tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post5810070390733902560..comments2011-08-18T20:49:14.838+03:00Comments on ...to the city not forsaken: ...Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.Olivia and Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646603562779824001noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post-70071728113977105552011-08-04T18:56:53.268+03:002011-08-04T18:56:53.268+03:00I wrote this post from my phone so I noticed some ...I wrote this post from my phone so I noticed some words that were missing. Lol but I'm hoping u knew what I was saying or where I was getting at! I am fervently praying for you my sister! It is no coincidence the ppl God puts in our life-whether for just a season & then they're gone or for a lifetime- but for whatever reason God has placed me in your life while I am here, I pray that I can serve you as an older sister & friend! Christ alone!Cord Of Threehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06788819655700088171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post-92040944198374710362011-08-04T18:49:21.121+03:002011-08-04T18:49:21.121+03:00Hey sis-i gotta tell u that I am so frustrated at ...Hey sis-i gotta tell u that I am so frustrated at this moment only because I have attempted to write u so many times & each time I tried I guess it didn't go through because I was not properly signed in. Its been almost three years since I used this blog site. I use tumblr now so I was trying so hard to remember my old password. Well I wanted to tell u how encouraged I am to read all that you wrote, your transparency, your meekness in person is something I hope & pray that all around you will mimic. All women have a voice but its knowing when to speak & when to be silent that really bears the mark of one truly growing in biblical womanhood. In the little time that I have known you I have seen you live that out (even though I joke around a lot) I am just that way...I love to laugh & joke. I have not been through the extent of heartbreak as Diana or you have faced, but I can tell you that I am no stranger to suffering, in fact I am still facing much suffering right now. Some days I wake up weeping uncontrollably. I have to really catch my breath & then recite the scripts to really find ease and comfort in the midst of the most agonizing pain. But I am reminded that in the testing of my faith, in seeing how authentic it really is, I must face suffering, for blessed is the one who endures & remains steadfast in the midst of suffering, for he SHALL receive the crown of life which was promised to us our Lord. This momentary suffering cannot compare to the glory that is to be revealed to us! Romans 8:18 so even though it hurts so bad, I know to God this life, In His eyes is but a vapor...and soon we will be in glory. It is a reminder I have to tell myself daily. I weep even as I write this...regardless of how theological you make a post..the end result is this "count it all joy when u meet trials of various, for you know that it is a testing of your faith, and it will produce steadfastness". James tells us that. A promise that if we do not lose hope or grow weary, but just count it all joy to have been chosen to suffer as Christ suffered, our reward is with Him in heaven, not here. I am so big on sisterhood because so many are suffering & better to have sisters who can cry with you & laugh with you & carry you through, then no one at all. Trust me, suffering alone is agonizing. So I want you & Diana to know that I avail my self to serve in anyway that I can to not take away your pain by masking it, but to that load with you. That is my duty as a child of God & a sister to you! I love you! DinahCord Of Threehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06788819655700088171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post-89896365506211314662011-08-03T21:19:42.894+03:002011-08-03T21:19:42.894+03:00Alyssa, I'm so encouraged by your theological ...Alyssa, I'm so encouraged by your theological understanding of God's sovereignty that allows you to remember that truth when your the deceitfulness of our hearts try to make us believe our feeling about God over the facts about God.<br />You are right where the Lord would have you to be. You cannot do otherwise. The Lord may be testing you, not so He can know how you will do, but so that you will, and you're doing fine, beloved.<br />I wanted to share this with you; The Lord used Jacob's passing to allow me to preach the gospel at my mothers funeral. I won't go into detail (I can do that when you get back), but I began the message with the topic of mortality saying "Today you are attending a memorial service for someone you love, but tomorrow someone you love may be attending your own" and then used Jacob's (& Solomon's)deaths at such early ages to prove that we do not know when we will die and stand before God. <br />God is not only sovereign, He is wise, much wiser than us. Most of my family that was at the funeral where not believers, and some are antagonistic towards the gospel. I can think of no other way that I would have been able to preach the gospel to my family if not for my mother dying and preaching at her funeral, and I can think of no better way to sober up people regarding their own mortality than sharing a story of two young men dying that same month within days of each other. The Lord knows what He's doing. May the deaths of Jacob, Solomon, and my mother, and the gospel proclaimed, be the seeds planted into the hearts of those at the funeral, and may those seeds be watered until the Lord brings about the fruit that leads to repentance.<br />Be encourages Sis!<br />Your servant in Christ,<br />Jim PhinneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post-91487287179853091662011-08-02T21:55:02.680+03:002011-08-02T21:55:02.680+03:00I love you so much. God is so good. I cannot wait ...I love you so much. God is so good. I cannot wait to talk about things like this with you in person!<br /><br />Dianadianadunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15469140059985504748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108946957100156879.post-32647910649577012492011-07-31T15:01:09.294+03:002011-07-31T15:01:09.294+03:00Alyssa, thank you for sharing your heart and your ...Alyssa, thank you for sharing your heart and your wisdom through Him. First, the fact that you did continue on after Jake's celebration of life speaks volumes as to our purpose here as His witnesses... His will must prevail and your continuance in the trip that He obviously orchestrated long before Jake's home-going is truly testimony to what it is to live here on this sod, for Him. And I'm betting Jake would have had it no other way. :)<br /><br />I loved your statement -- 'However, in this time, with the lack of speaking the Gospel to others, I think I have fallen into the habit of also lacking in speaking it to myself.' Many times we can be a comfort to others through sharing the Word in times of need, but we can completely neglect to wash ourselves with it as well... Thank you --- those worlds of yours were an encouragement, reminder, and even admonition to me.<br /><br />And on another note... I loved the way you wrapped up the summation of your activities so far there with ... "and much felafel..." Awesome. ;)<br /><br />I'm so proud of you both -- and again, as for the timing of and your decision to continue on with your trip... for me it was the ultimate picture of the Lord's work carrying on (as it should) no matter what our earthly circumstances. That seemingly small decision says so much about the bigger picture. <br /><br />You are loved!<br /><br />Ruth*The Beautiful Life*https://www.blogger.com/profile/14929357684665563366noreply@blogger.com