My Old Friend, The Sea ~ Part 2

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
2 Peter 1:4
(KJV)

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about a post I published here on April 28, 2015,

just three years, to the day, after my dear Mom left this world to be with Jesus.

Since beginning to write this post, it hit me with force, that today is exactly, to the day,

three years after I published that post called, "My Old Friend, The Sea."

God recently kept the promise I shared in that post, and He let my dear husband and son and me return to that same spot, just like He said He would.
His words did not fail, and when we arrived, my dear old friend, the sea, was still there.

Steadfast.

Unchanging.

Faithful.

The same as before.

This was the sunrise view we woke up to one glorious morning.
The talks I had with Jesus on that balcony every day were beyond precious to my hungry soul.

Tonight, I went back and re-read that original post, and once again, I listened to Nicole Mullen sing, My Redeemer Lives.

As I listened to Nicole and re-read the words God spoke to me three years ago while listening to the ocean waves crash against that sandy shore, I had an epiphany.

I knew, in an instant, that my Redeemer, God Himself, had orchestrated this trip down memory lane.

I hold to a strong belief that there is great significance in dates.

I find it remarkable the way He coordinated all of this...

today being the 6th anniversary of Mom's homegoing and the 3rd anniversary of the night I completed and published the post I started in that 12th-floor hotel room overlooking the sea.

Six years ago tonight, I stood holding the precious, frail, tender hand of the one who loved me longest.

That dear, selfless, fragile, loving, little hand!

Oh, the stories it could have told of the countless tears it had wiped away,
the meals it had prepared and cooked,
the babies and grandbabies it had fed and cared for and nurtured,
the countless times it had reached over and patted my hand as we traveled along together many a mile and side by side,
the times it had picked up the phone to call and check on us and encourage and share Bible verses God had given her just for me,
the many nights it had wave good-bye as Zach and I pulled out of her drive!

My mother's hand.

That kind and loving hand of my sweet Mom rested in mine until the life slipped right out of her body, and it lay limp under the onslaught of my tears.

I stood there afterward, for I don't know how long.

I'm missing her tonight...exactly six years later.

Oh, I miss her!

There are no words.

And, tonight, six years after she left us and three years after I published the post about My Old Friend, The Sea, I find myself comparing and finding so many similarities between tonight and those other two memorable nights on this same date.

Mom's leaving brought about immeasurable change and left what felt like a black-hole, unfillable void.

After God took her, I went into a very dark place for a very long time.

Yes, Christians do get depressed.

They grieve and mourn and lament.

Whoever said they don't surely must have no experience reading the book of Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, or Lamentations.

They must have never met David or Elijah or Solomon or Jonah or Jeremiah.

They must never have traveled with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane.

They truly must not have a clue as to the fact that salvation does not remove our humanity or our susceptibility to its condition.

Three years ago, my little family and I stood on another brink of life-altering change.

I still remember very vividly the events that were taking place in our lives on 4/28/2015.

We were, at that moment, in the throes of a nightmarish identity theft crisis, and God was redeeming the intense fiery trial to sound a deafening, much-needed wake-up call.

We heard it loud and clear, and it spawned a stirring in our spirit.

The winds of inevitable change were beginning to blow, and we knew that after our lives staying pretty much the same for many years, God was getting ready to give us a not-so-soft nudge from our comfort zone nest and require us to launch into brand new levels of trusting Him.

As I read the words He spoke to me three years ago, I find that I need them as much, maybe even more, now.

The last three years have been quite the experience for Kevin, Zach, and me.

If you had prophesied on 4/28/15 and shared all that we would walk through between that night and this, I honestly think every ounce of my courage would have completely failed.

Through every labored inch of it, though, God has been faithful.

An overwhelming sense of renewed awe for my Abba Father washes over me, as once again I am incapable of understanding or adequately praising Him for the trustworthiness of His providential care.

He has seen us through, praise His wonderful name.

Tonight, on this date of such significance, we stand again in a state of much uncertainty,

still pleading with Him for the clarity we so desperately need,

still clinging to His ever-faithful, unchanging hand.

