II Timothy 1:7 - "Healing Hand of God"

I am such a mess....physically, mentally, emotionally but I refuse to be spiritually messed up. I refuse to allow the enemy a foothold in my life. Yesterday when I woke up with the vision issues fear tried to get in. I refuted it with II Timothy 1:7...God does not give me a spirit that makes me afraid but He gives me a spirit of power, love and sound mind. I asked some people to pray and within a few hours my site was restored. Praise His Holy Name! Throughout the day as I rested, prayed and read I fell apart emotionally a couple of times. The Lord kept giving me this verse. Waking up multiple times during the night and praying is nothing new for me and the Lord. Tonight's prayers have been different. Normally I am praying for others but not tonight. I keep crying out for a healing in my body and spirit. I am so tired of this MS. I am so tired of feeling like no one understands what I am going through. I am tired of feeling like I am suppose to function normal yet I physically, mentally and emotionally am not capable of doing so. I am so tired of fighting. I am so tired. The Lord gave me a song Jeremy Camp wrote...

"I have seen the many faces of fear and of pain
I have watched the tears fall plenty from heartache and strain
So if life's journey has you weary and afraid
There's rest in the shadow of His wings

I have walked through the valleys, the mountains, and plains
I have held the hand of freedom that washes all my stains
If you feel weight of many trials and burdens from this world
There's freedom in the shelter of the Lord

And I have seen the healing hand of God
Reaching out and mending broken hearts
Taste and see the fullness of His peace
And hold on to what's being held out
The healing hand of God"

Praise His Holy Name for healing! I have been healed....family and friends have been healed...I know He can heal! I also know healing comes in different forms. Many times with MS I have needed an emotional healing more than I needed a physical one. This is one of those times. I can deal with physical issues so much easier than the emotional ones. I also am blessed in knowing "There's rest in the shadow of His wings..." Yes! Complete rest! That is where the healing comes from.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me...for healing me...for encouraging me! Father, I need more of You in order to get through these days. I am asking for a supernatural empowerment to be in my spirit from the tip of my head to the tip of my toes. Lord, fill me to overflowing with Your power and love. I pray for the 'sound mind' that You have given me to be restored. I pray for the faucets of tears of frustration to be gone. I pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to come down upon me in such a way that there is no doubt You are living in and through me. Praise Your Holy Name! Thank You Jesus for being My Healer! Amen.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - "Even So Come"; "First"

I wrote these words last night while listening to a service on the internet...

God's redemptive story...full restoration...fullness began at the time of His crucifixion...salvation is happening...measure of the fullness of Christ...GLORY!!! The time is coming...He will return to this earth and His promises will be fulfilled!!! Transformation...woo hoo!!! 

"Like a bride waiting for her groom
We'll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come"

Yesterday was full of richness in my spiritual life. It was a day of an emotional roller coaster with my physical body being hit hard but the Lord blessed me in abundance through all of the pain and sickness. He blessed me with being able to have lunch with my 'baby' where we were able to see his new ministry. He blessed me with a husband who not only took care of me during my physical ailments but met my spiritual needs in talking about the Lord. He blessed me with friends who prayed for me. He blessed me with listening to a simulcast about God's Redemptive Story. The Lord is coming soon....I have no doubt on that. There are many signs pointing to His return. Last night I was reminded that I am not just a supporting actress in His story. I have a lead role. But in order to fulfill that lead role I must be in right relationship with Him. Then this morning He woke me up with the words to Lauren Daigle's song "First" which reminded me of what it takes to accept that leading role...

"You are my treasure and my reward

Let nothing ever come before

You are my treasure and my reward

Let nothing ever come before

I seek You

First

First

I wanna seek You

I wanna seek You

First

I wanna keep You

I wanna keep You

First

More than anything I want, I want You

First

First"

My Prayer this morning....may I always make You first in my life, Lord. May You fill me to overflowing with more of You so Your attitude spews from me...thank You Jesus for being My Redeemer! Amen.

Ephesians 6 - "Healing Begins"

My heart is breaking for the blatant sin that is happening. I can't even begin to imagine how the Lord feels. It is sickening to see lives torn apart over the junk the enemy puts before people and they accept. Why, Lord? Why do people make such stupid decisions? Why do children have to deal with the consequences of their parents actions? I know the Lord gives us free choice and I know we have to be strong to stand up against the enemy. Oh how I pray for more people to find the Lord's strength. I pray they will put on the full armor of God each and every day. But I know before they do that they first must be in relationship with Him. They need to get to the point of living out the words to "Healing Begins"...they must get to the point where "the light meets the dark"...

"Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find that the shame won't disappear

So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now, we're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark, the light meets the dark"

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for bringing me to the point in life where I experienced "the light meets the dark." Thank You for loving me so much that You never gave up on me. Oh how my heart breaks for these young unmarried girls who are pregnant....Father, first of all I pray protection over their babies. Secondly, I pray for them to find You in the darkness. Lord, put someone before them that will make a difference in their lives. I also am broken over these two ladies who are dealing with depression. Father, may their minds be opened up to Your healing in their emotional being but most importantly their spiritual being. Lord, I pray for all believers to be strong in You. I pray for the full armor of God to be upon them throughout these days of evil. Lord, may more choices being made be in Your will. Thank You Jesus for being My Light. Amen.

I Thessalonians 5:12-28 - "Healing Begins"

The Lord revealed to me there are some in my little world who need to hear from Him. I've often heard people say He isn't speaking to them. So many times it isn't that He isn't speaking. Instead it is they are not listening. A human can hear things without actually hearing them. The words that are said may not be grasped because of the mental or spiritual state one is in. It is sad to think about one in relationship with the Lord not being able to hear His voice. There are many reasons this can happen. One is distractions of this world. Oh how the enemy loves to cause those in our lives. Another is self. Sometimes we think we know what is best for us so we choose to ignore His voice. There is danger in this. When we allow the enemy any foothold at all in our life, he will take off destroying everything he can. We have to stand strong in our faith. No matter what we are going through we have to allow a healing in our spirit. Only then will we have the freedom to once again hear from the Lord. The song "Healing Begins" came to me this morning...

"So let it fall down

There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now, we're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark, the light meets the dark"

"...light meets the dark" is crucial in our lives. We must surrender to the Lord in order to be in right relationship with Him. Salvation is not enough. We must take the step of accepting His will for us which can only be found when we die to self. The final words of I Thessalonians 5 are ones I needed to read...

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Verses sixteen through eighteen remind me that when I am surrendered to Him He will enable me to rejoice no matter what circumstance I am in. How? By staying in relationship with Him. When I am surrendered to His will, I will hear His voice. As He sanctifies me, I will hear His voice. Why? Verse 24 reads, "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Woo hoo! Praise the Lord!

This morning I am praying for so many to be broken...

• Health issues...pain, cancer, diabetes...so many need a physical touch yet most importantly they need a spiritual healing
• Relationship issues...marriages, parent/child, people living in blatant sin...so many need a healing but they must surrender to the Lord's way in order to hear His voice
• Job issues...lost of job, transition in job, financial issues due to cut hours...praying blessings over these ones not only financially but most importantly spiritually
• Emotional issues...anger, self-destruction, loneliness...so many people are feeling hopeless due to their present circumstances and I am praying they find the True Hope

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for these hours we've had together this morning. I was so hoping to have good sleep last night but since that was not Your will I am thankful for the ones You put on my heart to pray for. Lord, bless my prayers in a mighty way. I thank You for using me as You do. Father, I am excited today is the last IV treatment. I look forward to where You take me from here. Your will is all I seek...I am totally surrendered to You. I pray for an abundance of You to ooze out of me today wherever You take me. Lord, my prayer is that people will see/hear You through me. Thank You Jesus for being My Light! Amen.

Nehemiah 8:10b - "Today Is The Day"

Today when I woke up singing these words I knew today was going to be a better day than yesterday.

"Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it"

Woo hoo! I thought, "bring it on, Lord!" It is only afternoon yet so many blessings have been received...

• Seven hours of sleep last night
• Second of third IV's complete...nausea much better than yesterday
• Momma had a good follow-up appointment from her surgery
• Sunday I was anointed for a little guy that his cancer has returned. Today I read this message from his Momma..."A quick update on Spencer: his bone marrow biopsy was negative! This is excellent news because he'll get to receive less aggressive chemo and treatment overall. Still awaiting a treatment plan, but hopefully that arrives no later than tomorrow." Woo hoo! Go God!!!!
• A friend who had surgery yesterday was released from the hospital.
• A pregnant Momma who was having complications is OK.

I am choosing joy today! I refuse to allow the enemy any foothold. He is at work overtime trying to pull me away from the Lord but my faith is greater! I am singing these words with confidence..

