A Picture's Worth....

To all of you who have been carrying little Hudson and his family to Jesus in prayer, may this precious picture encourage your continued faithfulness to lift them up. He will soon begin six months of intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments to attempt to kill what remains of the tumor. More than ever, Hudson and his family need the love and prayers of the body of Christ.

Happy Birthday, Hudson!

Tomorrow is little Hudson's first birthday. His brothers and Grandpa and Grandma will be heading over to Seattle to celebrate with him. He's too little to understanding everything that's been happening lately. Last week, Hudson underwent 6 hours of surgery to partially remove the tumor at the base of his skull. Parts of the tumor could not be removed because it is intertwined with the nerves in his face. Gradually, little Hudson has regained some normal functions, though he's not out of danger yet. His tumor is a rare cancer and he will likely undergo chemotherapy treatments to destroy what remains of the tumor.

It's difficult not to be fearful. I know I can trust God and that He has plans for Hudson of which we are not aware. Still, His plans are unseen and we are left in our frailty to trust Him. There is always hope (as my sweet boyfriend has reminded me).

Please continue to carry Hudson and his family to Jesus. You may also check out the online journal Hudson's Mom has been keeping. Follow the link provided and click visit. Then, under site name, enter hudsontaylor. You will be blessed.

"The Lord Gives....

...and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

It is sometimes difficult to trust in the sovereignty of God when His little ones suffer. Tomorrow, little H. - who is not quite a year old - will be having surgery in Seattle to remove a cancerous tumor from the base of his skull. This will likely be followed by chemotherapy treatments and many days of uncertainty and pain for him and his family. Please keep them all in your prayers.

C.S. Lewis wrote that "pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Lord, we're listening. You don't need to shout anymore! Please teach us what we need to learn through this....

Freedom

Tuesday, Americans across the country celebrated our independence. To mark my own patriotism, I spent the evening with my friend A. with plans to watch fireworks. As we waited for darkness to come, we watched a film called Invisible Children, the tragic true story of children in Uganda who are abducted and forced to join a rebel army. Most of the children are between the ages of 6 and 12 and they are exposed to some of the most gruesome experiences imaginable. They are threatened with abuse and death if they do not fight and kill and they live in daily fear for their lives.

As A. and I drove up the hill to watch the fireworks, I contemplated the absurdity of it. Americans spent thousands of dollars that literally goes up in smoke to celebrate the freedom we so easily take for granted, while the Ugandan children celebrate and thank God for surviving one more day.

The suffering in Uganda, Sudan, and other parts of the world should, at the very least, make us pause and think. What part should we as Christians be playing? Is there more that we can do in addition to praying? Is there more that our government should be doing? I remember reading a sign at Dachau concentration camp in Germany that read, "Never again." Many nations vowed that they would not let another Holocaust take place. So, what about Uganda? What about Sudan? What about Rwanda? What am I going to do about it?

Loving Father, if my heart is burdened by this suffering, how much more must Your heart break? I am reminded that the religion You accept "as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27). Please envelop these innocent ones in Your healing arms and may they find their hope and freedom in Your salvation.