Nearly every day I am reminded of Joshua's words in Joshua 3:3-4,

“As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.  Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

We definitely have not passed this way before, and we are in dire need of God's direction.

Our eyes are upon "the Ark", and we are endeavoring to walk lock-step in obedience to His every command.

God help us not to crowd His space, nor to lag too far behind.

I feel like I need Him more than I ever have in my whole life and 41-year journey following Him.

As I waited quietly and still before Him moments before we left our hotel the other day,
I heard Him whisper another promise to me.
"The three of you will come back.  The sea will still be here, and I will still be God."
My belief in this fact gives me the courage to press on.
The same One who has kept the ocean's waters at bay since their creation by His mighty hand,
the same One who has not allowed the circumstances of our lives to overtake us thus far,
He is the same God we serve today.
He is the same God we will follow all the days of our lives, by His grace.
He is still in control.
He knew 3 years ago all that would hit us out of nowhere (to us) and threaten to destroy us.
None of it came as a surprise to Him because He sees the end from the beginning and everything in between.
Nothing ever hits Him out of nowhere.
He is God.
Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent.
Nothing escapes Him.

He already knows what will happen next.
Tomorrow, that seems so perplexing to us, is not a mystery to Him.
He is the God of all of our tomorrows.

In this ever-changing, chaotic world below, there is a God who remains,
and He longs to be our all in all.

For those who crave stability, He is the Rock of Ages.

"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
Isaiah 26:4 (ESV)

For those who long for a place to run and hide, He is a safe place.
"Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."
Psalm 31:20 (KJV)

For those who are under attack, He is a protector.
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NASB)

For those who are depressed, He is very near.
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

For those who can no longer fight, He is a champion.
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."
Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

For those who have been betrayed, He is the truest friend.

"The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."
Nahum 1:7 (KJV)

For those who fear the future, He is already there.
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)

I will be honest and say that I do not know or see our next step,
nor have I ever walked more by faith and not by sight.
But, the Lord my God goes before and with me, and I will choose to put my trust in Him.
No matter what you are going through, will you choose to do the same?

The Inner Views of Marlin & Becky Bontrager of The Bontragers

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

Psalm 98:4

(KJV)

It is always such a blessing to come across families who are living for God together, side-by-side, and who are following Him and His plan for their lives as a family unit.

When there is bluegrass music involved, it is an even bigger blessing!

Today, I am so grateful to be able to share the Inner Views of one such family with you,

and if you don't know them already, I trust you will enjoy getting to know them, learning about their music ministry, and watching the video at the end!

The 

of 
Husband, Father, Farmer, Fearless Leader, Passionate about finishing strong,
Marlin Bontrager
and

Disciple of Christ, Mother, Wife, Multitasker, Encourager, Servant, Gardener, Devoted Homemaker, Lover of reading books aloud to children,

Becky Bontrager 

Cheryl:  Please tell us about yourselves and your family. 

Marlin & Becky Bontrager:  Our parents taught us the value of hard work and strong family ties. We raised our family on a farm in rural Kalona, Iowa. We farm half of the year and travel singing and sharing God’s Word the other half. 

Cheryl:  How and when did the two of you meet?  We would love to hear how God brought the two of you together.

Becky:  We casually met at a Bible school in Arkansas, then again with some mutual friends a year later, and once more at a conference in Ohio six months later. Total, we had spent probably three hours together, mostly with other friends, but through all this, God put it on Marlin’s heart to go out on a date with me. So about two years after our first meeting, he came to Cincinnati (where I was working at a Day Care) to take me out on a date.The rest is history!!!

Cheryl:  Will you each kindly share with us about your personal Christian testimony?  Were you raised in a Christian home?  What drew you to Christ?  How has surrendering your life to Him impacted your life?  What does He mean to each of you, individually?

Marlin:  We both were raised in Christian homes. I was rebellious for my growing up years. I came to Christ at a revival meeting a few months before my 20th birthday. 

