"Praise you in this storm"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw  I am starting today with a song by Casting Crowns... Praise you in this storm.  I am sorry about the commercials that come with it, but be patient for it is worth it!  The first night we were teaching faith formation this year, I was listening to music to use, and I happened to notice that there was a story of  a 10 year old girl, Erin. This little girl had a 3 year battle with cancer, and the faith of her mother was always there in the midst of the worst storm imagineable! 

"Laurie Edwards watched her little girl gasping for air and wanted to breath for her.  She wanted the maker of breaths to swoop in and fill her child's lungs and dissolve every tumor with His mere glance."  Erin in her suffering asks her mother to "Just read the Scriptures!"  So for 4 hours her mother and all those gathered took turns reading the Scriptures to her including Proverbs 3:5-6... her favorite

Proverbs 3:5-6  5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]

"And now the end was near, Laurie tried to refuse to believe it, but her trust in the Lord remained steadfast.  She was frightened and faithful all at once.  She prayed for an eleventh hour miracle.  And she kept reading the Scriptures, as Erin had asked.         At one point, Laurie placed her Bible on the floor and stood on it, literally standing on the Word of God as she read over her child. "  We read this story to our silent class... when we read the part about her standing on the Bible...there was a gasp of disbelief and a shaking of heads.  But I can see it!  When that is what you base your entire faith upon... the Bible alone... then this is a powerful image of looking to Christ and his healing and LOVE that is found within.  And for a mother of a 10 year old girl, who is suffering in her last moments in this world so horrifically - this shows her faith and desperate hope for healing or at least an end of the suffering!

I have shared numerous times the day that we took John in to the ER due to double vision that was getting worse by the day and also very sleepy all of the time... Father's Day 2009.  It was Sunday and the Gospel for that day was from Mark 4:35-40 - Jesus calms the storm!  Stopping in the house on our way to Sioux Falls, after discovering that John did indeed have something in his brain... We called our daughter in France to have her aware and praying and even in my wildest dream... I thought that she should be on her way home!

"Mom, do you remember the Gospel for today?  Well, this is the storm and Jesus is in control."  These words came to me across the ocean in the phone from Hallel.  This is what we had to cling to for the next year's battle, and this is what we had to continually remember...when the cancer grew through the chemo... our Bishop LeVior reminded us the words of St Faustina - "Jesus, I trust in you."  Once again the reminder that this is the storm and Jesus is in control - "Quiet! Be still!" 

An amazing note just arrived from the "housemother" at John's faternity... I wept rivers with my hands in the air in praise as she shared with us how John has "obviously changed and matured - he is very wise and thoughtful about many things.... John is always very interested in what people are doing and asks great questions."  John prayed that he would find "faith and belief in Jesus working in his life and in his Church" for years before he was struck with brain cancer!  I think that he would admit today that his journey of cancer/healing was an answer to that heartfelt prayer, and to hear others that live with him day to day share the truth of his new and humble self.  I am amazed, and praise him in this storm!

Jesus, I am in awe and deeply... to the center of my core... moved with the LOVE you show us and the PRAISE you deserve always!  We are yours and we place all our trust in you... even when we cannot see you as the waves wash over us, and the wind roars in our ears!  Today my heart is heavy with the loss of your daughter, Lisa, who breathed her last breath Sunday morning with her family around her in the hospice room just an hour away.  She was only 23, and fought so long and hard with such hope for a future, but her future is to be with you! John wept after our visit with her and the knowledge that he was the only one left of the young with brain cancer..."Why me?"  Jesus, we know that you have the answer and that you expect great things to come from him with all the time that he has left here in this world!  Small things with great love!  That is your way as we serve you always trusting and hoping but mostly praying... praying without ceasing!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"As the thunder rolls / I barely hear You whisper through the rain / "Im with you" / And as your mercy falls / I raise my hands and praise the God who gives / and takes away.

"I'll praise you in this storm / and I will lift my hands / For You are who You are / No matter where I am / Every tear I've cried / You hold in Your hand / You never left my side / And though my heart is torn / I will praise you in this storm"  lyrics from Praise you in this storm by Casting Crowns

I am reminded by Hallel's birthday letter..."Mom, this year you are called to praise God in all things!"