Tonight we had a great family gathering on our bed. There are bibles on the headboard that are getting more worn every day; journals that we started at the new year (which I am not doing too good at); a Harvard Business Review; a few CDs and seemingly endless clutter. This place seems to be the place where we let our feelings just kind of “plop” out. I think our filter must be broken in there, because when we feel it, we say it. That is not always good but it was tonight.
Tonight we read to our kids the comments people posted on the blog over the last few days. It made us cry a bit (okay, a lot) as we were overwhelmed by the support of people. Most of this support is mottled with scripture and this is one of the reasons we wanted our kids to hear. We want them to know that mom and dad cannot make it without the power of God, shown often through scripture and his people. I am quite certain that one of the ways God intends to use this trial is to lay claim to the lives of our children. We have introduced them to Jesus, but they have to encounter Him and develop a relationship with Him on their own. This journey will likely be pivotal for them. I am excited for that.
The following is a list of things our kids have said over the last few days. Some comically irrelevant. Some deep. Some painful.
1. After Lewis kissed Tara and got a worried look he said “Mommy, is cancer contagious?”
2. When we told our 3 youngest ones last week about mommy’s condition, we asked if they had any questions. One said quickly as if not listening “Can I have a play date this weekend?”
3. “Esther what makes you mad?” “When there is more crying in our house than laughing. Crying makes me think of bad things and laughing, good things.” (I made the promise that I would try to change that.)
4. Lewis said, “Mommy can I pray over you.” and ended his prayer with “…help me to be a godly man. In Jesus name, Amen”
5. “Mommy, I am afraid you will not come home from the hospital.”
6. “Dad, I had a dream that I was talking with God about mom and He said she would be okay.”
7. “Dad, is Elvis the boogie man?” “Why do you ask that?” “Because he boogies.”
This is part of the richness of life I spoke about late last week all bottled up in a handful of words. I have to say that we are blessed to have this opportunity to experience life at this level.
Today we spoke with the surgeons who will be operating on Tara. They plan to open her up on Thursday in a 6-8 hour surgery to remove as much cancer as possible as well as her “goods” and potentially some non-essential organs. They will start chemotherapy as soon as possible after that.
Please pray that Tara get’s rest and that her body is nourished. know that your words of encouragement through our blog are part of what sustains us. We read them regularly. Don’t forget to make us laugh too. We need that in our home.
Perspectives From The Tree Tops 
The comments made by your children are poignant, thoughtful and full of earnestness. Thank you so much for sharing such intimate family moments with all of us as we are sharing in this journey with you. AJ and I are endlessly praying for you. We’re a text away…
With that being said, you asked for laughter. Some think my jokes aren’t funny (AJ) but I’m convinced I’m the funniest person in the world.
What’s Irish and stays out all night?
Paddy O’Furniture!
Why do gorillas have big nostrils?
Because they have big fingers!
How do crazy people go through the forest?
They take the psychopath!
What do you call a pony with a sore throat?
A little horse!
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:2
We love you!
Jay and Tara,
My heart aches for you, but I keep thinking of Jeremiah 29:11…For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Nothing happens in our lives that takes God by surprise. He knows and is there through it all with you.
We are praying.
Debbie and Andy
I posted the following status update to Facebook the day after I heard Tara had been diagnosed with cancer:
“It was a dreadful morning. The car wouldn’t start but thankfully the Suburban did. I dropped Miguel and Rodrigo off at school and went back home to jump start the car. My mind was preoccupied with legitimate concerns for a dear friend, wife, mother and sister in Christ who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this week, hopeless frustration with my elementary school sons who refuse to escort their younger sister to the bus stop in the morning and everything in between.
“As I turned into our street, my anxious thoughts were silenced by the sight of perhaps one of the brightest rainbows I have ever seen. My scattered worries, perennial uncertainties, nagging doubts and petty annoyances took a distant back seat to God’s most visible and recognizable signs of faithfulness and deliverance seen in nature.
“At the risk of sounding irreverent, it was as if God were saying to me, ‘Yo! I got this!’
