First Christian Church, Wauchula, FL

Clint Vermilye- (D’Lise Wyckoff’s brother) Went to the emergency room last night and was admitted to the hospital. He had a heart cath today and will have a quadruple bypass tomorrow. He is in Charlotte Regional Hospital

Tina Grice – Baptism

Eugene Hultender – Baptism

Aaron Walkington- Rededication & Baptism — prayer for grace and better understanding

Sandy Staton – Wants to thank everyone for the prayers since her accident on June 24th — is thankful for the support

Erica Eisenhauer – Wants to thank God for blessings in her life and is thankful for all the prayers from her church family

Tammy Crosby – Praise that Jonathan Eli only had to have 4 stitches on Saturday, also prayer for their family

Missy Massey – Prayer for her cousin who is traveling today (Sunday) and Thursday; also prayer for travel mercies for Missy, her dad & Paige as they travel to Alabama on Friday (they will be there through August 9th); Praise — her dad’s eye surgery was successful

Prayer for JT Bryant – he gets his wires off his jaw on Monday (7/26)

Prayer for Dusti Taylor — she is seeing a Vascular Surgeon Wed, 7/28 about a ruptured vein in her leg

Prayer for Sandy Bryant’s Oldest son (Leighton & April’s brother) He’s having serious arm surgery on Thursday (7/29)

Prayer for Kenny Farabee — has been diagnosed with viral meningitis (new code) — please continue to pray for total healing

Tammy & Doug Spain – Prayer for their daughter (Shelby — 2 years old) — has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder and is on a new medication; also prayer for Tammy & Doug as they go through this time with Shelby — they have no health insurance

David Barringer – Desire for membership and prayer for complete healing of high blood pressure

Darlene Pineiro Barringer – Prayer for healing for her husband (David) and for growth in the Spirit of their family and for membership for David

Be in Prayer for the Christ in Youth Conference, “Move”, that our youth return with awesome testimonies, and travel mercies as they drive.

Gene Davis asks Prayer for Red Mills – has cancer & is not doing well

Prayer for Erica & her family as they conclude her business in Illinois

Kenny Farabee- Prayer, is in Winter Haven Hospital getting an MRI for headaches — UPDATE 7/21 – he has viral meningitis, and today is worse with vomiting and his blood pressure going up. He has had this headache for a week. Prayer for healing and his family for strength — UPDATE 7/23 — he is running a high fever and his eyes are bothering him.

Adelina Servin – baptized

Terah Servin – baptized

Andy Hogue- has an MRI today 7/19 to determine if there is rotator cuff damage. Thankful for God’s healing

Micah Bumby – Prayer to rebuild and restore her relationship with Jesus, stop running and remember He has a plan

Lorie Crouse – her grandma had a blood transfusion Friday and doctors found she is bleeding internally. She is not doing well; Prayer for a peaceful passing; prayer for her family during this difficult time

John Hogue – a huge Thank You to FCC for prayers and support as family ministered to people in Brazil. Continue to pray for wife, kids, and family as they are still in Brazil, continuing ministry to the suffering

Family of Lavon Gilley – (co-worker of Wayne Crosby, Sr.) passed away this week. Prayer for his family during this difficult time

Neighbor of Herb & Jean Hall passed away this month, prayer for the family during this difficult time

Tina Barwick- Prayer for Teddy. He goes to Moffitt 7/29; we know God’s got our back and we are staying positive. Thanks for all the prayers, we give GOD all the glory

Linda LaLonde – Praise, Jan Cannell, (a lifetime friend) is cancer free, all lesions on her brain are gone and all spots on her lungs are gone. John Cassell (Linda’s son) had a serious misdiagnosis, relieved him of great anxiety and is healing from Crohn’s disease. Blessed and Thankful

Justin Battles – Prayer for healing

Missy Massey – Prayer to get closer to God, to get back on track. Prayer for Dusty & Krystle’s marriage. Dusty is starting a new job on Friday, Missy wants to be supportive

Joann Granthan – has been diagnosed with cancer. She goes to Moffitt this week to determine treatment possibilities

Julie Ellis- (Sue Smit’s daughter) is having neurosurgery Wed. the 21st to repair 2 herniated disks in her neck. It should take about 4 hours, if all goes well she will come home that night from Winter Haven Hospital. Prayer for an uneventful surgery and successful healing — UPDATE — came through surgery fine and is home, Praise God

Sara Hall – is changing jobs. Prayer that everything falls into place and it is a positive change for her and her family

Ryley Dishman – was placed in a body cast from under his chest because he has a broken femur. He may get to come home tomorrow 7/17 Prayer for healing

Daniel Leakey – PRAISE — has started a youth group in the church he, Stephanie & Anna attend, they are meeting once a month now, will soon meet every two weeks. In September Daniel starts training to be a Youth Pastor. Prayer that they feel God’s guidance and will in their decisions.

