Please pray for Jordan

We are back in the hospital again, as of late Saturday afternoon. The church needs prayer also. It has been a very testing time, first losing the senior pastor, and then one week after the funeral, I had to be in the hospital with Jordan (8 year old Cerebral Palsy child for those who do not know) with pneumonia. We were there 21 days, had been out for 7 and are now back again.

I know that God is sovereign and makes no mistakes... but I don't want to make any either.

Clint

Yes brother.

Brother Clint,

Since Annie mentioned Job, I wanted to post these verses here that you recently posted in another thread:

Job 23:8 - 14 (NKJV) 8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food. 13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

And also the words of this song:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

I will be praying for you and Jordan.

Danielle

praying..

Father,
Your Word says You won't put more on us than we can bear, without making a way for us to escape.
We ask You to please undergird Bro Clint at this time.
Give Him Your Peace.
Send forth Your Word and heal Jordon, In Jesus Name.

Danille, Clint ...

My prayers.

My prayers are still with you and your requests, brother.

BroClint,

How is Jordan? Is there any improvement yet?

And how are you brother?

Continuing to pray.

Danielle

I pray things are looking up for your Family.

Thank you all for your prayers. Jordan is improving, but still not well.

Meanwhile, I have been sidelined with the flu (too many long days and short nights I suppose)and so it has made it somewhat of a chore for the rest of the family to be with Jordan.

God knows all, and so I rest in that assurance.

Clint

My wife and I will be praying, dear brother.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - II Corinthians 12:9

:-)

how are things looking for you?
Because the last time I looked I was ‘Grieved!!!!

It is a beautiful thing to post prayer’s here on SI and request, but you better make sure that when you pray you examine your heart first, and that you pray accordingly.

You can never go wrong never go wrong when you pray according to the word, and the will of God, always maintaining a pure heart and a right Spirit so as too receive a perfect answer from the Lord, in his timing.

I speak forth healing to you, God is the lifter up of your head.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ comes back again.

It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of salvation*----those good thinks that are produced in you life by Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Thank you again for praying. We just had to transfer Jordan by ambulance to a city about 100 miles away for some specialists that we do not have in Monroe/West Monroe. "I know not what the future holds but I know who holds the future."

Clint

Have you been able to go, or someone else, to stay with Jordan?

I have not been able to go but plan to before the day is over. Someone has to be with him 24/7 so my son-in-law is with him now. Hopefully I am no longer contagious with the flu so I will be with him this afternoon and tomorrow and my son plans to stay with him Sunday so I can be in church.

Please pray for the church.

Clint

Father bring relief and strength to Clint and Jordan.
we pray for Jordan's complete recovery.
Show yourself strong o lord and heal this boy totally of this infirmity.
Thank you god for victory and healing that belongs to us your people.

Saints......PRESS IN, DONT LET UP!!!!

David

I know that God is sovereign and makes no mistakes... but I don't want to make any either.

Brother, a few sister, have told me of your son.
May God meet the you in this time with the comfort of his word.

We are never alone, take joy Christ works all thing out for those he loves. In Christ we stand. On the rock I stand. Water, fire, may come but Christ is near. In Christ I find my joy.

in Christ love
charlene

Thank you for your continued prayer and your comments Sister Charlene, and Sister Annie and others.

And thank you LittleGift for the reference to Hezekiah, one of those that I have used myself in times past for those in difficulty..."after these things". There is always an "after", it seems, as with many others on this site... thinking of Brother Christian and all the fine posts that he has contributed, Sister Danielle, at this present time, and others that I have read about from time to time... an "after" when the enemy is permitted to test us.

This is going into the 5th week of hospitalization, and one day things look better and then there is a setback... but I realize that there are others who having far greater problems than these. I thank God that things are as good as they are.

I know that there will be an "after" this also.

Clint

thank you bro clint for telling us of jordan. i am thankful that we can pray for one another and love each other. thanks

phil

Brother Clint,

How is Jordan? Are they having more success treating him at the new hospital? And how are you? Have you recovered from the flu?

