It's only Friday.......

Suday is coming!



To get the rest of the story, go to church this Sunday!

This is going to be hard, but my faith is with God!

Terry & I helped raise my sister, Fran's oldest daughter.? Bless her heart, she's never had it easy? She was born 1 year and 2 days after our 1st anniversary...she could have been ours!!? Her dad was killed in the air force in Germany when she was 18 months old.? She & her mom lived with us and then got an apartment close by and then a house even closer.? Fran went back to college to get her PhD.? We usually kept Steph at least 4 days a week, and it was such a joy!

She married young (a guy in the Navy) and has spent the last 7 years trying to get a divorce (he moved in with a barmaid and had a child--now 8 years old!)? Steph has 14 yr old twins.

She did get her divorce about 6 weeks ago and plans to move back to St Louis (is in Norfolk, VA).

She was wrestling with her daughter and got kicked in the eye.? It looked pretty bad (she works in a Dr's office) and decided to have it xrayed.? It's not broken, but they found a large mass in her brain.?

She has been in a wonderful large Baptist church there for years and both her children have been baptist and are very involve in activities a worship.

She get more results back on Monday.

She is very shaken, but believes God has a plan.? She is worried about her children and doesn't want her X to know about this yet--and I agree--he would definitely take advantage, just to get out of child support!

Please lift her up and ask for amazing peace and healing.?

Ask that I know how to talk and guide her.? I am barely getting this written, my hands are shaking, and those that know me, know it's not hard for me to cry.












I cry out God, PLEASE, don't make her walk this walk, but if she must, thank you for not making her go through this without you!







Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

The last two days I have listened to Christian music and searched my Bible for comfort.......and as always......it was there!




I have questioned whether I could be an Abraham and raise a knife to my daughter. I wondered if I would continue to build a boat, as Noah did, with others laughing. I've wondered if I would recognize Jesus, if I lived during His time.

I can't do anything about those, but I can listen and continue to talk to God. It's been funny at times as I described her, and her many struggles in her short life--and then realizing, He's been there the whole time! But He has passionately let me poor out my argument of why this shouldn't be happening to her!




And this was my post today:

Oh my church family,

My heart is so full. Even since my email on our dear Stephanie, I have gotten phone calls and emails that have strengthened me!

Over and over in my head and heart, I hear my Father reassuring me, "I am larger than this!"

Any of you that know me know that Psalm 23 was the only verse I knew until late into my life, but at one of the darkest moments of my life, it was the only verse I needed. I even like it in the NLT version:

Psalm 23 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I20will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Footnotes:

Psalm 23:4 Or the dark valley of death.

As I had a quite time last week, I ran across some verses in Lamentations that shouted out to me--highlight me--your going to need this!

Lamentations 3:22-27 (New Living Translation)

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends![a]
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
27 And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:

I so like the part that says his mercies begin afresh each morning!

Thank you all that have prayed, emailed and called--it's working--Steph is stronger and so are her Godparents who love her so dearly!

Please keep praying for Stephanie, she is being so brave and has a great church family that is supporting her during these unsure times!