Rejoice In Him

Rejoice!

 “Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails 

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.”  Habakkuk 3:17-18

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance”  Romans 5:3

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”  Philippians 2:17

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”  1 Peter 4:13 

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”  Psalm 31:7

And again I say “Rejoice!”

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4 

“This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

“I rejoice in Your promise

like one who finds great spoil.”  Psalm 119:162

“The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.”  Psalm 97:1

“Instead of their shame

My people will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

they will rejoice in their inheritance;

and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,

and everlasting joy will be theirs.”  Isaiah 61:7

“Let us rejoice and be glad

and give Him glory!”  Revelation 19:7a

More tough times, Lord.  By Your grace I am rejoicing in You.  Praise You from Whom all blessings flow!  

Love,

Your daughter who, by Your grace, is rejoicing over You anyway

Precious

“For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in the secret place. 

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in Your book

before one of them came to be.”

Psalm 139:13-16

Two precious little girls, Lord.  Ashley Kate and Rosalie.  Two little girls who are now by Your side in Heaven.  Two little girls that have changed my life in a multitude of ways.  I thank You for placing them in my life and for the privilege of praying for them, their family, friends and prayer warriors.  It is amazing to me how You have used each of them and touched so many hearts through their short lives.  You are good and You are merciful, even in their deaths.  

Lord, I pray for each of their families, friends and prayer warriors.  We will all need Your love, mercy and grace to walk through the days ahead.  Thank You for providing all we need to celebrate and honor their young lives as You are glorified in it all.  

You know the pain and grief of these families.  You have suffered as they are.  You know that they trust You and look to You for help.  Thank You, Lord, for healing their broken hearts and binding up their wounds.  You are good.   

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways My ways,”

declares the LORD. 

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways

and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Psalm 55:8-9

Love,

Your daughter who trusts that You know best

Solace

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Lord, the longer this journey in the desert is, the more unable I am to express the depth of its pain.  Were it not for Your mercy, faithfulness and love, I would never be able to face it day by day.  It threatens to overwhelm me.  The pain in my heart grows greater each day.  I am broken inside and am laid at Your feet.  There is where I find my solace.  I find my peace in Your arms and in Your Word.  You are my God and there is no other.  Apart from You I cannot survive all of this pain.  

 

“The LORD is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid? 

When evil men advance against me

to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall. 

Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.

One thing I ask of the LORD,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to seek Him in His temple. 

For in the day of trouble

He will keep me safe in His dwelling;

He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock. 

Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;

be merciful to me and answer me. 

My heart says of You, “Seek His face!”

Your face, LORD, I will seek. 

Do not hide Your face from me,

do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my Helper.  Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior. 

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will receive me. 

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors. 

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living. 

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.”

Psalm 27

Love,

Your broken and pain-filled daughter who looks to you for help

Bombshells

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  James 1:2-4

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows.”  James 1:17

More bombshells!  Help, Lord!  

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9a

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you...”  Exodus 14:13

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  Genesis 50:20

Can’t wait to see how You work all these new bombshells out, Lord.  I know it will be miraculous.  You are the only Hope in these latest gifts from You.  

Love, 

Your child who sits under the shadow of Your wing

Reflections

Four years... four years.  As you well know, Lord, that is how long I have had this headache.  While it seems like I’ve had it much longer, it has only been four years as of today.  What started out as a ripple across the top of my head has transformed into a 24/7 headache accompanied by little balance, cognitive impairments, and other symptoms that affect my daily living.  It is hard to imagine that all of this is still progressing and there have been no correct answers found.  If I did not know that I know that I know that You are leading and guiding me along this path to the discovery of the right name and treatments for all of this, I would stay in despair and discouragement.  One day, though, You will reveal it all and my life will be forever changed.  By Your grace I will wait for that revelation and by Your grace I will live my life after that revelation and all that is to come from it.  I cannot do it any other way, nor do I want to.  You are my Provider, Protector, Defender and Light.  YOU will carry me through every step of this journey as I lean on You to strengthen, help and uphold me.  YOU will show me the way through it all.  May Your good and perfect gifts to me glorify You and You alone, no matter what they may be.  Praise You from Whom all blessings flow.  

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”  Proverbs 23:18

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding.”  Proverbs 3:5

“... the battle is the Lord’s...”  1 Samuel 18:47 

Minions

Minions.  Cartoon characters.  Despicable Me.  You, Lord, flabbergasted me when I realized how You had worked in my life through these little critters.  Much needed and life-giving laughter came through the minions.  As I watched the first Despicable Me movie I laughed till I cried and couldn’t get my breath.  Just when I thought I was through laughing, I started all over again and was totally unable to speak so that I could be understood by others.  All through a children’s movie.  All through little cartoon characters.  I can still laugh about it all as I remember portions of the movie.  Lord, You truly do use all things to work for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.  Thank You.  

Laughing too is a gift from You, Abba Father.  It is such a joy.  You have used it to rescue me from being overwhelmed by all that is going on in my/my family’s life.  I could feel the heaviness being lifted from me as I laughed more and more.  It felt so good to laugh and enjoy Your gift.  I will definitely go see Despicable Me 2.  More wonderful and life-giving laughs from You.  You are so good to me.  Praise You.

“Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”  Genesis 21:6

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”  Job 8:21

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’”  Psalm 126:2

Botox And More

Worry... anxiety... stress.  None of them come from You, my Lord.  None.  I don’t want them.  They only dishonor You and take my eyes off of You.  No need to worry since You are sovereign and in perfect control of all things.  

But... Botox injections are coming up later this week.  The thought of having up to 31 injections in my head is not calming to me, Lord.  Help!  Yes, I know You will take hold of me and will carry me through the shots, the side effects and their efficacy.  

Then... news today that my Daddy is getting much weaker.  It is hard to know that he is getting worse.  It is hard to know that one day he will no longer be here on earth to talk to and to enjoy.  While it is comforting to know that our separation will only be temporary, it is still hard.  

Still more...  You know, Abba Father.

So, Lord, with all of these things hovering over me, I only have You to turn to.  Who else can I go to?  No one.  Work it all out in Your good, acceptable and perfect will and guide me every step of the way.  You know the outcome of all these things and will strengthen, help and uphold me amidst them all.  Keep my eyes on You.  Thank You for being my Refuge, Deliverer, Protector and Shepherd.  Thank You for listening to my cries.  WE will get through all that threatens to overwhelm me.  They pale in light of You and Your greatness, power and love.  Praise You from Whom all  blessings flow.  

“For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know My ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.  They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.”  Isaiah 58:2

“Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.’”  John 6:68

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.”  Psalm 23:1