Monday SHINE......
Reading Plan for the week of 7/22-7/29:
- Monday 7/22: Ephesians 2
- Tuesday 7/23: Ephesians 3
- Wednesday 7/24: Ephesians 4:1-5:2
- Thursday 7/25: Ephesians 5:3-6:9
- Friday 7/26: Ephesians 6:10-24
- Saturday 7/27: Job 1-3
- Sunday 7/28: Job 4, 5
Happy Monday, SHINE girls!
I sure hope your weekend was a good one. Don't you just love weekends? My favorite is Sundays! Being surrounded by others that love Jesus--there is truly nothing like it. Right?
I was very ready for the weekend by the time Friday rolled around last week. My emotional state was at an all time high, and I really was craving family time and church time on Sunday.
Last week, my friend Kim and I, went to visit a family at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta.
Their two daughters were involved in a terrible ATV accident, and one is left fighting for her life in ICU. The mother of the girls is a friend of mine. She is a friend of many in the small town where we live.
Our hearts are broken for this family. This is an understatement.
As Kim and I went to go shower our friend and her family with love, I wasn't prepared for the wave of unbelievable grief and sadness that would hit me. I mean, I knew it would be hard to see my grieving friend, but the realness and the rawness of it all knocked me to my knees.
As I spoke to the mother of the girls, I was in awe at her strength. I tried so hard to hold it together and not break down right there in front of her. I almost made it.
When I finally broke down, I held my friend tight and told her that she could not see it, but we could all see it.
Jesus was carrying her. Jesus was carrying her family.
It was so blatantly obvious. We could all see it. Her strength, her perseverance, her..... .unwavering faith.
When I got home from that visit, I searched my bible for words of comfort...for myself. My faith seemed to be wavering, my strength was gone. Unlike the mother of those precious girls.
The Lord led me straight to this verse.
I could have fell on my face. Quite possibly, I did.
So, as I prayed for what our memory verse should be this week...the Lord gently reminded me....what else could it possibly be but this verse. The verse He led me to that day. The day that I was emptied. Wavering. Weak. Lost. Searching for peace.
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| "When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 |
This is now my home screen on my cell phone. I need to remember this.
When my mind goes to my friend, the mother in the ICU room, I need to call on this verse.
Maybe some of you need to know this today as well.
Maybe it's not a child fighting for her life, but maybe it's something else.
Whatever it is that overwhelms you today, go to "The Rock that is higher than I."
One more thing....would you please say a prayer for the Nash family in Madison today?
We are all praying for a miraculous recovery for this sweet little girl.
Actually, please lift up the entire family. Would you?
Thank you so much.
looking up,
jill
