11 months

We've been missing our baby Alethia Joy for 11 months today. I can't believe it's been almost a year since she was born.

When I think about the last 11 months, 2 words come to mind--

STRENGTH

&

FAITHFULNESS

Strength

Isaiah 40:28-31 sums it all up:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired and weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

These have been some of my favorite verses for the last several years, but I never knew until the last 11 months what it was like to truly experience the Lord's strength in such an amazing way. I am so weak, but I thank God that He is strong!

Faithfulness

I just heard this new song by Steven Curtis Chapman for the first time about a week ago, and it has been a great reminder of how faithful God has been in our lives, even through the storms that we have been through in this past year. SCC knows what it's like to lose a little girl as well...after spending 5 precious years with her--I can't imagine. He also has obviously experienced God's faithfulness in a tremendous way.

Take a minute to read these lyrics and be reminded of how God has demonstrated His faithfulness in YOUR life.

I am broken, I am bleeding,

I'm scared and I'm confused,

but You are faithful.

Yes You are faithful.

I am weary, unbelieving.

God please help my unbelief!

Cuz You are faithful.

Yes You are faithful.

I will proclaim it to the world.

I will declare it to my heart

And sing it when the sun is shining.

I will scream it in the dark.

You are faithful!

You are faithful!

When you give and when You take away,

even then still Your name is faithful!

You are faithful!

And with everything inside of me,

I am choosing to believe You are faithful.

I am waiting for the rescue

that I know is sure to come,

cuz You are faithful.

Yes You are faithful.

I've dropped anchor in Your promises,

and I am holding on,

cuz You are faithful.

God You are faithful.....

Though I cannot have the answer

that I'm wanting to demand,

I'll remember You are God

and everything is in Your hand.

In Your hands you hold the sun, the moon, the stars up in the sky,

for the sake of Love,

You hung Your own Son on the cross...to die...

You are faithful...

Yes, You are faithful...

When you give and when You take away,

even then, great is Your faithfulness!

Great is Your faithfulness!

And with everything inside of me,

I am choosing to believe You're faithful!