A Tragic Tale

He had only been coming to our little church for a couple of months, but loved it. His parents said he had never felt as at home as he did with our young people. 


When I got the text Saturday morning, I wasn't even sure at first which young man he was. 


It didn't matter. 


When you hear that someone has chosen to take their own life, even if you didn't know them, your heart breaks. How could a sixteen year old, a talented musician, athlete, popular, happy son/brother/student/Christian reach the point that he welcomed death? There were apparently no clues. No hint of what he was contemplating. Everyone said he was the last person they would ever guess would take his own life. 


I think about his poor mother. They had worked together to clean the pool, then shared a pizza for dinner. She had gone to fix him some hot chocolate. As she was taking it to him, she heard a pop and thought something had fallen. She had no idea what she would find when she went to her son.


And then there are his dad and sisters, who had left town to watch the high school championship football game. Even though they kept his body going for a few hours, his dad and sisters didn't make it back before he was gone.


There have been seven suicides here in the last month.


Those left behind always ask themselves what they missed? What could they have done? Why hadn't they known what was coming? Could they have said anything that would have prevented it?


A few hours after he died, there was a gathering at church of the youth and several adults. We cried and prayed and loved on each other. But we also spoke Truth out loud. 


We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us.


We must recognize that his goal is to isolate us so we believe we are alone.


He tries to burden us with shame that causes us to withdraw from others.


Our Father is always seeking to draw us nearer to Himself.


Any guilt we feel because of sin in our lives is intended to bring us to the point of repentance and confession so that there is nothing "between" us and our Father.


NOTHING can separate us from the Love of Christ. NOTHING!


Nothing we can do will cause His Body to stop loving us.


The Lord will always provide a way for us, no matter what.


We were created for Life.


We were created to reflect His Glory here so that others may come to know Him.


He IS SUFFICIENT for whatever concerns us today.


He is bigger than any problem we could ever encounter.


There are people who love you and will help you.


Suicide is NEVER the best choice.


He has plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.


As His People, we need to be looking for those in pain, reaching out with Love. We need to go deeper than just a "How are you?" We need to be vulnerable and open about our struggles and problems. We should never be guilty of painting a false image of ourselves as problem-free and perfect, for then we close the door to ministry. 


As parents, we must do battle for our children. We must ask the Lord for Wisdom and Discernment to see our children, or those whose lives we can speak into, as they really are. We need His Eyes to recognize the ways the enemy is attacking them. We need to speak Truth and Blessings over their lives, out loud and often. We need to talk about big issues. Our children need to understand that they can talk to us about ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. We need to tell them that we love them, daily. We need to hug them and laugh with them and poke our noses into their business. Anytime we believe something like this CAN'T happen to our family or friends, we are deceived. We don't need to live in fear, but we do need to be alert, aware of the threats the evil one brings against us. We truly must pray without ceasing.


For the record, our family is NOT perfect. No where close! The story of our lives contains one messy, problem-filled chapter after another. I sin, our children sin. But He continues to Love us and make us more into the image of His Son. We love to live in His Light, but that doesn't mean we don't have to cry out to Him to beat back the darkness.  

Blessings For Each of You

May these days of yours be filled with Love, Joy, and Peace.


May your home be filled with His Glory.


May all of your loved ones have safe travel.


May you receive His anointing of fun on your time together with family and friends.


May gratitude be the "native tongue."


May there be Rest for your spirit, even in the midst of "Busy."


May each day bring a quickening in you that we are one day Closer to Him, to His Returning, to our true Home.


May you be used by Him to Love.

A Blessing For Your Family in This New School Year

As this "new year" begins for your children, whether you delegate their education or homeschool, may this season in the life of your family be filled with His richest blessings. 


May He continue to clarify your vision for your children as workers in His Kingdom. 


May He give you Wisdom to be "vision casters" for them, filling them with purpose in their tasks. 


May they see their studies as worship, finding Him as the Author of each content area. 


May they understand the importance of doing each and every job given them "as unto Him." 


May they understand the blessing of submitting to authority and the protection that affords them. 


May they delight in His Creation and how it causes us to cry out in praise. 


