My first 30 miles of walking have been completed! It took me longer than expected but there are good reasons for that. These first 30 miles I dedicated to the Lord who has been graciously with me every day through the various physical problems I’ve encountered. The She Is Safe (http://sheissafe.org/ ) promotional “Run to Rescue” inspired me to begin my walking regimen again, which had been suspended in the last year due to leg pain, subsequent broken right femur December 1 of last year, surgery to both legs to implant titanium rods, and months of physical therapy which ended in July of this year. At times I wondered if I’d ever get back to “normal”, if the pain would ever go away. Well, “normal” can change; I have a new normal, still have some pain but not to the point of taking medication for it. For these improvements I thank God. For so much I thank God.

My “Run to Rescue” project calls for sponsors and I am thankful for those who let me know they committed to sponsor me. If anyone else wishes to contribute as well, a dollar amount of your choosing for each mile walked can be sent by check to She Is Safe, 11095 Houze Road, Suite 100 • Roswell, GA 30076 • (877) 552-1402. Or you can go to their web site (see link above) and contribute online.

These funds will contribute to the rescue of hundreds, thousands, of girls and women in places in the world where they are routinely oppressed and abused, under-valued and deprived of basic necessities. She Is Safe partners with local ministries in numerous countries all over the world, which bring the light of the Truth, the Good News of Jesus Christ, coupled with physical “rescue” efforts to the lives of these precious girls and women. Thank you for joining me in supporting these efforts.

One of the “good reasons” I took longer to tally up 30 miles (these were added up on my treadmill calculator as I walked) is that last week I attempted something that I had never done before in my life: I drove, me, myself, alone, to Erie, Pennsylvania, to be with my sister who had recently undergone major surgery, and on top of that she and her husband were packing their household to move out of state(which is taking place as I write).

From here to Erie is about 8 hours of driving. I have never been strong enough to attempt something like that. The MG I’ve had since a young teen has always hindered me from such physical stresses. However, since 2009 I have been stronger and, in fact, since November of 2009 I have been off one of the drugs I started taking right after I was diagnosed with MG at age 15. A good “side effect” of chemotherapy for breast cancer? (Some of my doctors thought that would be a fascinating study: the relationship of chemotherapy for cancer to MG treatment. I agreed.)

So, in some trepidation I started out. I did not attempt the whole drive in one day. I broke it up and stayed overnight roughly halfway, same coming home. I experienced no weakness (such as in my eyes) during the whole week.

I was able to lend some small assistance to my sister, herself a cancer survivor, and I am so thankful I could do that. So many people, over the many years of my life have helped me in so many different ways. I am thrilled to be able to give back to others, especially to my own flesh and blood, and be able to get myself there and back on my own!

I share this with you so that you can join me in giving God praise and glory, for it is all of his goodness and mercy. When we experience hard things in life we are tempted to say, “why, God?” or “where are you, God?”. Especially in these times we must fall back on the revealed character of God. The scriptures are full of the revelation of his goodness, patience, kindness and love. We only need eyes to see. Our lives are routinely filled with the effects of God’s goodness daily poured out on us. We only need eyes to see. God hasn’t left us in trials! He is still Emmanuel, God with us, no matter what we must face. He walks with us through all of it. We only need affirm this amazing truth. And give him his due: the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to God.

God is going before us, Randy and me, as we forge ahead with the mission he has given us. New doors of opportunity have been opening and we are walking through them. One of the interesting developments for us is taking part in leading a Marriage Seminar in a church. Randy is putting it all together and will have 3 sessions in which he will speak. But I, too, will have a part with him, sharing in at least one of the sessions. Pray for us as we minister to these couples. You know Randy will lead people into the Word of God, bringing it to bear on their lives and relationships. Pray for an outpouring of God’s spirit, on us, the other presenters, and the couples in attendance.

We are excited about the doors opening for Randy to share and teach about Kingdom of God principles, as outlined in the book, Mission as Life: Making the Kingdom of God Your Family’s Passion. A new blog related to this you will find interesting is “Growing Godly Families”, which is at http://missionaslife.blogspot.com/ .
Pray with us that more doors of opportunity open for Randy to hold seminars in churches around the country teaching on these biblical principles and getting God’s people involved in local outreach, challenging God’s people to a Kingdom lifestyle.

You actually are the keys to opening doors! We are looking for local “sparkplugs”, Advocates of Mission as Life/Mustard Seeds and Mountains, to stir up interest in their local churches and among individuals to read the book Mission as Life, to come on a Mission as Life mission trip to WV, to have Randy come hold a Mission as Life seminar in their church. Pray again for open “ears”, hearing unto obedience, among God’s people as Randy speaks and teaches.

Randy recently declared he was making October a month of thanks and praise to God. We have so much for which to say “thank you” to God. There is so much we take for granted and forget to say thanks for. It is a good exercise in gratitude to think about and verbalize to God our thanks for all these everyday kindnesses he routinely pours out on us. And contrary to the undercurrent of our thinking, God doesn’t have to do all these good, kind things for and to us. We do not deserve them! We deserve what we don’t want to think about and acknowledge, but because of God’s mercy and grace, he doesn’t deal with us according to our sins. This is grace. The grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

And because of the character of God, revealed in scripture and every day of our lives, our only right approach to God is in all humility, and overflowing gratitude, ready to do all he says.

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Jacque