Pink Toenails

I painted my toenails, though some may never see. The cool weather has forced me into warm socks and sneakers so my toes are hidden to most of the world. As a result, almost no one will ever see how cute my digits look when dotted with this shiny, downright girly shade of pink.

My husband will see them. He pretends to be indifferent to such things, but I think he secretly enjoys it when I add a little sparkle to my "temple," so to speak. My kids will probably see them. The boy will likely question the logic behind putting forth such effort on something that will not be seen by the general public. The girl will want to borrow my polish so she, too, can enjoy pink toenails.

Beyond this small crew and the occasional houseguest, few will notice my efforts and even less will appreciate them. Most people I encounter will never know the beauty hidden in my Keds. So why do I bother? Because even on the most wet and dreary days, I have something bright and hopeful to hold on to. My toes bless me. When I feel blessed, I can't help but spill that hope and blessing onto others. In short, my hidden beauty brightens the lives of those around me as well as myself, at least in a small way. Some will want to know the source of my beauty while others will be satisfied by my pleasant disposition and not have a deeper curiosity.

I think of my private spiritual life in similar terms. Most people will never know how much time I spend alone with the Lord, reading my Bible, praying and meditating on the Word. Those closest to me will. They will catch a glimpse of me as I highlight favorite passages or research verses in a commentary or lexicon. They might even see me praying. Some will be glad I'm maintaining my spiritual temple. Others may not understand why I take so much time with the Lord alone when I already go to church a couple of times a week. A few might ask me to help them begin a deeper relationship with the Lord. A significant portion will be glad my "Christian-ness" makes me nice and leave it at that.

But, whether or not anyone ever notices my time alone with the Lord, I will continue to reach out to Him. Because even in the most difficult and painful circumstances, His mercy and grace give me something to hold on to. He blesses me and I can't help but spill that hope and blessing onto others. There is nothing better than hearing someone say, "I don't know what you have, but I want some of it," and being able to tell them all about the joy that comes from our Savior.

Of course just as there are seasons in the year when my pink toenails are exposed for the world to see, there are times when I share my faith boldly. It is welcomed by some and ignored by others. No matter the outcome, growing stronger in my faith by growing closer to the Lord is something I will never give up.

I'll keep painting my toenails, though some may never see.

Infection Precautions

The recent news regarding MRSA infections caught my attention. The thought of not being able to protect my children from this is difficult to consider. After some research, it seems the best protection from this and other life-threatening infections is prevention. I have compiled a list of steps to take to minimize the risk of infection. I'm sharing it here for your benefit and the benefit of my family.

• Wash your hands often, especially when exposed to someone with an infection or when you touch objects that may be contaminated. Wash thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.



• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered until healed. If a sore or cut becomes red, oozes, causes pain or isn't healing, see a doctor.



• Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.



• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sports equipment, razors, water bottles, etc.



• Shower after any contact sports or after working out in a public facility and change into clean clothes.



• Children who have draining wounds that cannot easily be contained by dressings should be excused from sports participation and in some cases should be kept home from school until the draining stops or can be easily contained, particularly if MRSA infection is known or suspected.



• Don't insist on antibiotics for colds or other viruses.



• If prescribed antibiotics, take all the pills, even if you feel better before they are all gone.

An ounce of prevention...

Update on Taylor

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!! He has answered our prayer more wonderfully than I could have ever expected!

If you missed my original prayer request for this little girl, you can read about it here.

Here's the GREAT news:

The doctors have decided that whatever is bugging Taylor's eye is NOT CANCER!!

She is being treated with steroids right now and some vision has returned. Continue to pray for complete healing for her. Thank you for your prayers this far!

Words will never express my joy over this. God answered our prayer and this time He said YES!

Oh, God, I am in awe of you right now. You heard my cry and answered. I know you are sovereign and how this turned out was completely up to You. Your willingness to reach out to Taylor and her family has left me overwhelmed. You are a God of provision AND a God of miracles. You are so good. Thank you for saying yes. I love you, Lord. I don't love you because you answered this the way I wanted, but because I know you hear me when I call. Thank you for being our Abba, our Dad. amen.