May they find joy in excellence, not for excellence's sake, but because we are those called by His Name and our influence on our world is profound. 


May He give them Understanding of the special talents and abilities He has Designed into their souls so that they may understand how to walk in the fullness of their gifts. 


May they learn daily how better to walk in His Strength, not theirs.


May we be their biggest cheerleaders, encouraging them always.


May He grant us Discernment so that we understand how best to speak blessings over them.


May your home be anointed with Joy.


May you delight in the presence of one another.


May He direct your ministry as a family and give you new opportunities to serve Him together.


May He call each of you to more devoted prayer, learning to take everything to Him.


May your family delight in His Word and partake together of It often.


May He draw your hearts ever closer and deepen the Love each of you has for the others. 


May you choose wisely the things to which you say, "Yes," knowing that a "yes" to one thing means a "no" to something else. May He show you which things should be on your list.


May your family be Salt and Light in a world desperately in need of godly examples of what a family looks like.


May your hearts overflow with gratitude for all His Blessings.


May you stand on the Truths that He IS Sufficient, He Is Faithful, His Grace Is Available for everything you face this year. 


May His Peace inhabit your hearts and your home.

"The Worst Day of My Life"

Wet willies! YUCK! But Ben adores his big brother, Caleb, and so he loves it when Caleb teases him or even gives him wet willies. They have such a precious relationship that all began when God laid it on Caleb's heart to pray for brothers. As the only son in our family of five children, he wanted reinforcements. And so he began to pray when he was very young that he would be given brothers. He used to tell me that he had been praying for them, and I would say, "That's nice, honey, go play." You see, the Lord laid it on his heart long before He laid it on my heart, or Kregg's heart. 


We made one more trip on Friday: we took Caleb to college.


We worked all weekend to get him loaded up, moved in and set up. Yesterday, we went to church together, with Kregg's parents, and Caleb's roommate, then to lunch. We got him a few groceries and took them back to his room.


Then it was time to say, "Goodbye."


It was just Kregg, Caleb, and I and the four younger siblings. We put Caleb in the center of our circle and laid our hands on him to pray blessings over him. Rebekah started, asking the Lord to protect him and keep him safe. Next, it was Ben's turn. He began by thanking God for his big brother and the influence he has had in Ben's life. And then he broke down.


He started sobbing and the words wouldn't come. 


Of course, that opened the carefully closed floodgates for all of us. And so the rest of our prayer was frequently interrupted by sniffles and pauses to regain composure enough to speak what was on our hearts. Because this was important. And we needed to say these things. We needed him to hear these blessings in this place. We asked the Lord to give him Wisdom and Discernment. To dedicate that dorm room as "Holy unto the Lord." To give Caleb strength for his task. To pray that every thought, word, and action bring Him Glory. 


It was Holy Ground.


And it was so very precious. So very, very important for our family to commission Caleb to begin this next phase of his training for usefulness in Kingdom Work. And they all understood that this was the right way, the best way to close one season and to open a new one. This new one that we have known was coming and eagerly anticipated for what it will mean in Caleb's life, but dreaded for what it would mean in ours.


And so we drove away, leaving our precious son and part of our hearts, but knowing we wouldn't want it any other way. Because it is time for him to take that next step. And so it's good and it is exciting and we are so very happy for him and we know the Lord will bless it all.


There was a back to school party for the young people at church last night and so we drove home, unloaded and let the kids change clothes, then drove over to join in the fun. One of the mom's told me that when Ben had walked in before me, he told her, "This is the Worst Day of My Life." 


We let the kids swim and eat hamburgers and play silly games. And then we came home. Everyone was tired, so we all got ready for bed. The boys have always shared their room with Caleb and it made them sad to see his empty bed, so for last night, all four of the youngest bedded down in the den. Thinking they were all asleep, Kregg, Mackenzy and I were in our bedroom talking (she had to stay home and work, so we needed to catch up with her).


