HEARD

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2

My Michael keeps my eyes fixed on what I cannot see, keeps my heart focused on what is eternal, and keeps my hope in Jesus. He endured the cross; the pain of it and the shame of it...for the joy set before him. What joy could possibly sustain you as you hang on a cross? Could it be that WE are that joy...we, all of us, including me and my Michael? What He is able to offer us now was worth the cross?

If my hope and joy were in what is going to happen in this life, I would certainly lose heart. What a sweet gift my Michael is! Without him in my life, it's very possible that I would have my eyes and my heart set on what I can see and what I'm experiencing right here right now.

Of the grief we live with, not hearing Michael's voice and thoughts and dreams and even his pain and questions is at the top of the list.

Here's what I wrote about his word, "Heard" for the project:

"Michael has never spoken one word in his life. He knows what he wants to say and is often frustrated that he cannot express himself. We try our best to give him ways to express himself and to "hear" him. As his parents, we long to hear his wishes, his thoughts, his hopes and dreams. For now God has reserved that right for Himself. It gives us great comfort to know that his thoughts are heard and understood. It may not be on this side of heaven, but we look forward to the day when we will get to hear his precious voice for ourselves."

May you be filled with hope and joy as you fix your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross to secure that hope and joy for you!

Pressing On
Angela

Sustained

We had the honor of being a part of a vision of an amazing young artist. It's a series of images inspired by Ash Wednesday. Ashes on the forehead is a symbol of repentance to God. She asked each person to choose a word that describes their walk with God in this season of their life and then asked them to write why they chose that word.

My word is "Sustained". Here is why:

"My life changed drastically when my 4th baby was born with a rare genetic syndrome that included autism and multiple handicaps. I trusted God with his life and our lives as best I knew how. For some reason I kept praying and waiting for life to get easier, for God to work miracles!

When Michael was 7, I ran across this verse: 'For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen." Nehemiah 9:21

We have seen miracles in Michael's life. But I realized that the greatest miracle of all is a God who sustains! He has not removed our problems but has graciously sustained us daily."

May you feel the miracle of the powerful hand that sustains you today!

Angela