - you can make signs, write letters, sing songs, do a dance, shave your head, you guys know the drill - you came out in full force in December and the Bakers, as you know, are truly humbled by you and grateful for you...

But the last way I want to mention is that of the blessing of meals at the hospital. Whether David is in the hospital three days after the surgery or three weeks, the Bakers will need to eat and be nourished! Once again, Sally Goodwin has volunteered to lead this great ministry to the Bakers and so once again I wanted you all to have her contact info. Please get in touch with her if you would like to bring a meal up to the hospital...

Sally Goodwin
smolly1234@aol.com
713.303.1183-c
713.665.5155-h

We ARE preparing this week by trusting Him! He is the Prince of Peace and we pray for His peace that passes all understand and goes beyond any human preparations.

"And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7