Praise Devotionals to remind myself...

Spring Break!

Everyone looks forward to Spring Break.  Lots of fun things are planned, mission trips, ski trips...
One ski trip in 2009 is where everything changed for Jessica Boone.  Please pray for safety for our children and families this coming week.  May the Lord watch over their coming and going... 

The Lord will watch over your coming and going...

http://youtu.be/0vdLi8h-xdI - Dependence - Jamie Slocum

I hope you all are encouraged by Lisa Boone's updates on her precious daughter, Jessie.  It never ceases to amaze me that the people who seem to have the most strength are the ones who are going through unbearable circumstances yet put all their trust in the Lord.  They depend on Him completely.

I love that Lisa used Psalm 121 in her last post. That was the Psalm that God put on my heart as I read Lisa's post yesterday.   Isn't it amazing how God uses His Word to bring comfort and encouragement?    His Word is living and active.  When we read the Bible, it's just like we are having a conversation with our Father.  As we open His Word, He gives us advice and instructions on how to manage any situation.  Isn't it shame we go to Him and His Word so infrequently?

Lisa obviously listens to His Voice often.  Her updates are full of godly wisdom that He has planted in her heart over the years.  She read, studied and meditated on His Word when all was well, before Jessica's terrible accident.  Now, from the abundance of her heart, she speaks life into very difficult circumstance.  Jessica does this same thing.  Even when she was in pain and distress, she speaks God's truths.

Luke 6:43-45
⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

And just as God promised, knowing in advance what was to come, He went before, preparing Lisa and her family - He went before them making the way straight, evening out the bumps. 

In this passage from Deuteronomy, God's promise is to the Israelites, but is it any less a promise to us, His choice possession?  We are His children and He will do for us what He did for the Israelites.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  He is omniscient and He never sleeps, and He's never too busy or distracted away from anything that concerns us, no matter how insignificant we may think our problem is.  Our Father is loving and kind to His children and He goes before us preparing our way so that we can get through any obstacle.  God doesn't promise that it will be easy - in fact He promises it will NOT be easy.  But He also promises to be give us everything we need to face any challenge He allows.

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Lisa and Jessica Boone 2011 - what a miracle Jessie is!
What a testimony to God's faithfulness!

Update on Jessica Boone from last night:

3-8-2012 -  2nd Biliary Dilatation


Posted 12 hours ago

As I am watching over Jessie sleep I am peering out of the 7th floor huge window at Baptist. l lift up my eyes to the heavens...Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip..He who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep...The Lord watches over you...The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon at night. The Lord will keep you from all harm...He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both NOW and FOREVERMORE....

How comforting to read these words and know as we watch over her...He is watching over us...and never sleeps.

She is out of surgery. The procedure to dilate the biliary duct and place a larger tube went very smoothly. But it took all day to get there. There were all kinds of unexpected delays, doctor changes, questions of whether it was safe to do today. She had been NPO since midnight and all she wanted was a drink of water. We just kept looking to where our help comes from and asking Him to close the door if it wasn't to be today (He will not let your foot slip)....to say No if this different doctor wasn't to be the one(The Lord is your shade at your right hand). Over and over....step by step.....Lead us in this Lord for truly we have no idea and are totally dependent upon You. (The Lord will keep you from harm).. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both NOW....and forevermore. As the day kept progressing....at the last minute another door would open.

She is in alot of abdominal pain tonight. With careful positioning and pain medication we hopefully will minimize her discomfort tonight. Dr. Lee, the interventional radiologist who did the procedure, spent an inordinate amount of time with us after the procedure walking us step by step through the procedure showing the films of the procedure so we absolutely understand completely exactly what he did and what to expect. A gift we didn't expect but one we so thankfully received.

All of her labs are balancing, all her organs are functioning, all of her ducts are now draining, and she is safe in His arms.. What more could we ask for? So thankful for the blanket that has kept her wrapped so tightly. The blanket of prayer and love that is spread so lovingly by you. Thank you for yet another day in His house, in His hospital, in His World, In His Hands....It is all gift....May we continue to stretch out our hands to You, as our souls thirst for You like a parched land...let us hear of YOUR STEADFAST love in the morning...for in You , we put our trust( Psalm 143)..Thank you for the "soaking grace" over Your land and over Your children...amen and amen...