setting it in my heart

The walls are a little barren now that Christmas has gone and the new year has started. We’ve wiped away the chalk words declaring His birth and removed our advent calendars from their nails.

Slowly new adornments have been making their way out. First the small aqua cards to match the paper on our kitchen walls. And then the verses on the board marking the way as we come and go. And now the prints, printed off for their place by the coffee pot for an afternoon pick me up.

Because what we need most is the only thing that can tame the enemy. We need the word of God. The only sword that really pierces, through bone and marrow and we need it immediately, for when the sly little snake creeps up when we least expect.

One of my resolves for the year is to add more to my storehouse, more words in my mind and in my heart, so that when the enemy comes, because he will, I will be ready with my sword for slaying. And I’m realizing more and more that the momma I want to be is the momma that is so deeply and strongly hanging onto Jesus that when Elizabeth looks at me she sees a sinner in need of a Savior and not a momma who’s got it all together.

I want her to see a momma who has issues and who is fighting them with all she’s got, in the word and on the offensive. I want her to see and know we don’t play being Christian. We don’t walk around with the chip so big it will drown us upon our shoulders but we walk humbly, holding tightly, fighting and slaying in the name of the Lord, because the road of the believer is never perfect. And I want her to see and know how important it is to have the word of God deep down in her heart. So when she’s scared and feeling alone, the words will bring peace and comfort.

And how can we model if we’re not doing it. And how can we impress the importance of the things of life if we are not actively teaching. And every day I’ll stumble and get things wrong but how much better is that lesson, the lesson of grace.

This year to learn the Word I’m utilizing some of my favorite resources.

1. The Fighter Verse App…They have songs that accompany the verses (I sang the fighter verse at our last small group and turned varying shades of red), quizzes, and more. For Apple & Android. We post the fighter verse of the week on our chalkboard wall near our entry.

2. The 50 Promises cards from Summer Harms…I ordered these cards before Christmas and they are perfect for placing around your house. I love the verses! These are placed around our house but the one I’m working on is behind our kitchen sink.

3. The Jesus Project: Scripture Memorization for the rest of us by Ann Voscamp. Excellent post on memorizing scripture and super cute prints for placing on your wall.

Grab hold of your sword and let’s fight through…

Devotional from today

Today I had the honor of giving the devotional at our MOMS group at church. I don’t normally do things like that but it was a very encouraging thing for me to do and hopefully my random thoughts encouraged someone. But a friend asked what I shared, so I thought why not just put it here. Because I prefer to write things down I took this up and basically read it word for word with some added fodder and attempted to look up so as not to seem like a horrible public speaker.

So here you go:

My husband and I, after 2 years of marriage, began to think that starting a family would be a good thing. But we didn’t end up having our daughter until our 6^th year of marriage so it took us awhile. And the waiting was hard. And something I really struggled with was letting go of the idea of being a parent. I had a fear that we would be childless, or more broadly, that my vision for the future would not be as I imagined. And I had to face that fear.

Our story was kind of unique in that my husband, while he wanted children, he could also could imagine our future without them. And that really scared me. Because I had always wanted to be a mother. In fact, all through college I struggled to find something comparable. Something I’d do until I had children. I remember telling my dad at one point, “but dad I just want to be a mom and be on the PTA.”

But God had a different plan for us. And while we waited I steeped myself in the word and wrestled through the promises and sought to know who God said He was and what that meant for me.

And I found that God is all we need. God is a giver of all good things. God is incredibly good and no evil resides within him. God is not withholding something I want because he is mean, he’s withholding because he has something better. God is our refuge; we can joyfully abide under his wings. God is for us, all the time.

And I sat in Psalm 62 and 63.

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times.” Psalm 62:5-8

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” Psalm 63:2-4

And after waiting for 3 ½ years we got pregnant twice and those babies are now at the feet of Jesus. No better place for them to be I’ve come to discern. And soon after those losses, He gave us our Elizabeth. I had realized through the waiting, through the Word, through the tears and unknowns, and through the losses that God was more than enough for everything I was walking through.

More than Enough.

