tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post7493992374499832033..comments2024-01-01T18:39:00.682-05:00Comments on Wrestling with an Angel: There is Hope!Greg Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450685964958516936noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-48295230285320928702012-03-29T17:26:55.404-04:002012-03-29T17:26:55.404-04:00It takes me much longer to recover too. A 1 hour ...It takes me much longer to recover too. A 1 hour incident requires the entire day. Be patient with yourself and I will pray for you in this dark time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-59063298326600338582012-03-29T14:34:54.065-04:002012-03-29T14:34:54.065-04:00I know this darkness well and am in the dark valle...I know this darkness well and am in the dark valley right now. I struggle to keep it together to care for my family. Our middle son, DS19, is on the autistic spectrum, but his primary diagnosis is bipolar. Spring is always a tough time for him and he swung into a mixed episode with anger and raging. We spent 5 hours at Psych ER but there were no beds available. So we were sent home to do "psych hospital at home"! ...despite the fact that DS12 attempted to run away from home twice the night before (following his brother's rage at him) saying "I just can't live with him anymore". No one, I mean, no one, knows how difficult the day-to-day living is. My son's meds were adjusted; he's seen his doctors, and he's stabilizing. It's taking me much longer to recover!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-24308338509818940222012-03-24T15:58:18.632-04:002012-03-24T15:58:18.632-04:00I have severl friends that have children or grandc...I have severl friends that have children or grandchildren with Autism, and I know so little about it ...I ran across your blog today and read the story of the mother and the child loss of life....sad sad sad....It broke my heart....Foppe VanderZwaag comment struck home with me ....for we all know and have experiences times in our life that we have had the "Beauty for Ashes" seasons....I will continue to follow your blog that I may learn more...tomorrow it may be one of mine! It is a sad thing that we do not offer ourselves to learning of such hardships until it has found its way onto our front porch....I will be back....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-27239494881093497562012-03-14T13:46:11.532-04:002012-03-14T13:46:11.532-04:00I learn so much by visiting this blog, and for thi...I learn so much by visiting this blog, and for this I thank you sir.<br />I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while now and would like to invite you to visit and perhaps follow me back. Sorry I took so long for the invitation.Covnitkepr1https://www.blogger.com/profile/14155059748601952927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-61180842915741677952012-03-14T06:47:26.635-04:002012-03-14T06:47:26.635-04:00I hav read this story and can readily believe the...I hav read this story and can readily believe the awful feeling of helplessness that must prevail for the sad parents. I wonder if churches have a ministry for praying and anointing these poor souls who are strugling with these disabilities. Darkness is caused by the dark ones and who knows best how to push that back. The verses above are all a blessing, some have been a help to me. Bless you as you try to get above itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-18819788256952668632012-03-13T10:07:32.791-04:002012-03-13T10:07:32.791-04:00Dear Greg, I have not written you before, but read...Dear Greg, I have not written you before, but read several of your blogs. Would love to read more, but time... As you listed some other bloggers to bring out the same message I though to forward this link to you. It's about a family in our church with a severely disabled child and how they have by God's grace coped with it and flourished. The mother, Kara, recently spoke to the women in our church. I thought you'd want to hear it and pas it on for others to hear it too. Here it is, as posted on her blog "En Route": http://www.karadedert.com/?p=643 her title: "Beauty for Ashes." In and for Christ, Foppe VanderZwaagFoppe VanderZwaaghttp://hnrc.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-1068495020871390732012-03-12T22:29:32.019-04:002012-03-12T22:29:32.019-04:00Thank you for the article. My son is 13 and an Asp...Thank you for the article. My son is 13 and an Aspie. Each day he pushes the limits and beyond of our patience but when I honestly look back I see the Lord's hand in shaping me, sanctifying me toward Christ likeness through him. There are times I weep aloud for him or because of him but there are more I laugh out loud and rejoice in God's mighty work. My son is the best thing to ever happen to us. We would not be a family without his quirkiness. It is all on how you view your child. Each day we remind ourselves how blessed we are to have children and even more so how blessed we are to have been selected to be in the Lamb's book of Life. Our hope is in Christ and not in this earth or these bodies. When our path takes down to a deep valley and our despair climbs we need to remember that the Light came into the world and the darkness can not extinguish it. Oddly enough it is when I am in the deep valleys that our son is teaching me about forgiveness, humility and meekness. At that moment I realize it is because I have forgotten to exhibit one or more of those qualities that I ended up there. As parents of autistic kids we face an unbearable marathon raising them but, as sons and daughters in Christ we have a Father who gives us enough grace to meet the challenge each day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-34061239488615280512012-03-12T13:54:08.784-04:002012-03-12T13:54:08.784-04:00Thanks for this post, Greg. It's a powerful on...Thanks for this post, Greg. It's a powerful one. I coordinate the special needs ministry at my church and was a special education teacher before that, so I've been involved in the special needs community for a while now. However, we'll enter in a new way this summer when we bring home Zoe Amanda from Taiwan. She has chubby cheeks, a precious smile, and some areas of brain damage that will result in some degree of cerebral palsy. We realize that we may have days when we struggle to cling to the hope we know in Christ, but we are so excited to bring her home!Shannon Dinglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15543694169981722740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-17255600195350993022012-03-12T13:48:51.133-04:002012-03-12T13:48:51.133-04:00Anna, I coordinate the special needs ministry for ...Anna, I coordinate the special needs ministry for my church (Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC). Greg has shared some amazing resources already, but if you or your church needs one more, feel free to contact me. My blog is www.theworksofgoddisplayed.com.Shannon Dinglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15543694169981722740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-52164383507772148732012-03-10T11:50:57.734-05:002012-03-10T11:50:57.734-05:00Anna,
Joni's new book on "Hope" is...Anna, <br /><br />Joni's new book on "Hope" is a great tool to read and share. Also check out The Elisha Foundation. Much like Joni's ministry on a smaller, more intimate scale.Greg Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450685964958516936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284834466051368126.post-33510626346048793682012-03-09T18:30:36.309-05:002012-03-09T18:30:36.309-05:00I have to tell you, After walking through a diffic...I have to tell you, After walking through a difficult year with my oldest daughter, now that we are more on the other side than not..... her word for this year is hope. I know that you werent speaking actually towards us, or her situation.( young married now divorced -no fault of her own) This post has given me comfort today. Also, thank you for reminding me of another ministry deep in the recesses of my heart/mind and bringing it back to light. We have several families in our church family with children from birth to thirites with varying special needs. I have shown the staff about Joni's resources and need to bring it up. Again. and again. and again. Blessings~Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05452607521750848540noreply@blogger.com