I CHOOSE...LIGHT and HOPE!

                When the sun takes its final breath
                  just before the last rays of HOPE 
                        drop below the horizon,
                let all the twinkling stars in Heaven
                 remind you that the Light of Hope
                             never left your side. 
                                                      -Robert Clancy

One of our daily rituals when we were in Hawaii was to stand on the lanai as the sun went down so we could watch God streak the sky with the most beautiful sunset ever. Bert would pick up the conch shell, like Hawaiians all over the island, and blow the shell's music in reverence to God's artwork.

I found myself, in the moments where the sun started sinking, feeling like a little girl at Christmas...waiting to see the presents under the tree.

And God doesn't disappoint. He never disappoints.

This week has been a week of anticipation in our family as we waited to see what the doctor had to say
about Amy and Annora Grace.

I did what I always do in times like this, times when my heart feels like it is in my throat. I just kept taking one step at a time, praying all the while for His guidance, for His peace to fall on all of us.

I knew God would show up big time in our hearts if we just turned to Him instead of leaning into our fears.

And God doesn't disappoint. He never disappoints.

When one of His children gets great news that rocks your socks off, I am reminded that He is there, answering prayers.

One of the very, very, VERY best "knock your socks
off moments" this week came when I learned that my dear friend Vicky Westra, who has stage four breast cancer, got her MRI and PET scan results back.

The results were nothing short of a miracle- Vicky has no evidence of disease. NED. While some folks might thank all of the awful chemo she has taken week after week, and I don't want to minimize its impact, Vicky holds this miracle to be one that came from answered prayers. Thousands and thousands of prayers. Prayers daily and hourly by prayer warriors all over.

God doesn't disappoint. He never disappoints. 


He doesn't disappoint even when the news isn't easy to hear. He is still there. Right there with us ALWAYS. 

He is the HOPE and the LIGHT in the darkness.

If you read my last post, you know about our daughter and the challenges she faces in her pregnancy. You know about the hard news and the concerns for our daughter and her precious baby.

You know that we asked people to pray for Amy and for Annora Grace.

And you know what? The light and hope of this week was the outpouring of prayers from God's faithful.

When I think of Vicky Westra's comments and Jackie putting our prayer request on her blog...well
I just can't stop crying. Knowing that you are holding up our precious daughter and praying for her pregnancy and praying for Annora Grace, well we are overwhelmed with gratitude, hope and light.

We are choosing HOPE and LIGHT, no matter what!

While Amy has been given some tough news and put on modified bed rest for the next three months, we believe God and take Him at His word that He is right here, right now. 

This won't be easy, especially with her teaching, running a home, and caring for her other children, but we are choosing hope and light, knowing we will rally with help and support. We will keep praying and turning to God. He is our peace.

As it says in Jesus Calling...

"My face is shining upon you, beaming out PEACE that transcends all understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are Face to face with Me, your Peace. If you gaze too long at the myriad of problems you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, " Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up."

And God doesn't disappoint. He never disappoints.

He is lifting us up! And we are calling out...
                            "Help us, Jesus!"

He is the Light of Hope that never leaves our side!

Amen and Amen!!
God Bless! 
Please keep praying! We are so, so grateful for 
every prayer!
Love,
Linda