He kept me, encouraged me, held me, loved me, helped me, cared for me, provided what I needed in His word, gave me wisdom from the pulpit to feed my soul, and then He gave us our daughter when we least expected it.

I can still remember the day, after taking a break from medical intervention, when my husband shared that he felt it was time to go back. We were on a year long sabbatical from trying for babies, discerning what the Lord had for us in the future, figuring out how to move forward. And the Lord had just brought me to a place that I knew I would be okay, in Him, if we never had children. My dream, my fear had been surrendered at the feet of Jesus, knowing that whatever He had in store for us was good and better than parenthood. I stood on the ground that God was more than enough and just a few months later He gave us Elizabeth.

It seems when we our given a gift we never even thought possible, the gift has far greater meaning. Like the cross and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. We call Elizabeth tangible grace when we speak of the Lord’s goodness to us. She’s undeserved favor that we can enjoy with our own two hands.

And we’ve all been given good gifts from the Lord. I’ll assume if you’re here you probably have children. And our children are incredible blessings from the Lord, gifts given, tangible grace. And all good gifts are meant to be enjoyed for our joy and for His glory. It is good to delight in our children.

From a spirit of fear that our future would not be as I thought it would, to fully believing that God was enough even if we never had that dream fulfilled, has given me such freedom to enjoy the gift He has given us in our daughter and helped me in the days and hours when parenting is really hard work.

God, everyday in our parenting, in the struggles, in the pain, in the rejoicing, in the waiting for salvation, in the moments we want to pull our hair out. He is always enough, well more than enough for us.

We can find rest in Him because He alone is our ever present help in time of need, our refuge, our mighty rock. He alone is better than life and He is more than enough for everything that comes our way.

A million little choices

The days are filled with a million little choices. Some are fleeting, while others build foundations. The depths of our souls are made known in everyday actions.

This morning, upon rising, we were met with the beauty of snow covered branches. And our day of a million little choices began. To accept or complain.

As I took Elizabeth to the window she was fixated, staring out at the beauty. I had two choices and my mouth spoke…"Look, Elizabeth. Isn’t the snow beautiful. God made the snow.” Because spring will come in time, but He holds the storehouses in His hands. And He gives His children GOOD things.

Thankfulness flooded my heart that this time I was not prone to complain. That my response did not sound like “Ugh. Snow again. When will spring come.” Because that response only echo's a discontentment with the gifts from the Giver. I’m so far from getting it right, mind you. But my heart overwhelmingly wants her to know of His goodness. Wants her to see beauty in the unexpected. Wants her to welcome good gifts in all their seasons.

As a mother I’m quickly realizing the magnitude these little choices hold. I’m fallen. I’ll never get it right. Never do it perfectly. But as I figure out my role and the influence it holds, I’m ever more cautious with my tongue, with those choices entrusted to me.

It begins with the dawn and ends with the night, ever cyclical, and I can’t shake the reality that day in and day out I’m helping mold a little mind. My little disciple follows me about all the day on hands and knees, already mimicking the sounds and sights she sees. Feasting her eyes on the world, learning what she can expect. Will she expect spring to follow winter or will she expect the falling of snow to cease on March 1st? Because spring will come. Will she expect to have all she wants or will she expect that she will have all she needs? Because He gives us all we need. And the thoughts go on through my mind.

Willing my heart to expect what is spoken in the Book and not the thoughts amongst the world all around. Praying for little expectation regarding the circumstances around me. For expectations are a funny thing. They can bring so much joy and so much sorrow. I’ve been learning a valuable lesson through the years on expectations.

The less I expect from the fallen world around me and the more I trust His sovereignty, the more joy that will fill my heart.

It seems like so long ago that a lesson was taught to my heart full of disappointment. Fewer expectations bring more joy. Seemed backward at the time. Seemed silly to not expect people to do certain things. To not expect the weather to change. To not expect the world to go exactly the way that I anticipated it should.

I can see my pride ever before me. Those respectable sins.

In the beginning, I admit, the letting go came purely out of the thought that if I let go of expectations then I’ll be disappointed less often. This truly is the case. But it was less of a God thing and more of a selfish, I-don’t-want-to-hurt kind of thing.