"I'm putting my fears aside
I'm leaving my doubts behind
I'm giving my hopes and dreams to You
Jesus

I'm reaching my hands to Yours
Believing there's so much more
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good
Is good"

Yes! I don't know if these IV's will kick this MS back into behaving or not but I don't have to know. If the Lord's will is for that, so be it. If His will is for a different story, so be it. My life is in His hands. Whether my body functions as it use to or not will not stop me from being His servant.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessings of this day! Thank You for loving me so much! Thank You for restoring my peace and joy. You are awesome. Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You. Direct my words and my steps to where there will be not be any doubt that You are in control of my life. Father, as I have been praying, I ask for a special touch upon my husband...fill Him with exactly what he needs. Thank You Jesus for being My Joy! Amen.

Philippians 1:6 - "Stronger"

As I read this quote, I was blessed in the reminders in it...He lives in me. I am surrendered to Him. I needed the reminder, "There is no difficulty, inward or outward, which He is not ready to meet in me to-day." It has been a tough day in my physical body which in turn causes me to get emotional. It hit me this morning why I was struggling with doing IV's again. Over the past twenty-one years when I had them they snapped the MS back into behaving itself. In May not so much. I told a friend this morning, "It is as if, if this doesn't work it is my last hope. I know in my heart Jesus is my Hope but in my head life is tough." I do not want to give the enemy any foothold into my life. I must not allow negative thoughts. I will remember Doc's words yesterday, "We may not be cured but we will be healed. Whether on this earth or when we receive our new bodies in heaven...we will be healed!" Yes! Now that gives hope! 

I love this quote from Bishop H. G. C. Moule. "Lord and Savior, true and kind, be the master of my mind; bless and guide and strengthen still all my power of thought and will. While I ply the scholar's task, Jesus Christ be near, I ask; help the memory, clear the brain, knowledge still to seek and gain.” We must make sure we are surrendered to His will in order to be capable of doing His will. Each morning I begin my day asking Him to fill me with more of Him. When He does this, I am capable of hearing from Him on what He desires of me. It enables me to be Jesus to people. They will see and hear Him through me as He oozes out of me. I'm not sure that anyone saw Him in me today and that saddens me. As I go to the hospital tomorrow I pray I will remember to be Jesus to those I am in contact with. I pray I will have His smile on my face and His attitude in my being.

What a blessing Kylee's song "Stronger" was yesterday! I wish I had it on video! The tears flowed throughout the song but especially with..

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being One who reminds me of exactly what I need to be reminded of. Father, this was a tough day and I am sorry if I failed you by missing opportunities to be You to others. Lord, it was a tough day for many others in my little world. My friends who lost their dear Momma and the one who had unsuccessful surgery...be so real to them. Lord, I praise You for my friends who were there for my Momma for her surgery. I praise You for my hubby who continues to love me, especially through tough days. Father, I pray the stress he is under to lessen...He needs Your healing in his physical body and his emotional body. Thank You Lord for being Our Hope. Amen.

Hebrews 10:23; Jeremiah 17:7 - "Redeemed"

I woke up this morning singing "Redeemed" that Big Daddy Weave sings and immediately was blessed with the knowledge.....

I am redeemed , you set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
Cause I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed.....I'm redeemed

My mind started thinking about all of the people who need to be able to say this. But instead of turning to the Lord they are turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, etc. Instead of allowing the Lord to give them a clean slate they are wallowing in the junk of this world. It is so sad to see families torn apart through domestic violence.  How I pray they will get to the point in life of saying these words...

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me
'cause his day is long dead and gone because
I've got a new name , a new life I'm not the same
and a hope that will carry me home

It is only when one gets to the end of themselves that will they find hope in Jesus Christ. There is no hope in this fallen world unless we have the hope of eternal life. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for giving me hope in this fallen world. Father, as I pray for some very serious situations I am reminded the only way these people can experience hope is to experience You. The only way they can experience You is to surrender to You. Lord, I pray protection over those in violent situations. I pray healing over those with mental and physical ailments. But most of all I pray for healing in spiritual lives. Oh Father how people need You...they need to experience hope as only You can give. Lord, fill me to overflowing with Your words and Your attitude. May people see hope through me. May they see what I have and desire the same. Father, if I begin to falter in my being I pray You will remind me that You are with me through difficult days. I also pray for the stress of these days to not have a foothold into my physical being. Lord, blind my eyes and close my ears to things that cause stress. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope. Amen.

Proverbs 31:30 - Momma's Birthday

Today is a special day for a special lady. It's my Momma's 85th birthday! Woo hoo! This picture was from the celebration of her 84th birthday when my sister Linda and I sang an ole Hee Haw song to her. Yes, we like to have fun! My Daddy taught us to do that no matter what is going on in life. In fact, he always said he 'raised' Mom since they got married when she was fifteen and a half so he taught her too! My Momma has seen some tough days in the last 85 years but most importantly she has been blessed by our Heavenly Father. 

