While awaiting the surgical procedure for today (canula removal) I thought I would share another journal entry from BJ's Peru journal. This one is on Obedience. He was reading in John chapters 11 and 12:
The main theme God showed me was obedience: The disciples had to obey and follow though they were skeptical. Mary came immediatelywhen Jesus called her. Martha didn't obey Jesus right away, but argued about rolling the stone away. Lazarus , though he was dead obeyed Jesus and came out. If even the dead, wind, and waves obey Him immediately, we should also.
Mary understood worship and the important things. Martha was worried and doubtful, Judas was selfish and evil.
They [the Pharisees] were so concerned with being considered the "godliest" and "teachers," that they went against everything they 'stood' for exposing themselves as power-hungry impostors and defeating their own good.
We must die to ourselves and become empty so that Christ can grow and bear fruit through us.
If you want to become a disciple of Christ, you must actively get up, obey the call, come and follow him. If you want to be great or a leader, you must be a servant (Mthw 20: 26-28). If you want to be a servant, you must be where Christ is. Christ is amid persecution, and even the cross and death, but also joy, hope, love, faith, and eternal life.
They were so afraid of persecution and so worried about their reputation that even though they believed Jesus, they rejected and didn't follow Him. Belief is only half-way, you must also obey.
BJ, like Mary, understands worship. His heartbeat is one of obedience to our Lord and Savior. This 45 year old dad can learn from his 15 (soon to be 16 Oct. 1) year old son.
I trust we can each continue to learn through the ministry of our Jesus!
His last blood gases are good, his fever is staying away, his swelling is down slightly, the respirator pressure and oxygen percentages are being gradually lowered. Now, where is that surgeon?
We'll keep you posted...thanks for praying...
BJ's dad
posted by Pray for BJ @ 10:51 AM
35 comments
35 Comments:
WOW! What a testimony. Brent, we are all learning from your 15 old son!
Still praying!
The Shaws
Carmel
Thanks Brent
Praying always
Big john
Serving a very
BIG BIG GOD
I love to read BJ's journals. We are still praying for you - thank you for the updates...I'm constantly checking them out - my little first graders even ask, "Are you checking on BJ again?" We are thinking about you all day. What a mighty God we serve!
Jes, Todd & Andrew
BJ, you are incredible! God has given you so much wisdom that it blows me away! Hang in there buddy!
Heath
Thank you Brent once again for encouraging us! As we began our homeschool Monday, we lift you all up in prayer. We are studying faith based on Who God Is as opposed to faith based on what He does. As we have focused on Him and His attributes we have been refreshed in our spirits. This past weekend has brought us closer to Him as we have sought Him constantly on behalf of your family and BJ. We have learned much thru the blessing of this site. We have been encouraged in our spirits, we have found humor and a smile, our hearts have been overwhelmingly burdened and driven us to the throne room and we have rejoiced with singing and tears flowing down our cheeks as we have praised our Jesus with so many others in the body of Christ.
Thank you for continuing to share with us from BJ's journal. We pray that everyday our spirits will be teachable ones and available for His service. God Bless- the Potter girls - as they study and pray! Love, Ann and Kendall, Carmel, IN
"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant." Psalm 135:3
loving my God with all my heart and soul...
We are all learning and gaining through BJs recovery.
Thanks so much for sharing BJ's journal..
Praise the lord for his mighty hand is at work..
Praying always,
Lora J
Brent,
Like I said before, this 40 year old has been learning a lot from your 15 year old. BJ has wisdom beyond his years. Obviously, another "God thing!" Praying that today goes well and everything keeps stabilizing. Thinking of you all.
Love, Nancy
You do not know me, you have probably never met me, but I know of BJ through a friend who is a friend who is a friend of BJ. (Did that make any sense? LOL!) I want you to know that I and my friends are all praying for your entire family. Always remember that God is God through the good times and the bad.
WOW! You must be so proud of your son, even more when you read his journal entries. His insight at such a young age gives me goosebumps. The Lord has great things planned for this young man, and all of this I'm sure has been a part of his plan. He has been able to witness to so many people while being in that hospital bed. I can't wait to see what God has planned next! Still praying!
Beej, you are so awesome! Your journal entries are inspiring, to say the least. We serve an awesome God, who is in control of all things. Beej, we are so grateful to you for the things that you are teaching us everyday and for the light that you are to a world so badly in need of Him. We love you, Beej, and we're still praying!
Brent and Deanna, we are praying for continued encouragement throughout the day. Your commitment to Him through all of this has been a shining example for those "watching". We love you!
Lauren and Whitney. We love you too! We're praying for rest and encouragement for you both as well!
"Father, please be with the vascular surgeon today as he performs the procedure to remove the canula from BJ's neck. I pray that you would give him a steady hand. Continue to provide Brent, Deanna and the girls with encouraging news. Thank you for the amazing hospital staff who are providing support and encouragement to Brent and Deanna through this difficult time. We stand in awe of everything that you have been doing in BJ's life, Father. We feel so blessed to know and love such a wonderful family. Thanks for the miracles in room 2001, we look forward to seeing what else you have in store. Amen.
I look forward to the day when BJ and I meet and I can personally tell him how proud I am of him for his unwavering choice to follow Jesus. His maturity is breathtaking. So wise for his years. A testimony to the Lord's plan for his life and his family and church.
We will continue to pray for a steady improvement. God glory shines in BJ's hospital room. I look forward to hearing about the procedure!
Christina
Still praying with you.
Mississippi
Thank you for sharing. BJ is so awesome and a teacher to us all!!!
Praying for BJ's strenght and your
family. i pray today keeps improving for BJ and he remains stable through
the doctors procedures that are needed.