I remember when my oldest son had to be hospitalized for a few days when he was 3. The biggest challenge was keeping him entertained. We must have played 100 games of pick up sticks on his bed. I am sure both you and Jordan are tired of being in the hospital. I am praying that you will both be able to go home soon.

Danielle

Thank you for inquiring. Jordan continues to improve and we are tenatively scheduled to get out late tomorrow or Thursday. He had to have a procedure (changing a G-button for a J-G button for those who know about those things) and we are simply trying to get his feeding back up to normal before getting out. His pnuemonia is no longer an issue and he has been without fever for about 60 hours now... so Lord willing I will not be having the long commute to church and making family arrangements after tomorrow.

Sis Danielle, the story of the 3 year old made me smile. Jordan's older brother (just turned 12 this month) had an accident last year and had to have a small section of his small intestine removed in an emergency surgery. After about 48 hours pain was no longer a big issue but boredom was and he like to have driven me nuts with "what can we do Daddy?"

I do so much appreciate all the prayers from all. Nothing like the sense of being undergirded by prayers of those who share like precious faith.

Clint

P.S. Sister Dorcas if you read this post, I am praying for you and your family also.

Brother Clint,
May God continue to undergird you and your Family.
He's a Wonderful God!
Nellie

thanks for the update on jordan. we will continue to lift up jordan and yourself.

may the Lord bless yours and jordan's body, mind and spirit and continue to hold you in the palm of His life changing hands.

love you guys,
phil

Thank you for all of your prayers.

We are being released from the hospital today and will be heading home shortly.

Clint

Thank you for all of your prayers.

We are being released from the hospital today and will be heading home shortly.

Clint

Dear Brother Clint,

I was so happy to hear the good news about Jordan. I’m sure it is a very good feeling to be back in your own home. And if it feels so good to be in your home on this earth, where we are pilgrims, imagine how wonderful it will be when we get to our heavenly home.

I also want to say how tremendous I think it is that you are raising your grandchildren. I know that they are your flesh and blood and you love them, but at a time in life when your children are grown and family responsibilities should be lessening, it has blessed me that you are willing to give of your life to raise these children, even more so because of the many health issues that you must deal with on a daily basis.

My prayers continue for you.

Thank you all again, and yes it was sooo good to sleep in my own bed last night after 33 days all told of Jordan being in the hospital. And bless his little heart for the first time in weeks he slept like a log all night long.

Sister Danielle... you cannot know how hard I prayed for God NOT to let the first grandchild (that I have custody of) Johnna, to be born. My daughter had already had two children and with the possiblity of each child having Huntington's any new addition meant new risk. And because of the dementia with Huntington's her husband could not deal with it and they divorced. She went "wild" and became pregnant and I prayed "please God don't let this child be born" because of her lifestyle, her condition, and the fear and dread of what may happen to a child being born in that situation... but she had a healthy little girl (now 14). And then the trauma began... making a long story short, I had to fight for custody of the child, while fighting in court for curatorship of my daughter who was becoming more and more unstable. I finally got custody of Johnna and then she became pregnant again. I prayed the same prayer again... this time she "gave" custody of the child to his father. He was a drug addict among other things and I fought in court for this second child that I had prayed would not be born. I lost the court battle at first, but on a Sunday night after church my ex-son-in-law called me and told me to turn on the news immediately, and to my amazement the father had just been arrested by a swat team... tooo much to go into (I could write a book), but a neighbor that had been doing some babysitting called me and told me that she had my grandson, and new that he needed to be with me... so after going to court the second time the same judge said to the father who was already incarcerated by this time... "I made the mistake of trusting this child to you over my better instincts because the law favors the natural parent, but I will not make the mistake twice". I was awarded full custody with all visitation rights permanently removed from the father. And so child number two, Matthew was added.

