The Lighthouse Family Retreat

Well to start off let me just say that the purpose of a lighthouse is to guide you through the storm. When you are in a dark place & can't see the light......the lighthouse is there to show you the way. It is very hard at times when you have a child that has been diagnosed with cancer to remember how to navigate through life. Sometimes you are so tired & emotionally drained that you "forget" how to......sail the ship of life. You forget how to connect as a family & sometimes you don't realize it when your ship is heading into some treacherous rocky areas. Thank the Lord for the Lighthouse to help you find your way back to safety & "the right "route" & peaceful waters.


Sean & I are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but that doesn't mean that we don't feel pain, get emotionally tired, worried, frazzled, anxious & scared. We are human. Thank the Lord that someone like Melinda (the woman who started the Lighthouse Family Retreat) saw & understood that. She is the one who had the vision to minister to children with cancer & their families. She is the one who lit the first candle in the lighthouse & has kept it burning for all of the families who, by no choice of their own have been forced to sail the treacherous waters of childhood cancer. I am truly grateful for her obedience to the Lord & her willingness to love all of the families that have found safe refuge in the "light" of her lighthouse. It truly is the light of Christ that shines forth from the this lighthouse & beckons these families to come & be refreshed, renewed & reconnected so that they may journey back into these waters that they MUST navigate, not by their choice, but because it is the road that has been marked out for them. Hebrews 8:12 I believe because of the love & support & strength that we have received & just by being bathed in HIS light during our stay there we will be & are already stronger than when we came ashore. Thank you Melinda & all of the volunteers (who by the way pay their way to come there & serve us) we are truly grateful. I hope you understand the magnitude of what you do & how you strengthen us with your love. Sean, me & all of little ones were ministered to on a level that so touched our hearts & spirits. We love all of you & now we a will be able to "sail on" until once again we see the the beautiful glow of the lighthouse& are able to come ashore again.

The Lighthouse Family Retreat was started by a sweet lady, Melinda, who was a pediatric Oncology nurse (I hope I have this all right but if I don't you will get the jest of it anyway) & she saw the pain & devastation of what the child who is diagnosed & their families go through after being diagnosed with cancer. She says she just wanted to "scoop" them up & take them to the beach & let them just play & be a family with no worries. Following the dream that the Lord had given her....she started pursuing it. Through help of the Lord the Lighthouse has been a success & they have served countless families with the love of Christ ever shining brightly on them with hope, love & encouragement.

We made sand castles swam in a peaceful sea & basked in the light of His love..... Thank you Lighthouse Family.......you are forever in our hearts & though we may be a thousand miles apart you will never be far from us in spirit!! What a miracle you are.....HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!!!!!!!



BE A LIGHTHOUSE!!!! Shine His light on someone in the midst of their storm..........

I will leave you with the words of a song that we sang there & I am sure most of you know.


"LEAN ON ME WHEN YOUR NOT STRONG & I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND I'LL HELP YOU CARRY ON...FOR IT WON'T BE LONG 'TIL I'M GONNA NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON........JUST CALL ON ME BROTHER WHEN YOU NEED A HAND..WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON....I JUST MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM THAT YOU'D UNDERSTAND WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON!!!!!!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• lighthouse
• family
• retreat
• childhood
• cancer
• leukemia
• ministry
• healing
• hurting
• people
• beach
• sand
• sunset
• light
• of
• God
• hope

[broomcr]

wow that is an amazing place. it is really important to keep your fam together. wish i could have gone to a place like that when i was younger it might have been able to help my family...ah well guess we are not all lucky. is it just a place for kids with cancer?

love the video btw keep up the great work and God bless

[Rapturerdy1]

You are very sweet! yes, it is important to focus on your family. Lighthouse is a place for families taht have had children with "terminal" illnesses. It is a wonderful ministry!

Many blessings of health & happiness to you!

[mrdamage4u]

Please dont use the term terminal illnesses.Please use life threatning illness as children can and do recover and can live a normal life.Always keep hope dont give up.

[Rapturerdy1]

They do recover....thank God! But, 50 years ago usually did not & I know of at least 3 that have dies from leukemia in the last 3 years. The doctors call it a terminal illness & Make A Wish considers a terminal illness & for many children it is terminal. Have you had a child with a terminal illness or something? Cause that comment sounded a little defensive. It is just a term that the medical community uses for leukemia....okay?

[z1we1]

Hi guys! May i know the title of this song please?

[hopkins1994plus13]

great video...we were thinking on the same lines when I made mine of my trip there...with your family!!! hadn't even seen yours before I did mine...God thing for sure.

Miss your smiling faces Krackes...

Maria

[MandyIsCandy101]

Oh I loved this retreat. they held it every year in Seaside and Amy Grant got ready for her concert in my beach house it was pretty cool

[broomcr]

that is really cool. hope you and your wonderful family had a great time. best wishes for the future.God BLESS.!!!!!