With Jesus -
Avery (4mo. old) and I playing with Photobooth - May 2011, Fambrough Home, FL.
"Avery went to be with Jesus today. We are heartbroken.
The sixteen months we had with him were beautiful." - John and Audra Notgrass
The only three words that could describe today - Shock. Hysteria. Grief.
The only thing we are certain of - God is near. He is holy. He loves us. Avery is with Him. We will see Avery again.
Please be covering John and Audra with much prayer.
Please be praying for comfort, rest, peace, for God's grace poured out in incredible ways. Please pray they would sense God's nearness while the shock turns into reality, and grief covers every part of their lives. Please also keep Henry (7months old in Audra's womb) in your prayers, for protection and safety; and comfort for all of us who grieve.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." ~ Psalm 147:3
"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart..." ~ Psalm 34:18
"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." ~ Psalm 139:16
Thank you for all your prayers.
I can't believe he is gone.
Psalm 23
~ Jemmie ~
Shelby wrote a brief post on her blog, you can see it here.
"Avery went to be with Jesus today. We are heartbroken.
The sixteen months we had with him were beautiful." - John and Audra Notgrass
The only three words that could describe today - Shock. Hysteria. Grief.
The only thing we are certain of - God is near. He is holy. He loves us. Avery is with Him. We will see Avery again.
Please be covering John and Audra with much prayer.
Please be praying for comfort, rest, peace, for God's grace poured out in incredible ways. Please pray they would sense God's nearness while the shock turns into reality, and grief covers every part of their lives. Please also keep Henry (7months old in Audra's womb) in your prayers, for protection and safety; and comfort for all of us who grieve.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." ~ Psalm 147:3
"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart..." ~ Psalm 34:18
"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." ~ Psalm 139:16
Thank you for all your prayers.
I can't believe he is gone.
Psalm 23
~ Jemmie ~
Shelby wrote a brief post on her blog, you can see it here.
Jean Marie,
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine the greif and sorrow that is in your heart right now... as well as for Avery's parents... but My heart bleeds to hear this, and joins you in your sorrow. I am praying for you all, lifting you up to His holy throne, and pray that you shall know His everlasting love and mercy... that His peace will overwhelm you and that you will abide in His shelter during this time.
Jean Marie,
ReplyDeleteYou probably won't believe this, but there is a young woman in our church who I think knows or at least has heard of this family. So she lifted them up as a prayer request in our church of Grace Baptist in Sioux Falls, SD. They are definitely being prayed for! Praise the Lord! May God richly bless them in a multitude of ways as they go through this loss of their son, Avery. May Lord Jesus surround them with His presence and give them abundant peace.
May God bless you, Jean Marie, as you mourn the loss of your dear friend. May God give you peace and comfort during this difficult trial in your life as well.
It is through the trials of life that help us grow even closer to the Lord Jesus Christ! Even though we don't like going through them, the Lord is with us each step of the way if we just turn to Him.
May God bless you!
Rachel Renner
Heart-wrenching. I am so very sad for this precious family. So grateful with you for the hope of the rich promises, yet stunned at how much we cannot see from here on dusty earth. Yet, we hold the treasure of this truth--even when we feel like death has triumphed, it has not. We can shout through our pain and tears, "OH GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY??!" Praying for comfort and peace that passes ALL understanding to keep their hearts--and your heart, too, dear Jean! Much love and many prayers, mcd
ReplyDeleteJean Marie,
ReplyDeleteI am a friend of Lauren Hope... I found your blog through hers. Our hearts are breaking for this sweet family. We have been using Notgrass curriculum for several years now, and we just love the family and have followed John and Audra's story since their courtship. We are lifting them up to Jesus today, asking the God of peace and all comfort to bring them through the storm.
Bethany Cole
Oh, Jean-Marie,
ReplyDeleteI have followed your blog for a while now having found it though Emily Brower's.
I am so, so, praying for you and this hurting couple. I used to get John Notgrass's sister's newsletters for home-schooled girls, and so knew the family in that way. I remember praying for them at the loss of their little Melody, and now this.......
I am so heartbroken for them!
I will continue praying that the Lord would spread His comfort over all of you.
The Lord keep you,
Olivia in KY
I am praying for you and them and all that are grieving. We had a friend over the day he passed away, who knew them, and they told us and asked for prayer. We have been praying since then.
ReplyDelete