He rises above the storm and quiets it with the sound of His voice. Even in silence, His presence is reassuring. In faith, trust and dependence on Him there is peace.”
Dear Jay and Tara, You are blessing so many though your race is just beginning. We are standing with you in prayer. I affirm with you how your children will become stronger warriors for the Lord. “Lord, I pray you will give Tara strength and perseverance through your mighty resurrection power. Allow the doctors to remove all the cancer! I pray you will heal her completely so she can continue to be a Godly wife, mother and friend to so many.” You confidently can say with Ps. 16, “I (Tara and Jay) have set the Lord always before me (them), I (Tara and Jay) will not be shaken. Therefore my (their) heart is glad and my (their) tongue rejoices, my (Tara’s) body will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me (Tara) to the grave, nor let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to (Tara and Jay) the path of life, You will fill (Tara and Jay) with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” We love you!!
Clavonne and Dan
I shed a few tears reading over your blog and remembering some of those same thoughts and experiences when my parents shared that my Dad had cancer. Dad just reminded me a couple days ago that he was diagnosed 20 years ago, and praise God, he has been cancer free for over 10 years now! It was amazing to see how God used those times to draw us closer to each other, and to himself, as we really had to walk in faith, not knowing what the future held.
One thing I remember clearly was Dad’s wacky sense of humor which kept the rest of us laughing! Krista and I had both gone off to college and as he went through his treatments he would write us letters about his “deep thoughts”. One letter in particular was about how the world would be different if rain fell upward from the ground instead of falling from the clouds. Umbrellas would be awkward because you would need leg holes, and people would be getting water up their noses all the time! Thankfully, God knew what he was doing! lol
If you want another laugh, here’s a random memory… tell the kids about the time your parents went on vacation and you and Mark had the run of the house. I believe you “hired” Krista and I (as part of a fund raiser) to come clean up the house before they returned. That was quite a job! I will never forget finding a pan of something horribly rotten on the stove and one of the two of you put it in a garbage bag and used it to wake the other one up! We definitely earned our money!
We are holding you all up in prayer as you walk this road, and although we don’t know God’s master plan, you can be confident that He is walking along with you! Even though it’s been a long time, we love you guys!
Michelle shared many of the things I was just thinking as I read your blog. Another of my favorite memories from the years of Dad’s battle with cancer was the time Michelle and I had made brownies for something at school. We told Dad he couldn’t have one since they were for school, but he responded, “please?… one brownie for your poor, cancer-ridden father?” How could we resist after that?! I also remember my grandpa (who kept his hair shaved very short) trying on the wig that Dad used for a bit after losing his hair to chemo. As rough as those times were, I remember so much laughter and so many special memories. Please know I am praying for Tara and your entire family! Love you guys!!
Today while praying for your family, my mind kept dwelling on Ecclesiastes. Probably because of the “why” factor!
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven………….What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
We all know what end result we want for you and your family, and the encouragement from this verse is that we serve such a magnificent loving God who has everything, every detail worked out already… So the “why” becomes unimportant. So that we don’t get stuck on it, but rather stuck on trusting Him. Pastor John once said to me after telling him of a worry I had… “Oh, I just can’t wait to see how God is going to use this one!” At first, I must admit I was speechless and I thought “how rude”. (you said you wanted laughs, but that is actually a truth)
I get it now!!! I didnt back then because I was weak in my faith. What people are hearing from you is an encouragement and a testimony of your unwavering faith and your strength! It is amazing to read,, really!! We will continue to pray for you all and especially for strength for this Thursday!! All our love, Amy and the Walk clan.
Hi, Maiers.
I fell asleep sitting on the couch tonight, and God just woke me up just to read your post. It’s a little after 1AM right now, and your post is dated today, so it can’t have been up too long.
I was really encouraged to read about the dream where God said Tara would be okay. I have had the impression that God will be glorified most through Tara’s full recovery. I have been wondering if I’m being presumptuous, but I don’t think so, and this is just one more affirmation. Thanks.
Thinking about our race analogy, the words that I want to encourage Tara with are, “Pace yourself. You’re only at the beginning of a very long race.” I have to plead guilty to not wanting to follow my own advice. I’m not crazy about you having to wait until Thursday for surgery. I was hoping they’d do it right away. But God’s timing is rarely the same as ours.
