When I was a child I used to wear glasses. I didn't like wearing them but I had to in order to see clearly. Eventually I got contacts and that was better but I still wished that I could see without any extra help. Eventually I had surgery on my eyes and that was such a blessing because after that I nearly had 20/20 vision...and yet. At times I still felt like my vision was a little blurry....until one day. I was in the hospital with Tina and because of everything that had been going on my emotions were high and my heart was heavy with sadness. As I sat in the silence staring out the window tears started to fill my eyes. I didn't try to hold back any of the tears or wipe them away and so they flowed freely...and then I noticed something. All of a sudden I could see clearer than ever before. Everything was so sharp and crisp and clear. I realized that the tears apparently caused some sort of refraction in how the light entered my eyes (similar to glasses or contacts). It was in that moment that I felt like God spoke to my heart and I realized that so many times in life our "vision" in clouded by things that really don't matter... and then pain enters our life and brings clarity to that which is most important....those we love and He who loves us more than we could ever imagine...our Heavenly Father.
Update: All of our prayers have been answered! Tina is finally Healed! This morning Tina took her last breath and is now dancing, running, laughing and smiling. I can just picture her running into the arms of Jesus. He runs towards her and lifts her up into the air and then spins her around and around like a little girl. Her hair is blowing, her eyes are glistening with joy, her smile is brighter and more vibrant than ever before. There are no more tears...no more pain...no more sickness. I can only imagine the wonders that she is seeing right now! Oh how I miss her already and yet my heart is at peace knowing that my Tina, my beautiful wife, the loving mother of Katie, my best friend is finally home in Heaven. I am assured of that fact because many years ago Tina gave her life to Jesus Christ and ever since then she has been a shining reflection of His love. Tina leaves behind her a LEGACY of this love that will last forever and so this is not the end...it is a NEW BEGINNING.
I believe with all my heart that if Tina could speak to you one last time from this blog this is what she would say..."Give your heart to Jesus and He will give you life. Do it today. He will heal you like He healed me :)" Love, Tina
Praise be to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- a messenger of God, a servant of Jesus Christ and the most blessed husband and father in the world:
Aaron martin (husband of Tina Lin Martin and father to Katie Lin Martin).
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Our Donkey
Lord, I ask that you prepare Your words for me. Holy Spirit, speak into me the works and words that lay ahead.
Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. (Psalm 27:7-10)
It seems it is always an uphill battle for the person with faith, while those who decide not to seek this life of struggles stay in the valley of satisfying themselves. I have learned that as a true believer I must walk in FAITH through ALL my struggles and learn to cry, fight my fleshly self and scream as I take 4 steps backwards and 3 steps forward! Ugh. Some days I just want to dismount myself off the donkey God provided for me; however, I know that it was and is a blessing to our family for we are able to be marketing advertisers for Christ from our donkey.
I pray that you too can see the blessing even when your faith doesn’t seem strong enough – know that God will never abandon you. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak and prepare your words and works for others to receive them.
This blog was hand written by Tina about 3 months ago, back on August 3, 2012 but it is just now being posted on this blog for the first time.
Written by Tina and typed by Aaron
Update: This week, as in weeks past, has continued to be a roller coaster of ups and downs. Have you ever noticed that life seems to be that way? Just when everything is going "great", you get that phone call or something happens at work or in your family and then you are left wondering "what happened?" And then, just as quickly as the difficult times come, you turn around and life seems to go back to "normal" and all seems to be "well again." Well, this past week Tina has really been struggling both physically, cognitively and with bouts of pain. And yet...in the midst of all that we were able to truly give thanks yesterday for all of the amazing blessings in our life that God has given us. I pray that you too can look for and see all of the amazing blessings in your life that God has given you and that you will hold on tight to Him through all of the ups and downs in this life.
aaron
Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. (Psalm 27:7-10)
It seems it is always an uphill battle for the person with faith, while those who decide not to seek this life of struggles stay in the valley of satisfying themselves. I have learned that as a true believer I must walk in FAITH through ALL my struggles and learn to cry, fight my fleshly self and scream as I take 4 steps backwards and 3 steps forward! Ugh. Some days I just want to dismount myself off the donkey God provided for me; however, I know that it was and is a blessing to our family for we are able to be marketing advertisers for Christ from our donkey.
