Ricks Thoughts

Candi and family,
I am with the new church (Skyline Church) meeting in the new theater in Dawsonville. My family visited Mountain Lake a few times before starting this new church. Rick's music and message was always a tremendous blessing to us during our visits to Mountain Lake. We have been praying with you all for God's healing touch for a month now... and we will continue to do so. We look to the day where Rick will sing to the Lord a new song again and we trust with you all, knowing that even now God is holding His precious child's hand. He isn't alone and you guys aren't alone.
love, brandton and katie wood

Hey birthday Haley!!!

Rick, I miss talking to you.....I praying for you!!!

Casting Crowns writes:

The Voice of Truth tells me a different story.

The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid."

The Voice of Truth sats,"This is for my glory."

Out of all the voices calling out to me.

I will always choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

We thank God this morning for another day to pray for ya'll.

Love,
Peggy Donoho

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALEY!! I love you!

Happy Birthday Haley!
Hope your day is full of the peace and love of God!
Love,
April Tidwell (Lesley Williams sister)

Good morning everyone -Yes, God has given us a beautiful day to rejoice in. Happy Birthday Haley. In Growth Group last night, we all discussed the amazing love and strength of your family. We feel a personal attachment to each of you as we all pray for Rick. Suzanne, I heard that you were at Mountain Lake on Sunday (I attended Church Saturday night) and you were so incredible in praying for Rick. Your presence gave strength to others.

Candi, I think your Scriptures in the posts are uplifting. I can tell your heart is full of love for God and his mercies.

Great news about Maggie - thanks be to God for this healing.

Cannot wait until September 16th and the Concert. It is going to be packed (and they thought Elvis drew the crowds!!!)

God bless you all today and I will continue to believe in that miracle we are all seeking.

Love,
Elaine

Praise be to You Lord for another beautiful new day for Rick. Your Mercy truly is new every day!!!
Jesus thank You for Your continued Hand on Rick's body, mind, and spirit. Jesus, please visit Rick and let him know He is in Your care and there is no greater place to be.

I thank you Daddy for also keeping Rick's family and close loved ones in the palm of Your Hand.I thank You for allowing each of them to sleep deep and well each night with the knowledge You are in control.

We only desire Your Will, but would appreciate Your allowing Rick to continue his ministry here.
Father so many souls have been pointed to You becuse of his deep love for You. He honors You in every area of his life, I thank You for honoring our prayers lifted for him.

I stand in-the-gap right now and ask You Daddy, in the name of Your Son Jesus to hold back the enemy from Rick's body and mind. Put Your hedge of protection around Rick and allow no evil formed against him to prosper. You, Lord are the Devine Healer. You are our King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Our only hope. We continue to put our trust in You, our Awesome Creator.

We also thank you Lord, for Your blessing on little Maggie. Praise to You always.

Thank You also for great-grandma. For keeping Your Hand on the entire family.

Jesus we love You and continue to give You all Honor and Glory.

Keep strong 'in' Him!

InHisLove,
Mary NPCC

Happy Birthday Haley! We hope for that wonderful present too! We keep on praying and want you all to know that we lift you up multiple times each day.

Rick sings to our family every day, we love that!! Even my 22 month old knows Rick's photo and his song is familiar to him now,too. Know that we will remain steady in our prayers, begging for a miracle.

The Wortmans

This morning, I was listening to a Christian radio station and thinking about your family and what words of encouragement I could offer that hasn't already been offered... what I could possibly write that would truly make a difference. At that moment the following verse was read over the radio:

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10.

As I pulled out my Bible and found this verse, I continued to read...

"Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted." - Psalm 9:11 - 12

Please know that I have been and will continue to pray for Rick and you all. Praise God that He holds the world in His hands and runs to the broken. Christ is carrying you all and when you look back over your life, you will see His single set of footprints during this time. May you feel Our gracious Heavenly Father's love rain down on you every second of every day. Praise God that it is Him he fills your heart with words of encouragement!

In Christ's love and peace,

Lynne

oh sweet haley i pray that you have an amazing birthday filled with reminders that GOD loves you so very much and that HE is in control of every situation. i pray especially that HE grants the present you so desperately long for!

