I have seen God do awesome miracles. I was shot five times when I was a teenager and had no lasting injuries. My sister has been on death's door with anorexia and recovered. My mom survived breast cancer. The Broncos won two superbowls. Jace's life and development.
I want to believe so much that we are on the verge of another one of those miracles. I'm in all out bargaining mode, telling God that if Jace recovers even my friend Bob will have believe in Jesus and love him. I'm telling God that like the blind man Jesus healed that this happened to bring glory to God through Jace's healing. Then I have a tantrum and tell God - if you love me you will heal him.
I have seen miracles, but I have also watched my best friend's mom die while we begged for her healing. I have seen a friend lose her baby after being pregnant for six months. I have seen people live through pain they don't deserve.
I know my redeemer lives.
I'm afraid to hope too much. I'm afraid if believe too much and Jace dies that I will never believe again. I'm afraid God does not do what I want him to do when I want him to do it.
Before he healed him, Jesus asked a man in the Bible something like - "Do you believe?" The man answered. "I believe. Lord help me overcome my unbelief." Sorry I'm too lazy to look up references. See all it took was the man WANTING to believe. I desperately want to believe, and yesterday Andrea Keown told me that in those moments I could not find hope, she would do it for me. She would believe on my behalf. She would stand in the gap.
I am scared. I am weak. I want to believe.
Please stand in the gap for me and for Jace.
A couple of weeks ago, Jace was at my house, and I started crying. I said, "Jace I'm sad I don't live with you anymore. What will make me feel better?" I was hoping for a hug. Jace answered confidently, "Jesus."
Jace believes. I wan't to believe.
A few updates:
There is at least SOME brain activity. They can't tell what type or how good that is or not, but still SOMETHING is better than nothing.
His swelling is increasing but so far he is still handling it. We are told the next 24 hours are the most crucial and that they have maxed out the medications that will control the swelling. Either the swelling will peak and then go down, or the swelling will become more than his brain can handle and he'll die.
Please please pray. When he was a baby and his oxygen levels were low, I used to sing this to Jace.
Jesus loves Jace this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but my God is so strong.
Yes, Jesus loves Jace. Yes, Jesus loves Jace. Yes, Jesus loves Jace. The Bible tells me so.
He will heal your heart and mind. He will heal your eyes and lungs. Give you hope and grow you tall. Bring you peace and make you strong.
Yes, Jesus Loves Jace. Yes, Jesus loves Jace. Yes, Jesus loves Jace. The Bible tells me so.
I know Jesus is holding and singing over him now. Please pray for him. I am begging you. The world and I need him. Thank you for your overwhelming love and support.
Keep fighting Jace. We all love you so much!!
ReplyDeleteStacey,
ReplyDeleteI am believing for you. I am holding you in my arms and transferring my strength and faith to you. My prayers will continue.
Heidi H.
Jace and you and your family are in my prayers....Jace is truly "A Child of God"
ReplyDeleteLuke 5
ReplyDeleteJesus Heals a Paralytic
17One day as he was teaching...And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." ...
...He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
because of their faith...
Good one afaye. You should go to law school.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Jace, this is your cousin Natalie. I am praying for you and I know Jesus hears me, just like He hears you when yo pray. Jace I have a favorite Bible verse that gets me through tough times and I want to share it with you ok. It is
ReplyDeleteZephaniah 3:17:
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
You rest in Jesus' arms and let Him sing over you and you do your part and let your body heal. We love you.
Stacey, I am right there with you ! I was praying that scipture this morning! I BELIEVE that God can and will heal him, but it is hard! Thinking about and praying for you all constantly!
ReplyDeleteStacy,
ReplyDeleteI don't know you or your family, but I am overwhelmed by Jace's story. I know that our God HEALS...by the stripes on his back...Jace was healed. I thank God for his healing power at work in Jace's body at this very moment. I also am standing in the gap for you at your time of need, I pray for strength and peace to be all around you at your greatest time of need!
Stacy,
ReplyDeletewho taught you to write? you are very good at it! ;-)
oh honey, my heart just aches for you and your sister. i actually came up to the hospital today hoping to see one of you and hug your necks. i haven't seen you in forever but i still care about you and am deeply moved by your faith, your fears, your honesty and your love. i know you may not feel it, but God himself is closer than ever. i am praying. many are praying. will continue on doing so. much love,
Mrs. annie Hankins
God honors an honest heart. We are all standing in that gap for you. It's obvious you still believe. We just don't always have complete understanding why bad things happen to such good people. Hang on tight to hope and keep the faith.
ReplyDeleteSherri Marks
First, it's okay to be angry, all right? God understands the freaking out of the frightened child. He totally does and he totally loves you. So remember that. And remember that God loves YOU and that's not going to change.
ReplyDeleteYou're in a scary place. Remember that no matter what, nothing can take Jace from God's hands. NOTHING.
I am encouraged to hear that there is some brain activity. That's a positive. His little body is fighting and that's a blessing. So many are praying and I know that nothing goes unheard by God.
I hope someone is singing to the little guy right now. Anything comforting contributes beneficial hormones and contributes a peacefulness that can only aid the body. The more it can concentrate on fixing what it hurt, the better. Poor Jace is stressed enough.
May God honor the fervent pleas of his people. And may you feel the comfort of his love surround you and all of yours.
