God Is Good All the Time And All the Time God Is Good
Encourage One Another
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Testimony
shelly bursick
Amazing Prayers
The last couple of days have been a very trying period as well as a very blessed time. (Written 1/28/26)
Sunday after heading from church as I was driving to visit my mom, I had severe neck pain (10/10). I barely made it to my mom’s house. Once I was there it was clear (after trying to lay down and relax my neck) that something serious was going on. My mom called an ambulance, and they rushed me to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
The EMTs (Rudy and Angel) were beyond kind and so attentive to my care. They got me into the ER and I was quickly seen by entrance medical teams and a short wait later I was back on a gurney under the care of an amazing nurse named John.
Then Doctor Kellher ordered two CT scans (with and without contrast) and pain medication. Then Dr. Kellher, a neurologist (didn't get his name), and a radiologist reviewed the CT scans, which said I had a Vertebral artery dissection (tear; Grade 2) in the V2 (foraminal; internal) segment between the C2-C4 (neck), which means I had a tear in the artery that runs through my neck vertebra to my brain!
Obviously, this is pretty serious as this type of issue can cause blood clots that could go to my brain and cause a stroke. So, the hospital admitted me to the critical care unit (CCU), put me on aspirin, blood thinners, regular pain medication, and put my neck in cervical collar (they were thinking this tear was due to my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; repeated subluxations in neck caused weakness of the vertebrae artery and therefore a tear) and closely monitored me for any stroke like symptoms.
By this point I still had a lot of intense pain in my neck, but also had numbness, pins and needles across my head, neck, face, and extremities on the left side of my body. Dr. Kellher M.D. and the Neurologist ran further tests to make sure I had no Neurological events (stroke).
I stayed in the hospital CCU Sunday and Monday night. They ordered an MRI to determine what the next step would be (potentially surgery with a stent). Throughout the night they did regular Neurological tests, blood tests, and monitoring vitals. The whole staff was absolutely amazing. All across the board.
The next day they got the MRI done in the evening, but the results didn't get to the doctors until the next day. The two doctors (Neurologist and Dr. Salem MD; they had a shift change) plus radiologist reviewed the MRI images (this was of my brain and entire spine) and they said the tear had disappeared.
They had no medical reason for why this would happen.
I told them, well, I have a reason!
You see right after this happened, I was able to shoot off a text to my friend Merri (who I was supposed to see later that day) telling her that I was being rushed to the ER and that I'd be at the hospital, I kept her updated on what was happening too.
Well, Merri relayed my messages on to our Bible study (23+ ladies) and they then got on the mail list for the 55 Live group also at our church (30+ people) and started a prayer chain all across my church (150+ people). They prayed for me, but specifically they prayed for the tear to be healed!!!
And, you know what?
That prayer was answered!!
Praise the Lord!!
So, after the doctor saw me, I was discharged yesterday 1/27/2026 around noon. So, I am home, neck is still sore and I'm healing and trying to recover from the hospital stay. (It was quite the experience and I'm wiped out!
Especially all my muscles that were really squeezed tight due to the intense pain I was experiencing) I am also still taking aspirin and have a follow-up appointment with the Neurologist and one with my primary care doctor.
I have contacted my EDS doctor and my Rheumatologist to get their input on future care and what their thoughts are of this event. The hospital staff also sent me home with care instructions and had 3 different physical and occupational therapists visit me to go over at home care and to check on my physical state.
All I can say is The Lord is Good! So very good!!
Thank you, my mom, Sandy, Tausha, Raeanna, Rae, Merri, Lauralee, Thais, Diana, Shirley, Lorraine, and so many more who were with me at the hospital, who brought me flowers, candy, rockstars, crackers, food, drinks, and a BIG thank you for all the amazing prayers!!
You all are amazing!!!
Shelly Bursick
Testimony
sunny Couch
Sunny Couch’s Testimony 2016 – Sunny Couch
(“Please give a big welcome to our new Tidbits editor....Sunny Couch.”)
That was written in October 2016 by Joyce Wilson ....Ten years ago! I had no idea I have been doing this for this long! I have enjoyed it that much! I have revised this and added to it in a couple places.
Sunny was born Sondra Jones in Alhambra, CA but was raised by her grandmother in Pasadena, CA. She was an only child. She attended Pasadena schools and graduated from Pasadena Academy (now Nazarene College in San Diego). She also attended Nursing School when living in San Diego. She moved to Oregon in 1966 (practically a native!)
She has been blessed with five children; Kandy, Harlan, Karen, Michelle and Nathan. All but Kandy live right here in the Rogue Valley so, besides her work as an in-home caregiver, (I am retired now) she is very active with her family. Between the five children she has 16 grandchildren and almost 21 greats...two are on their way. (Updated info; I have lost count of how many great grandchildren... I know it is over 40+! And now I have one great-great granddaughter.)