Becky:  I asked God to save me when I was about 14.  More recently, I have realized that God's salvation is free and complete without any "help" from me.  My part is simply trusting Him for salvation and then joyfully serving/obeying Him every day of my life. 

It is always the work of the Holy Spirit that draws a person to Christ, but our parents, the church, and a loving home were all instrumental in bringing us to salvation. Surrendering one's life to Jesus Christ changes everything--it has affected our thoughts about birth control, how we raise our children, our finances, the way we spend our time, etc.

Cheryl:  Please share with us about your children and how God is working in and through their lives.  

Marlin and Becky:  God has blessed us with ten children. Each of them has asked God to save his/her soul.  We have no greater joy than to see them walking in truth as they faithfully serve God in various ways. Four of them are now married, but the other six are still at home.

Cheryl:  What is your favorite part of having a large family?

Marlin and Becky:  A strong family is an incredible witness in a broken society. There are countless benefits to having a large family, but I will only list a few.  A large family can complete a large work project very quickly. Family businesses are more easy to run with family members living in the same household (i.e., we have the same schedule, can discuss schedule & work while we eat family meals, we take vacations together).  We also can have a party without inviting anyone else to join us but when we do hospitality (and we do it a lot both on the road and at home) the preparation/work is shared.  For example, when we have a group of 10-20 over, Denver might grill some meat, Allison makes the dessert, Elizabeth fixes potatoes, and Becky makes a salad.

Large families also increase influence.  One of our married sons and his wife are managing our local hotel, help at our church, and they both are involved in personally discipling young people.  Another son and his wife manage our farm while we travel and also minister to their neighbors in various ways.  Our oldest daughter and her husband have many opportunities to share the Gospel as they travel together for his business and also in their home in the city. The son who travels with us writes a blog with the help of his wife.  They are a tremendous team, ministering to our family and to those at our concerts. All of them practice extensive hospitality in many ways. We are also seeing our borders expand with two grandchildren on the way. 

Cheryl:  Living in a culture that is growing increasingly hostile towards God, His Word, and the Christian way of life, what is your advice to parents who want to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, as instructed in Ephesians 6:4?

Marlin and Becky:  Parents must build their homes on God’s Word (Psalm 127). Home discipleship is vitally important in raising and equipping our children. Deuteronomy 6 commands parents to teach their children as they “walk by the way, lie down, and rise up.” Parents must also be willing to be different and to make hard choices in order to shepherd their families. Discernment is a must. Teach your children to love God, to love His Word, and to love those around them. 

Cheryl:  How long have you been singing as a family, and how did God lead you to start this ministry?

Marlin and Becky:  We have been traveling and singing for 13 years. We began when we were invited to participate in a Prison Crusade in South Carolina. After that first year, we did a few concerts at churches, and the ministry grew from there.

Cheryl:  Describe some of the most outstanding times of blessing you have experienced while ministering together in church services.

Marlin and Becky:  Seeing families strengthened and encouraged is one of life’s greatest blessings. We have also been blessed in so many ways by the generous hospitality and giving extended to our family while we live on the road. Bus-life has its own set of challenges, but the road has been softened many times by the love of God's family.

Cheryl:  As you travel and minister in different churches, what do you find to be some of the greatest challenges currently facing the Body of Christ, as a whole? How can we proactively work to meet those challenges, in our personal lives? What can we do to make necessary changes?

Marlin and Becky:  One of the greatest battles facing the church is the tug-of-war between the family and the church. God never intended these two institutions to be at odds. Unfortunately, many churches are often not family-friendly. Parents must be willing to stick out. Lack of discernment is another big challenge. Most of all, we see that much of the church is following the world rather than the Word of God.  Our desire is to follow God at any cost, no matter what others think. 

Cheryl:  How can the church combat complacency and apathy? What do you identify as being one of the biggest regrets the children of God would have if Jesus were to come back today?

Marlin and Becky:  The church must engage the fathers. One of the biggest regrets could be the failure to embrace the blessing of children and to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

Cheryl:  I admire the standard of modesty you maintain in your manner of dress. Will you please elaborate and explain why you and your daughters choose to dress modestly and why it is important to you?