But as He taught me little by little, a million little choices at a time, to instead look up, to trust Him, to see the joy in the everyday, the reason behind my thinking began to change and joy began to replace the disappointment. And not only did He reveal this through His word, He kept refining the work by walking me through trial after trial. Helping me make peace with the past. Helping me think of things in a way that glorifies.

I won’t expect my dad to be someone and something that he isn’t.

I won’t expect my husband to know what I’m thinking or to read my mind.

I won’t expect Elizabeth to sleep the same way everyday or always obey.

I won’t expect that the weather will change when I’m ready for it to.

And the list goes on.

Because how can I expect perfection from the fallen.

A million little choices face me everyday. Face us all.

And a little one is watching.

So is the world.

What will they see?

the days ahead

my heart is so fickle.

everyday is a new chance at balancing its affections. pulling back, opening up, growing in grace. finding its home in the One who never changes.

today marks the beginning of lent. my heart needs lent. i need to see and savor the One who gives me grace upon grace. i find so often i tend to consume myself with grace but what is grace without the torment and agony from calvary. how can i rightly forsake, ever so unintentionally, the blood stained hands.

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:2-3

and the advent reading begins, to point me to the one who gave, who endured, who was despised. i'm praying my heart will see and savor…will turn from the things of the world that so easily play for my affections, and that we will together, consider him.

consider Jesus.

CONSIDER the blood stained hands

CONSIDER the suffering of Christ

CONSIDER the beating of branches and the cutting of thorns

because as hebrews says, he endured, SO THAT we will not grow weary or fainthearted.

SO THAT we can beckon the throne of grace and find mercy

SO THAT we could stand before the throne and not be cast down

SO THAT we would be forgiven. stains removed

incredible mercy. incredible sorrow. incredible suffering.

so that we could experience incredible joy.

in these days ahead, will you join me in walking through lent with hearts so desiring to remember, to contemplate, to consider him who bore the sin of the whole world.

consider Jesus.

*our favorite lent devotional can be found here*

 

truth I’m believing

and this pertains to every aspect of my life

it’s okay to be me

and it’s taken this girl a long time to realize that

 

here’s to being the beautiful people God created us to be

uniquely us.

Book Review: When the Hurt Runs Deep

All around us, day in and day out, people come and go and I’m certain so many are hurting.  This world, fallen and broken, does not reflect Eden, where hurt was swept away.  We live with hardship, pain, doubt, denial, and deep, deep hurt at the things our eyes have witnessed.  From famine and tsumani, suicide and cancer, to the day by day aching's, as we wait, wonder, and ponder.  Our hearts often question, “why me?”, “why now?”.

One of my favorite bible study authors Kay Arthur, faces these wonderings, ponderings and questions regarding hurt and pain that surround us in the world in her new book When The Hurt Runs Deep: Healing and Hope for Life’s Desperate Moments.  She offers a fresh, straight forward approach to helping us answer these questions in a way that not only glorifies the Lord but offers healing for the heart.  Divided into 18 chapters the  book begins with a glimpse at a few biblical lives as they faced trials and hurt that came their way.  She has not only seen and witnessed hard times but has walked this road personally, and it shows within the book.  Her wisdom is biblical, personal, and applicable.

The book walks through anger, suicide, the question of why, and suffering among others and throughout the book nuggets of wisdom abound to not only comfort the heart but to bring the readers mind to Christ.  She mentions in the beginning that the “soveriegnty of God…is the very key that unlocks and heals our hearts (25)” to which I firmly say Amen.  And she spends the rest of the book walking through hard issues to which she continues to go back and rest in the place of our Sovereign God.

As someone who has walked through hard things and had my eyes witness hurt and pain firsthand, like so many of you, this book was a great reminder of who I trust in, why I do, and how redeeming and good His love is.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.  It’s a great resource and the appendix offers a great study guide for two or more.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their book review program Blogging for Books.

Let Us Love One Another

“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the

same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together;

if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”  

1 Corinthians 12:24b-25

Today I had the special opportunity to guest post over at Hoping in God.  My good friend Jackie, whom I met through our blogs, has been featuring a great series on how to love your infertile friend.  My post today shares that when we can see past the lines of infertile/fertile, young/old, married/single, and live as women of God all bound together in the sisterhood of Christ, we can bring Him glory and bring love to one another.  Check it out here!


