quietly preparing...

well, well today's post is mainly about words of comfort. i woke up early. mason was already gone. emily was up getting ready for work but everyone else was asleep. the house is quiet and i start reading email and facebook. emily has sent me a message on facebook with words to a song that was playing on her computer playlist this morning. i am not going to say we are "scared" but with 3 days to go we are getting a little anxious. the song has the words of amazing grace at the beginning but then other words are added.

this is her facebook message to me:
"in a song i woke up to this morning..we need to remember this friday

Through many dangers, toils and snares
You have already come
His grace has brought you safe this far
And His grace will lead you home

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go"


then, when i checked my email one of my prayer partners, teresa, had sent this verse to me. she was lead to it as she was praying for us.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.


it is so reassuring to know that i really do have people praying for us (the girls and me and the team) and to know that they are on this journey with us. as i continued through the facebook newsfeed, i read the status of a family friend who is now a pastor in memphis. it said:

1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."


so with all of this being said... i feel good today. i am ready mentally, spiritually and almost physically. i have not mentioned the fact that i am anemic but i feel this is a good time to mention it. a normal blood count is 12-15. mine is 9.4. i say this only to underscore, once more, that this may not be perfect timing but i feel this is what i need to do. i am not at my strongest. i tire easily and by a normal day's end, my comfy bed is calling me. i will leave soon to go to a world unknown to me with a tired body but a strong soul. i pray and believe that my body will have the strength needed to do the work needed and for the duration needed. i have to tie up some loose ends today, run some errands and get back home to start spraying the clothes. i just think that's going to be an experience in itself.