Now that I am older, I can look back through the years and proclaim that in everything I went through, God has always remained the strength of my life.  When I began a relationship with the Lord in my twenties, I never imagined how hard I would have to lean on Him as the years went by.  He has healed me miraculously many times, the most astounding being when I had a stroke about three and a half years ago.  But there were so many other times that were not so amazing to others, but it certainly was to me.  I had asthma attacks so bad that I was hospitalized numerous times for pneumonia.  But, God who loves me, kept me breathing and has healed me so that I have not had pneumonia since the 1990’s.  I had children seriously ill and injured and God healed them, too.  Our son had a sinus infection that had spread to just outside his brain and he had to have surgery.  Praise God that the doctors discovered how serious the infection was in time to take care of it and Scott is a healthy teacher now!  Our youngest son Steven fell while rock climbing in a gym and the school nurse had me racing to his side, telling me that his neck was in a brace and they needed to check to make sure that it was not broken.  Again, praise God because Steven was okay other that badly bruised and with a healthy respect for rock climbing.  Our daughter Hope, our oldest and the bravest as far as trying new things, was fortunately not injured much as a child.  But as an adult, she lost her baby Tessa when she was almost seven months pregnant.  Her faith held her steady and she made it through this horrible time, only to be blessed with another wonderful baby girl two years later.  God has been my strength through everything.  I have written a lot about being a military wife, but what everyone needs to know is that I could not have made it and would not have stayed in the marriage had it not been for God walking alongside me.  As a new young military wife, I was desperately lonely at first because I was also extremely shy.  God strengthened me to come out of my shell and start making friends with other military wives, realizing that we were all in a new place and most without our spouses for long periods of time.  Yes, God is still my strength and will remain so as long as I live.  

So my response to God’s being my strength for all of these years is to praise Him and to tell others, like you, of His glorious acts.  I was shy and God gave me friends.  I was sick and God healed me.  My children were sick, physically and emotionally, and God has healed them.  This is a daily recognition of my need for God and His strength in my life.  I don’t start my days without acknowldging that the reason I am still here to praise Him is because of His grace, mercy and love for me.  He is my all…the reason for living and my best friend forever.  I hope that you know this strength and hope in your life.  He will meet you exactly where you are and take you where you need to be to survive life’s many hurdles.  God bless you!

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for your sovereignty and your love for your people. I thank you that you are concerned with what it going on in our lives.   Lord, I continue to lift up those affected by Hurricane Florence.  I pray especially for the first responders and the electrical linemen.  These heroes are risking their lives to go out and rescue people and to restore the power that people need to start getting their lives back to normal once they can return home again.  Bless and be with them, Lord. Guide their steps and keep them safe.  I also pray for the victims of this raging storm, Lord.  Give them wisdom about when they should return home and encourage them, Lord, as they do, with your provision and your embrace that offers security and love.  Comfort those who have suffered unimaginable loss, Father. Be close to them in their time of need.    Watch over your people, Lord.  Help us to hear your voice and to respond to your Word to us. In Jesus’s Name.  Amen.