Psalm 33-

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a] ; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Dear Candi,
Your words are amazing and God-inspired! May God continue to use you, Rick, your family and your friends to be light in the darkness---to reflect the glory of God in a real and tangible way! May Jesus grant you the desires of your heart which surely are the desires of His heart also since you are so faithfully trusting Him for each and every moment of the day. You simply could not write these words if you were not living in the grace of God. He is using all of you, but especially Rick, in amazing and eternal ways.
Where Christ is, Cheerfulness will keep breaking in. ---Dorothy Sayers
Gratefully a part of the body of Christ,
Joanne Petrella

Happy Birthday, Haley, and blessings to all the Pearson family! Candi, thanks enough can't be expressed for your lovely praises and reports. I appreciate your faith and the Lord who inspires it. May you all be carried by the One who daily bears our burdens. May Rick be restored this day - and may our faith ever increase as we pray for his healing. We trust you, we love you, Lord, and we thank you for all your blessings.

Hey Haley ~ Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday today. I am praying that today will be a day of rejoicing for you and for your family. I'm praying for you and your family. Be Blessed.

You are all sitll in my prayers, and I wanted to tell Haley happy birthday.

I love you all,

Tami

Good morning!
I just wanted you to know we are standing in the gap for Rick and your family here in Charlotte NC.
Our youth leadership spent Tueday evening together in prayer for Rick and Jeffrey's daughter.
We are trusting God who is holding Rick and your entire family in his Righteous Hand. Isaiah 49:16. Praise God he holds us in his hand.
We pray his presence is so thick within you family that all you breath in is Him.
We are thankful for Rick and his life and the impact He and the Big Stuf camp has made in our youth's lives at Steele Creek Church of Charlotte. He has definitely been a part of our youth maturing in their worship! What a gift he has given with his gift of music! Please whisper thank you's daily for his heart of worship! We read daily the updates and are praying daily!
We love you!

Even though we have been a little side tracked in our thoughts with the results of hurricane Katrina please know that our family has not stopped praying and thinking about Rick and each member of the family for one minute. Continue to take one day at a time. Please read Romans chapter 5 today for strength. May the peace of God pass over all of you.

Tim and Vicki Cook

Dear Candi,

I am writing today to say hello and to let you all know that I am thinking about all of you every day. I know you won't remember me and that is fine I am a few years younger than you. I graduated with Rick in 2001. You never think that something like this could happen to someone that was a friend growing up. But we all know that GOD works in mysterious ways. All I know is that every time I read your updates, I wonder how can this family be so strong and I read a little more and it is by the grace of GOD that gets us through everything. I just wanted to say thank you to Candi for updating us when Shannon could not. This is my only way to keep up with Rick. You are a very strong woman of God. I can remember one time a long long time ago when you where a cheerleader at Ernest Ward High School (at that time)how caring and helpful you were. It was a basketball game at Ernest Ward and all the cheerleaders where sitting on the bottom rows. I wanted to sit down there with all of you and you let me sit by you and cheer. Then, I spilt some water on the side of the court and everyone was being rude to me and then you told me it was going to be ok and then you sang to me. No use crying over spilled water. (The song by Reba McEntire No use crying over spilled milk). I never forgot that and I never will forget it. I also learned there is no reason to be mean to anyone over nothing. Being kind is one of the best gifts you can give to someone. You never know what is going on in their lives that day and by lending a kind word or hug it can get anyone through hard times. I am lending my hugs to put around your family. I am praying for all of you and Rick he is a great inspiration to us all.

Love in Christ,

Cristy and Ben Brantley
Atmore, AL

P.S. Happy Birthday Haley.
My brother John McAnally sends his Love and Prayers as well.