This morning while reading through my reader I came across 2 great posts that were so good and applicable to us as women that I needed to share them.  Take a look, they are great encouragement!

When It’s Hard to Find Time for God in Prayer by Ann Voscamp

The Superpower Every Girl Has by Emily Freeman

Today

With the chance of showers, the air is the same.  How we prayed and He answered, parting clouds, soaking up rain, unearthing the light of day. For such a time as this.

Sunshine floods in; eyes wide open with view familiar.  We’re toasting the day, sampling wine from the vineyard.  Thankful for the grower and the seeds He’s sown.

Love awakens with the peal of bells. “Here comes the bride…” It’s a day glorious, not by way of scenery or style, but with words spoken, covenant making words.

Today marks the day.  Words spoken softly; unrehearsed.  These words bind, holy covenant on our lips in unison with our Maker, our cord of three.  Words of love.

Celebrating years we don’t deserve, unmerited favor, and a love not ours, but a gift.  

That day, 5 years past, we never imagined the days set before us; 

heartache, loss, joy, and gladness.  And yet, we’re here. 
Stronger, solid, thankful and so in love. 

Still walking the road...

5 years.  4 cars.  3 homes.  2 babies.  1 God.

Today we're off enjoying the day right where it all started.

"You are our God, and we will give thanks to you; 

you are our God; we will extol you.  

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 118:28-29

Settling in Deep

Even goes the tide and with it goes my heart, settling in deep.  Ways of life whip past, journeys begin and end, and with the fell swoop of daylight we begin again, taking it all in.

Being reminded over and over of simple truths from mouths of men aged long ago as well as wise men in the here and now.  Change comes slowly, but it comes, gently urging hearts to conform.  Waiting is but now; the return on the pause of life is abundant joy, worthy of the jilt of life, I suppose.

In these walls, daylight spills over awakening hearts and minds, and while there are no secrets here, the mood of the day is stilled.  We consume ourselves with life words, from the life giver, opening hands to catch the tender rays of sparkling light. 

With the length of days, so it is with abiding, gently growing shorter as the harvest draws near, rendering our hearts the satisfactions longed for.  Here, in these walls, we are living abundantly, with the fervor and love not of ourselves. We lay ourselves at the door, ushering in the Spirit to consume us.

Walking, running, hoping, loving.  When your heart opens to the giver of all good things, what do you find?  Is there a deep resignation to the will of the One who leads?  Is there a stutter to your step as you try to steady weak knees as He says “go forth”? I find myself often residing with Peter, gazing down to rustling waves rather than lifting heavy eyes north to find hands that hold, steady and firm.

Today let us shift our gaze north, star gazing at the One who knows them by name, opening hands to be held firm, offering hearts to be gently molded for joy, and lives to be lived fully for the day.  For the day is enough; let us hope.  The morrow will wait, and all the while, let us petition for more of Him who gives abundantly.  

”This I have recalled to my mind, therefore I have hope. 

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
(Lamentations 3:21-24)

Encouragement for the Weary

As dawn breaks on the new day, my heart and my head need to be shaken awake.  I long to sleep and rest and spend the day with You.  The gentle wake of reality hits as sun breaks through the shades and the day is upon me.  The needs of the day quickly make themselves known and work has begun; making, sweeping, helping, holding.

About the day I go, taking in my surroundings; friends, family, those unknown to me, living the life the has been accorded to them.  Babies cry, toddlers question, mommies groan under pressure, men are off to work.  Life is happening all around me; and here I am, grappling for enough strength to get me through this life all around.  Grace to listen to the day of mommies, strength to see the calendar laid open and my thwarted plans unveiled, faith to wade through the lies that await me. 

And along the way words spring up in my cavernous heart;

“Come to me all who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I await and find my being in the rest from the Father who knows we grow weary.  Who knows the ushering in of August has wracked my heart with grief.  Who cares so for my broken heart.  Who carries me through the echoing of mother’s continual talk of life with pattering feet.  He knows my every need, before the feelings every hit my heart.

