Encouragement ~ God Has Brought Me Out For A Reason

Beverley in South Africa sent in this encouragement. You will need Adobe Reader in order to open the file. If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/

Here is the encouragement, it is entitled God Has Brought Me Out For A Reason.

God Has Brought Me Out For A Reason

From Judy ~ 4/16/09

Dear Friends and Family,

This is just a quick note to let you all know that Steven Morrison (my youngest brother) passed away at home this morning at about 7:40 a.m. with his wife Deanna by his side. My Mom, sister Ellen and brother David and I are grateful that we all had a chance to tell Steve how much we love him during a visit on Monday afternoon. When we set up the time for our visit, we chose between Monday and this Friday which we now know would have been too late. What a comfort to have been able to have had the chance to say goodbye.

Most of you know that my Mom has been staying with us for the last month as she recuperates from a January fall. How good of God to arrange that Mom was here in NH during this time. She and all of us will miss Steve very much. At 51, his life was way too short.

At this point, I’m not sure what arrangements will be made but I’ll keep you posted.

Lots of love,

Judy

Quick note from Ruth Anne: If you would like to see a picture of Judy with her brother, this is the post from back in 2008, asking for prayer for him.

http://hope4marriagesnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/prayer-request-from-judy.html

Double Rainbow

Double Rainbow
Worth, IL
March 31, 2009

I saw this church sign while running errands Saturday afternoon in my hometown of Worth, Illinois. After I got what I needed at Ace Hardware, I just had to take a few extra minutes and snap a picture of it. :-)
~ Ruth Anne

Bulletin Cover ~ March 1 2009 FPBC

Here is the bulletin cover at Forest Park Baptist Church on March 1st:



Amen! :-)

Thank you!!!! :-)

Friends,
Every year, you bless me on my birthday, and I am blown away by your love and caring! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
The card said 100 roses. I believe it - and I've never seen such a full vase!! WOW! :-)
Love & hugs,
Ruth Anne

Fireproof the Movie ~ September 26th

On Friday, September 26, FIREPROOF will open in more than 800 theaters nationwide. The new movie from the creators of Facing the Giants is an action-packed love story about a firefighter, his wife ... and a marriage worth rescuing!

While this faith-based film is flying under the Hollywood radar screen, real people in real communities across the country are rallying behind it. In fact, it will open in 95 more cities than originally planned thanks to local people buying 1,000 tickets to bring it there!

I don't know when I've been more excited about the opening of a movie. I hope you will see FIREPROOF on its opening weekend. Hollywood judges a movie based on how it does in its first three days, so it's important to go September 26-28.

If you want more information, go to FireprooftheMovie.com.

See you at the movies!

Asher

It's not an easy message to write. Judy called Friday afternoon and left a message that Asher has gone home to the arms of Jesus.

The doctors had told them that Asher probably wasn't going to make it through the weekend. Mark, his father, had some things to do for work, so while he was out, he got a call that Asher's breathing was very labored. Mark got there just before Asher passed on into glory, into the arms of His loving Savior.

Please keep the Rousseau family in your prayers, as they mourn the loss of this wonderful, brave little boy, who is now restored to full health in heaven. As I have more details from Judy, I will let all of you know.

Urgent Prayer Request from Judy 8/21/08

Asher has been admitted on an emergency basis to Maine Medical in Portland, Maine. His feeding tube is malfunctioning, and he has lost about half a pound now (which puts him somewhere around just 10 lbs).

The doctors are very dire, saying he will not make it. (Yes, they have said this before). We have a miracle - working God, and He is the Great Physician.

Will you join me in a moment of prayer?

Father, we come before You today, and we lift up the Rousseau family, especially Asher. Lord, He needs Your healing Touch. You are the Great Physician. You say in Your Word that it is by Your stripes we are healed. Lord, we ask You to heal Asher in a mighty and miraculous way. May all who see it look on and say, "It was only God. It was God." May it all be for Your glory. We pray this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.