Karma Byr – (Dusti’s co-worker at Java) Prayer — received a call at 3 am. this morning from Canada that her mom had been in a serious car accident and was not expected to “make it”. At 8:00 am Karma was in Orlando Airport with a stand-by ticket for the next flight. UPDATE: her mom was not as serious as was thought, Karma plans to be back by Monday, 7/19.

Andy Hogue - ruptured his bicep muscle at work today, we find out tomorrow if he will need surgery (Judging by his arm, it does not look promising) Please Pray. (Brittany Hogue)

Richard Taylor – (Tom Taylor’s Dad) – is home & doing better but needs prayer for issues he is having to deal with and finalize

Juanita Graham- (Ray Graham’s mom) Is home in Hardee Manor after a short stay in the hospital. She has a malignant tumor in her intestines, but is in her 90′s so her Dr’s. say they will not operate.

Erica Eisenhauer, Tom & Jane Taylor – Prayer for safe travel to Illinois and that Erica is able to finalize her divorce without incident. They will fly up for her court date on Thurs., 7/22 pack her things in a U-haul and drive her car home; hopefully to be home by Sat.

Suzanne See – has a growth on her spine and needs surgery to remove it

Gracie Williamson- (7 year old friend of the Green’s) has spina bifida but was doing well. She has kidney stones and one kidney is blocked and stopped working. Prayer that after surgery to remove the stones it will begin working without further incident

  Today was our last day in Israel.  It has been such an amazing trip it’s hard to believe it’s almost over.  Today our journey began a few miles outside the old city of Jerusalem at the very spot Jesus took His Disciples to stand watch while he went to pray, the Mount of Olives.  This is the time His Disciples kept falling asleep while He was praying.  The Mount of Olives is where all Jews want to be buried.  They believe through     Scripture that when the Messiah comes He will come to the Mount of Olives, so they want to be buried there so they will be called up with Him.  To date there are over 50,000 Jews buried at this site.  The cemetery takes up almost the entire side of the Mount of Olives facing the temple.  It is an amazing site to see.

  We then began walking the path Jesus walked the led Him to the Garden of Gethsemane.  On our way we stopped at a location they believe is the very first Jewish/Christian burial site.  All of the burials boxes here were very small and at first glance you would think them to be for children, but that’s not the case.  Jews don’t bury their bodies in coffins; they put them directly in the earth so they can be returned to the earth from which they came.  After the bodies have been buried for a year the family digs them up and places the bones in the burial box.  So, the boxes here were smaller because it was only bones that were placed inside.

 Once we reached the Garden of Gethsemane I began to remember that this was the very place Jesus prayed in agony, sweat drops of blood asking God to let this cup pass from Him, however, He was willing to carry this out if it was what God wanted of Him.  I’ve been through some pretty difficult times in my life, dealt with a lot of pain through all my kidney problems, been grieved over tragic loss in my family, and horrible situations I’ve put myself in but never, never have I sweat drops of blood.  It’s hard to fathom how difficult this must have been for Jesus.  The oldest Olive trees in the world exist in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Some of the trees are dated back 3000 years.  Jesus was praying here among these trees.  It was quite a thrill to be standing among them knowing that Jesus was here and that this was the place He came to be close to God.  (giving thanks) The Garden was also where the soldiers came with Judas to arrest Jesus.  It’s where Judas planted “the kiss of betrayal” on Jesus.  It’s where Peter cut of the ear of the Roman soldier Malchus and Jesus stepped in and healed him.  How humbling to stand here knowing what Christ did for me.

 After we left the Garden we traveled into the city of Jerusalem.  It was like traveling back in time.  The streets were lined with shops selling anything and everything.  Some stores had spices set out in bowls where you could come in, pick out the spices you want and purchase them.  Other stores had meat just hanging in the doorways for your selection.  Some stores sold very beautiful jewelry, hand made bags, scarves, etc.  All the streets were extremely narrow and as we were walking along I saw it…The Via Dolorosa.  We followed the path Jesus took as He carried the very cross on which He would die for my sins.  (giving thanks) Today the road is lined with shops, back in the time of Jesus it would have been lined with houses.  Very humbling to stand on the road and think that my sins caused this journey to take place.  My sins led Jesus to carry His cross down this very road.  It also made me grateful that He loved me enough to walk it for me.  (giving thanks) We saw the location of the beating, we saw the spot He fell and received help from Simon in carrying His cross.  I found myself only able to say “Thank you Jesus” over and over again. 