Bless the Lord, Oh, my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name!

The Real Deal

Isn't this pretty? I bought this candle recently and am thoroughly enjoying it. It is my favorite color and my favorite candle fragrance (spiced pear) in one! The scent fills the area around me and soothes my senses. I, for one, think every home should be equipped with at least one nicely scented candle at all times. Simply having a candle out and lit seems to make everyone speak more softly, doesn't it? Then again, maybe that only happens at my house.




Here's the weird thing about this particular candle: It isn't real. It smells like a real candle, glows and flickers like a real candle, and even looks like a real candle...as long as you don't look too closely.



If you were to evaluate my new candle more thoroughly, you'd notice a light bulb artificially flickering where a wick and flame should be. Can you see the difference? The "flame" is too perfectly round and the glow isn't quite right. Plus, the sides have "melted" in a perfectly round, uniform fashion. Real candles are much less tidy than this one.





Here's an image of a real candle burning. Simple observation shows us the flame is irregular, as are the melting sides of the candle. It doesn't take much to observe the difference, especially when you compare the fake candle to the real thing.

Both of these candles smell really nice when they are on, they both emit a glow and both bring comfort. The real candle, though, brings a brighter light and warmth the other candle cannot replicate.

A fake can never replace the real thing.

That phrase is never more true than it is when it comes to our faith. So many times we want to mold a savior of our own design. For whatever reasons, we aren't satisfied with the Christ of the Bible. Maybe we think He's too harsh or sets standards that are too high to reach. So, we set aside the Bible and, instead, make up a "Jesus" who is more palatable to our senses.

Fake God:

"What she did to me will never be forgiven. There are some things God won't forgive."

Real God:

Mark 11:25: And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Fake God:

"God doesn't mind if I tell a few 'white lies' that protect other people's feelings...or keep me out of trouble!"

Real God:

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Someone actually said this one to me. I'm not making this up (Fake God):

"I left my husband because God sent me a different man to love. I know God put us together!"

Real God:

Hebrews 13:14: Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

The God we serve sets a high standard for us, not because he's mean, but because He made us and knows how we will live the most successful, God-honoring lives.

A god of our own design might seem to make things easier initially, but will never mature us to be the kind of people God made us to be. Plus, we will miss out on the warmth and light that God alone can bring us.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12

His path is narrow, but living in His light will take us through that path where we can enjoy the greatest beauty He has to offer. He is Real and He is Good.

HOME

As the weather cools, the sun sets earlier and the flies begin to die off (thank you, Lord!), my thoughts turn to home. I make plans to deep clean each room, add festive touches here and there, and make big pots of soup. Blankets cover the backs of sofas, slippers are always within reach, and the mugs move to the front of the cabinet.

Why? I want my family to feel comforted when they come through the front door at the end of the day. I want them to feel safe, loved, warm, relaxed and expected. I want them to feel like they are HOME.

What does "home" mean to you?

The dictionary has a nice definition: the place in which one's domestic affections are centered

Home is the place where my affections are centered. The people who mean the most to me are there. I fall asleep best when we are all home, safely tucked in and healthy. I love sitting down at the dinner table to discuss the happenings of the day with everyone. I love laughing with them when we play bananagrams or apples to apples. I love shouting out our favorite quotes after we watch a great movie or The Office together. I love sitting bedside, discussing deep truths or untangling emotional messes.

For some, "home" paints a different picture in their minds. There is pain, instability or even abandonment connected with that word. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Psalm 90:1-2 says, "Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God." (NLT)

Our true home is God! He is preparing a place for us to dwell when we leave this earthly home, but in the meantime He is our home. The word translated as "have been" in this verse means, "to abide, remain, continue." He is our place to abide continually and has been our home since before he even made the earth. He is the best of what home is: Safety, laughter, a listening ear, comfort, a hiding place and so much more.