Marlin and Becky:  The Bible exhorts both modestly and femininity. We wish for our daughters to reflect the image of God and His design. It is important to have God’s grace (His divine influence) be at work in every area of our lives.

Cheryl:  Will each of you share about a dark time in your life and how the grace of God sustained you and saw you through such difficulty? Describe particular gestures of kindness extended to you by others during those times and what God taught you through those experiences. What are some effective ways we can reach out to brothers and sisters in Christ who are hurting and in need of encouragement?

Becky:  For me personally, road life has some big challenges, the biggest being insomnia which seems to intensify when I get to bed late, eat certain foods, and am under stress. (All of which seems to happen during concerts on the road). God’s grace (again, as in His divine influence on my life and it’s reflections in my life) has given me the strength to be joyful, to remember my words when singing (most of the time!!), and to minister to others no matter how little sleep I get. I remember one lady who said, “It must be hard to live on the bus.” Those kind, understanding words ministered healing and encouragement to my heart. There have also been many acts of kindness along the way--a basket of homemade lotions, etc; thoughtful notes from my children, a care package from a sweet friend that included homemade & personalized pillowcases and cosmetic bags for each of the girls and I, a text from a friend reminding me that she is praying for me, and much more.

My father passed away when I was eighteen. Although I was an adult at the time, I think that has given me a greater compassion for the fatherless. And while I know death is final, I know there are many men who are living without fathers in America who are still living and think that would be harder. Letters or text messages I have gotten from brothers or sisters in Christ who have encouraged me has encouraged me to do likewise.

Cheryl:  What do you most hope to accomplish through your daily lives, through your ministry, and as parents?

Marlin and Becky:  We hope to first of all train and teach our own family to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and then to build families and reach the world.

Cheryl:  Who do you each identify as being your strongest Christian influence?

Marlin and Becky:  We have all had many friends along the way who have spoken into our lives in various ways. We are blessed to have a loving church that prays for us and welcomes us back with open arms whenever we come home. All of us love to read and look for books that edify and strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ. We also love to read books on time management (redeeming the time), farming and gardening (dominion of the earth), parenting (train up a child in the way he should go), finances (being good stewards), and much more.

Cheryl:  What is the best marital advice you have ever received? When advising your children and/or other young couples considering marriage, what do you most long to convey to them?

Marlin and Becky:  An elderly couple at one of our concerts said: “Follow the Owner's Manual" (the Bible) to have a good marriage. We also have learned a lot from the “Love and Respect” DVD series as well as many other books. We took each of our married children through the “Love and Respect” series before they got married.

Cheryl:  If you could each go back and live your life over again, what would you change? What do you regret? What are you most thankful for?

Marlin and Becky:  If we could do it over again, we would be more intentional about raising our children and cultivating our spiritual walks with the Lord. We would worry less and pray more. We would work less and play more with the children.

We're most thankful for God’s Word, His forgiveness, and His grace that enables us to flee sin and serve Him. I (Marlin) am thankful that God turned my heart to my children over 15 years ago.

Cheryl:  What are your favorite sources of encouragement?  Are there particular Scriptures, songs, books, or other resources you most often turn to in times of despair?

Marlin and Becky:  The Psalms, hymns, prayer, and God's Word are all treasured sources. A local body of believers is a powerful tool for encouragement, edification, and fellowship.

Cheryl:  What musical groups, singers, or musicians do you most enjoy listening to?

Marlin and Becky:  We enjoy a variety, including classical, bluegrass, and gospel groups.

Cheryl:  What is the hardest thing God has ever asked you to do?

Marlin and Becky:  About 15 years ago, God led us to leave a church we were fully plugged into.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you?

Marlin and Becky:  You can pray that we would continue to serve God in humility and faithfully follow no matter where He leads us.

A BIG Thank You to Marlin and Becky for sharing their Inner Views with us here!  

Please keep them in your prayers, as they continue to minister together as a family.

You can connect with the Bontragers at their Website, their Blog, or on Instagram.

