May 15, 2006
Despite the terrible circustances that arranged our time together on Saturday, I enjoyed being with the two of you, and Mrs. Charline, and with George and Shawni. Part of the blessing is being in each others lives. I believe that God had the six of us there Saturday for a reason: to be Jesus to each other. To have your emotional needs met by Mrs. Charline, who as much as anyone else knows your pain, to have your physical needs met by the Goldtraps and Whitts BBQ, and to have the comfort of God provided through them all.
When I was with you Saturday, you told me that Megan's favorite passage of scripture was the final verses of Isaiah 40: They read like this: Those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. These are certainly words the prophet Isaiah used for encouragement and comfort for Israel. And in this time of uncertainty and the struggle to understand, I want to take just a couple of minutes to look at what else God can give us from Isaiah 40, to provide strength, to provide hope, and to provide comfort, and comfort is where the chapter begins: 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her, that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for. God is telling the people here that now is the time for rest and peace, that the suffering was to end. For us as Christians, God provided an even greater sense of relief, a sacrifice for our sins in his Son, Jesus. And this provides the comfort, the assurance that the good life we try to live is complimented by the grace of God. 8. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. This reminds us that our life, although temporary, is held by the eternal loving God. 11. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to his heart; It is in times of powerlessness that I need to know That He is my Shepherd, that He does hold me close, that I am close to His heart, and that Jesus can empathize with me. He lost those close to Him, and now He pulls you close to His warmth, for safety and healing> He assures in the final 4 verses of this chapter. 28. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 29. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the week. 30. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31. but those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Lynn and Rodney I cannot fathom this. I don't understand it or claim to. I do however have direction for us from God: Hope in the Lord, Huddle close to Him in thought. Talk to Him, listen to Him, cry to Him, hold nothing back from Him, cast your cres on Him for He cares for you. Although we can't undestand, He promises you strength and power. Love the people around yoy as Megan loved those around her, as she loved Dee-Dee, as she loved all children. As she was Jesus' hands and feet to children, continue to be to all people, to Dee-Dee, to those who need to see God in you.
