Monday, November 22, 2010

Thanks

We just wanted to take a moment to give a huge "Thank You" to everyone who has helped, prayed, emailed, posted comments, called, texted & spread the word about Ella.  We haven't necessarily been able to respond to all the comments & emails, so we hope this can be a nice little blanket response. :)  We read them as they come in daily and are encouraged, warmed & often brought to tears reading them.  Our spirits are always lifted when we hear from you & we thank God for each & every one of you.  We are tremendously grateful!

The other morning we were reading a passage from 2nd Corinthians in the Bible (we pasted it below).  I'm sure that the situation the apostle Paul was in was much more dire than ours, but it is amazing how perfectly this passage translates to our family right now.  The way we have had a community of people surround us during this time has been so amazing and we feel a true extension of the unfathomable love of Christ.  I hope you are comforted & encouraged as you read this, just as we are...

"3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Thank you for sharing in our sufferings and our joys.  And for continuing to pray that we might rely not on ourselves, but on God & his power.  

P.S.  We will update you as we receive any news about Ella's echogram, which is scheduled for today.  Keep praying!

-Erik & Christa

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I love you guys and I pray for nothing but the best of news for everyone with this echo today! And I pray you have as good as cardiologists as i did when maddy needed heart help too!!! I pray for pee i pray for poo i pray for healing and strength. And most of all, for Gods work to continue taking place in these moments!!! love love love you!!!

rhonda cyr said...

i love the way God uses his kids to encourage one another. :)
i just posted a comment about "community" on your last entry, .. and i see you have a new update. .. about "community".
i smiled realizing the very thing i was praying about, was felt ... that in the midst of the trials, .. you would feel comfort in community.

God is so amazing. :)
love you guys more than i can say,
standing with you,
rhonda

Sarah said...

There is nothing more beautiful or inspiring than to band together and join in prayer for each other. In church yesterday, they did the whole service using music and during the Lord's Prayer song, I closed my eyes and saw the Lord surrounding Ella and breathing into her little body. So many prayers and so much love for her and your family...I can see it and feel it.

Love you so,
Yonich

Amy... said...

I think most people would respond to this by saying, "THANK YOU"...for sharing...for letting us walk a bit of this journey with you. While I hate seeing you hurt and ache for you, I love God more and more as I see HIS love through all of this.

Unknown said...

We continue to pray for God's Will to be done and for God to hold all of you in his comforting arms.

Love,
Tommy and Cheryl Dobson

Linda said...

Christa and Erik,
God REALLY knew what he was doing when he gave Ella to you. You are amazing parents and your trust and faith in God are so apparent. You have touched heart upon heart, not only in our church community here is Oregon, but all over the world.
God's will is always perfect..may he continue to perfect Ella's little heart, continue to strengthen her and give you HIS peace that surpasses all understanding.
God Bless You Both,
Linda and Bob

Bryan and Kalya said...

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below..."

My Ella Bella, I do praise God for you. You ARE a blessing to our family, and obviously to many others as well. I love you so much, my long awaited grand baby girl...you are so beautiful!...

I pray that God in heaven hears my cry and lets you be with us longer my angel girl. That He will heal that little body of yours and use your life here on earth for His glory.

Christa - You are an amazing woman. Your devotion to the boys as their mother and your love for Erik is evident. And your faith in the Lord God is strong...you know Him...He is a gracious, compassionate, faithful and wise God.

Erik - It is evident to me that your faith in the Lord is firm. Your love and care for your family touches my heart. You are a good man. I thank God for bringing you to Christa and into our family.

May the Lord fill your home with the Joy of Ella today, and give you grace, peace, comfort and faith in the days to come.

-Mom

chiangraiemal said...

Hey Erik and Christa-
My wife and I are thinking of and praying for you guys and sweet little Ella here in Thailand. One thing that I have seen come out of your blog that I know is giving you proper perspective is that you are not allowing your circumstances to affect your view of God. In fact you are seeing your circumstances through God's view, which brings real peace and allows you to worship Him in the midst of your emotions. I know God has a purpose and a plan for Ella, and I pray that that will be revealed in due time.

With love, Josh and Anjelica

yoon yi said...

you bring me to my knees in repentance and tears to my eyes because of your humility. i am in awe of what God is doing in you and your family at this moment in time.

we are praying continuously.

the lee family