Jones Family Updates

Over these last five years, many of you who read this blog have introduced yourselves, thank you for your kind words and prayers of support. I am surprised as I find out that people I see almost weekly quietly let me know that they still follow Kathie. Also, people who have never met us, read, pray and support our family. Thank you. A few weeks ago I received a note from a woman who is a “prayer warrior,” she let me know that years ago, she had to quit reading this blog. She had known Kathie and I as single adults, watching as our romance began and she can mark the moment she heard about our accident. We have never been out of her prayers but she wanted to me to know how deeply she feels this struggle. For the next five nights, I read her note over again during my evening devotional readings; it was helpful to gain strength and peace from such a friend. “Faith is believing what we do not see, and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.” St. Augustine I am r...

“Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken; praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers; believing that God’s love is complete and that He is aware of your circumstances, even when your world seems to grind on as if setting its own direction and not caring for life or moving one inch in response to your petitions; desiring only what God’s hands have planned for you; waiting patiently while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being that your faith might fail – “this is the victory that has overcome the world”; this is genuine faith indeed.” George MacDonald, from Streams in the Desert, July 15. In 2009, I encouraged a friend using this quote; I have used these words personally as a reminder, I read it as a long sentence in prayer, hardly taking a breath, relaxing finally at the quote, “this is the victory…” Last Sunday our sermon was on Psalm 13, “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?” Th...

“The Lord imparts to me the underlying strength of character that gives me the necessary energy and decision-making ability to live my life. He strengthens me “with power through his Spirit in [my] inner being.” (Eph. 3:16). And the strength He gives is continuous, for He is the source of power I cannot exhaust.” Streams in the Desert, June 27. The last month and a half has been very busy! I started thinking through my phrase, “the volume of my life has been turned up… to the point of distortion.” Hannah had a wonderful trip to the East Coast; she is ready to visit New York City tomorrow or whenever I book her a flight. She is growing up, when I asked her about being homesick, she said, “no, I missed you but I wasn’t homesick.” Madison and I made a visit to SFSU and spent a good time talking about her plans and future in May. Lately Kathie seems to be observing what goes on around her, especially on her right side. I was startled to have her turn her head quickly when I a...