October 1st

2004

a day I will never forget

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam 

    and the mountains quake with their surging.

~ Psalm 46:1-3 ~

It was a beautiful, autumn morning, that morning you decided to finally surrender and let go... you let go of your stubbornness, your pride, your fears. You succumbed to peace, to stillness, to His presence.

I will never forget the days leading up to this morning. How in your eyes you were speaking to me and I didn't fully understand until later.  I will never forget the orchestration of God. How He led His people to pray for you. How He even controlled the message on the radio, for that very moment for you to hear about His justice, love, grace, mercy and your precious value in His sight.

 And that night. That last Thursday night, that last night in September. After a night of serious prayer by serious people. We prayed so fervently that His presence never left the entire situation until you were home. And I saw something in you that I had never seen before. That night. That Thursday, that last day in September. It was beautiful. You were beautiful, like a bride awaiting the walk down the aisle. You were ready. You were going home. 

And even the next morning, as we stumbled upon your empty shell His presence was still guiding. helping, prompting, orchestrating. 

 And still to this day, 

The Lord is the same. 

An ever present help in time of need.