jazzed4life eSentialz

Praise and Prayer: Sedona Seideman

Posted by Kent Robson on Sunday, December 20, 2009 , under Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Dravet Syndrome, Interstitial Lung Disease, Landau Kleffner Syndrome, Seizures | comments (0)

Gina Seideman writes:

"My daughter, Sedona, has Landau Kleffner Syndrome, Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Interstitial Lung Disease and Dravet Syndrome. She suffers with auto immune deficiencies, seizures and unexplained fevers. She is a total joy and a blessing!

(Sedona has been in the hospital for a few days because of a high fever.) We got out of the hospital on Saturday. Saturday night, she had a fever of 101.9 and her seizure count was 35. We gave her motrin and her fever went up to 103.3.

This morning, the fever was gone and she was fine until I gave her her morning meds. That is when the seizures were out of control. She had over 180 in the first 4 hours and after 6mg of Ativan and her noon meds, they slowed down to approximately 11 per hour. Her temperature is starting to go back up.

Sedona has nursing around the clock. I do nights and I have an RN or LPN during the day. She has Ativan, oxygen and nursing, so we think that she is safe for now. If her safety changes, then we will take her back to the hospital.

I wish that God would give me some answers to why she is not healing. At this time all I need is prayers."

Please pray for Sedona and her family. If you would like to write a note of encouragement, go to:

* http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sedonamarieseideman

(Praise and Prayer is a ministry of jazzed4life, which also includes the Christians with Disabilities social site. Come and join us at http://www.christianswithdisabilities.com.)

Christmas Revisited

Posted by Kent Robson on Saturday, December 19, 2009 , under nSightz | comments (0)

"Now the birth of Jesus was as follows. When His mother Mary had been engaged* to Joseph, before they were married, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly." (Matt. 1:18, 19-ASV)

The turmoil. The emotional pain and agony Joseph must have gone through because his wife-to-be was pregnant. "How could she do this," he must have thought. "How could she stoop to such an insensitive idea as to proclaim that she had been spiritually blessed?" he must have thought. What an ingenious lie; one that would exempt her from guilt and blame.

How could he believe something that was so unbelievable? It was out of the realm of worldly reality. As a carpenter, his mind was accustomed to concrete answers, problems that could be solved with the pounding of a nail or the cutting of a board. He was used to solving problems his way. The world revolved around the logical and tangible. The Holy Spirit changed everything, turned his life upside down, when He chose Mary.

I'm sure I would be more than shook up if my fiancee' approached me and said, "I'm pregnant; and the Lord did it."

It was a blow to everything decent. In the culture of the day, if a woman was caught in adultery, they would automatically be stoned. Joseph had that right; or the least he could have done was walk away.

Is it any wonder that Joseph thought the things that he thought? Because he was decent and honorable man, the only way that he felt that he could endure the pain was to take her away from all of the taunting and ridicule that he knew was going to occur, and the raise the child in peace. The commitment had been made to marry, but the disappointment of probably unfaithfulness on her part was more than he could handle.

"Eliminate the problem by hiding it," he thought. Then the burden would be easier to bear.

"But when he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.'" (Matt. 1:20, 21-ASV)

The rest is history. Some say it was destiny. I say it was humility. Joseph, a well respected carpenter from a well known family, could have walked away from the whole situation and kept his dignity intact; yet, he humbled himself to the will of God, carrying the humiliation of other's thinking it was his child; regardless of the rejection that he knew he and Mary would then be subjected to.

And the angels rejoiced. For out of his obedience, Christ was born...so He could die...that we might live. Who would have imagined that a little obedience to the Father above would change the course of history?...FOREVER!!!

For those of us who are Christians, there are times that things happen that we do not understand. It is only our faith in the Lord in our life, following His purpose and praising His goodness, that gives us the strength to press on. Like Joseph, we can not know the future impact that our choice to follow can do. We can only stand firm in the faith that God has chosen you.

2009©Kent Robson
nSightz #39

Vicky Olivas: God's Redemption

Posted by Kent Robson on , under paralysis, Quadriplegia, Scoopz, Vicky Olivas | comments (0)

This is another powerful story by Joni and Friends TV about a woman named Vicky Olivas, who was shot during an attempted rape. The story is about God's redemption in the midst of extreme stress and pain.

If you would like to see more of these videos, go to http://www.joniandfriendstv.org. You will find inspiration in the midst of tragedy.

