When I was a pastor’s wife in Oregon I was blessed to know some special PWs.  One of my favorites is Melanie.  It grieves me so much that we are so far away from one another but with the Internet we can stay in touch.  Today her blog touched me so much – I wanted to share it with you…especially this part:

… I know the storms, the hardships, the grief that I must go through in this life. And I know the peaceful, fulfilling, joyous times. Whichever is my lot – at any particular moment in life – it’s OK. Because, my soul- the center of who I am, is safe in God’s hands. And nothing, not storm nor plenty can that away from me!

My heart is saying the same thing – but I couldn’t say it so beautifully!

I have a unique devotional that an anonymous person sent me after Joshua died. It’s called “Daily Light For Every Day” with Anne Graham Lotz. What I love about it – and what I think makes it unique is it is all Bible – no interpretation by anyone else. So, it’s up to me to internalize it as the Spirit moves – and moves He does! Each day there are two sections – morning and evening. There is a theme to the verses – but they are all run together in two or three paragraphs so it ‘reads’ very easily. This mornings was a definite keeper for me! I hope you enjoy it too!

December 31

The Lord your God carried you,
as a man carries his son,
in all the way you went
until you came to this place.

I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ~ In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. ~ As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him.

Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. ~ This is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. ~ Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Thus far the Lord has helped you.

Deut. 1:31; Exod 19:4; Isa 63:9; Deut. 32:11-12; Isa 46:4; Ps 48:14; Ps 55:22; Matt 6:25, 32; I Sam 7:12

Received this request in my email today..

Hi Everyone,
I don’t know any easy way to say it, so I am just going to say it.  Mom has breast cancer, she will have a lumpectomy on January 4th, it is small (9mm) and otherwise she is in good health … i.e. good cholestrol, good blood pressure.  It was caught early as Mom is very good about keeping her health in check.  She is being very positive, as Mom always does, and I “know” she will be fine, but please pray!  If praying is not your thing, please just “think” her good thoughts!
If you’ve been touched by cancer – either your own or someone else’s – please join us in praying for my Aunt Sharene.