Then Ben appeared in the doorway. His little round face was all red and splotchy, with tears streaming down it. He said, "Mom, will you pray with me?" I gathered him up in my arms and snuggled him close in our big bed while Kregg prayed over that poor little broken heart. We talked to him about how he and Josh were God's Answer to all of those prayers Caleb prayed so many years ago, asking for brothers. We talked about how his job was to keep praying for Caleb and to focus on becoming everything God Designed him to be  because that would make Caleb so proud of him. We talked about what God will do through Caleb during this season. And we told him how proud we were of him to know that he needed to take all of his burdens to Him Who Carries our burdens for us. 


And then he went to sleep, because the Lord had granted sleep to this precious little heart.

Blessings For Your Week

As we prepare to leave town, yet again, I am just thinking of all of you precious hearts who come to visit me in this little corner of the blogging world. I must confess, there is a heaviness in my heart due to the weariness of having been on the road so much. And yet, He is SO Faithful! He is SO completely Sufficient! I am SO Blessed!


This year, the Lord has me focused on two things: Being and Blessing. And so, before we head into the land of "no internet" again, He laid it on my heart to speak a blessing over your week:


May these precious days of the summer season be filled with beauty and clarity for you. May the important things not be lost in the urgent things. May your spirits rise to a new level of hunger for Him. May you see Him in each moment of each day. May the busyness not consume the precious. May patience be your goal as you share time with those He has called you to serve. May you receive special, detailed revelations of just how much you are Loved. May He grant you a new level of discernment in your spirits to sense His Spirit as it whispers Life and Wisdom to you. May you find His Blessings strewn across your path each day. May you find a centered place of stillness in your soul as you sit before Him in your heart, even as activities, schedules and events swirl around you. May their be a richness that deepens in your spirit and provides ballast in your soul as the storms around us often threaten to capsize this ship we call Life. May you find new ways to show Love to all those around you. And may you learn to bring Him ever more Glory through all your thoughts, words, and actions. 


Thank you so much for the blessing you are to me in this place. You are loved.

Engraven on His Hand

Watching our son-in-law become a father this week has been a profound reminder of the incredible responsibility that goes with that job title. He so desperately wants to do this job with excellence and that longing of his heart drives him to seek wisdom. He asks big questions of Kregg and I about priorities and goals and value systems, how to make wise choices in his role. We often don't know how to answer. 


He and Hannah spent months praying over Samuel's name, asking the Lord who their son is so that the name they chose would bless his calling. I love this picture of Jeremiah just watching Samuel sleep and I love to hear him talking to him, speaking blessings over his son. As he recognizes the awesome responsibility the Lord has given him, he will press ever more deeply into the Father's Heart to learn his job well.


All of this causes me to give thanks again for Kregg and how he has poured himself into fathering all of these children all of these years. I remember the night Hannah was born. We both kind of expected her to be a boy because there were so many boys on Kregg's side of the family, at that point. (Our four daughters kind of evened up the count) When they came in to do the birth certificate, while they had her little foot inked up, Kregg asked them to put her foot print on the inside of his forearm. He walked around the hospital telling everyone, "That's her footprint!" He showed people at the office and at church. He would stick his arm outside the shower so it would last as long as possible. Talk about adorable!! He melted my heart like Hannah had melted his. 


Remembering Kregg's excitement the night Hannah was born and that little footprint on his arm, reminds me so much of how our Father writes our names in the palm of His Hand. And nothing can remove it. Nothing. We are His. Always and Forever. 


Seeing these two precious papas dote over their children shows me a clearer image of my Father God. The evil one seeks ever to destroy the "father" image in our lives because he understands how powerful the picture a godly father is in pointing people to Him. And, unfortunately, many people never learn to trust the Father because they never learned to trust their father. 


So on this day that celebrates fatherhood, may we pray that the true picture of the Loving Father be written on the hearts of all those who have yet to understand the blessing of a Father's Love. All of those whose fathers were the ones who wounded them the most deeply need to know of the redemption that awaits their broken hearts when they gaze into His Face and see what a true Father's Love looks like. If any of you have wounds inflicted by your earthly father, open your hearts and let him bring healing and hope. He is so Good. He is so Trustworthy. Everything He does, He does in Love to bring about the very best for you. You were created to be His Beloved Child. You were a gift He gave Himself. Don't let the evil one rob you of your inheritance. 


No human father will ever be perfect. They will each inflict wounds on those they love, because they are human. 


