Monday, January 25, 2010

John 8:12

Good evening!

John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."



Webster says that light means something that makes vision possible. I couldn't describe Jesus any better than that. He is the One thing that makes vision possible. You never realize how blind you are until you finally come to know Him. You never realize all the things you are missing that you couldn't see before without Him. You never realize how bad your eyesight is until you go to the best Optometrist in the world! Do you need vision? Go see the Great Light of the World!



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Psalm 146:6-10

Good morning!

Psalm 146:6-10: ...He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry.  The LORD frees prisoners. The LORD opens [the eyes of] the blind. The LORD raises up those who are oppressed. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects foreigners and helps the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever; Zion, your God [reigns] for all generations. Hallelujah!


This just put a spring in my step, as my Pastor would say, when I read this!  You see, I have been exploited and I have been hungry.  I have been a prisoner and I have been blind.  I have been oppressed and felt like a foreigner in my own body.  But God brought me justice and fed me with His Word!  He opened my eyes and raised me up.  He loves me and protects me.  He will continue to frustrate the ways of the wicked who seek to do my family harm.  Don't you just feel like proclaiming, "The LORD reigns forever!  He reigns for all generations.  Hallelujah!"

I love The Message version of this too so I will close with that. 

He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.


God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Isaiah 65:17-20

Good evening!

Isaiah 65:17-20: "For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.  Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy, and its people to be a delight.  I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people.  The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her.  In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days."


Oh my heart is heavy today.  I follow a photographer who lives in Hawaii and I've always loved her work on her blog.  She helps other photographers and gives tutorials on different subjects.  She's always been a help to me, even though I don't know her personally.  She has 3 beautiful boys and she became pregnant again last year with another boy!  His name was Gavin and he was born healthy and sweet and I enjoyed seeing pictures of him.  And then, around Christmas time, he was put in the hospital.  He contracted RSV and then Pertussis.  He was very sick and was getting worse.  He was beginning to suffer and yet I still really believed he would recover.  He would get well.  He would go home.  He would grow up and rough house with his brothers.  He would be their sweet baby boy and be spoiled.

Never did I expect to read this.  Please join me in praying for this family as they face their worst fears and live their worst nightmare.  Their lives will never be the same. 

My prayer is that Gavin's short life will live longer than any one dreamed possible.  I pray he can help other women be more aware and educated about illnesses, vaccinations and medical care for their children.  I pray he will help all of us to cherish our children even more, realizing that life is short.  You never know what tomorrow will bring.  It could bring life...it could bring death. 

But rejoice!  One day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  One day, rejoicing will be heard when there once was crying.  The worst pain imaginable of losing a sweet little baby will not be able to be found.  Babies will grow to be men who live out their days as they were meant to.  Oh Lord come quickly!

So while you are praying for this family, trust what God says in verse 24 of the same chapter.  "Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear."  He knows what this family needs and will answer even before they call out to Him.  And while they cry out to Him to help them survive this tragedy, He will hear them and be everything they need Him to be. 

Sending you love and praying for peace that passes all understanding Natalie.  God be with you and your family.  Gavin is with his Savior; he is loved...he is whole...he is perfect.