Hopefully, a breath of fresh air after this one: www.hiddeninjesus.wordpress.com
Monday, October 8, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
To those of you who prayed Todd through--
Dear friends who prayed Todd Raynesford through his catastrophic head-on collision April 19 (see HisScribbler, April 30 and May 1):
You were such a blessing when you prayed for Todd-- Would you now please pray for Rhonda Miller (niece of our good friend Tom Hawks), a single mom, mother of two teenagers, schoolteacher, in Chico, California, who had a horribly similar head-on collision July 28. Both femurs, left tibia or fibula, all bones in right foot, left elbow, left hand--all broken, compound fractures. Both knees crushed and fractured. Plus punctured lung. Doctors just recently decided not to amputate both legs. Rhonda was transported to a hospital 19 miles away by Life Flight, which alone will cost her $31,000.
Hit head-on by a drunk man who passed out--both drivers going 55 mph. The man had his 12-year old son in the car with him and is now in jail. He has only $100,000 liability insurance.
God did miracles for Todd and Tish in response to your prayers. I know He will again.
Thank you from all of us.
Jessica
You were such a blessing when you prayed for Todd-- Would you now please pray for Rhonda Miller (niece of our good friend Tom Hawks), a single mom, mother of two teenagers, schoolteacher, in Chico, California, who had a horribly similar head-on collision July 28. Both femurs, left tibia or fibula, all bones in right foot, left elbow, left hand--all broken, compound fractures. Both knees crushed and fractured. Plus punctured lung. Doctors just recently decided not to amputate both legs. Rhonda was transported to a hospital 19 miles away by Life Flight, which alone will cost her $31,000.
Hit head-on by a drunk man who passed out--both drivers going 55 mph. The man had his 12-year old son in the car with him and is now in jail. He has only $100,000 liability insurance.
God did miracles for Todd and Tish in response to your prayers. I know He will again.
Thank you from all of us.
Jessica
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Transplanted and growing again
Thank you, God. You take such good care of us!
The Lord led us to several churches before taking us back to and settling us in one of them. Like so many others who felt led or forced out of Grace Brethren Church over the past 22 years, I couldn't help weeping through the first sermons we heard, realizing how parched we had become.
We have been nursing greedily at a truly Biblical view of Jesus Christ--Almighty, Sovereign, transcendent yet God-with-us, exalted and lifted up, name above all names, worthy of worship by all His creation, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, compassionate Savior, willingly giving His life in place of ours, the only necessary and sufficient sacrifice for our autonomy and rebellion, the One who not only hears us but can answer our deepest cries for help and heal the brokenness in the innermost places of our spirit.
The church God led us back to already contains so many wounded refugees from GBC the sanctuary is being expanded to accomodate 125 more worshipers. It is comforting to go to an unfamiliar church and be embraced by dozens of familiar people. Some we barely knew at Grace welcome us as long-lost friends.
We now understand why those who left GBC before us left quietly and still do not want to talk about it. We never want to step on that property again. Its air is thick with the poisonous fog of deception. In my mind's eye I see there a circle of friends with their backs to us. Why would we want to relive reminders that they chose to believe lies about us and, under orders by the perpetrators, refused to read this blog, blocked our emails, and would not let us speak to them--much less seek us out to ask why we were taking a stand against the leadership?
Like so many other outcasts, we are skittish about committing to another institution. I have trouble trusting what any church claims from the pulpit on on their website. We have alighted and are willing to stay but I feel my wings are still partially open to lift off at any moment if we sense heresy or just-plain-meanness under color of authority.
The Lord led us to several churches before taking us back to and settling us in one of them. Like so many others who felt led or forced out of Grace Brethren Church over the past 22 years, I couldn't help weeping through the first sermons we heard, realizing how parched we had become.
We have been nursing greedily at a truly Biblical view of Jesus Christ--Almighty, Sovereign, transcendent yet God-with-us, exalted and lifted up, name above all names, worthy of worship by all His creation, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, compassionate Savior, willingly giving His life in place of ours, the only necessary and sufficient sacrifice for our autonomy and rebellion, the One who not only hears us but can answer our deepest cries for help and heal the brokenness in the innermost places of our spirit.