My daughter was still living very irratically, so obviously mentally disturbed from the dementia of Huntington's and I was still trying to get curatorship in the courts, but Huntington's can be very deceptive (or rather those with it can be) and she convinced judges, psychologists, etc. that she was fine. She married the next guy who was abusive and a 'crack head' and I KNEW trouble was ahead. She became pregnant again, and I prayed diligently that God somehow not allow this child to be born... but he was born and again, miracle of miracles another perfectly healthy child although both parents were abusing their bodies and my daughter was so obviously sick.

The guy was abusive and had "kicked her out" several times during their marriage, in fact so many times that I had a regular agreement with a local motel that I would check her into during those times (So much more that I simply cannot tell... family enablement, sympathy and criticism by the ignorant and the arrogant in and out of church... very, very trying times). In the meantime her oldest child in the custody of his father had cancer, and he and I would take turns going back and forth to St. Jude's for chemo and radiation and all the rest. He got it when he was 8 and died one month before his 13th birthday. And he had died just months before this last child, Jordan, was born.

I could see it coming but was helpless to do anything but call social services and try to get them to intervene. Jordan was in grave danger. The father was abusive as I have said, a drug addict, and he and my daughter lived in a typical "crack house" environment... very poor neiborhood. Attempts had failed to reach him or her... bent on their own "social life". And he "kicked" my daughter out when Jordan was just weeks old. I pleaded with his mother to try to intervene for the sake of the child and with social services to investigate because the child was in danger. Their question was "has he ever abused children?" "No he has never had children!But I have my daughters other children, and she certainly cannot take care of the child!"

"Seems like I have heard of her before" was the response. And there was no investigation, no attempt to do anything. Three weeks later, I recieved a call from social services, "Mr. Thornton, we are sorry to have to inform you, but your grandchild is in the hospital".

And he was... for 52 days, a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome. I did not know whether he would live or die for days, and one of the doctors, a neuro-surgeon drew me a little diagram of "this is the way his brain should look... and this is the way his brain looks". Another doctor who saw that totally unneccessary scene came and laid his hand on my shoulder, and I will never forget the warmth of that hand and the words.

He asked, "how are you doing, granddaddy?" "After that, not too good!" He said, "Well you know, we did not expect him to live overnight, but he did, and now we are at day three, AND THERE IS ALWAYS GOD!"

And there is always, always, God. Thank God, Jordan was not suppposed to be able to see, and hear and respond and a whole host of other disabilities. But he sees, he hears very well, and he loves and smiles and makes his little presence known everywhere we go. And God has taught this unworthy servant sooo much by the loving dependance of the child. That is why I unashamedly ask for prayer for him whenever and wherever. He has made it to big 8.

The other two, Johnna is 14! And Matt is 12! And I am so very, very thankful that God did not answer my prayer according to my will, but as always does all things so very, very well. Where in the world would I be today had it not been that God had sent along this little family of three children to keep me motivated each and every day to be not only the best I can be for the glory of God, but the best I can be for an example to these precious souls who call me "Daddy".

Sorry for such a long post... but just wanted to be truthful about Jordan's C. P. It was "sin" induced, but God can and does use what is meant for evil for abundant good. And I glorify HIM and thank HIM that what others may see as "issues" have been most precious training in so many areas that they cannot be counted. I have learned that life can make you either better or bitter, and God, I hope has made me better, because I know that I am certainly not bitter.

I rejoice that He is Soveriegn over all.

Clint

And he was... for 52 days, a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome. I did not know whether he would live or die for days, and one of the doctors, a neuro-surgeon drew me a little diagram of "this is the way his brain should look... and this is the way his brain looks". Another doctor who saw that totally unneccessary scene came and laid his hand on my shoulder, and I will never forget the warmth of that hand and the words.