I pray that you too can see the blessing even when your faith doesn’t seem strong enough – know that God will never abandon you. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak and prepare your words and works for others to receive them.
This blog was hand written by Tina about 3 months ago, back on August 3, 2012 but it is just now being posted on this blog for the first time.
Written by Tina and typed by Aaron
Update: This week, as in weeks past, has continued to be a roller coaster of ups and downs. Have you ever noticed that life seems to be that way? Just when everything is going "great", you get that phone call or something happens at work or in your family and then you are left wondering "what happened?" And then, just as quickly as the difficult times come, you turn around and life seems to go back to "normal" and all seems to be "well again." Well, this past week Tina has really been struggling both physically, cognitively and with bouts of pain. And yet...in the midst of all that we were able to truly give thanks yesterday for all of the amazing blessings in our life that God has given us. I pray that you too can look for and see all of the amazing blessings in your life that God has given you and that you will hold on tight to Him through all of the ups and downs in this life.
aaron
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Don't worry, Be happy...
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy...
Most of us out there have heard this song. Oh how there is so much truth in these words. As simple as they sound, they are true. God was the original author of these words. In Phillipians 4: 6, He says, "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done."
We all know that as simple as that sounds, it doesn't always seem that easy. In fact, at times, it almost seems impossible! Paul's advice to us is to turn our worries into prayers. In essence, whenever you begin to worry, stop and pray to God and thank him for all that he has done for you.
I do have to mention, the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness often times is based on our circumstances. When things are going well, finances are in place, your health is good, and maybe you are even happy while enjoying an extravagant vacation. In contrast to happiness, is joy. Joy runs much deeper and stronger than the surface circumstances that we face on a daily basis. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our life--the assurance that He will be there no matter what! Happiness is based on our circumstances, Joy is our dependence upon Christ.
The other part of that verse says, "In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double." This verse reminded me of the struggle Aaron and I have both thought about over the past few days. We have thought about whether or not we made the right decision about radiation. Which in turn has caused some doubt in our minds and seemingly made us worry more about whether or not it was the "right" decision. God's word says, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:24-26)"
As Aaron and I conversated last night, ultimately, we came into agreement that whatever decision we had made, God would honor it and protect me from anything that might harm me. We have to ultimately trust in God that the decisions we make, are what we have peace about and then give those decisions up to God. God will guard and protect you as they play out. For worrying does us no good and only doubles our trouble. We must not worry, but pray and ask God what we need and thank him for it.
Whether it is that you need peace about a decision you are making, are maybe it is that you are worried about your relationships, your job, your children and decisions they are making about their future, or even about your family's decision to turn their face away from God. God assures us that He will take care of it all. Make the decision to cast your cares upon Him today, so that you can walk in peace and joy in your life.
Over the past few days, God has impressed upon my heart to ask of you and those you know, who will truly stand in agreement with us in Christ against any negative side effects from radiation.
Pray specifically (if you can) at the time that I will receive my treatments. Thursday (April 28th) at 9 a.m. I will be receiving my first treatment. From there I will have to update you as to the next times that I will receive my treatments (as we want to change them to the late afternoon). Here are the specific possible early and late reactions (a.k.a. side effects) that could occur as a result of this procedure: Early Reactions: 1)Skin and scalp reaction with redness, irritation, scaling, blistering, ulceration change in color, thickening, hair loss 2)nausea, vomiting, headaches 3) fatigue, drowsiness 4) altered sense of taste or smell 5) Inflammation of ear canal, feeling of "stopped-up" ear, hearing loss, dizziness 6) depression of blood count leading to increased risk of infection and/or bleeding Late Reactions: 1)Permanent hair loss of variable degrees, altered re-growth texture, and color of hair 2) Persistent drowsiness 3) Brain damage causing a loss of some degree of thinking ability or memory, or personality changes 4) Scarring of Skin 5)Spinal cord or nerve damage causing loss of strength, feeling or coordination in ay part of the body 6) Damage to the eye or optic nerve causing loss of vision 7) Ear damage causing dryness of ear canal, fluid collection in middle ear, hearing loss 8) Possiblity of second cancers developing in the irradiated area.
