The beginning of a story written by God's hand...

 Yesterday was a normal day, we were doing the things that needed to be done, I had just finished trimming the row of bushes in front of house, Rhoda was mowing, Micah & Dorcas were at work, Naomi was in town, Mom was working in the garden.... And then the phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number but without a doubt it was Dad's voice, there were sirens in the background & he asked to talk to Mom, he said he was in the ambulance on the way to the University in Iowa City, & that he thinks he had a stroke. He couldn't talk long 'cause he felt it coming back again.... Mom was crying when she called the children to tell them & Rhoda & I sat on the couch looking at each other not quite sure what to think or say. Being 6 hours from your Dad in a time like this is hard!   Those sorts of things always seem to happen to other people, and it seems really close home when it's your own Dad. Every week when he leaves I always take for granted that he'll be back in a few days. It makes me more grateful then ever for Him.
Me being the sort of person that thinks there is a song for every situation was having all manner of songs running through my head at once....  I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands...    be still, there is a healer, His love is deeper then the sea, His mercy it is unfailing, His arms, are a fortress for the weak, let faith arise....   strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord....  our God is greater, our God is stronger.... what if your blessings come through rain drops, what if your healing comes through tears.... I'm strong in the strength of someone else, trusting a hand that never has failed...
 Already we can see God's hand  in all of this. With Dad's job he could have easily been in Minnesota where there was no family, it was such a blessing that he was only an hour from both his & Mom's families so they could go up & be at the hospital with him... when he felt it coming there was a place for him to pull off right away, & most of all he is basically back to himself again! Last night Micah & Mom left around 7:00 for Iowa & we are so grateful for the friends that called & said they were praying for us & also the gifts of money to help pay gas etc. We are forever grateful to you! 

 (the rainbow is kinda faint but you can see it a little right above the trees)

 Last night it rained a soft gentle rain for about 5 minutes, just long enough to bring a rainbow, it felt like a gift from God.  Us girls  went to  Sonic to get supper, then we took it down to the lake to eat it & watch the sun set, soon we heard that Dad was looking/doing much better... I think I am learning all over again about answered prayer! 

 Even though there are still some uncertainties (like, will dad be able to keep his truck driving job after something like this etc.) we know that even though the story isn't finished yet, God will continue to take care of all the details like He has so far!  It's also a blessing that it happened on a week that our brother Jonathan was planning to come out for a few days!

....today is the day you have made, I will rejoice & be glad in it....

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57: 9-11

3 verses, 1 quote

 Hear my cry O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.   Psalm 61:1-2

 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 

Psalms 63:1

 

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  "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. "

— A.W.Tozer

My passion

        
      -Faithful to the Cross-

 I love songs like this! Songs that encourage you to run the race well that God has asked you to run, it's a song that reminds us of the example God has asked us to lead for those coming behind us. It makes us look at the real reason why we are here....    Some seek after fortune & fame, so when we're gone the world will remember their name, but I am learning that what matters most can't be held in my hands, & that riches don't measure the worth of a man.... It's found in being FAITHFUL TO THE CROSS!

You never know who might be looking to you as an example. It may be the poor children who are looking for acceptance in life, It may be the insecure teens that are trying to find their place in life, it may just be the person that needs encouragement today. Who ever it is, there is someone who is looking up to you & we have been asked by God to leave a godly example, because.... you might be the only bible another man ever reads.