The church God led us back to already contains so many wounded refugees from GBC the sanctuary is being expanded to accomodate 125 more worshipers. It is comforting to go to an unfamiliar church and be embraced by dozens of familiar people. Some we barely knew at Grace welcome us as long-lost friends.
We now understand why those who left GBC before us left quietly and still do not want to talk about it. We never want to step on that property again. Its air is thick with the poisonous fog of deception. In my mind's eye I see there a circle of friends with their backs to us. Why would we want to relive reminders that they chose to believe lies about us and, under orders by the perpetrators, refused to read this blog, blocked our emails, and would not let us speak to them--much less seek us out to ask why we were taking a stand against the leadership?
Like so many other outcasts, we are skittish about committing to another institution. I have trouble trusting what any church claims from the pulpit on on their website. We have alighted and are willing to stay but I feel my wings are still partially open to lift off at any moment if we sense heresy or just-plain-meanness under color of authority.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Wall of Remembrance: Jerry and Jessica Renshaw
 |
| Jerry widowed 1998 |
 |
| Jessica widowed 2002 |
 |
| Married at Grace, May 2, 2004 |
 |
| Left Grace May 2, 2012 |
JERRY RENSHAW
Member of Grace for 36 years.
Co-Prayer Team Coordinator.
Choir member, steward, deacon, usher,
served communion, Life Group co-host,
hosted pastors and students involved
in our Japanese ministry.
JESSICA SHAVER RENSHAW
Member of Grace for 39 years.
Women's Bible teacher, book of Hebrews
and other subjects. Wrote correspondence
Bible study, Who Is This Man? for church
prison ministry. Co-Prayer Team Coordinator.
Taught 2-3 year olds for Mothers of Pre-Schoolers
(MOPS). Worked in nursery. Choir member,
member of stewardship team, deacon,
served communion, Life Group co-host,
hosted pastors and students involved
in our Japanese ministry.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Released
Jerry says it's time to leave. Thank you, Lord!
The same God who was with you then is with you now
The same God who led you in will lead you out
So take all the fear and doubt
Go on and lay them down
The same God, the same God is with you now. . .
from The Same God by Hillsong
Huge relief and grief, mingled.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Todd's God (Update from Tish)
WHAT AN AMAZING GOD...
Todd took ten steps today with 2 physical therapists. Praise God for His mercies never fail. He is going to an inpatient Rehab Hospital today. It is not just a "Rehab Hospital." This Rehab Hospital is known all over the world as one of the best. It just "so happens" to be in the city where Todd and Tish live.
New Prayers:
That the transition will be peaceful for Todd. That Tish will be able to get some well-needed sleep and get refreshed to start this new journey called "recovery" with her husband. Todd is going to need patience with himself and to keep his expectations for his body reasonable. That both Tish and Todd will give themselves GRACE to grieve in whatever way it comes out at the time. And mostly that our God who saved Todd will continue to heal and mend his bones so that others will be baffled and know that there is a God. Continue to pray for finances as Todd worked full time and Tish part-time and this is causing a strain on them. We just want to thank all of you who went to the Father and have fought this battle with us together. For encouragement cards:
Todd & Tish Raynesford
P.O. BOX 247
Downey, Ca. 90241
Todd took ten steps today with 2 physical therapists. Praise God for His mercies never fail. He is going to an inpatient Rehab Hospital today. It is not just a "Rehab Hospital." This Rehab Hospital is known all over the world as one of the best. It just "so happens" to be in the city where Todd and Tish live.
New Prayers:
That the transition will be peaceful for Todd. That Tish will be able to get some well-needed sleep and get refreshed to start this new journey called "recovery" with her husband. Todd is going to need patience with himself and to keep his expectations for his body reasonable. That both Tish and Todd will give themselves GRACE to grieve in whatever way it comes out at the time. And mostly that our God who saved Todd will continue to heal and mend his bones so that others will be baffled and know that there is a God. Continue to pray for finances as Todd worked full time and Tish part-time and this is causing a strain on them. We just want to thank all of you who went to the Father and have fought this battle with us together. For encouragement cards:
Todd & Tish Raynesford
P.O. BOX 247
Downey, Ca. 90241
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