Thursday, October 05, 2006
Nap time
We've been in and out to see Payton this evening. She's very swollen, but she opened her eyes a bit and looked at us which is joy to see. Her heart is still about the same. They're doing a blood treatment at the moment to see if that helps. We're going to try to crash for a few hours. With the emotional roller coaster that the last few days have been and little sleep we're both just wiped. We'll keep you posted as we know more. THANK YOU for your warm and generous response in prayer and love. It's been a tremendous encouragement to see how many people are in this with us - a debt of gratitude we'll never be able to repay.
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51 comments:
Debt paid in full.:) A joy to be able to share with you our feelings.
Go get some sleep,
love ya,
p.b.
Praise the Lord that you were able to see her awake even for a few seconds or however long it was. God is so good... I had just prayed and ask God to let you see her awake and to be able to look into her little eyes. We are still praying and will continue throught the night. I'm glad you are able to get some rest.
Love ya,
Dwayne & Pam
Oh, dear friends... we continue to intercede for you and for sweet Payton. We will be praying for you even as you rest... that you would experience His peace that transcends understanding and that you would experience rest not only for your physical bodies, but also for your souls. "My soul finds rest in God alone. He only is my Rock and my salvation. He is my fortress. I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62) We continue to pray that He would uphold you by His righteous right hand. You are deeply loved by the God of the universe and by so many others... including us. (=
I have been awake tonight praying for her little life and that God would sustain her. She has had so many surprises up her sleeve since she was born, as has God. Let's hope there is one more...
love,
alli
Trusting in the Lord with you that in His infinite wisdom His will is fulfilled. Your words of "no matter what, God is good" gave me such a deep admiration for your faith. Praying for your sweet girl and your family to continue to be wrapped in His love.Thank you for your updates.
So thrilled to read you got to see her and she was able to look back at ya'll. Amazing Grace! Still praying and believing & trusting God with you and with Payton. How cool is the Lord to keep us all up so you and Payton can rest. I pray He multilplies each minute of rest for each of you. love you guys!
christina
Continuously praying through the night. You are an amazing family. Thank you for being so vulnerable with us, and letting us pray for your family.
Praying you continue to experience supernatural rest... and praying your sweet little baby continues to fight. She has brought the Lord so much glory and impacted so many lives already... we're praying He continues to use her to display His power, provision, and kindness. We're believing Him with you.
I came across your blog quite accidentally yesterday. It popped up in the 'recently updated blogs' just after I'd finished updating my own blog and I have been unable to stop coming back to check in on dear Payton's progress.
I'm a Buddhist lady, coming from Sri Lanka but now in the UK. I'm not sure if it's ok for me to leave a comment or not as I am not a Christian. But I really wanted to say that I am meditating for the well being of Payton and for the peace of mind for both of you and for your family.
I write a rather cynical blog about British politics and sometimes I think the whole world is obsessed with hatred and violence. Your blog is an example to us all, as is your faith. You are truly good people and you deserve the prayers and thoughts of everyone.
I hope that it will be alright for me to ask my local Buddhist sangha (which is similar to your congregation) to send out 'Metta' (loving kindness) and 'karuna' (compassionate joy) to Payton, both of you and to your entire family, together with everyone on your blog who is praying for you.
Each day we do a Metta meditation and I would like to include dear Payton in ours.
I hope this will be acceptable.
For your dear child, for you both, and for your family, I wish you peace, and more loving kindness than I can put into words.
With Metta,
Amanthi.
"Only her eyes seemed to have escaped the circumstances of her young life...she focused them not on me, but on Sister Conchita. It was clear I was 'second string.'" "What does it mean to say that God is with us?...we will never face a single struggle alone...what difficulties are you facing?...Take a moment today...begin to envision yourself as you really are - surrounded by the presence of your faithful God. Invoke his name - Immanuel. Decide today to do everything in your power to follow him. Then ask for his peace, pray for his protection, and open your life to his power." Friday's QT from Ann Spanger's Praying the Names of Jesus - Caren Hoehn
Payton was continually in our prayers through the night. God is so good that He lets us pray so that you can rest. Payton is being lifted up to him all day as are you and Aaron.
Heather, Aaron and Payton,
God is good all the time.
We continue to pray for precious Payton every day, knowing and trusting that the Lord is with you all, holding you in his loving arms.
We thank the Lord for the gift of seeing Payton's eyes open and looking at you, if only for a moment.
We hope you were able to get some rest last night and pray the Lord will give you the strength and courage to face yet another day.
In Christ's love,
Grace and Carl
PS What an added blessing to know that the Lord is using your blogspot to witness to others throughout the world -
All the time, God is good.