There is Grace. 


It is Sufficient to redeem any hurt. But we have to choose to trust. 


There is no substitute or replacement that can fill the hole in our hearts meant to be filled by Him. And He will fill it to overflowing, if we let Him.


To all those precious fathers out there, you are heroes! Press into His Heart and learn to walk in the fullness of your calling. He will reveal to you how to bless those He has entrusted to you. He will teach you how to train them up to glorify Him. Ask Him. Just ask Him.

Week 5: "Pages in Our Heritage of Faith," A Link-Up

Jeremiah and Hannah live next door to the most precious, godly little lady. She had been praying over the vacant house next door to hers for months, asking the Lord to send her godly neighbors. Jeremiah and Hannah fell in love with her instantly. 


Wanda is a widow who, after the death of her beloved husband, had to choose to continue living. She told us that for two years, she was in a very dark place. She finally, through the Lord's strength, was able to begin to choose gratitude. She started looking for things to give thanks for to the Lord. From that one choice, the desire to live took over. She chose not only to live, but to live gloriously. 


She now walks in Joy, filled with the Spirit, and blessing all those she comes in contact with. We are so thankful she lives next door to our kids. They adore her and she adores them.


Throughout the pregnancy, Wanda has prayed.


She saw the midwives arrive, and she prayed.


She prayed all through the labor and delivery, faithfully standing vigil. 


She came over yesterday. She had called and asked if she could come and so we watched her come across the yard. She was weeping before she made it inside. Of course, that opened the floodgates for me, too. I'm weeping now thinking about it. 


She just wanted to know Hannah and Samuel were okay. She had been so concerned. When she saw them, she broke down and began praising God. We laid Samuel in her arms and she spoke this blessing over him,

"Samuel, you will be like Samuel of old. You will hear the Lord's Voice speaking to you at a young age and you will say, 'Here I am, Lord.'"

The Lord has been so good to me that I would see my child's child and hear blessings spoken over him by so many. My heart cannot contain it all. 

What about you? Tell us a story about His Faithfulness in your life. It can be old or new. It can be about you or your kids or your parents or grandparents. Anything that is part of your Heritage of Faith works! There are so many moments in our days where He shows Himself Faithful on our behalf. It doesn't have to be some huge, earth shattering thing. I have so many stories of "small" examples where He spoke just to me, or helped me in a way no one else was aware of, but it ALL displays His work in our lives. I would love to hear of His Hand in your life. 

Book Review: The Fields of Home

Kessie warned me this was a tough read. She is one of my sweet blogging friends and has read the entire series of Ralph Moody biographical books. She was right. 


This one picked up where Mary Emma and Company left off. Ralph had to leave Boston because the "city rules" were broken one too many times. Having grown up in the wide expanses of rural Colorado, working on ranches and being expected to do a man's work at ten years old, the transition to living in a neighborhood in a city like Boston caused conflict at every turn. In a rapidly unfolding series of events, he found himself being shipped off to live with his maternal grandfather, Thomas, a crotchety old man in his seventies who was trying to work the family farm by himself. 


Ralph, who was lovingly raised and trained up by his parents and several bosses from his many jobs, was ill prepared to deal with his grandfather. When he arrived, Thomas instantly started in on him. He called Ralph a fool at every turn, and nothing Ralph did was good enough. Having been treated like a man for several years already, this was a hard pill to swallow. 


Thomas was violently opposed to any modern convenience, even screens on the windows to keep the flies out of the house. He didn't want to do anything any differently than his father had done before him. Ralph's great grandfather had been 72 when Thomas was born. Thomas had learned everything he knew about farming from his father, who had carved this farm out of the wilderness of Maine before there was a United States of America. To him, any changes or "improvements" would have been sacrilegious. Ralph, who was extremely gifted in the area of engineering and inventing, couldn't understand why his attempts to help his grandfather by inventing machines that could make the hardest jobs easier, was so angrily rejected. Thomas didn't just stop at belittling and verbally abusing Ralph, he would smash and break things. 


