It's been a really rough week...and I think it's only going to get harder...if you want to know what's going on, feel free to ask. But God is big..and He is good.

a sampling of things that speak to my heart right now:

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when sorrows like sea billows roll
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, oh my soul.
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Be still my soul!
The Lord is on thy side
Leave to thy God to order and provide.
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Hagar's response to God when He tells her to go back to the horrible situation she was in was obedience. The response we witness was "God sees me. He cares about me. He knows about me and my affliction. I have seen God!" Her eyes were no longer focused on her situation; they were focused on God.
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Through affliction, He teaches us many precious lessons that otherwise we would never learn. By affliction, He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, and makes us long for heaven.
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In hope against hope Abraham believed...without becoming weak in the faith....yet, with respect to the of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4
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His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor His delight in the legs of man;
the Lord delights in those who fear Him,
who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 147:10-11
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You who live in heaven...hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth.
Who are afraid of being left by those we love, who get hardened by the hurt.
Do you remember when you lived down here where we all scrape to find the faith to ask for daily bread.
Did you forget about us after you had flown away. Well, I memorized every word You said.
Still, I'm so scared, I'm holding my breath. While You're up there just playing hard to get.

You who live in radiance - hear the prayers of those of us who live in sin.
We have a love that's not as patient as yours was , but still we do love now and then.
Did you ever know loneliness; did you ever know need? Do you remember just how long a night can get
When you are barely holding on and your friends fall asleep? And don't see the blood that's running in your sweat.
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted While You're up there just playing hard to get.

I know you bore our sorrows.
I know you feel our pain.
I know that it would not hurt any less if it could be explained
I know that I am only lashing out at the One who loves me most.
And after I have figured this, somehow all i really need to know is if:

You who live in eternity hear the prayers of those of us who live in time.
We can't see what's ahead and we cannot get free of what we've left behind.
I'm reeling from the voices that keep screaming in my ear.
All these words of shame and doubt. blame and regret.
I can't see how You're leading me unless You've led me here.
Where I'm lost enough to let myself be led.
And so You've been here all along I guess.
It's just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get.
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comfots us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those whoa re in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinth 1:3-5