DIVINE APPOINTMENT

Every Friday morning we have a small group of ladies who come to our villa for a Bible study. Today's was different. Martha came in with, "I've had a hard morning." Just hours earlier she got a call that her grandson was dead, overdosed on drugs. Doug and I prayed with her as the others came in one by one, learning her shocking news. As Doug left the room, we ministered as only godly women can. It was one of my life's most powerful hours. My sister-in-love, Gwen, was our facilitator for this time together. We listened. We wept. We passed around tissues. We prayed. Then we went to the Word as planned. Our text for the day was perfect because we serve a perfect, sovereign God. Gwen said, "Today's verses speak of peace beyond our understanding."

We stood on holy ground as God ministered to and through us all. In life's toughest struggles God manifests Himself and shouts to us in our pain. He delivers unfathomable peace and joy, just as His Word promises. We focused on all that was true, honorable, worthy of praise and He ushered in His PEACE and JOY. We even found laughter, like a heavenly medicine. Gwen suggested we sing a song rather than pray to dismiss. We gathered around my piano and sang "I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul. . . I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain in my soul." And we did! After lunch I played chair volleyball with Martha's husband. I quietly spoke condolences and asked, "Did Martha tell you what happened today when we met?" "No, not yet. But she came home different!" Time with Jesus does that.