The guy was abusive and had "kicked her out" several times during their marriage, in fact so many times that I had a regular agreement with a local motel that I would check her into during those times (So much more that I simply cannot tell... family enablement, sympathy and criticism by the ignorant and the arrogant in and out of church... very, very trying times). In the meantime her oldest child in the custody of his father had cancer, and he and I would take turns going back and forth to St. Jude's for chemo and radiation and all the rest. He got it when he was 8 and died one month before his 13th birthday. And he had died just months before this last child, Jordan, was born.

I could see it coming but was helpless to do anything but call social services and try to get them to intervene. Jordan was in grave danger. The father was abusive as I have said, a drug addict, and he and my daughter lived in a typical "crack house" environment... very poor neiborhood. Attempts had failed to reach him or her... bent on their own "social life". And he "kicked" my daughter out when Jordan was just weeks old. I pleaded with his mother to try to intervene for the sake of the child and with social services to investigate because the child was in danger. Their question was "has he ever abused children?" "No he has never had children!But I have my daughters other children, and she certainly cannot take care of the child!"

[color=000099]I wish you would have shared this with US earlier. I pray that you never feel that you cannot talk to US, that we are some how or some way so Far, from you that we are not reachable. The body of Christ is reachable all you have to do, is extend your hand….no, I don’t sense any bitterness in you at all.[/color]

My heart is broken, not because you shared your testimony, but because i heard so much....so much.

AND THERE IS ALWAYS GOD!

Brother, what a moving story you have shared with us. And how much more my heart goes out to Jordan (and Matthew and Johnna) after hearing these things. But praise God that in spite of a difficult start in life, He has turned it all around for them by placing them in your care. So now, instead of the crack house, they will know the Lord’s house. And once again I have to return to Romans 8:28. All the drama and chaos of those years brother, all the emotional ups and downs, and now look what the Lord has done for these children.

But I have to ask, what has happened to your daughter? Does she see the children?

God bless you for your openness to share these things with us here.

Danielle

But I have to ask, what has happened to your daughter? Does she see the children?

I feel a little embarrassed that I have shared so much... kind of got carried away. God has been very good to me and along with the burdens there have been so many, many victories that God and God alone has brought about.

As for the mother, Carmen is in a rest home not far from Baton Rouge. I have taken Johnna to see her and she has also seen Jordan on a couple of my trips to Baton Rouge to see a pulmonologist there. But Matt hardly remembers her at all and has expressed no interest in seeing her. It is perhaps a strange situation from an outsider's view, but my youngest daughter is "momma" to Johnna and Matt since she was still at home and unmarried when I first got custody of Johnna, and newly married when I got Matt. Her husband is Uncle, and I am Dad... I don't know how it works, but it works and they are perfectly fine with sharing time at my youngest daughter's house and mine and my dear son-in-law is one of the most precious Christians I know in fulfilling whatever role he needs to fill and offering the greatest of support for his wife's role toward the children and mine also. They have a little 19 month old of their own now (she does not have Huntington's) and he is little brother/cousin to the three of them.

ONLY GOD could work out all of this and bring the harmony and peace and happiness and adjustment that there is in these children, and I am so thankful He has.

My oldest daughter is in the terminal stages of Huntington's now. Sadly there was never any real relationship with the children because of total self absorbtion, and so there is very little comprehension and sadness regarding her condition on their part. As hard as it is to comprehend perhaps, even while her oldest son had cancer, she only went to see him two times during all those years in and out of the hospitals and that was at the urging of others. So their concern is for her eternal soul.

I have prayed for her and talked to her for all these years and she has expressed to me that she is now praying. To be quite honest, I do not know just how much capacity for repentance and faith she has, I can only live with hope that somehow God in His mercy will bring her to the comprehension she needs in order to be saved.

Since she has been put in a rest home (shortly after Jordan was injured) on medication that makes her much more stable, she now expresses some concern with what is happening with the children. She does not ask to see them, but does ask for me to come and see her. My youngest daughter and my youngest son also visit her as well as my neice.

I hope this was not too much information... but then I feel that even this is inadequate information to explain the situation... Prayer is the only key and only hope for her.