Not until late in the telling do we gain perspective on the demons Thomas was battling. As it turned out, it all came down to Thomas' belief that he was failing in the trust his father had handed down to him: to take care of the farm. When Ralph and his great uncle, Levi, finally came to understand this, everything changed. They were able to help the poor old man recognize the battle and understand that Ralph was going to help him achieve his heart's desire. 


The last few chapters tell of the total transformation of Thomas' heart and the farm. He finally recognized the blessing that Ralph was and that new tools and machines were. During the roughest times, Ralph had actually hidden things from his grandfather, things like a hay rake and a stone rake that he built out of parts of this and that he found around the farm. He felt he had no choice because he couldn't manage all the work by himself. 


After Thomas began to soften, they started working on the "wilderness field." This field was the true test of his trust. It had been cleared years before, but after his father died and everyone else left the farm, the wild had crept back into this field and taken it over. They had just begun to clear it when Ralph had to stop and help with the road clearing to pay part of the taxes. It was while working on the road crew that he learned about dynamite. He decided that if he could just use some dynamite to clear out the stumps, they might actually be able to clear the wilderness field before the frost set in. 


Normally, when Ralph tried something "new," Thomas would pitch a wall-eyed fit. So when the dynamite went off before Thomas was out of ear shot, Ralph expected to face his grandfather's wrath once again. Instead, and as a true testament to the depth of the heart change that had taken place, Thomas embraced the idea of dynamite and actually hired a man to come and blast all the stumps and boulders out of the field. 


From that point on, all of the pain and hurt and loneliness begins to be redeemed. Thomas, who finally believed he had fulfilled the trust his father placed in him, was able to bless his grandson. The floodgates opened and the fruit, literally and figuratively, was gathered in by the bushel. 


Wow! What a story! What a beautiful, precious story of redemption! And what a reminder of the importance of spoken blessings! This fits in so well with what the Lord has been speaking to me this year. 


This is #23 in my quest for 52 books in 52 weeks. I am very behind. Oh well. It's a busy season in our lives and I'll just keep chipping away at this project.  We'll see how it sifts out come December. :)

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

                         

The Gratitude List: May 23, 2011

What an incredible week! So many blessings to list! All the Glory is His!

1515. A new reason to blog: Pages in Our Heritage of Faith
          A way to encourage parents to "write it down" and build a 
          legacy for their children and grandchildren!! I am so excited!
1514. Such encouraging comments from precious readers
1513. Remembering my dad on this, his birthday. He would have 
         been 86.
1512. "I miss you, Mom," from our oldest
1512. New things listed in our gratitude list for marriage
1511. My new computer! I have been editing photos all this time
         with only 1 gig of ram--found out I need at least 4!
1510. Being silly with Kregg on Skype--the "delay" is pretty funny

1509. This darling little pet lamb that thinks it's a puppy--if only they
         stayed this small

1508. Ben's cocoon imitation

1507. Making memories sleeping in hammocks in Grandma and 
        Grandpa's backyard

1506. A precious new grandniece! 
1505. Great grades for another one of our college students
1504. A pediatrician who will honor Hannah and Jeremiah's wishes
        for their baby

1503. Mourning doves on the powerline
1502. A trip to see Kregg's parents
1501. Chris Rice's album: Peace Like a River
1500. A message from Caleb!!
1499. Everything falling into place for the Tabernacle Experience
1498. Kregg taking the kids fishing--3 hours away-what a good Daddy!

1497. The enjoyment the kids have in the bunnies
1496. Cotton ball shaped clouds

1495. Protection for all our tiny, tender plants during the hail
1494. Dwelling within the desires of my heart
1493. Practice is sitting before Him
1492. Practice in trusting
1491. Practice in patience
1490. Seeing the Lord "grow up and mature" a new spiritual leader
1489. Such a rich relationship with a child
1488. The SMELL of RAIN!!!! So refreshing!!!
1487. The sound of the rain on the roof--it has been SO long!
1486. RAIN!!!!! We have had .11 inches since September 2010. I
         am guessing we might have gotten .5 inches at our house!
1485. Kregg getting to see Caleb on skype, even though it was
         only working one way
1484. A chance to bless a young family through service
1483. Special words of spoken blessings--a gift to me