Over the years she has raised foster children, worked at Butte Creek Mill, had her own wedding business and in 1996 she became a certified Caregiver...mostly caring for people in their homes.
Sunny’s main hobby is quilting. She has made quilts (over 50+) for all of her children, grandchildren and now working on every great grandchild. (And now the quilt count is well over 100!) She also loves reading and can be found on the Oregon Coast often!!!
Although her grandmother sent her to church, across the street, all of her growing up years, it wasn’t until she gave birth to her fifth child, Nathan (which means gift from God) that she began a really personal relationship with God. She started attending Applegate Christian Fellowship in 1982.
(My life verses have been: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4 The Lord wrote those words on my heart as a little child!)
She has two favorite verses...Isaiah 26:3.. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” and Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Words in italics are my updated information....Sunny
2026
I found this “story” written back in October of 2016! I volunteered to put together the Calendar and Tidbits and Roster for 55 Live, after Tricia Vogel had been doing an amazing job. I seldom start anything, knowing what will be required, but only have an excitement, that I should move in this direction!
A few things have changed in ten years! I have found a love of painting the ocean and sunsets! I also found that I love writing about what the Lord is doing in my life! I love writing about His Goodness and all His faithfulness!
I long to be an encourager for others to keep going. For He is coming back, and I believe very soon. So, keep looking up!
Today might be the day!
Testimony
don wallace
Written by Don back in May of 2019. Don is now safe in heaven with his sweet wife Carole.
My Favorite Verse: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Why? - Probably the first verse I ever memorized. I think back in my life “all things” that Pastor Jon has taught us over the years. “All things” are “all things” so that means good things, bad things, happy things, sad things.
I think back to when my little sister died of melanoma cancer. You might think, how can that be a good thing? It wasn’t, it was a bad thing. All things WORK together, so by working together I had never heard of melanoma cancer, and I had my family checked. My wife had melanoma cancer which we would have never found had it not been for my little sister.
So, that is a good example of “all things” work together for good because I still have my wife and that was back in 1975.
Also, another item that happened in my life fourteen years ago. My oldest daughter was found to have pancreatic cancer which is a silent killer. You would think, “how can anything good come of that?” Well, she had a gall bladder surgery and that is how they found the pancreatic cancer. Her surgeon doctor told her that her pancreas had a bad look to it and said it needed to be checked. So, they did surgery on her pancreas and stomach. She was three months in the hospital.
The good thing is: By having her gall bladder go bad, it brought to the attention of the doctors that her pancreas needed checked. That was fourteen years ago, and she is a pancreatic cancer survivor to this day.
So, that is my story of Romans 8:28. I am so blessed to have a loving Lord that works all things together for good. Amen Don Wallace
To heavy to bear
A Glass of Water
During one lecture, a professor suddenly picked up a glass of water and held it up. He stood there quietly, just holding it, as the students began to glance at each other, waiting for an explanation. Ten minutes passed, and he still didn’t lower his arm.
Finally, he asked: “Tell me, how much do you think this glass weighs?”
The students started guessing: “Maybe a couple of ounces!”
“Four ounces!”
“Five!”
The professor smiled. “Honestly, I don’t know either. To find out, we’d have to weigh it. But that’s not the real question. What happens if I hold this glass for a few minutes?”
“Nothing,” the students replied.
“Right. Now, what if I hold it for an hour?”
“Your arm will start to hurt,” one answered.
“Correct. And what if I try to hold it all day?”
“Your arm would go numb, you’d be in serious pain, maybe even need medical help,” another said as the class laughed.
The professor nodded calmly. “Exactly. But tell me—did the weight of the glass ever change?”
“No,” came the reply.
“So why the pain in the arm? Why the tension in the muscles?”
The room fell silent.
Then he asked: “What should I do to get rid of the pain?”
“Put the glass down,” someone said.
“Exactly!” the professor exclaimed. “Life’s problems work the same way. If you carry them in your head for a few minutes, it’s no big deal. Think about them for too long, and they start to hurt. Dwell on them all day, and they paralyze you—you won’t be able to do anything else.”
He paused, then finished with this: “That’s why it’s so important to put your problems down at the end of each day. Don’t go to bed carrying the weight of them. Rest, recharge, and you’ll wake up ready to face tomorrow with strength and clarity.”
Precious truth
jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
pain
jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm
The pain some people bear
No one would believe
The hurt that's sometimes there
Makes it hard to see
That in the darkest hour
There is still a way
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Sometimes you feel alone
Does He really care?
Has He left you on your own?
And does He hear your prayer?
Well, He has never left you
Or forsaken you one day
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you