Getting married at the age of fifteen and a half and having four babies before she turned twenty-on was no easy task. Especially with being far away from family and for the most part away from anyone as they lived up a holler. Stories have been told my Daddy would leave early in the morning to walk to get a ride for work and be gone until late in the evening. She struggled with loneliness and I believe depression but she didn't give up. The Lord wouldn't let her. She had a ministry right there in her home with her babies. The result? Many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren!

Having to bury a child was perhaps one of the hardest things she ever had to endure. The pain of the loss was overbearing at times. The anger over the senselessness of the death was something that had to be dealt with from time to time. But once again the Lord did not give up on her. Instead He encouraged her and my Daddy as they took on the role of being parents to two babies that they were intended to be grandparents to. The result? Two children having the blessings of living in a safe home who would not have had such luxury.

Going through multiple health issues including multiple surgeries is something my Momma has dealt with throughout the years. When going in for the fourth cervical surgery in a year, she felt like she was ready to break emotionally and physically. Once again the Lord didn't leave her side. Instead He blessed her with a miraculous healing so the fourth surgery was not needed. The result? She left that hospital with determination to draw closer to the Lord and she did.

Being told she was not physically able to be a nurse didn't stop my Momma. She found a way to help others in another way. She did not graduate high school so she had went back to get her GED in order to become a LPN. Even after bringing two more babies into the home...being over forty...even when she could have opted for disability...she instead took college classes for social work so she could continue working. The result? She worked at Brenn-Field Nursing Center as Activities Director after not being able to continue nursing.

Probably the hardest thing my Momma has been through in life was the loss of my Daddy. They had a strong bond throughout life but as she cared for him with such love in his final months that bond strengthened. Perhaps the greatest part of their love story developed in that last hour of his life when he woke up knowing his time was done on this earth. When she wanted to call someone, he said 'no' because he wanted those last moments to be theirs. The result? The Lord gave my Momma some precious memories to hold onto in the tough days without my Daddy. Words were said that can be remembered...him holding her one final time...that last kiss...what a blessing from the Lord!

My Momma is one special lady. Oh yes, we fought a lot when I was growing up and for that I am sorry. Maybe we were too much alike?!?!? Maybe I was a way the Lord used to bring her closer to Him?!?!?!? No matter what the reason I'm glad she nor the Lord gave up on me! I strive to be as giving as she is. I am one blessed lady to have her as my role model.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for my Momma. Thank You for watching over her these last eighty-five years. I pray a blessing over her today. I pray You will fill her to overflowing with more of You. I pray You will encourage her when the days get long. Lord, wrap Your loving arms around her so she feels Your strength. Lord, I also pray You will enable me to continue on during tough days as she has shown as my example. Fill me with more of You so people will see/hear You in me. Father, thank You for being The One To Bless Me. Amen.

Philippians 4:13 - "Anybody Out There"

“Is there anybody out there
Does anybody care
Are the people really there”

Where did that song come from?!?!?! A blast from the past with Burlap To Cashmere. Yesterday when I was told I was going to be doing IV treatments again I kind of fell apart. Not on the outside but on the inside. I started thinking “Lord, why? What am I doing wrong? Don’t you love me anymore?” Oh my! His response back was awesome! “Daughter, you know I love you. I need You to do this for me.” Alrighty then…for how long do I have to endure not being ‘normal’? This time there was dead silence from Him. I got to thinking about it. I guess He knew I didn’t want to hear His answer or I wasn’t ready for it. The emotional roller coaster of these last eight months has been tough. I don’t like roller coasters at theme parks bout as much as I don’t like this roller coaster. I am tired. There are days where I begin to wonder if the Lord cares for me…if there is anyone in my little world who loves me enough to stick by me… The answer to both of these questions is YES and I know it. I realized yesterday I cannot and will not allow the enemy any foothold into my thoughts. When I do, he has an opening into my entire life. I refuse to allow that. I refuse. Plain and simple. 

This is a new day. Some things have not changed…the pain in my legs is still there, the tingling in my face is driving me crazy, my emotions are all over the place. BUT one thing that has changed is my attitude. I can do this…with the Lord’s strength…I can do this. The days ahead will be covered by His love in such a way that I know I will not only get through them but most importantly He will be glorified through them. Maybe one of the nurses I will have needs to see Jesus. Maybe someone I meet in the hospital lobby needs to see a smile of encouragement. I don’t know what the purpose is but the desire of my heart is for the Lord to be glorified through this situation. He is greater than MS…He is greater than pain…He is greater than tingling…He is greater than anything life throws my way. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for not giving up on me! Thank You for encouraging me! Thank You for ‘smacking me up the side of the head’ before the enemy gained any foothold. Father, I need Your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength in a mighty way. I pray for more of You in me. I pray whoever needs to see You today will do so in me. Father, be glorified in all I do. Thank You Jesus for being My Strength. Amen.

