Sunday as we sang in church the hymn "The Solid Rock" I found myself weeping as I sang:

"His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay."

Some friends came by to comfort me but I was experiencing the reality of those words and in that instant was being flooded with a surge of unexplainable joy in the Lord. I could hardly express it without seeming weird.

You see, my mother died Saturday August 26th. Two days before I was at a breaking point in my own life, imploring the Lord to intervene in this realm. I hardly expected my prayer to be followed by such tragedy. Although I had assurance years ago of my parent's salvation, I had not witnessed it and was flooded with doubts and torment on top of the sorrow of losing her and not being able to attend the funeral. My first reaction was to give myself over to grief not even caring what happened to me. But God not only burst in on the scene in a wonderful way but taught me some important things about the battles we all face.

After Mom's death Jim took me to the florist to order graveside flowers. I was so broken as I searched for some "part of me" to send. When I saw a gorgeous white floral heart with trailing red roses I knew that was it. Monday morning our pastor of visitation called and not even knowing the doubts I was having prayed that God would give me a sign that Mom was with Him. About two hours later my sister called to tell me the funeral had been beautiful. She told me the heart had been beautiful and shared how she had broken off the roses to bury with Mom and then removed the white dove to send to me. I paused in shock. You see, there was no white dove on what we ordered! God had given His sign and even moved on my sister's heart to send it to me. She had no idea of the significance. So I am greatly comforted and praying now for Dad and Joyce's salvation as well as a chance to see them after many years apart. Please join me in this.

Through this time I have recognized how at times of special grief we become easy prey to the roaring lion who is forever seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). I'm thankful for Pastor Lou who exhorted me about this while I was still numb with grief. Surely we cannot let down our shield no matter what happens. In fact it is at those darkest times that we must be especially watchful for the thief who comes to steal the precious seeds of life from our hearts and to attack our bodies. I felt like I didn't care a common reaction but one which I regretted once the assault began.

But God held me up and warned me and showed me how to pray for my family so the enemy could not devastate their bodies and emotions in their weakness. The blood of Jesus has been a tremendous comfort as I realize what a powerful weapon it is. I am not saying I don't mourn, but it is not the mourning of one without hope.

Our God reigns and I have been able to praise Him with joy in my heart by the supernatural action of His grace. But this is only possible when we turn to Him and away from all destructive forms of grieving. The enemy's biggest tactic is to attack the nature of God and separate us from the One who is our only source of comfort and strength. I write this as one who was robbed until I gave heed to His word. I hope this will encourage you in your trials to be extra watchful for the thief and place your dependence totally on God to keep you standing.

Please continue to hold us up at this vulnerable time and we pray for you that you will learn more and more to stand as a child of God against the onslaughts of Satan and, as you stand, find the supernatural reality of the all sufficient grace of God.