DECEMBER 19, 2014 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (From 1st Corinthians, Chapter 10; New Living Translation). Very quickly: 25 years ago tomorrow, a brother Marine, Garreth C. Isaak, went home to be with God during Operation Just Cause, in the Republic of Panama. He was 22 years old, just 8 days shy of his 23rd birthday. Many prayers for his family and my brothers from Delta Company, 2nd LAI Battalion that liberated the Republic of Panama from the Tyrant Manuel Noriega. I don’t want to be like Ebenezer Scrooge, but this Christmas, I’m not feeling very “Christmassy.” I’m faking it. I know that God and Jesus know what they are doing at all times. I know there is a reason why Jacob had to leave here so young. I know that he is rejoicing in paradise with his Nana and all of our kinsmen that have gone before him. It really isn’t helping me any. I look around at the evil that takes place in this world and should be pleased that he no longer has to experience it, ever again. It really isn’t helping me any. There is nothing that this world can give me. There is nothing like losing something truly precious to put materiality in its place. Christmas . . . it has become about things, stuff, parties, commercialism. I think . . . that we should celebrate Christmas’ the way Jesus celebrated his first Christmas, and that we should camp out in a barn somewhere, sharing nothing but each other’s company. My Marine Corps Brothers and I shared many Christmas’ in conditions in which a “barn” would have been luxury. The true meaning of the season shines through better, when the other things are removed. I know that God will give us the strength to make it through. It’s the only way I’ve made it through this horrible year. I cannot wait for 2015. We are staying strong for Daniel. We weren’t with him last Christmas due to Jacob needing us more. I can’t speak enough of how strong and brave Daniel was, at 6 years of age, to go without his Mom and Dad for nearly 7 months, so we could be by Jacob’s side. I remember how my heart broke every time he would visit and then leave for home. I wanted my family back together so much. I still do . . . but we will have to wait it out until the Good Lord comes after us. We are not alone . . . please continue to pray for those that have lost loved ones this year, especially those that have gone home too soon for those of us left behind. Please continue to ask God to give us strength for the coming Holiday Season. There are a great number of parents that will be missing their children: Erica Lindsey (Carson’s Mother), Kathy Garman (my cousin Amanda’s Mother), Mary Sprinkle (Mary Cole Sayer’s Mother and my Step-Mother), Sarah Waycaster (Wyatt Waycaster’s Mother), Heather and Thomas Turnage (Jocey’s Mom and Dad), Sara Hudson (Ben Hudson’s Mother), Wendy Stamper Collins (Savannah Elizabeth’s Mother), A.J. Hobbs, Tracy and Bobby Plaskett (Lizzie Plaskett’s Parents), Ken Jones (lost teenage son), Jim Collins (lost teenage son). Pray for all of the Nurse Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Doctors that care for the sick children in this country and help them to fight for their lives on a daily basis. IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY SON, JACOB TYLER SPRINKLE. There is only one King and only one Judge. God Loves Everybody. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Do the right thing. Please continue to pray for a little fellow named Holden. He is staying with friend of mine while he undergoes Proton Treatments for a Brain Tumor. He is 8 years old and will have to go through 27 treatments over the next six weeks. Pray for strength for his mother Shanna and his father Luke and pray for successful treatments. Pray for old friend Francis Hines. She is home recovering from mega-surgery. Please continue to pray especially hard for my old family friend Ruth Davidson. She needs to have an Aortic Valve replaced. I don’t care what ANYONE says, it is not ROUTINE surgery. Pray for Blake, one of the transplant patients that was with us briefly at Vanderbilt last year. He has been fighting off pneumonia. Pray for all the other transplant kids we know, Luke, Ty, and Max. They continue to need God’s protection. Pray for Ted Larson. He is the brother in law of Faye Elliot and is critically ill. Pray for my good friend Jenny McKinney, she is home recovering from surgery. Please pray for Jill Earl’s Husband and her Dad. Her husband has had valve replacement surgery at Vanderbilt recently and is home recovering and Jill’s dad is not in good health. Pray for Ty Mullins. He is 16 years old and beginning a battle with cancer. Pray for him and his family as they endure a lengthy hospitalization and treatment cycle. Please say prayers for Cindy Garrett. Pray for Ronnie Simpson (Battling all around illness). Scott Longshore (still in need of many prayers). Continuing prayers for Daryl Parkey (and Lisa). Continue prayers for Betty Hines Crusenberry. Others in need of prayer Sundae Grace, Carleen Spivey (Breast Cancer), Frank Simme (The son of one of my Old Marine Corps Brothers – is having trials of his own that warrant substantial prayer), Bill Haight ( pray for continuing health and good reports), Joe Price (On Dialysis), Shirley Brown (Back pain), Reagan Reece (Needs heart/lung transplant), Bob Hines, Louise Russell’s son, Linda Maness, Tamara Williams (Battling Cancer) and all of their families. Many prayers please. Much Christian Love and Prayers to All, Rick
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 21:55:46 +0000
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