First Christian Church, Wauchula, FL

Hope Senkeleski - was airlifted to TGH this morning. She is stable in ICU, and on a ventilator. Her sugars got “out of whack” and they are doing a heart cath this afternoon

Charles Lamar -  (Curtis Taylor’s moms best friend (husband)) has just been diagnosed with metastasized pancreatic cancer. Prayer for he and his family

Haley Canary - Prayer for Dror–Haley wants him to go to Heaven

Missy Massey - Prayer for travel mercies for Libby, Paige & Brandon; also prayer for everyone on spring break

Crosby Family - Prayer for Johnathan Elijah — he’s not gaining enough — may need surgery for several reasons; both he and Josef want to play baseball — prayer that they can

Arlie & Linda Thompson - Prayer for their grandson (Chris Black, 27 years old) — having a 5-8 hour back surgery on April 1st to remove 6 tumors that are around his spinal cord from the stem of his brain to 5/6 vertebra

Debbie Blum – Prayer for Clara Benton — she fell on Saturday — she’s OK, but it jarred her pretty good

Hunter Bryant - Rededication & prayer to live for Jesus the right way; also prayer for his Grandpa — he has cancer

Tracy Davis – Prayer for Brandy & Phil as they start their new life together — that they will turn to Jesus and build their relationship on the Rock; also praise for Bill’s new job and prayer that it will go well

Clint Thompson - Thankful for the prayers for his father — he has been diagnosed with “IEP” & “BOOP” (only 3% of Americans have it); please continue to pray for his father’s salvation and pray for Clint & Kari to have the strength and knowledge to use this opportunity to witness to his father and all others around him

Praise report on Phillip Smoak – He’s home, but he has many injuries and a long road ahead to heal

Lisa McGee - (Seth McGee’s mom) in a skiing accident yesterday, she “blew” her ACL and broke her tibula plateau (her knee)

Chris Black - (Arlie & Linda Thompson’s Grandson) is having spinal surgery on Thursday, April 1, beginning about 10:00 am. and taking about 6 – 8 hours. Doctors are removing 6 tumors in 3 places on his spine. He has neurofibromatosis (NF) which causes benign tumors/fibromas

Meredith Bumby - completed her phlebotomy classes and passed her state board. She is now a Florida State certified phlebotomist.

Tiawana & Katelyn Bumby - were ill yesterday but woke up much better this morning.

Don & Rose Simmers - Praise for the birth of their baby granddaughter on Thursday morning (Harper Lynn Holton, 6 lbs. 14 oz; 20″)  all is good — thankful for the prayers

Wayne Crosby, Sr. - Prayer for the situation his family is going through right now

Ariel Bowers - Rededication & prayer to get her life back on track

Francenia White - Prayer to stay on the path to get out to help others

Amy Knight - Prayer for Phillip Smoak — flipped his jeep and is in Tampa General with broken shoulders, ribs, sternum and collapsed lungs

Eddie Hernandez - Prayer for doctor visit on Wednesday — prayer that everything turns out normal & prayer for healing. Thank you to their church family for being supportive through tough times and showing what love is about.

Linda Hernandez - Prayer — it’s been a tough week for her & Eddie — thank you to their church family for everything. Prayer for upcoming tests for them both — prayer for them to be strong and to be able to trust that God loves them and knows what is best and that He is in control — prayer for patience & understanding

Darlene Pineiro - Prayer for David Barringer, having suicidal thoughts, has a broken heart and several health issues.

Carey Gannon - Robert Couch is well enough to leave the nursing home now. Sharon Gannon is seeing a surgeon on March 29th.

Eddie Hernandez – Was bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider last week and has been very sick since. Yesterday the emergency room doctors determined he was having an allergic reaction to the medication, was dehydrated and would be able to go home last night. In the meantime his kidneys were not working properly so he is still there, in Room 220, Florida Hospital, Wauchula.

