Short and sweet Sunday night

It's almost 11 on Sunday evening... it's been a busy day (at times) and I'm glad to be sitting in our living room with feet up and a chance to ponder the day.  It was a blessing to be able to wake up feeling well enough on a gorgeous Sunday morning, to join the communion of the saints at Rehoboth and sit under the preaching of the Word.  I feel so much love from everyone there and it's like coming home, but at the same time, it's busy and tiring and I do have a hard time focusing (particularly when it comes to battling a two-year-old who thinks the church pew is a perfect place to display the bottom of her sandal to the three benches behind or crunches her pepperpints so loudly that I'm sure the other side of the church can hear - maybe that's just me being paranoid, or having intensely whispered discussions on the consequences of  not listening to Mommy in the midst of prayer, ending in loud protestations.)  I do love the praying and the singing and that truly lifts my spirits - I do so love to sing and we have been doing more of it here at home as well with Martha.  When i pointed out that the pianist was playing My Jesus, I love Thee, before the service, Martha was pretty excited and bouncing up and down saying "she's playing my song!".  I love that she loves that song as it was a particular favourite of my Grandma Mussche's.  I think that memorizing scripture and Bible truths through music is an invaluable way to implant those ideas in little (and older) hearts.  Songs that my Mom sang me when I was little are so dear to me now and I'm so glad I can share them with my daughter (and hope to with Ava someday too).
Yet even today, even surrounded by God's people, there are elements of blackness and darkness that creep through - in my dreams this afternoon while I napped, there came elements of doubt that caused me to wake weeping and upset - the doctor for some reason telling me that there was no hope - and even though I know we will fight this with all we have and through the means that God has provided for us, that battle of which I wrote the other night, is so real and present.  So as much as we covet prayers for physical healing, which at times, in my view, seems to be taking quite a while and is not progressing as quickly as I'd like, I covet prayers for spiritual strength and wisdom as well.  For being equipped to fight this spiritual battle against despair and doubt, against frustration and disbelief, against feeling alone and unloved by our God.  Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion, as we read and we need that armor of God to be put on to fight, to be prepared for unlikely attacks at weak points and to close ranks as an army unit would and put up our dukes and sharpen our swords.  The sword of the Bible is kept close as possible these days, with little "arrow" prayers (as a dear friend puts it) and little encouragements shoring up the chinks in the armor.  Thank you all for sharing your favourites and keep them coming!
I will end tonight with a little piece from Isaiah 41:10...

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

A play of light and dark, tender blossoms in the face of hail, wind and rain, powerful image...

I will praise you in the storm... clouds piling up and showing God's power and majesty, yet rain falls and nourishes...