My heart is growing weary, my tongue is tied only by His grace, and I know I’m not alone, traveling through the bunkers this world has laid among us.

And again, by His mercy I find myself echoing promises, for that is the only way I know to keep moving forward, step by step, through this life, through the day, through tomorrow. 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

My eyes are set on autumn, the ushering in of a new season, praying that with the reaping of wheat there will be abundance for my soul.

A Good Reminder

---

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant.”

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 

---

Good friends are great nourishment for the soul, breathing life-filled truth, sprinkled with grace, reminding our hearts of what is true.  I’m thankful for one in particular, whose story is being weaved with ours, who I walked with yesterday.  Encouraging each other, we were reminded of simple truths.  We are being held by an infinite God, with almighty strength.  There is no pattern for grief; the days and hours and even years ahead, will unfold in ways we could never imagine.  Rest and contentment is from Him, faith for today is from Him, grace for tomorrow is from Him. 

Here we are resting, upheld by Him.  And only by Him.

Filled with thanksgiving, sorrow, joy, and hope. 
All from Him.

Praying you are reminded that He is with you right where you are today.

One Week Later, Seeing His Grace

Source: kymmanuel.tumblr.com via Andrea on Pinterest

It’s been a week or so now.  And like any grieving process, emotions come and go.  But through the rain, we’ve seen His grace.  And we’re thankful, that He has given us the ability to see Him, see His mercy and grace.  It wouldn’t be right not to share what He’s been doing behind the scenes, ways He’s shown us He’s orchestrating the details, making good come. 

Here’s ways we’ve seen His grace, in the big and very minute details.

1.  On Wednesday, following our ultrasound appointment, we were very much looking forward to a long weekend in WI where Alex would play in a golf tournament with my brother.  We were unable to go, but Thursday morning my brother called to say the golf course had flooded.  He showed love and the tournament was cancelled.  This was His grace.

2.  With two doctor’s communicating the same unexpected outcome of molar pregnancy, we petitioned it wouldn’t be, we so did not want to wait 6+ months, never mind the problems that could happen.  He answered, and by His grace, it was not molar.

3.  Having our weekend plans altered, we were free to do anything.  He allowed for us to have sweet fellowship with friends, and it brought life to our hearts.  This was His grace. 

4.  Right after we found out we were expecting I looked in the mirror and realized I should have colored my hair before this…it was going to be a long 9 months.  The gray was already more than peeking through.  I’m seeing His grace, that in this break, I can color my hair.  (it’s the little things) 

5.  We received word from our doctors this week that things are looking good, and come August, we can try again if we are ready.  This is a sweet, sweet grace from Him.  Unexpected, and yet it has filled our hearts with the hope we longed for.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  

Hebrews 4:16

character is everything

After I busted my myth I heard from many how encouraging that post was.  You’re not alone.  Just because I wrote it doesn’t mean I haven’t been back to read it again, and again.  Why?  Because I need to be continually reminded of who God is.

The hubby and I were talking about the post the other day.  I was asking where his mind goes when hard things come.  Inevitably he stated exactly where my heart goes.  To the character of God.  That’s one of my husband’s best qualities.  You see, when we started this journey, he was the first one to remind me that children are not a promise or guarantee, they’re a blessing.  He reminded me how good God has been and is still today.  He’s reaffirmed what I know to be true.

You see, the character of God, is all you need.  That’s a big statement, but I believe it.  When I began walking with the Lord back in middle school, it was God’s love for me that drew me in.  When a boyfriend of 4 years broke my heart for my good in college, it was God’s shelter that I rested in. When my step-father passed away 6 years ago, it was God’s faithfulness that drew me back.

You see, my God is who He says He is.  Do you know who He is?  Have you asked Him?  My daily prayer for as long as I can remember has been to ask God to show me who He is.  More of His character.  He’s been faithful to answer. 

       "For I, the LORD, do not change” (Malachi 3:6a)

These past years I’ve needed the character of God.  In my mind, on my heart, quick and accessible.  You see, His character renounces every sly little lie Satan hopes we will believe.  Our finite little minds cannot fully comprehend who a perfect person is, how they interact with us or make decisions.  How they love or discipline. 