If you have ugly pictures of home, ask God to replace those images with images of Him. You can find those lovely images in His Word. Read your Bible and find out what home looks like.

He is your home. Isn't that great news?

Unexpected Serenade

MoooOOOooo. MooOOOooo. That was the music lilting through the air last night; all night last night.

We live in Bakersfield, California. I know most people think it is a town full of cows and guys chewing straw, but that is far from accurate. This is a city of about 300,000 people, bustling with all sorts of activity. We have professional and semi-pro sports teams, at least 5 hospitals, a state-of-the art arena and convention center...James Taylor is performing here in a couple of weeks, for Pete's sake. But, indeed, we also are home to some amazing farm land and cattle ranches. I just didn't expect to have such a ranch near my big-city back yard. Our neighborhood is zoned for large animals and I have always found comfort in the rooster who wakes me up every morning. When we purchased our home a few years ago, we knew large animals living among us were a charming possibility. We just never thought it would really happen. Famous last words

Our lives often go this way, though. We find that comfortable rhythm, working with the quirks and bumps along the way, and make it all work somehow. We know there is always the possibility of something dropping into our life that we are not going to particularly enjoy, but we try not to think about it. Then it happens. It could be something as simple as our longed-for new baby having colic. It could be as complicated as our teenager making decisions we never expected they would make. Or maybe there is a deep desire that looks, for now, as though it is impossible to attain.

If we will allow it, God will use these times to help us grow into the people he wants us to become. I love what I read in Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (emphasis mine).

He not only wants to mature us through these disappointments and trials, he also wants us to be certain about who He is. He will see us through, but we will never know that for certain until we actually move through that disappointment or difficulty and look at it from the other end.

It is so cool that we serve a God who uses everything for His good. Sometimes he uses rebellious teenagers. Sometimes He uses cows.

Dan in Real Life

We just got home from a sneak preview showing of Dan in Real Life.

It was so great! I cannot believe how much I enjoyed it! Basically, Dan is a widower with three daughters who stumbles into an opportunity to love again. It is PG-13, but I was comfortable watching it with my 13 and 16 year old...and the 16-year-old's boyfriend. OK, one scene made me wriggle a bit in my seat, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. It has been a looong time since I've laughed that hard (hubby ribbed me to settle down a couple of times). I even shed a couple of tears.

Steve Carell is so wonderful in this movie. I watch The Office faithfully every Thursday night and, honestly, this felt like watching an entirely different person. He loves his girls and the rest of his family so much. Somehow he was able to convey such a deep sense of love and heartache for his deceased wife. Of course, watching new romance develop is always nice. The guys in our group enjoyed themselves, though, so I don't think you could classify this as a "chick flick." I have to see this one again!

Dan in Real Life was the perfect respite from my real life. I will be quoting this movie for a looong time!

What is Getting Me Through

Made Me Glad - Hillsongs Australia

I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock
I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in heaven but You
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Psalm 46:1-7

I Had That Annoying Dream...

...where I'm trying to stop my car and the brakes don't work. I end up pushing on the brake as hard as humanly possible and the car finally comes to a rolling stop. Grrr...

It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that one out. My life is moving in a direction where things are happening that affect me, but over which I have no control. I'd sure like this to stop, but that isn't going to happen any time soon. But, hey, like it says in 2 Corinthians, His strength is made perfect in my weakness, right?

I like how the verse is stated in "The Message:"

My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. - 2 Corinthians 12:9, the message

So, if I really believe God's Word, I need to trust that God will either stop the car for me, or make that baby fly. Either way it will be a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. And I need to be glad for the result He brings to bear no matter what.

That's a tough one. I really want the car to stop.

Learning from Grandma

I have never been more proud of my Boxer dog than I was last night. Ruben is my hero!

