Everyone

You all have been so kind to share your words of hope and encouragement. I truly wish I could take the time to respond to each and every comment left on this blog. Rest assured I am reading every single one and am touched by them all. I receive an email for each comment and can check my phone immediately in almost every case. Thank you, thank you, thank you. In the coming weeks, I hope to have time and ability to respond to all of your comments because they have meant so much to me.

I just read a verse of the day that applies perfectly: “Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.” – Titus 3:14 NLT

You have all been meeting my urgent needs, and this is what Christianity and God and the church are all about. It’s not about a building or just some religion. It is about the faith, hope and love of the people of God and the joining of those people in community to care for those in need and rejoice when others rejoice. Thank you for serving God by serving me and my family. I truly do appreciate each and every one of you, whether you are just reading along, or sharing this blog with others, or commenting, or emailing, or visiting. My hope is in the Lord God our Father in Heaven. And I know He cares for me because of all of you and I want everyone to know that.

I love you all.

45 thoughts on “Everyone”

  1. the Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace…psm 29:11

    We are praying for you, Stephanie and the children. My you Brad feel the Lords strength and peace today!

  2. Brad, just completed my devotional for the day and decided to send on a quote that I thought was soooo relevant to your situation. So before posting to your blog I refreshed the page and read this post of yours. Well can you guess what the topic in my devotional was….”Hope”. In the devotional the author references a quote by George Muller which says “Oh, remember this: There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearance help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be found that it is not in vain.” We’re trusting with you for a miracle, boet (brother in Afrikaans). With much love, Us2

  3. Brad, I am just blown away by this post and the incredible perspective you have right now amidst such a difficult time. Having spent the past few years in a small group with you guys, I know that Stephanie would be so proud of the strength and bravery you’re showing right now.

  4. my mind, heart, and spirit have been flooded with thoughts of love and prayer for your family since learning about this over the weekend. my wife and i have been praying for you (plural) constantly. epilepsy has been a part of my life since i can remember. my mom is epileptic and i grew up watching her have seizures and calling 911 when my dad wasn’t home. i ended up being diagnosed as a child and then it went away…only to come back in the form of a grand mal on Malone’s campus. my heart breaks for you as a young husband and father as well. we are praying God’s will, peace, love and provision for you and your family!

    scott snowden and family

  5. Brad, I’ve been praying non-stop for you guys. My heart is breaking for what you and your entire family are going through right now. My team here at World Vision and I are praying for a miracle, strength and continued support for you. God Bless you, Denise

  6. I just wanted to let you know we’re praying. We heard about your situation through a prayer request posted on facebook by Clare Smith. I’m praying for you, your wife, and especially your children.

  7. Brad..you don’t know me. Iam a friend of Claire.I first must say I can not begin to imagine or understand the pain and sufferings you and your family is going through. But I feel compeled to also tell you that I’ve never experienced Gods love and grace as much or has it been as real to me before I started this journey with you and Stephanie. You need to know that though you are in all ways walking through the valley of the shadow of death…He in His great love is preparing a table for those you most likely will not meet until we all are in Heaven.As I follow you on this journey I know He is releasing LIFE. There is a scripture that comes to mind..unless a seed falls to the ground and dies how can it bring forth a harvest. You have walked out that scripture. In many ways you have fallen to the ground. And yes evn experienced death…in your belief of what could only be Gods will…in your hopes for your future with Stephanie..and in your ability to be able to do anything other then surrender to the goodness of God regardless of the out come of what you and your family are experiencing.From the ashes life will come forth. In Hezekiah the writer says tho the tree brings forth no bud yet I will praise Him. Thank you Brad for allowing God to minister to so many through your sufferings.

  8. Brad, I can’t believe that in the midst of all you are going through you are thinking about those of us who are posting comments and sending emails! You are encouraging us by telling us that we are acting in the way God intended as Christians! In the midst of your pain and your sorrow, you are encouraging us! I am blown away. Your strength is inspiring, Brad. We love you.
    Leslie

  9. Brad… I am the sister of Karen Couchey. As a wide, mother (of 3) and a woman of Christ your faith in this difficult time inspires me. Know that you have been in my prayers non-stop, even when I wake briefly during the night. Your posts to keep us all up to date seem so heartfelt & real I feel as if I know you and your family. I know with all my heart that your children will always feel the love of their mother as well as the love you have for eachother. I only hope that if/when I am in a situation so challenging I will have the faith and courage to face it as you have. I have learned however, that everything happens for a reason, His grand plan. Through we may not understand why, one day it will all become clear.

  10. We’re following and praying and spreading to others who are praying too. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We love you and we’re here for you to lean on any way you need.

  11. Your amazing faith through all of this has been incredible. My heart breaks every time I read your posts, but yet I continue to see your stregth and faith shine through. I have been and will continue to pray for Stephanie, you, Brady, and Halle.

  12. Obviously we’re unable to hurt to the depths you are. However, rest assured that we are hurting along with you. Praise and thank God that in times like this we have a Saviour who sticks closer to us than a brother. We love you too Brad!