Haley,
Happy Birthday from your family in Tampa. We love you and hope you have a wonderful day. We will be thinking of you and all of the family and keep you in our prayers as always.
Herb, Janet, Hannah, Scott, Rebekah, John, and William

Folks,
As I head off to work, I am bringing thoughts of you with me and songs of praise to God for the tremendous faith of the hundreds that are constantly in prayer. I am amazed at how God has used what would scare others away to bring us closer as a family, but more importantly - closer to Him. How much have we relied on Him throughout? How deeply have we immersed ourselves in His word? How much more have we brought praises to his name?
Candi, I was listening to your recording of "So High" - one of my favorites - and I now understand running out of words. I am so humbled by His greatness and how close He holds us right now that I "can't think that high" to describe His greatness.
But, because of the great examples set here by the many faithful witnesses, I am moved to pray throughout the day - "Abba, show them Your strength, your power, your healing at the appropriate time. You are great, strong, and merciful! Bring Rick back to full strength and cognitive function to the wonder of all who look on and to the praise of Your glorious grace!"
We are so rich to have so strong a family under Christ, so thoroughly wealthy in grace from our sovereign Lord.

"Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him. (Ps. 37.37-40)"

Happy Birthday Haley!

We are continuing to pray for you today and trust that this will be a fantastic birthday for you. Have fun celebrating!!

Love,
Jeffrey, Shannon, Maggie and Jack

I pray that God will bless you and your family on this special day. Each day is a new day in Him and I pray that God will sustain each of you and continue to bless you. What an amazing testimony you all have been---God has truly been praised in every way. You are and will continue to be in my prayers!!!
Amy

Please know that we are still praying for Rick and for all of you. We weren't promised a "fun" or "easy" race, we were just told to run it. Somehow there is a lesson to be learned here or a life that will be changed. While we pray for complete and total healing, we also pray for that lesson. I hear God's voice and feel His presence every time I visit this site. I know others feel the same way.

Do not hesitate to call on me if you need anything.

Michael Pennington
Kennesaw, GA
678-571-1990

"Your mercies are new every morning" Lamentations 3:23.

Sustainer God. Thank you for being a God of misicule details. We want to take the time to thank you for the ways you sustain. That You still orchestrate the blood runs through Rick's veins. That his chest moves up and down and breathing is occuring. Thank you that his heart still pumps the blood you placed inside of him. Thank you for providing sleep to numb the pain. You are Sustainer.

God, we still pray for your miracle. Thank you for hearing our requests. We love you so much! Thank you for what You are doing in lives all across this world. May You continue to receive the glory!

Candi,
Thank you for the daily updates on Rick. I know I am one of many people without faces to you but yet bonded by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rick wouldn't know me either but yet his life has impacted me, my fellow leaders, and the youth that we serve. We are praying fervently as well that the Lord, our Great Healer, would once again show his greatness through healing Rick completely.
Our connection with Rick is through his service to our Lord at Big Stuf student camp last year. We can never underestimate the power of life that reflects the glory of God. Rick's life has done that in the lives of our kids and I can tell continues to do that in the lives of others even through this present struggle.
We'll continue to share this journey with you, your family, and many friends. May we continue to put our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ even as we struggle to understand.

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.." Nahum 1:7

In Him,

Mark Kessler, fellow leaders & youth
Steele Creek Church of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Happy Birthday Haley! We love and miss all of you. Our prayers and faith are never ceasing here in Northview. God bless ya'll!

Derek

Cindi,

I don't know you personally but I want you to know that I'm praying for Ricky daily. To see your FAITH in this dire situation has greatly inspired me. Praise the Lord for Maggie. Happy birhtday to Hailey. May God Grant your every wish and PRAYER.

love in Christ

Turrena Green

You guys continue to amaze me!

Happy Birthday Haley!

I am so happy for Maggs and her parents. There is nothing like seeing our own sick like that, especially when you are just not sure what is causing the sickness.

Now, it is Rick's turn. God, I just pray for you to be with Rick and give him strenght. Be with the doctors and give them wisdom and humility enough to ask you for help. Amen

Love and pray for you all, Robin Smith from MLC

Candi,
We have not seen each other in a long time!But all i wanted to tell you and Aunt Elaine and Hallie that i am holdin yall up to the Lord.I also hold Rick up to him .U see i want to see full healness for Rick! I am glad of the information that you told that is awesome.GOD'S gonna HEAL rick.And i know HE is gonna heal Granny Myrl!Hallie Happy Birthday and i hope you find the chance to enjoy!I'm still prayin day in night!Love yall!