And again I thank God for those who have prayed for Jordan, for the church and for my family.

I must say this also. I know there is a vast difference between suffering the consequences of being in a fallen and sinful world versus suffering for Christ like so many have who have lost children and wives and loved ones in mission work. I read their stories and hear their messages and blush at the comments that some have made about my "suffering". Theirs is willingly marching into the battle living or dying in the process. I cannot compare and do not. Mine has been a rather reluctant character thrown into these situations not knowing how or what to do except call upon God, but knowing also that it was what "had" to be done at the time. And thank God He has faithfully brought me through with the help and grace provided through a supportive church and my youngest daughter and her husband.

As Andre Crouch's song says, "through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God". Whatever it takes, may God get glory in my life.

Clint

Dear Brother,

There are some things that come through here that honesty just requires holding back an impulse of saying something just for the sake of saying it, though the articulation of an expression seems impossible to put into words.

Brother, I think it happens here more often than we might know. Some matters are so profound, so thought provoking they just seem to have little or no response.

Found much of this throughout the times you have written and asked for prayer for Jordan and even now ... it is only this much, this otherwise mention that I cannot find adequate words.

I thank God you have come to this ... this odd assortment of disciples dear brother. My sincerest prayers and love.

Brother Mike: I thank God you have come to this ... this odd assortment of disciples dear brother. My sincerest prayers and love.

Sister Jeannette: Brother, dementia, sickness, lack of understanding or of a sound mind are no barrier to the Holy Spirit! As testified on a couple of threads here, I have seen folk respond spiritually, even when their minds were completely gone.

Sister Linn: Please don't be embarrassed about sharing. I am grateful for the additional understanding of your situation.

Sister Annie: Thank you for being an encouragement to the rest of us, through sharing the heart of Christ with us through your story.

Thank all of you for your very kind words and encouragement and most of all for your prayers. I am grateful for the privilege of being a part of this “odd assortment of disciples”. Amazing to find so many precious souls with an apparent hunger and thirst for the truth in Christ. I have a very blessed sense of fellowship with so many of you even though not having seen you face to face. Sort of have to use the imagination like we do when reading about the characters in the Bible; we may not know their face, but can know their faith and spirit.

Thank you Sister Jeannette for those words of hope and all the rest of you. My oldest son has Huntington’s also but his reaction has been very different, thank God. He is still able to work with my youngest son in what was until 4 years ago the family business (ceramic tile contracting) when I turned it all over to the sons as I began to fill in for our late pastor full time. He has worked in that line of business for most of his adult life and so the repetition of familiar tasks has made it easier for him to continue working. He is devoted to his one daughter. But He still needs prayer and certainly my youngest son who runs the business needs prayer because of the stress of watching his brother only a little over a year older than him deteriorating daily before him.

One of the reasons I felt a little embarrassed in sharing all of this especially online is because I do not by any means want to be thought of as some sort of heroic figure for dealing with something that is the common lot of so many in this suffering world. I recently heard Brother Wilkerson preach on the subject of afflictions from the text from Psalm 119 where David thanks God for afflictions that kept him from going astray. And I can testify to the fact that there is no doubt in my mind that pride and arrogance and impatience and a whole host of carnal slime would have been my daily lot had not God allowed some of the fires of affliction to drive me to my knees and expose so much of the corruption within.

There may be far worse things to face in the future and some that are inevitable should I live long enough, are more than I want to contemplate, but this I know, my Savior committed no sin, had no guile, uttered no threats, and yet He suffered horribly for my sake. I, on the other hand have sinned horribly, rebelled against love, and have failed miserably even after being so wonderfully rescued from my sins. God forbid that I take some glory for suffering far less than so many that have so willingly walked into the dens of demons to rescue precious souls. Brother Ravenhill’s message on the Judgment Seat of Christ regarding works being burned up stirs my soul to do more than merely endure the results of the fallen world, I long to indentify with Christ in the rescue of the perishing whatever that may cost.

Clint