Linda Hernandez - had a doctors appointment yesterday afternoon, her blood pressure is extremely high and her doctor is very concerned. She is scheduled for tests at 4:00 pm today. (3/18)

Nancy King – passed away yesterday at home in Crystal Lake Village. Her memorial service is Sat. March 20 at 3:00 pm at the Recreation Hall in Crystal Lake Village. Prayer for her husband Ralph and family during this difficult time.

Abigail McNulty – Prayer for healing, she’s almost three years old and has pneumonia

Renee Johnston – Prayer to grow in God more each day

Melany Milby - Prayer to let her bitterness toward God and her mom go (because of her mom’s health and the way she responds and treats her

Brenda Miller - Prayer to let God “swallow” her and allow her unsaved family and friends to better see God through her

Please be praying for God to do some huge stuff in the hearts of the students going to believe this weekend.

Paul Thompson – (Clint Thompson’s Father) In North Side Hospital in St. Pete for a serious case of pneumonia. He will have surgery tomorrow to take a biopsy of his lung and send it to Washington DC. He will be on a ventilator after the surgery, he is currently in ECU and should be moved to ICU after surgery.

Betty Staley - her sister passed away earlier this week, she helped Betty so much when Don passed away. Prayer for her family during this difficult time.

Every time I say that, or even just have that thought I am completely overwhelmed with emotions.  As a Christian, you read the stories throughout Gods word, you learn from them and you try and think what it might have been like if you were there.  As a Pastor you try to learn as much about the time period, the locations, the people of Bible times as possible, hoping that you can glean a better understanding of Gods word and pass on as what you’ve learned to those you’ve been called to lead.  Still, I hear people say so often how hard it is to really make the Bible come alive because it was so long ago and so far away.  Well all of that is about to change dramatically for me and I really still just can’t believe it.

In just a couple of days I’ll be walking the very streets that Jesus walked.  I’ll be floating on the same waters where Jesus calmed the sea.  I’ll be dipping my feet in the Mediterranean Sea.  Hopefully I won’t run into anyone that’s just been spit out of a great fish.   I’ll be standing on the mountainside where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  I’ll be drawing water from the same well that Jesus’ mother Mary was drawing water from when an angel from Heaven shared with her the great news that she was going to be the mother of the Savior of the world.  I’ll have an opportunity to be re-baptized in the Jordan River, the very same river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  I’ll be traveling through the ancient city of Jericho, seeing the ruins of the walls that came tumbling down when Joshua and the Israelites marched and blew their trumpets as well as standing in the same fields that Shepherd’s may have been standing in when the announcement of the birth of our Savior happened.  I’ll visit the upper room where Jesus met with His disciples and shared the Last Supper.  I’ll walk the same route Jesus walked as He carried His cross to Golgotha.  I’ll have the unbelievable opportunity to stand on the very site the sins of the world were forgiven; the place where Jesus took my sin and yours and placed it on His shoulders and died for us.  The last stop will be the tomb where I’ll have the chance to take communion with other Christians thanking God for overcoming death, for rolling the stone away and leaving the tomb empty!

Even sitting here writing about what I’m about to experience up close and personal is causing my spirit to stir and my heart to fill with joy.  My mind keeps asking the same question over and over again…”What will it be like?”  I can truly tell you that at this point I have no answer.  I am looking forward to connecting with God in a way like never before.  I am praying for Him to touch my heart in ways that make His word, His life, His sacrifice take on entirely new meanings to me.  I would like to ask you to please pray.  Pray for Julie, Megan and Molly.  Pray that God gives them peace while I’m gone.  Ask God to watch over them and protect them while I’m away.  Pray for safety as I travel, but more than that pray that God will take full advantage of my heart and shape me through this encounter with Him.  I can’t wait to get there, but I’m just as excited to get home and have the answer to my question.  I’ll be sure to let you know just what it was like once I get home.  Thanks for your prayers and we’ll talk soon.

His Humbled Servant,

Tom

Carol M Knight - Prayer for her niece and husband, (Janet & Thomas Lewis). Her heart skips beats and he needs a heart cath.