October 11, 2006 8:22 AM
Prayers for KS Milkmaid
One of the most miraculous - yes, I mean miraculous - things about the blogworld is the opportunity it gives us to get to know people in a more intimate and heartfelt way than many of us have in our day to day lives. Bloggers who live their lives with passion and transparency - sharing their spiritual journey with humility and grace - are doing amazing work inspiring us all to rethink the things we think we know and to find new ways to live out our faith.
I have been humbled and privileged to have met so many women of faith through blogging. Though at first I was afraid that I would not be accepted by some - because of differences in the paths God has given us - I have felt only love and acceptance, reminding me of the hymn "There's Wideness in God's Mercy" -
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty...For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind. . . .
Those are just two of the ten verses you can see - and hear - at Cyberhymnal
I guess what I'm getting at is that the blogosphere has given us an incredible opportunity to share fellowship with people who don't live like we do - and an understanding that God has planted each of us in a different situation to blossom and grow and share what we are learning along that way.
One woman I have had great admiration for is KS Milkmaid, who writes "a blog for those who want practical encouragement to live life fully, deeply, yet simply in Christ." How God has called Christina and her family to live life fully, deeply, yet simply in Christ is through the farm they've established and the lifestyle they are passing on to their children - the children I used a while back as an example of how you can trust children to handle fragile things with care. Here they are sorting eggs:
At Fuller Family Farms you can read more about their family and their vision, how they are "seeking truth and righteousness as we farm, applying our convictions rather than living by expedience."
One of the most difficult things for believers is to see how those who seek hardest to draw close to Christ are beset by problems neatly avoided by those who seem to skim the surface of their faith. When I first heard Christina's husband had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I could hardly believe that a family so committed to God and already facing so many challenges would have to bear a trial like this. Yet Christina understood from the beginning, and in her response I could already see the glory of God. On October 2, she wrote:
By dedicating our lives, our every breath and thought to God, we have engaged our enemy. The enemy is enraged and using diverse tactics to keep us from pressing forward. We will not retreat. Many of you who have read this blog for the past year know it has been a difficult year for us. You may wonder why. Let me tell you why. We have discovered that if we give our lives to God in full submission and service to him the trials are inevitable. God never promised us freedom from trials or persecution. In fact, his great book is filled with what to do when the trials come, when the persecution comes. We do not look at these trials with despair, but incredible hope. There is no room for fear in challenges like this. Fear is where the enemy takes hold and advances. Of course, I have given into fear in the beginning of this challenge. I am sure I will have more encounters with it. However, I know that fear will rip my focus off God, yank my peace away, and steal the glory from God who intends to work this situation for his good and divine purpose.When we see a trial, we are learning to thank God. We then ask him to show us the way to glorify him through all the lives touched by our trial.
[my emphasis]
My life has already been touched. I want to share with you so yours may be to - and so that we can all begin to pray mightily for Brian and Christina and their family.
Pancreatic cancer has an extremely low survival rate (5-20 percent), as Christina explains at Our Battle with Cancer Explained. Because of the physical demands of the farm and because of the low rate of success of chemotherapy in cases like Brian's, the Fullers have opted for alternative treatment. Brian is responding well, yet is often too sick - and actually has been for quite a while - to do the work needed to keep the farm operational.
Christina is also facing the reality that should God choose to take Brian home, she will be left in charge of the farm - a job too big for one woman, no matter how much help her hardworking children can give.
I have had this on my list of things to share with you for a week. But as so often happens, the most important matters don't get the first response because I know the writing will take more time. Then again, maybe it was about God's timing. Maybe it was so I could include this email I received from Christina this morning:
Dear Friends:
I have selected a few names out of my email box this morning to enlist as heavy hitting prayer warriors for our family. As I write this note, I am at a loss for words and a bit weary none the less. I would ask that you please petition God for mercy on my family. Brian was doing a bit better and is now really struggling, enough so that he hasn't been able to go to work the past few days.
Pray that fear will not overcome me and that I will be able to minister to him today with only the strength that God can provide. I am not sure if this is going an ongoing issue (being to sick to work outside of the home), but if it is it will create undue hardship on us as we are not set up at this time to farm fulltime yet. I am caught with the struggle of wanting to be hopeful, strong and courageous but also knowing I must begin to prepare if we are not successful in this battle. I am not sure where to start preparing if Brian doesn't feel well enough to work. You have my permission to share this prayer request with others for the purpose of praying for my family. I simply do not know what to do other than ask for prayers for strength and encouragement.
I have been trying to live out life as normally as possible here. Please pray that God will show me what steps I must take to ensure the well-being of our family through this crisis time. The survivor in me is starting to go into hyper overdrive. I don't want to see the farmstead suffer as we endure this crisis as it will be source of income for us if God decides to take Brian home. There are so many positive things going on with growth including the soap venture taking off. There are also a number of opportunities through our website that I may be able to capitalize on. However, if Brian continues to decline, I have to devote my time to caring for him and I am not sure how much this will affect my ability to take on the role of provider for our family too. Please pray that God will give me strength to complete my tasks, care for Brian and the children and that he will provide for us if Brian is unable to return to work.
May God Bless each of you as you walk with us through this crisis. My hope is that you will be transformed and access the same promises in James 1 that I know I can access through this trial. I have watched many dear friends weep for us the past few days. I know as we face this trial the reality is hard, but it doesn't have to be hopeless for any of us, for my family and for those who are praying for us. I face this trial knowing God has some plan to reveal his glory each step of the way. It is this hope that carries me through dark hours here.
Thank you for your prayers.
Christina, aka, KSMilkmaid
Dear Friends of MommyLife - I'm asking you to pray without ceasing for this very special family. As you do your laundry, drive the kids to their activities, cook and clean - just hold them in your prayers. Please bookmark Christina's website and visit there. She has already proven herself worthy to teach us as she goes through this experience. She understood from the beginning what it was all about. Let's gather around her with love and prayer and no matter the outcome, be there to celebrate God's glory as it is lived out at that sacred ground in Kansas.
Posted in Blogging, KS Milkmaid | Permalink
Comments
YES.
YES.
YES. I will pray. Thank you Christina for your example. We will be holding you up.
Posted by: floorplan | October 11, 2006 10:52 AM
Thanks for keeping Brian and Chris before your readers. I am praying with you for God's mercy to be poured out on them -- that the floodgates of heaven be opened, and they receive the richest blessings and mercy from our Father.
Posted by: JFC | October 11, 2006 1:44 PM
So done! Thank you, Barbara, for bringing this dear family to our attention. I, too, have felt the embrace of God through bloggers. I came to blogging through a blog-site that was set up for a dear friend who had suffered a brain bleed. It was set up to update friends and family daily. Since that time, I have connected with many bloggers who I would have otherwise not met. God has provided a great network for Christians.
Now, the circle is completed....as we have begun a blog-update site for my mother-in-law ( I prefer Mother-of-my-heart) as she has suffered a massive coronary arrest October 2nd. While the primary reason for the site is to update family and friends, near and far, many blogging friends have joined us in prayer support for her journey. Amazing!
I will be praying for this dear family.
You are a blessing to so many!
Diane
Posted by: Diane | October 11, 2006 4:06 PM
thanks:)
Posted by: mary | October 11, 2006 5:32 PM
I am at a loss for words.
I will pray diligently for this precious family.
Thank you for sharing this with your readers.
Posted by: Janet | October 12, 2006 1:03 PM