We love you guys, and will be praying that God uses these two days to nourish Tara’s body and prepare her for the long journey ahead.
Lewis my man, u r a real manly man! Real men ask God’s help to become a godly man.
PS: Cancer is not contagious, but your smiles and laughters are. Please spread them around, especially to mommy. Kiss her often!
The Babers continue to pray and are thankful for this blog so that we know more specifically how to pray. Am specifically praying for a peaceful spirit that only God can give to be yours. A sustaining peace.
Thank you for this window into your lives that encourages us who are outside the walls of your home! The real sharing that shows your family clinging to The Lord. I picture all the prayer warriors staked out around those walls, battling on behalf of all of you. For such a time as this you have been called according to his purpose as we are called to plead on your behalf. Probably prayers for nourishment are not for lack of good food…speaking from experience. And Tara I won’t ever forget what you whispered wisely into my ear that night (12/26/11). It had to do with the food…
Praying continually, Tracy
Tara, Jay and kids – we love you and know that you are trusting The Lord as we are in this storm. You are an amazing family and we are here to laugh, cry and pray along side you!
From my Bible Study last night:
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:30-34 NLT)
Ok my funny thoughts –
#1 Eating BBQ with our fams and Jay using his pants as his napkin.
#2 Monday night kids eat free with 9 kids and four adults + Mr. Magic!
#3 Out to eat and Tara getting up and down to the bathroom = Me, “Tara are you pregnant?” (Lightbulb moment for Tara so she took a pregnancy test and along came Luis!)
#4 Hide and go seek in Jones Pine tree + hornet nest = 20 screaming children! Thanks Robert for Benadryl!
Navina and Robert are in town tonight so if the kids want a moment with their old small group peeps We can help arrange that just text us. We would try to rally the Blais crew as well. Love you all!
Our dear Tara, we are so sorry to hear of your cancer. I was just looking at old photos yesterday and came across pictures of you and your family at your mom and dad’s 50th anniversary. I just can’t get over how much your little girls look like you, when you were little. I have memories of when you were born. What a blessing! And now you have five little blessings of your own. God is good! He will watch over you and your family. Just want to let you know that all of us Biehler’s are pulling for you and praying for you. We did the same for Tim, and look how good God did for him.
Vince has been dealing with a carcinoide tumor in his abdomin. So, he has been in and out of the hospital twice since the middle of Dec. We go back to Abbott on thurs. for another scan, and hopefully they will start the octreotide shots. We have alot of people praying for us also. It is very comforting to know that there are so many people who believe in God and his works. I hope that you find comfort in that also. I remember the days when your dad would drop you off at our home, before he went to work. We would be eating breakfest and Larry would tell me that you had already ate. As soon as he left, I would ask if you were hungry and you would say, “yes”. So, you would have a big bowl of cereal with our kids. I think you liked company when you were eating! Just one of the many cute things I remember about you and your cute smile. It brings tears to my eyes to hear of your cancer. Please get well!!
Love always, Mama Rita and Vince
Dear Maier Family,
We just got information regarding your blog so we have just joined your journey. We are praying for you each step of the way. You only need to take one step at a time.
Ralph, Merry Beth, and Jennifer
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4
“Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised! ” Psalm 113:1-3
In our fear and pain, yet will we praise our God! May you be overwhelmed with His incomparable peace and comfort.
Our prayers are ever for you,
Becca Murray and family
We also want you to know your family are in our prayers.
With our love
Rusty and Geri Fiek
What an awesome God we know, serve, and love! The strength and courage he is giving you and your family, Jay and Tara, blesses us and YOU are encouraging us! We pray many times throughout the day as you come to our mind often … and praying for Nan and Larry and Jay’s parents, as well. We love you. May His strength be continually poured out on all of you. Love in Jesus, Ed and Julie
The Orvis family is in prayer with you guys.