My MIL's back procedure was safely completed, although she did suffer some after affects of the anesthesia. I'll leave what particular affects those were up to your imagination. Poor thing. She's feeling better today, but we had a loooong night. For some reason, she constantly felt the need to visit the restroom throughout the night. Each time she did, she couldn't remember how to get back to her bedroom (two doors down). Bless my sweet Ruben, he woke up and let us know Grandma was wandering the house almost immediately each time.

My husband found her in the kitchen at about 1am, the laundry room at about 2:30, and entering our bedroom arount 4am. By 5am, he decided to just get up and see if his mom could keep down some breakfast. Each time he found her he would whisper, "Mom, do you need anything?" Each time she'd respond, at the top of her voice, "No, son! I just need to find my room!" And she'd go on and on about how she was sure she knew the way and can't figure out how on earth she ended up where she was. The kids, in true teenage fashion, slept through everything.

Along with feeling really tired today, I am also aware of the object lesson I was given last night.

Proverbs 4:12 tells us,
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (NIV)

My MIL went the way that seemed right to her, but following her instincts could have caused her harm if we hadn't been there to redirect her.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Point made and taken. I think you get the gist.

You Never Know Who's Listening

Another good life lesson about guarding our conduct at ALL TIMES!
(and it makes me laugh, too)

Pa. Woman Cited for Cursing at Toilet

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.

Dawn Herb could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300.

"It doesn't make any sense. I was in my house. It's not like I was outside or drunk," Herb told The Times-Tribune of Scranton. "The toilet was overflowing and leaking down into the kitchen and I was yelling (for my daughter) to get the mop."

Herb doesn't recall exactly what she said, but she admitted letting more than a few choice words fly near an open bathroom window Thursday night.

Her next-door neighbor, a city police officer who was off-duty at the time, asked her to keep it down, police said. When she continued, the officer called police.

Mary Catherine Roper, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Philadelphia, took issue with the citation.

"You can't prosecute somebody for swearing at a cop or a toilet," she said.

Patient Endurance

My Mother-in-Law has come for a visit. This stay was supposed to be an overnight event, but the doctors planned something a bit more extensive. Instead, she will be with us, in need of medical supervision, for about a week. This was not on the agenda for her or my family, so we're all a bit stressed out. My MIL's spine will be injected with some sort of bone-strengthening substance this afternoon.

She's putting on a brave face, but I know she's scared and a little confused. She's 78 years old, getting frail and she lost her husband -her rock- almost 2 years ago. She is also in the early/mid stages of dementia; far enough to be forgetful & occasionally irrational, but still aware enough to know such behaviors aren't normal for her. Scary. She knows she is slowly leaving us.

At dinner last night, she fought to find interesting things to say to her grandchildren while being unable to hear their responses. Conversation was strained, but we all tried to give her the opportunity to connect with her beloved grandbabies. We sat with her while she watched her favorite show, Wheel of Fortune, and followed it up with Dancing with the Stars. Then my husband, her baby, helped settle her into bed for the night. It must be a strange sensation to tuck your Mommy in at bedtime.

Selfishly, I am struggling with all of this for my own reasons. This week was already full enough without adding caring for my aging Mother-in-Law all week into the mix. I am juggling so many other responsibilities. The laundry list of stuff I have already committed to do this week leaves me frustrated and feeling inadequate. As soon as our house guest was down the for the night I retreated to my bedroom to have some alone time with Jesus.

I read a bit of Jeremiah -interesting, but God's disappointment with His chosen people has been going on for some time now in this particular book and, quite frankly, it's bringing me down. I moved on to 2 Thessalonians and found this little gem:

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 3:5. (NLT)

Patient endurance. I can be patient. I can endure. What does it take to combine the two, though? This phrase is translated in the NIV as Steadfastness. The word means "firm in purpose" and "fixed in direction." I like that. I also love that such steadfastness comes from Christ. I don't have to conjure it up on my own. If I did, I'd never make it. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Like Ayiesha Woods says in one of my new favorite songs:

Don't you wish that every day
Was an easy day
And there was nothing that you couldn't do?
But if every day
Was an easy day
You'd never be able to say that Jesus brought you through!