 We visited two sites that are possible locations of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.  One is called The Church of the Holy Seplecure.  It is completely covered by a church but they have a stone they believe held the cross of Jesus in place and a destroyed tomb they believe was the burial location of Jesus.  To me the biggest problem was that this location didn’t really line up with scripture.  Scripture says that Jesus was crucified on the place called “the skull” Golgotha outside of the city and placed in a tomb near where He died.  We visited another location directly on “the place of the skull”, Golgotha.  Everyone knows of this place, it’s always been called Golgotha and when you look at it, it looks like a skull.  Golgotha is located just outside the city, directly in line with the route taken by Jesus and there is a tomb that fits the description in the scriptures as well.  Scripture says it was a new tomb.  The tomb near Golgotha was new at the time of Jesus; in fact the side of the tomb that was still unfinished in Jesus time is still unfinished today.  It was never completed.  Most family tombs like this were laid out where the room used to prepare the body for burial was directly in front of the burial room.  So, they would prepare the body and then carry the body directly forward to bury them.  However, in scripture when Mary and Martha went to the tomb to prepare the body, it says they saw the angel of the Lord on the right.  This tomb was different then most tombs of its day.  When you were standing in the room used to prepare the body you would have to turn and go to the right to place the bodies in the tomb.  This is exactly how it would have been for them to bury Jesus.  While standing there I could envision the women coming to the tomb, seeing the stone gone, coming inside, standing in the very spot I was standing, looking to the right and seeing the angel of the Lord.  I cannot tell you with all certainty that this was the place; I wasn’t there when it happened.  But, I can tell you that my heart connected with God here in this place in a way it did not at the other location.  I choose to believe that THIS WAS THE PLACE! (giving thanks)      

 I laid my hands on the mountain of Golgotha and cried as I thanked God for dying for me.  I stood in the tomb of Jesus, weeping, thanking Him that what I was standing in was an empty tomb!  Jesus was not there, He is risen, just as He said!  (giving thanks) Totally unbelievable, words fall woefully short at a moment like this.  Even now I can barely write about it without crying.  I’m certain that the woman seated next to me on the plane as I sit here and journal about this experience is wondering what in the world is wrong with the blubbering idiot sitting next to her.  But, when Jesus gets a hold of you, you really don’t care much about what people around you think.  What a totally amazing experience.  One that will never be forgotten. (giving thanks)

 We finished up our time shopping in the old city of Jerusalem.  It was interesting to say the least bargaining with all the store owners as I worked to find just the right gifts to bring home to my family.

 I have to tell you it has been an amazing trip.  A trip that has been educational but more than that, it’s been sort of a pilgrimage.  God has shown me in an up close and personal way how to connect with His word through understanding the locations and the people better.  He has also connected in a new and fresh way with my heart.  He has refreshed in me His Spirit and strengthened the fire that burns in my heart for Him.  I hope that journaling this experience will be in some small way a window for you to see what I saw, and a way for you to understand that the sacrifice He made wasn’t just for me but it was for you too!

  Shalom 

Wynell Davis- (Lori Spinks Mom) has been released from the hospital. Prayer for continued healing

Janet & Thomas Lewis – (Carol M Knight’s niece) totaled their car in a crash tonight. They were bumped and bruised and do have insurance. Prayer to get through this hard time

Julie Ellis- (Sue Smit’s daughter) is having neurosurgery Wed. the 21st to repair 2 herniated disks in her neck. It should take about 4 hours, she will be in Winter Haven Hospital. Prayer for an uneventful surgery and successful healing

Ryley Dishman- (Zachary Dishman’s brother/Phil Bumby’s grandson) is in All Children’s Hospital, St. Pete, with a broken leg, they will cast it tomorrow (7/15)

Teddy Barwick- has tested positive for cancer. He will have a colonoscopy Friday 7/16 to determine a prognosis.

Joe Bryant- (Debbie Blum’s dad) has a tumor that is growing larger and will have to have chemo to shrink it before Dr’s can attempt surgery

Erica Eisenhauer – Prayer — has to go back and deal with things — she wants closure — prayer for a safe trip and for her children who will not be with her

Donna Salmon – Prayer for her mom (Jessie Eddings) as she takes care of Hope — it is taking a toll on her and the entire family — they want God’s perfect will and she (Donna) wants to spend more time at God’s feet; also prayer for Fred and Donna as things change in their lives — to always know where God wants her to be so she can be in His will

Rachel Kip – Prayer — she wants to make sure she’s doing things God’s way, but she needs HIS strength to do it

D’Lise Wyckoff – Prayer for her sister (L’Dawn) –she has been released from the hospital with new medication and will find out in 2 or 3 months if she will have to have a defibulator implanted or have a heart transplant — they’re worried, but they know that God is in control

Regina Senn – Prayer for God to make her path clear

Renee Johnston – Prayer for Sandy Staton — she’s home from the hospital but is still having a lot of pain

David & Darlene (Pineiro) Barringer – Prayer for life changes and depression; also desire for membership for David — but she’s glad to be “home” at FCC

Charlene Farabee – Prayer for faith for her healing; also prayer for the Lawrence Williams family

D.Williams-Tatis – Prayer for her sons and their families; also, praise for God’s work in her life