1482. The fun of "all things baby"--like these little shoes!

1481. Being forced to slow down for a little while with a precious
         friend's baby
1480. Generous funding to pay the expense of The Tabernacle 
         Experience 
1479. The Tabernacle Experience is coming!!
1478. Precious phone call from my sweet sister that was filled with
         wisdom and insight
1477. A message from Caleb!! From Uganda!
1476. Great dental checkups for 5 out of 5! WooHoo!
1475. A safe trip home for Mackenzy as she drove home from KC
1474. The International House of Prayer and the precious time
         Mackenzy spent there last week

1473. The Lord's "vision casting" for precious Mackenzy, showing her
         things He has gifted her to do
1472. "My sin is always before me," as Kregg surveyed the pile of 
         his things on the counter in the closet--too funny :)
1471. Sweet friends that rejoiced with us in a safe arrival for Caleb
1470. His Peace that sustained us while we waited to hear from Caleb


The rest of my List is here.


If you haven't started your Gratitude List, could this be the week?? :)

From An Overflowing Heart

I must say, "thank you!" 

From the depth of my spirit, I praise Him for the gift of each of you! The outpouring of words of blessing have literally overwhelmed my heart! 

As so many of you have shared in the Wonder and Joy of the fruit He has harvested through this specific season of Caleb's life, this mama's heart has burst over and over with the blessing of it all.

The tears start up so easily, tears of such Joy! He has done an amazing thing! And as we have marveled at it all, He has continued to shower us with His Love through you! You, who have "rejoiced with those who rejoice." You, who have been a channel of His Love. I thank you. You have multiplied my Joy. 

May His richest blessings fill your hearts. May He reward you for the gifts you have given. Know that you are loved by this mother-of-children who is blessed by your words. And may we each seek to speak blessings, because I can testify to their power!

Thank you!

Unexpected Blessing

As our children have gotten older, we have allowed them to explore ministry opportunities in churches other than the one we attend as a family. This has been such a blessing. It expands their understanding of the fullness of the Body and allows them opportunities to serve they might not otherwise experience. It also allows them to meet some wonderful people. 

Caleb has been helping lead worship at a small house of prayer for over a year. They meet for several hours once a week for prayer and worship. Since Caleb was leaving here Friday morning, we took him out to the dinner of his choice Thursday evening. After we finished, he asked if we could run by the house of prayer for a few minutes because there were some people who wanted to pray over him. We told him that would be fine, we'd just walk in and wait until he was finished and then we'd go home and finish getting his bags packed.

We had NO idea what the Lord was about to do!

The worship time had already begun, so Kregg and I were going to grab a seat in the back so it wouldn't disturb anyone. Well, that didn't happen! This house of prayer is lead by a husband and wife team and then staffed by volunteers. As we came in, an adorable little lady scurried over to meet us. She wanted to know if we were his parents, and when she found we were she couldn't say enough about him. It was so precious. What a joy to a mother's heart. 

Then her husband came. Oh my! 

I had been FINE! I hadn't cried. I had been cheerful all day. But that bubble burst!

He ushered us up to the front where he seated us. Then, when the song ended, he got up to speak about our son. And the floodgates opened! I'm crying now just remembering those precious words! 


Next, they brought us up and gathered around the three of us. They prayed blessings and Scripture over us and spoke such powerful words in the Spirit. My eyes were leaking. My nose was leaking. And there were no kleenex to be had. I was completely overwhelmed. They truly understood what was happening in his heart. They understood this is bigger than just a month spent helping a missionary. We were standing on holy ground as they prayed. I will never forget it.

As if that were not enough, Kregg led us in prayer as a family when we got home. He even had missing members on speaker phone. I was, once again, fine! Until Kregg prayed. Oh my!! The floodgates once again opened. What precious words. I was weeping for Joy! 