Bring me through, Jesus!

What Teens Want is What We All Want

The Barna Group recently released the results of a study they conducted regarding the spiritual lives of teens. Specifically, they looked at what teens want in a church.

link: Barna Group's Teen Church Study

The results are worth reviewing. Even if you don't have kids at home, this is the generation we need to reach for Christ. Their responses were not surprising, but they were disappointing. These kids aren't being discipled. They are searching for something, but they don't even know where to begin. They hop from one idea to another, picking and choosing what aspects of faith tickle their fancy. For example, 31% of these teens say they read the Bible, but only 18% say they are interested in studying the Bible.

What they seem most interested in getting from church is "making a connection with God" (45%), whatever that is supposed to mean. Many of them attend church to be with their friends (34%).

After reading the survey, I don't think teens are much different than their parents. We are a lazy population, wanting everything easy and instant - even peace of mind. The idea of counting it joy when we face trials leaves us cold and disappointed. We want the Jesus who feeds the multitudes, performs miracles and rises on the third day. We don't want to consider the 30 years of prep time He had before his ministry began. We want conferences with awesome praise singing and dramatic "words from God" to keep us at the peak of our spiritual mountain top. We don't want to get up early to be silent and still with the Lord.

It is much more fun to be on the winning team in a spiritual "world series" of sorts than to change dirty diapers in the nursery, clean up after the potluck or even get up early for a prayer meeting.

Feeling good about ourselves is great, but that can't be the whole point of drawing close to God. How do we meet the immediate want of comfort and a sense of belonging while meeting the deeper need of learning to abide in Christ no matter the circumstance?

Maybe the answer lies in the greatest want in the survey: Connection. One significant way God shows His love to me is through His children. I have learned a great deal about walking with Christ alone, but I have also grown a great deal by listening to the insights and teachings of others who are walking with Christ, too. So, if people are coming to church to be with friends, maybe we need to make a point to become friends who introduce them to the best friend they will ever have. Of course, that takes time. Are we willing to make the effort to welcome people coming to our church for the first time? Will we call and visit those who occasionally drop off the church map? Are we willing to hear their struggles and pray with them even if it means we miss the kickoff of the big game?

Why do we go to Church? What are we looking for? What do we want? Is it all about us? Shouldn't it be about ministry, too?

Getting to the Point

This past weekend, I was privileged to participate in a conference led by Priscilla Shirer. The whole thing was great and I'm sure I'll share more about the experience in the days to come, but one task she asked us to complete has gotten me over a difficult hurdle and I wanted to share what I learned.

During our final session, she gave us some tools to use when we are studying the Bible on our own. Then she gave us a verse and gave us a chance to use those tools. The verse was Colossians 3:1-3 and that's when the Lord spoke to my heart.

I have been hurting over a child's recent diagnosis of and treatment for cancer. I knew another little boy (her cousin) who died of brain cancer a few years ago. It has been difficult for me to cope with the knowledge that God sometimes says no, even when our prayer is on behalf of a child.

This passage, although contextually related to submitting to human regulations, brought a big issue into focus for me.

My thoughts need to focus on eternal things, not things of this earth. I need to remember my loved ones (and not-so-loved ones) in prayer, but then I need to trust God for the outcome. I need to let it go. There is no magical prayer formula we can pray and always receive the answer from God that we want.

If I truly believe God hears me when I call on Him, then, once I have prayed, the ball is in His court. I think I have been subconsciously guilty of the belief that if I stop wringing my hands in despair, then I have stopped caring. That is simply not true.

