Be Still and Know

When mountains fall and waters rise,
come hide yourself in me.
The One whose voice commands the worlds
still knows your every need.
Come now and wait on me;
draw near and rest in me.

(Chorus)
Be still and know tht I am God.
Be still and know that I am God


When darkness falls and sorrows rise,
remember who I am.
The One who dwells in eternity,
still comforts His own child.
Come now and look to me;
draw near and hope in me.

(Chorus)

When darkness falls and sorrows rise,
remember who I am

-Steve and Vikki Cook

Same Date - New Perspective

Sitting here this morning in Nathan's room, sipping coffee and just having some quiet time with the Lord while he still snoozes. As my eyes fall on the large display of the date for the day my heart fills with emotion. Since my kids were each old enough to grasp what I was saying through November 2011 I have contacted them on the 25th of each month to 'remind' them how many more months til Christmas. Flaky I know---but I grew up with my Dad always sharing this important information with us on a daily basis :) So I suppose the 'tradition' continues.
However, as I sit here this morning and watch my son peacefully sleep that strange lump comes in my throat when I hesitantly remember that on this date last month it was with great anxiety that I watched him, not knowing if he would survive or not. I think as each month the 25th arrives I will be forever changed and challenged to fall before my Almighty Savior and thank Him for what He has done in Nathan's life and not incidentally each member of our family.
Last night as we sat and watched Nathan enjoy the Impact Team from Word of Life sing---well it would be difficult to express the joy in our hearts as we watched him feel the music and observe the satisfaction on his face. Unworthy, I suppose is what I have most often felt in recent weeks. Unworthy of the miracles that God has allowed me to watch, unworthy of His love for me. In fact reminded that I am unworthy of anything except that by the Grace of God I am richly blessed.
A couple of hours after I began this post Nathan had awakened and as I was helping him prepare for the day I was talking to him. I asked him if he knew the date today. He began to smile, I nodded and said: "Yep, just eleven months from today is Christmas!" Further I shared with him that I really wasn't sure a month ago that he would survive and how thankful I am that he did. He smiled largely and said; "God!" and gave a big thumbs up!
My kids can all be assured that they will continue to hear from me on the 25th of each month, but it will be with a new perspective!

Merry Christmas------in eleven months!

They Are Everywhere!

I have several posts that I have scribbled on bits of paper over the past week or two, but I just have to post this first.

They are everywhere, people hurting, people in need. I have to be very honest with you, I really don't 'want' to reach out to others, my own hurt is so fresh, so deep, so open. But, it is ever a reminder that our 'ministry' isn't just inside the walls of a church building or assembly of people. It IS about sharing the Gospel, sharing the testimony of Christ in our lives. Hurting people and people in need are everywhere around us, we just need to open our eyes and see their need.

Tonight I went downstairs to do Nathan's laundry and a bit of ours. As I walked in a man and his daughter were there loading in clothes into the washer. He explained they had been there for three weeks because their house burned. The conversation continued and eventually led to why I was there. I had noticed when I first saw him that he was dressed in scrubs. Well he works at a hospital in the area and his wife............she is one of the chief executives of the rehab facility where Nathan is being treated. He was pretty sure she was involved in Nathan's care. As we talked, he began to cry and said he couldn't hear anymore of the story, he has worked for 35 years in the field and it is just too heart breaking. Expressed to his daughter that theirs was just an inconvenience of a burned house, but our family had been wounded beyond repair.

Then when I told him of Nathan's recovery on a daily basis, he was overwhelmed, said it just couldn't be, that it just doesn't happen. THEN, I was able to share that we have a gracious loving God who is able to do more than we ask or think. One door led to another, he made no commitment but I am praying for him. He recognized that God is at work in our son's life.

Tonight this is just the latest of a series of God appointments that we have encountered along the way these past three weeks. Truthfully, we should be having these encounters all the time and to not have them to be the oddity. Reminds me of Nathan's song Make Me!