My family and I continue to pray daily for your family and precious Payton. She is truely a remarkable baby. Your faith is an inspiration to us all.
Our prayers are being lifted up today in thoughts of your family. May God wrap you in His arms during this time. God bless!
A friend told me about your little darling. My husband and I are praying for you guys!
Good Morning Aaron & Heather~ I love you. Still praying!!
donna
Payton is on my heart this morning. Will keep praying. God delights in you.
We, as well as your old friends at the IFA church in Adana keep praying for you. We cannot imagine all you are thinking and feeling, but know the many friends you haqve around the world are praying for you. Mike & Ginger
I just wanted to let you know that I've sent a small bear for Payton today, from the UK. It will come via Interflora Inernational. Together with a small bunch of flowers for Heather and Aaron. They have told me it will arrive today and I rang the hospital to make sure I have all the right details.
I do so hope it arrives for you.
Amanthi.
Our prayers are with you all.
Rick & Lola
Good Morning Joneses,
How joyful to see Payton's eyes looking at you. The Lord is good and comforting. The Lord will multiply the little sleep you may get and restore your energy. Melanie and I wish you a wonderful morning and may the Lord bless your day.
Love the Joases
You owe us nothing; prayer is a gift - one of the most precious. It has been an honor to be a part of this highly-personal, intimate journey; to be included in Payton's life although so many miles separate us has been profound. God continues to quicken me many times during the night to awake and pray; what an honor! And I won't stop; I will continue to pray for Payton's complete healing and for strength for all of you that love her so dearly. There are questions that can't be answered now, yet one day God's full glory will be revealed. Trusting God to restore your bodies as well as Payton's. I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. You have been such an inspiration to so many. Praise God for raising up such mighty warriors in a day when heros are hard to find. You are loved deeply. I won't stop praying.
Love, Joyce Alison
Joyce Alison is right on target: intercessory prayer is an honor. We deny God a chance to bless others when we deny others a chance to pray for us. All debts have been paid in full by Christ Jesus.
We went to sleep praying for Payton and will continue today to pray for her--and her parents.
It is an honor to go before His throne for the Jones family...
...Rich & Doretta Irwin
It's a brand new day and the Bible says that His mercies are NEW every morning. Our prayer is that He will make His presence real to you today so you can handle anything this day holds.
What a joy to know that Payton is touching the lives of so many -- all around the world! God is indeed using her for His purposes.
We love you!
Inge & Dudley
I pray God gave you an overwhelming peace as you were resting. What a blessing and answer to prayer that you got to see those precious little eyes open and look at you. She knows your there with her, helping her fight this battle.
You owe us no debt. You guys have given us so much joy to be a part of such an amazing little girl and family. To lift them up in prayer and surround them with love. You have been an inspiration to me and thousands around the world,with your faith and trust in God. You have impacted people of all walks of life. Some who are christians and some who are not. The impact you have made will be remembered for years to come. We are still with you in thoughts and continued prayer!!
Love you,
Jess
We've been checking in through the night and praying as well. Heather, I can be there in...five hours (I wish it was shorter), but I just wish I could be there to hug you guys right now and tell you in person how much I love you guys and to give punkin' a kiss and stroke that adorable hair.
We love you and we're praying all the time.
Sara
We love you all, and have been praying constantly through our awake hours. God is bigger than this, and He is still in control.
With fervent prayers,
Karen & Brian Johnston
I heard about your beautiful daughter from a friend of mine who attends church with you, You are in my thoughts and prayers, stay strong, God will see you through!
Praying for all 3 of you. I hope you both were able to get some rest and will continue to pray for you all. There are so many of us that have you on our hearts.
We are still praying and so blessed to be in this with you. I keep reading all the comments and praying along with them and agree that God is using Payton in amazing ways already - WoW! Praying ya'll will experience His mercy in new ways today. We love you.
Eric and Christina
Still here praying with you! I hope you guys got some rest.
Aaron and Heather,
You are in my thoughts continually today. Please know that I am praying for that sweet baby to pull through.
Love,
Brittany
We're continuing to pray, Aaron and Heather. May Jesus still spare her little life. I know she's enveloped in prayer, and you guys with her. It's such a powerful statement of how loved she is that so many are thinking and praying for her. We love you guys...
Know that you are all so very much in our thoughts and prayers here at the high school -- Mary Grimm
I am praying for you both and Payton...I cannot imagine how difficult all this must be for you. Thankfully, God is sovereign over everything, including this, and THAT is something we can rejoice in!
Bethany
Heather and Aaron,
I went to bed praying for Payton and woke up praying for Payton. John called me this morning and said that he and the boys are praying for Payton. We are still believing that God is going to heal her.....we love you guys!! You are an encouragement to us!