But not the four little guys. It started with Elizabeth and Rebekah. They began weeping when Kregg and I did. Josh and Ben were still holding themselves together. But not for long. When we finished praying, we went back to finishing up Caleb's packing. I heard something odd from the boys' room. When I stuck my head in the door, there were Josh and Ben, folding Caleb's laundry and weeping, tears streaming down their faces. Well, of course, that got Kregg and I started again. Just seeing their sad little faces would have made Chuck Norris cry. The girls were in the study with Caleb, and they were weeping. Josh and Ben were in their room, weeping. Kregg and I looked at each other with our "bewildered parent" face and just hugged each other. As hard as it was on the four little guys to say goodbye to their beloved big brother, it was so precious to our parent hearts to know just how much they love him. 

He has made it through security, both bags weighing in just under the maximum limit. (He is delivering lots of presents from people here to the missionary family there.) He will board the flight to Amsterdam in just a little while. After a layover of a few hours there, he will board the flight to Entebbe, Uganda, arriving late tomorrow. He will be met at the airport by a driver and a couple who will take him to a hotel in Entebbe tomorrow night. Monday they will make the 7 hour (I think) drive to Fort Portal where he will spend the next four weeks. 


What an incredible opportunity! What an incredible adventure! We know the Lord will expand his heart and deepen his message through this time in Africa. As he was about to leave his hotel this morning, he asked me to send him this song:

            

I, Whom You Have Delivered

 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;

   let me never be put to shame. 

 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;

   turn your ear to me and save me.

 Be my rock of refuge,

   to which I can always go;

   give the command to save me,

   for you are my rock and my fortress. 

 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,

   from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.  

For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,

   my confidence since my youth. 

 From birth I have relied on you;

   you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

I will ever praise you.

 I have become a sign to many;

   you are my strong refuge.

 My mouth is filled with your praise,

   declaring your splendor all day long. 

  Do not cast me away when I am old;

   do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 

 For my enemies speak against me;

   those who wait to kill me conspire together. 

They say, “God has forsaken him;

   pursue him and seize him,

   for no one will rescue him.” 

 Do not be far from me, my God;

   come quickly, God, to help me. 

May my accusers perish in shame;

may those who want to harm me

   be covered with scorn and disgrace. 

 As for me, I will always have hope;

   I will praise you more and more. 

 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

   of your saving acts all day long—

   though I know not how to relate them all. 

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;

   I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

   and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

   do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

   your mighty acts to all who are to come. 

 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

   you who have done great things. 

   Who is like you, God? 

Though you have made me see troubles,

   many and bitter,

   you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

   you will again bring me up. 

You will increase my honor

   and comfort me once more.

 I will praise you with the harp

   for your faithfulness, my God; 

I will sing praise to you with the lyre,

   Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy

   when I sing praise to you—

   I whom you have delivered.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts

   all day long,

for those who wanted to harm me

   have been put to shame and confusion.

This was part of our readings this morning from Psalms and Proverbs. The four youngest, the ones here for school, and I read 5 chapters of Psalms and 1 of Proverbs each morning. OUT LOUD. Together. 

I used to simply assign the chapters to be read silently, but as we strive together to speak the Truth OUT LOUD every chance we get, we now read them in unison. There is so much power that He wields when we speak His Word. He does battle through our praises with the forces of the evil one. We retake lost spiritual ground when we declare Truth OUT LOUD. 

I want Him to have every square inch of the souls of my children and, even when they don't understand all the spiritual battles that are waging around them, He is increasing their spiritual sensitivity, opening their spiritual eyes. And when they speak verse after verse of His Word aloud, the Holy Spirit is seeding their souls.

This chapter of Psalms jumped out at me today. Don't you love it when that happens? How many times have I read this particular Psalm? And yet, it is so filled with Life that it nourishes my spirit every single time I read it again.

The youngest are learning to feel that way. He will build up their spirits so that they will sing of His great Love forever. And all of these Psalms and Proverbs, so filled with the heart-cries of "one after His own Heart," will resonate ever more deeply as they become part of the fiber of their beings. 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.                                                                                    Hebrews 4:12

Just FYI, our reading plan for Psalms and Proverbs goes like this:

Today is the 11th day of the month, so today we read Psalms 11, 41, 71, 101, and 131, along with Proverbs 11. Psalm 119 and Proverbs 31 are saved for months that have 31 days and read on the 31st. This way, we read through the entire books (basically) every month. It's so easy. It only takes a few minutes. But the fruit? Priceless!