Susans Blog

Because Every Child Matters

School field trips are making me broke!! Philip has his end of the year field trip scheduled for next week, which costs $20. Multiply this times 3 children and at least 5 field trips this year. It adds up quickly!

Anyway, I told him to ask Santhosh for the money. Santhosh asked him to ask God for the money. “You never know, Philip, God could just send you a check in the mailbox.” Thursday morning before we drove off to school, Santhosh asked Philip if he had checked the mailbox. Philip ran back excitedly saying “God answered my prayer! He gave me $20!!” There was no question in Philip’s mind. He never even asked if we put the money in the mailbox.

With all the struggles and breathing issues over the past three weeks and the new recommendation by one of our doctors that Philip needs a breathing tube inserted into his neck surgically, I wept when I was reminded of the verse from Matthew 7:11.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Oh, to have the faith of a child! Though these few weeks have been hard to see and bear, if I being evil know to give good gifts to my son, how much more does my Abba Father give good gifts to those who ask?

I’m so thankful for the encouragement and blessing of God’s word. He is my faithful Father. I pray that you believe Him, at His Word. He is real, dear readers. He loves you. He knows your name. Believe him.

Now, go check your mailbox!!

Philip has been having his own “speaking engagments” over the past few months. We were in Oklahoma visiting my sweet family for Easter weekend. It so happened that their church was having their own special meetings with Evg. Felix (I can’t spell his last name). Saturday night the church leadership asked if Philip would share his testimony as well. It seems that many in that church already knew that Philip could sing. So some in the audience encouraged him to sing for the church as well.

Philip just briefly shared parts of his testimony, and then sang “He knows my name.” Then the church together blessed him in prayer. I pray that he will continue to be used for the glory of God. He is able to encourage people with his own testimony and song. Some say just seeing him is a blessing and encouragement to them.

Please keep us in prayer. We want to do all to follow through in the plan God has designed for Philip. We know as is written in Revelations 17 of the ones with the Lamb are called, chosen, and faithful. This was a beautiful message relayed by Evg. Felix. We are all called. If we respond to the call by God, then move to ‘chosen.’ Now, the question is in the midst of disappointments, trials, and discouragement, will we be faithful?

I thought a lot about LWR. We have responded to the call. In the middle of the difficulties and discouragements, I want to be faithful. Sometimes, people and things get so discouraging, and we get caught up in the non-important issues. Pray that we be faithful. I know God has given us Philip, for at least one reason, to build LWR and to empathize with the children who suffer with consequences of birth defects. If our God is for us, who can stand against us? God bless you!

Because every child matters!

The third annual school fundraiser, Westview’s Got Talent, is a talent demonstration of teachers, and students selected through audition. Last week, there were ventriloquist act, acrobatics, musical and singing talents displayed. This happened to be our first talent show we were able to attend. As you may have guessed, our eyes were shining for our children, especially to see a fulfillment of words spoken over Philip’s life years ago.

Philip is living up to his name, as an evangelist. When he auditioned for the show several weeks ago, his music teacher had tears in her eyes, as she heard Philip state in his words his brief testimony. He then sang his famous chorus “He knows my name.” No one had known of the story behind Philip’s life. It was an eyeopening experience. Check it out at www.lovewithoutreason

What started out as a simple request from a Westview parent months ago “(You all need to tell Philip’s story to the school)”, turned into a message of hope and encouragement for the audience at the show that night. I pray and believe that lives were touched and hearts renewed with hope with the words that “God had put in my mouth.”

The ministry has begun for Philip. The message is “Go, preach the good news….” The Lord had come to change beauty for ashes, strength for fear, and gladness for mourning.

Please pray for our evangelist!!

Because every child matters!