Monday, March 16, 2009

Claim His promises for me



Psalm 94:17-19 Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping, your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.


Today friends, today I need you to claim some promises for me... for the gripping moments when I am not able. This picture you see is one that's on my bed side table and I see it every night before I go to bed. Sometimes it's so painful to look at her pictures and other times it makes me smile. Last night was rough and parts of today as I saw her pictures....last night I cried a long time before I finally fell asleep....cried so long my pillow was wet. I layed there wrestling with my thoughts and asking God again why he chose us for this path. I wanted to fall asleep and forget about it for a little while, but I couldn't so I just "let it all out." I can't really describe what "it" is. Maybe it's a combination of tears that I don't want my children to see on a daily basis...the frustration and grief of missing her so terribly...the pain I feel way down deep, that maybe I only get to the core of every now and then, and last night was one to those times. Sometimes the pain feels the same way it did eight months ago and that's discouraging. So, for all of you who have asked what you can pray for me, today, here it is....

My theme verse of hope: "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW EVERY MORNING; great is your faithfulness...The Lord is my portion therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:21-25

Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. CONSIDER HIM who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

37 comments:

Amy said...

I am praying sweet Hope!!! Your Father is good and He will get you through!!!

Joy said...

Praying....

Anonymous said...

I will pray without ceasing--- as i sit in my recliner tonight, i wish i could take away that pain. i think you must feel like mary did when she watched her baby carried to the cross. like you, she knew it was all in God's plan, but the mother in her still ached for her baby. That part of being a christian sometimes is hard. He did not promise us smooth sailing, but when we get to the other side, what He did promise us is worth all the rough waters, high waves, and storm tossed nights we have to endure. i pray that your storm-tossed nights will soon be ended and you find peace.
i love you hope, and you WILL get through this.
mrs. cowan

max harrell said...

I am praying and will continue. I believe in the words that Jesus said when he promised blessings to those that mourn. Right now through tears & heartache it is so hard to see those blessings but I know that your heart will be comforted. May God bless you with peace, comfort and rest. May you fall asleep in His arms.
Carol Harrell, Athens, Ga

Nate and Kara said...

I am praying, dear friend.

jan graham said...

I am praying for you. I was introduced to your blog thru a coworker. I look forward to your posts. I am sorry for the pain you are suffering, I can't imagine. I have two children myself and would not know how to exist without them. God is using you in a way beyond imagination. Your thoughts and words are so precious.

Anonymous said...

Hope,
My prayers go out to you and your family. I don't know what tomorrow holds--none of us do, but we do know WHO holds tomorrow. Lew is resting in God's arms and celebrated a wonderful birthday wih him. I know you wanted her to celebrate it down here, but God just needed more joy in heaven and though I didn't know Lew, I can see in her eyes that joy and laughter that gave so much to your family. His arms are sure and though you may not always feel Him, he is holding you close.

Anonymous said...

Hope,
I have been reading your blog for a while now. Though I have never commented, I have been praying and will continue to pray.
Love to you and your precious family.
Ashley Noland

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful picture and what a beautiful littile girl. I will pray.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hope, On Sunday, we sang the song, It Is Well With My Soul, and I thought of you and Billy. You probably know the story behind the song. It was written by Horatio G. Spafford after he lost his four daughters when the ship they were on collided with another. His wife survived and sent him the message, SAVED ALONE. He wrote these words a few weeks later when his own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died. I know you can understand the pain he must have felt, but you also have the same hope in our savior that he had.

Some of the words:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul.

Hope, I pray that right now in your sorrow that you would feel the blessed assurance that Christ loves you beyond comprehension. I pray that you will be comforted in His arms. I am lifting you up in prayer that as you cling to His promises through scripture that you will feel more and more moments of peace and comfort.

Becky said...