  13. Hi Brad,
    This is Jackie–Rebecca Boyle’s high school friend. I just wanted to let you know that you, Stephanie and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. With love, Jackie and Tad Fitch

  14. Brad, may all of prayers be like a warm blanket of love that surrounds your families. Thank you so much for sharing through this blog. It means more than we could ever say with words.

  15. Brad, please know that Stephanie, you and your family are being lifted up to the Lord from Tallassee, Alabama today. I’m Heather’s dad, and our church family is praying. I had lunch with 15-20 other pastors in town today, and they’re praying, too. You are glorifying God by the way you’re facing this! I am confident he will strengthen and sustain you, and hold you in his hand. God bless you!

  16. Brad-
    You, Stephanie and your beautiful kids are in our thoughts and prayers. With two little ones ourselves we can’t fathom the emotions that you must be feeling. We continue to hope for a turnaround with your lovely wife. She is a true kind spirit and we wish you strength and hope during this incredibly tough time.

    Much love,
    Keith and Lora

  17. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your children, your parents and friends. You are an inspiration to all who are following you on this journey. God has Stephanie in the hollow of this hand, even tho we cannot understand why this is happening, we will continue to trust him.

  18. Our hearts ache for you and your family. We’re still praying for God to do what He does best – things we could never imagine!

  19. Brad, I know your brothers a little better than I know you, but I just wanted to say that as brothers in Christ, we all hurt when one is walking through such difficult moments just like we rejoice together when there are moments to celebrate. My family and I will be praying that our heavenly Father who is infinite in compassion and comfort will lift you and your family.

  20. Brad and Family,
    In the coming hours, day, weeks and months ahead, you are all in my prayers.

    I am praying for you all.

    If you have a few minutes of silence and can listen to this, please do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU

    What a reminder of God’s almighty power in the midst of life’s most violent storms.

    Blessings and many prayers!

  21. Brad~ You don’t know me but I have known Stephanie since kindergarten. Although we have not seen eachother in years I see her dad at church. I just want you to know how very sorry I am and that I believe God is in full control. I can’t imagine what you or your family is feeling but I pray for peace and comfort over each of you. Just from reading some of your blogs you can see what an amazing marriage you and Stephanie have and what a blessing you have been for eachother. Please know that my family and I are constantly praying for Stephanie and for you and your family.

  22. Brad, all of us who work with your mother-in-law are praying for Stephanie. Although I have only met Stephanie once or twice over the past 12 years, I feel like I know her due to her mother’s immense love of her and her pride in her so many accomplishments, not least of which was marrying you and creating such a wonderful family. Again, our sincerest prayers are with Stephanie, you and your entire family. Lynn Schonberg

  23. Been praying for you and Stephanie and the kids all throughout the day. Found this verse this evening as I was praying through some things and just wanted to share. I hope it encourages you!

    Jeremiah 31:1-3

    The LORD Will Turn Mourning to Joy

    “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Thus says the LORD:”The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

    The passage just keeps going on and on telling about how God will restore joy to His people, the ones He loves. And I know He is going to continue with His faithfulness to you, to Stephanie, and to those precious kids!!!

  24. Brad, I have never been a man of God, but I am praying for you and your wonderful family. Your faith, your love, and your strength are humbling and admirable. Thank you, in turn, for being strong and open enough to share this deeply personal and painful experience with the world; I was glad to read that it helps you process things and find some balance. God bless.

  25. “Hear my cry, O God: Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to you. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me; a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings” (Psalm 61:1-4).
    Brad (and the rest of your family)-the body of Christ is crying out for you and Stephanie and your children. God is good, and He will be your shelter in this storm. Praying for a miracle for Stephanie, and that you and your children will be held closely to the heart of God.

  26. Brad
    We are continually praying for you, Stephanie, and your family. May God provide His strength and love for you each day….

  27. I am praying that God will use this difficult time to glorify His holy name! You know that He can heal her if it is His will. Thanks so much for being an example of how to be faithful when times are ROUGH. Your attitude is an example to us all.
    God bless you!

  28. Our family devotion tonight was called “Hezekiah’s prayer for extension of life”. We feel very strongly that the Lord led us to these verses for a reason tonight, so we share them with all of you now.

    2 Kings 20:1-6
    1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

    2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

    4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’ ”

    We continue to trust and to pray for the miracle. All our Love.

  29. You did not chose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatever you should ask the father in my name he shall give you. John 15:16. I truly know this to be absolute truth. And lord I ask in agreement with all your children at cvc and all about that these children have their mother , awake , revived and heallthy in your glorious name we believe god!!! In jesus name we pray

  30. Brad, I have been lifting you, Stephanie, Brady and Halle up to the Lord since the first facebook post and will continue to be on my knees before the Lord for you all. Your faith is amazing and I pray it gets stronger each minute and the Lord continues to hold you close.