At a prayer time for Tara, someone half-jokingly commented that we wanted to hear Tara’s doctors were the best Mayo had to offer. I must admit I was with them. Now I didn’t recognize the names of any of her doctors, and I have no idea whether they are considered among the best or worst at Mayo, but it got me to thinking … what difference does it make? Who are we trusting to heal Tara, the Lord or the good doctors at Mayo? Does it limit God to use a surgeon whose skills are less honed? We say we are trusting God to heal Tara, but it is so easy to slip back into trusting man. A story comes to mind that was told by an extremely skilled surgeon at Mayo. He was performing surgery on a young boy’s arm, and was about to make a cut, but something stopped him. It turned out that a nerve was there. It was in a place where it shouldn’t have been, and if he had made the cut the boy’s arm would have been paralyzed. Thankfully, this surgeon was not relying on his skills only, but on the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’m thankful for the skills and knowledge of the doctors and staff at Mayo, but convicted that I often trust more in them than in the God of the Universe.
Lord, please direct Tara’s doctors. Give them wisdom and knowledge which is far beyond their natural abilities. Give them insight that only comes from you. Make them sensitive to your leading. We give You the glory for what You are about to do through them.
I only found out recently and was quite gutted. Then I read your blog and am so amazed by those around me recently that have gone through trials and have had peace and strength from their faith. His light shines through you all. Lewis’ prayer was heartwarming. What amazing things you are teaching your children. Prayers with you daily. Your whole family is such a joy to know. 🙂
Could you let everyone know the ages of your children. It would help make some of the comments more precious.
When I was diagnosed, God told me, “This is not unto death” and He knows your mom will be ok. Praying that He will show His glorious power through this.
Thank you for all your sharing. It speaks volumes of your love for our Lord!! Now a joke from our Carter(Lewis’s age).Nana”Why did the cow cross the street? I replied ” To get to the other side”No Nana ” “To get to the udder side. Do you get it Nana!! We continue our prayers from Clear Lake especially from our St. pat’s parish! Love you all. Aunt Cathy &Uncle Mike
Jay, Tara and family. I just heard the news from Sarah here at work about Tara’s cancer. Please know that our family will be praying for you and your family!
Jeff Feece
Many prayers for you and the family as you begin this journey.
Eph. 3:20 “To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..”
We have been lifting you up in prayer ever since we received the news while on vacation. We are praying that you will have peace and that the Lord will remove all your fears and anxiety. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 it says, “This is what the Lord says to you; “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the battle is not your, but God’s” In Isaiah 41:13 he says “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. So hold tightly to His hand this week for He will never leave your side.
Jane
It is wonderful to see you praise God as a family as you face life’s trials, struggles, and adversities. God lives in our praise and he restores our souls (Psalm 23:3). Our ongoing prayer is that the Spirit of God will guide your surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and other caretakers this week, and in the weeks to follow. As we praise God in worship, you will be drawn as close to Him as you have ever been; praise is the prayer that changes everything. A passage we live by is Isaiah 43:1-3. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”
Hi Tara!!!
Julie and I missed you yesterday on the run, but Hunter came along and loved it! Julie and I both fell once, a few inches under the fluffy snow is a nice coating of ice!
I love you and have been LOVING our time together recently. Know I am available to work on spelling any and all afternoons! ( I sent you an email too.)
We wrote on our Christmas letter that we were excited to see what the Lord had for us in 2013. I didn’t expect this! But I am still trusting in Him and we know He works everything for good for those that love Him, and that is you! (Romans 8:28)
We are trusting God with you for His will and His glory! We love you all, and I miss you Tara, and I didn’t break anything in Colorado!
Love you,
Laura
Dear Tara & Maier Crew,
Your blog is amazing, just like you and your family. I’m going to write a note that I hope will make you smile.
