Life & Prayer

I have found myself reflective over the past week as we have received heartbreaking news from several people we love. On Wednesday we received an email from our dear friends Deb and Josh Lauer in St. Louis concerning their son Noah. We met Deb through our church there, Greentree Community Church. Deb quickly became a sweet friend. We were so excited for her when God brought Josh into her life. Deb and Josh have been faithful supportors of our ministry here in Boulder. We celebrated with them, from afar, the birth of their son Noah last year. I have kept up with them through their blog (which I haved added to my friends list). The email we received on Wednesday was letting us know that Noah has a rare genetic disorder that is causing a degeneration of the white matter of his brain. The disorder is in a category called leukodystrophies, but they don't know which type. There is no treatment of this disorder, only a management of the symptoms as they develop. Life expectancy cannot be predicted at this time, but is unlikely to exceed 10 years. Please pray for these friends for God's strength and comfort during this time. Pray for Deb as Josh is in Alabama starting a new job and pray for Josh as he is away from his family. Deb and Josh are holding on to the promises of God and have already seen his provision to them during this time.

The second heartbreaking news we received this week was from a young man in our All Souls community whose mother passed away. She had been battling cancer for the past year and a half. He had gone home to be with her and had just recently come back to Boulder to pack up his apartment and move back to Syracuse to be with her. She died while he was here. He came by the house the night she passed away and my heart just broke for him. As we sat and cried with him I was so thankful that the Lord had put him in our lives and that we were able to offer some comfort during this time. Please pray for Andrew as he is back with his father and that God will give him wisdom and comfort during this time.

We live in a fallen and broken world. This is not how it was supposed to be. But this is what we have until Jesus returns. Until then He gives us community in which to live and minister to. Deb and Josh are leaving a community who is loving them well and I am trusting that God will provide community for them in Alabama. Andrew has a community here in Boulder who loves him and will be there for him. We have a God who sees our sorrow and pain. During this time as we move through lent toward the cross my prayer is that we see the sacrifice that was made for us so that one day we will live in glory where there is no more heartache, suffering and death. Come Lord Jesus come!