For those of us who can't get enough books!

And for those of us who have some they'd like to pass along.

Thought for the week

This is from an email I get from the Water of LIfe Lutheran Church.
It really blessed me. I'm sharing it with you with permission to repost it here.

*********************



"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my
salvation.... For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope
is from him." (Ps. 62:1, 5.)

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!" (Ps. 46:10.)

"Silence is the simple stillness of the individual under the Word of
God. We are silent before hearing the Word because our thoughts are
already directed to the Word, as a child is quiet when he enters his
father's room. We are silent after hearing the Word because the Word
is still speaking and dwelling within us. We are silent at the
beginning of the day because God should have the first word, and we
are silent before going to sleep because the last word also belongs to
God....

"Silence is nothing else but waiting for God's Word and coming from
God's Word with a blessing. But everybody knows that this is something
that needs to be practiced and learned, in these days when
talkativeness prevails. Real silence, real stillness, really holding
one's tongue comes only as the sober consequence of spiritual
stillness."

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, *Life Together*.)


Peace in Christ,
--
Vr. James C. Jarrett
Water of Life Ev. Lutheran Church
vrjarrett@wateroflifelc.org
Water of Life Lutheran Church, Forney, TX
http://www.wateroflifelc.org/

Linda's Sorrow

When my family moved to Michigan in 1988, I had no friends waiting for me. It was not ideal for a Junior in high school to try and make new friends. People were nice, but I missed my friends back home.

Then, a wonderful thing happened. I met Linda. We became inseparable. Everyone knew that we would be together wherever we went. She was very outspoken and was a compliment to my shyness. She brought out my confidence when I didn't have much. I love her dearly.

Tonight she is in deep sorrow. Her husband of 10 years has passed away at the age of 39. Greg was everything to her, as he should have been. I can't imagine that grief, and I don't want to. But, her pain is in my heart tonight.

Greg was loved by many. He and Linda were perfect together and I was honored to stand with them on their wedding day.

I can't help but wonder why this had to happen as it did. This was not the plan. I suppose it never is for those who truly love.

So, wives, hold your husbands closer tonight. Pray for Linda as she is in misery and grief. She has been blinded by this and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Pray for her to have Strength beyond her own. Pray for Providence in all things. She was not prepared for this loss in any way.

Out of commision for awhile

Straight to the point.

I really need your prayers. I have two herniated discs in my neck. They are causing intense pain in my right arm, shoulder, and hand. I'm taking 4 different medications, plus a cortisone shot every now and then to keep me functioning. I had the second cortisone shot yesterday, which is the only reason I can type today.

My girls have been helpful during the day. Friends have been offering help to watch the girls and bring meals. I am going to need help. If you know me well, you know that I don't like asking for help. I know that I can't do this without all of you, though, so I might be taking up some offers soon.

Dear friends, please pray for all of us as we go through this. I belive that it is God's will for me to have a healthy body and mind as Marty and I raise our daughters to be Godly women. This has happened to me because I haven't been taking care of myself as I should. God will renew my body and mind so that it doesn't happen again. I believe that.

In the meantime, I will not be blogging much. It really hurts my hands to use my fine motor skills.

As I go through this I am dwelling on some scriptures to boost my faith.

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."
1 John 5:14-15

and

"For God hath not given us the sprit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2Tim.1:7

and

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:29