Way back when I had hair and only one chin, your husband and I painted houses together – it’s possible Jay mentioned this to you before (I barely mention it to my family more than once or twice a month). Those long, hot, humid days started way too early and ended way too late but we always found time during the day to talk about stuff that really mattered (you mattered). In the summer of 1991, I told Jay about my new girlfriend (now wife) and Jay told me about his new girlfriend (you). As Jay described his “girl from Minnesota” it became clear that you needed a new name, which I affectionately determined would be “Moose.” Krestin, of course, needed a new name and Jay affectionately (I think) called her the “Three Legged Hound.” Here we were, two boys from Kansas dating a Moose from Minnesota and a Three Legged Hound from Chicago – hopelessly in love. It was obvious from the first moment Jay talked about you that he was going to marry you, whether you liked it or not. The big burly boy from Kansas was smitten and you had him wrapped around your finger from day one. As the days went by, we talked about fart games (there are many) and what we were going to name our boys when we eventually had kids. I don’t think girl names even registered with us; we were focused on boys. So, naturally, you had four beautiful girls to start and Krestin had three beautiful girls to start. Looking back on it, Jay and I were about as clueless as could be. SEVEN girls between the two Painters?!! If we had to pick seven girl names back then we would have shut down and had to re-boot. But look how awesome we did: Micalyn, Ester, Andrean, Jenna, Delaney, Mackinley, and Tierney. Talk about GIRL POWER!! (I know that Micalyn’s 13th birthday is tomorrow so please wish her a very happy teenager birthday from Painter and the Fields Crew!!). And, you of course had Mr. Lewis James and almost exactly six months later Krestin had Mr. Cannon Charles. Job very well done.
Tara, I know you are in for a fight but we all KNOW you are a fighter. The good news here is that you’re not going to do any of this alone. You have a deep bench – a very deep bench – behind and with you. It of course starts with Jay and your five wonderfully beautiful kids. All of our love and prayers are with you every step of the way. We WILL get through this. Be good. We love you. Brian, Krestin and Kids
PS – If a giant stuffed Rocky and Bullwinkle show up at your door, let ‘em in. They are on your team too.
Hey Cuz- I am praying for you and your family. I pray that God brings you out on the good side of this battle. Many thoughts are coming your way and will continue to. Stay strong!
Hi Tara and Jay………….
This is the kind of situation where we all want to be a help and a blessing to you, but I have a feeling, we will be the ones truly blessed by your unwavering spirit and faith. A friend told me the other day, in regard to your diagnosis, that she didn’t understand God’s plan. God told her, “I didn’t ask you to.” Instead, He asks us to trust and I see much of that in what you have written…………Praise be to God!
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Roger and Gretchen Hoppe
The Maier family are constantly in our thoughts & Prayers. We want to help however we can.
Isaiah 41:10
The Moores
Thanks for encouraging me today Maier family.
Much love and many prayers,
Allison
Dearest Jay, Tara and Children,
It is always so difficult to learn of the kind of news you received these last weeks. I remember when Steve and I first met and got to know your family around a campfire at a Sunday Schools class outing. We were taken aback by the peace that poured from your facial expressions, your confident words and your tenderness toward others. I have admired your parenting skills from afar and prayed many times that the results of your godly examples to your children would be the growing up of valiant warriors. I see that strength in your children, and know that all of your work as parents has prepared the children for this very event in your family. I am confident that the Lord will grow you all up in knowledge of Him: His power, His faithfulness, His love overflowing, His inexhaustible strength, and compassion. We are so thankful for how your testimonies have touched our family as your reached out to our son over the years. We are all committed to praying for you all each day of this journey. Please allow us to serve you in any way throughout this journey. We love you all.
Tara, Jay and family,
We are praying for God to work his miracles all around us. It saddens us that you have to go through this journey and run this marathon. Know that we are continually praying for all of you. I love the kids comments!!! One night when I was focused on some not so great news of Mom’s, it was Kennedy (now 5) who lifted my spirits as we were reading her homework book. She must have become bored with her reading and knew I was distant and distracted for the next moment she was singing her book in her best opera voice, “My Pig Can Ruunnn”, “My Pig Can Juuummmpp”. God is working all around us and reminding us of his presence.
Thinking of you immensely! Praying for you, our family, the surgeons, specialists . . . that they may all be guided in their works. My mom’s own surgeon, 14 years ago, read a prayer she wrote over her before he started surgery. He reminded us all of that prayer in November 2011 and reminded us of the strength and power of prayer to get us through the most challenging of times.
We love you!
