He Gives and Takes Away

Psalm 116

 ¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
   he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
   I will call on him as long as I live.

 ³ The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came over me;
   I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “LORD, save me!”

 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
   our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The LORD protects the unwary;
   when I was brought low, he saved me.

 ⁷ Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.

 ⁸ For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.

 ¹⁰ I trusted in the LORD when I said,
   “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ in my alarm I said,
   “Everyone is a liar.”

 ¹² What shall I return to the LORD
   for all his goodness to me?

 ¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people.

 ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD
   is the death of his faithful servants. 

¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, LORD;
   I serve you just as my mother did;
   you have freed me from my chains.

 ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the LORD—
   in your midst, Jerusalem.

   Praise the LORD.^[a]

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The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to...comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 

Isaiah 61:1-3

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Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.

Job 1:21

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He gives and takes away. 

I have experienced His giving and taking a LOT over the last year. One year ago almost exactly, in August, James lost almost all function in both of his arms, and his ability to crawl and get himself around. About a week later, I found out I was pregnant with Caleb! It was a time of both sorrow and joy... and shock!

Four months later, in December, Carrisa passed away suddenly. Shock and sorrow again...

Then today..... on what would have been Carrisa's 26th birthday, James crawled across the entire living room by himself for the first time in a year!!!! AND Seth and I became Uncle and Aunt for the first time ever (Hannah had a healthy baby boy, Tomas Samuel, this morning!!!). Joy in the midst of a painful day...

We took all the boys down to Lyndsey and Ryan's tonight to be with our friends on this difficult day. It was a nice time. She was barely mentioned - I think it was too painful for all of us - but we spent the time treasuring each other and savoring the friendships that remain... and the time we still have together. 

Nothing in this life is certain. Nothing.... except Jesus.

Cling to HIM. Cling to HIM. Cling to HIIIIIIIMMMMMMM!!!!!

"The ONE who calls you is faithful"
(1 Thes. 5:24)

"For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does"
(Psalm 33:4)

"The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy"
(Psalm 111:7)