......And so we learn more deeply what it means to wait on the Father for answers and trust His heart for us in this faith journey.
Please continue to pray for miraculous healing in the name of Jesus. Ken's pain level from the pancreatitis is a little better today. He is sitting up some and actually walking around a little which he hasn't been able to do without extreme pain since last weeks procedure. He is definitely stronger today.Thank you for your faithful intercession before the throne. "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
The night brought little sleep for both of us. I woke around 12:30pm and decided the Lord had waked me to pray and spend time in His Word. And so I came down to my red chair in the corner of the living room. I lit the candle next to the chair that dear Spencer(my future son-n-law) just sent me for my birthday and fell to my knees and began to pray. As I prayed I was struck at the history the Lord and I have together in this chair. He has met me here so often in the middle of the night and ministered to my spirit, listened to my cries of pain and pleas for healing, mercy, understanding. It has been a place where He has taught me faith lessons as I poured over His Word and sang songs of praise. It's good to have a place where you sense His presence so strong. As Maggie, now grown, slept upstairs I thought of the times when she was a toddler and little girl and I would hear her come down the stairs in the early morning hours and join me at this chair. She learned that if the candle was lit mommy was talking with Jesus and she could join me in prayer or play quietly beside me if she wanted, but had to wait until the candle was blown out to leave the room. Mary Elizabeth spent many hours beside me at this chair as a child as well. Sweet memories....
I thought about the answers to prayer the Lord has given me kneeling at this chair. I've learned that I don't have to understand all His ways, but I can trust Him.
In this place, where I write today as we wait for the storm, Isaac, to hit, I've cried to Him in the death of my Father, in the pain of years of infertility, in the storms of ministry demands, in the illnesses and deaths of precious family and loved ones, the diagnosis of my mother's alzheimer disease. I've cried out to Him for wisdom for my husband, my children,my life. I've prayed over the brokenness and pain of friend's marriages, loss of jobs, the lists goes on and on.... He has always heard my prayers. He has taught me to hunger and thirst after Him in His Word. Bible studies He's led me to write have been birthed here as He laid the foundation of Truth in my heart.
He has taught me some of what it means to wait on the Lord. I'm learning more today.
In this room we have also been led in songs of praise and had lots of fun with Ken at the piano leading leadership groups and gatherings of friends and students. We have seen great rejoicing and celebration in this room. It's good to have a history with the Lord and know that I can trust His heart for us where He is leading us today.
As I continued to work my way through the Psalms last night I read - Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance.; be their Shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9
I went back to bed about 4:30am - after visiting with Ken awhile as he was up a lot last night as well.
The alarm went off at 5:00am to bring Maggie to the airport! She was able to get a flight out before the storm. Thank you to the Lord and the one who helped with the finances of that last minute flight.
It was a beautiful sight of hope as I watched Maggie walk into the airport with her wedding dress in her hand!
When I drove off from the airport the song "Trust His Heart" began to play on my CD player. Perfect!
God is carrying us through. She and the dress made it safely back to Atlanta! He is good.
I received a text from Mary Elizabeth today thanking me for the book 1000 Gifts and journal that I had given her a few weeks ago. I love it!!!! she wrote. Little did I know how the Father might use that little jewel of a book in both my girls lives so quickly. He is carving out hearts of thanksgiving and praise and trust in all of us.
Trust His Heart lyrics-Babbie Mason
All things work for our good
Though sometimes we can't
See how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him,
Remember you're never alone
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
So don't live as those who have no hope,
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him
He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
Trusting in His Loving Heart,
Kathy