Out of the Depths

Out of the depths I call to You, Yahweh! 
Lord, listen to my voice;
let Your ears be attentive
to my cry for help.
Psalm 130:1 (HCSB)

"Olaf didn't have such a great spring break."--Lyssa

Lyssa arrived back to her college dorm, after having spring break at home, to find one of her "friends" gone.  I'm not sure how she handled it but it reminded me of some our long-lost pets of the past.  Hamsters, turtle, rabbit, frogs, and fish, many of which are buried somewhere in the back yard.  Many time there were tears, heartache, and grieving.

Lyss and Zoe, Easter 2013

Seeing as our family dog, Zoe, is 15 years old, I have a feeling that sometime in the near future we'll have to say good-bye to her as well.  I'm pretty sure that won't be an easy loss for any of us.

Grieving is always hard.  Sometimes the grief is over broken relationships, unattained goals, hurtful words, unfulfilled expectations, and sometimes death.  Each causing tears or heartache, fear and loneliness.  My prayer is that when Alyssa and Kyle face these "bumps in the road", they will know  that they can cry out to Jesus and that He will hear their pain, sense their questions, and speak to their condition.

"Out of the depths I call to You, Yahweh!"...the best way to survive the hard things of life!

Lord, teach my children to pray, so that when they face trials or experience grief, they will automatically call to you and sense your attention and presence. I pray that out of the depths Alyssa and Kyle will seek your face, sense your comfort, and experience your peace that passes all understanding.  My tendency is to pray for protection from the hard things of life, but I know that trials, grief, and conflicts are inevitable.  So, in those hard times, may Alyssa and Kyle, call on you, Precious Savior, and sense you arming them with strength and filling them with love and hope for better days.  You are the God who sees, hears, and knows, and I give you praise!

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Sometime Thursday

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

Sometime Thursday night life got too hard.
Sometime Thursday night desperation hit its deepest level.
Sometime Thursday night a sophomore at my son's school decided he could handle no more.
Sometime Thursday night this young man took his last breath.
Sometime Thursday night a mother and father lost their young son.

Oh how I pray that there is not a "sometime" in Alyssa and Kyle's life.  I pray that life never gets so hard that they want to give up and give in.  I pray that they never experience a deep desperation to leave this world.   I pray that when they are discouraged they can find help, hope, and healing.

We all know that in this world we will have trouble, but I hope my children know whom they believe, and are convinced that He is able to guard what they entrust to him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)

God has come so that they may have life and that it may be abundant.  I pray that they know this full well.

Lord, thank you for the abundant life you have for Alyssa and Kyle.  I know that in this world they will experience trouble, heartache, loneliness, and fear, but with you they can overcome all these things.  Help Alyssa and Kyle live in the knowledge that they are your children, they are loved, and you are always with them even when the days seem dark and impossible.  Fill our children with hope, joy and strength as they experience hard times.  May Alyssa and Kyle know and believe in you as their personal Savior, and be convinced that you are able to guard each and every thought, feeling and fear that they entrust to you.  You never sleep or slumber, dear Jesus, and are there when they call on your name.  Lord, be Alyssa and Kyle's every hope and joy!

Wordless Wednesday

Heavy Loads

"For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (ESV)

Kyle and his pumpkin...2003

The above scripture is interesting in different versions...

One version says "Nothing is impossible for God!" (CEV or GOD's WORD translation).  And oh, how I believe that to be true.  But all the other versions leave me with the hope that with God nothing is impossible for us.

Our kids will face many challenges in life that seem way too big to handle, but with God I know that they can do it!  And over time, and with experience, I'm thinking they will not only learn that they are stronger than they think, but they will learn that they can trust God to be with them.

Some days the task will be too heavy to take on, but with God all things are possible!  (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:27)

Lord, there will be many things in Alyssa and Kyle's life that seem impossible, but your Word offers a life-changing hope.  With you everything is possible.  All those things that feel heavy, too hard, or difficult beyond our own means, are not impossible with your help.  Lord, be near Alyssa and Kyle.  Be their strength, their hope, and their reason to keep on going when it's easy to think about giving up.  You are all powerful, all knowing, and always present, and we have much to give you thanks for.  Amen.

A Life with Hope

Today's verse:  "You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ."  Ephesians 2:12-13 (NLT)

 Kyle & Alyssa --2004

Lord, life without you is a life without hope.  So many in this world are lost, lonely, living in darkness, and searching for something that can fill the void in their lives.  And until they come to know you in a personal way, they cannot experience a truly satisfying life, filled with an everlasting joy, and marked by the your peace.  Oh, I pray that my children never experience a life a part from you.  Through your salvation may they be brought near to you, and filled with the hope that comes only from being your child.  May Alyssa and Kyle call you Father all the days of their life. 

The Light of the World

Alyssa's first Christmas--1994

Today's verse: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Fifteen years ago we were in the midst of celebrating Alyssa's very first Christmas. Oh how time flies! What joy it was to celebrate this time of the year with a new little one in our home. I'm not sure she understood all the excitement, but her parents sure had fun.

One of the gifts we gave her on her first Christmas was a Glo-Worm. Remember those precious little creatures that had a light-up face when you squeezed it? I thought it was the perfect friend for my little girl.
I thought it would be a great bedtime pal. Glo-worm would offer just enough light in the midst of a dark night, that Alyssa wouldn't have to be afraid of the dark. A little light dispels great darkness.

Just like our Jesus. He enters into our world, and replaces the darkness with His light. He gives hope where there was once despair, peace in the place of fear, and makes beauty from our ashes. I pray that when my kids have days that may seem dark, they know to whom they can turn and find light.

For HE is the most wonderful light for a dark world...even better than that cute little Glo-Worm!

Lord, thank you for being the light of the world. What a beautiful promise you give your children, that whoever follows you will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! A beautiful gift to take hold of and behold. Lord, forever be the light in my children's life. When they fight the darkness of loneliness, fear, or hurt, I pray they remember to turn to you for help in dispelling what they cannot remove on their own. Lord, always be their light, their hope, and their promise for beautiful things in their life.

God of Hope

Today’s verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Alyssa has a beautiful eye when it comes to photography. She has a gift to capture nature in unique and creative ways, that pulls out its natural beauty. I love looking at the world through her eyes. Above is a picture taken during a hailstorm, and if you look closely you can actually see the white specks of hail.

As believers we know that in the New Testament God offered a rainbow to His people, as a reminder that God would never again flood the earth. So, when I saw Alyssa’s photo it reminded me of a profound truth that I pray my kids will always remember. It reminds me that no matter how big the storms of our life are, or how hard we are pelted by life’s “hail”, God is bigger, and He will always be the Hope we can look to and lean on.

He is our Hope when we feel lost.
He is our Hope when the skies are dark and we feel tossed.
He is our Hope when the world around us is knocking us down.
His our Hope when things tend to make us frown.
He is our Hope when things seem too hard.
He is our Hope forever and always.
Amen.

God of Hope, please fill my children with all joy and peace as they trust in you, so that they overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit. Lord, if darkness ever threatens to overtake their spirits, I pray that You show yourself to be their Hope. You promise hope for every believer. You promise hope for their future. You even promise hope for their children. I pray that the hope that comes from you always lives and breathes in the depths of who they are. May their troubles never be too great to loose the hope you give. Lord, I love you and thank you for the hope you give, and that you give it to my children in great abundance. May we live differently because of your sweet presence in our lives.