Melissa
Now if you wanted a REALLY good laugh, you’d ask me to sing for you, which I would refuse. But I still wanted to share a couple verses from a favorite hymn…
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousnes;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand –
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness hides His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand –
All other ground is sinking sand.
Though our families are just getting to know each other, we’ve come to admire and appreciate you all and will be lifting you up daily in prayer to The Healer! Your kids’s names are continually brought up in our home and our kids are praying for them (and Hunter, too!).
Jay and Tara,
You have been in my constant prayers and thoughts since your mom called my parents last Wednesday. My heart is heavy and I have shed many tears! I know you are in His hands and He’s in control, but that doesn’t mean what you’re going through isn’t scary for you guys and your five precious children! Remember, Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him!
You have lots of people in SC praying for you so don’t give up and FIGHT! I love and miss you, Cousin!
I remember when Tara was born and I came to Fairmont to help Nancy take care of you.
Since then I have watch you grow into a beautiful and strong young woman
My prayers and thoughts will be with you as you jump yet another one of life’s hurdles
Know that many people are there for you and don’t be afraid to just reach out
Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I think it is so awesome that God has saved us in order that we can do His good works, which he has prepared in advance for us to do. Your family is very dear to us and such an encouragement. We are praying for you.
Also, according to Brianna, Esther is very excited about your new couch and I think she may have even sent Brianna pictures of it tonight. It amazes me how sweet and innocent they still are in 6th grade. Love them! I hope that you received the pictures from this weekend that I sent.
Jay and Tara,
Damon shared with me what your family is experiencing. I just want to share that our love and prayers are with you all. Tara, I haven’t met you but your strength has inspired me. Your sons sweet ending to his prayer inspired me. My family is added to those behind you.
Kristina
My sweet Maier family –
Oh, how I long to be snuggled up and embracing all your kids right now. I’m praising God tonight to have been a part of your family 24/7 for a whole summer! Only God could have planned that. And that same sovereign God that blessed me with you all this summer is the same sovereign God who is in control of Tara’s body. I believe we serve a STONG God who works MIRACLES every! Tonight I join the church in praying for what is impossible for man, because it is SO INCREDIBLY possible with the God we serve. “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can all or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.
Abba Father,
I ask that you perform and do the ‘abundantly more’ than we can ask or imagine inside of Tara’s body, this very second. Your will be done!
In Jesus strong name,
Amen.
My sweet Maier family –
Oh, how I long to be snuggled up and embracing all your kids right now. I’m praising God tonight to have been a part of your family 24/7 for a whole summer! Only God could have planned that. And that same sovereign God that blessed me with you all this summer is the same sovereign God who is in control of Tara’s body. I believe we serve a STRONG God who works MIRACLES every day! Tonight I join the church in praying for what is impossible for man, because it is SO INCREDIBLY possible with the God we serve. “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.
Abba Father,
I ask that you perform and do the ‘abundantly more’ than we can ask or imagine inside of Tara’s body, this very second. Your will be done!
In Jesus strong name,
Amen.
Ok. I left a message yesterday. Somehow it got lost. I just am that stupid. (I do not have the same genes as Zack and Tim). Anyway here is my message. I am praying for your sweet Tara and your sweet family. I do not always have the best reaction to terrible news (anger and questioning) but when all that reaction subsides (or begins to murmur inside of me instead of scream) I know without a doubt that God has this thing all worked out. For He loves us, I mean LOVES US, and he is GOOD. He has a PLAN and it is the best.
Here’s a God thing of yesterday. After I supposedly left my message on this blog I went to pick up the kids at Schaeffer. Guess whose truck was in the lane next to me?
Hello Maier Tree and Forest. God you are funny. And all over this.
Now I looked at your needs list… and basically it is all full. So I think that means for me that I should PRAY PRAY PRAY for you all and reach for Christ for His comfort in this situation. I have sent this web address to Sarah and David in Florida, Kelsey in California, and Zack in Washington. So east to west, north to south you are covered.
Now I think you all should go hop in the same bed and be sure to leave the filters on the floor. And maybe someone should take your picture. Hey, I could do that!