  31. Brad, I am humbled by all of your posts and the trust you have in Our Father during this time. My heart has been so heavy for you, Stephanie, Brady, Halle, and the rest of your family that I have truly been at a loss for words. I am still at a loss, but a verse stuck me tonight that I wanted to share. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

    I don’t know what God’s plan here is. Quite honestly, I don’t even know how you can have hope, but that is the amazing power of knowing and trusting in a loving God. And more than that, I don’t know how you can look beyond the here and now, but I pray that whatever happens you always remember this promise that God makes in Jeremiah.

  32. brad,

    know that i’ve been thinking about and praying for you and stephanie and your family constantly since your mom called tim. i’ve been taking turns crying, smiling, and laughing as i think of you both. when i drank my coffee on tuesday morning, i thought of stephanie introducing me to my love of coffee when we were first roommates. as hokey as it sounds i thought, “this coffee’s for you stephanie.” as i’ve been reading your blog (obsessively at times) i thought of tim’s speech at your wedding. “if brad can be loyal to a cheese sandwich for 20-whatever years he can be loyal to you stephanie.”

  33. Brad, I had the honor to work with Stephanie at Britton-Gallagher before she chose to stay at home to be with her family. Many of us have been following your updates with a heavy heart, at a total loss at how to let you and your family know that we share your anguish at how something so tragic can happen to someone so dear. Your faith is truly a testament to the rest of us in learning how to trust in His will. It is so hard to make sense of this, yet I know that somewhere down the road God will provide the reason, and it will provide you with an “aha” moment, but until then, know that He is near and provides hope in each new day.

  34. Brad, my family prayed for you and yours this evening. Prayed for God’s peace to be with you…prayed for miracles…prayed for comfort. We will continue to pray for you. And Stephanie. And the kiddos. Love in Christ, Laurie Weiser

  35. Brad, my wife Tiffany and I are praying for you. We have an awesome Lord! As we may only see 1 set of footprints in the sand remember He is carrying you.

    Joshua 1:9
    Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

    Please let us all know when you register for Takethemameal.com. I don’t know where you live, but within your AGI family we have all geographical areas covered to bring anything you need to you, a meal or just a hug.

  36. Brad…Stephanie’s story is being shared by her many friends…please know that because of learning of your news…my family and I are praying for you, Stephanie and your children…please don’t give up hope.

  37. Brad,
    I am praying continually for you and your family, you are all so strong through this process which must be hard. If you need someone to watch your kids so the rest of your family can visit Stephanie let me know, i’ll be glad to help in anyway I can.

    God Bless,
    Rosie

  38. Your family is continually in my thoughts and prayers lately! Just remember that even in the direst situations God can turn them around. I can atest to this my Dad had a huge brain tumor last year that was only given small hope of survival much less no disability occuring. I was scared more than ever in my life. God saw me through and He left the doctors speechless. Anyway I think we as humans give up hope while God stands firm and steady. My encouragement is to keep praying and ask all to pray as all the prayers are going up to God and He’s hearing all of them and holding Stephanie in his hand right now!

    Julie

  39. Through the start of Stephanie’s medical problems I have been hanging on every post. I have and will continue to pray!

    Brad, not sure if you remember me, but Stephanie and I worked together at Bruggers for a short time together. My ex husband and myself even enjoyed 707 with you and your wife.

    Stephanie has always been a joy to be around even when the day wasn’t going as she wished. She made me want to be a better person just being around her. She is one of those people that is amazing at everything she does! She is a good wife, amazing. mother and a very loyal follower of God. Stephanie could cook and back like no ther and the hair bows are amazing!

    Since you and Stephanie are so loved we have not been able to get together and catch up, but we have been chatting and keeping tabs on each other through facebook.

    All things aside I just had a few mins to read your blog and its the most beautiful way to show your love and keep everyone posted! You and your beautiful babies are in my families thoughts and prayers! As I know you already have so many around you, but if you need ANYTHING please just ask.

    Much love and God bless!
    Dianne Krise.

  40. Brad: I am Karen Couchey’s aunt. Even though we do not know each other, I know what it is like to go through the experience you are going through now. We do go through everything in life for a reason, but will not know that reason until the next life. When Kerry was a very small child, my mother was holding her. Kerry could see her grandmother was very upset about something. She told my Mom “Grammie – it will be better”. Her comment as a little girl has gotten our family through many a difficult journey and eventually it will be better for all of us.

    God bless you and your family.

    Alice Couchey

  41. Brad, I am Anna Heinz’ sister in law and I met Stephanie about a year or so ago when Anna brought her over so I could cut and highlight her hair. You truly have one of the sweetest people I have ever met as your wife. When meeting Stephanie I knew there was something so sweet and special about her. Her smile was contagious and there was something so calm about her voice that just made me so thankful that my sweet sister in law has a friend like Stephanie in her life! I enjoyed our time that we spent doing hair, playing with the kids and having lunch together. My husband Paul and I met you both at our nephew Noah’s first birthday party. You have been in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Your blogs have been such a blessing to me. You are such a man of God and Stephanie is one blessed woman to have a such a man after Gods own heart. Thank you for sharing your love for her, stories of your life together but most of all thank you for sharing your love for Christ to all that read this.
    In Christ and prayers for you and Stephanie
    Danielle Woodhams

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