So, I will continue to pray for Taylor as new issues arise. I will pray for her family, her friends, for courage, strength, peace, even joy in the struggle; I will pray for the doctors and nurses who care for her; I will pray when circumstances grow difficult. Then I will let it go so He can do what He knows is best for Taylor and everyone involved.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Most of us know that portion of Galatians 5:1 by heart. Do we know the rest? "Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." I wonder if this verse would apply to being severely burdened by worry? Matthew 11:28-30 tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. His burden is light. If the burden weighs heavy upon me, it is not the burden God wants me to bear. He will take that burden on Himself if I will just let it go.

I'm letting it go.

Jesus Hold Me - Let's Celebrate!

I'll share more about how the Lord is walking me through my current struggle, but first I have to show you only one of the ways he's reaching out to me. This morning on my way to work, this song came on the radio. This song sings out my lament of the last week from a different perspective - the perspective God has revealed to me over the last weekend. Yes, I need my Lord to hold me, just like I shared in my poem last Friday. But, when he holds me, I no longer need to despair. He's got it covered!

Thanks, Jesus, for holding me! If you can listen to this song and not want to dance with the Lord, I don't know what to say to you. Be blessed! Thanks, Andrew Carlton, for sharing such a song of encouragement!

I just found Andrew Carlton's MySpace page. You can find it here. You can hear a ton of his songs there. I think I have discovered a new favorite!! Listen to "This is Faith" if you have time. Wow.

Hold Me, Lord

Sometimes I am a warrior,
Filled with passion unrestrained;
Sometimes I am a journeyman
Great wisdom sought to gain;

Today I am a helpless child,
Stuck in doubt and fearfulness;
In all these times what I need most is
My source of strength and rest.

Hold me, Lord
Remind me how
Your mercy reigns
When my heart doubts;

Hide me, Lord
To You I flee
When I am weak
My stronghold be.

Whatever comes, I love you so
You know that to be true
Sometimes the hurts of life - and death -
Bring pain tough to get through.

Right now I cling to what I know
You are my All in All
Alpha Omega, Beginning, End
You hear me when I call, so

Hold me, Lord
Remind me how
Your mercy reigns
When my heart doubts;

Hide me, Lord
To You I flee
When I am weak
My stronghold be.

Faith and Trust

I've been quiet for the last few days. Sunday I received some news that is difficult to hear and to accept. A short while ago, I mentioned the spiritual struggle I went through after the loss of a young boy in my church family. Sunday, I found out that his 8-year-old cousin has just been diagnosed with cancer in one eye. She has already lost her sight in that eye and has begun radiation therapy this week.

I don't know what to do.

I want to pray, believing 100% for the miracle I KNOW God can provide. What I also know with 100% certainty, however, is God does not always provide that miracle.

This family is very close and went through every step of treatment together until that precious little boy went home to Jesus 3 years ago. They live in the same community, so they will now be revisiting all of those places together as they support this little girl as she undergoes treatment. I can't even begin to imagine what they must be feeling right now. I was only a third-party onlooker/prayer partner the last time and it brought my faith to my knees.

I long for the time Isaiah talked about:

They will not work in vain,
and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.
For they are people blessed by the Lord,
and their children, too, will be blessed.
- Isaiah 65:23 (NLT)

I don't know how to pray. I love my Lord so much, but I don't trust Him to answer. At least, I don't trust Him to answer the way I want Him to. I accept that He is sovereign, but I don't like it.

Oh, Lord, help my untrusting heart. I love you, Lord. I know you love Taylor more than I can imagine. She needs a touch from you. You know my heart, Father. I want the miraculous. I want Taylor to have a testimony of healing to share for the rest of her long, healthy life. I want Taylor's family to be able to believe you are a God of miracles. They already know you are a God of provision. You saw them through a very tough time once before. They need you even more now. I don't know their hearts, but I suspect they are all very afraid for Taylor right now. They've seen the worst that can happen. Please, Lord, show them the best that can happen. Give them a reason to hope. Give me a reason to hope. You are a God who can sustain us through anything that comes our way. I know that. This time, can you be our Father who heals? Rain down on us, Abba. We need you. Taylor needs you. This family needs their Dad. I need my Dad. Be that for us I pray. Amen.