But that’s who God is.  He’s perfect.  Perfect in his love, in his discipline, in his glory.  This is how it daily plays out. 

Satan comes a-calling. 

“Andrea, isn’t it horrible that you can’t have kids.  Look at that 16 year old bursting with life in her womb.  How could God give her life but not give it to you.” 
                                                                      OR
”Isn’t it so sad to see that person we love hurting so much.  That disease is eating them away.  Why won’t God change that?  Why would He let it happen?  It’s just not fair.”

Here’s where my mind goes, hopefully sooner than later. 

“ God is good.  He loves me.  He is the giver of good gifts.  He is the creator of the human race, children are a blessing not a guarantee.  God is all-knowing and there is a good reason that girl is pregnant.”
                                                                       OR
”God’s ways are above my ways.  He is healer.  Disease is part of the fallen world.  He cares more than I could imagine for that person.  He never promised that this life would be easy or fair, but He said He’d be with us. I’m so thankful that my loved one is trusting in Jesus and will go home soon.”

These words can only have affect on my heart if I’m trusting by faith that they are true, otherwise I’ll simmer in discontentment and self-pity.  I read in the word that God loves me and that there is no evil in Him.  To truly believe this I try to picture what an all-loving person would look like.  In discipline.  In hardship.  Would they do things to someone out of spite or disappointment?  No.  They are all good and any discipline or hardship is out of love, with a sanctifying reason.  You have to ask God to give you the faith to believe who He says He is.  

Learning who He is can be so practical but so many of us buck against having to do anything.  Legalism has so skewed our minds.  He wants to know you and you want to know Him.  If we ask God to show us more of Himself and to give us more faith I can assure you this will be a prayer He will answer in His timing. He speaks to you through His word; it comes in many forms.  It’s that easy and that practical.  Open your Bible.  He will meet you and show you.   It’s filled with who He is.  Go there, He’ll join you.

These next months I’m going  to explore the character of God.  He is who He says He is.  I want to know Him in ways I never imagined.  So I can fight.

When Satan comes, daily, are you ready?

preparing for Sunday

In three days it will be Easter Sunday. 

We’ve been trying to prepare for this.  To not let the day go past or the days leading up to it be forgotten.  We’ve been praying God would help us to see what a glorious day this is.  The day that our Savior took on all of our sin, bore it on the cross, and rose again victorious over Satan and Hell for our sake. 

We’ve been using this book:  Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross by Nancy Guthrie and this site to walk through the days leading up to the Crucifixion.  Easter is a time to rejoice; there IS victory in the cross but also a time to reflect, ponder, imagine what the Lord went through to reconcile us to the Father.  The blood, the sweat, the honest and humble petitioning of the Father to take the cup, knowing all the while that He was placed on the Earth for this moment.

Every morning when I pray or am reading my Bible I want to remember, to count it as an honor, that I can petition the Father directly.  That the Spirit of God lives within me.  That Jesus has torn the curtain in half.  We have access to God because of Christ.  And it was not free.

I want to remember my Savior as He was when He took all my sin upon His shoulders.  I never want to take it for granted.  And I will.  I’m a sinner.  But I pray earnestly that I wouldn’t and you wouldn’t.  The greatest gift we’ve ever been given was on Calvary.

Do you know Him?  He knows you.  Your name, your past, your failures.  Everything.  And He longs to know you more, to reconcile you to the Father, giving you a new heart and a new hope.  He is Yahweh. God almighty.  Savior.  Friend.  And our only hope.

Calvary.  What a place.  What a Sacrifice.  What a gift.

Remember Jesus.

will you pray...

for our friends 

who are dealing with an accident

involving a family member 

who is now undergoing surgery.

will you beckon the throne on their behalf

and ask for miraculous healing

because He is able

and for faith and trust to believe

He is good, even if healing doesn't come.

will you pray with me, 

thy will be done Lord,

petition for me, asking boldly at the foot of the cross

it's been a hard year for my friends,

Jesus, show them who you are

comfort them and hold them

in your loving arms, in your perfect will

Lord, you are worthy, you are good

all the time Lord, all the time.

amen.