Scoopz #35

A Wheelchair And A Manger

Posted by Kent Robson on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 , under Christians with Disabilities, disability, nSightz, Rich Dixon | comments (0)

by Rich Dixon

What would Jesus think?

I’ve been doing a little exercise based on 10 Ways You Can Enjoy An Intentional Christmas. I’m trying to spend some time each day at the nativity scene, wondering about the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of each character. And I found myself wondering how Jesus would respond to the presence of a disabled person in that holy circle.

I tend to disrupt impromptu situations. Since Bethlehem wasn’t wheelchair accessible, I’d probably need help across the rough floor. My wheels would get dirty. Perhaps one of the Magi or a shepherd would leave his place to assist, or maybe an angel would clear a path for me. Would my presence break the mood?

I’d need a place near the front. Someone else might move farther away so I could see from my seated perspective. Would my special need cause resentment?

Others brought gifts, but the bumps and jolts of an uneven floor make carrying a package difficult. Would I appear less grateful because I couldn’t present something of value?

Everyone else kneels in worship and praise, but I can only slump forward and hope muscle spasms don’t cause me to lurch onto the floor. Will the others question my sincerity because I don’t assume the customary posture of humility?

Would I be perceived as a party-crasher? The Magi received an astrological invitation along with the first GPS directions. Shepherds were summoned by an angel’s proclamation. But I just showed up with no special summons. Would my presence destroy the symmetry of a carefully choreographed eternal moment?

Perhaps I should just hang back and observe from a respectful distance. I can’t really participate anyway. I don’t fit in; I don’t want others making a fuss.

I don’t belong here.

What would Jesus think?

2009©RichDixon

nSightz #38

Rich Dixon is a Speaker and Writer. If you would like to communicate with, pray for or support Rich, go to:

* http://www.richdixon.net

Christmas - The Gift of His Presence

Posted by Kent Robson on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 , under Melissa Melvin | comments (0)

by Melissa Melvin

There are many things that make this time of year special. The festivities that span the Christmas season are nearly endless, leading right up to the morning of the big day itself. Finally, the calender reads December 25^th, all the preparations are over and we gather with family to exchange gifts, enjoy a meal and share in each others company. On this, “the most wonderful day of the year”.

Before long all the gifts have been unwrapped, the festivities are over, and we return to our everyday routines. Christmas is over for yet another year. But, it is when the hustle and bustle has all been laid to rest that the significance of Christmas can really take hold of us.

The baby in the manger has come. Not just for a season, but for life. For He is Immanuel, God with us. Daily he offers the opportunity for you to abide in Him, to rest in the shelter of His love, and to experience the peace that comes with the knowledge that no matter where life's road may go, His presence goes with you.

Will you unwrap the gift of God's presence in your life this Christmas? It is the gift that keeps on giving.

nSightz #37

Melissa Melvin is a writer and missionary. If you would like to communicate, pray for, or support Melissa, go to:

* www.journeytowardeternity.blogspot.com

Praise & Prayer: Sherrie and Emily

Posted by Kent Robson on Sunday, December 13, 2009 , under Down Syndrome, Emily Scott | comments (0)

Emily Scott is a young woman with Down Syndrome who paints pictures and sells them on e-bay and posts them on You Tube. I recently wrote a story about Emily. (See eSentialz #13.) Sherrie is her mother and greatest supporter. Sherrie's husband, Emily's step-father, recently died suddenly of a massive heart attack. They need our prayers.

If you would like to communicate with, pray for and support Emily Scott and her mother, Sherrie, go to the following link:

* http://www.youtube.com/user/MomandEmily

If you would like to see some of Emily's art, go to the following link:
*http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=Emily%2C+down+syndrome&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Rebirth of a Feral Child

Posted by Kent Robson on Saturday, December 12, 2009 , under feral, Scoopz | comments (1)

“You take what God gives you,” says the father who adopted little Dani, an eight-year-old still in diapers, unable to speak or feed herself. By the grace of God, his family has saved her life.

By Lane DeGregory | Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 4:58 PM EDT

From Purpose Driven Magazine

Just before noon on a summer day four years ago, a Plant city, Florida, police car pulled up outside a rental house with shattered windows. Two officers went into the house—and one stumbled back out. Clutching his stomach, the rookie retched in the weeds.....

for the complete story, go to the link below

Rebirth of a Feral Child - Faith @ PurposeDriven.com

Scoopz #