I Peter 3; James 1:2-3; Philippians 4:13 - "Good, Good Father"

What a blessing to be able to hear Dr. Diehl last night! Having just read an article he wrote for my class and then getting to see/hear him was so special. As I sat there listening I thought of the night he ordained Doc. That night was beyond comprehension in the area of blessings! When he prayed over me at that altar, I was ready to burst. After he prayed over Doc then he prayed over me He charged me to be a helpmate for Doc...to stand by him and to encourage him. I've strived to do that throughout these last twenty-one years of ministry. He also prayed for me to "have a gentle and quiet spirit".... those who were present from our church teased about that since I am known to not be quiet. I know I have failed with that charge at times but the Lord has changed me over the years to be more gentle and yes, sometimes even quieter than I use to be. Praise His Holy Name! Last night seeing/hearing Dr. Diehl was the affirmation of the call upon our lives. God called us and used Dr. Diehl as a tool here on this earth. Now God is taking us another step in this call by me going to school. He is such a "Good, Good Father"...He is so loving and caring...He is so wonderful to be in relationship with. 

I love the words of I Peter 3...
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Yes! I am Sarah's daughter...my hope is in the Lord...I strive to live a holy life! Why? Because that is what God has called me to do. He has called me to be many things...a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, etc. But the most important thing He has called me to be is be holy. I love where I am in my relationship with the Lord today but oh how I can't wait to go deeper with Him. 

Dear Jesus,
I praise Your Holy Name for bringing Dr. Diehl into my life this week through reading of words he wrote many years ago and through seeing and hearing him speak last night. Thank You for that blessing! Father, I pray for more of You in me...I pray for Your words to be my words and Your actions to be my actions. Lord, may all who see/hear me today see/hear You. I pray for more of a "gentle and quiet spirit" in my being. I pray when people say hurtful words You will give me grace for them just as You give grace. I pray when it seems like I can't take another trial You will remind me of James 1:2-3. I pray when I feel like my strength is gone You will remind me of Philippians 4:13. Holy Spirit reign down upon me in a mighty way! Thank You Jesus for being The One Who Called Me. Amen.

Isaiah 61 - "Just Be Held"

I went to sleep praying for two people and woke up with them and their situations on my heart. Oh how my heart breaks for both of them. They are in situations I've never had to deal with so I don't know what I can do or say to help them. But I don't have to know as long as I listen to the Lord for His direction. He knows their hurts and pains. He knows the desires of their heart. He knows. I am so grateful they are both in a relationship with Him where they hear His voice. I also am grateful for the faith they have in Him. They know He is in control even though at times it appears the enemy is. They realize He gives us free choice and their loved ones have chosen the enemy's way over His way. They also know He has not left them or their loved ones. Instead He is being a gentleman waiting on their loved ones to come back to Him. While they wait I pray they will remember He is with them. I pray they remember the words to Casting Crowns song "Just Be Held"...

If your eyes are on the storm you'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross you'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

In Isaiah 61 the Jews are promised blessings from the Lord. Those blessings are applicable today to those who return to Him.Verse three promises "comfort all who mourn...beauty instead of ashes...joy instead of mourning...praise instead of a spirit of despair." Verses four through nine are verses that show what will happen when one makes the decision to leave the ways of the enemy and follow the way of the Lord...

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

Matthew Henry writes about these verses..

"An unholy soul is like a city that is broken down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God, through the Spirit." These two I am praying for need to come back to the Lord...they need to leave the way of the enemy. When they do, the Lord will restore them. He will rescue them from the enemy's grip. And when He does they will be a beacon of light once again for Him and be able to say these words of verse ten and eleven...

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Until the time comes of their loved ones coming back into relationship with the Lord I pray they will hold close to the Lord with expectation. I pray the words to this song will be ones they hear and are obedient to...

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the privilege to pray for these two precious ladies and their families. Lord, I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through but I know You know their hurts fully. I also know You are there to love on them and encourage them. Lord, please use me in whatever way possible to be there for them. Even though I don't know exactly what they are going through I know what it's like to hurt from loved ones decisions. May You fill me to overflowing with more of You so they see/hear You through me. I pray nothing that comes out of my mouth is from me but from You. Love on them in abundance today. Thank You Jesus for being Savior. Amen.