Lisa Williams-Mai
Last night we were interceding for Payton. Reminding God of His promises. And we know that the Holy Spirit was praying through us all night. Our hearts are with you and Payton today.
This morning I read in Romans 8:34 that Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us and I couldn't help but think of you and precious little Payton. I will continue to be in prayer that God will meet all of your needs, whatever they may be, today.
In Jesus' love,
Kris Zibell
Heather, Aaron and sweet Payton,
It is such an honor to neal before the Lord to pray for Payton, and for you Heather and Aaron. You don't know me, as I suspect is the case for a lot of these responses...but I am compelled to pour out my heart to the Lord for your family. I have a 16 month old girl that recently had a health scare that sent us for MRI's and CT scans of her entire body(it turned ot to be nothing serious)...but enough of a scare for us, even as Christians, to have moments of anger and doubt...But in the midst of our trivial concerns, we became aware of Payton's dire situation. We were humbled by your living example of faith, awed by your peace, and renewed by the moments you chose to find joy...Rest assured the Holy Spirit is living in your family, and we will continue to vigilantly pray and check for updates as we have been for the past several months. Know that you are an inspiration of strength and love to everyone who reads this.
Your friend in Christ,
Nicole
Everyone~
Just received word the Lord took Payton home early this morning. I have no details - an e-amil was sent out from Pastor John, who spoke with Aaron this morning. Aaron and Heather are holding up well. Hopefully someone will post details soon.
Karen Johnston
I am at work right now listening to Michael W. Smith's Worship 1 cd. Let it Rain is on, and I was thinking about your situation and thinking about you 3. Your courage and faith is encouraging to myself and the countless others that have been reading your updates. I pray that God would open the flood gates of Heaven and allow his blessings to fill your lives. I will continue to pray for Payton and you two. I was listening to a message the other day from Mike Breaux at Willow Creek. He said something that I think is fitting for this situation. He said, "Sometimes God looks down at you and says I got ya." No matter what happens, God has you and He is in control. God Bless! Shawn Barker
It is an outstanding honor to pray with and for all 3 of you. We live in another time zone in Asia - 11 hours time difference so when you are going to bed. . . we are getting up for the day. We have been keeping you in intense prayer through the day and asking the Lord to allow your bodies, your minds and your hearts rest in His comfort and presence. It's an honor to take the "night" shift and many of our friends here (staff and students alike) are lifting the 2 of you and Payton up while you sleep. Much love- Josh and Tammy Hunt
What debt??!?!! Thank you for sharing, we are still praying for you. Melissa
Praying for you guys... For your strength and energy and emotion. For Patyon to be touched by Jesus.
-Adam Go
There are really no words. Praying for you 2 right now...incredibly sorry for your loss. May His arms carry you both during this tremendously difficult time and always.
Your moments with Payton were perfectly timed, crafted and hand-delivered by God. They are gifts for you to treasure and enjoy always. She is a blessing to us all. God has multiplied your ministry through your story and the story of your little girl. She has left life-giving seeds behind that no one can prevent from growing and maturing - or being enjoyed forever by many. Our hearts are with you as you are physically apart for now. May God continue to minister to you as you continue to minister to so many. Love, Eric & Caren Hoehn
Calvin prayed his first prayer yesterday! It was so odd. We rarely pray at home, but we go to church every Sunday. Yesterday he walked into the room saying "look mom," and closed his eyes, folded his hands and said "in Jesus name amen." I laughed. Then I asked him if he wanted to pray for my friends' baby who is sick. He wouldn't let me prompt him, he wanted to make the prayer up by himself. And he prayed for Payton, and thanked Jesus for the baby. I cried. This was the first prayer I've ever heard him pray. We are all praying for you. And Misty wanted me to let you know that she is too.
-Rachel (Shelly)
We love you guys. I was awake from 5-6:30am praying for you. We want to thank you for the way you've led us to Jesus through this. We owe you a debt of gratitude.
~ Feldners
Through this entire time you have directed our thoughts to Jesus. You have challenged us & been such an example to us of truly relying on God in all circumstances. We hurt today, because we know you are also hurting today. We would be without hope without the promise of spending eternity with God & our loved ones.
Marge Peters
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. Payton touched more people in the short 5 months that she was here on earth, than some people touch in a life time. Thank God you got to see her beautiful eyes one more time. She is in God's arms now, and will see you again some day.
We love you guys and will continue to pray for God's strength to help you through this difficult time.
Jess
Words can not express how deeply sorry we are - we grieve with you and can not thank you enough for your faith, love and honesty in the midst of pain. You have (as the feldner's said) led many to intimately meet with Jesus. Payton had an amazing impact in her lifetime and will continue to.
We love you both. Josh & Tammy Hunt
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