I'll keep you up to date as I hear word from Judy.
Love & hugs,
Ruth Anne

Cute Friendship e-mail

I got this particular PowerPoint presentation from a friend as an e-mail forward, and thought I would share it with all of you to brighten your day, too. :-)

This does require use of Microsoft PowerPoint or the PowerPoint Viewer. Free download from Microsoft for the PowerPoint Viewer

Here's the presentation I got from a friend - Snoopy Friends

~ Ruth Anne

Forest Park Baptist Church Sign

This is the church sign for this week at the church where I serve. I'll let the picture say it all. It's perfect for standers. :-)

Encouragement from Joann in North Carolina

Joann from North Carolina wrote in:

I got this prayer from another stander in my Midlife group. It's really good.
Marriage Prayer (link)
love ya,
Joann

A worship song to enjoy.....

Church sign

I had to stop and take a picture of this church sign. It fits in with devotions I read the night before, and included in the Friday August 8th message to the group.

The church in the background behind the sign is actually Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Oak Lawn. First United Methodist is to the right of the church sign.

Asher's progress

From Judy:

Paul and I want to thank all of you who prayed for our little grandson, Asher. I just spoke to my son Mark this morning and he gave me the latest details on Asher’s condition.

According to Mark, Asher was in a great deal of pain the day of the surgery but as time progressed, the pain began to subside with the exception of one of the staples that was digging into Asher’s little tummy. Once Jess pointed that out to the nurses, they wrapped some sort of foam around it and Asher became more relaxed.

Mark also said that for the first time ever, Asher had a full belly due to the use of his feeding tube. Evidently, he became quite content afterwards just laying there playing with his toys. And now that he has also had surgery to correct his reflux, there was no heartburn!!!

Praise the Lord for how He has answered our prayers on behalf of our little miracle-man.

It’s likely that Jess and Mark will be able to take Asher home today or tomorrow.

We’ll likely go up to visit sometime in the not-too-distant future. At that time, I’ll take some pictures so you can all see how much he has grown.

Once again, thank you for standing with us for Asher’s healing.

Lots of love,

Judy

Asher Update

Hello Everyone,

It's been quite a long time since I've written with any news on Asher. For the most part, the last couple of years, Asher's condition has remained the same. However, one of Asher's greatest challenges is getting the appropriate amount of nutrition in him. Asher will be three next month but at the present time he weighs somewhere around 12 pounds.

Jess and Mark have had several meetings with medical professionals and they have made the decision to get Asher a feeding tube. It is our hope that with the feeding tube Asher will be able to get the appropriate amount of nourishment so that he can gain weight and strength. If I understood Mark correctly, Asher will also be having an operation to remove a hernia. Evidently Asher's surgery is scheduled for Monday.

If you would, please pray for Asher and all of us as we go through this surgery. Due to Asher's tendency to stop breathing, there are definite risks involved.

I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Here's a picture that I took of Asher at Kylie's birthday party last month at Chuck E. Cheese.

Thank you so much for your love, support and for your prayers.

Lots of love,

Judy

Encouragement from Steve in New Jersey

Steve writes in:

I had to share this sign with you and the group. I was driving on the way to a friends house and as usual I was praying for my marriage. As I pulled up to my friends house, this is what I saw across the street. The Lord is answering our prayers.

More photos!

Hi everyone!
We have more ministry photos and more Rousseau family photographs to enjoy.

First of all, I have made a Facebook photo albums of the most recent family pictures Judy sent me, along with some older photos I could find quickly that I have saved of their children and grandchildren. You can see them at Rousseau Family Pictures. With all the pictures I have of Judy and Paul's family on my Facebook account, I am starting to look like I'm a family member, too! :-)

I also set up a ministry photo album that is for all of us at Facebook, although right now it only features me, Paul & Judy (along with Judy's singing partner Jenny and the ever present Ella). That one is Hope for Marriages Ministry. Eventually, I hope that y'all will be sending me your photos too - like children's graduations, life milestones, vow renewals, etc., and this will be where we have them for everyone to see.

And just as a friendly reminder, if you forgot to look, here are the photo albums for the Day of Prayer 2008 and some of my pictures of New Hampshire.

~ Ruth Anne

Encouragement from Brian in Arkansas

Summer 08 Newsletter from Revive Our Hearts

The newsletter features Brian's pastor's wife - she tells the story of how God healed their marriage.

Day of Prayer photographs

Here is a small sample of pictures from our day of prayer at Calvary Assembly of God in Jaffrey, New Hampshire on June 1.

Judy standing among the prayer letters on the altar at Calvary.

Pat, one of the faithful prayer warriors at Calvary, holds one of our prayer letters.

To see all of the pictures, please check out my Facebook photo album for the event.