Blessing -- Laura Story

My Aunt Sue (Greg's mom) shared these lyrics with me at my cousin's funeral this past week, I thought I would pass them on to all of you as well.

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us

lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings co

me through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise,

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your W

ord is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your merc

ies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes t

o know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise.

~~~~~~~~~Greg~~~~~~~~~

From a Cousin

This has been copied (with permission) from the Facebook page of one of Greg's cousins, Matt Seftick.

"Somebody should tell us right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows." ~Pope Paul VI

To my cousin, Greg Seftick, you are the one who inspired me to do great things with my life. Although I never would have made it through med school, the corps was my way of trying to be as great as you and Chris. All of this happened so fast and looking back I never took the chance to say how proud of you I am, and just how much you influenced me as a man and what I've become; a Marine.

You and Chris were the ones who gave me the courage to fight, to follow what I wanted. Even in Afghanistan on my worst days, I thought to myself, "This ain't nothing, the stuff you had to go through in E.R. was way worse, and you handled it day in and day out." That thought alone made it easier to push on.

Your passion to be free and to roam the country the way you wanted to was the most amazing thing to me. You are the smartest man I've ever known and I will forever be proud to serve in your memory, for the Seftick name. Even more, I will always be proud to call you my cousin. I love you Greg and not one day will go by without you in my thoughts and prayers.

Update #9: Visitation

This evening was the visitation for one of the greatest, most amazing, awesome, terrific, fantastic, fun, daring, cool, adventurous person, it was for my cousin, Greg Seftick. So many emotions flooded me during the evening that it's nearly impossible to put anything into words. The outpouring of love for Greg and his family was immense. He loved and was loved greatly. In the short thirty-one years of his life he packed more in than most people would in eighty years.

Greg was one of the most unique people I have ever met. He was constantly doing or planning something dangerous and adventurous. From skiing, to hiking, to rock climbing and way beyond, his life was full of never missing a chance to try something and anything new. Every time I saw him he was always full of a never-ending stories which would keep you enthralled for hours on end of his crazy adventures that most of us can only dream about, but he put into action.

Most of all I remember Greg as a wonderful example to all of his younger cousins. He was a leader by nature, he was strong, outgoing, ambitious, loving, and just totally awesome. He was my dearly loved cousin. RIP Greg.

Update #8: Obituary

Linked to this page is the obituary for Greg Seftick.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=gregory-seftick&pid=150597415&fhid=3348

I Sing the Mighty Power of God!

Most of my life whenever I have heard this song I have instantly thought of my cousins Greg and Chris Seftick, mainly because I knew that they personally saw so much of God's amazing creation first hand.

Update #7: Arrangements

As copied from Chris' Facebook (Greg Seftick's brother) arrangements are as following:

Sunday, May 1: Visitation probably from 4-8 pm

Monday, May 2: Visitation probably from 10-11 am, Service at 11 am.

Lunch to follow service.

Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN

Update #6: The End of the Search

Today the bodies of Greg Seftick and Walker Kuhl were found this afternoon. Words escape me as I write this...please just keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/

An Easter Miracle Possibility/Update #5

I did not post last night, mainly because I was feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and simply could not write. On top of that I did not have much new news. After spending most of the night talking to family, praying and crying I awoke on this blessed Resurrection Day struggling to find anything positive. I went to church and was blessed by the reminder that Christ rose from the dead and is alive. I was also reminded of the fact that God does do everything for a reason, and also that miracles do happen.

After arriving home from church my dad told me that he received a text message from his brother this morning. He said that yesterday afternoon a ranger picked up a faint avalanche beacon signal. It was confirmed and digging began. A few feet down another beacon was picked up! Digging was postponed due to the sunlight fading, but was being resumed today. Please, please pray that both Greg Seftick and Walker Kuhl will be found today. Miracles do happen. God does work. Anything is possible, especially on Easter.

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7225

http://www.tetonat.com/2011/04/19/missing-skiers-in-gtnp-randosteves-report/

Miracle Required/Update #4

Today marks one week since my cousin, Greg Seftick, and his friend, Walker Kuhl skied into the Grand Teton Mountains and were never seen again. It is with a breaking heart that I write this, because today is the final day of the search for the pair until the snow melts.

Right now the only thing that will possibly bring the two of them back to us is a miracle. We are begging God for one, and I know that if it is in His good pleasure, He can and will perform one.

http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7225

Update #3

Sadly this update brings no news of Greg Seftick and Walker Kuhl being found. Only that once again the search had to be postponed due to nasty weather conditions and should, weather permitting, be resumed tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for their prayers...it's been a long, rough week with many prayers said and tears shed.

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7223

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-wyoming-skiers-idUSTRE73L3OM20110422

Update #2

Not much news to report today on my cousin, Greg Seftick. There was no searching done today due to bad weather conditions. However, tomorrow the plans are to continue operation. I have a few more links for those interested in news stories.

http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/ -- This is probably the best article so far!

http://www.islandparknews.com/atf.php?sid=9813&current_edition=2011-04-14 -- This one includes a picture of Greg.

Thoughts from a Saddened Heart

People keep asking me what my thoughts are on everything that has been going on with Greg. Honestly, I'm trying to figure those out myself. I have so many emotions coursing through my body that I find it difficult to even think. Greg is my cousin, he's young, strong, athletic, smart, has a good head on his shoulders, knows what he's doing in the wilderness, has a bright future in front of him, is an emergency room doctor, yet right now, no one is sure of anything. There are so many possibilities, and yet, no answers. People all across the nation and even the world are praying for Greg and Walter, but at this time God has chosen to keep their whereabouts a secret from us. There have been people searching for the two of them since Monday, and here it is Wednesday night, and no sign whatsoever. Not even the dogs can find any trace of them.

Humanly all seems hopeless. There doesn't seem to be any way for them to be found. And maybe they won't be. But I know a God who knows exactly where they are, and I know that He will do His good will. What that is, I don't know. I wish I did. But God in His infinite wisdom, wisdom that blows me away, has chosen to put my entire family through this. Maybe He will use it to draw people closer to Him, maybe He will use it to refine His children. Maybe He will bring the two young men back to us, maybe He won't. All I know is that whatever happens, God did it for good, not evil.

Yes, bad things do happen to good people, why, I don't know. This one thing I know, that God works everything out for good. Maybe it doesn't seem like good at the time, but someday we will see that God's way is best. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God makes no mistakes. He gives grace and strength.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."

~Isaiah 40: 28-31~

Update of Sorts

I wanted to write a quick update on my cousin, Greg Seftick and his friend Walter Kuhl who went missing on Sunday in the Grand Teton Mountains in Yellow Stone National Park. Sadly, I have no good news. Only that the search continued today and still no sign of the two men have been found. I am including a few links of news stories for anyone who is interested.

http://www.tetonat.com/2011/04/19/missing-skiers-in-gtnp-randosteves-report/

http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_17893756?source=rss

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-missing-skiers-rescue-teams-resume-search-for-missing-skiers-20110420,0,1270742.story

Please, PLEASE pray for my cousin Greg Seftick. He and a friend went hiking into the Grand Tetons of Wyoming on Saturday and were scheduled to come out Sunday. Saturday night they got ten inches of snow. They never came out. Search and rescue efforts began Monday night with helicopters, and helicopters and skiers searched all day today and are planning on going out tomorrow as well. There has been no sign of them at all. There have been many avalanches.

http://m.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d0ecb548-6aa7-11e0-9014-001cc4c03286.html