Message from Jacqueline
I wanted to share my thoughts with our beloved prayer warriors and friends so they know how I am feeling. Your blog entries, emails and phone calls have been very encouraging. Thank you !
When the Physician Assistance (PA) laid the “bomb” about Sami’s relapse, I was devastated, to say the least ! I was sooo sure there was a mistake. The Lord had promised me that Sami was going to be healed!!!! I was so certain about it. However, later that night, after the sounds of the storms and winds calmed down, in a gentle whisper, God brought to my attention the verse Sami and I had selected for our wedding ” He makes all things beautiful in His time” Ecc 3:1. It’s not only that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts, but also His time is not our time ! – – The Lord gave me full peace now. His peace that surpasses all understanding.
I praise you Lord because You are good all the time ! Healing is coming “in His perfect time” !
Thank you for your prayers, care and support.
In His Gentle Grip
Jacqueline Lahoud
Sami Lahoud 
Jacqueline and Sami,
Yesterday’s news was shocking to say the least and my heart went out to both of you. Sometiimes things don’t make sense, and the harder we try to figure things out the more frustrated we get. This is a bump in the road. Lord willing, the cure will happen, it just may take longer to get there. We will continue to uphold you in prayer. God is good and He is faithful; don’t despair. I hope Sami’s faith and good spirits will be a shining examples to us all.
Oula and Jihad
Continued prayers for Sami and your family, providing so much support and strength for him.
Jacqueline, you and Sami are such an inspiration for all of us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I have been thinking about you and praying for God to give you strength. We trust that healing is coming. The longer the wait the greater the blessing.
We love you.
Manal & Sameh
Jaqueline and Sami, The news has been difficult, but God is still good. We haven’t even known what to say so we have been praying instead. Your faith and your beautiful spirits are a privilege to watch- only God can bring such beauty in the middle of such heartbreak, and we are blessed by seeing Him work through you. Thank you for showing us what true faith looks like! We stand with you in hope and kneel with you in prayer, knowing that God has good plans for you and your precious family. We love you!
Love,
The Coltharp Crew
Thank you Jacqueline for the post. Truly God’s peace is where we need to rest. All of us got sad so sad but then again we have been so far and experienced so much to have doubts. His love is sufficient and to His timing we wait with you….Sami and you are so brave, so faithful, what a blessing and what a joy to have people like you in our lives….kisses and hugs to both of you and the children. …Sana
in the gospel of mark 2:5 saying this about Jesus: When Jesus saw their faith فَلَمَّا رَأَى يَسُوعُ إِيمَانَهُمْ،
the faith of the sick person and the carriers (all of us the believers)
the Lord still seeing our faith amen in his name.
Armiya Francis
I’m speechless! I’m disappointed and I’m sad…
However, I know that my only refuge is my Lord! I will try and pray harder…
I love you Sami & Jacqueline, stay strong.
Thank u jaco for ur post. i previously reminded Sami of the verse of your marriage! you are such an inspiration for all of us…and the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled inchallah. i love u…miss u. xo
Jacquo, you are an amazing and wonderful person. Thank you for your touching post. May our lord Jesus heal Sami and give you the comfort and peace you need through this time.
Jacqueline,
I read this to Shirley just now and we are so blessed by your witness. We are pleading to God on your behalf. We love you all and miss you beyond description.
Jeff
love u jaco and love ur faith
the Lord gave ne this verse for you
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
احبائي, ثبتوا أنظاركم اليه لأنه أمين
طوبى لأناس عزهم بك. طرق بيتك في قلوبهم. عابرين في وادي البكاء يصيرونه ينبوعاً
احسبون كل فرح يا اخوتي حينما تقعون في تجارب متنوعة. عالمين ان امتحان ايمانكم ينشيء صبرا. وأما الصبر فله عمل تام لكي تكونوا تامّين وكاملين غير ناقصين في شيء
ادعني في يوم الضيق انقذك فتمجدني – الرب صخرتي وحصني ومنقذي. الهي صخرتي به أحتمي. ومن هو صخرة سوى الهنا
نشلني من مياه كثيرة –
انتم في صلاتنا ليلاً ونهاراً والرب قادران يكمل عمله الى التمام لأنه أمين لا يقدر ان ينكر نفسه – هو هو امس واليوم والى الابد
فما عليكم الا الانتظار بإيمان
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”
My sweetest Khalto and sami, you are always in our prayers and thoughts.. God is good all the time and he will give you strength and peace all along this journey..
