Prayer Request

It has been raining for four days here in texas on our vacation. Four days....
Sure we have found things to do to pass the time...like swimming in the pool...reading..lots of reading, and zumba and movies in the evening. We have even spent a little time shopping. But we are very anxious to see the sunshine come through the clouds!

Tonight I have been blessed with a fast internet connection...much faster than it has been for awhile. With out betraying my age too much it is reminding me of a time that does not seem that long ago when we had dial up and I would load a page...and then boil the kettle....and then come back to check and then finally as I sat down with my tea...I could check my mail. Good Times!

So this evening after I put the children to bed, I checked my mail...and I could not believe it ...it was so fast...and then I started to get 'caught up' on some of my favorite blogs...and as I was reading I followed a link to this site about a dear woman...and as I was reading my heart broke.
She is a wife, homeschooling mom, and writer and her name is Joanne...and she is fighting for her life...if you are so inclined head over to her site and take a quick peek...the last few posts are from her husband as she had a stroke earlier this week. People all over the U.S. are praying for them...and because of this thing we call the web people all over the world will be praying for her too.

And then I headed over to another site...I had met one of the ladies at Relevant and so I checked out her blog again and she linked to this other blogger who lost every material thing they owned in a house fire the tuesday before Christmas.....again...heart break...praying for the family....

The rain is continuing to pour outside....it is wet and messy - Sometimes life can be too.

The first story I mentioned about has asked everyone to read Ps 27 as this verse is the one that they are praying over Joanne. So I am posting it here...so you too might take a few moments.

Psalm 27
Of David.
1The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,a
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.
10Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
13I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

And though it rains tonight....I am praying that the sun will soon shine!

Bring the Rain

The drops are steadily falling against the window pane, and I hear the constant beating of the rain. It is unexpected, the forcast called for a sunny day and yet the water falls. This mirrors how I have been feeling lately, I don't know if it is because I have been reading these posts from Ann these last few weeks, about her trip with Compassion. I have an unexpected restless feeling.

I have been on missions trips, and I too have looked into the eyes of the hurting. My heart has beat love into the broken and I have read the unspoken look of thanksgiving from a mothers eyes. I too have smelled the dirt, which is sometimes how we have described it to others. You can see the pictures, and feel touched, you can hear the stories and be moved to give...but once you smell the dirt of the country, the people of that country never leave your soul.

So this past week I have looked at the pictures and I have read the stories and memories come flooding back. I look at the shingled roofs next door and I remember the steel roof my husband built for the man in the wheel chair down in the squatters village. The trailer that our church donated for a young couple to have a home of their own and a new future. The children playing in the streets with a balloon, a most treasured prize. The memories touch my heart. And my eyes well up. My heart is heavy. Today, I read a post that explains it all...how when you go to the ones in need...you see the heart of God. Upon returning home it is difficult to enjoy the blessings of this first world country and I too struggle with seeing After the Poverty.

And yet after I read this...my heart is encouraged, and I look out the window and see the sun peaking through. In this first world country I begin to remember the youth at the soup kitchen, the cans collected for the food bank and the money given to ones in need. My heart remembers the supper for the migrant workers and yard sales for the people in Mexico. I look around and I see the Son shining through and my heart is again full.