Love Always,
Malorie

Haley,
Happy Birthday to you sweetie!!! You are a precious gift of God and I pray that He will grant you ALL the desires of your heart today! This is truly a day of celebration.

Shannon & Jeffery,
Praise the Lord that little Maggie is going to be up and running around as normal in a few days. God is so good!! Thanks to both of you for your postings and words of encouragement on this sight. You have been awesome and I just want you to know that I continue to lift you and your little ones up in prayer. God has blessed this family with two wonderful friends.

Candi & family,
Words cannot express how I'm feeling right now. Thank you so much for your postings Candi. I know this has at times been a hard job for you to do but I want you to know how much it is appreciated. Your eloquent words have been an inspiration to me. I can feel the Holy Spirit working through you on this site and that is an incredible feeling. You are truly amazing! All of you are. At Growth Group this week we had to name someone that we thought exemplified courage and I put the entire "Pearson Family". You have ALL shown me what it truly means to live a life of courage and I thank you for that. It is unbelievable to me how God works and, just as you are, I am amazed to see how lives have been changed through all of this - mine as well. Rick is truly going to rejoice when he sees the work God has done through him!

Lord, thank you so much for sustaining Rick through another day. I pray that we will get good news on the leukemia today.
In Your Name,
Amen

In Christ,
Joan

Happy Birthday Haley!
As I continue to pray for rick, I am amazed by your family's faith. You are wonderful examples for us all and God is going to use Rick and you to bring more people to Jesus. Keep fighting for joy, and we will continue to be warriors in prayer with you.

Sarah

Happy Birthday Haley!!! I am praying for you today. You are a blessing to all who know you.

Love you all,
Lindsay

Happy Birthday Haley! We thank God for you today! I pray his richest - most extravagant blessings on you this year!

Lord we steadfastly pray for Rick's restoration! Thank you so much for all you've done and will do!!

Love much!
The Carrozza's

Happy Birthday Haley,

Praying for a wonderful day for you ...

We love you,

Gerry

Happy Birthday Haley!
I am praying for you all. I miss ya'll and hope to see all of you soon.

Anna Parish

Candi & family,

I've been trying to think about what to say to you
& your precious family. Let me start with the Ricky I know & adore. I have the priviledge of singing with him & being part of his "team" at MLC. He is sweet, caring, humble, extremely talented & has a great sense of humor. He always makes me laugh-especially at his impersonations, Napolean Dynamite & other various people. I've seen him with some of the young people at our church. He always has time to talk with them & to listen to what they have to say. He's so encouraging. He just makes you feel at ease. I hope you know that we are suffering & rejoicing with you as we know that our God is in complete control. I miss Ricky terribly. The other guys that have been filling in for him have been awesome! No one can take his place-he's one of a kind. You & your family should be so proud of the Godly man that he's become. I've seen him grow as a worship leader over the last few years. He's really allowed himself to be used as an instrument for God to work through. I'm honored to have been able to lead worship with him at MLC. He really loves you all alot. He has such admiration & respect for you & Jonathon & your gifts. God has really blessed your family. I & my family will continue to lift Ricky & your family up in prayer. I too am praying for a miracle.

Suzanne,

My dear sweet friend. I just wanted to say I love you & am praying for you. I am so proud of you. I lift you up every day in prayer to our heavenly Father. You have been a rock for Rick & his family. I hope they know what a precious jewel you are. Rick knows! I miss you-we were out of town for about 2 weeks but took the laptop with us to keep up on Ricky's condition. Thank you for being such a great example of strength & unconditional love. Hope to see you soon my sister in Christ.

I'd like to leave you all with the chorus to a song we all know by Chris Tomlin that Rick sings so beautifully. It has taken on a whole new meaning for me.

"Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untamable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God"

"Let EVERYTHING that has breath, PRAISE THE LORD!"

In Christ,

Lisa

P.S.
Candi, I'm the one you brought the black & white photos to for Amber when you sang a while back at MLC. Also, if you need any help with the benefit concert I'd love to help in any way. Your brother truly is amazing!
770-205-4026