For his ways are different than ours and his plans are better than ours..
we love you and miss you so much my dearest..
Chantal & Rabih
Sami,
Habibi!
I am so sorry to hear of this setback but I am sure with your faith, positive attitude, prayers and His love you will beat it.
I have been reading your messages silently the last several months and hoping to call you when this bad dream is over and congratulate you!
The ups and downs must be hard on you and your family. Your steadfast faith fills my heart up with happiness despite it all. Thank you Sami.
And while I am at thankyous, let me also thank you for letting me experience the ‘Sami positive attitude’ when we were kids as boyscouts and then at school. What precious memories I have of those days. Remember these walks down to school? It was war and generally the situation was bad and gloomy. Special people could still shine a ray of hope and happiness that illuminated life for those around them. You Sami even as a kid did that for me. Thank you.
We did not talk much faith and God and that kind of stuff back then. I now see it was all the love of Christ that was at your core. May God bless you and your famIly. May He hold your hand and guide you. I KNOW you will get better and I will call to congratulate you and thank you.
I just could not wait to tell you this!
Dearest Sami and Jacqueline
I was with David Daruish yesterday, and I just heard brother about your Journey with leukemia. My heart and prayers to you, Jacqueline and the whole family.
You may not remember me my brother and friend, but I cannot ever forget when 14 years ago, you hosted me in your house when I needed a place to stay for a week and could not afford that, and your family and church provided me with a car for transportation. I have seen first hand the love of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in your life.
I am very sure that you are all in His mighty loving hands, and as always He orchesterates our lifes in no less than a perfect way, for His always perfect loving will.
May His loving embrassing, caring hands surrond you and all your very precious family in this difficult time.
with all my love and prayers
In Him
Safwat Zaki ( Cincinnati, OH )
Sami & Jaqueline,
You are constantly in our thought and prayers. May He keep you in His mighty yet gentle grip….
Larry
well the healing is taking place the love of our lord is prevailing and it will prevail in a time he chooses. may the holy spirit guide you bless you and keep you safe and we will continue in our prayers daily for the total healing of you sami and all of us in sin..
auntie waddad we miss you and I am also praying for you and to my god mother lamia and brother Issam and all the family in houston love to all from anis khoury and family
Sami,
It has been over four years since we have spoken so I hope this email finds you in good spirits. My old library installer, Jeff Nabors, sent me a note with a link to your blog. I hope you do not mind me sending you a note. Although our friendship was mostly on the business side I must say that I looked forward to every meeting we had together. I held on to my job for at least another 6 months because of the nice things you had to say.
In your time of need now I will pray for you and your family. I will pray for God’s strength and healing power that only he can give. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers every day. If there is anything more I can do you say the word and I will do whatever I can.
Mother Theresa once said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish the He didn’t trust me so much.”
Michael Roso
Hi Sami,
I always looked up to you both professionally and personally. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there is ANYTHING that I can do, please reach out. I am open for a marrow screening should you need me.
Best wishes,
Orhan, Christi and James Hunter Yurttas
713-864-4714
so any good new news inchallah since the 8th of Feb. ?! Always in my mind, heart and prayers…bises
أحبائي
اودّ ان اشارككم في ما يلي:
“وتيقن أن ما وعد به هو قادر ان يفعله ايضاً رومية 4 : 21”
تقدّم السن بابراهيم فخارت قواه، ووهن عزمه، وضعف جسده حتى أصبح – كما يقول الكتاب – مماتاً، وهو لا يزال ينتظر وعد الرب. ومع ذلك ما يئس، بل تشدد وشكر الله على بركاته لأنه “تيقن أن ما وعد به هو قادر أن يفعله ايضاً”. وفي الاصل اليوناني: ليس قادراً فقط، بل له كل القدرة. هو قادر تمام القدرة ولا يصعب عليه أمر ولا يستحيل عليه شيء. موارده لا تنضب، وجوده لا يُحدّ.