The video below is from a Bontrager concert on March 5, 2017.
(The parts that begin at 33:42 and 39:41 are two of my personal favorites!)
I hope you have time to watch and enjoy!

The Bontrager Family

To read previous

click the links below.

The Inner Views of Joshua Becker

The Inner Views of Lisa Newton

The Inner Views of Dr. Alveda King

The Inner Views of Jen Avellaneda

The Inner Views of Tonya Shellnutt

The Inner Views of Karen Del Tatto

The Inner Views of Evelyn Rennich

The Inner Views of Bob Sellers

The Inner Views of Kelly Bowling

The Inner Views of The Benham Brothers

The Inner Views of Beth Willis Miller

The Inner Views of Rodney Griffin

The Inner Views of Joni Eareckson Tada

The Inner Views of Gayle Cox

The Inner Views of Wayne Mobley

The Inner Views of Chris West

The Inner Views of Gail Purath

The Inner Views of Shyla Brown

The Inner Views of Mary Zatkalik

The Inner Views of Robin McCarter

The Inner Views of Dayle Shockley

The Inner Views of Serena Smith-Williams

The Inner Views of Lindsay Huggins

The Inner Views of Holly Barrett

The Inner Views of Michele Morin

The Inner Views of Lyli Dunbar

The Inner Views of Wanda Ward

The Inner Views of Lisa Avellan

The Inner Views of Zachary Smith

The Inner Views of Sarah Davison

The Inner Views of Stephanie Hoium

The Inner Views of Jason B. Ladd

The Inner Views of Jim Daly

The Inner Views of Caroline Harries

The Inner Views of Lovelle Gerth-Myers
The Inner Views of Carole West
The Inner Views of Allie Casazza
The Inner Views of Victor S E Moubarak
The Inner Views of Will Graham

The Inner Views of Betty Draper

The Inner Views of Barronelle Stutzman
The Inner Views of Brackin & Lindsay Kirkland

The Inner Views of Donna Reidland
The Inner Views of Bettie Gilbert

Our God is "Bigger Than This" ~ Powerful New Song by Jo Dee Messina

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?"

Jeremiah 32:27

(KJV)

Sometimes, I think about the people who take time out of their busy lives to visit here and listen to what the Lord places on my heart.

As I think of you, an image comes to mind, and I sort of drift off to an imaginary place.

Just for fun, will you join me today?

Let's say, God has orchestrated the details and made all of the arrangements, and through His Divine intervention, you and I have ended up on the same street corner where two busy boulevards connect.

Somehow, though we have never met face-to-face, we recognize each other instantly, and I say, "Oh, wow!  It's you!", To which you reply, "Cheryl!  Is that you?"

Suddenly the busy hustle and bustle and crowded noise around us come to a screeching halt, and we simultaneously reach for the door of the quaint, little cafe we both just noticed in front of us.

We lock arms, step inside, and find instant reprieve as the quiet so opposite the outside world wraps our souls in a warm blanket of peace and calm.

We choose a cozy table for two in the corner farthest from the door.  It feels like we've known each other for years and there is a sense of familiar ease between us.

Over steaming cups, I inevitably ask, "How are you doing?"

Though we aren't really in that cafe together, I really want to know, you know.

How are you doing?

How are you really doing?

I don't want the "passing-you-on-the-street-too-busy-to-really-care-or-listen" version.

I want to know how you're doing.

What is most bothering you today?  What feels out of balance?  What or who are you worrying about?  What keeps you awake at night?  Why are you crying?  Who hurt you?  What do you most regret?  Who do you miss the most?  How long since you broke out into a full belly laugh or even smiled?

Whatever it is, no matter how huge or horrible or scary or life-altering, here is my answer.

God is bigger.

Ephesians 3:20 says that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.

Genesis 18:14 asks, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"

In Mark 10:27, Jesus said, "With men, it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

I John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Romans 8:37 says, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

In 2 Kings 6:16, Elisha said, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

In Isaiah 43:1-3, God said, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour."

