It’s neat to read all of the ways God has been showing up in the midst of this trying time. I loved JoAnna’s entry from today… to hear the story about the “soil”. What an interesting symbol of new growth, a garden, new life, and a sweet way for God to show up with a HUG.
You guys are being prayed for, all over, by so many. I’ll continue to pray for God’s strength to hold you up during this time.
Love,
Cheryl
While I was in the airport waiting to come back from Pasadena, I read the following verses:
O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
(Isaiah 33:2)
and
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.’
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it. [h]
No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
(Isaiah 35)
We wait for complete healing and hope for the promise of eternity.
Last night my mom smelled soil. Neither my dad nor I smelled it, and since my mom loves to garden, we knew that it had to have been a gift to my mom. She smelled “fresh air and soil.” I told her it was Jesus’ gift to remind He is still here and that He wants to allow her to be back with her garden at home.
As we prayed over my mom last night as
Dear Irene and Dave and girls,
One of the special benefits in being a believer is to pray for others. You are now among others that we “reach out” to our Lord for. Irene, we know your comfort is in Him and may he give you great strength through this time and blessings on you all.
Love, Londa and Roger Blaine
“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” -Lamentations 3:22-23
