Roger Bennett's Midnight Meditations

Happy Valentine's Day Update

I hope each of you have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Although it is not one of the "bigger" holidays we celebrate, it is a time to reflect on the love that we have in our lives. Even if there is not a significant person in your life, we can glory in the greatest love of all, presented to every one of us, every single day. Thank you, Lord, for the love that you have poured out on us, even though we aren't worthy!

I am sorry that it has taken me a few days to update my urgent prayer request, but time just seems to fly by. My Daddy is still in the hospital. His blood pressure is dangerously low (the bottom number continues to stay in the 30's) and isn't coming up. Additionally, being in the hospital tends to make his confusion worse. New medications for that have helped some, but he will remain there for the time being. My mother and brother are pretty worn out. Mom hasn't spent but a few hours (total) away from the hospital since Daddy was admitted. As I well know, it is something she is glad to be able to do; however, it is extremely tiring. It is also very hard to just sit and watch someone you love, and know there is really nothing you can do to make it better. I would appreciate your continued prayers, and I know they would, too.

Those prayers have been well-received in the case of my daughter-in-law, Jessica! She spent a few days in the hospital with a tear in her lung and trachea. This was allowing air to escape and be trapped in pockets in places in her body that it was not meant to (swelling in face, neck, chest, etc.). She was released to spend the weekend at home resting, and actually went back to work today, but she is still a bit weak and tired. I think Jordan is doing a good job of taking care of her. He is a good husband, and very considerate (and I am a proud mom). Thank you for those prayers, as well.

I had Isaiah over the weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed him. It gets harder and harder to take him back home, but like I said before, I am SO grateful for the time I do get to spend with him. He is such a delight, and is growing so fast! He has been on antibiotics lately. I think everyone I know has something going on this winter.(I was told it was because we have had so little cold weather, that the germs are just flourishing.) I will get to have Isaiah again this coming weekend, due to my not getting him last weekend because he was sick. Maybe I will have the "Thomas the Train Engine" theme unstuck from my head by then!

I have been struggling the past few days particularly with trying not to pick up the things that I have put down at Jesus' feet. I am aware, that, being human, it is a thing I will never master; yet, I press on, because the peace that comes with the laying down, and with the obedience, is such sweet relief.

Well, I am off to bed now, to rise early to take the cat into the vet for the 2nd time in as many weeks. Seems we have a rogue neighborhood cat bully, and this time, he has really injured poor Huw. If you have any cat prayers, I think he might need them.

I pray that you feel God's blessings, knowing that He holds us all in His heart, and

In His Grip!
Debbie

(I have been trying to post this since Monday night, but the site has been acting up, sorry. Huw went to the vet this morning, and although he has multiple wounds, he will be fine. He just needs to learn to run away!)

URGENT Prayer Request

I just called my mother for a morning check-in and they are at the moment loading my daddy into an ambulance. He may have had a stroke, but I have no further information at this point. I will let you know when I do. Please pray for him, and for my mom, as well as for the rest of us.

UPDATE: As of this evening (Friday), Daddy is in the hospital, having tests run. The tests have not been conclusive yet, but they don't think he had a stroke, since his condition seems to have improved some (enough that he thinks he is ready to go home!). He has no memory of what happened this morning, though. We are still waiting for answers, but we have definitely felt the prayers! Keep them coming, and thank you!


In His Grip,
Debbie

6 More Weeks of Winter....

.....But if it's as mild as it has been, I am totally okay with it! I am not much on cold weather (I always said I could be a "snowbird"), so the mild temperatures have not bothered me one bit. The groundhog only told us what we figured was true, anyway!

Well, as you can imagine, life has continued to be a bit chaotic, and still stressful. I have been blessed through it all, though. I have been to court twice over visitation rights with Isaiah, and the judge has wisely ruled that I should be allowed to have him in my home every other weekend. While I wish it were more, I am truly, truly grateful to God for that gift! I have had one weekend with him, and will go get him again tomorrow. It was so great, and I am really looking forward to being with him again! He is such a precious little boy, and I feel so privileged to be a part of his life. I pray that I will be able to use my time well with him, and that God will multiply the love that grows in his heart. I also pray for safety, as I travel back and forth on Friday and Sunday to pick him up and drop him off (3 1/2 hours each way).
[UPDATE here: Halfway to going to pick Isaiah up on Friday, I found out he was sick, so I was unable to get him this weekend. Hopefully next weekend, though.....]

The stress comes in dealing with this entire situation, that is so foreign to me. I confess that I am having trouble some days in loving those who hurt me, and in praying for them......but I promised God I would try, and I am trying, even though I am human, and I fall short of the mark - a lot. Please continue to pray as we try to work out details, and move on.

Then, there are the everyday stresses that are a part of normal life. Ordinarily, these are situations that crop up and are dealt with, but as many of you well know, when added to more pressing issues, they sometimes seem overwhelming. (On that note, if anyone knows of an insurance company that will insure my house after the flood I had inside this summer, PLEASE help me.......apparently being a loyal customer of a company for over 30 years is not enough these days, and no one wants to insure me. What is that about??????)

Having said all of that, though, I know how very blessed I am. I have been able to be in Arkansas 3 times during January, spending time with my parents and father-in-law. I am aware how precious that time is, as my father's health, in particular, continues to decline. I posted yesterday on Facebook that I sure could use a hug, and I was amazed at all of the love that came my way! Again, I am so blessed. God has used you, my "cyber" friends, in ways that you will never know, and I want you all to know how deeply I appreciate and treasure each word you write to me. More than that, I feel prayers that come my way. And, I want you to know that I do pray for the requests you ask of me, too. I am not always able to respond individually to them, but I do take them to the Father on your behalf.

Earlier this year, I was reading a devotional that was centered around the old hymn "Amazing Grace". That day, I was able to see it in a new way. When I read the part that said, "Twas grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home", it suddenly hit me: Looking back over my life I see time and time again the way God has worked in my life; He never set a limit on the grace that He would provide - it is new every morning! So, that same grace that has brought me through past difficulties will still guide me through the challenges that come my way! Hallelujah! If I ever needed a concrete reason to have faith, I got it that day. While I (any of us) may not be able to see the "hows" and "whys" of the paths that lie before us, all we have to do is trust the God Who is ALREADY THERE! Enough said.

While we wait for the season of Spring to arrive in our respective areas, may hope and love spring eternal within each of our hearts...........as God holds us lovingly

In His Grip!
Debbie