HOPE

I titled this blog hope because this morning in my Bible reading, I read Lamentations 3. Today, I am filing for a divorce. I don't think I have struggled more with a single decision more in life, ever. There are so many mixed emotions. The strongest one being grief and mourning over the death of my marriage of almost 18 years.

In my Life Recovery bible the commentary says: Lamentations 3:1-26.

Perhaps we are brokenhearted because of all the bitter suffering in our family. Maybe our once-good reputation has been ruined and now we are ashamed. Our life has been taken captive and destroyed before the watchful eyes of friends and foes alike.

Jeremiah watched this happen to his beloved nation, Israel. It's no wonder he is known as the weeping prophet. The people of God refused to listen to Jeremiah's warnings, and they were taken captive by a heathen nation as a result. Lamentations is a record of Jeremiah's lament over the shameful fate of God's people. He wept, " Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, ' My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!' The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to HOPE when I remember this:

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, ' The Lord is my inheritance, therefore, I will hope in him!'
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Turning our life over to God includes giving him our pain and suffering. In our times of grief and shame we can hope, knowing that God will help us overcome the problems we face. God is strong enough to lift our burdens and loving enough to mend our broken hearts.

So, as you can see, God knew exactly what I needed to hear today. He is soooooo good!! I love the fact that HIS love never ends for us. His mercy will give us hope for each day!

Kept by His Mercy today,

Dee Ann

A glorious day!!

When we think we have had enough of it all, God allows the clouds and storms to roll back and He gives us a glimpse of His majesty and glory!

Yesterday was the Medlock Juvenile Prison Ministry event. It was a glorious day!! The weather was perfect, God provided some awesome teaching and testimonies, beautiful music and more than enough hot dogs and cookies. There was 42 new decisions for Christ. God is moving in such a powerful way in the hearts of the youth and staff there at Medlock. It is an awesome privilege to get to be a small part of what God is doing there.

I was so blessed to get to work side by side with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ there. I was once again so encouraged by God's people. When we walk through the dark storms of life, he sends his people to show us his goodness and He does it just for us in a very personal way!! But, the really cool thing about our God is that he is the master at multitasking. He blessed the youth and staff at Medlock, the other volunteers and me all at the same time!

God thank you for giving us glimpses of your glory. It helps so much when we are walking through the storms of life to get to see you alive and working. It gives me the encouragement and strength to keep walking. God, help us to be your people that can bless others while we walk with you. Jesus Name, Amen.

I will praise you in the storm

Life has changed a lot in the short time since I have posted. My husband and I of 18 years has decided to once again separate. We were separated for a year and a half and then reconciled for 7 months. The reconciliation didn't make it, I'm sorry to say. There is a time to mourn and a time to laugh the Bible says and now isn't a laughing time for me. As a matter of fact, the death of anything or anybody dear to us leaves us asking the big question, WHY?

I am so thankful that God just holds us close to his heart and lets us beat against his chest as we ask it. I am feeling a little like a female Job right now. My husband is gone, my son is in prison and my daughter doesn't want to live here when my son returns home. I know it can be worse, but somehow that doesn't take the pain away.

Not to mention the bills piling up as the checkbook dwindles. But, that is the least of my concerns.

I told you that some field trips aren't easy and this is one of them. I am going to praise God for my many many blessings and most of all for his presence in my life. I look for the blessings each step. I have found many!!

My daughter's heart is softening some. The hurt and bitterness will be melted like snow as spring approaches. This is just a season. We are all in good health. My mother's blood clot is dissolving. My friends in Christ are holding my arms up in the battle and lacing my boots once again. I still have a home and a job. Dastena is growing in her faith in spite of the problems. She sees us depending on God to get us to the next field trip. My son is reading his Bible and learning to play guitar in prison for the worship services there. God is blessing the Medlock Juvenile Prison Ministry and it is awesome to be a part of that. I have so MUCH to praise for him in this storm because the rainbow is a promise.

God is faithful!!

Looking at the rainbow through the clouds,

Dee Ann