SHARING

Praise Report
God’s Faithful Provision

Gordon Crook

I am always amazed at just how faithful God is in His provision for the things we need. My entire life is a testament to God’s faithfulness, even though I have not always been faithful in my life.

We moved out to the country 24 years ago, and when we did, there was a wood burning stove in the house we bought. We had decided we needed to burn firewood as our main source of heat since propane was very expensive. I cannot remember exactly how we acquired the firewood that first year, only that we found some for free.

In the 24 years that we have lived here, we have only had to purchase firewood one year because I was not sure I had enough and was time constrained to try to find some for free. 

One year, several years ago, a very large source of free firewood became available to me within a couple of miles of our house. It was piled up with bulldozers, and we worked very hard for several months to get what we could before they burned the rest in a large pile. That lasted us several years. 

In the interim, I have been able to find several smaller quantities of firewood, but as we approached this winter, I felt like I has going to barely have enough for this winter, and certainly none that was curing for next winter or beyond.

My son Jonathan, called me on a Monday and told me that he had seen a property where they were cutting down trees and had a large sign that said “free firewood.” I went to check on that, and they were clearing a lot of trees, and even cutting the wood to length and stacking it. The quantity was excessive and I decided to start hauling using the pickup truck.

From that Tuesday until the next Monday I hauled 14 truck loads which will give me firewood for several years. I recognize that this is God’s provision for us. The fact that they were cutting the wood to length and stacking it made my job much easier allowing me to take much more than if I had to cut the wood out of a large bulldozed pile. 

I am so grateful for God’s provision. Getting free firewood may seem like a small thing, but it is God’s provision of the small things that reminds me that He is faithful in ALL things. 

This year, He has been faithful to allow me to retire from my Engineering job of 37 years. He was faithful to let me keep that job for such a long time with the same company. His faithfulness just continues day after day and always amazes me. Praise the Lord!!!!

 Praise Report

Oliver Combs was born on November 27, 2018. Oliver is our beloved son born to Kristen and Adam Combes and little brother to Jacob 14 and Charleigh 12. Ollie was a kindergartener at Overbrook attendance center. Ollies joy for life has been in his curiosity, kindness, and unstoppable energy.

In early October 2024 we received life-changing news. After a few days of extreme leg pain, and a visit to our pediatrician led to x-rays, scans and a biopsy that reveled Oliver has osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.

We had our faith in God and lots of people praying for Oliver. We had just started building our new house as we were living in our camper on our land. The devil was sure trying our faith. But we knew God is always with us and would see us through.

The tumor was located on his right distal femur. We began navigating the path of treatment and recovery. Despite the challenges, Oliver has faced every step saying, “Jesus has me.” He has showed remarkable courage and strength. Oliver began chemotherapy in October. Praise the Lord our jobs worked with us so one of us could always be in Children’s Mercy with him. Praise the Lord my sister lives 4 miles from the hospital so we could go there and rest. 

The treatment was intense, but praise the Lord the tumor shrunk. The doctors were shocked how fast it shrunk….we know it was God. Ollie bravely endured long sessions of medication, his strength and belief kept us going.

January 15, 2025 Oliver underwent a specialized procedure called rotationplasty, which involved removing the tumor and part of his leg while preserving his mobility. This innovative surgery will allow Oliver to run, jump, and play with the help of a prosthetic. The doctors couldn’t believe how well the bone graph took so fast and how fast the incision with the nerves and blood vessels were healing. We do it was our Lord. God has helped ollie excel in physical therapy, learning to hop using a walker and navigate life with his unstoppable determination.

 After 17 more rounds of chemotherapy Oliver was diagnosed cancer free on June 15th. Praise our holy Lord Jesus Christ. Oliver’s journey is far from over, and the road ahead will requite ongoing therapies and adjustments, the financial burden of medical expenses and travel for treatments, and specialized prosthetics is significant. Oliver’s bright spirit continues to shine through even on his darkest days.

 

We are dealing with insurance issues right now about his physical therapy and he does have to take kindergarten over again because he missed so much. But we know our Lord has his hand in all of it. Thank the Lord for the support our community did on August 9 at the 5K run walk. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support. 

October 6 Praise the Lord Ollie got his new leg today. Doctors were surprised how well the bone graft healed.