I know that it is a "laundry list" of possible side effects; however, I know where two or more are gathered, Christ will hear our prayers. There is so much power in prayer and believers in agreement with one another. Please consider as often as possible to be praying. For I know that we serve a big God and Your prayers will make a difference! Please feel free to share with others this blog so that they too may pray.
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy...
Most of us out there have heard this song. Oh how there is so much truth in these words. As simple as they sound, they are true. God was the original author of these words. In Phillipians 4: 6, He says, "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done."
We all know that as simple as that sounds, it doesn't always seem that easy. In fact, at times, it almost seems impossible! Paul's advice to us is to turn our worries into prayers. In essence, whenever you begin to worry, stop and pray to God and thank him for all that he has done for you.
I do have to mention, the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness often times is based on our circumstances. When things are going well, finances are in place, your health is good, and maybe you are even happy while enjoying an extravagant vacation. In contrast to happiness, is joy. Joy runs much deeper and stronger than the surface circumstances that we face on a daily basis. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our life--the assurance that He will be there no matter what! Happiness is based on our circumstances, Joy is our dependence upon Christ.
The other part of that verse says, "In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double." This verse reminded me of the struggle Aaron and I have both thought about over the past few days. We have thought about whether or not we made the right decision about radiation. Which in turn has caused some doubt in our minds and seemingly made us worry more about whether or not it was the "right" decision. God's word says, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:24-26)"
As Aaron and I conversated last night, ultimately, we came into agreement that whatever decision we had made, God would honor it and protect me from anything that might harm me. We have to ultimately trust in God that the decisions we make, are what we have peace about and then give those decisions up to God. God will guard and protect you as they play out. For worrying does us no good and only doubles our trouble. We must not worry, but pray and ask God what we need and thank him for it.
Whether it is that you need peace about a decision you are making, are maybe it is that you are worried about your relationships, your job, your children and decisions they are making about their future, or even about your family's decision to turn their face away from God. God assures us that He will take care of it all. Make the decision to cast your cares upon Him today, so that you can walk in peace and joy in your life.
Over the past few days, God has impressed upon my heart to ask of you and those you know, who will truly stand in agreement with us in Christ against any negative side effects from radiation.
Pray specifically (if you can) at the time that I will receive my treatments. Thursday (April 28th) at 9 a.m. I will be receiving my first treatment. From there I will have to update you as to the next times that I will receive my treatments (as we want to change them to the late afternoon). Here are the specific possible early and late reactions (a.k.a. side effects) that could occur as a result of this procedure: Early Reactions: 1)Skin and scalp reaction with redness, irritation, scaling, blistering, ulceration change in color, thickening, hair loss 2)nausea, vomiting, headaches 3) fatigue, drowsiness 4) altered sense of taste or smell 5) Inflammation of ear canal, feeling of "stopped-up" ear, hearing loss, dizziness 6) depression of blood count leading to increased risk of infection and/or bleeding Late Reactions: 1)Permanent hair loss of variable degrees, altered re-growth texture, and color of hair 2) Persistent drowsiness 3) Brain damage causing a loss of some degree of thinking ability or memory, or personality changes 4) Scarring of Skin 5)Spinal cord or nerve damage causing loss of strength, feeling or coordination in ay part of the body 6) Damage to the eye or optic nerve causing loss of vision 7) Ear damage causing dryness of ear canal, fluid collection in middle ear, hearing loss 8) Possiblity of second cancers developing in the irradiated area.
I know that it is a "laundry list" of possible side effects; however, I know where two or more are gathered, Christ will hear our prayers. There is so much power in prayer and believers in agreement with one another. Please consider as often as possible to be praying. For I know that we serve a big God and Your prayers will make a difference! Please feel free to share with others this blog so that they too may pray.
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