prayer in the morning

But I, O LORD, cry to you:
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Psalm 88:13 ESV



this has been my place for my quiet time and coffee at our temporary house this summer. i can't believe how cool some mornings have been, even in july. i take an afghan, my coffee, flavored with vanilla caramel, and my Bible outside on the little patio to read, pray, and enjoy the singing birds.

praying for today:

*uncle ron, in ICU with a serious infection.
*the boys' safety while away at camp.
*progress on building the house; safety for the workers.
*mom and dad as they forge a new relationship.

thankful for everyday gifts:

*my blue chair.
*the chickadee on our bird feeder.
*the beautiful view behind the new house.
*the incredible love and grace of Jesus.

faith as gold

i have mentioned him before, our friend bryce, who is in the midst of a battle against lymphoma. he is a brave young man whose trials are revealing the true color of his faith: golden. eleven is awfully young to have to face such a fire storm. but God is surely with him and his faith is proving to be in incredible example to us all. his mom, tonya, recently shared her heart on an update and it so touched my heart:



"...I have seen more miracles in this year than I can describe. I am continually amazed and in awe of Him and the strength He gives this precious boy who in his weak body is so brave and full of courage, peace and strength that comes from a deep trust that he is loved and created for a purpose. Even now, I see each day the workings of those cells we can't see, silently, by pre-design, dividing, building and repairing. Even though in this fallen world one cell made a mistake and divided into many mistakes, his little body is trying to keep doing what it was designed to do. I am so thankful. WE are so thankful.It has been quite an experience for our family this year and it is good to be able to share some of our heart as we go through a sort of whirlwind and yet...there is among the storm much calm and peace. A family that is clinging to each other and the One above and the love and prayers of all of you. Wow."

But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me,

I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

i found this old picture and couldn't resist sharing it. bryce is the one in orange, sitting just behind S, when their friendship was new. so sweet! behind bryce is his brother and on the end is C.

friends on a home school field trip ~ circa 2002 or 2003 (?)

everyday gift: God's presence through the fire.

a psalm of thanksgiving

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say this-

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south

***

Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

They were hungry and thristy,

and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for

his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things...

***

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness and

the deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for

his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men...

***

Psalm 107

***

may you have a blessed thanksgiving day reflecting on incredible goodness of our LORD.

.

everyday gift: His unfailing love

i voted...

and now i'm praying.

everyday gift: enjoying the many freedoms of the USA

anita

about 2 1/2 years ago, a sweet friend from church was out with her 6 month old baby and 2 year old. the weather was cold and wet and she slipped, it seemed, and fell onto the wet floor of the gas station. she couldn't get up and help was called. what the tests and scans revealed was a fractured vertebrae, not from the fall, rather the fracture caused the fall. further more, the fracture was caused by a tumor. thus began the battle of her life that showed the world the heart of a true saint.

early in her illness, after back surgery to shore up and brace her vertebrae, she was unable to lift her baby in and out of her crib. help was rallied. i was one who had an assigned afternoon to come into their home and help with the baby and household chores. so i had the privilege of visiting with anita and loving on her girls for a time. she was so open about her fears of leaving her babies too soon. but her faith was a rock, believing that God had a plan and that he would provide for all of their needs. she knew God could and would heal her if that was His will. she must have sat down to write her 'thank you' notes the moment my car left their driveway because the very next day it would arrive in the mail, full of encouragement, gratitude, and blessing. and i found that although i was serving her, it turned out that i was the one who was blessed each time. and despite her own health challenges, she kept busy ministering to others every chance she got by helping in sunday school, serving in the nursery, organizing and speaking at our churches MOPS group, singing a sweet duet with her emily at a mother daughter banquet, bringing a covered dish to a funeral luncheon, and with anyone who would marvel at her attitude during her trials she would share her faith and the hope that only God can give.

from an earthly perspective we say that she "lost the battle with cancer" but from a spiritual perspective i'd say she has won. she has won hearts to the Lord; inspired and strengthened the faith of countless people who have brushed shoulders with her; she has challenged doctors and nurses and caregivers with her unwavering courage and faith; and amazed all with the miracles that indeed happened along the way during her treatment. she has won the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him and have persevered under trial (james 1:12).

we fervently prayed that she would be healed on this earth, but God chose to heal her in heaven.

this afternoon i will go to anita's visitation and tomorrow the funeral. i will not say "good bye" but rather "see you later" to my friend. i am certain that i am better for having known her. will you join me in praying for brian, her husband and the rest of her grieving family?

everyday gift: the privilege of having known anita, a faithful servant of Jesus.

buzz for bryce

saturday we went to a party to show our support for young bryce who has lymphoma. his chemo treatments are having the expected side-effects including hair loss, so they held a "buzz for bryce" party where you could lose your hair right along side bryce!

bryce giving the pastor of his church a buzz

good friends

please pray for bryce as he wages his battle against lymphoma.

on my heart

i would like share a few things that are on my heart and in my prayers:

*the families that lost their boy scouts at the little sioux boy scout reservation when a tornado touched down last night. i type this as my own two scouts are at camp, sleeping in tents while i have lain awake to the sound of wind and rain beating against my window. they have teased me about my worrying. but now we know that a parent's worst fear can happen.

*bryce, our 11 year old friend, who just discovered that he has stage 4 lymphoma. overnight he has gone from an energetic fun-loving boy to one worn out by chemo treatments that weaken good cells as well as cancer cells. but still he maintains his sense of humor, easy smile, and positive outlook. oh, the lessons i can learn from him!

*anita, young wife and mother of two sweet girls ages 3 and 5, battling colon cancer. she has beat the odds so far. here it is, 2 1/2 years after first being diagnosed and she continues to live. i mean she hasn't been dying, but living all this time, caring for her girls, ministering to others through MOPS at our church, and sharing her testimony of faith and hope in the midst of suffering. her treatment options are limited at this point, only a miracle will do.

*"dee", the young woman who is spending tonight with her precious newborn son, whom she will say "good bye" to tomorrow.

it seems all at once i am surrounded by heartbreak, but through each circumstance i see God at work. our lives, our days, actually, each moment is a gift and we are in God's hands, aren't we? no matter how we try to arrange, plan, and control our lives, God decides. God heals. God gives. and through it all i see courage, love, faith, hope, determination, surrender, and comfort. if you feel led, please pray with me for these hurting people.

everyday gift: God's presence in the midst of pain