Joshua 1:9 says, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Hebrews 13:5 says, "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Psalm 31:24 says, "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

In John 14:27, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Psalm 46:1-3, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Romans 8:31 says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Isaiah 40:28- says, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint."

God is with you, my friend.

And, God is bigger than anything and everything you are walking through today.

He is walking through it with you.

Just like Jesus was with the three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fire (Daniel 3:24-25),

Jesus is in your situation and fiery trial with you.

He will not leave the fire one second before you do.

Last September, Jo Dee Messina was going through one of those very fiery trials,
and from the depths of her pain, she wrote a profoundly powerful song.
Please take a moment to listen to her sing it, and pay special attention to Mike Huckabee's introductory explanation of what Jo Dee was going through when she wrote it.

"Bigger Than This" ~ Jo Dee Messina

You can download this amazing song, sung so beautifully by Jo Dee, by clicking HERE.

I cannot begin to say how much this song is blessing my family and me right now,

and I know it will be a great encouragement to all who hear it.

Everyone is going through something, and everyone needs to be reminded that 

OUR GOD IS BIGGER THAN THIS!

Let's get the word out and introduce this song to as many people as we can.

Be encouraged, dear friends, and if you ever need to talk or share a prayer request,

I am here.

As I type, I am praying for every person who ever reads these words.

God bless you!

Please Pray for Our Dear Aunt Vaida

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

James 5:16

(KJV)

Dear friends, you have been so faithful to pray for the many prayer requests I have posted here,

and we are so thankful for your support, encouragement, and every prayer you have prayed.

I come to you again tonight with yet another urgent request for prayer.

Our dear Aunt Vaida has just been diagnosed with brain cancer.

You might remember me mentioning her in the past when she was battling lung cancer, and she and Uncle Nelson lost nearly all they owned in the flood that hit White Sulphur Springs, WV in June of 2016.

If ever there were two living, breathing saints of God on this earth, 

they are Uncle Nelson and Aunt Vaida.

I have no doubt.

These two are the salt of the earth.

I wish each one of you could individually know them.

Uncle Nelson and Aunt Vaida are, hands-down, two of my favorite people in the world.

I cherish our heart-to-heart talks, our rummy games, and every moment we can spend together.

Aunt Vaida gives until there is nothing left to give.

She is one of the most caring people I have ever met.

She sacrifices and sends flowers and cards and is always, always, always thinking of others.

She intercedes and goes to war in prayer for the ones she loves.

"War Room" could have been written based on Aunt Vaida's prayer life.

So many, many times she has called when we have been sick or having a hard time,

and she has prayed for us over the phone or left a prayer on our voice mail.

We always try to pray together before we part ways after a face-to-face visit.

One of the things she says most often to me on the phone, as we are hanging up is,

"I'll put you on the prayer chain," and, of course, our last two words to each other before saying good-bye are always, "Love you."

The church she attends doesn't have one of these new, up-to-date, automated prayer lines.

Aunt Vaida IS their prayer line.

She sits and literally calls every, single person on the prayer chain when there is a need.

Now, she is the one who is standing in much need of prayer.

The doctor says she has a mass the size of a golf ball on her brain, near her right ear.

She has the option of undergoing surgery but is not advised to do so, due to her age.

She also has the option of taking chemo-therapy and radiation yet another time.

The doctor says this will keep cancer from spreading anywhere else in her body,

and it will also keep it from growing.

She has been so terribly light-headed, dizzy, and nauseous,

but the doctors feel that if she opts to take the treatments, they can keep this under control.

As we talked and cried together on the phone tonight, I told her that this is NOTHING for God to do.

He is SO much bigger than this.

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, 

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

"I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

Job 42:2

'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You."

Jeremiah 32:17

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."

Isaiah 59:1

Dear friends, please pray for Aunt Vaida, and if you could pass along this request for prayer to your prayer lines, chains, and groups, and your social media platforms, we would be most grateful.

Please pray for peace and comfort for Uncle Nelson and all other family members, too.

May the dear Lord bless each one of you for helping to, once again, share our burdens and heartaches.

We are so grateful for each and every one of you.

God bless you and meet your every need.