I call "it" the pit. I used to go to the pit quite often, now it's not as often but the trip there is just as hard. I'm sorry you have to go there, it's not easy. I'm glad your faith is still strong. I will pray that you feel God's arms around you as you struggle.
With much love,
Becky

Anonymous said...

Friends,
Once again I find myself in tears on your behalf. I miss Laina with you. I can picture her face of delight over a girly party. I see her dressed in her fancy dress with her big bow in her hair. I can hear her laugh. I feel the sting of death. Today is also my friend Amie's birthday,my friend that died this summer. My heart yearns for you, and my friend Paul (Amie's husband) and all of us actually to have life as it was created to be b/4 brokennness and death entered creation. My soul keeps crying, "this is not how it was supposed to be!" I feel like God is answering, "I know, I created it... that is why I sent Jesus."
God's truth doesn't take away pain, but it is still true. "Though the Moutains be shaken and the Hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenent of peace be removed,' says the Lord who has compassion on you." Is 54:10 In the moments when you feel like your world is still crumbling, God is not.

I love you friends, so very much. I continue to pray and lift you before the One who loves you even more.

Kim

Lauren S. Hauge said...

I am praying!!
Love,Lauren

Ann L. said...

Praying those scriptures and lifting you to the Lord. Ann

Lindsey said...

claiming these for you today Hope. love you all.

Beth Scott said...

Praying for you, Hope, and claiming these promises for you. Love you.

April Brown said...

we're praying. love you, friend!

JJMERKEL said...

I am praying for your whole family dear friend.

--Shelley said...

i saw Alaina's funeral program today. I just stopped and stared at it. it was just the Lord reminding me to pray.

Anonymous said...

Standing on the promises that cannot fall,
listening every moment to the Spirit's call
resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

They're YOUR promises, Hope. They CANNOT fail.
I am praying unceasingly.
I love you,
Mrs. Cowan

Bill and Becky said...

I am praying for you. You are so amazing. Thank you for allowing us to feel your pain and be prayer warriors with you. I know God is using all of this for His glory. Keep the faith. Looking forward to meeting you one day. We love you and your family.
Bill and Becky Richburg

Danny and Jennifer White said...

Will pray Hope

Donna said...

Dear sweet Hope- you are not alone- there are so many who grieve with you- so many you never will see- I never knew her- but she was a dollbaby and seemed so full of life. You are in my prayers! Donna Tucker Ayers

Jill Williamson said...

Great things to pray for you. I will do it! I still think of you when I hear a train and pray. I can't imagine Aliana's birthday and your pain. I am sorry your heart aches but I pray that God will give you rest and peace and HOPE!!!!!!!

The Veenstra Family said...

One knee planted upon the ground and our voices lifting you in prayer to our Father.

Dena and Robbie said...

I am praying for you today.

Shea said...

I am always praying for you, Hope. The kids and I were in Butler for a few days this past week and you were so often on my mind. Praying, praying, praying....always!!

Anonymous said...

Hope, I continue praying for you and Billy and family. Love you, Christine Dawkins

Anonymous said...

I am still praying for you and Billy and your family. Love, Christine Dawkins

Laura said...

Praying for your rest tonight.

Anonymous said...

Love you Hope...
-E. Jacobs Graham

Anonymous said...

Claiming these and all His promises for you, Hope....the Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit..he heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds........ prayers for God to do what He says He will do. KA

Anonymous said...

Hope, I have been away from the computer and away from internet access, but you have not been away from my thoughts and prayers. Isn't it awesome that we don't have to have a special hook-up or wire to connect to God. We don't have to plug anything in. We can just call His name and He will hear our prayers. He has heard your prayers Hope and all our prayers on your behalf. He loves you and so do I. Rest well and I am still praying for you.
Mrs. Cowan

Anonymous said...

MISSING YOUR BLOG!

brimom19 said...

I pray for you and your family daily.

Kristin said...

Praying, Hope! I've been out of town... I'll get right on this.

Kim said...

Friends,
I am praying today.
With Love,
Kim