Harley Snode

#healthforlandon Update 05 07 26 As our little family prepares to take another "next step" (we have stopped counting which number we are on now) in these shoes and head back home today, our hearts are grateful for your support while still processing everything that we experienced here in Denver. Here would be a couple of initial takeaways to help all those who are looking to update your prayer list: 1) Surgery Results-Shows significant blood improvement on both jugular veins (80% better blood flow in right one that was decompressed and 50% better blood flow in left one-a typical result of decompressing the other one) but will take a full year to know how much it will impact other symptoms—pressure, numbness, fatigue, headaches, derealization, depression, etc. 2) Strategy While We Wait On The Above-As Landon has the emotional/physical fortitude, we will start working on other fronts that may be contributing factors with some meds/supplements as well as further testing. Thank you for all of the thoughtful messages and expressions of love/support while we have been gone. Please pray as we regroup from a pretty intense couple of weeks and that our flight schedules will go smoothly today. (I will fly to Detroit to pick up my car and then pick Heidi and Landon who fly to Cleveland.) Also pray for Ian as he finishes up his semester in Florida and safety traveling home Friday evening.

Enjoyed this conversation on how our family is learning to being a caregiver during prolonged seasons of chronic unhealth. I pray it will help others.

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/7: No matter what I have/am going through, God is the only One who deserves to loom large on the horizon of my heart. What keeps me from digressing into bitterly seeking revenge against those who have wronged me/everybody associated with them is focusing far less upon them and far more upon the Lord...the One Who: 1) Lives. 2) Redeems my soul out of all adversity. ~ 1 Sa 4:9b

Getting ready to record a podcast with Tate Throndson here in snowy Denver with Castleview Baptist Church this morning on what we are learning as caregivers when chronic illness invades your life and family. #healthforlandon

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/6: To keeps myself in a healthy place emotionally and spiritually, I need more noise (prayer, praise, lament, etc.) between my soul and my God. This alone prevents the "daylight" chasm that will be filled with everything that is unhealthy and unholy. ~ Psalm 55:2, 16-17

A steadying reminder to young and older men in ministry alike!

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/5: Why should I turn to the Lord for encouragement no matter who/what has turned against me? Because...in low moments where everything feels unsure/doubtful, God will meet my questions/doubts with His soothing, definitive confidence to move forward towards victory/recovery. ~ 1 Sa 30:6-8

@JasonLee47776 @timchristoson Thank you, Jason! Will hopefully see you this coming Sunday!

@HarleySnode @timchristoson I miss u praying for u and your family

In one picture, this is friendship...something we pastors often talk about but don't regularly give or receive with no strings attached. The kind of "I am in this with you" vibe that inexplicably buoys everything that feels like it is fading/drowning. My friend @timchristoson -in front of his gracious church in Howell, MI during their two morning services-prayed this past Sunday with unsolicited fervor and faith over my family with our #healthforlandon journey long after we feel like we have the right to keep asking for it. As we settle into our few days here in Denver filled with yet another round of tests and appointments, I can still feel that gracious, steadying hand on my shoulder (and many others before his)...truly a hand-picked-by-God expression of His abiding presence in my life. In my reading this morning, I was struck by this timely thought from the Psalmist that it was ultimately not Tim but God Himself who stood with me on that stage/stands with me now: Ps 54:4b "...the Lord is with them the uphold my soul." Lord, thank you for the Tim's back home/all over in my life! Help me to be that Tim for others even today!

So good as we undershepherd strive to mimic the ultimate shepherd, THE Son of David!

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/4: I always have access God's deliverance when I make it all about Him, not me/mine: 1) "Save me by thy name"-All about His glory-seeking reputation! 2) "Judge me by thy strength"-All about His justice-funding resources! ~ Psalm 54:1

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/3: When I bless those who persecute/criticize me, it frees my life/leadership to: 1) Do great things! 2) Prevail! ~ 1 Sa 17:25

#OTin2026 Takeaway for 5/2: The only way that I can consistently do right towards those who wrong me is GIVE SPACE BETWEEN THEM AND ME for God to: 1) Judge us both accurately. 2) Plead my cause/avenge me. 3) Deliver me out of their hand. ~ 1 Sa 24:12, 15

#healthforlandon Upate 05 01 26 So…here we go entering another May of this prolonged journey that now requires adding not just the day and month BUT YEAR. Tough to type, but not impossible with God’s grace and strength in view. Let me begin with some praises: 1) While traveling with our counseling ministry separates our family now and then, it is a blessing to have folks not just say “praying for your son” but doing so right then/right there in my presence. (Had a host pastor do this in his Sunday AM service, and my out-of-state cousins at a restaurant table do the same…both with some tender tears of earnest compassion.) 2) Our church family at North Life continue to be such a steady, God-send of encouragement with: understanding where our ministry bandwidth is not as wide as in better times, dropping off tasty treats and thoughtful notes that are devoured by the whole family, and being extra supportive of our local church ministry with less hype and reinforcement from the lead pastor. (Reaching Amen Project Offering goal a few weeks ago for much needed campus renovations truly shocked/encouraged me on a soul level that you cannot fully know…reminding me that God is still in the miracle business! I really needed that.) 3) And probably the biggest praise is seeing the herculean-in-his-condition effort that Landon is making to NOT GIVE UP/CHECK OUT. The picture above is moments after he-of his own initiative-came out to relieve me in mowing our city lot with “Dad, I can do that.” That a choice on his part that had his old man brushing tears from his eyes as he turned towards the front door. (There are other deeply-personal references points to this intentional mindset that I will not share in this setting, but Heidi and I are so grateful for how he continues to suffer with sweetness.) Now to the prayer requests: 1) Please pray for this weekend as I am serving a church in Michigan through Sunday morning. (Gone from North Life on back to back Sunday’s due to when we first were scheduled for Landon’s surgery; it would have only been two weeks ago without our God’s intervention.) 2) Then…Sunday afternoon, Heidi and Landon will intersect with me in Detroit to fly the rest of the way to Denver. 3) Monday we will run tests to assess how January’s surgery has impacted his blood flow in his neck and head. Tuesday we will meet with his surgeon to review the results and figure out next steps. (Though there have not been any lasting symptom relief of note yet, this follow up will help us assess how much the structural issues have been resolved and what neurological issues remain/how to treat them.) I cannot express to you how conflicted our very souls are at this point…souls full of fatigue for how long/intense it has been AND gratitude for those who so tenderly/tenaciously support us. Thank you for continuing to listen to all we are processing and prayerfully moving heaven and earth to walk this oft-misunderstood and grinding journey with us. We could not do it without all the tactile ways that God manifests His hope and strength through you! Like my son quietly standing across the mower from me a few days ago and the Apostle Paul himself from his own dark prison, I choose to join their determined belief that-with Jesus-“I/we can do this.” Ph 4:12-13 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Headed to Howell, Michigan for #healthyfamilyweekend with @InspireCounselM and my friend Tim Christoson. Please pray for my family/church back home in this busy season and me to be a blessing to this dear church.

"Till I know what God will do for me." No matter how dire the situation may feel, I must maintain a strong bias toward faith in a God who has and will always deliver His people! ~ 1 Sa 22:3

Pastor, if you are weary today your weakness is not a disqualification. Christ does not stand over you demanding more. He meets you in your need with mercy. Come to Him and find rest.