إن موارد الله وينابيعه لا تحد. إنما الوهن في ضعف إيماننا، لأنه حسب إيماننا يكون لنا وبقدر ما نتوقع ننال، وبقدر صدقنا يصدق عزمنا. وبريدنا الله ان نكون أقوياء في الإيمان، نضع أمامه أصعب الطلبات متيقنين أنه قادر ان يفعل، ولا نرتاب في وعده. ألا نحقق أمله فينا؟ ألا نرتفع الى حيث يريدنا أن نصل؟ أنبقى محدودي الايمان؟ إن الضعفات هي سبب فشلنا، لأن نوال طلباتنا يتوقف على إيماننا الذي يعمل فينا. أعزائي ارتقوا الى مخزن الله على سلم مواعيده فكل وعد مفتاح يفتح أمامك باباً تدخل فيه الى غنى نعمته.
Sami, we are praying for you!
التمهل في الإنقاذ
كَانَ هِيرُودُسُ مُزْمِعًا أَنْ يُقَدِّمَهُ، كَانَ بُطْرُسُ ..نَائِمًا .. مَرْبُوطًا بِسِلْسِلَتَيْنِ.. وَإِذَا مَلاَكُ الرَّبِّ أَقْبَلَ ( أع 12: 6 ، 7)
ظل بطرس في السجن لعدة أيام، وكانت الصلاة مستمرة من أجله في هذه الفترة، ولكن لم يكن هناك جواب من السماء. وهكذا مضى يوم بعد الآخر من أيام الفطير، إلى أن جاءت الليلة الأخيرة «وإذا ملاك الرب أقبل». ولكن لماذا لم يستجب الرب سريعًا لصلاة الكنيسة؟ الجواب: من أجلهم، بل من أجل بطرس نفسه، بل من أجلنا نحن أيضًا، بل من أجل مجده، لأن تدخل العناية الإلهية في آخر لحظة كان المحك للإيمان.
وتأمل كيف اجتاز الجميع الامتحان بنجاحٍ باهر. فالرجل الذي سيُقدَّم للمحاكمة في الغد نراه نائمًا نومًا عميقًا في زنزانته، بينما السلاسل في يديه، والحَرَس حواليه، ودون أن تكون له وسادة مُريحة يسند عليها رأسه! وبينما هو نائم كان الرب يسوع ساهرًا، والإخوة كانوا أيضًا ساهرين. وكان هذا امتحانًا لإيمانهم الذي لم تزده التجربة إلا ثباتًا وصلابة. كما أن إيمان بطرس ازداد قوة وتأكيدًا. ولو سألناه بعد فترة من الوقت: أما كنت ترغب أن تنجو قبل هذا الوقت بيومين أو ثلاثة؟ لأجابنا كلا وألف كلا. لأني تعلَّمت في هذين اليومين أن وقت ربي وإلهي هو أنسب وقت وأحسنه، كما أني تدربت تدريبًا عمليًا على سجيتين نبيلتين هما: الصبر والاتكال.
وهناك حادث آخر يتفق مع هذا الحادث روحيًا. الأختان الباكيتان الحزينتان في بيت عنيا، تُرسلان للسّيِّد عبر الأردن رسولاً، وتنتظرانه وهما على أحرّ من الجمر. وكانت الرسالة: «يا سيد، هوذا الذي تحبه مريض»، لا أكثر ولا أقل. وما أمجد الثقة التي لا حد لها في رقة قلب الرب يسوع، حسب مضمون هذه الرسالة! لم تقولا ”تعال سريعًا“، ولم تطلبا منه أمرًا معيَّنًا، لأنهما تأكدتا أن ما سيفعله هو عين الصواب. أوَ ليس هذا يجعل الرب يسوع يحضر على جناح السرعة؟ كلا «مكث حينئذٍ في الموضع الذي كان فيه يومين»! لقد مكث الرب بعيدًا لكي يُفسح للموت مجالاً أن يعمل بمنجله، وكذا ليُفسح للأختين مجالاً لامتحان ثقتهما فيه.
إن تمهل الرب هو امتحان للإيمان، ويجعل للإنقاذ عذوبة ومجد أكثر، لذلك «ينبغي أن يُصلى كل حين ولا يُمَل … أ فلا يُنصف الله مُختاريه، الصارخين إليهِ نهارًا وليلاً، وهو مُتمهلٌ عليهم؟ أقول لكم: إنه ينصفهم سريعًا!» ( لو 18: 1 -8).
ينصفهم بسرعةٍ يُجدد الآمالْ
أكثرَ مما نفتكر أو يخطرُ بالبالْ