Hang in there little guy. I believe your miracle is on the way. Hugs and strength to the friends and family of this blessing of life
ReplyDeleteJace,
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you and your family. MaodDod lay his healing hands on you to get you thru this tragic time.
May God bless and keep you!
In his name,
Kelly B
Stacey...God is ever so faithful. At times like these, we do question why & we may never fully understand but I say it again God is faithful! He hears our prayers & I believe that Jace will be healed. Jace is such a handsome, sweet, precious child of God & Leslie is a remarkable mother!
ReplyDeleteKnow that you are not alone in this. Many, many people are lifting Jace & his family up in prayer! He is a fighter! Stand strong, sweetie! God is good....ALL the time!
You are SO blessed to have this little man in your life, and I am so blessed just to read about him! My heart hurts so much for you girls and for him, as I am a mother of two little boys under 2, who have each had their own issues. I have fallen in love with him just by seeing his pictures and am praying the most heartfelt prayer for him that I have ever prayed.
ReplyDeleteGod, please be with Jace right this moment. Please give him comfort and peace where he is. I know how much You love your children, and with how much delight you look to Jace with. Thank you for blessing us all by allowing us to get a glimpse of what you've created him to be! I pray for Leslie and Stacey right now. God let their love for You and their love for him get them through this aweful time! We love you so much!
Amen.
I was told once that "Gods shoulders are thick enough to handle us being mad at" and its so true..hang in there and just keep believing he can and will provide another miracle..
ReplyDeleteKeeping you all, especially little Jace in our hearts, thoughts and prayers!!!
ReplyDeletesusi
The word says meditate on whatever is good, pur, etc.... Capture the thoughts the enemy would have you believe and cast them out. DO THIS CONTINUALLY. Not just once or twice, but continually. Cast out thoughts of doubt as thoughts of the enemy ~ not your own. Don't own them. Rememberances of what you perceive as unanswered prayer. Meditate on memories of answered prayer and miracles and the promises of God which can not fail. And we all will stand in the gap for you and infuse the atmosphere with our faith. It is NOT God's will that a 3 yr old be murdered nor that his loved ones watch him die. This is the enemy at work. This is spiritual warfare & it takes us all fighting in the spirit realm. Pray Pray Pray & Worship God through it all. Give Him Praise & Glory & Honor in ALL circumstances. He is good and worthy to be praised.
ReplyDeleteI know you have a lot of friends and may be assuming a lot, but I assume you are referring to me when you wrote about your friend losing her baby. I just wanted you to know that although that happened to me, my family did get a miracle we were praying for. We prayed for my health and recovery and God answered our prayers as I have to believe He will answer our prayers for healing for Jace. My faith is stronger than its ever been because of what my family has been through so I will stand in that gap for you and believe when you don't feel strong enough to believe for yourself! I will keep praying and continue to ask others to pray for Jace's miracle. Please let me know if you need anything!
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Laura
Sending many prayers for you and little Jace. May the Lord our Savior and Redeemer bless you with all that you stand in need of.
ReplyDeleteTaking him to the Father all day and will continue. We are asking others too as well. We wait, we hope, and we pray.... "He is good to those whose hope is in him."
ReplyDeleteDon't know you at all, just saw a reposted twitter through a friend. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteSometimes God heals on Earth, sometimes He heals with the perfect healing that brings someone to Heaven. Whatever happens, he has little Jace in the palm of his hand and has not forgotten any of you. When I lost a baby several years ago, I struggled so much with not understanding. I finally had to reach the point where I accepted the words "the peace that passes all understanding." Maybe we're not meant to understand, this side of Heaven. That's why He is God, and we are not. (Good thing of it, too - I'd make a terrible mess if I tried!)
It's okay to be angry with God; it's okay to tell Him you're angry. He knows, anyway! It's okay to struggle with your faith and take time to find your way back to Him. I promise, as long as you keep trying, you will find your way.
Praying for healing and peace, and thinking of you today...
Stacey
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people praying for Jace and your family, I read about his story on the prayer chain from my home church before I realized that this was your Jace. God still answers prayers and I am believing one for him, you are in my constant prayers. I am so sorry that you are having to go through this but God never gives us more than we can handle, I have seen you recover from gun shot wounds and it made you stronger, you will get throug this and so will Jace.
Lisa Burkett Read
I'm praying for Jace and passing on the word. I heard of this through Casey and Lacey. I hope to God that he is going to be alright. That poor little baby. I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old, both boys. Hearing about Jace broke my heart. I cannot begin to fathom the pain you're feeling. God bless Jace, you, your whole family, and all your dear friends. I pray God doesn't take him yet.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Randi, Harold, David, and Adam
"The Sleeper Family"
Praying continuously!
ReplyDeleteStanding in the gap...
ReplyDeleteThe LORD is close to everyone who prays to him, to all who truly pray to him. Ps. 145:18
ReplyDeleteGod honors radical, risk-taking faith. When a garment is touched Jesus stops. He stops and responds.
In Him,
Todd Whetsel
I do not know you guys but I just saw this and I cried. I'm still crying and it freaks me out a little cause I work in a er and see this evey day. I have little ones myself and my heart goes out to you. I love you as my family in god and I am praying as we speak. He will hug you again. And he will play with you. Jace you make it through this buddy and you turn 18 your first tattoo is on me for free. Much love the linebrink family.
ReplyDeleteMy Heart cries for you.
ReplyDeleteJeramiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you , Declares The Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"- Amen