Dear Nathan & Aileen, as well as Diek & Feenstra families, Please be assured that you are constantly in our prayers. It is a powerful testimony that the Word of God, Psalm 121, is displayed so clearly on this blog entitled "Praying for Nathan." It reminds me of Hy 48 stanza 4, "With song and prayer, in faith progressing." Your wedding text is a psalm, a song. And a number of the blog posts speak about singing Ps 121 and Hy 49. And hundreds of people in numerous congregations are praying... and so in faith, relying on the Lord and his Word, we progress. As you know, Psalm 121 is, quite literally, a psalm of progress because it's a "Song of Ascents." It's a song about walking as pilgrims to (the new) Jerusalem. By God's grace, our whole life -- both in health and in sickness -- is a progress toward the new heavens and the new earth. Each day is another step toward that goal. But as the Psalm says, this progress takes us through many hills ("I lift up my eyes to the hills"), many ups and downs. Since Nathan is so critically sick, those ups and downs are very dramatic for all of you: some times the valley goes very deep, and then things look a little bit better, and the hill rises up again. And when you're traveling through all the ups and downs of these hills, it's hard to see what is ahead of you. We don't know what is over the next hill or around the next bend. But one thing we know, and by faith we progress in this: the Source of our help remains the same, no matter how much the earthly terrain may change. And in addition, since the LORD our helper is the Maker of heaven and earth, the hills (which are part of the earth) are also under his guidance and governance, just as surely as we, his pilgrim-children, are under his grace and upheld by his hand. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11) With love in Christ, Rev. Jason & Janet Van Vliet and children
Nathan & Aileen our prayers go out to you and your family. May the Lord provide healing, comfort, and strength. We will keep all of you in our prayers and thoughts.
Nathan & Aileen and extended family, You are all in our daily thoughts and prayers. We pray that the Lord will grant you all strength and comfort during this difficult time. It is wonderful to see the faith and hope that is shown to be at work in your lives through this blog. You are a witness to us all (as believers and even to the hospital staff) as you read, pray and sing praises to the Lord even during this time of adversity. May the Lord continue to guide the doctors as they continue to work with Nathan realizing that our lives are in the Lord's hands - He knows our days and not a hair can fall from our head without His will. Love from Jeff, Tricia, Steph and Ryan DeBoer
Dear Nathan & Aileen, as well as Diek & Feenstra families,
ReplyDeletePlease be assured that you are constantly in our prayers. It is a powerful testimony that the Word of God, Psalm 121, is displayed so clearly on this blog entitled "Praying for Nathan." It reminds me of Hy 48 stanza 4, "With song and prayer, in faith progressing."
Your wedding text is a psalm, a song. And a number of the blog posts speak about singing Ps 121 and Hy 49. And hundreds of people in numerous congregations are praying... and so in faith, relying on the Lord and his Word, we progress.
As you know, Psalm 121 is, quite literally, a psalm of progress because it's a "Song of Ascents." It's a song about walking as pilgrims to (the new) Jerusalem. By God's grace, our whole life -- both in health and in sickness -- is a progress toward the new heavens and the new earth. Each day is another step toward that goal.
But as the Psalm says, this progress takes us through many hills ("I lift up my eyes to the hills"), many ups and downs. Since Nathan is so critically sick, those ups and downs are very dramatic for all of you: some times the valley goes very deep, and then things look a little bit better, and the hill rises up again.
And when you're traveling through all the ups and downs of these hills, it's hard to see what is ahead of you. We don't know what is over the next hill or around the next bend.
But one thing we know, and by faith we progress in this: the Source of our help remains the same, no matter how much the earthly terrain may change. And in addition, since the LORD our helper is the Maker of heaven and earth, the hills (which are part of the earth) are also under his guidance and governance, just as surely as we, his pilgrim-children, are under his grace and upheld by his hand.
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11)
With love in Christ,
Rev. Jason & Janet Van Vliet and children
Nathan & Aileen our prayers go out to you and your family. May the Lord provide healing, comfort, and strength. We will keep all of you in our prayers and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAlan & Savaya Hofsink
Spruce Grove, Alberta.
Nathan & Aileen and extended family,
ReplyDeleteYou are all in our daily thoughts and prayers. We pray that the Lord will grant you all strength and comfort during this difficult time. It is wonderful to see the faith and hope that is shown to be at work in your lives through this blog. You are a witness to us all (as believers and even to the hospital staff) as you read, pray and sing praises to the Lord even during this time of adversity. May the Lord continue to guide the doctors as they continue to work with Nathan realizing that our lives are in the Lord's hands - He knows our days and not a hair can fall from our head without His will.
Love from Jeff, Tricia, Steph and Ryan DeBoer