I give thanks to our Lord for bringing
Beej this far and I am faithfuly praying for his healing hand to continue for his faithful servant BJ
Love and powerful hug with prayer I send your way!!!!
Lisa Gresh/Meils
Dear Father, Please give BJ's parents the strength and patience that they need today, as they wait on blood results, doctors, tests, and all the things that have to take place. It is SO hard to wait, and they have been there SO long, please, please give them strength today!! In your name! Amen.
I am so impressed and ispired by BJ. I shared with my Jr/Sr High Sunday School class yesterday about BJ and enocuraged them to check out his website. Thank you for continuing to keep us all up to day and letting us know how we can specifically be praying for BJ.
Still praying!!!!!
Sarah Netherton (little Jayden's "aunt")
Greensburg, IN
How awesome. I worshiped just reading BJ's journal entry! God is so moving in and among us. BJ what a witness you are even though you are in waht seems like the darkest of hours Jesus is shining through you! Pray is the most powerful gift we ALL have been given.
Glen Carbon, IL
Praying every minute I have. I read a few minutes ago with 2 comments and now I come back to check progress and comments are up to 18. We are so blessed to have such an Almighty God, Bless your family and BJ. Know that you are all in my prayers on going.
By His Grace
Lynn Newkirk
Indianapolis
Higgins,
Thank you all so much for your continued updates n BJ. He is always in my prayers, as are all of you. I too, am learning everyday from BJ. He is an inspiration to me. Always praying,
Adam Palmer
Nashville, TN
I am praying daily for BJ and your family. God is being glorified through His servant BJ.
Grace,
Brandon Stark
Phoenix, AZ
How is it that the one we think is "needy" is encouraging US?! How like God to use the one the world sees as weak and helpless.
Thanks for sharing, Brent. . .and thanks, BJ for being a humble servant. Worship and obedience--you can't have one without the other, can you?
My kids are like others mentioned here and asking me faithfully about BJ. I know God is hearing their/our prayers,
in Christ alone,
Marti and Pieper family
Charleston, SC
Dear Higgins family,
You are in my thoughts and prayers constantly. My Sunday school is praying too.
Awestar Mom (Peru '05)
Asheboro, NC
But I will sing of your strength,in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.
Psalm 59:16-17
******************
Still praying, Marion, IN.
What an awesome man of God BJ is. His wisdom and obedience are beyond his youth. Thank you for such an inspiring, beautiful testimony. BJ is continuing to reach out to others. God is so amazing. I will pray constantly for BJ and all of you. God Bless.
In Christ's love,
-deb
Kansas City, Missouri
Thanks Brent-
Yes, this soon TO BE 16 year old is a great testimony, as is the whole family.
Praying without ceasing.
Lela, Concord CA
Dear Bj and Family,
Cedar Ridge Christian Church is praying for you in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We love you.
Continually praying,
Sisters and Brothers at CRCC.
I started praying for BJ over the weekend when Charlene Stovall shared his story with me and gave me the blog site.
My husband and I were missionaries in Ecuador for twenty years and I go back twice a year with medical teams.
I'm praying that your son will have Jesus' victory over this disease. He sounds very mature in his faith for a 15 yr. old...praise God.
I don't want to act like I know more than the physicians but one of my team memebers came down with a case of strongyloides which affects the lungs. Most doctors here are not aquaited with this dangerous parasite. The treatment is with Thiabendazole(Mintezol)
Dr. Sue Cantrell is the doctor who can give you some information on this 540-523-6008
God's blessings,
Susan Stiles-Martinsville
349-1847
work 317-881-6751 OMS International
Like so many others I'm finding myself checking for updates constantly throughout the day. I thank the Lord that He has placed such a heavy burden of prayer within me to pray for your precious son BJ and you as a family. We never cease to be amazed at our God, as others have said even though BJ is weak, through his love and devotion to the Lord he is giving strength to thousands of others. I thank the Lord daily for BJ and you, his family, that your light will continue to be as a light on a hill, which shines brightly thoughout this and many other countries around the globe.
May the Lord give the Dr's the wisdom needed to continue to treat BJ through to his full recovery. I continue to look forward to seeing the good reports that the Lord brings to us as a body of Christ through the divine healing of BJ. May His peace rest deep within you all.
In His Love
Linda Ronne
Shawnee, Ok
Praying as always!! My home church, as well as my friends here in P-Cola are praying for you too!!
Pensacola, FL
Panama City, FL
The testimony of your son continues to humble me.
hey there, bj! you don't know me...but i'm an mk in split, croatia. i see that you're like 40 days older than me. i saw a picture of you playing the guiatar. you like playing a lot? i play the piano. you sound like an awesome child of God. guess what? i'm one of your many sisters! well, i'm praying for you. i hope you're going to be one of many of God's wonderful miracles!
You are all in my prayers.
Brownsburg, IN
I Pray with You.
Please dear Lord
ansewr our prayers....
in Jesus name
We pray
AMEN
thank you for being a good teacher. willing to go even to Peru.willing to meet anyone-- willing to be there... I bring my doubts, my questions,I step out of the darkness into your light, with leaps of faith, I pray that we all surrender our hopes, our fears, our dreams and desires,anxieties, love and loyalty all to YOU.
Keep us posted. We love you lots. Marlene
Amen!
My prayers are still with you all and my dear friend BJ. I love you all and think about you daily. Thank you for your encouragement through BJ's journals.
In Christ,
Charissa
Holy Trinity Anglican Parish, Hillsdale, Mi is now praying for BJ. May God speed his recovery.
M. Snow
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