A Post of Praise

Wow! It has been awhile since I have posted!! And I have a lot to share!!

A few posts ago I shared with you all some of the struggles that our family was having at the time. It was titled "Remedy". In the list of trials that I had listed, one of those was "huge financial challenges". Since closing our business in May of 2006, this is something we have been faced with often. But since coming to Seminary our financial challenges have dramatically increased, mostly stemming from unbelievably huge insurance premiums and medical costs from Abby's surgery. As of the middle of December, our family still owed a little over $18,000.00 from past insurance premiums and other medical bills, and we had the new expenses of tuition and health care coverage for the spring semester.

Through all of this Brent and I have been trusting and depending on the Lord for provision. We have been seeking after Him and desiring to do what He would have us do. Brent working part time was not enough for our day to day living expenses and all of these other costs that we had. Right now, we are pretty confident that Brent should be in Seminary, so we kept moving forward trusting, waiting, praying to see what God would do.

Well, just before Christmas we had $4,000.00 of a bill we owed unexpectedly written off. And then a family member offered to pay the remaining portion of that bill!! This was so great and unexpected!! We were so delighted and thankful for this great gift!! This was the last bill that we owed to a doctor or hospital for Abby's surgery...so that part was done! Praise God!

Even with this incredible gift though, we still had the debt of our tuition and health care costs. And then, in the middle of January we got a call from our Church in Grand Forks that they were sending our family a Christmas gift of $19,362.00. OH MY WORD and PRAISE THE LORD!!! Is still pretty much all I can say. God provided what we needed. Here is a copy of the Thank you that my husband wrote on behalf of our family...

Dear FEFC Church brothers and sisters,

Picture this. At roughly 10:00 PM - the evening of January 13, 2009, rather than just normally descend, I feverishly repelled down the 12 flights of steps that lead from our sixth floor apartment down to the first floor of DTS Swiss Tower, in my pajamas, where Jaci and three other women faithfully meet to pray, to deliver the news to Jaci of the amazing gift that you so graciously gave to our family. It really is in times of jubilation that good reasoning can often go out the window. A frantic man standing in his PJ’s in front of several women, some of which he barely knows, is definitely a tip-off that something big could not wait to be announced. We all celebrated the moment together: brother and sisters celebrating the announcement of a year changing financial gift, His faithfulness, and our great need of Him. What a terrific moment for all.

With that, I extend my deepest heartfelt thank you to all of you who pray for us and those of you who were moved to give this financial gift. Not only were we floored, thankful, surprised, and joyous, but we were given earth quaking affirmation and hope for the coming year. Since moving here, many roads have lead to some sort of financial misfortune. The list is long. However, that is never and was never “the end of the road.” So many times, Jaci and I have stood in awe as we have opened envelopes to find unexpected financial gifts; true gifts from Him…those that say “I have you covered, I’ve got your back, children. Keep trusting in Me!" Oh, how we have needed to rest in His promises and care this past year and a half. But faithful He is, has been, and always will be.

So, again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!.. for the amazing gift and for the hope that it gave us and is teaching our children to have. The Lord is using these times mightily in their lives as well. Your prayers are truly appreciated, and please remember to continually pray for us in days to come. We miss all of you and will pray the FEFC community will bring glory to our Lord and Savior in 2009.

In His Grace,
Brent and Jaci for “The Jackson Six”


I could have never imagined all that the 2 years since finding out that we would be coming to Dallas Seminary would entail. But God has been faithful every step of the way. That is not to say that it has been easy, in fact, I would say the opposite has been true, it has been very, very hard. But we are learning to trust and truly learning what it is to depend fully on the Lord. Even though it has been hard and painful at times, it is a good place to be.

Thank you to my God, the Father of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you to all of you who have and continue to pray for us! Thank you to all who have given our family financial gifts! And thank you to all of you that I have the privilege of calling "friend". My love and thanks to you all!

"I will exalt you, my God the King: I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

Psalm 145:1-7