He Is Not Finished With Me Yet!

The last month and a half have been very burdensome for the Hentges household! To start off with, Andy has been having lots of stomach pains over that time. He originally saw a Chiropractor and was told he was allergic to gluten and yellow dye. We cut it out but he was still experiencing the same amount of pain, if not worse, so he went and saw a family doctor and was told he was allergic to gluten, corn, soy, peanuts, and sesame seeds. So we cut those out as well; still no relief. So we decided to go see an allergy specialist and after 57 pricks in the back, we came to find out that there were no food allergies but that he was allergic to cats, birch tree, household dust, grass, and ragweed. The specialist pretty much told us that he has Irritable Bowel Syndrome and something was causing it but don't know what. So we decided to see a fourth doctor! This time it was a Gastrointestinal Doctor. He had an ultrasound to check on his gull bladder, normal. He had an endoscopy to see what may be going on in the digestive tract. He found inflammation in his stomach but the biopsy came back normal. We again are left with little answers... other than he has inflammation in his stomach. He is on anti-inflammatory drugs and that seems to be helping but there is something causing this... So please pray for us as we continue to wait on God to give us relief and answers! We praise God though that there is NO CANCER!


For me, I am trying to be a wife to Andy in this stressful time, as well as a mother to Evelyn! It has been an emotional roller coaster and a very trying thing on our marriage! We have both confided in each other that this has got to be the most difficult, stressful thing we have gone through in the almost 3 years we have known each other! I do not know how people do it without a hope in Christ! How do marriages EVER work/succeed without God's sustaining Grace! I need him... EVERY HOUR! Every hour of my life I need Christ... for wisdom, for peace, for sustaining through life, for forgiveness and freedom from my flesh! Oh what a battle my flesh has been under in fighting to keep my eyes on "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8 ESV) As I have had to remind myself that I was made to complete Andy and serve him to my uttermost ability! That I am responsible to care for Evelyn and teach her about my Lord and to help her to one day fix her eyes on Christ; As I have struggled to be able to seek the Lord and rest in his word! How can I adequately do it! I can't... I need HIM every hour!


The Lord has also been opening my eyes to evil and hopelessness of this world! I am seeing people trapped in sin and flesh! It is very scary when you look around and see what things are coming to! Thank you Lord for giving me victory of that and help to continue to die to myself and live for you! Beauty, money, possessions, tolerance of sin (homosexuality, sexual immorality, abortion, drunkenness), and women empowerment. The list could go on! I find myself asking myself how to a raise a child in a world where things are changing daily! Where the current tide is getting stronger and stronger! May the Lord give us strength as parents to be able to guide and lead our children through that tide towards Christ! 


I do not mean to be a downer or to drag people's spirits down... it is just that I am realizing the tasks I have at hand here! I am realizing that I can't do it! That I need Christ... that I need to hunger and thirst for his word, for righteousness! I need to grow a deeper passion for him!


I share this song with you and I pray it encourages you and spurs you on as it has me! May the Lord meet you today where you are at and carry you to and through whatever he has before you!


Lord, I Need You by Chris Tomlin

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Chorus:
Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Verse 2:
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Bridge:
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay