JoAnna’s Journal

Our Father’s Angels

I am so grateful for your encouragement. I needed it tonight to remind me that, ultimately, God loves us. His love is great and mighty. His love endures forever. Nothing can separate us from His love.

When I was little, my mom and I would listen to (and, of course, sing along with) a children’s tape by the Gaither’s all the time. There was a particular song on it that I was reminded of as I read your well wishes.

It goes like this:

They’re all above me, beneath me, before me;
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me everywhere.

I could never stray so far
my Father would lose track of where I am.
Angels walk beside me,
holding tightly to my hand.

They’re all above me, beneath me, before me.
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me everywhere.

Even when the night’s so dark
I just can’t see a thing in front of me.
I don’t need to worry;
they can see.
They see me!

They’re all above me, beneath me, before me.
They’re all around me.
My Father’s angels all protect me.

As we trust in Jesus, we know that He has commanded His angels concerning each one of us to guard us in all our ways – especially my mom (Psalm 91:11). We trust in His heart. As most (if not all of you) know, music is very important to me (thus all the lyrics ;o) ), I was just reminded of another song that my mom used to listen to all the time growing up, and it has helped me a lot this year. It goes like this:
“All things work for our good, though sometimes we don’t see how they could. Struggles that break our hearts in two; sometimes blinded to the truth. Our Father knows what’s best for us – His ways are not our own. So when your pathway grows dim and you just don’t see Him, remember you’re never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand; when you can’t see His plan; when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the master plan,

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Waiting in Prayer

How does hope stay alive in the midst of pain?

How do we say with heavy hearts that God is King?

How do I sit here under the Hollywood sign when my heart is near the Golden Gate Bridge? I’m reminded of the cheesy song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” – because somehow that line rings true for me in this moment in time.

As I sit here feeling helpless to do anything, my only strength and lifeline is the truth that God hears my prayers – intercession for healing….

When life seems in the balance, God is steadying.

He is my hope and strength.

We can cling to hope and healing because no matter how things appear, nothing is as it seems to be.

We see in the mirror a dim reflection, but God’s glory WILL be revealed in full.

This song has been in my head lately:

Life can be so good
Life can be so hard
Never knowing what each day
Will bring to where you are
Sometimes I forget
And sometimes I can’t see
That whatever comes my way
You’ll be with me

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I’m never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

Nothing is for sure
Nothing is for keeps
All I know is that your love
Will live eternally
So I will find my way,
And I will find my peace
Knowing that you’ll meet my every need

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I’m never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

When I’m at my weakest love
You carry me
Then I become my strongest love
In your hands

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands
I trust you Lord
My life is

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While In The Airport

While I was in the airport waiting to come back from Pasadena, I read the following verses:

O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
(Isaiah 33:2)

and

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.’

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.

The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it. [h]

No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,

and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
(Isaiah 35)

We wait for complete healing and hope for the promise of eternity.

Last night my mom smelled soil. Neither my dad nor I smelled it, and since my mom loves to garden, we knew that it had to have been a gift to my mom. She smelled “fresh air and soil.” I told her it was Jesus’ gift to remind He is still here and that He wants to allow her to be back with her garden at home.

As we prayed over my mom last night as

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